Qiao Xuan stood there, utterly devastated. The surprises kept coming, one after another, leaving him too stunned to react.

Was that mummified corpse really him?

This was too terrifying!

Qiao Xuan had seen scary corpses before, back when he was Qing Xun, but those days were long gone, and he had deliberately stopped thinking about it. To him, the Western Wasteland was just a distant memory… So when he suddenly saw it, he was utterly shocked. Now that he had calmed down, he couldn’t help but start thinking about it.

At the time, he had sacrificed himself to save Bai Cang, so naturally, he didn’t know what he looked like after death. Seeing it now, he felt nothing but a chill down his spine.

Though the way he died was horrifying, it was all in the past. For Qing Xun, death was also a kind of release…

Qiao Xuan could brush off these things. What he cared about was how he ended up like that, yet Bai Cang could still gaze at the mummified corpse with such affection… That was really terrifying, okay?!

Since arriving in the Western Wasteland, it had been one scare after another…

This whole soul-summoning business? Qiao Xuan had no words for how outrageous it was.

He was alive and well, eating delicious food and feeling great. He was quite satisfied with his current body. Who in their right mind would want to go back into that dried-up corpse?

What? Were they planning to soak him in water and rehydrate him after he went back?

Please, spare me. If you love me, just let me rest in peace, okay?

You’re killing me here!

Qiao Xuan was finally getting anxious. Had he known this would happen, he might as well have let Bai Cang destroy the world. At least he could’ve gone back and reported it, maybe even earned a little merit in the process…

But now things were different. Bai Cang was clearly targeting him. Even if he successfully escaped, he couldn’t guarantee his soul wouldn’t be dragged back.

If he was trapped in that dried-up corpse, he’d rather just die for real!

“Let’s go. Why are you still standing there?”

A mocking, chilly voice fell into his ears, causing Qiao Xuan to stiffen all over. He raised his head, only to meet Bai Cang’s emotionless gaze, and instinctively shivered.

Fortunately, Bai Cang didn’t pay him much attention and simply walked past him.

Qiao Xuan gritted his teeth and quickly followed.

That night, Bai Cang rested inside, while Qiao Xuan stood outside in the cold wind. As the wind blew, he gradually calmed down.

He began to recall events from his past life.

But no matter how hard he thought, from beginning to end, he couldn’t find a single clue that Bai Cang had ever loved him. After all, he was a seasoned veteran in affairs of the heart—there was no way he could’ve missed such a thing. When he was alive, Bai Cang had definitely never loved him!

Or rather, Qiao Xuan didn’t believe someone like Bai Cang could love anyone at all. He only loved himself.

But then, how could he explain Bai Cang’s current behavior?

Could it be a way of repaying him for saving his life?

Since Bai Cang was still alive today, it showed that Qiao Xuan had indeed helped him back then. But… this guess still didn’t make sense.

Bai Cang wasn’t the type to repay kindness!

There weren’t many demons in the Western Wasteland who repaid their debts—most of them were selfish, cold, ruthless, and treacherous. The whole “Farmer and the Snake” or “Mr. Dongguo and the Wolf” thing was more their style…

Repaying kindness with enmity didn’t surprise him one bit.

Repaying kindness? That’d be like the sun rising in the west.

What he had done for Bai Cang should’ve been laughable to him. To Bai Cang, he was just a worthless tool—someone who had stupidly sacrificed his life even though he knew he had been abandoned. Based on what Qiao Xuan knew of Bai Cang, this was exactly how Bai Cang should have seen it.

And yet…

Bai Cang wanted to bring him back to life.

Given the current situation, aside from repaying a debt, Qiao Xuan couldn’t think of any other reason.

If you’ve ruled out all the possibilities, even if the last one seems impossible, it’s probably the only answer…

Qiao Xuan clutched his head.

How was he supposed to know things would turn out like this?! If he could, he’d go back in time and tell Qing Xun not to do it—better yet, finish Bai Cang off with another strike to get rid of the problem once and for all!

That would’ve saved him from having to deal with this whole soul-summoning mess now…

Wait a minute.

Qiao Xuan suddenly froze.

This really was repaying kindness with enmity…

Qiao Xuan gritted his teeth.

That’s right.

It was definitely repaying kindness with enmity!

…

Time passed quickly.

Qiao Xuan’s heart grew heavier. Tomorrow’s ritual would be his only chance to escape.

