Qiao Xuan finished recalling the past and let out a long sigh.

The Demon Realm was the Demon Realm, after all. If there were a ranking of misery among his seven lives of love tribulations, Qing Xun’s lifetime would undoubtedly tie for first place.

Sure, Jiang Wei Qing may have killed his wife for enlightenment, and Hua Lan might have been obsessed with pursuing his ambitions, but in those lives, at least, he and his fated love interests had reciprocated each other’s feelings. In both cases, his partners had treated him kindly, and while they lived, he never had to worry about basic needs like food or shelter.

But Bai Cang? He never loved Qing Xun.

In Bai Cang’s eyes, Qing Xun was just a foolish, useless plaything. If it weren’t for his Pure Yin Furnace physique, he likely wouldn’t have survived for long in the Demon Realm.

Qing Xun didn’t understand that, as a human, he could have dreams, ambitions, or desires. His sole focus in life was survival, nothing more.

As for how to live? That was never something he considered.

Qing Xun had always drifted aimlessly, with no clear direction in life. He was like a piece of floating grass, at the mercy of the wind. The only choice he ever made for himself was how he would die.

But honestly, as tragic as Qing Xun’s life was and as heartless as Bai Cang had been, Qiao Xuan didn’t harbor much resentment towards Bai Cang. That was just the way things were in the Western Desolate Region. Finding a deeply affectionate lover in that place was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Bai Cang had never made any promises, and he had stayed true to his cold-hearted nature as a demonic cultivator from beginning to end. Even though Bai Cang had once favored Qing Xun for a while, it was nothing more than an exchange of benefits. The reason Qing Xun developed feelings for Bai Cang was, in Qiao Xuan’s view, mostly because Qing Xun was naive.

Or perhaps it was because Qing Xun’s life had been so unbearably hard that he desperately needed someone to pin his hopes on, someone to cling to.

Qiao Xuan could understand that.

Qing Xun had never been educated, never learned to read or write, and no one had ever taught him the lessons of life or shown him the care he deserved. Even his mother, who sacrificed herself for him in the end, hadn’t been what one would call a “good mother.”

In a world that was all about survival of the fittest and ruthless betrayal, Qing Xun had never developed a proper worldview. He was weak and not particularly smart.

The most terrifying part was that he didn’t even realize his own limitations.

It was a miracle he survived as long as he did.

Back when Qiao Xuan was living a more indulgent life, he had friends, including young stars from the entertainment industry who would easily offer themselves for a bit of money and resources. These people knew their place. Their relationships were based on physical connection, not emotional attachment, and as a result, they got along just fine.

In a way, Bai Cang had been like Qing Xun’s sugar daddy, providing him with a lavish life, protecting him from hunger and cold. In exchange, Qing Xun was supposed to be a compliant toy, something Bai Cang could use to cultivate his power. Yet Qing Xun had mistaken this transactional arrangement for genuine affection.

But it wasn’t. If it had been someone else with the same rare physique, the result would have been the same.

Qing Xun just happened to have an extraordinary physique and fell into Bai Cang’s hands by chance.

Unfortunately, Qing Xun didn’t realize this.

He became confused by Bai Cang’s temporary kindness and forgot his own identity. He allowed himself to get emotionally attached when he should have kept his distance.

Unequal feelings like that were never going to end well.

If Qiao Xuan had retained any memory of his previous lives, he would never have made such a foolish mistake. The correct approach would have been to use his advantages to gather enough resources in the limited time he had and then find a way to escape that situation, taking control of his own fate. In the Western Desolate Region, the only thing you could rely on was your own strength.

But Qing Xun… He was a pretty, useless fool with no ambition and no strength.

His greatest hope had been to maintain the status quo, naively believing that Bai Cang’s temporary favor could serve as a permanent shield, humbly hoping not to be discarded.

That was the most foolish and laughable thing of all.

Because when someone puts all their hopes in another person, they lose their independence, their dignity. When that person abandons them, there’s nothing left—no room for resistance.

That’s why, Qiao Xuan mused, in life, it’s essential to be independent and strong. If you can’t be independent and strong, at least have some self-awareness. That way, when you’re inevitably discarded, the disappointment won’t hit so hard.

