I am Villain Cultivator
Chapter 24: Calm Before the Storm

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Calm Before the Storm

The grand banquet hall of the Kilvish Clan glittered under the warm glow of floating lanterns. Jade ornaments adorned the walls, and hundreds of cultivators from various clans were seated in rows of elegance and authority. At the head of the hall stood Charles Kilvish, the patriarch, his aura dominating yet composed. The celebration followed the awakening of two ancient bloodlines during the trial of Nirvana Tower, yet two central figures, Kaal and Divya, were conspicuously absent.

Charles stood, his voice echoing across the grand hall.

"Let this night be remembered. The True Dragon Completion path has begun anew, and history watches us. Today, we honor the one who climbed the Nirvana Steps with unyielding will, Ashen Kairn."

Ashen, clad in a sleek robe with the Kilvish emblem, walked to the center, his expression calm but inwardly sharp. Charles continued:

"Not only did he perform exceptionally in the trials, but Ashen also broke the stigma of his status. As of today, he is no longer a servant of the Kilvish Clan, but a recognized cultivator under the direct patronage of this hall."

Polite applause followed. Some elders murmured in surprise; a few disciples looked jealous. Ashen bowed with practiced grace but did not smile. His mind was elsewhere.

Seeing the applause, Charles had a satisfying expression with rewarding Ashen, a servant of the clan, which indicated that the clan does not ignore the effort of the non-clan member, giving them hope to change their destiny, and ultimately, as a result clan becomes stronger.

Charles then raised his wine cup. "Now, I declare the second phase of the True Dragon Completion Path. A Survival Trial. One hundred selected cultivators will be transported to the Verdant Deathwood, a mystical forest in the depths of Nirvana Tower. You must survive for seven days. No storage rings allowed. Killing is permitted. Only thirty will move on."

Shock rippled through the hall. Some cheered, others paled.

{ Later That Night – Private Chamber of Charles Kilvish }

Kaal stood before his father, his expression unreadable. Charles sat quietly, studying him with the eyes of a leader and a father.

"Why were you absent from the banquet?" Charles asked.

"Come on, Dad, I needed rest," Kaal replied smoothly. Then, as if remembering, he added, "Also, have awakening of the bloodline was tiring."

Charles raised an eyebrow. and asked in an excited tone

"Tell me which Bloodline due you awaken in the trial?"

"I believe... I have awakened the Demon Phoenix Bloodline. It grants me brute strength, fast healing, and enhanced perception."

Charles nodded slowly, eyes narrowing. What Kaal said made sense, though incomplete.

What he didn’t know was that Kaal had just told a half-truth. His power stemmed from the Origin core, which granted him Hell asura bloodline, which was awakened when he returned to the Clan after killing Raven in The Mist Valley, and this Origin core gave him far more:

The Origin Core granted him three talents:

Mind Eye

Hell Asura Bloodline

Myriad of Thousand demon Physiques

Mind Eye: gave him heightened learning capabilities, a Perception to predict opponents’ movements, and the ability to detect his surroundings within his range. Allowed him to see through a person’s Fate light, revealing their origins and power.

Myriad of Thousand demon Physiques: gifted him a powerful physique and a sharpened sixth sense, allowing him to instinctively detect danger.

Hell Asura Bloodline: Grant him absolute control over demons, and by devouring demon essence blood, he can gain those demon abilities.

This was too much to reveal. The lie of the Demonic Phoenix bloodline provided a perfect smokescreen. And it worked.

"Very well," Charles said. "Then I expect great things. Keep it controlled."

"I will."

{ Elder Alvin’s Courtyard – That Same Evening }

Divya walked slowly into the peaceful garden where her grandfather, Elder Alvin, awaited her. The wind carried the scent of blooming spirit flowers, and his eyes were misty with emotion.

"You made me proud today," he said softly.

Divya bowed. "It was all because of your teachings, grandfather."

He chuckled. "No. It was your heart. When Raven died... a part of me died too. But today, seeing you... You’ve brought life back into this old soul."

There was silence. Then he looked toward the sky.

"I remember the day my son came home with a strange child. He said: ’Father, this girl is the daughter of my savior. Please raise her,’ and I did. And now, I lost my son, daughter-in-law, my grandson, that rascal must be looking at me from heaven and know that this old bone needed support, that’s why he left you with me," said Elder Alvin with a tear in his eyes.

Divya also had a tear. From her childhood to now, she has always been grateful to her grandfather for raising her with love.

"I will never forget Raven’s death, Grandfather, I will make sure that the Jeral clan pays for the harm that they cause us, I will make you proud as your granddaughter."

{ Underground Chamber – Kilvish Clan Estate }

A figure stood before a sealed door. It was Reeve, a loyal servant sent by Grand Elder William to secretly protect Samrat.

"Ashen seeks audience with young master Samrat," Reeve said.

When Samrat opened the door, the strong stench of blood lingered in the air. Inside, a corpse was tied to a chair, covered in countless wounds and signs of torture. This was Samrat’s habit whenever he felt irritated or frustrated, he would torment a mortal or servant to relieve his stress. Grand Elder William was well aware of his grandson’s twisted tendencies, but he chose to turn a blind eye.

Samrat, dressed in loose robes, leaned against a wall and said

"Let him in."

Ashen entered silently, his eyes briefly noticing some blood stain on Samrat’s clothes, but he ignored it because he knew Samrat’s character in the novel, and this much does not surprise him.

"What do you want, servant of Lauren?" Samrat sneered, and disdain could be seen in Samrat’s tone

Ashen bowed. "I come with a proposal," ignoring the insult of being called a servant.

"You, a lowly servant, come with a proposal. Did the success of the trial turn your brain dead, so that you think we are equal, or is it that you want to die, so you came here?" said Samrat while releasing his aura.

Samrat scoffed until Ashen added, "I will support your claim as heir to the Kilvish Clan," said in a mild tone, the pressure from Samrat too much for him to handle for now, because the Kilvish Clan founder’s inheritance that he obtained was not completely absorbed and converted to his strength.

Hearing the word heir piqued Samrat’s interest. He does not want to admit it, but Ashen is powerful to able to match his pace in the trial. Now, Samrat was listening.

"You saw what Kaal has become. He is a threat to both of us. But together, we can end him in the trial."

Samrat looked intrigued. He remembered Ashen matching his pace in the last trial.

"And what’s your reason?" Samrat asked.

Ashen’s voice was cold. "Kaal must die."

After a long discussion, Samrat listened to Ashen’s plan with growing interest. At first, he was merely curious; midway through, he laughed in amusement. But by the time Ashen finished speaking, Samrat was genuinely impressed. Then both of them shook their hands.

{Kaal’s Courtyard }

Under the moonlight, Kaal bathed, letting the fatigue of the day wash away. His expression was calm, but his senses were alert.

Outside, two maids, Jane and Mia, stood silently. Their eyes downcast, hands respectfully holding folded clothes.

"The second trial would mark the end of Samrat. Now that all the pieces were in place," said Kaal with a smile, a dangerous glint flickered in Kaal’s eyes.

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