Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Villain Life Simulator

"You're back?"

In the library of Spirit Hall, a silver-haired beauty seated by the window turned her head slightly, looking toward the approaching young man.

Sunlight streamed in from outside, casting a glow over her face and reflecting vibrant hues in her violet eyes, concealing whatever emotions lay hidden within.

"Mm."

Su Cheng sat down beside Su Yue, carefully observing her.

Compared to three years ago, Su Cheng's appearance had changed significantly, but Su Yue's transformation was equally remarkable.

For her, the process of increasing strength was essentially a journey of physical recovery. Now, having successfully advanced to the Titled Douluo realm, she was nearly identical to her appearance from years ago when she briefly took on human form as the Silver Dragon King.

In her early twenties, Su Yue was in that stage when a woman truly transitions from youth to maturity—an age of maximum allure. Her long hair fell gracefully to her waist, her deep violet eyes exuded a quiet depth, and her upright posture accentuated a perfect curve along her chest and abdomen.

Even though her temperament was serene and her personality reserved, she exuded an intense, captivating charm.

"I heard from Bibi Dong that you've also advanced to Titled Douluo?"

"Couldn't you sense it yourself?" Su Yue huffed, seemingly displeased.

The years spent alone in Spirit Hall hadn't been pleasant. Upon meeting again, she instinctively wanted to vent some of the pent-up frustration within her. After all, aside from Su Cheng, there was no one else she could confide in.

Su Cheng chuckled helplessly, "Look at my current state; do you think I have the energy to probe the strength of a Titled Douluo like you?"

"What do you mean?"

Su Yue blinked in surprise, finally looking away from his face and noticing his drastically reduced cultivation level.

"How did this happen?!" Su Yue exclaimed in a suppressed tone.

In her memory, Su Cheng had always been calm and confident, never putting himself in danger. Even if he wasn't invincible, he was adept at managing any risks. The idea of his cultivation level falling to that of a Soul Douluo was unimaginable.

"Let's talk about your progress first; I'm fine," Su Cheng waved his hand nonchalantly. His situation was complex, not something he could explain in a few words. Su Yue's advancement was the more pressing matter.

"You…" Su Yue bit her lip, holding back the urge to inquire further. "I'm approaching Rank 93. After breaking through the Titled Douluo barrier, my cultivation speed has accelerated greatly.

"Also, the purity of the Dragon God bloodline within me is continuously improving. I can essentially wield most of the Dragon God's power. The key will be whether I can fully cleanse and replenish my bloodline when I return to the god level. At that time, I might have to face the Dragon God's Tribulation."

Her expression grew somber at the mention of this.

"Tribulation?" Su Cheng was taken aback. "Do you really need to undergo another tribulation?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but I have an instinctive feeling."

"…"

Su Cheng fell silent, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. If things were truly as Su Yue anticipated, with another tribulation awaiting her at the god level, it would be a major complication. He wasn't sure if her situation would mirror that of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King he had encountered before, but it seemed likely they would differ.

The Dragon God was a uniquely special existence in this world, and Su Yue, as the former Silver Dragon King, might indeed be facing special circumstances.

After a moment's thought, Su Cheng looked at her and said seriously, "Su Yue, have you ever considered that it may not be necessary to pursue a complete Dragon God bloodline?"

"What do you mean?" Su Yue's brows furrowed in irritation. "Do you think I'm afraid of the tribulation?"

"I'm just worried about you." Su Cheng sighed. "The Dragon God's power is unlike any other. The existence of the Dragon God itself is somewhat unnatural, and becoming a god with such power will likely be exceptionally difficult. Besides, given your current talent, you could forge your own path forward. There's no need to blindly follow in the Dragon God's footsteps."

In truth, he wanted to use the Path of Trajectory Demon Eye to examine her condition, but in his present state, it was impossible. Even in his prime, the skill was hard to maintain, let alone now. To use it again, he would first have to rid himself of the Rakshasa God's influence and be freed from the cursed sword sealing his strength.

"I… never mind. We'll discuss this later." Noticing the worry in his eyes, Su Yue swallowed back her retort and changed the subject, "What about you? What exactly happened to make you return in this state?"

"I found the Shura Demon Sword and sealed it within my body."

"What did you say?!"

Su Yue's face paled in disbelief, and without another word, she reached out to grab his wrist, using her spiritual energy to explore his inner state.

Su Cheng allowed her to do so, showing her everything within him without releasing any external aura.

The next moment, a terrifying image, transmitted through spiritual energy, filled Su Yue's mind.

It was a colossal human form. Resilient, translucent bones and crystal-like blood vessels interwove in complex patterns. The pure energy within pulsed rhythmically, as though alive, with a will of its own, constantly renewing and circulating.

Under normal circumstances, she would have been in awe of the sheer perfection of this body.

But now, at the core of his torso, close to his beating heart, a miniature, blood-red demonic sword radiated an incessant surge of violent, razor-sharp sword intent.

The scarlet sword light cut through everything in its path, instantly eradicating nearby droplets of pure energy and soul essence. Then, new flesh and energy regenerated, continuously filling the void—a cycle that repeated over and over.

The entire process was brutal and intense.

Beneath the demon sword lay a formation emitting a yellowish-brown glow, projecting a lattice of energy lines that encased the chaotic battlefield, desperately binding the fiercely vibrating sword.

"…"

Witnessing this scene, Su Yue's pupils quivered, and her gaze turned vacant, overwhelmed.

A typical person might not fully grasp the terror of this sight, but she was different. She had once been a genuine god, with sharp insight and a memory filled with countless brutal god-battles.