Ever since returning from the Abyss of Buried Demons, he had been stuck following Bai Cang around, and one day, after he tried to score a free meal, Bai Cang had threatened him, saying that if Qiao Xuan didn’t agree to become his furnace, he’d tighten the golden ring around his neck. Qiao Xuan had tried to run, but he hadn’t even made it a hundred meters before the ring started tightening. That was when he realized Bai Cang was using the black ring on his hand to control the golden ring around his neck.

If he wanted to escape, he’d have to get that black ring. But Bai Cang never took it off, so it wouldn’t be easy.

The night was deep.

Tonight was different from usual—Bai Cang’s bedchamber was brightly lit, and demon servants were constantly coming and going, carrying jade basins and other items…

Qiao Xuan narrowed his eyes. Whether one was a cultivator or a demon, the dust-clearing technique was a basic spell—every cultivator could do it, so there was no need to bathe every day.

He had been here for quite a while, but this was the first time he’d seen Bai Cang take a bath. Could it be part of his preparations for tomorrow’s ritual?

Tsk, who would’ve thought this bastard had a sense of ceremony.

But then Qiao Xuan’s thoughts shifted. Wasn’t this the opportunity he had been waiting for?

Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.

Bai Cang stood in the center of the room, with two demon servants kneeling at his feet, ready to help him undress for the bath. When he saw Qiao Xuan enter, his cold gaze swept over him, and he said in a flat voice, “What do you want?”

Qiao Xuan put on a flattering smile and lowered his gaze respectfully. “I came to serve the Demon Lord.”

Bai Cang raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with mockery. “Oh? Didn’t you say you didn’t know how to serve others?”

With his famously thick skin, Qiao Xuan quickly replied in a serious tone, “I’ve thought it through. Serving the Demon Lord is an honor for this little immortal. I was foolish before and hope the Demon Lord won’t hold it against me… I may not have known how to serve others before, but I can learn! I promise I won’t let the Demon Lord down!”

Seeing the boy’s sincere, flattering expression, Bai Cang examined him for a moment before letting out a chuckle, his voice hoarse. “It’s a pity I’ve lost interest in you. You should know, I’m not short of people who can serve me.”

Qiao Xuan’s heart tightened, and he immediately dropped to his knees with a thud, his eyes brimming with tears, pleading pitifully. “This little immortal knows his mistake and hopes the Demon Lord will give him another chance. I’m still useful…” He paused for a moment, as if finally making a tough decision, and gritted his teeth before vowing, “If one day the Demon Lord wishes to attack the heavens, this little immortal will serve at your side, like a loyal dog or horse!”

Qiao Xuan stared at Bai Cang with utmost sincerity. Bai Cang had once said that when Qiao Xuan was no longer useful, he would kill him. Now, with the ritual approaching, it seemed like his days were numbered. Throwing himself at Bai Cang’s feet to save his life made sense, didn’t it? He was, after all, someone from the heavenly realm, and was highly regarded by Hua Lan. Bai Cang didn’t know his full identity—there was a chance he’d accept his loyalty.

Qiao Xuan knew Bai Cang only kept useful people around.

Bai Cang lowered his gaze at the youth kneeling before him. The boy looked up with wide, sincere eyes, as if he was desperately trying to show just how useful he could be…

He wanted to live.

In the Western Wasteland, everyone wanted to live. People would do anything—resort to any means—to survive… So even those from the heavenly realm were no different.

Another pawn, more or less, didn’t really matter… But as Bai Cang looked into the boy’s eyes, those eyes filled with determination and desperate pleas for survival, he couldn’t help but think of Qing Xun.

He didn’t mind giving him one more chance.

Bai Cang glanced at the demon servants by his side and said, “You two may leave.”

The servants said nothing, showing no expression as they backed out of the room, closing the door behind them.

Qiao Xuan was momentarily stunned but then quickly showed an expression of delight.

That was a sign of agreement!

He smiled shyly and obediently scooted closer to Bai Cang, his eyelashes trembling as he spoke softly, “Let me help you change, Your Lordship…”

Back then, this was how he’d flattered Bai Cang—Bai Cang always fell for this sort of thing. He liked people who were obedient and docile.

Sure enough, Bai Cang said nothing, merely casting him a deep glance.

