The Reincarnated Villain Can Break the Fourth Wall!

Deep down, Bai Yujian's chest tightened with worry.

What if it wasn't Zhu Qing?

Her gaze on the ruins of the Warlord's palace. If it was Su Xiaobai… well, there was no way he was ready for something like this. His body would pop like an overripe fruit, splattering the sand with whatever guts he had left.

She sighed, her expression a mix of awe and exasperation. "That reckless disciple… what the hell are you up to now?"

For now, all she could do was watch. And wait.

_______

"Hmph! Who dares to challenge the will of the heavens now?"

The majestic voice thundered through the storm, sharp and commanding. Across the wasteland, lightning tore the sky—violet, gold, crimson—painting wrath across the clouds. Figures descended one by one, their auras smashing into the battlefield like celestial fists.

The big shots finally showed their faces. Half because their lackeys were getting slaughtered... half because the tribulation above could be seen from a thousand miles away.

The first to land was a man in gaudy purple robes, streaked with silver that flickered like stormlight. His angular face radiated arrogance—the kind that came from stomping on enough heads to climb his way to the top. His hair was slicked back like he was heading to a banquet, but his eyes burned with petty envy.

Wei Houtian. First commander of the royal family... and a man who clawed into the 'Great Ascension Realm' like a dog with too much bite. His tribulation had flattened mountains, turned rivers to steam, and left peasants pissing themselves for days. Now, he strutted across the kingdom like a rooster who thought the sky existed just to hear him crow.

But his smile faded as he stared at the storm brewing in the distance. His lips curled.

"Tch... just when I got used to walking sideways in this country, another fish jumps into the pond."

Another figure touched down beside him. Quiet. Simple. Dangerous. His plain violet robes somehow made Wei Houtian's flashy garb look like a cheap circus act. His long white beard shimmered faintly in the stormlight, and his weathered hands carried centuries of experience.

Master Qingxuan. The royal alchemist... and the kingdom's grumpiest elder. At the 'Peak Great Ascension Realm', he'd seen kings rise, dynasties crumble, and fools like Wei Houtian come and go.

To him, another celestial ascension wasn't awe-inspiring. It was a headache.

His piercing gaze ignored the tribulation and the mess in the Warlord's palace. Instead, it fell on a lone figure in the distance—a woman with sharp eyes and a parasol spinning lazily over her shoulder.

"The Sword Fairy..." His voice was cold. Bitter. "So... she's the one who turned Lei Shoushan into fertilizer."

Lei Shoushan. The royal envoy sent to grab the star fragment quietly. Instead, Bai Yujian turned him into worm food. Because of her, Qingxuan had to dirty his hands and drag his ancient bones out here.

Wei Houtian's eyes twitched. His envoy, sent as a "proxy," had been swatted like a fly. Embarrassing. He lowered his head, unable to meet Master Qingxuan's gaze.

"Elder Xuan, I didn't expect her to arrive—"

"Quiet."

The old alchemist's tone was sharp. He hadn't let Wei Houtian finish. Initially, this was supposed to be a simple task. Snatch the star fragment. Walk out. Easy. That's why he'd delegated it. Now? A royal envoy was dead, and the Sword Fairy was here.

Qingxuan's lips pressed into a tight line. If it were anyone else, he'd have crushed them without a second thought. But Bai Yujian? She wasn't some nobody.

For now, he exhaled slowly, turning his sharp gaze to the pirates scrambling in the sand like worms after rain. Desperate. Pathetic.

Maybe crushing a few of these rats would take the edge off... but the bitter stench of failure refused to fade, heavy and suffocating. Master Qingxuan's gaze darkened. He could only hope—pray—that Bai Yujian wasn't here for the star fragment.

If she was... a fight would be unavoidable. And worse, he wasn't sure he'd walk away from it unscathed.

____

"..."

Far away, Bai Yujian felt Master Qingxuan's glare, sharp and probing. Her parasol tilted slightly, hiding the amused curve of her lips.

She recognized them immediately—Master Qingxuan, the palace's ancient schemer, and Wei Houtian, his loyal mutt.

But something didn't add up. Why are they here?

