Published at 15th of April 2026 7:37 am

Chapter 518 Western Region Targets

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Chong Sheng fell silent after his last words.

But his expression did not ease.

If anything, it grew more complicated.

His brows furrowed slightly, as if recalling something he would rather not.

"...Annihilation Tribulation..."

He muttered under his breath.

The term itself carried weight.

Not something spoken lightly.

Not something most would ever encounter.

His eyes dimmed slightly.

For a brief moment, he wasn't looking at Bai Zihan anymore.

He was looking somewhere else, lost in his memories.

Even in his previous life, he had only seen such a tribulation once, and it made him shudder just remembering it.

There was an Earth Immortal whose arrogance was well above others, but he had the strength to back it up as well.

Chong Sheng even considered that his talent was only slightly below his own, and acknowledged his strength, especially his physique.

Although not widely known, it was said that he possessed the blood of Xuanwu (Black Tortoise), making it incredibly difficult to kill him.

Because of this, most preferred to avoid him rather than confront him, which further boosted his ego.

But when that Annihilation Tribulation descended, he couldn't resist at all.

It wasn't a test.

It wasn't something you could prepare for.

It didn't give you a chance to struggle.

When it came down, it came with the intent to kill, and no matter the physique or artifact one had, it was useless.

Chong Sheng slowly lifted his gaze back toward Bai Zihan.

And what was forming just now felt eerily similar to what he had witnessed back then, especially the Seventh Strike.

Bai Zihan stood there, listening to the different types of Heavenly Tribulation which he hadn't even known existed.

His expression didn't change much.

But his eyes had grown colder.

(It seems like I wasn't the only one who fell victim to Heavenly Tribulation.)

He thought.

So this wasn't an impossible occurrence.

It had happened before.

Bai Zihan lowered his gaze slightly, thinking.

He also realized that Heavenly Tribulation likely couldn't appear whenever it wanted and act however it pleased.

If it could, he would already be dead.

There should be some restrictions even for it.

(And also that it has a will...)

"But it's restricted."

Not omnipotent.

Not absolute.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

(Interesting...)

It seems like even Heaven isn't as unbiased as many would like to believe, though he had already realized that when he learned about the existence of Heaven's Chosen.

Bai Zihan remained silent for a moment after reaching that conclusion.

There was nothing he could do about it.

Even if he understood that the so-called Heavenly Tribulation carried a will...

Even if he realized it was not as impartial as the world believed...

It changed nothing.

At least-

Not right now.

He had already expected something like this the moment he obtained those

memories.

From the beginning-

He knew that he would eventually become an enemy of Heaven.

Now, it was simply confirmed.

That didn't make him fearful.

It only made him more cautious.

Slowly, he exhaled and pushed those thoughts aside.

There were more immediate matters to deal with.

His eyes shifted back to Chong Sheng.

"Now," he said calmly, "tell me about the Western Region."

A brief pause.

Then his gaze narrowed slightly.

"Specifically-whether any of their powerhouses have plans regarding the

Desolate Heaven Empire."

Chong Sheng blinked once.

Then frowned faintly.

This question...

At least made more sense than the previous one.

But even so-

He didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he let out a slow breath.

"You're asking the wrong person."

His voice was steady this time.

Just a simple truth.

Bai Zihan's eyes sharpened slightly.

Chong Sheng continued.

"When I was the Demonic Emperor..."

A faint, self-mocking smile appeared on his lips.

"My rise wasn't exactly... subtle."

He let out a quiet scoff.

His rise to become the Demonic Emperor was a shock to many since he had no

great background, and no one expected him to reach that position.

Not to mention, it wasn't easy for him-his path was filled with slaughter.

Be it demonic cultivators or those from the righteous factions, he killed and made a name for himself as he rose through the ranks.

"That kind of rise tends to attract attention."

He glanced at Bai Zihan.

He thought Bai Zihan would understand, since he was similar in that regard.

Bai Zihan said nothing.

Chong Sheng continued.

"Almost all factions, including the top powerhouses, had their attention on me."

"On how to contain me..."

"And possibly kill me if they could."

A faint chuckle escaped his lips.

"And in the end... they succeeded."

Then Chong Sheng shook his head slightly.

"As for whether they had plans for the Desolate Heaven Empire..."

He met Bai Zihan's gaze directly.

"I don't know."

----

"No, more accurately, they never had one when I was alive but who knows

about now?"

His voice was firm.

"While I was alive, I was their top priority."

"And by the time I died, whatever plans they had would've changed anyway."

He exhaled slowly.

"So if you're asking me whether the Western Region is targeting the Desolate

Heaven Empire..."

He paused.

