Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Villain Life Simulator

High above, Tang San tightened his grip on the Shura Demonic Sword, a chill rising in his heart.

The warning signals from his intuition stemmed from the sudden appearance of three figures in front of him.

Among them, he recognized Zhu Zhuqing.

With extraordinary talent and immense power, the strength of her Hell White Tiger martial spirit was beyond ordinary. Back when they studied at Shrek Academy, she was the only one who could consistently surpass him in combat strength.

However, after undergoing the god-level trials on Sea God Island, he no longer considered her a threat, especially now that he possessed the Shura God position.

But for some reason, Zhu Zhuqing now seemed unfamiliar.

Particularly, the long wings made of swirling gales behind her emitted an aura that felt extremely sharp and fast, elusive and difficult to grasp.

Moreover, the change was not only in her power level. Her demeanor had transformed significantly.

In the past, Zhu Zhuqing was cold but not detached. Now, she exuded an indifference that seemed to disregard all external matters. Her transcendent aura was almost more divine than his own.

To her right stood a strikingly beautiful woman with silver hair and purple eyes.

The Douluo Continent was home to many beauties, from Xiao Wu to Zhu Zhuqing, and even Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue, whom he had fought against. All of them possessed flawless appearances, as if crafted by the heavens.

Yet, compared to this woman, the others seemed to lack a certain quality.

It was likely due to her unique hair and eye color, which made her appear dreamlike, almost unreal, like a figure stepping out of a painting.

However, what made Tang San truly wary was the young man standing between the two women.

In terms of looks, the man was handsome and upright, though not particularly outstanding. At least, compared to the two women beside him, there were aspects of his appearance that fell short.

At first glance, he appeared gentle and composed, not striking. But a closer look revealed an impressive presence, like towering mountains and a bright moon, capable of holding everything within.

Beneath this calm exterior, there was a deeply hidden sharpness, like a divine sword sheathed and gathering strength.

Gazing at the trio before him, a faint doubt crept into Tang San's mind.

Aside from Zhu Zhuqing, he had never seen the other two before. More importantly, there was no hint of divine power emanating from them, yet their aura was unfathomable.

The brief immobilization he had experienced earlier seemed to be the doing of this man.

With that realization, Tang San frowned and looked at Zhu Zhuqing, then at the silver-haired, purple-eyed woman, before focusing on the young man and speaking, "You—"

Before he could finish, he suddenly fell silent and looked down in disbelief.

A sword mark had cut across his chest, leaving a faint trail of blood that stood out even against the crimson armor he wore.

In the next moment, Shura's divine power receded like a tide, and Xiao Wu's body appeared behind him with an identical wound on her chest.

The fusion state of their twin gods had been broken instantly.

Life ebbed away rapidly, and the two, eyes filled with despair, couldn't utter a single word.

Su Cheng glanced at Tang San one last time before speaking softly, sending a message to every Spirit Hall member: "The Sea God is dead. Full assault."

As he spoke, Su Cheng's senses expanded silently, observing the situation around Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue.

Tang San's death stirred no emotion in him.

Strategic maneuvering demanded formation and foresight. Thus, Su Cheng had taken his time preparing for this day, never rushing.

No matter how much Tang San grew, it was irrelevant. Su Cheng had gathered intelligence from various sources and kept his focus on the Divine Realm, while also using some of his resources to plan for other matters.

For instance, awakening his mental core and laying the groundwork for improving relationships after the simulation ended were what occupied his mind the most.

Among the women, Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue were the hardest to manage. Beyond their complicated relationship, Qian Renxue's personality was the most extreme.

Mending the accumulated grievances between them wasn't difficult.

After this battle, should either mother or daughter be willing to sacrifice their life for the other at a critical moment, they might not admit it aloud, but the bond of blood would no longer be something they could deny.

The real issue lay in Qian Renxue's feelings toward Su Cheng.

In a romantic relationship, it was only natural for both parties to expect fidelity from one another.

However, compared to the others, Qian Renxue did not tolerate Su Cheng's unfaithful behavior.

To her, she was the first to know him, and her feelings for him ran deepest. The two of them could be considered "true partners." Additionally, in terms of strength and capability, the others couldn't compare to her. Therefore, she saw no reason to compromise.

With this in mind, Su Cheng devised a plan.

In this world, he chose to be with Bibi Dong first.

Neither Qian Renxue nor Bibi Dong knew that Su Cheng's presence in this world was orchestrated by him.

Zhu Zhuqing was aware because Su Cheng's scheming began at a very young age in the Star Luo Empire's simulation, which was suspiciously early.

But in all other simulations, whether it was the first or the third, he appeared in front of them as an adult, and while he might be considered highly talented and strategic, it wasn't enough to raise suspicions.

In a distant, illusory space high above the Douluo Plane, blue and red silhouettes floated quietly, watching a vast scene that depicted the events unfolding at Jialing Pass.

