Qiao Xuan woke up.

It seemed like his master had arrived just in time to save him.

However, his heart was full of questions. Were the people in the illusion really him and his master? But he had no memory of those events. Could this be another case of “past and present lives”? But he had already gone through seven tribulations! When he returned, all his memories were restored. Was there possibly another life he didn’t know about?

Qiao Xuan rubbed his chin, deep in thought. Although he felt that the chances of this being tied to a past life were slim, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

But more than that, he was curious about what had happened in the ruin. Why had everything disappeared? And what was that white flame?

He patted his chest, feeling no discomfort, but also no sudden surge in power. It was as if nothing had happened at all…

As for the final scene he saw, that endless dark river—Qiao Xuan actually knew what it was! That was the River of Forgetfulness in the underworld, a place he had ventured into once with that silly demon. It was truly life-threatening…

And this time, he vaguely saw a mirror at the river’s end, looking like a treasure of some sort…

Qiao Xuan figured he should probably go back and explore again. Maybe he’d uncover something. But he had already promised his master that he would return to the Heavenly Realm, and now he was feeling conflicted.

As he pushed open the door and stepped outside, he realized that he was no longer in the capital of Nanyue Kingdom. Of course, if his master had saved him, they must have left that place by now. Hua Lan should have been left far behind…

Qiao Xuan walked outside and immediately spotted his master standing in the courtyard. Just as he was about to approach, he stopped in his tracks—why was Shuchen still here?

The two of them looked serious, seemingly discussing something, though it didn’t appear that they were about to fight again…

They noticed Qiao Xuan, stopping their conversation. Yun Tingshu looked at him with a gentle expression and asked, “You’re awake. Do you feel any discomfort?”

Qiao Xuan shook his head. “Nope.”

Yun Tingshu nodded.

Qiao Xuan thought for a moment and walked over, pretending to ask casually, “Master, have you ever heard of Shengzun Dongqian? That ruin seemed to belong to him, but I’ve never heard of such a powerful immortal before…”

At this moment, Shuchen spoke, his voice indifferent: “There are countless immortals across the Three Realms. It’s perfectly normal for there to be some you’ve never heard of.”

Qiao Xuan looked at him in surprise. “But Daojun, you’re one of the oldest deities in the Three Realms. Are you saying even you don’t know about him?”

Shuchen shook his head. “Nope.”

Qiao Xuan nodded and asked again, “What about the ancient god Taichu? He seemed pretty powerful as well…”

Shuchen replied lazily, “Never heard of him. The lowly little gods in the mortal realm love to give themselves grand-sounding titles. But honestly, I doubt they’re as impressive as they claim. Don’t take it too seriously.”

As he finished speaking, Shuchen gave Yun Tingshu a mocking glance and let out a cold laugh. “Isn’t that right?”

Qiao Xuan: “…”

Yun Tingshu merely lifted his gaze slightly, his expression calm, as if he had no interest in arguing.

Well, it was clear to Qiao Xuan that neither of them intended to be entirely truthful. Realizing that, he decided not to press the issue further.

But the more they acted like this, the more curious Qiao Xuan became. Was there something they didn’t want him to know?

After thinking for a moment, Qiao Xuan asked his master, “Are we going back to the Heavenly Realm?”

Yun Tingshu paused for a moment before replying, “Do you want to return?”

Qiao Xuan wasn’t particularly eager to go back. He had only just come out and hadn’t enjoyed much freedom yet. If the mortal realm weren’t so dangerous, he wouldn’t have wanted to return at all… Plus, he was still intrigued by the events in the illusion.

Yun Tingshu looked at him, his expression showing a hint of helplessness. He reached out his hand, and a drop of crystal-clear water appeared, seemingly reflecting starlight.

With a wave of his hand, the water droplet floated toward Qiao Xuan, and Yun Tingshu said softly, “This is a spirit tool I’ve crafted. It can travel through the Three Realms and protect you. If you don’t want to return, take this with you.”

Qiao Xuan’s eyes lit up.

