Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Villain Life Simulator

Over the past three months, Su Cheng had been fully focused on his cultivation. Other than a brief visit to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan to "exchange" insights on cultivation techniques, he hadn't taken part in any operations related to the Spirit Empire.

During this time, he had refined and absorbed most of his accumulated gains, elevating his combat strength to a level nearing that of a God-King. Consequently, he had entered a phase of gradual improvement in his cultivation.

For Su Cheng, there was no such thing as bottlenecks in the short term. All he needed was to continue training steadily to keep progressing. The only drawback was the slow pace—unless he could once again construct a "reactor" based on the interaction of earth, water, wind, and fire.

As for the so-called tiers of gods—Third-Class, Second-Class, First-Class, and God-King—they were classifications within the divine hierarchy established by the Divine Realm.

In this system, breaking through the barriers between these levels not only depended on the potential of one's godhood—such as powers derived from the ocean, killing intent, or malicious thoughts—but also on the Divine Realm's spatial capacity to sustain those advancements.

If the Divine Realm were to consume vast reserves of thought energy to undergo massive spatial expansion and accommodate more lower-plane worlds, then gods like the God of War or God of Food, currently limited to the level of Second-Class Gods, might have the chance to ascend to First-Class God status.

However, Su Cheng's advancement didn't rely on faith energy or the Divine Realm. Instead, he pursued a path of unlocking his own potential, making his progress increasingly independent of the Divine Realm's tiered system.

In his earlier stages of cultivation, his breakthroughs had coincided somewhat with these energy-based classifications. Now, having entered an entirely new realm, the divergence had grown significantly.

Having paused his cultivation temporarily, Su Cheng left his room and headed toward the Pope's exclusive office hall.

In recent wars, Bibi Dong had refrained from personally commanding the front lines. Instead, she had entrusted control of the northern and southern battlefields to Qian Renxue and Zhu Zhuqing. These two figures, deeply familiar with the two empires and possessing formidable strength, led teams of Title Douluos from the Elder's Hall and young spirit masters from Spirit Hall Academy in commanding the campaigns.

Bibi Dong herself remained in Spirit City, dealing with the mountain of complex administrative work piling up.

The Spirit Empire's rapid expansion came with drawbacks—chief among them, issues of indigestion.

The sheer volume of accumulated problems, coupled with internal conflicts within their territories, overwhelmed even Spirit Hall's considerable manpower.

This was unavoidable.

The allocation of benefits required careful deliberation: the varying strengths of subordinate spirit master families, the timing of their allegiance, and the promises Spirit Hall had made in the past—all these factors needed to be balanced.

Previously, as a spirit master organization, Spirit Hall had virtually no talents in governance. While some noble officials from the two former empires had joined their administration, their vested interests made it risky to grant them too much power. As a result, much of the burden fell on Bibi Dong.

Fortunately, her spiritual cultivation was unparalleled—stronger even than Qian Renxue's in certain respects. Moreover, her decades of experience as the Pope gave her a foundational understanding of leadership.

Looking at the piles of documents, Su Cheng felt a headache coming on. Bibi Dong, however, seemed to take pleasure in the work.

Her demeanor was calm, showing no signs of frustration.

Su Cheng approached her desk, glancing at the mountain of files. "Looks like you were well-prepared for this."

"Of course. I've been waiting for over twenty years." Bibi Dong chuckled softly, unafraid to reveal her ambition to Su Cheng.

"As long as you're confident, I'm relieved," Su Cheng said, setting aside his idea of using his Trajectory Vision to assist her in planning. "If you weren't committed, it would've been better not to establish the Spirit Empire. Taking this position means taking responsibility. The world isn't a toy. Someday, one of your decisions could determine the fate of countless lives."

"The fate of the world…" Bibi Dong's pen paused briefly, but she quickly resumed her work, responding seriously, "I'm willing to bear that burden."

As she uttered those words, she felt as though a great weight had settled on her chest, even making her breathing heavier.

The Pope of Spirit Hall was, at the end of the day, merely a leader of spirit masters—a small, elite group of individuals with extraordinary power. Spirit masters didn't necessarily need her; even if they left Spirit Hall, they could thrive elsewhere.

But for the billions of ordinary people and the common spirit masters with average talent, life wasn't so simple.

In the past, while Bibi Dong understood the theoretical difference between an emperor and the Pope, she hadn't fully grasped what leading an empire truly entailed.

Greater power? More expansive territories? More complex responsibilities? Or simply a heavier workload?

Now, she realized the key difference lay in the silent, unseen masses—the ordinary people who formed the foundation of the empire and of humanity on this continent.

They might be weak—unable to withstand even a small team of spirit masters—but they were people. Fundamentally, they were no different from her.

She was about to shoulder the future of countless individuals, leading them toward a better tomorrow.

"Feeling the pressure?" Su Cheng asked, observing her.

"No, I'm happy," Bibi Dong replied softly. "To give them a better future is an honor for me."

