C1 I Was Denounced When I Was Reborn

"The Lord of Heavenly Luo City, Xing Yun, has been accused of assaulting the saintess of the Order of the Celestial Veil!"

"What? I touched the saintess's chest?"

Rumors about Xing Yun were rampant throughout the Keep, and Xing Yun himself, standing in the grand hall, was utterly bewildered. His subordinates exchanged puzzled glances.

A tragedy had befallen Xing Yun ten thousand years prior, ending his life. His soul, driven by a lingering obsession, wandered the Infinite Cosmos and miraculously rebirthed into a young City Lord in the Shadowlands, a young man who shared his name and visage.

The Shadowlands is a prosperous Plane within the Infinite Cosmos, teeming with sects, empires, and families all vying for power, with the Demonic Spine serving as a neutral buffer.

Xing Yun was the youthful ruler of Heavenly Luo City, the sole city in the eastern Demonic Spine.

As City Lord, he was expected to command the reverence of thousands, yet the original Xing Yun was notorious among the major powers as a wastrel, his reputation marred by scandal.

Dismissive and lacking ambition, that was the prevailing view of Xing Yun, now compounded by a reputation for brazenness.

Seven days earlier, the Order of the Celestial Veil, the largest sect in the Shadowlands, had selected a saintess from among the people. She and her entourage passed through to pay homage to City Lord Xing Yun.

Initially courteous, Xing Yun's demeanor changed upon meeting the saintess. After a brief exchange, he unexpectedly reached out and touched the saintess's left chest.

This astonishing act left everyone present in shock, with the saintess herself letting out a scream. Xing Yun narrowly avoided a complete fallout with the Order of the Celestial Veil's followers. Thankfully, the deacon in charge managed to calm the group, leading them away from Heavenly Luo City with a stern expression.

The incident of Xing Yun's indiscretion with the saintess spread like wildfire across the Shadowlands, turning him into an object of ridicule. The already fragile morale of the citizens of Heavenly Luo City had now surely shattered.

Xing Yun was spared by the Order of the Celestial Veil not because of luck, but because he was a scion sent by a powerful family from the Upper Realm of the Shadowlands for training, a fact that made all the major powers tread carefully around him.

Despite this, a feud had been established, and it was Xing Yun who was left to shoulder the blame, even though the original Xing Yun's actions weren't motivated by lust.

Lee Lang, the steward of the Keep, who was leading the gathered crowd in kneeling, looked anxiously towards Xing Yun. His grizzled beard quivered as he spoke, "Master... The situation outside is dire. A young man named Gu Yan seeks justice for the saintess. Rumor has it that although he is only at the foundational level of the Awakened Soul Realm, he can defeat masters of that realm!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Xing Yun nodded and responded, "Understood. Let him in."

As he spoke, Xing Yun's mind was racing, piecing together every detail of the current situation.

In his past life, Xing Yun hailed from a blue planet and found himself transported to the Shadowlands by chance. There, he grew stronger against all odds, eventually reaching the zenith of the Infinite Cosmos.

Having reached such lofty heights, Xing Yun had spent a millennium preparing to ascend to the legendary God-level. Tragically, during his breakthrough, he faced an unprecedented heavenly tribulation. After enduring seven grueling days and nights, he met an untimely end.

Now, with a second chance at life in the Shadowlands, he had the opportunity to rise once more.

The City Lord Xing Yun, before the merging of souls, had an exceedingly complex origin story.

His family had dispatched him to the Shadowlands due to his lackluster talents, under the guise of gaining experience.

It was common practice for those with poor aptitude to be sent to lower planes by their families. With the family's protection, they were untouchable, and living a life of luxury and privilege in the lower realms was a far better fate than facing potential treachery in the Upper Realm.

But Xing Yun was no ordinary member of the family; he was the cherished son of the Patriarch, Xing Feng!

This added a layer of intrigue to the situation.

