The world was shrouded in white, fine snow drifting gently from the heavens. At the foot of Qingyun Mountain, a roadside teahouse bustled with people, all with the weary look of long journeys.

“What? Immortal Lord Zhaohua is really going to expel his disciple from the sect?”

“Is there any doubt? The news has spread across all the major sects!”

Inside the teahouse, two men dressed as cultivators were engaged in animated discussion.

The tea-serving attendant, curious, asked, “Are you two gentlemen talking about Immortal Lord Zhaohua? The one who ascended in his early years, single-handedly vanquished the Abyss of Demons, and now resides in seclusion at the Tianyan Sect?”

The man in blue nodded. “Exactly. You’ve heard of him?”

“How could I not?” The attendant chuckled. “If you head west from here for half a day, you’ll reach the territory of the Tianyan Sect, the foremost sect in the world. Many cultivators pass through this little shop, and his name comes up often.”

“Immortal Lord Zhaohua is revered throughout the cultivation world. Everyone knows his name,” said the man in blue. “And it’s not just his unmatched cultivation. Just look at his face…” He exchanged a glance with the man in white and lowered his voice. “They say that even if Immortal Lord Zhaohua hadn’t ascended or performed such heroic feats, he’d still be famous in the cultivation world for his peerless beauty.”

The attendant’s curiosity was piqued, and he couldn’t help but sigh wistfully. “Is that really true? I’d love to see him in person.”

“Who wouldn’t?” the man in white lamented. “When Immortal Lord Zhaohua visited my sect to discuss the Dao with my master, I was just an outer disciple and missed the chance to witness his celestial grace. If I could see him even once, I’d gladly give up a great portion of my fortune.”

The attendant quickly poured tea for the two men, eager to learn more. “Earlier, you mentioned Immortal Lord Zhaohua’s disciple. To be taken as his disciple, they must be someone extraordinary, right?”

“Not at all.” The man in white waved dismissively, disdain flashing in his eyes. “Extraordinary? That one’s nothing but a failure.”

“This…”

The man in blue sighed, offering an explanation. “Immortal Lord Zhaohua has taken only one direct disciple in his entire life, and he doted on them greatly.”

“In the Tianyan Sect, every disciple is required to leave the mountain for several years of training after reaching the Nascent Soul stage. Even the least talented manage this within ten years. But that one…”

The man in white took over with a sneer. “That one, despite being Immortal Lord Zhaohua’s personal disciple, has spent over a decade in the Tianyan Sect without advancing in cultivation. They can’t even form a Golden Core. What a joke.”

He shook his head in exasperation, sighing deeply. “Immortal Lord Zhaohua is such a peerless figure, as pure and refined as moonlight, with unparalleled talent and brilliance. How could his judgment… Ah, words fail me.”

The attendant hesitated before asking, “But wasn’t there talk of them being expelled from the sect?”

“Not yet,” replied the man in blue. “For now, that person is still in the Tianyan Sect. Rumor has it that they offended Immortal Lord Zhaohua not long ago and were confined to the sect’s forbidden grounds. It’s been half a month since then.”

“This…”

The man in blue took a sip of tea, then placed the cup back on the table. “In any case, shortly after that incident, rumors began circulating that Immortal Lord Zhaohua intends to expel his disciple and may even take on a new one. Look at all these people passing through—they’re all rushing toward the Tianyan Sect, aren’t they?”

The attendant’s face lit with sudden understanding. “No wonder the number of visitors has been unusually high these past few days. We’ve been so busy! So they’re all here because of Immortal Lord Zhaohua.”

The man in white snorted, as though stating the obvious. “Of course. The greatest figure of our time—did you think it was just an exaggeration?”

Meanwhile, in the forbidden grounds of the Tianyan Sect, within the Lingxu Cave…

The Lingxu Cave was rich with spiritual energy, serving as a place for disciples to meditate in seclusion or reflect on their wrongdoings when punished. Since Immortal Lord Zhaohua confined his disciple there half a month ago, a barrier had been placed at the entrance, forbidding anyone from entering or hearing any sounds from within.

Inside the cave, the furnishings were simple but complete. Toward the back was a stone bed, intended for meditation and cultivation.

The flickering light of a wall-mounted candle cast faint shadows on the stone bed, hinting at two intertwined figures.

A slender hand gripped the edge of the stone bed, its pale knuckles trembling under strain, revealing the mix of agony and pleasure its owner was enduring.

“Don’t… stop…” The once-clear and composed voice now carried a hoarseness, soft and trembling at the end, inciting the other to move with even greater abandon.

No one would have ever imagined that the revered Immortal Lord Zhaohua, so admired by the world, would now be in such a state.

The once-immaculate white robe, usually pristine and neatly worn, was now torn to shreds, barely concealing the marks that hinted at the unspeakable.

Those pale eyes, usually calm and distant, were misted over, the moisture clinging to the curled lashes, trembling but never falling. His soft, glistening lips parted slightly, quivering with each movement of the one above him. His warm, jade-like body, faintly flushed with pink, appeared both stunning and fragile.