Unfortunately, Qing Xun had neither of these traits.

Still, Qiao Xuan couldn’t really blame Qing Xun for his choices. After all, it was the environment he grew up in… If he had lived in a more loving environment, he wouldn’t have been so timid and desperate, so willing to sell himself for a meal, so eager to grasp at fleeting hope, like a drowning man clinging to floating debris…

For most people, dignity is a luxury you can only afford once your stomach is full.

Reflecting on these things, Qiao Xuan sighed again.

If this wasn’t a love tribulation, he would never have believed that such a fool could be himself!

Experiencing life from all angles—perhaps that was the purpose of these tribulations.

To place all your hopes in another person, only to have those hopes cruelly crushed and ground into dust… That was more painful than never having hope in the first place.

Qing Xun had experienced that despair. In the end, he chose to give up on life because it was simply too hard to keep going.

Death was a release.

As for why he saved Bai Cang? Perhaps it was because, under that blazing fire, the only thing that shielded Qing Xun was the silhouette of someone standing in front of him.

Wanting to live—maybe that was the only thing Qing Xun and Qiao Xuan had in common.

If you want to walk your own path, you can’t depend on anyone else.

Having experienced such helpless despair, Qiao Xuan could now focus wholeheartedly on cultivation after returning from his tribulations. He broke through all obstacles, and in the end, he successfully passed the Heavenly Tribulation.

As for why he decided to flee now? Well, Qiao Xuan was never one for cultivating in the first place. He was restless by nature. Reaching the point of transcending the tribulation and becoming an immortal was already a big achievement for him. Now that his goal was accomplished, he no longer felt the drive to keep pushing forward…

To put it simply, if you told him that failing to score a 60 on a test would mean death, he’d probably fight tooth and nail to get that 60. But to score 100? That just wasn’t necessary.

Besides, he figured he was doing pretty well now. He was an immortal, after all. He had no grand ambitions of being the most powerful. Life as an ordinary person, enjoying food and fun, was much more appealing to him.

Now, as for Bai Cang…

Qiao Xuan rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Back then, Bai Cang had been quite strong. Wu Ya Sect was a significant sect, but it was still just “strong” compared to the others. If Bai Cang had been much stronger, he wouldn’t have been cornered by a coalition of sects, left in a situation where Qing Xun had to risk his life to save him. Though Qiao Xuan didn’t know exactly what happened afterward, he guessed that Bai Cang had probably died. It had been nearly impossible for him to turn the tide back then…

Seeing that Bai Cang hadn’t just survived but had actually united the demonic forces of the Western Desolate Region, even ruling alongside the beasts and earning the title of “Demon Sovereign” was truly a shock to Qiao Xuan.

It made him look at Bai Cang in a whole new light…

The Western Desolate Region was a land of exile. The demons and monsters there didn’t cultivate the Heavenly Dao, nor were they recognized by the Heavens. This meant they couldn’t ascend to the celestial realm, but that didn’t mean they weren’t powerful. In fact, it was one of the most dangerous places across the three realms. If it weren’t for the ancient seals, the demons there would have long since wreaked havoc on the mortal world.

And now, Bai Cang had become so strong that even Hua Lan was wary of him…

This was terrible news for Qiao Xuan.

Back then, Bai Cang had been ruthless, and anyone who fell into his hands rarely survived. The only reason Qiao Xuan hadn’t been killed yet was because he was still useful—Bai Cang needed him to keep Hua Lan in check. But what if he lost his value?

If he didn’t escape soon, it was only a matter of time before he ended up dead.

Bai Cang’s danger level: ★★★★★

This was definitely not a place to stay!

Qiao Xuan paced around the prison, waiting for nightfall. Then, he fished around in his sleeve and pulled out a red leaf he had brought from Xuanhe Valley. It wasn’t particularly useful, but when ground into powder, it could absorb spiritual energy and nullify formations—perfect for his current situation.

Because it was a demonic palace, the prison wasn’t secured by ordinary locks. Instead, there were powerful suppression formations. In here, Qiao Xuan couldn’t use his spiritual energy, so he couldn’t break the formation himself. But with this, things would be different.