Her focus returned to the tribulation. Zhu Qing's breakthrough was paramount. Floating closer to the storm, her message was clear: Anyone who interferes will meet a blade sharp enough to cut the heavens.

"She's not after the star fragment?" Qingxuan's lips tightened, relief flickering across his face. Good. The fragment was his prize, the final piece for an ancient pill he'd been crafting for decades.

Bai Yujian's disinterest meant she wouldn't complicate things.

With a flick of his wrist, a silver cauldron materialized in the air, its metallic sheen shinning like molten moonlight.

WHOOSH! BOOM!

The cauldron slammed into the earth, cracking the ground like a divine hammer.

"Speak." Qingxuan's tone was soft but deadly. "Who has the star fragment? Tell me, or I'll scatter what's left of your miserable lives into the wind."

The pirate leaders who had somehow survived the storm froze in place, their bodies trembling as though the heavens might smite them next. Their eyes darted nervously between one another, searching for answers they didn't have.

Zhao Feng stood stiffly among them, his fists clenched and sweat dripping down his face.

One pirate, clearly lacking self-preservation instincts, let out a strained laugh. "Star fragment? If we had it, do you think we'd still be here?"

SLAM!

The cauldron shifted and smashed into the sand beside him. Poof! The pirate screamed, legs buckling, the ground beneath him splitting like glass.

"Wrong answer."

The alchemist's aura pressed down like a mountain. The pirate's spirit snapped. He fell limp, his body twitching before falling still.

The others scrambled, bowing so low their foreheads bled against the cracked ground. "We don't have it! Please! We swear!"

Qingxuan's cold gaze swept over them. Then, his sharp eyes shifted to Bai Yujian. Her back remained turned, her parasol spinning lazily toward the heavens. Her silence spoke louder than words: Their lives mean nothing to me.

"Does she have it?" Qingxuan muttered under his breath, suspicion flickering in his eyes. If Bai Yujian had already secured the fragment, then this entire trip was a waste.

Before he could act, the air trembled.

Whoosh!

A figure in golden robes descended from the storm, his presence radiating authority like a blazing sun.

"I have it."

The voice was calm, yet it hit like a divine proclamation. Golden Saint Wuji.

Zhao Feng's face turned ashen. His heart sank like a stone as the golden-robed man touched down with deliberate ease.

"Zhao Feng." Saint Wuji's voice was soft, but each word carried weight. "What happened to the task I gave you?"

Zhao Feng's legs buckled. He staggered forward, collapsing to his knees. "Saint Wuji… forgive me. This junior has failed you."

"Failed me?"

BAM! A suffocating pressure descended, crushing Zhao Feng into the sand. "Agh!" He gritted his teeth, veins bulging as he fought against it. Just as his body was about to give out, the pressure lifted, leaving him trembling and drenched in cold sweat.

"Explain."

Zhao Feng gulped. "I… I tried. I fought for it. But… I couldn't. Please, I only wanted to complete the mission. I… I wanted to earn a place in the sect."

That was the truth. Zhao Feng's desperation had led him here. Saint Wuji had promised him a place as a 'core disciple' in the 'Golden Buddha Sect', one of the most powerful sect in the 'Tianlong Empire'. For someone from Yue country, where the strongest sects were no more than frogs at the bottom of a well, this was a chance to leave mediocrity behind and step onto the empire's grand stage.

Wei Houtian sneered. "So, you're just some errand boy, begging for scraps from your master?"

"Enough." Qingxuan raised a hand, silencing him. His sharp gaze fixed on Wuji. "The star fragment belongs to the palace. Hand it over."

Wuji's lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. "The palace? Yue country? To the 'Golden Buddha Sect,' your king is but an insect crawling beneath our boots. If you want it... come take it."

Qingxuan's face darkened, but before he could reply, Wuji raised a hand.

A colossal golden palm appeared mid-air, swelling to monstrous proportions before crashing down.

BOOM!

Wei Houtian was sent flying, his body smashing into the ground like a broken puppet. He staggered back up, unharmed yet trembling. Though he forced a glare at Wuji, fear flickered in his eyes. His gaze darted to Qingxuan: What now?

