Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist

"Instead," he continued, his voice low and cold, "we'll focus on the smaller players. The lone cultivators, the minor sects, the families still clinging to neutrality. We will sow discord, exploit their weaknesses, and force them to bend their knees to the Heavenly Jade Pavilion."

Cui Lan's eyes widened slightly. "But Master, wouldn't it be a waste of time and resources to conquer these weaker sects?"

Wang Jian threw his head back and let out a booming laugh. "Think, Cui Lan, think! By absorbing these smaller factions, we bolster our own strength. We cripple the alliance's potential for growth, turning them into fractured pieces with no hope of uniting against us."

A slow smile spread across Cui Lan's face. "Master, your brilliance is unmatched. By the time this so-called Jiang Chen reaches his Godking potential, the Eastern Cosmos will already be kneeling at the feet of the Heavenly Jade Pavilion!"

"Precisely," Wang Jian declared, his voice dripping with sinister satisfaction. "We will crush their hope, one pathetic sect at a time. Let them dream of their Godking while we become the undisputed rulers of the Eastern Cosmos!"

News of Wang Jian's strategy spread like wildfire. Cultivators across the Eastern Cosmos watched with bated breath as the Heavenly Jade Pavilion unleashed a wave of terror upon the smaller sects. These once-proud factions were systematically dismantled, their resources absorbed, and their cultivators forced to swear allegiance to the Heavenly Jade Pavilion.

Panic began to grip the alliance. The united front they had envisioned was starting to crumble under the relentless pressure. Fear and paranoia spread like a virus, pitting weaker sects against each other in a desperate bid to appease the Heavenly Jade Pavilion.

Meanwhile, within the Jiang Ancient Family, Jiang Chen, oblivious to the growing chaos, poured his heart and soul into his cultivation. Every fibre of his being was dedicated to mastering the Primordial Chaos Physique, to fulfilling the prophecy of becoming the Eastern Cosmos' next Godking.

He trained relentlessly, pushing his body and mind beyond their perceived limits. His cultivation breakthroughs came at an alarming pace, leaving even the most seasoned experts in the family awestruck.

A crimson streak sliced through the vast expanse of the Eastern Cosmos, leaving a trail of vibrant energy in its wake. Yu Qing, the Scarlet Star Slaughtering Goddess, emerged from her seclusion a changed woman. The past year and a half had been a crucible of transformation. She had fused the Star's Core, the very essence of her legacy, with her own divine spirit. The power coursed through her veins, a potent elixir that had elevated her cultivation base to a level beyond her wildest dreams.

Her senses, once sharp, now stretched across galaxies. She could feel the tremors of distant battles, the ebb and flow of life force within entire star systems. It was a heady sensation, an intoxication of power and awareness.

But amidst this newfound strength, a single yearning pulsed within her – the desire to share it with Wang Jian. He had been her supporter.

Now, she longed to see the surprise and admiration in his eyes, to bask in his approval.

With a focused thought, she steered her crimson energy, propelling her towards the Star Cloud Sect's Star Cluster. The once-proud Sect had been conquered by the Heavenly Jade Pavilion, but for Yu Qing, it served as a temporary meeting point. Wang Jian, ever unpredictable, had stationed himself there for reasons unknown.

As she touched down on the desolate ground, an unsettling stillness greeted her. The Star Cloud Sect's signature aura, vibrant and powerful, had been replaced by a chilling emptiness. A tremor of unease ran through Yu Qing, but she dismissed it, attributing it to the aftermath of a conquest.

Suddenly, a mischievous laughter echoed from the ruins of the Sect's central hall. Yu Qing's eyes widened. It was a sound she knew all too well, a sound that sent a familiar warmth blooming in her chest – Wang Jian.

"Greetings, Qing," Wang Jian said, his voice laced with amusement. "You emerge from your secluded cultivation, radiant as ever."

Yu Qing's heart skipped a beat. Wang Jian always had a knack for witty compliments. She brushed off any lingering unease, her focus solely on him. "Jian," she beamed, "I have succeeded! I've fused the Star's Core with my spirit."

A flicker of genuine excitement lit up Wang Jian's eyes. "Excellent news!" he exclaimed. He strode towards her, his movements fluid and graceful. "Come, my dear Yu Qing, tell me all about it."

Yu Qing, basking in his genuine interest, recounted the details of her seclusion, the challenges she faced, the elation of the final fusion. She described the surge of power, the vastness of her newfound senses. Wang Jian listened intently, his playful teasing momentarily forgotten.

As she spoke, a delicate blush crept over Yu Qing's cheeks. Wang Jian, ever the keen observer, caught it. "Ah, my Scarlet Star beauty seems a little flustered today," he remarked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

Yu Qing stammered, flustered by his playful prodding. "J-Jian!" she protested, her voice barely a whisper.

He chuckled, the sound deep and rich. "Don't worry, Qing," he assured her, his voice softening. "I'm truly proud of your accomplishment. You've become even more powerful, even more formidable."

His words sent a wave of warmth through her. The teasing, often infuriating, was a part of their dynamic, a playful back-and-forth she had come to tolerate, even appreciate.