Qiao Xuan narrowed his eyes and pinched the leaf between his fingers, grinding it into fine red powder. He carefully scattered the powder in front of the stone door. After a moment, with a faint “click” the door opened slightly.

Qiao Xuan’s eyes lit up with excitement. He carefully pushed the door open, peeked outside to confirm no guards were around, and quietly slipped out.

As soon as he left the prison, he felt his spiritual energy return. Before he had been captured, he had taken a close look at the demonic cultivators’ uniforms. Now, with a quick gesture, he conjured an illusion, transforming his clothes into the same black robes the demonic cultivators wore, making him indistinguishable from the rest.

Qiao Xuan steadied himself and began walking out.

Along the way, he passed groups of demonic cultivators. None of them paid him any attention. Qiao Xuan smiled inwardly, flashing a mental “V” of victory, thanking the cold, indifferent social atmosphere of this place.

He walked along the dark, shadowy corridors, silently marveling at how luxurious the demonic palace was.

Despite the eerie, desolate atmosphere and the lack of decorative splendor compared to Yunhai Tiangong, it was still a place of understated luxury.

The floor tiles and walls were made from the highest-grade Dark Spirit Stones. These stones contained pure, dark energy that was incredibly valuable for demonic cultivators. Since they couldn’t cultivate the Heavenly Dao, demonic cultivators had to rely on other methods to strengthen their bodies and master sinister techniques. They often absorbed other people’s spiritual energy to advance. But spiritual energy taken from others was impure and unstable compared to the pure energy found in Dark Spirit Stones, making these stones a top-tier resource.

Back when he was Qing Xun, Wu Ya Sect had been considered a powerful demonic sect, yet even they couldn’t afford such extravagance. Bai Cang often fought fiercely for resources, hoarding whatever Dark Spirit Stones he could find, either for himself or to share with his subordinates. Using them as building materials? That would have been unthinkable.

But now, looking at the grand palace built from these stones, it was clear just how far Bai Cang had come.

Qiao Xuan swallowed nervously, growing more cautious. As he continued down the corridor, he began hearing voices and noticed more people. He reached the end of the passage, and his view opened up to reveal a massive sinkhole.

From what he could tell, the sinkhole was located in the very center of the demonic palace. Or rather, it seemed as though the entire palace had been built around this sinkhole, and in the center of the sinkhole was a large altar.

Tattered, chained laborers were hauling stones and working tirelessly. Qiao Xuan clicked his tongue in amazement— even these laborers weren’t ordinary people; they were demonic cultivators. Being the Demon Sovereign clearly came with perks, even the slaves were a cut above.

Each group of laborers had demonic overseers keeping watch, whipping them whenever they slowed down. If any of the laborers died, they were quickly dragged away, their deaths causing no delays to the progress.

Qiao Xuan was filled with curiosity. What was Bai Cang planning? Building an altar, stealing treasures from the heavenly realm—was he up to something big?

He needed to escape, and fast!

Everyone seemed preoccupied with their work, not paying Qiao Xuan any mind. Even those who noticed him ignored him, too focused on their own tasks. This place operated like a giant machine, with everyone serving a specific role, and nobody had time to worry about someone else. Besides, no one would suspect an outsider would dare sneak in here.

Keeping his head down, Qiao Xuan quickened his pace, determined to get out of there.

At the exit on the other side of the sinkhole, a tall, muscular man was stationed. The man’s skin was a bronze hue, and he wore dark green armor, with an iron club strapped to his back. While everyone else was busy, he was squatting lazily, munching on handfuls of Dark Spirit Stones like snacks. He looked like a small mountain of muscle, seemingly uninterested in anything going on around him.

He was clearly some sort of squad leader.

Unfortunately, he was stationed right at the exit, and from the looks of his rippling muscles, he wasn’t someone Qiao Xuan wanted to mess with.

Qiao Xuan hesitated for a moment, but just then, a group of demonic cultivators approached the exit. Seizing the opportunity, Qiao Xuan discreetly joined their ranks, blending in as if he were part of their group.

The muscular man didn’t even look in their direction, his focus entirely on his snack. He seemed completely uninterested in everything around him.

Qiao Xuan calmed his nerves and slowly walked past him… Success!