"Shura, do you think what we're doing counts as cheating? You're the enforcer of the Divine Realm after all; this would be breaking the law."

"And what proof do you have that I'm breaking the law?"

"Isn't it obvious? You used that girl Xiao Wu's body as a vessel and hid Shura's divine power in Tang San's second martial spirit during his Sea God trials."

"That was just me making things easier for my successor. It's no different from when you appeared before Tang San during the Sea God inheritance. Compared to your actions, mine is nothing. I didn't help him complete the inheritance."

These figures were none other than the Sea God and Shura God of the Divine Realm.

Both appeared relaxed at the moment.

With the Angel God and Rakshasa God's inheritors defeated, it was almost certain that their chosen successors would ascend to the Divine Realm.

That was until Su Cheng and his group appeared at Jialing Pass.

Shura God's eyes narrowed, and Sea God felt a wave of uncertainty as he locked his gaze onto Su Yue in the trio. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Is she..."

"The Silver Dragon King." Shura God furrowed his brows, "She—"

Before he could finish, he suddenly fell silent, his eyes shifting as he focused on the young man standing in the center, whom he had previously dismissed. The image alone couldn't convey Su Cheng's true power; even Tang San, facing him directly, hadn't sensed as much.

Meanwhile, Tang San and Xiao Wu's spirits were extinguished.

"Who is he?! Shura, you—"

Before the Sea God could finish, he noticed something was amiss.

He turned, only to find that Shura God's figure had vanished without a trace.

On the walls of Jialing Pass, the atmosphere between Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue was tense, tinged with a peculiar awkwardness.

The severe injuries Bibi Dong had sustained were now gone.

With Tang San's death, the two of them survived, and the awakening of their mental cores brought a reversal of fate.

Qian Renxue lowered her head, her eyes reflecting a cascade of chaotic memories...

So that's why...

That sense of inexplicable familiarity from their very first meeting.

That overwhelming resistance when she learned of his relationship with Bibi Dong.

It turned out that the intense feelings buried in her subconscious were not a figment of her imagination.

If one had to describe it, it would be like a person dreaming. The likes and thoughts in dreams were still based on their real selves.

However, while dreaming, people rarely realized they were dreaming.

The only difference was that dreams were fleeting and hazy, lacking the vivid sense of reality...

"Ahem, sorry, I was caught up in some thoughts during cultivation and arrived late."

Su Cheng descended beside the two women, clearing his throat to announce his presence, subtly conveying his innocence.

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at him with a mocking look but said nothing more.

Bibi Dong, however, pursed her lips slightly, looking at Su Cheng before glancing at Qian Renxue, as if hesitant to speak.

Qian Renxue remained silent, head bowed.

The white flames around her burned quietly, and her lowered eyes glimmered with the same unstable white light.

Su Yue sensed the strange atmosphere, her gaze shifting among the group before finally resting on Qian Renxue.

This girl has such a powerful aura... But what was remarkable wasn't the outward energy fluctuations.

In terms of sheer strength, she was at the peak of a third-level god, on par with Su Yue.

What was fearsome was the nature of her energy.

The feeling of burning everything, illuminating all things, was like an unquenchable blazing sun. It even left her somewhat terrified.

Before this, Su Yue could never have imagined that anyone could control the power of the sun.

This wasn't the so-called Solar True Flame used by Angel God but the true power of the blazing sun.

The sun is one of the sources of energy for all life. It is a domain that even the gods of the Divine Realm cannot reach.

In this realm, countless planes exist, nearly all of which thrive and multiply under the sun's radiance. In fact, most planes only enjoy the mere afterglow of the sun's projection.

Even at the peak of the Dragon God's power, the sun was one of the rare things that inspired awe and fear within him, something he could scarcely touch.

"...Xiaoxue?"

Su Cheng, too preoccupied to notice Su Yue's thoughts, called softly to the agitated Qian Renxue.

"..."

Qian Renxue still didn't respond.

In truth, she understood the situation now.

After all, she'd had a similar experience before.

But unlike last time, when she only understood everything upon returning to reality, this time, she awakened early, right within this world.

Above the vast, blazing white sea of consciousness, a long-lost scene of confrontation played out once more.

The black-clad Qian Renxue stared coldly and growled, "He's here. Have you made up your mind yet?"

Her question met only silence from the white-clad figure opposite her.

"Besides Bibi Dong and Zhu Zhuqing, there's now also a white-haired one... No, there's another presence within Su Cheng's body. Damn it, I can't hold back anymore!"

"...Wait." The white-clad Qian Renxue lifted her head, her gaze dim and confused. "This time, I'm too late."

"What does timing have to do with it? Can this kind of thing be allowed?"

"..."

Seeing her counterpart go silent again, the black-clad figure's gaze flickered as she quickly reassessed the situation.