The person above him paused, leaning close to whisper something in his ear, but his mind was too clouded to comprehend any of it.

In his long life, he had never experienced such an overwhelming madness that shattered all reason. It felt as though he was being thrown into the air, untethered and helpless, leaving him no choice but to cling desperately to the one holding him.

Time blurred into an eternity before the sounds in the cave gradually faded.

The stone bed was left in disarray, the two still entangled as if they were a pair of inseparable lovers.

Faint wisps of black energy seeped from their brows, dissipating into nothingness in the void. As the last traces of the black mist vanished, Bai Tu opened his eyes.

His pale irises blinked blankly for a moment. Just as he attempted to sit up, an arm wrapped tightly around his waist, stopping him.

The residual discomfort in his body was hard to ignore, especially the sticky sensation in a certain place behind him. Drained and sore, Bai Tu collapsed back onto the stone bed, tilting his head to glance at the person beside him.

The man’s features straddled the line between youth and maturity, his sharp and strikingly aggressive visage now softened into an uncharacteristic tranquility. His lips curved in a faint, satisfied smile, as though immersed in a particularly pleasant dream.

This bastard.

Bai Tu’s lips pressed into a thin line, his ears tinged red whether from the embarrassment or anger, he couldn’t tell.

There was probably no one in the world more miserable than him.

A few years ago, Bai Tu had accidentally been pulled into a web novel called Dominating the World as the Demon Lord, a typical underdog-to-hero cultivation story. Unfortunately, he found himself inhabiting the body of the story’s most revered figure. The righteous leader of the cultivation world, Immortal Zhaohua.

The original Zhaohua was a white rabbit spirit who ascended by cultivating the path of emotionlessness. His was the highest position in the novel, known for his unparalleled strength and lofty status. Post-ascension, Zhaohua remained at the Tianyan Scent in quiet cultivation while the story’s protagonist, Yun Ye, joined the sect as a new disciple.

Yun Ye was a wolf demon who had suffered countless hardship in his youth. By a twist of fate, he was accepted into the Tianyin Sect. however, his demon origins required him to suppress his demonic aura making it difficult for him to progress in cultivation. Thus, he was labeled the sect’s most hopeless disciple in a century—a laughingstock.

Facing ridicule, Yun Ye persevered training relentlessly and waiting for the day, he could silence his critics with one decisive success. Yet in the most recent chapter, the author abruptly derailed the narrative, turning Yun Ye into a villain without rhyme or reason. The protagonist defected from the sect and rose to power as the Demon Lord.

In just one chapter, the nodw-demonic Yun Ye annihilated the righteous sects, leaving none alive. Immortal Lord Zhaohua fell into his hands, only to be skinned and made into a pair of rabbit-fur kneepads.

Bai Tu who had invested more than half a year following the story was left fuming at this disastrous turn. Before he could finish cursing the author for ruining the novel, everything went black.

Then a mechanical voice rang out.

Ding! Congratulations, you have become Immortal Lord Zhaohua in Dominating the World as the Demon Lord. According to the laws of this world, breaking character (OOC) will result in death. There are no additional rules. Best of luck achieving a perfect ending!

 …Oh, for crying out loud.

In the original novel, Immortal Lord Zhaohua did indeed have a fleeting encounter with the protagonist during his childhood.

Freshly ascended, Zhaohua was proud and aloof, disregarding everyone beneath him. Consequently, he failed to extend a helping hand to the destitute Yun Ye. This indifference planted a seed of resentment in Yun Ye, who harbored the grudge for years, ultimately ensuring Zhaohua’s gruesome demise.

Faced with the prospect of becoming a pair of rabbit-fur kneepads, Bai Tu vowed to avoid that fate by firmly adhering to the golden rule: cling tightly to the protagonist’s good graces. Shivering with trepidation, he rescued the unconscious wolf cub. Later, when Yun Ye joined the Tianyan Sect, Bai Tu secretly cleared obstacles from his path and even slipped him a few cheat-like advantages in secret.

Constantly toeing the line of staying in character to avoid punishment, Bai Tu poured his heart into supporting Yun Ye. Yet, to his horror, Yun Ye’s descent into darkness came even faster than in the original plot—three years ahead of schedule!

In the end, Bai Tu was left with no choice but to join the righteous sects in a desperate siege against Yun Ye, resulting in both their deaths.

When Bai Tu opened his eyes again, he was back at the same starting point, staring at the same dying wolf cub.

This time, the uncorrupted little wolf cautiously crawled to his side, nudging Bai Tu’s robes with its nose. Those damp, innocent eyes gazed up at him, resembling the pleading look of a large, helpless puppy.

Faced with the same scene, Bai Tu resolved not to repeat his mistakes.

Risking the threat of breaking character, he brought Yun Ye back to the Tianyan Sect, took him in as a disciple, and nurtured him with care and devotion—all the way to the present.

Bai Tu snapped out of his thoughts.

Without hesitation, he shoved the person clinging to him away. By the time he rose to his feet, his robes were already neatly arranged.