Seeing freedom just ahead, Qiao Xuan was about to speed up when, suddenly, a large hand came crashing toward him with a burst of energy!

Qiao Xuan barely managed to dodge, but the massive man was now standing, his lethargy gone. His eyes sparkled with sharp intelligence as he let out a booming, gleeful laugh, saliva dripping from his mouth.

Qiao Xuan: …Why do I suddenly feel like something’s terribly wrong?

Steadying himself, Qiao Xuan spoke in a trembling voice, “Is there something I did wrong?”

The man cracked his knuckles, his thunderous voice echoing as he grinned. “You don’t belong here. Your scent… it’s wrong.”

Qiao Xuan: …

The man’s eyes gleamed as drools dripped from his mouth. “So fragrant, so delicious… You smell like one of those celestials…”

What the heck? Goosebumps ran down Qiao Xuan’s arms. Without a second thought, he turned and bolted like a streak of lightning!

The man chuckled and lunged, his massive hand swiping at Qiao Xuan. Despite his bulky frame, the man moved with shocking agility! His hand hit the ground with a resounding crash, cracking the stone floor.

Qiao Xuan’s scalp tingle with fear. If that hand had hit him, he would have been crushed into a pulp! Cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he dodged frantically. The commotion had drawn attention from the other demonic cultivators, and now escape seemed impossible…

But this wasn’t just about getting away anymore—it was about surviving!

Qiao Xuan ran for his life, occasionally throwing small stones behind him. These weren’t ordinary stones—they were from Xuanhe Valley and were as heavy as boulders. Getting hit by one was like being struck by a thousand-pound hammer!

The big man was hit a few times, clearly caught off guard by how painful those small stones were. A few welts formed on his head, and he grew angrier, charging after Qiao Xuan like a furious bull, the ground trembling beneath his feet.

Qiao Xuan was dumbfounded. Those stones would have been enough to kill most demonic cultivators! This guy took a few hits and only got a few bumps? Was he even human?!

Ahead, the path was blocked by more demonic cultivators, and behind him, the giant man was closing in fast. Qiao Xuan had nowhere left to run. He dodged to the side, but it was too late. A large hand grabbed his leg and yanked him back!

Qiao Xuan: …

It was then that he realized just how huge the man was. Standing over three meters tall, his arms were thicker than Qiao Xuan’s waist. He lifted Qiao Xuan like he was a baby chick, shaking him a couple of times for good measure before hoisting him up and bringing him close to his face. The man sniffed him, grinning from ear to ear. “The scent of the celestial realm! It’s been so long since I’ve tasted a celestial—so fresh, so sweet, so much better than these filthy demonic cultivators!”

Qiao Xuan: QAQ

The big man was practically drooling, like a starving beast who had just found a feast. His massive jaws opened wide, moving closer to Qiao Xuan. Qiao Xuan could practically smell the stench of his breath, and he nearly fainted from the horror. If he died like this, it would undoubtedly be the most gruesome death he’d ever experienced!

Qiao Xuan screamed, “I’m not tasty! I’m not tasty at all! Don’t eat me—aaaahhh!”

But the man wasn’t listening. His jaws were about to close around Qiao Xuan when, suddenly, a black streak of energy shot through the air, striking the man’s wrist. The man howled in pain and let go of Qiao Xuan.

A second later, the black energy coiled around Qiao Xuan, binding him tightly.

Qiao Xuan’s heart sank.

A tall, pale young man approached.

The big man looked furious, clearly upset about losing his snack. “Ji Xiao, what’s the meaning of this? He’s mine!”

Ji Xiao spoke coldly, “Kui Yuan, he’s not yours. He belongs to the Demon Sovereign.”

Kui Yuan hesitated, his anger fading slightly. “How do I know you’re not lying?”

Ji Xiao sneered, “Why would I lie to an idiot like you? If you don’t believe me, come with me and see for yourself.”

Ji Xiao glanced at Qiao Xuan. “He tried to escape. Naturally, he’ll be handed over to the Demon Sovereign for punishment.”

Qiao Xuan: …

Kui Yuan mulled it over. Though Ji Xiao was definitely more reliable than he was, the prospect of losing such a delicious treat was hard to swallow. In the end, he reluctantly followed Ji Xiao, grumbling as they made their way to the main hall.