The two of them were two minds within a single being, their wills intertwined. She understood well that the other's dilemma wasn't merely about the nature of this world or the trivial issue of "first come, first served."

The most crucial conflict was Bibi Dong.

"What do you intend to do?"

"…I don't know."

"Very well, then I'll kill all those people. After all, this is just a false world."

With that, she didn't wait for a response and withdrew her consciousness from that space.

Back in reality, the blazing white flame in Qian Renxue's eyes extinguished. Her white clothes turned pitch-black, and her long, golden hair took on a dull, silvery-gray hue.

Su Yue's eyes flickered. She noticed that as this strange transformation occurred in Qian Renxue's appearance, her aura changed as well. Though still powerful, it no longer felt as terrifying as before.

At least now, with her current strength, Su Yue was ninety percent sure she could defeat her.

Bibi Dong took a deep breath and said softly, "Xiaoxue..."

"Don't call me so affectionately. We're not close," Qian Renxue replied coldly.

Hearing this, Bibi Dong was momentarily stunned, but then she noticed Qian Renxue's gaze and immediately understood.

This was that "other" Xiaoxue.

She knew that Qian Renxue's second soul had initially sprouted from the accumulated negative emotions within her heart, making her herself one of the chief instigators of this personality's emergence.

Given that, it was impossible for this personality to retain "familial" feelings or see her as anything other than an enemy.

After dismissing Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue then walked over to Su Cheng.

She glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, who was standing close to him, and said blandly, "Move aside."

Zhu Zhuqing raised an eyebrow, her eyes flashing with a hint of blood-red light. The wings of the Wind God spread open, and the silhouette of a white tiger appeared behind her.

If it weren't for Qian Renxue's strange, combined state, she wouldn't be intimidated.

Strength would only be determined after a fight.

Seeing the tension rise, Su Cheng quickly stepped in between them and said seriously, "Xiaoxue, you might not fully understand the situation. Even if the heir of the Asura God has died, the true former Asura God still resides in the Divine Realm. That being is much stronger and could descend at any time. Now is not the time for internal conflict."

"Ha, internal conflict? With her? Besides, this is just who I am; didn't you already know?" Qian Renxue scoffed at him, her gaze fixed on Su Cheng. "Su Cheng, I thought you knew my personality well. What does the bigger picture have to do with me?"

Su Cheng felt a headache coming on.

But given the situation, he wasn't completely unprepared.

In fact, Qian Renxue's current attitude was not much worse than he had anticipated.

At least, now that her memories had returned and with Bibi Dong involved, only her second personality was openly hostile. This suggested his previous strategies had some merit.

It seemed that her main personality, while having reservations, was beginning to soften regarding Bibi Dong's presence, although she still needed time to accept it.

"Su Cheng, what's going on with her?"

At this moment, Su Yue, who had been ignored for some time, suddenly asked with a calm expression.

Although she appeared calm on the surface, in reality, she felt deeply displeased.

For some reason, Su Yue suddenly felt oddly left out, as if she were an outsider.

It was as if some strange tacit understanding existed between the others here.

But this made no sense.

She had known Su Cheng for over a decade and was the one who understood him best, knowing his social circle, his acquaintances, even his origins.

Yet, somehow, the situation had inexplicably shifted into this bizarre state…

"None of your business."

Before Su Cheng could answer, Qian Renxue cut in with a sneer.

A flash of anger crossed Su Yue's eyes as she turned to face Qian Renxue. "I am his sister!"

"Sister? Ha!" Qian Renxue threw her head back in laughter.

But there was no kindness in her laughter—only layers of mockery.

"One moment you're his sister, the next his younger sister. What's next? Calling yourself his lover or darling? You should leave as well. It's not your place to speak here." Then, she turned back to Su Cheng. "And where's the Blue Silver Emperor? Still hiding? Tell her to come out."

Su Cheng: "..."

Xiaoxue's second personality was on a rampage.

She had silenced Bibi Dong, quarreled with Zhu Zhuqing, insulted Su Yue, and now intended to confront Ah Yin?

Thank goodness this was only her second personality. If it escalated like last time, with the two souls merging in a full rage, things might spiral out of control.

Su Cheng sighed, not planning to let Ah Yin appear, and said, "Xiaoxue, entering this world was beyond our control. None of us knew what was going on at first. As for Dong'er and I—"

"Dong'er?!" Qian Renxue abruptly grabbed Su Cheng by his collar, snarling, "That's my mother!"

"..."

Didn't you just say you weren't close with her?

Su Cheng paused thoughtfully before attempting to say more, but then, to his surprise, Ah Yin appeared at his side.

Upon her arrival, a gentle, serene domain unfolded, calming the volatile atmosphere.

Ah Yin looked around at the people present, then spoke softly, "Qian Renxue, may I speak with you?"