Then answered plainly.

"I can't tell you. Maybe they are now, but previously, there was no such plan as

far as I know."

Bai Zihan watched him for a long moment.

As if weighing every word.

Measuring truth from deception.

But Chong Sheng did not look away.

This time, he wasn't lying.

Bai Zihan fell silent after hearing Chong Sheng's answer.

His gaze lowered slightly, thoughts moving rapidly beneath that calm exterior.

(So even he doesn't know...)

Well that was to be expected. As he said, who knows what kind of changes

there has been after his death.

Bai Zihan's eyes darkened slightly.

(Did their ambitions shift after removing their greatest threat...?)

Or-

(Did they find something in the Desolate Heaven Empire?)

That thought lingered longer.

Because it made more sense.

Qin Lingxiao wouldn't have come otherwise.

They-the Western Region-definitely had an interest in the Desolate Heaven

Empire.

Something was happening within it.

Something big enough to draw their attention.

And he-

Did not yet know what it was.

Bai Zihan slowly lifted his gaze again.

His eyes fell back onto Chong Sheng.

"Then let's change the question. Do you know someone called..."

A slight pause.

"Qin Lingxiao?"

The moment the name left his mouth-

Chong Sheng's expression changed.

Not drastically.

But enough. Recognition. Followed by something deeper-

Wariness. "...Qin Lingxiao?"

He repeated the name slowly.

His brows furrowed slightly.

Then he let out a faint breath.

"I know of her."

(He wanted to ask how Bai Zihan knew of her name but realized his position.)

Bai Zihan's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Speak!"

Chong Sheng hesitated for a fraction of a second.

Then continued.

"She's not simple." His voice was lower now.

More serious than before.

"In my previous life, she wasn't someone who stood at the absolute peak like

me... but she was close."

"A monster in her own right, especially considering her age."

His gaze grew distant for a moment.

As if recalling something unpleasant.

"She didn't rely on brute force like I did. She was... different."

"A schemer. A planner!"

"Someone who could move entire regions without ever showing her hand."

Chong Sheng continued.

"I only crossed paths with her once."

A pause.

"And that was enough to make me realize how dangerous she was."

His eyes darkened slightly.

That alone-

Spoke volumes.

For someone like Chong Sheng, who had risen through slaughter and fear, to say that-

It meant something.

Bai Zihan's lips curved slightly. "Interesting..."

His voice was almost a whisper. Then his eyes locked onto Chong Sheng again.

"Tell me everything you remember about her."

Chong Sheng remained silent for a few moments after Bai Zihan's question.

As if organizing his memories. Or perhaps- Choosing his words carefully.

Then he exhaled slowly.

"If it's Qin Lingxiao..." His voice had lost all casualness.

What remained was caution. "You need to understand one thing first."

He lifted his gaze, locking onto Bai Zihan.

"She's not someone you fight in the conventional sense."

A brief pause.

"By the time you think of her as an enemy, you've most likely already lost."

Bai Zihan's eyes narrowed slightly.

Chong Sheng continued.

"She has a... very rare ability."

He frowned faintly, as if even describing it felt uncomfortable.

"A natural-born control over perception."

"Fate, emotions, identity... She can twist all of it."

His voice grew heavier.

"She doesn't just deceive you. She becomes whatever you need her to be."

"Innocent." "Weak."

"Trustworthy."

"Alluring."

Chong Sheng's gaze darkened.

"And the terrifying part is, she doesn't imitate. She becomes it!"

Bai Zihan remained silent.

He knew very well what Chong Sheng was talking about as he first hand

experienced that terrifying ability.

Chong Sheng continued.

"But that... isn't even the most terrifying part about her."

His voice dropped lower.

There was a weight behind his words now-something far heavier than before.

Bai Zihan's gaze sharpened slightly.

Chong Sheng met his eyes, his expression solemn.

"Her ability is dangerous, yes."

"A nightmare to deal with. But abilities like that... no matter how rare, no matter

how monstrous... They still have limits."

A brief pause.

Then-

"It's her background that truly makes her untouchable."

The air

i to grow heavier.

Bai Zihan did not interrupt.

Chong Sheng exhaled slowly, as if even recalling it brought pressure.

"In the Western Region... there are countless sects, clans, and ancient

inheritances." "Powers rise and fall constantly. But above all of them..." "There are a few that have stood for tens of thousands of years." His gaze darkened.

"Existences that don't just influence a region..." "They define it."

A faint, bitter smile appeared on his lips.

"And Qin Lingxiao, Comes from one of them."

Bai Zihan's eyes narrowed slightly.

Chong Sheng spoke the next words clearly.

"The Qin Clan!"

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