Qiao Xuan, still bound, was thrown onto the floor of the grand hall.

Looking up at the cold, lazy man seated on the high stone throne, Qiao Xuan nearly cried.

How did Bai Cang usually deal with escapees?

Well, he killed them, of course.

A quick death would be considered a mercy.

Ji Xiao bowed respectfully. “Demon Sovereign, he attempted to flee but was caught by me.”

Bai Cang nodded. “You’ve done well.”

Knowing that Bai Cang didn’t tolerate interference in his affairs, Ji Xiao promptly excused himself, saying, “I’ll take my leave.”

With that, he turned and left.

As he passed Kui Yuan, Ji Xiao smirked. “What, still waiting for a show?”

Kui Yuan glanced at Qiao Xuan and then at Bai Cang. So this really was someone important to the Demon Sovereign? Disappointed, Kui Yuan sulked but followed Ji Xiao out of the hall.

Even as he walked away, he was still calculating whether or not he could ask the Demon Sovereign for that snack later. After all, Bai Cang was known to be generous. Surely, he wouldn’t mind giving up a bit of food, right?

Qiao Xuan’s heart sank as he looked at Bai Cang.

Bai Cang flicked his fingers, and the black energy binding Qiao Xuan unraveled. But Qiao Xuan didn’t dare move and stayed rigid in place.

The man sitting high above gazed at him with amusement. His purple eyes gleamed coldly as he chuckled softly. “I underestimated you. Seems you have some skill after all.”

That rough, raspy voice sent chills down Qiao Xuan’s spine. What kind of karma had he accumulated to be this scared twice in such a short time? He really, really hated the Western Desolate Region!

Swallowing his fear, Qiao Xuan stammered, “Y-You can’t kill me! If you kill me, Hua Lan won’t let you get away with it!”

Bai Cang’s lips curled into a smirk. “Oh? So you’re important to Hua Lan?”

Qiao Xuan started rambling. “Of course I’m important! Didn’t you see how he gave you the Tianxin Pearl? He wouldn’t just leave me behind. I’m warning you, Hua Lan is a powerful god. You don’t want to push your luck—seriously.”

With a flick of his hand, Qiao Xuan was yanked into the air and forced to kneel at Bai Cang’s feet.

Bai Cang’s cold, slender fingers tilted Qiao Xuan’s chin up, his gaze thoughtful. “So, what exactly are you to Hua Lan?”

His rough thumb brushed across Qiao Xuan’s lips as he murmured, “Could it be… Hua Lan’s illegitimate son? No, you don’t have the scent of a dragon…”

What the heck was with these people and their dog-like noses?

And seriously, illegitimate son?! Qiao Xuan was stunned by Bai Cang’s wild imagination.

“Could it be you’re Hua Lan’s little lover? But it doesn’t really matter…” Bai Cang’s lips quirked into a smile, though his eyes remained icy. “Do you really think I’m afraid of him? I’ve just been keeping a low profile for now. Once I’ve achieved my goal, I’ll march on the heavens and teach those self-righteous gods a lesson.”

Faced with this classic villain speech, Qiao Xuan didn’t know how to respond.

It had been 900 years, and Bai Cang was still as ambitious as ever. That level of dedication to being a villain was actually kind of impressive. He hadn’t broken character once. Still… wouldn’t he ever learn? It’s like he was just asking for trouble!

Wouldn’t it be easier to just stay in the Western Desolate Region as a demon sovereign? All this fighting and stirring up enemies would only end in disaster!

Suddenly, Bai Cang let go.

Qiao Xuan blinked in confusion.

Then, a golden ring flew out from Bai Cang’s hand, instantly locking around Qiao Xuan’s neck!

Bai Cang looked down at him from his high throne, his voice indifferent. “If you dare to run again, I’ll send your corpse to Hua Lan.”

Author’s Note:

Tribulation Tool: Bai Cang, Danger Level: ★★★★★

Qiao Xuan: Of all the exes I never wanted to see again, Bai Cang just shot straight past Jiang Wei Qing to the top of the list! T_T

Bai Cang: …

Author: You know what they say—don’t tempt fate! Heh.

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