Responsibility and the hopes of others often brought not only pressure but also purpose and fulfillment.

While many disliked such burdens, Bibi Dong welcomed them.

Her origins, her growth, her trials, and her transformations—all had shaped her into a person of immense resolve and vision.

Su Cheng's gaze softened as he said sincerely, "You never fail to surprise me."

Reaching this point and deciding to shoulder such responsibilities wasn't just empty talk—it required genuine courage, something even the boldest often lacked.

"I believe you'll do wonderfully."

"Do you… really think so?" Bibi Dong's expression wavered, her confidence tinged with self-doubt.

For a moment, she questioned whether this task was beyond her ability—had she underestimated the challenge?

Taking a deep breath, she set down her pen, shaking off her stray thoughts. With renewed focus, she looked at Su Cheng. "What about the Divine Realm? Have you decided how to deal with it?"

"Yes, I'm making some preparations."

"What are you planning?" Bibi Dong's eyes lit up with curiosity.

"I'm heading to the City of Slaughter to borrow the Shura Demon Sword."

"The Shura Demon Sword? Isn't that the artifact of the God of Shura?"

"Yes, it's the God of Shura's divine weapon and the key to inheriting the Shura God's position. Right now, it's in the hands of the King of Slaughter."

"What do you need it for?"

"I plan to use it as a medium to…" Su Cheng's sentence trailed off as his expression suddenly shifted.

"What's wrong?" Bibi Dong noticed his reaction, her own face showing a mix of curiosity and wariness.

Su Cheng chuckled. "This is interesting—your former master, the God of Rakshasa, seems to be involved."

In Heaven Dou City, deep within Shrek Academy, Tang Hao, Tang Yuehua, and Yu Xiaogang—members of the Golden Iron Triangle—gathered nervously around a dark portal.

As the ominous violet-black glow faded, Tang San emerged.

Before they could express their joy, Tang San, clad in sinister purple-black armor, looked up with glowing, evil eyes, freezing their expressions.

The next moment, overwhelming malice and godly pressure surged forward, disrupting their thoughts.

Yu Xiaogang and Tang Yuehua, having the weakest cultivation, were the most affected.

Especially Tang Yuehua.

She had once taught Tang San for a year at Moon Pavilion and knew the depths of his suppressed emotions. Fear and panic filled her heart.

Had Su Cheng been present, he would've noticed that Tang San's current gaze mirrored the one he had seen in Bibi Dong during their simulated encounter in the Pope's Hall.

Such was the terrifying nature of Rakshasa's divine power.

For the weak, especially those with vulnerabilities in their hearts, the demonic intent of the Rakshasa God possesses an unparalleled ability to manipulate emotions.

This energy is extremely invasive and corrupting, capable of deeply arousing living beings' primal desires: violent killing intent, greedy ambition, raw impulses, and vengeful fury...

This is also why, despite both gods being rooted in negative emotions, the power of the Rakshasa God is utterly overwhelmed by the pure might of the Asura God. The difference in their purity is as vast as heaven and earth.

Even the faint malevolent aura lingering in the Slaughter City could cause rapid moral decay, let alone now that Tang San has ascended to godhood.

The degree of erosion on both himself and those around him has intensified dozens of times over.

In fact, Tang San might even be worse off than Bibi Dong during her prime.

After all, Bibi Dong's martial spirit was unique. The Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor was equally malevolent, granting her a natural resistance to such influences.

In contrast, Tang San had neither the foundation of an evil martial spirit nor Xiao Wu acting as a scabbard to shield him from backlash. Thus, resisting this influence was naturally far more challenging for him.

His sole advantage was likely his unyielding obsession with Xiao Wu and his self-awareness that surpassed ordinary people.

---

In the core of the Divine Realm, within a magnificent, shimmering palace, the five supreme gods silently watched the broadcast of Tang San's ascension.

The God of Destruction glanced at the God of Asura with a slightly peculiar expression. "Is this the successor you painstakingly selected? Do you think he can uncover anything useful?"

"..."

The God of Asura did not respond, his expression darkening.

---

One month later, the Spirit Hall's Soul Master Legion had encamped outside Heaven Dou City.

Strangely, despite having no natural defenses and the nearby Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect posing a potential threat, the Heaven Dou royal family remained calm and showed no intention of surrendering.

In contrast, the more powerful Star Luo Empire had surrendered entirely to the Spirit Empire's rule half a month earlier.

As Zhu Zhuqing had previously noted, the high-ranking nobles of the Star Luo Empire were divided and self-serving.

They would never risk their entire families and fortunes on a gamble with almost no chance of success. It simply wasn't a worthwhile trade-off.

The political landscape of the Star Luo Empire was entirely different from that of the Heaven Dou Empire.

There, the ruling elite were accustomed to internal strife, with rises and falls being commonplace, dictated purely by strength.

Even the prestigious Dai family, known as the White Tiger Clan, had not always held the imperial throne unchallenged.