Her understanding of the danger ran deep.

It was unimaginable that this was the inside of a person's body. To her, it resembled a battlefield—a god-level war raging within Su Cheng himself. This wasn't mere madness; it was a life-or-death gamble!

In the present world, perhaps no one but Su Cheng, or possibly herself, could comprehend the true extent of the Shura Demon Sword's destructive power. After all, it was this sword that had ended the Dragon God's life, splitting it in two. Every other being who had faced the sword's edge had perished without a trace.

Even now, without the Shura God wielding it, the sword remained one of the deadliest weapons, exuding a killing intent on par with a second-tier god at the very least.

The mortals fortunate enough to participate in the Shura God's trials and wield the sword had never held the genuine Shura Demon Sword but rather a self-sealed, weakened form.

But if anyone tried to control the full force of this sword, there were only two possible outcomes—immediate death or a descent into madness, becoming the sword's puppet.

"…"

After a long while, Su Yue finally refocused, her gaze steady once more.

She suddenly raised her hands and tore open Su Cheng's collar from both sides.

"Hey, what are you doing!"

Ignoring him, Su Yue stared blankly at the spot on his chest.

Even though it looked smooth and unscarred, she knew the Shura Demon Sword was sealed there.

Instinctively, she reached out her hand, gently pressing it against his chest.

Her cool fingertips brushed across his skin.

She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but it felt like, beneath that strong heartbeat, there was a faint, subtle tremor.

Su Yue's fingers trembled slightly.

Then, she lowered her gaze, her face pale as she fell silent.

"Hey, are you okay?" Su Cheng gave her an odd look, then chuckled, "Don't make it so dramatic, alright? It's like I'm on my deathbed or something."

"Is it worth it?" she murmured softly, her head still lowered, ignoring his teasing.

"You're advancing faster than I expected. But even for a Second-Class Deity, using this method to restrain the Shura Demon Sword could lead to death." She looked up, her face pale but resolute, meeting his eyes directly. "You're human; you didn't have to go to such lengths. Was it worth it?"

"…"

Su Cheng was taken aback, then grew more serious.

He replied earnestly, "Su Yue, don't overthink it. It's not just about you—I have my reasons, too. I've told you before; I need this world to change."

"…"

Gazing into his transparent, amethyst eyes for a long while, Su Yue finally nodded.

Then she reached up to adjust his collar, smoothing out the creases.

Once done, she quietly turned her back to him and said softly, "You should go back and rest. I need to start my training for the day."

Despite what he had just said, Su Yue didn't really believe him.

There's no reward more precious than one's life.

Moreover, she couldn't see what personal benefit changing the world would bring Su Cheng.

She, on the other hand, was willing to risk her life to accomplish this mission. She had countless tribesmen waiting in hope, and she carried the weight of her birthright responsibility.

But Su Cheng?

Did he really have to go this far?

And yet, ironically, despite her own willingness to risk her life, she hadn't faced any actual danger. Step by step, she'd been shielded by him, training safely to the rank of Title Douluo, just one step away from deity-level power.

In comparison to Su Cheng's sacrifices, what had she done?

Just a bit of loneliness, just adapting to a new, unfamiliar environment—and it was one that even benefited her training.

How could she complain?

Su Yue didn't consider herself weak, but looking back over their time together, she felt embarrassed by the petty tempers she'd shown.

"…I won't let you down. I am the sovereign of soul beasts, the Silver Dragon King, and I am also Su Yue. I will not disappoint anyone."

Long after Su Cheng had left, she whispered softly, as if to herself.

The following day, Su Cheng was summoned again to the Pope's Hall by Bibi Dong.

The moment he saw her, he noticed something seemed off with her mood and spirit.

Her face was pale, skin dull, with faint dark circles under her eyes, and her aura felt unusually unstable. She seemed like a completely different person compared to the day before.

With her level of cultivation, such a state was incomprehensible.

Unfortunately, with the limited power he could currently control, it was hard for him to sense much.

"Su Cheng, yesterday I didn't have the time to ask you—what have you been through these past few years?"

"Of course, I've been focused on training and trying to purify my martial spirit," Su Cheng answered vaguely.

Naturally, he couldn't tell her the full story of the past few years.

The beasts of the Star Dou Forest—Di Tian, the Three-Eyed Golden King, and the rest—would be completely unsuitable to discuss with Bibi Dong.

And as for his plans concerning the Sea God, Rakshasa God, and Shura God, that was even more off-limits.

Fortunately, he'd already prepared an answer and wasn't worried about her questioning.

"What kind of training, exactly?" Bibi Dong stared at him, her hands clenched tightly behind her back. "What kind of training method could raise your power by nearly thirty levels in just three years, all the way to the Soul Douluo rank? Did you receive a hundred-thousand-year soul beast's sacrificial offering like Tang San? One wouldn't be enough; you'd need at least two."

As she spoke, a strange glint flickered in her eyes, making Su Cheng uneasy.

After a moment's pause, he answered as planned: "I stumbled upon a rare place with many precious herbs that greatly boosted my foundational skills and accelerated my cultivation speed. Additionally, I developed some techniques to enhance the absorption and circulation of soul power."

With that, he took out two unusual herbs and offered them. "Here, Teacher, I brought some for you too; they should greatly aid your training."

Bibi Dong only glanced at the rare flowers and herbs he produced, barely sparing them a second look.

Staring at him, her voice lowered, "Su Cheng, do you remember what you said to me before you left three years ago?"