The fierce power struggles within the family had compelled Xing Feng to dispatch Xing Yun to the lower plane, ensuring his safety by sending the devoted servant Xing Chen to guard him.

Xing Chen was a formidable Creation Stage warrior, whose journey to the Lower Realm was expected to be foolproof. Yet, inexplicably, he vanished without a trace a month ago, along with a trove of treasures bestowed upon him by Xing Feng.

Left to fend for himself, Xing Yun was unable to locate Xing Chen or reach out to their family in the Upper Realm, leaving him feeling desperate and reckless. Thankfully, Xing Chen had previously intimidated the major powers of the Shadowlands, such as the Order of the Celestial Veil, ensuring they wouldn't dare harm Xing Yun.

"He vanished out of the blue, with no apparent reason. Betrayal? That's utterly out of the question!" Xing Yun, reflecting on Xing Chen's disappearance, could only shake his head in disbelief. After all, Xing Chen had served him faithfully for centuries.

The Upper Realm families spare no expense in cultivating devoted servants, performing a ritual known as the "Family Spirit Curse." Those who accept this curse vow eternal allegiance to a specific family line or individual, risking total annihilation should they waver in their loyalty. Given the deep bond between Xing Yun's family and Xing Chen, and the latter's voluntary acceptance of the curse out of loyalty, betrayal was inconceivable.

Xing Chen's affection for Xing Yun was akin to that between a grandfather and grandson. In the Upper Realm, Xing Chen had always been willing to risk everything for Xing Yun. But for a Creation Stage cultivator to disappear without a trace in the Shadowlands was as mysterious as any of the great events that had ever transpired there.

"Wait! There might be another explanation!" A sudden recollection of past events and thoughts made Xing Yun sense that something was amiss. If the former Xing Yun were to delve into this mystery, he might never uncover the truth.

At the time of Xing Yun's rebirth, the original soul of his body was on the brink of shattering, only stabilizing after merging with his own. Now, despite having an inkling of the underlying truth, Xing Yun was preoccupied with more pressing matters.

Combining his past memories with the current predicament, he realized he had become the perfect scapegoat. His past actions—bullying others, his brazen arrogance, and his assault on the saintess—were all hallmarks of a classic villain. Moreover, he had antagonized Gu Yan, the defender of the saintess.

Upon hearing the name Gu Yan and witnessing his actions, it was clear he wasn't the type to challenge those above his station. In his past life, Xing Yun had trampled over myriad foes to ascend to the pinnacle of power, but now the tables had turned.

In a plot twist that wouldn't be out of place in the Infinite Cosmos, Gu Yan arrived to provoke a confrontation, only to be met with ridicule and shame from the crowd. But he had the last laugh, retorting with biting sarcasm and ultimately defeating, even killing, Xing Yun just as his spirit was scattering. Triumphantly, he climbed to the heights of the Shadowlands, winning over the saintess's heart in the process. From there, he set off to conquer the Upper Realm, potentially rising to the same legendary status once held by Xing Yun.

Sounds thrilling, doesn't it? However, in this narrative, Xing Yun was relegated to the role of a disposable villain, gleefully rubbing his hands together in anticipation of his own downfall.

But the Xing Yun of today was no ordinary man; he was the reincarnated sovereign of the Infinite Cosmos from ten thousand years past. Memories of Gu Yan's assassinations within the Keep's guards and his bold claim to take Xing Yun's head flashed through his mind. With narrowed eyes and an icy tone, Xing Yun declared, "I'm curious to see what you're really made of. No matter how favored by fortune you are, what threat do you pose to me?"

With those words, Xing Yun rose to his feet, startling the onlookers who knelt before him. They gazed up at their City Lord with a newfound sense of awe, sensing a change in him.

"Master... Master, please reconsider! Gu Yan may only be at the Profound Vein Stage, but he's unstoppable within the Keep, slaying gods with ease. No one can withstand even a single bout with him! I fear for your safety..." Liang Zun, the head guard, pleaded as he rose to block Xing Yun's path, his face etched with embarrassment.