He examined the droplet from all angles. It looked ordinary, but since it was a treasure from his master that could traverse realms and provide protection, it was definitely not something simple! With this, he could go wherever he wanted, and if he needed to escape, it wouldn’t be a problem!

Wuwu, Master really is the best!

Qiao Xuan blinked. “Master, does this spirit tool have a name?”

Yun Tingshu chuckled. “No, it doesn’t.”

Qiao Xuan was briefly taken aback but then understood. Maybe it was something his master had casually crafted, so it made sense that he hadn’t bothered naming it. His heart was filled with excitement over the new treasure, and he hurried off to inspect it further.

Just as he took a few steps, his master called out from behind him, “When you’re tired of playing, come home.”

Qiao Xuan turned back with a big smile. “Okay!”

As Qiao Xuan left, Shuchen moved as if to follow, but Yun Tingshu stopped him.

Yun Tingshu spoke calmly, “You stay.”

Shuchen frowned impatiently. “Why should I stay?”

Yun Tingshu replied, “Come back to the Heavenly Realm with me.”

Shuchen’s face twisted into a sneer. “Why would I go back with you? Do you need my help? Too bad, I don’t feel like getting involved in your affairs.”

Yun Tingshu spoke deliberately, “You’re not helping me. You’re helping him.”

Shuchen’s expression darkened, his eyes flickering.

But in the end, he didn’t move.

…

Yun Tingshu and Shuchen left soon after.

Qiao Xuan spent some time where he was, studying the water droplet his master had given him. Though it seemed simple, its power was incredibly versatile. If his master could create something this powerful so easily, then why had he gone through all the trouble of searching for the Mountains and Seas Map and causing so much chaos…

Ahem, if he’d asked to go out and play from the start, maybe his master would have agreed without all the fuss, right?

Having made his preparations, Qiao Xuan was ready to set off again. However, reaching the River of Forgetfulness wouldn’t be easy… The river lay at the boundary between yin and yang, and to get there, he would need to cross the Western Wasteland, traverse treacherous snow-capped mountains, and pass through the desolate, uninhabited ice plains. Even if he made it to the river, it would still be difficult for a living person to enter the underworld…

Honestly, he had just escaped from the Western Wasteland. If it weren’t for his intense curiosity, no way would he willingly return to that terrible place…

Plans always seem to change. Who could have guessed that after just leaving, he would have to go back?

Luckily, with his master’s treasure in hand, Qiao Xuan felt more confident. Without it, no matter how curious he was, he wouldn’t have taken such a risk.

Since Bai Cang now knew his true identity, they wouldn’t let things go so easily. So, if he was going to return, he would need to avoid Baicang’s territory. Fortunately, the Western Wasteland was also home to demons, who controlled half the region. He could take a detour through demon territory, avoiding Baicang’s forces and ensuring he wouldn’t be caught…

In any case, he would give it a try. If things went wrong, he could always go home!

With that decision made, Qiao Xuan set off.

The Western Wasteland was full of demons and monsters. Ancient seals kept the creatures inside, making it difficult for them to get out, but it wasn’t hard for humans to get in. Qiao Xuan deliberately took a long detour, arriving at the most remote corner before re-entering the Western Wasteland.

He glanced up at the gloomy sky, inhaling the dry air. After thinking for a moment, he cast a disguise spell on himself.

Having lived through two lifetimes in the Western Wasteland, he was quite familiar with the place.

Compared to the demon cultivators, life for humans in demon territory was even worse. Humans there were little more than livestock, kept alive as a source of food. Demons wouldn’t wipe them out completely—just as humans wouldn’t kill all their chickens, ducks, or pigs at once. As long as he kept a low profile and stayed cautious, he figured he wouldn’t be unlucky enough to get caught.

Qiao Xuan checked his reflection in a mirror, adjusting his face. His once flawless, fair skin turned a dull, rough yellow, with his eyes uneven in size… After messing around for a while, he finally looked at the hunchbacked, ugly man in the mirror and felt satisfied.

There was a reason for this ugliness.

Since humans were treated as food, being good-looking made you more dangerous in demon territory. It’s simple logic—just as humans prefer ripe, appealing fruit, demons prefer to eat good-looking humans. Whether they were using them as delicacies or capturing them as slaves, attractive humans were always a prime choice…

Looking uglier would drastically reduce the chances of being captured. Being ugly and unremarkable was the safest route.