Qiao Xuan steadied himself, carefully reached out, and tentatively touched Bai Cang’s waistband. Seeing that Bai Cang didn’t object, he removed the token tied around Bai Cang’s waist and set it on the table.

Bai Cang’s gaze lingered on Qiao Xuan’s slender, pale fingers, his eyes darkening slightly. A faint smile curled his lips as he removed his ring and other accessories, casually tossing them onto the table.

Qiao Xuan’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his expression completely neutral, not glancing at the table even once. He lowered his head and quietly moved behind Bai Cang, reaching up to remove his outer robe.

Bai Cang was much taller than him, so Qiao Xuan had to stand on tiptoe to reach. Because they were so close, his nose nearly brushed against Bai Cang’s neck. The cold, dark aura that clung to Bai Cang was like the sky over the Western Wasteland—harsh and filled with the scent of blood. Who knew how many people he had killed to give off such a terrifying aura…

Compared to back then, Bai Cang was colder and more dangerous now.

Qiao Xuan’s whole body tensed, sweat trickling down his forehead. He didn’t dare let his guard down for even a second. After removing Bai Cang’s black outer robe, he carefully placed it on the clothing rack.

Next, he moved to take off Bai Cang’s inner robe.

The black silk undergarment clung to Bai Cang’s well-defined muscles, outlining his strong, powerful body. Qiao Xuan’s hand hovered at the collar, but then, as if embarrassed, he paused, the tips of his ears flushing pink.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen Bai Cang’s body before, and as a seasoned pro, there was no way he’d be embarrassed by something so trivial. But Bai Cang didn’t know who he really was… Now that he was a celestial being from the heavenly realm, kidnapped to the demonic domain to be a slave, it was only natural that he wouldn’t have done anything like this before…

What Qiao Xuan needed to do now was… act innocent!

That way, Bai Cang wouldn’t suspect anything.

Details determined success or failure!

Sure enough, when Bai Cang saw him stop, the corners of his mouth twitched in amusement, and he let out a low, husky laugh. “What, changed your mind?”

Qiao Xuan’s eyes reddened slightly as his fingers trembled, gripping the fabric. His eyelashes glistened with a hint of moisture. He bit his lip, as if waging an internal battle, his expression showing deep shame. After a moment, he finally gritted his teeth and, closing his eyes, tugged the robe down.

Then, he quickly stepped back, turning his head away as if too embarrassed to look.

In reality—

Qiao Xuan mentally applauded, impressed. This guy had a great body, though he had a lot more scars now. Clearly, he still enjoyed fighting.

But in Bai Cang’s eyes—

The youth lowered his head, blushing all the way to his ears, as if he was so embarrassed he wished he could disappear.

Bai Cang’s thin lips curled upward, letting out a soft chuckle. Ignoring Qiao Xuan’s shyness, he strode behind the screen.

Phew…

Bai Cang was finally starting to bathe.

Qiao Xuan respectfully bowed. “This little immortal will take his leave.”

With that, he walked toward the table.

After closing the door behind him, he stood outside.

Slowly, Qiao Xuan unfolded his palm, his gaze sharpening. In his hand were the ring and the token—he had swapped them out for fakes when he passed by the table.

Examining the ring closely, he infused it with spiritual power. With a slight probe, he heard a clicking sound, and the golden ring around his neck loosened. Qiao Xuan’s eyes lit up—now that he had solved this problem, escaping would be a breeze!

But before he left, there was still one thing he needed to do…

Qiao Xuan turned and headed toward the altar. By now, most of the demon cultivators in the area were familiar with him, so they didn’t question him and let him through.

But the problem wasn’t the demon cultivators.

It was Kui Yuan, who sat by the altar, gnawing on a beast’s leg.

Qiao Xuan squinted. Over the past few days, he had learned quite a bit about Ji Xiao and Kui Yuan. Unlike the clever, resourceful Ji Xiao, Kui Yuan was a brainless brute, relying on his formidable combat skills to become Bai Cang’s fearsome right-hand man. He was practically Bai Cang’s perfect guard dog…

If it weren’t for this idiot, Qiao Xuan would’ve escaped long ago!

Kui Yuan was chewing away when he suddenly caught the scent of celestial energy. He turned and saw Qiao Xuan, immediately losing interest in his meal as he stared at Qiao Xuan, drooling. But this was the Demon Lord’s person, and Ji Xiao had said he couldn’t eat him…

Qiao Xuan eyed Kui Yuan warily, swallowing hard. But there was no turning back now.

