You stood by the window, your figure silhouetted against the flickering lights of the city below. The night breeze ruffled your hair, carrying the distant hum of traffic, but your eyes were fixed on the endless darkness beyond the skyline—sharp, cold, and burning with an unquenchable desire to survive.
「I can't die.」
The words were whispered, almost swallowed by the wind, but they carried the weight of a vow carved into your bones. You'd been chased like a stray dog through four simulations, beaten, betrayed, left for dead time and time again—but each time, you'd clawed your way back. Not because you were a hero, not because you wanted to save the world, but because you were tired of being a pawn. Tired of having your fate decided by others.
「Those who want me dead… they all have to pay.」
Your fingers tightened into fists, the knuckles whitening. The Supreme Emperor Bone in your spine throbbed faintly, as if echoing your resolve. You thought of Sun Zhong, of Su Meng, of your missing elder brother—of all the people who'd died or suffered because of you. Of Su Mei, blind and fragile, yet clinging to you like a lifeline in that desolate cave.
You weren't a good person. You'd lied, cheated, killed to get where you were. But you were alive. And that was all that mattered.
Behind you, the carpet rustled softly.
Liu Yue's eyes were still closed, but her eyelashes were trembling violently. She'd been pretending to sleep ever since you'd pulled out the True Scripture of Talismans and mentioned Xuan Fuzi's name—but every word you'd just spoken had pierced through her pretense, hitting her like a bolt of lightning.
She'd thought you were just a spoiled, cunning playboy—someone to be manipulated, someone to be used for her faction's "seed plan." She'd thought you were a lamb in wolf's clothing, a dead man walking with the Supreme Emperor Bone in his body.
But now… looking at your back, at the raw, unyielding determination radiating from you, she realized she'd been wrong.
This wasn't a lamb. This was a young wolf, bloodied and cornered, but ready to tear anyone who dared to come near to shreds.
This was Chen Qian—the hidden imperial scion, the heir to a throne he didn't even know he was entitled to. The only person who could shake the foundations of the Qianyuan Empire.
Her lips moved, but no sound came out. For the first time in her long life as a Fifth-Rank Heavenly Realm powerhouse, she felt a flicker of doubt about her faction's plan.
A "copy" of the Supreme Emperor Bone was one thing. But the original—a man with such iron will, such a knack for turning certain death into a chance to counterattack—was worth a thousand times more.
If she helped him survive… if she helped him claim the throne… what kind of rewards would her faction reap?
The thought lingered in her mind, tempting, dangerous.
Meanwhile, in the depths of the Villain Simulator, the cave was bathed in the warm glow of the campfire.
You watched as Su Mei carefully traced the runes of a First-Rank Curse Talisman on a piece of yellow paper, her fingers moving with a precision that belied her blindness. In just a few days, she'd not only mastered the basics of the Shadow Devil Art and reached the Mortal Realm: Body Refinement, but she'd also become a qualified First-Rank Talisman Master—specializing in curse and poison talismans, just as you'd suspected.
Her talent was terrifyingly one-sided. The orthodox Ancient Dragon Elephant Scripture had felt like poison to her, but the Shadow Devil Art—a notoriously evil cultivation method—had fit her like a glove. Her Cursed Hex Pupil seemed to resonate with the dark energy of the art, making her progress leapfrog beyond your wildest expectations.
"Brother Qian, look!" She held up the finished Curse Talisman, her milky-white eyes shining with pride. "It didn't explode this time!"
You nodded, a faint smile tugging at your lips. "Good job. Now, try infusing it with a little of your spiritual energy—gentle, don't rush."
She obeyed, her brow furrowing in concentration. A wisp of black spiritual energy flowed from her fingertips into the talisman, and the runes on its surface lit up with a faint, eerie red glow.
"Perfect." You praised her. "This talisman can make a cultivator below the Divine Ability Realm feel a splitting headache for three days. It's not lethal, but it's enough to buy us time to escape."
Su Mei beamed, carefully tucking the talisman into her pocket. She then leaned against your shoulder, her voice soft. "Brother Qian, why can't I feel those weird voices anymore when I'm with you? My eyes don't hurt either."
You looked down at her, your expression softening. "It's because my body has a special power that can suppress evil energy. Your bloodline is part-human, part-eerie—those voices are the whispers of the eerie side of you. My power keeps them quiet."
It was a simplified explanation, but it was the truth. The Supreme Emperor Bone was a divine treasure born of the heavens, a force that suppressed all evil and chaos. For Su Mei, who was tormented by her mixed bloodline, your presence was like a safe haven.
A safe haven that she would never want to leave.
You patted her head gently. "As long as you stay by my side, those voices will never bother you again."
She nodded vigorously, snuggling closer to you, her small hands clutching your sleeve tightly. "I'll stay with Brother Qian forever. No matter where you go."
Your heart skipped a beat. The words were innocent, spoken by a girl who'd lost everything and found a new anchor in you—but they also sealed her fate to yours.
You closed your eyes, your mind racing.
「Once the backlash from the Nine Steps to the Heavens fades, I'll take her to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. The mysterious protector my brother mentioned might know how to control her bloodline. And if I can help her master the Cursed Hex Pupil without the side effects of shortened lifespan… she'll become my most powerful weapon against Heavenly Realm powerhouses.」
「As for Su Meng… he's already dead. The only thing that matters now is Su Mei's loyalty.」
The thought was cold, ruthless, the kind of calculation that defined a true villain. But you didn't feel guilty. In this world, kindness was a luxury you couldn't afford—not if you wanted to keep both yourself and Su Mei alive.
Just then, a low, guttural growl echoed from outside the cave.
Your eyes snapped open, and you pushed Su Mei behind you, your hand reaching for the few remaining Fire Dragon Talismans in your storage ring.
The growls grew louder, closer, accompanied by the sound of twigs snapping and stones crunching.
Su Mei tensed, her milky-white eyes narrowing. "Brother Qian… there are a lot of them. More than before."
You nodded, your expression turning grim. You could sense it too—dozens of eerie auras, all converging on the cave. They were stronger than the ones you'd faced before, some even reaching the Divine Ability Realm.
They'd been attracted by Su Mei's bloodline.
This was the inevitable reckoning.
You took a deep breath, feeling the Supreme Emperor Bone in your spine throb again, sending a surge of warmth through your frozen meridians. The backlash was still there, your lifespan was still almost gone—but you weren't completely powerless.
You looked back at Su Mei, who was clutching a Curse Talisman in each hand, her face pale but determined.
"Ready?" You asked.
She nodded, her voice steady. "Ready."
You grinned, a wild, feral smile that hadn't been on your face in days.
「Let's teach these freaks what happens when they mess with us.」
Outside the cave, the growls reached a fever pitch.
The fourth simulation was far from over.
And the hunt had only just begun.