In contrast, the Heaven Dou royal family's position was far more stable. Their confidence stemmed largely from a newly appointed imperial prince.

After all, this was a world of extraordinary powers.

The influence of the strong far exceeded that of conventional armies.

Titled Douluo-level experts, in particular, were equivalent to natural fortresses.

And above them were god-level beings, capable of confronting entire nations single-handedly!

Currently, Heaven Dou City housed one such divine figure: "Rakshasa King" Tang San.

---

To be honest, when Su Cheng first heard this title, he almost laughed out loud.

Why not just call him the Blue Vast King?

One could only imagine what the previous Rakshasa God—a twisted and erratic individual—would think upon learning that their successor had been dubbed "Rakshasa King."

Standing alone atop the city wall, clad in sinister purple-black battle armor, Tang San fixed his gaze on a tall, golden-haired woman at the forefront of the enemy ranks. His eyes gleamed with malevolent light as his aura of hostility and malice surged exponentially.

How could he ever forget this woman?

If Tang San were to rank the enemies etched into his heart, Su Cheng would undoubtedly be one of them—a deeply hated nemesis and personal demon.

However, in terms of sheer hatred, Su Cheng only ranked third.

The second spot belonged to Zhu Zhuqing, the "traitor" who had deceived his emotions.

And the first? Without question, Qian Renxue.

---

For years, the image of Xiao Wu's death had lingered like an unshakable nightmare, haunting Tang San day and night. It had become an obsession, tormenting him incessantly.

This shadow had transcended Xiao Wu herself, becoming a symbol, a brand etched into his very soul.

Neither the hardship of cultivation, the trials of life, nor the agony of demonic energy erosion compared to the depth of this mark.

Today, he could finally exact his revenge.

Tang San raised his arm, pointing the massive scythe in his hand directly at Qian Renxue. He shouted, "Qian Renxue! Do you dare face me in single combat?"

He sensed her strength—it wasn't weak, and she posed a vague threat to him.

If she disregarded martial ethics and brought an army of Titled Douluo, along with figures like Bibi Dong, Tang San, who had only recently ascended to godhood, might not emerge victorious. Hence, he resorted to verbal provocation.

He figured that, with the pride of a strong individual, she had no reason to refuse his challenge.

---

In the rear of the army, Su Cheng silently observed Tang San, who stood brimming with confidence on the city wall. A hint of disappointment flickered in his eyes.

While he never considered Tang San a true rival, the stark difference between expectation and reality still left him disheartened.

To Su Cheng, Tang San, whether as a pawn of the Divine Kings, an exceptional soul master, or even a disciple of the Tang Sect in his past life, should have accomplished something truly his own.

Yet, none of this came to pass.

Instead, Tang San had fallen into the pursuit of power through unorthodox means.

Su Cheng could see that Tang San's aura was superficial and unstable—a hollow shell.

Despite his godhood, his true combat ability might not even rival Tang Chen at his peak.

---

As these thoughts raced through Su Cheng's mind, Qian Renxue had already made her move.

She was not one to rely on others. Since Tang San had issued the challenge, she would oblige.

After all, so many members of the Clear Sky Sect had perished already. One or two more wouldn't make a difference.

Her mood was already sour.

Although her progress in the Heaven Dou campaign had been steady, Zhu Zhuqing's rapid pace made her efforts seem sluggish. She was, in fact, half a month behind.

Ignoring Tang San's challenge to leave the battlefield for a one-on-one duel, Qian Renxue's eyes blazed with radiant white flames.

Behind her, massive wings of pure light unfurled, dazzlingly brilliant.

---

The moment Tang San's gaze met those incandescent eyes, his heart plummeted into a bottomless abyss. All chaotic thoughts dissipated, leaving only the chilling fear of death.

The flames in her eyes radiated a searing heat capable of vaporizing divine bodies, yet they made Tang San's entire being feel cold. He trembled involuntarily.

Never before had he felt death so close. Even speaking felt impossible.

This was the absolute suppression of attributes.

It far surpassed the Asura God's domination over Rakshasa energy.

Under the blazing sun, the world cast shadows.

No darkness or corruption could escape the purging light.

Moreover, there was the undeniable gap in power between a second-level god and a newly ascended third-level god.

---

"Shhh—"

There were no extra movements, no visible attacks.

Only a dazzling pillar of light streaked past.

In the next moment, a portion of the towering city wall simply vanished.

Amidst the blinding flames, a humanoid shadow twisted and writhed, silently wailing and struggling in vain.

But the True Flame of the Sun was a power of the highest order.

Even Su Cheng had once suffered near-fatal injuries from it.

Now, with Qian Renxue wielding this force more masterfully, her attacks were purer and more focused. Tang San had no chance of escaping—not even to cry out.

The purple-black mist evaporated in an instant.

The shadow at the core of the flames shrank, narrowing and fading until it became nothingness...

As the fire dissipated, everything vanished without a trace.