He couldn’t win by force, so he had to use his wits.

Gritting his teeth, Qiao Xuan walked over, his expression calm as he held up Bai Cang’s token. “I’m here under the Demon Lord’s orders.”

Kui Yuan blinked, confused. “What did the Demon Lord send you here for?”

Qiao Xuan: “To check if you’re sneaking food.”

Kui Yuan: “…”

Qiao Xuan spoke in a stern tone, though his nerves were taut, ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble. If this brute lost control, he’d have to make a run for it.

Kui Yuan might’ve been drooling, but he didn’t dare eat Qiao Xuan. Looking awkward, he set down the beast leg and mumbled, “The Demon Lord didn’t say I couldn’t eat before…”

Qiao Xuan glared. “Do you not understand how important this altar is to the Demon Lord? You’re here to guard it, not to mess around. Eating and drinking here is disrespectful to the dead!”

Kui Yuan: “…”

Seeing that Kui Yuan had been sufficiently cowed, Qiao Xuan softened his tone. “Alright, I’ve got some spirit fruit here. Take it and eat outside—I’ll watch over the altar for a while.”

Kui Yuan didn’t fully trust Qiao Xuan. As far as he knew, Qiao Xuan was a prisoner—why would he be helping Bai Cang? He suspected Qiao Xuan was up to something! But…

Those spirit fruits sure smelled good…

Kui Yuan stared at the juicy, glistening fruit in Qiao Xuan’s hand, his inner battle raging.

A few minutes later, he finally made a decision. Qiao Xuan had Bai Cang’s token, so it couldn’t be a lie. Plus, he wouldn’t go far—he’d just sit by the door and eat, so Qiao Xuan wouldn’t be able to escape…

The best of both worlds.

Kui Yuan chuckled, snatching the fruit from Qiao Xuan’s hand. As he walked off, he growled, “I’ll be right back!”

Qiao Xuan chuckled to himself.

He watched as Kui Yuan left, then slowly walked to the center of the altar, his gaze falling on the black coffin at the center.

If he wanted to prevent Bai Cang from summoning his soul, he had to destroy a crucial part of the process… He couldn’t smash the altar itself, but his gaze settled on the jade bead embedded in the mummified corpse’s forehead—the Tianxin Pearl that Bai Cang had stolen from the heavenly palace.

At the time, he had thought Bai Cang had stolen the treasure for cultivation purposes. He never imagined it was meant to resurrect him!

With a wave of his hand, the Tianxin Pearl flew into Qiao Xuan’s palm. He let out a cold laugh. Without this key piece, I’d like to see how you plan to summon my soul.

With the pearl in hand, Qiao Xuan smirked and turned to leave.

Outside, Kui Yuan was already snoring loudly.

This had all gone according to Qiao Xuan’s plan. The fruit may have smelled wonderful and tasted delicious, but its effect was like alcohol—back in Xuanhe Valley, even with his celestial body, one fruit had knocked him out cold. After eating dozens of them, this brute would be out like a light!

You’re not clever enough to beat me.

Qiao Xuan swaggered out of the altar.

He made it all the way to the gates of the demon palace, where he was stopped by the guards. But Qiao Xuan remained calm, holding up Bai Cang’s token. “I’m on a mission from the Demon Lord.”

The guards inspected the token carefully. Confirming it was Bai Cang’s, they respectfully returned it and opened the gates.

Qiao Xuan soared into the sky on his sword. Seeing the demon palace growing smaller in the distance, he was so moved he almost cried.

He was finally getting out of this hellhole!

At first, Qiao Xuan didn’t fly too fast. But as he got further from the palace, he sped up.

Unfortunately, his cultivation level wasn’t high enough to return directly to the heavenly realm, but as long as he left the Western Wasteland, he could find a place to hide. Bai Cang wouldn’t be able to find him, and then he could make his way to Nanyue Country…

He flew for several hours straight. By the time the sun rose, the Western Wasteland was unusually clear, with less gloom than usual. Qiao Xuan was overjoyed—he was finally about to escape!

In his moment of elation, Qiao Xuan lost focus and flew straight into a massive net, hitting it so hard that tears welled up from the pain.

Who the hell had set up a trap here?!

Just as he was about to curse, he froze, the words catching in his throat as all the color drained from his face…

Standing before him was Ji Xiao.