Following Xing Yun's encounter with the saintess, the Keep's former head guard—the sole Awakened Soul warrior—had fled in the night. This left the Keep's defenses even more vulnerable, exacerbating an already dire situation.

He had been promoted to deputy, yet he was merely at the ninth level of the Profound Vein Stage. Gu Yan, in contrast, had progressed at a monstrous pace in recent days, soaring from the sixth to the ninth level!

Xing Yun gazed at Liang Zun with a sense of satisfaction in his eyes and smiled, "Don't worry. After we deal with this individual, I'll have you enter the Awakened Soul Realm within a month."

Liang Zun was the quintessential henchman of the antagonist. Typically, he would end up being a mere stepping stone for Gu Yan under Xing Yun's command.

The whole of Heavenly Luo City was in turmoil, yet Liang Zun remained steadfastly loyal—a trait worthy of cultivation.

Upon hearing Xing Yun's words, Liang Zun froze, then expressed his conflicted feelings, "Thank you, Master! But you really shouldn't venture out. If that young upstart launches a surprise attack..."

Xing Yun chuckled, "You haven't been able to subdue him, have you? If you thought you could kill him, you would have already sent men to encircle and eliminate him. Why worry about me?"

"Yes... I can't bear to see my brothers sacrificed any longer. I've secretly asked Butler Li to try and negotiate with him, to see if he might stand down..." Liang Zun admitted, feeling embarrassed.

Xing Yun's brow furrowed, and he replied icily, "You're worried about interrupting my contemplation?"

"Yes... It is imperative that no one disturbs Master during his deliberations, or else..." Liang Zun replied anxiously.

Xing Yun responded decisively, "Stay calm. From now on, if I am present, report any urgent matters directly to me without fear of reprisal."

Liang Zun looked at Xing Yun with a mix of surprise and relief, nodding vigorously, "Understood!"

"Come with me!"

At Xing Yun's command, he led the group out of the Keep, with Liang Zun trailing behind, his worries replaced by anticipation.

Rumors had been circulating that the City Lord had an enigmatic powerhouse at his side. Could it be that this powerhouse was about to take action?

No sooner had they exited the great hall than they were greeted by a wave of noise.

"Xing Yun, show yourself! I, Gu Yan, am here to claim your life today!"

"Gu Yan, my young friend, continuing this way will only lead to mutual destruction. Please, cease your attack. I can request that the Lord of the Keep overlook your past transgressions."

Xing Yun and his group hastened to the entrance of the Keep, where they found Lee Lang, under the protection of several dozen guards, earnestly trying to dissuade Gu Yan amidst a crowd of onlookers.

Gu Yan, in his striking white attire, exuded a dashing elegance despite his youthful age of fifteen or sixteen. His face, however, was marked by a rage that belied his years, and his eyes shone with a resolve and iciness that far surpassed his peers. A distinctive purple aura enveloped him.

"Just as I thought," Xing Yun mused with a cold chuckle.

This purple aura, invisible to the common eye, was a sign of extraordinary fortune, visible only to Xing Yun.

Under normal circumstances, Xing Yun and his men would have been doomed to fall by Gu Yan's hand.

But today, Xing Yun was the anomaly.

The memory of the Keep's guards' gruesome deaths at the hands of Gu Yan sparked a flicker of murderous intent in Xing Yun's eyes. "Does someone as brutal as him deserve to be favored by fate?"

Meanwhile, Gu Yan, from a distance, also noticed an exceptionally handsome young man approaching, flanked by Liang Zun and his escorts. A gleeful smile crossed his face as he grabbed Lee Lang and mocked, "Spare me your groveling. Your master has arrived! Xing Yun, isn't it? The saintess has granted me a life-saving favor. If I, Gu Yan, do not slay you today, how could I ever face the world again?"

"You would kill me for the saintess? Such grandeur and righteousness! How utterly shameless!"