Qiao Xuan carefully avoided areas populated by demons and also stayed away from human villages. Even when he occasionally encountered demons, they couldn’t be bothered to spare him a glance.

Thanks to the supplies he’d stocked up on in Nanyue Kingdom, he had no worries about food. His journey was smooth, easy, and even somewhat leisurely…

After a little more than a month, Qiao Xuan arrived deep within the Western Wasteland, standing before a large city.

This city was enormous, located not far from the snowy mountains ahead. The surrounding area was filled with dangerous demon nests. Trying to bypass it would not only be time-consuming but also potentially more dangerous.

After pondering for a moment, Qiao Xuan decided to enter the city.

Given its size and the sheer number of humans within, it shouldn’t be too difficult to blend in.

Qiao Xuan quietly joined the line of humans waiting to enter the city.

Ahead of him were plenty of humans, all gray-faced and dressed in tattered clothes, looking worn out and dejected. Qiao Xuan sighed. The people here had no choice about where they were born, and they were condemned to live such miserable lives. It was truly tragic, but there wasn’t much he could do to change that…

At the city gates, two fierce-looking demons were guarding the entrance, inspecting each human before letting them in. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. Qiao Xuan looked around and felt reassured—he was so inconspicuous that he was probably the ugliest person in line! That brought him a sense of comfort. Soon, it was his turn.

A red-eyed demon glanced at him with disgust. “Go on in.”

Qiao Xuan let out a breath of relief and was about to move forward when the green-skinned demon next to him suddenly spoke up. He stared at Qiao Xuan for a moment, then asked the red-eyed demon, “Do you think he’s ugly?”

The red-eyed demon replied, “Pretty ugly.”

The green-skinned demon beamed. “You think so too, huh? That means he’s really ugly. Perfect!”

Qiao Xuan: …Are these guys idiots?

The green-skinned demon grabbed Qiao Xuan by the collar like a small chicken and looked him over with disdain. “He’s not the ugliest, but he’ll do in a pinch. You’re coming with me!”

Then he turned to the red-eyed demon and said, “You stay here and watch the gate. I’ll take him inside!”

The red-eyed demon seemed to understand and quickly responded, “Alright, alright, you go ahead. I’ve got things under control here.”

Qiao Xuan was utterly baffled.

The green-skinned demon carried him off like a helpless chick. This demon was just a lowly gatekeeper, no match for Qiao Xuan. But since they were at the city gate, surrounded by patrolling demons, if Qiao Xuan made a move, he would draw the attention of the demon army and the higher-ranking demons. Then he’d have no choice but to flee.

So Qiao Xuan didn’t resist or struggle, deciding to see what this demon had in mind.

The green-skinned demon rushed through the city with Qiao Xuan in tow, soon arriving at the entrance of a golden cave. Two fierce dragon carvings adorned the entrance, clearly indicating it was the residence of a powerful demon.

The green-skinned demon bowed humbly to the demon guards at the gate and said, “I found this human just now. He’s pretty ugly. Do you think he’ll do?”

The gatekeeper glanced at Qiao Xuan, seeming a bit disappointed that he wasn’t uglier, but still said, “He’ll do. Put him down. Here’s your reward.”

The guard tossed a large, blood-red stone to the green-skinned demon—a valuable currency among demons.

Overjoyed, the green-skinned demon dropped Qiao Xuan and ran off.

The gatekeeper grabbed Qiao Xuan and dragged him into the cave, walking through a series of winding passages before tossing him into a secluded courtyard and leaving.

Qiao Xuan had remained quiet the whole time, playing along as if he’d been scared senseless. Once he was alone, he finally looked around, sucking in a sharp breath.

Holy crap! He finally understood why the demons had thought he wasn’t ugly enough—everyone here was hideously deformed in their own unique way. Compared to them, he was just plain ugly!

Where had they found so many bizarrely ugly people? Finding this many was probably harder than gathering beauties!