The pale, skinny young man floated above him, looking down with cold, calculating eyes. Slowly, he said, “The Demon Lord asked me to tell you: playtime’s over, it’s time to come back.”

…

An hour later.

Qiao Xuan was thrown at Bai Cang’s feet once again.

The man stood at the edge of the tall altar, casting a sidelong glance at Qiao Xuan. His violet eyes held that familiar, mocking smile…

Qiao Xuan’s lips trembled.

At this point, it was painfully obvious—everything had been part of Bai Cang’s plan.

He had deliberately given Qiao Xuan the chance to steal the token and ring, just to test him. He had been waiting for Qiao Xuan to make his escape… He had never trusted him from the start…

But despite how obvious the trap had been, Qiao Xuan had still walked right into it. In the face of such danger, he had lost his composure.

Even if the chances were slim, as long as there was any hope, he couldn’t help but gamble.

What if he could escape…

The token and the ring had been Bai Cang’s bait. He wasn’t afraid that Qiao Xuan wouldn’t take the bait, because he had no other choice.

Either escape, or wait to die.

He was just someone desperate to live. When survival was on the line, people took risks. Bai Cang understood this perfectly—he didn’t need to say it. He just watched as his prey struggled in his hands, giving them hope, only to crush it cruelly in the end.

He liked watching them fall into despair.

Qiao Xuan wasn’t surprised at all.

Bai Cang slowly walked over to him, his gaze carrying a hint of pity. With a wave of his hand, the Tianxin Pearl flew back into his palm. His thin lips curled as he spoke, his voice laced with amusement. “You really can’t be trusted, can you…”

Qiao Xuan trembled slightly.

A wave of overwhelming fear engulfed him, so intense that he couldn’t even find the words to argue. Bai Cang wasn’t Hua Lan—he wouldn’t listen to the pleas of the weak, nor did he care about the lives of ants. Anyone who betrayed him would be mercilessly and cruelly eliminated.

“What do you think I should do with you…” Bai Cang said slowly.

Ji Xiao stood silently to the side, glancing up at the sky. Walking over to Bai Cang, he said, “My lord, it’s time.”

Bai Cang withdrew his gaze from Qiao Xuan and didn’t look at him again.

Dealing with an unruly tool was, of course, less important than what was about to happen.

He had waited far too long for this day.

Bai Cang waved his hand, and the Tianxin Pearl floated above the coffin. Drawing a black blade, he sliced open his palm, letting his blood drip onto the coffin as his lips moved in a low chant.

With his actions, the intricate patterns on the altar began to glow, emitting an eerie red light.

At the same time, high above the sky, a massive blood moon, as if pulled by some force, slowly emerged from the clouds, casting its light over the altar.

The entire space seemed to grow more oppressive. Qiao Xuan felt extremely uncomfortable. This power was too strong, like an immense force pulling at two dimensions. Countless ghostly whispers filled the air, making his skin crawl. He clenched his teeth tightly.

And it wasn’t just Qiao Xuan.

Even Ji Xiao seemed to be struggling under the pressure, using his power to resist the overwhelming force.

The red light cast an eerie glow on Bai Cang’s cold, sharp features. His violet eyes took on a sinister red hue, growing more and more crazed. Suddenly, he let out a shout! A pillar of red light shot down from the blood moon, striking the Tianxin Pearl on top of the coffin!

In that moment, Qiao Xuan felt his soul tremble.

At the same time, the translucent Tianxin Pearl was dyed blood red. A beam of red light shot out from it, as if searching for something, before abruptly changing direction and shooting straight into Qiao Xuan’s forehead!

Qiao Xuan let out a cry of pain.

The force lifted him into the air, like a sharp thread binding his soul, trying to tear it out of his body!

He struggled desperately to resist, but against that power, he was as helpless as an ant trying to topple a tree.

Damn it, was this really where he was going to die?!

Qiao Xuan was filled with despair. He clutched his head with both hands, but the red light was relentless, slowly pulling his soul out of his body. He could feel his spirit slipping away… In the critical moment, the golden seal hidden in his forehead suddenly emerged, shooting out a sharp beam of golden light!

The golden light pierced through the red beam, shattering it completely!

But the golden light didn’t stop there. Sensing the source of the danger, it flared up, sending out a blinding burst of light that followed the red beam’s path, slamming into the Tianxin Pearl and shattering it to dust!