They spent the rest of the day exploring the ruins of the Star Cloud Sect, a bittersweet exploration of a fallen giant. But even amidst the desolation, their conversation flowed easily, punctuated by Wang Jian's observations and Yu Qing's insights.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the ruins, a comfortable silence settled between them. Yu Qing, gazing up at the star-dusted night sky, felt a sense of contentment she hadn't experienced in a long time.

"Ready to return?" Wang Jian asked, his voice gentle.

She reached out and touched his hand, her fiery energy brushing against his. A silent promise, a shared understanding.

Yu Qing, energized by her recent breakthrough, channeled her power, engulfing both her and Wang Jian in a crimson aura. The air crackled with vibrant energy as they soared through the cosmos, leaving the desolate ruins of the Star Cloud Sect behind. The silence was broken only by the soft hum of the wind rushing past them.

"Tell me, Wang Jian," Yu Qing began, her voice barely a whisper amidst the rushing air. "What has transpired while I was in seclusion?"

Wang Jian, his robes billowing behind him, chuckled lightly. "Ah, Yu Qing, you've been out of the loop for a while. The Eastern Cosmos has seen quite a bit of upheaval."

He launched into a detailed explanation, starting with the initial expansion of the Heavenly Jade Pavilion after conquering several smaller sects. He spoke of the unexpected resistance they encountered – the combined might of large sects like the Star Cloud Sect and the Azure Gale Sect.

Suddenly, a new wrinkle emerged in his narrative. "But just as things were heating up," Wang Jian explained, a mischievous glint in his eye, "a more pressing issue cropped up – a full- blown war with the devil tribes from the Ancient Devil Star Cluster."

Yu Qing's brow furrowed. Devil tribes – their chaotic nature, their insatiable hunger for conquest – were a constant threat to the stability of the Cosmos. "And these weaklings dared to invade our territory?" she spat with a hint of fury.

Wang Jian smirked. "Not so weak, my dear Yu Qing. This time, the Blue Moon Eclipse Devil Tribe, led by their formidable Queen Xiulan, spearheaded the attack."

Yu Qing gasped.

"The humans weren't alone in this conflict though," Wang Jian continued. "Other races like the glorious Ancient Phoenix Tribe, renowned for their fire manipulation prowess, joined the fray on our side."

A flicker of respect momentarily replaced the curiosity in Yu Qing's eyes. The Ancient Phoenix Tribe, legendary for their mastery of fire, was a powerful ally indeed.

"However," Wang Jian added with a hint of frustration in his voice, "the White Tiger Clan, renowned for their brute strength, chose to side with the devil tribes. Their ferocity only served to exacerbate the conflict."

Yu Qing's expression hardened. The White Tiger Clan, a longstanding rival to the Ancient Phoenix Tribe were known for their ruthless pragmatism. Their presence on the battlefield wouldn't bode well for the human cultivators.

"And then," Wang Jian's voice grew solemn, "the Star Lords entered the fray. Their arrival was a significant boon to our forces."

Yu Qing, a Star Lord herself, understood the immense power they wielded. With their connection to their respective stars, they could unleash devastating celestial attacks, turning the tide of any battle.

"I expected the war to be over then," Yu Qing admitted, a hint of surprise in her voice. "The Star Lords are formidable opponents."

Wang Jian's face contorted into a grimace. "Unfortunately," he revealed, "the devil tribes aren't without their cunning strategies. They had developed a specialized formation array that could disrupt the connection between a Star Lord and their source star."

An icy shock gripped Yu Qing. Most Star Lords drew their power from distant stars, often located in other Cosmoses. If the devil tribes could sever this connection, the Star Lords would be severely weakened.

"As if that wasn't enough," Wang Jian added, a hint of frustration in his voice, "the rivals of the Star Lords, the enigmatic Astral Wraiths, decided to throw their lot in with the devils. The balance of power tipped once again, this time in favor of the savage hordes."

This revelation painted a grim picture. With their devastating array and the support of the Astral Wraiths, the devil tribes now possessed a significant advantage.

"But the human spirit is not easily broken, Martial Sister Yu Qing," Wang Jian continued, a hint of admiration coloring his voice. "Cultivation families across the Eastern Cosmos rallied to the cause, bolstering the human resistance. Their combined efforts, alongside the valiant efforts of the remaining Star Lords and the Ancient Phoenix Tribe, began to push back the demonic tide."

Yu Qing let out a relieved breath. The perseverance of the human cultivators, even in the face of overwhelming odds, was a testament to their strength.

"However," her relief was short-lived as Wang Jian continued, "the war took an unexpected turn. Queen Xiulan of the Blue Moon Eclipse Tribe, for reasons unknown, abruptly retreated back to the Ancient Devil Star Cluster, taking their core forces with them."

This piece of information left Yu Qing utterly confused. Why would the devil tribes, seemingly on the verge of victory, suddenly withdraw their leader?

"With Queen Xiulan gone, the remaining devil tribes, demoralized and strategically weakened, were quickly decimated by the combined forces of the humans and their allies," Wang Jian concluded. "The war is effectively over, albeit at a great cost."

Yu Qing fell silent, processing the whirlwind of events.