Qiao Xuan couldn’t help but curse his bad luck. He had thought that being ugly would make him less noticeable, but who could have guessed that after hundreds of years, the demon aesthetic in the Western Wasteland had shifted so drastically? Some demons now preferred ugliness! How unique and independent…

It was just his luck to encounter such a rare situation.

But Qiao Xuan quickly calmed down. With so many demons, there were bound to be some with unusual tastes. He couldn’t help his bad luck. He decided to wait until nightfall, then sneak out quietly.

Qiao Xuan sat calmly in a corner.

The other humans around him were all listless, seeming to have resigned themselves to their fate.

Qiao Xuan sighed and looked away.

They couldn’t choose where they were born, but that was their destiny.

Because they were all ordinary mortals, the security here wasn’t too tight. Only two demons guarded the gate, chatting idly as they watched over the place.

Qiao Xuan quietly moved closer to the entrance, observing them carefully. They were just two ordinary catfish demons, nothing too difficult to handle.

“Hey, do you ever wonder why we go to all this trouble every year to find ugly slaves for the demon lord, only for none of them to ever stick around? Isn’t it all a waste of effort?”

“You don’t get it. I’ve been here ten years longer than you. Let me tell you, these ugly slaves are the only thing we can send in. If you send beauties, they’ll be killed before they even get close to the demon lord…”

“But they still die in the end, don’t they…?”

“Whether they live or die doesn’t matter. What’s important is that it’s what our master wants.”

“Our master is so powerful, why does he have to grovel like this? I don’t think the snow mountain demon lord is that great, just a fancy title…”

“Shh! You’ve only just awakened, you don’t know anything. Saying stuff like that will get you killed!”

“Why?”

“Do you know those demonic cultivators north of the Demon Abyss? That Demon Lord Baicang is not someone to mess with. If it weren’t for the demon lord, those nasty demonic cultivators would have invaded long ago.”

“Oh…”

“But our demon lord doesn’t like to interfere in worldly matters. He’s content to guard the entrance to the snowy mountains and never goes anywhere else. Our master is counting on being able to convince him to act when the time comes, so we have to serve him carefully.”

Upon hearing this, Qiao Xuan paused, the spell he was about to cast fizzling out as his expression grew thoughtful.

Back when he was in the Demon Abyss, he’d heard about a snow mountain demon lord guarding the boundary between the yin and yang realms. To reach the ice plains beyond the mountains, that area was the only route…

He had been wondering how to sneak in. But if this batch of ugly slaves was meant to be a gift for that demon lord, there was no need for him to escape. He could just wait for them to deliver him to the destination, then slip away at the right moment.

With that realization, Qiao Xuan slowly returned to his spot.

Who knew there could be such an advantage to being ugly?

Still, he couldn’t believe the snow mountain demon lord had such peculiar tastes, preferring ugliness over beauty…

The world really was full of surprises!

Two days later, Qiao Xuan and the other humans were packed into cages and carted off toward the snowy mountains.

Along the way, they passed through numerous demon camps, all heavily guarded. The more Qiao Xuan saw, the more convinced he became that his decision to stay was the right one. He had seen several high-level demons and many patrols. Even with the treasure his master had given him, there were simply too many demons. If he were caught, he would have no choice but to flee…

Qiao Xuan kept his head down, blending in completely!

But in reality, he was quietly memorizing the route.

As he watched the landscape pass by, a sense of familiarity crept over him. He cautiously raised his eyes, looking at the towering snow-capped mountains ahead. The shape of the mountains seemed familiar… This vast mountain range stretched for hundreds of miles, but most areas were impassable, with the mingling yin and yang energies causing spatial rifts that made travel impossible. In the past, this place hadn’t been so heavily populated with demons—it had been a desolate wasteland.

So much had changed that Qiao Xuan hadn’t recognized it at first.

But that one distinct snow peak jogged his memory. After a while, it finally came to him—wasn’t this the place he had been during his fourth tribulation?

And wasn’t that silly dog still living here…?

Wait a minute.

Qiao Xuan’s face shifted into an odd expression. Could the snow mountain demon lord these demons kept talking about actually be that silly dog?!