The Villain: Bound by Fate, Saved by Her

She doesn't want to marry Ye Tian. In fact, she has no intention of marrying any man, including Ye Tian.

"You will not."

Ling Ye answers for Luo Li, his voice calm yet sharp. "You don't even want him to defeat me. Deep down, you hope that I will always remain this unparalleled existence, and you hope to never marry any man."

As soon as Ling Ye says these words, Luo Li's indifferent, elegant face darkens slightly.

Perhaps, he is right. This is indeed her true mentality. She is a woman, after all. Women often think of finding a man who matches their strength and spirit. And she, with her heaven-defying two-lives ability, is no exception.

However, when she surveys the Chaos Universe, she finds not a single man who measures up in her eyes.

She regrets the rash standard she set long ago—declaring that whoever defeats Ling Ye will marry her. Now, she wants to remain alone forever.

Because she realizes there is no one stronger than her except Ling Ye.

Not even Ye Tian. While Ye Tian's strength might eventually rival hers, it still doesn't surpass her. No one can surpass her—except for Ling Ye, who was born above her.

Even as Ye Tian approaches the Boundless Realm and becomes the strongest, she still feels no regard for him. Despite his cultivation, Ye Tian lacks the bearing of a true king.

"I'm curious," Ling Ye continues, his voice tinged with amusement. "Why did you say that in the first place? If not for your words, my life would have been far less complicated."

Luo Li doesn't respond. She doesn't know how to answer. Why did she proclaim that whoever kills Ling Ye will marry her?

"Let me guess," Ling Ye says, a faint smirk curling his lips. "I'm your only criterion, aren't I?"

At these words, Luo Li's brows knit together. Though she once harbored such a wild idea, she refuses to admit it now. But Ling Ye's words stir ripples in her heart, ripples she struggles to suppress.

Perhaps he's right.

In the beginning, as she surveyed the world, she realized that apart from Ling Ye, no man could catch her attention. Ling Ye was the only one she found worthy of her.

But that didn't mean she admired him. Who would fall in love with a man she barely knew?

And so, in a moment of caprice, she set that impossible standard: whoever defeats Ling Ye, someone stronger than him, would marry her.

Was it because Ling Ye had become the measure of all things in her heart?

Luo Li forces herself to remain composed, unwilling to admit such thoughts.

"You came to my Purple Cloud Immortal Realm just to say this?" she asks, her voice cold.

"Of course not," Ling Ye replies lightly. "I'm here to ask for something. Something only you possess."

"What is it?" Luo Li asks, her tone cautious.

"One life."

As soon as these words leave his lips, Luo Li spins around, her beautiful eyes wide with shock.

A life?

He's referring to her ability—the one no one knows about. Not even her most trusted confidantes. She has never shared this secret with anyone.

How does Ling Ye know?

"I'm sorry," Luo Li says quickly, her voice unusually flustered. "I don't have what you're looking for. I admit my words caused you trouble, but that's all."

Her composure falters, her emotions spiraling out of control—a fact Ling Ye observes with ease.

"You know what I mean," he says, his tone unrelenting. "If you don't want to marry Ye Tian, you can give it to me. That way, Ye Tian will never be able to kill me."

"Don't even think about it," Luo Li snaps, turning her head sharply. "How do you even know about this?"

"I have my ways," Ling Ye replies with a faint smile, taking a step closer to her. "Let's be honest—there's no one in this world worthy of you. Ye Tian may be lucky, but he's far from qualified to marry you."

He lifts his hand slowly, resting it beneath Luo Li's delicate, snow-white chin.

Ye Tian doesn't deserve her. He doesn't deserve her stunning beauty, nor her heaven-defying power.

Ling Ye, on the other hand, suddenly feels a possessive urge rising within him.

Luo Li stands frozen for a moment, stunned by his touch. When she snaps out of it, she quickly slaps his hand away and steps back.

"Presumptuous!"

Anger flashes across her flawless face. This is the first time she has ever allowed a man to touch her. What happened?

Was it her confusion about how Ling Ye knew her secret? Or was it something he said?

If anyone else dared touch her, she would have struck them down without hesitation. But this is Ling Ye—she knows she can't overpower him.

"You should leave. Whatever you're seeking, I can't give it to you," she says firmly, her voice regaining its cold edge.

"Oh, I know," Ling Ye says, his faint smile unwavering. "But when did I say I needed your permission?"

At his words, Luo Li's expression darkens. Her beautiful eyes lock onto Ling Ye's blood-red gaze, unease stirring in her heart.

Ling Ye raises his hand, and with a sudden wave, a blood-red barrier envelops the Purple Sea Immortal Palace.

"Since you see me as your only standard," he says, a sneer tugging at his lips, "why not admit the truth?"

Before she can respond, Ling Ye's figure darts toward her. Luo Li's aura of the Extreme God Realm erupts, but it's no match for him.

"You know the Extreme God Realm has its tiers," Ling Ye remarks calmly. "And I am beyond those tiers."

Ling Ye, standing at the threshold of the Boundless Realm, is invincible below that level.

Despite her power, Luo Li's attacks fail to land a single blow. Ling Ye counters effortlessly, seizing her wrist mid-strike.

With a smirk, he grabs her other hand, pins her arms, and forces her down toward the sea of flowers below.

Bang!

A loud crash echoes as their figures collide with the floral ocean, petals scattering into the sky.

"You dare Ling Ye, you dare!" Luo Li's voice is icy, her beautiful eyes glaring daggers at him.

Among the petals, she seethes with fury. She will not give the power of her two lives to anyone—not even him.