Qingxuan ignored him, his mind racing. The 'Golden Buddha Sect' wasn't just a sect. It was a behemoth—a colossus that towered over the 'Tianlong Empire,' its saints numbering in the hundreds. Their arrival in Yue country had already shaken the kingdom to its core. The palace thought it was merely a token branch, perhaps for resources. But with Wuji here... something was wrong.

Why would a juggernaut like Wuji come to a backwater kingdom? For a trivial treasure? Impossible.

The star fragment was no longer the problem. The sect's motives were.

Master Qingxuan's fists tightened. Killing Wuji here would bring swift annihilation. The sect would grind Yue country into dust without hesitation.

One misstep, and this fragile calm would ignite into war.

Wuji's gaze shifted, and a sly grin spread across his face. "Who is this exquisite creature?"

His eyes locked onto Bai Yujian, who stood with serene authority, ensuring no one disrupted Zhu Qing's breakthrough.

She wasn't just beautiful. To Wuji, she was divine—a celestial figure misplaced in the mortal realm. Her aura, her indifference, the slight turn of her face... it ignited something primal within him.

In the Tianlong Empire, he'd seen women like this before—striking, ethereal—but they were always far beyond his reach, surrounded by power, status, and sects stronger than even the Golden Buddha.

Here, in a backwater like Yue country? He was certain. Whatever—or whoever—he desired was his to claim

The others caught his leering gaze and exchanged knowing glances.

"Humph!" Wei Houtian and Qingxuan snorted in unison. Even Zhao Feng grimaced, his face screaming: This idiot is about to court death.

The fate of Yue's king—and countless others—who lusted after Bai Yujian was no secret. None had survived. Unless turning to ash or fertilizer counted as success.

Yet Wuji either didn't know or didn't care. His grin deepened.
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Unbeknownst to him, the 'Golden Buddha Sect's' presence in Yue country wasn't just to establish a branch. The Emperor had grown displeased with Yue's decay. Wuji's orders were clear: evaluate, dominate, and destroy if necessary.

Meanwhile, amidst the gathered rogues, Violet Crane and Iron Mountain—mortal enemies hours ago—now shared a knowing glance. Survival trumped grudges. Betrayal was cheap, and both were more than willing to pay the price.

Violet Crane, her severed arm bandaged, was first to move. She stepped forward, her voice quivering just enough to sound convincing. "Senior! The star fragment... it's with her people!" She pointed at Bai Yujian, as though divulging a sacred secret.

"Hm?"

Saint Wuji's eyes lit up, his grin turning predatory. He had already been wondering how to entangle Bai Yujian in this. Now, the answer was handed to him on a silver platter.

"Good. You may leave."

Violet Crane froze, momentarily stunned by her own luck. Without hesitation, she summoned her spirit beast—a massive eagle—and shot into the sky.

"Thank you, Senior!" she called, her voice fading into the clouds.

The remaining rogues looked on, their envy growing. Why didn't I think of that?!

Zhao Feng clenched his teeth, the thought of betrayal flitting through his mind before vanishing. Crossing Bai Yujian? That was courting death. He had already failed Saint Wuji—offending both sides would seal his fate.

But Iron Mountain wasn't as wise. Seeing Violet Crane escape, his envy boiled into resolve. He stomped the ground and Thatdashed off, yelling, "Don't mind me!"

SLASH!

Wuji didn't even blink. A casual flick of his hand turned Iron Mountain into four perfect pieces. Blood sprayed across the sand as the crowd sucked in sharp breaths.

Hiss!

The death of an ant didn't warrant attention. The world moved on as if nothing had happened.

Wuji and Qingxuan's gazes met, a sharp, unspoken understanding passing between them. The star fragment was with Bai Yujian.

Qingxuan's lips curled into a calculating smile. "Saint Wuji... let's stop wasting time. I only need half the star essence to finish my pill. The rest is yours. Let's take her down together."

"..."

Bai Yujian, who had remained silent until now, finally turned. Her parasol tilted slightly, casting a shadow over her sharp gaze. A faint smirk curled her lips, cold and disdainful.

"Two monkeys scheming to ambush me? How amusing," she whispered, as though addressing insects daring to bite a dragon.