Cool and detached, unsullied and immaculate.

He had reverted to the lofty and untouchable Immortal Lord Zhaohua in the eyes of others.

The warmth of the moment was entirely gone, leaving only the faint marks of passion peeking from his collar as evidence of their earlier madness.

The person on the bed, now dressed in clean robes as well, remained fast asleep, undisturbed by any of it.

Bai Tu looked down at him with a complicated expression. After a moment, a flash of white swordlight pierced the air, and the figure clad in pale robes disappeared from the Lingxu Cave.

Silence returned to the cave. The man on the bed merely shifted, his wolf ears—exposed during the height of his emotions when his demonic aura slipped out—twitching atop his head. Occasionally, they flicked lightly as he murmured in his sleep, “Master…”

The pristine swordlight streaked through the sky, heading for Luoxia Peak of Qingyun Mountain.

Qingyun Mountain, eternally covered in snow, had only one exception: Luoxia Peak. Verdant and lush, it remained warm and serene year-round.

Over a decade ago, Bai Tu had brought Yun Ye to the Tianyan Sect. Using an advanced formation, he altered the environment of Luoxia Peak, transforming the once perpetually frozen summit into a haven of eternal spring.

Luoxia Peak was now surrounded by vibrant green bamboo, blooming flowers, and lush vegetation. Streams of water meandered down from the mountaintop, and nestled alongside one such stream was a serene waterside pavilion—Bai Tu and Yun Ye’s shared residence.

In the depths of a bamboo-lined path at the back of the mountain lay a cold spring.

Bai Tu appeared from the swordlight and took a step forward. His meticulously arranged white robes suddenly slipped to the ground. In the center of the discarded fabric, a small lump stirred.

Moments later, the lump shifted, and a palm-sized white rabbit emerged from the folds of the intricate robes.

The tiny rabbit resembled a newborn kit, with a perfectly round head and equally round body covered in a coat of soft, fluffy white fur. Its long, delicate ears drooped gently down its back, quivering slightly with each breath it took.

The little rabbit blinked its bright crimson eyes, twitched its long ears, and with a soft plop, leapt into the cold spring.

Half-submerged in the water, Bai Tu let the flowing currents wash over his body. He was so drained that he couldn’t even muster the energy to open his eyes.

As for why the revered and morally upright Immortal Lord Zhaohua ended up in bed with his own disciple? That story began half a month ago.

Half a month ago, Bai Tu had discovered traces of a heart demon lurking within Yun Ye.

For those on the path of cultivation, a heart demon was a dire threat. Even the slightest misstep could lead to deviation, with disastrous consequences. Knowing full well what kind of calamity awaited if this particular “lord” strayed from the right path, Bai Tu was nearly paralyzed with terror on the spot. He wasted no time, dragging Yun Ye to the sect’s forbidden grounds to personally devise a way to expel the heart demon.

But who could have predicted that the heart demon would prove so tenacious? Even Bai Tu was powerless against it. Instead, he ended up being caught off guard, falling victim to its influence.

With the heart demon seizing control, that night blurred into a half-dream, half-illusion—an uncontrollable whirlwind of confusion, desire, and delirium…

Bai Tu shuddered at the memory, cutting the thought short before it could spiral further.

After giving his body a hasty rinse, the little rabbit climbed out of the water, shaking droplets from its damp fur before flopping onto a smooth stone. Flattened against the surface, it resembled a soggy, squashed bun.

At least Yun Ye’s heart demon had been purged, finally putting an end to that particular ordeal. Yet Bai Tu found no relief in the outcome—only a lingering sense of unease.

It was Bai Tu who had locked Yun Ye in the forbidden grounds, and it was also Bai Tu who insisted on personally purging Yun Ye’s heart demon. Yun Ye’s cultivation was nowhere near his level; last night, when the heart demon had taken hold, if not for Bai Tu failing to resist its temptations, Yun Ye wouldn’t have…

No matter how he looked at it, it seemed the fault lay squarely with him as the master.

Someone, anyone—please tell him how he was supposed to face that wolf pup now.

With a bitter expression, Bai Tu rolled over, burying his head miserably in his front paws. The warm sunlight soon lulled him into a drowsy haze. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when his rabbit ears suddenly perked up.

The next moment, a gentle breeze swept by the cold spring, and the little rabbit vanished without a trace.

Outside the barrier surrounding Luoxia Peak, a disciple of the Tianyan Sect was pacing anxiously on a floating stone bridge.

The bridge, suspended high above the clouds, was the sole passage connecting Luoxia Peak to the sect’s main peak. Luoxia Peak was strictly off-limits to outsiders; even the sect leader, if seeking Bai Tu, would have to wait at this point.

Now in his human form, Bai Tu stepped onto the bridge. The disciple hurried to meet him, bowing deeply. “Greetings, Immortal Lord. Please, you must come quickly—Senior Brother Yun has broken through the barrier of the Lingxu Cave and is now fighting with the senior disciples guarding it!”

Bai Tu: “…”

=^_^=