Villain: The Play of Destiny

In a quiet and dark room, a young and handsome man sat on a lounge chair, reading a mysterious Tome in his hand.

Even though he did not need to read it since every word inside this Tome was already preserved in his mind, he liked reading it whenever he needed to go through some things and information.

And right now, he needed to go through it.

Knowing everything was not the same as understanding everything one knew. Keith needed to understand whatever was in his mind and on the pages of this mystical black Tome.

The Devil Sutra, a Divine Ranked Cultivation Manual, was the epitome of mystery and marvel, and one of the very few Complete Divine Manuals in existence.

Keith knew that this Tome was unlike any other, and every word inside it was basking in the light of the Divine Laws. And he knew that there were only a handful of Complete Divine Manuals in existence and one such Manual was in Nyx's possession.

These Manuals were priceless and even the most powerful of the Gods yearned to take just a look inside one of these pages that he was so casually flipping over and reading through.

This book was a book of Knowledge, a treasure even more precious than the Spirit Eyes that he had gifted to Amelia or even the Time and Space Steele that Yexuan Parker had in his possession.

With this Tome alone, he could reach the pinnacle of existence.

However, everything that was Divine was never easy.

Keith frowned as he read through one of the Cultivation Methods written inside the manual, and soon lost himself in its profoundness.

He was so invested in it that he did not even look up when someone entered his room and then sat by his side, snuggling close to him. However, it did not mean that he had not recognised her.

Her scent was very familiar to him, and no matter where he was, he could always sense her because they were bound and wedded by the Sacred Runes and a Divine Vow.

His beautiful wife was smart enough to not disturb him and silently lay by his side, resting her head on his shoulder and looking at the text on the pages that he was reading and trying to understand.

She did not say a word for hours, and a very peaceful and comforting silence reigned in the room.

"System. I can filter it out and make a much simpler Cultivation Method out of it, right?" He asked after hours of going through the one Cultivation Method that had caught his eye.

[You can create Several Cultivation Methods from this one, Host. This Method in itself is a Divine Grade Cultivation Method. You can create a few Immortal Grade Cultivation Methods from it, or several Heavenly Grade methods from it, all without any side effects.]

Keith sighed in his heart when he heard the System's response. This was indeed a Priceless Treasure.

"Create one out of it that will suit Ryou. Make it an Immortal Grade Method but in progressive pieces so that he can Cultivate it safely.."

[Has the Host decided on giving him the Blood?]

"Yes."

[Aknowleding and Initiating Host's request...]

[50000 System Points Consumed...]

[Ding! The Host's request has been completed.]

[The Immortal Grade Cultivation Manual, The Four Lives of the Demon of Pride, has been created.]

Keith checked the System Inventory and found a new Cultivation Manual inside it in the form of four booklets.

He knew that if he did not possess the Devil Sutra, purchasing a Cultivation Manual of this Grade and quality from the System would have cost him easily over three hundred million System Points.

After taking a quick look at the first Volume of the Four Lives of the Demon of Pride, Keith put the Devil Sutra inside the inventory and closed his eyes, digesting the information he had just learned and understood.

When he opened his eyes, he was met by gorgeous sterling grey orbs that were lovingly and curiously staring at him.

"Hey." He leaned in and captured her lips in a soft kiss.

"Hey." She smiled and then kissed him back, her hand clutching his shirt as she tasted him to her heart's content. "What were you reading?" She asked after she separated and looked into his eyes again.

"A mysterious book." He playfully smiled.

"What languages was it? All I saw were beautiful but weird runes that were floating and moving all over the pages."

Keith smiled at her words and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"You will learn it one day." He promised her, evoking a smile on her lips. "So, what's bothering my lovely wife?" He asked and watched her pout before she lowered her head and rested it back on his chest, hugging him.

"Keith."

"Yes?"

"Am I naive?" She straightforwardly asked and narrowed her eyes when she heard him sigh.

"In a sense, you are too kind and naive, but it is a matter of perspectives."

"But it is naivety in your eyes, right?" She pressed and sat up, looking into his eyes.

"Yes." He truthfully said.

"Why?"

"Because you don't know things that I know." He nudged his nose with hers.

"Then tell..."

"Yue." He cut her off as he stared into her eyes. "It's not something I can tell you. You will have to learn and experience the reality of life on your own. You are young, very young right now." He playfully said and chuckled when she glared at him.

"You are only a few months older than me!"

"Yes, but we are very different." He gently stroked her cheekbone and smiled. "You are breathtakingly beautiful, and I am just perfect." He grinned, and Qingyue rolled her eyes at his narcissism.

"Not again!" She sternly said, and then stared at his face, looking at his light smile that was indeed just perfect. "What do you want me to be?" She asked, looking at him with a seriousness that made him sigh in his heart.

Keith knew that she madly loved him, and she would do anything he would ask her to do if she learned that it would please him, but it was not something he wanted.

"Just be you." He planted a kiss on her forehead. "My dear Yue is destined for greatness. Just let the time take its course."

His words made her eyes turn misty and then she lowered her head.

"I love you." He told her, and she nodded her head before lying on top of him and snuggling her face in his neck.

"I love you, Keith." She whispered.

"I know."

Qingyue smiled when she felt him tightly wrap his arms around her, and as she stayed in his embrace, filling her lungs with his scent and basking in his warmth, a wave of tiredness washed over her and she fell asleep.

It was nearly dinnertime, but Keith decided to not have it tonight.

He sent a message to Rebecca, informing her to not allow anyone to disturb him, and then he closed his eyes too as he went through the details of the Four Lives of Demon of Pride.

What happened earlier today when he met Ryou and Victor was something very unexpected.

The System issued him an Optional Side-Quest, and it was quite a surprise.

[Side Quest (Optional): Help Ryou, whose Destiny you have changed, to reach the peak of the Spirit Profound Realm and send him to the Lower Heaven. Have him create a force for you to utilise when you arrive in that world in the future.]

[Quest Tools: An unidentified Teleportation Stone.]

[Quest Reward: 20,000 System Points, Wicked Sabre.]

The reason the System had generated this Quest was to send Ryou to the world they would be going to in the future so that his slave could pave the way for them and also grow by himself and develop his Battle Body.

It had, of course, led to a lot of questions, and the System finally informed him about the world he would be going to after a few years.

Just like the one he was in right now, his next destination was going to be a world blessed by Destiny and Fate, where a lot of Children of Destiny were going to be born, so sending Ryou beforehand was quite beneficial to both him and his servant.

Since this was an Optional Side Quest, he had no obligation to accept it, and there were no penalties either. The Quest Reward was not too lucrative as well, but the true reward was going to be the foundation Ryou would lay for them in the next world.

Though it would be a few years in this world, it was quite possible that Ryou would be centuries old when they would meet again.

Time worked differently everywhere, and Lower Heaven had its own Laws of Time. Therefore, Ryou would get enough time to gather substantial power in his hands.

Keith thought things over before he accepted the Quest. He had to make some decisions and decide if Ryou was truly worth it.

Time could change people. Their loyalties could change, and even the most grateful could turn selfish when their hearts belong somewhere else. And hundreds of years was truly a long time for a Mortal.

Therefore, he was going to make sure that Ryou would forever be rendered incapable of betraying him.