Chapter 1

The Arrogant Path of Immortals and Demons was a harem fantasy novel.

To be more specific, The Arrogant Path of Immortals and Demons was an absurdly long, wish-fulfillment power fantasy featuring a protagonist whose harem approached triple digits. In this cultivation romp, any character whose gender was listed as ‘female’ would inevitably fall for the male lead.

The year’s most popular harem novel, bar none!

Its protagonist, Luo Binghe, didn’t follow the typical ‘arrogant young master’ or ‘trash-to-treasure’ tropes, yet he captivated millions of readers on the literary site ‘Journey’s End’ and spawned countless imitators.

He walked the path of darkness.

And before his descent into darkness, he walked the path of bitter suffering.

Now, allow this novel’s veteran reader, Shen Yuan, to skip over countless gratuitous scenes and condense its millions of words into a concise summary.

Luo Binghe was abandoned by his parents at birth, wrapped in white cloth, placed in a wooden basin, and set adrift on a river.

In the dead of winter, he was fished out by a river fisherman, narrowly avoiding death by freezing in infancy. Because he was found drifting on the Luo River during a season of thin ice, he was given this name.

His childhood was spent wandering the streets, hungry and cold, a bleak and shadowed time. A washerwoman from a wealthy household, taking pity on the child and having no son of her own, adopted him and raised him as her own. Mother and son lived in poverty, suffering endless humiliation under the roof of the wealthy family.

This profoundly unhealthy upbringing planted the seeds for Luo Binghe’s twisted personality post-corruption: petty, vengeful, a smiling face hiding a heart full of murderous schemes.

For a bowl of lukewarm meat congee, he endured a beating from the young masters of the household, only to arrive too late—his foster mother passed away before she could taste a single mouthful.

By a twist of fate, Luo Binghe was chosen by one of the world’s four great cultivation sects, the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect, and taken as a disciple under Shen Qingqiu, the ‘Elegant Sword.’

He thought he had finally stepped onto the right path, only to discover that Shen Qingqiu was a gilded exterior hiding rotten stuffing—a man of vile character. Jealous of Luo Binghe’s peerless, heaven-defying talent and secretly fearful of this disciple whose cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds daily, Shen Qingqiu subjected him to constant ridicule and humiliation, leading his fellow disciples to look down on him as well.

Several years of study became another chapter of bitter endurance, a history of tears and blood.

After struggling through hardship until the age of seventeen, Luo Binghe finally welcomed the cultivation world’s triennial grand event: the Immortal Alliance Conference. During this conference, Shen Qingqiu schemed against him, causing Luo Binghe to fall into the chasm separating the human and demon realms—the Endless Abyss.

Yes, this was where the story truly began!

Not only did Luo Binghe not die, but within the Endless Abyss, he found the peerless divine sword destined for him: ‘Xin Mo’ (Heart-Demon). He also learned the truth of his origins.

It turned out Luo Binghe was the offspring of a union between a Demon Saint from the demon realm and a human woman. His veins carried the blood of both an ancient fallen heavenly demon and humanity. His birth father, the Tian Lang Lord, was suppressed beneath a great mountain, never to rise again. His birth mother was a disciple from a righteous cultivation sect; likely expelled for her affair with a demon, she died from postpartum hemorrhage after giving birth to Luo Binghe. With her last breath, she set her newborn adrift from the lonely boat where she gave birth, leaving him this slender thread of survival.

Using the Xin Mo sword, Luo Binghe broke the seal on his demonic bloodline. In the darkness of the abyss, he immersed himself in cultivation, comprehending divine techniques unheard of in the world, and returned to the Cang Qiong Mountain Sect.

From here, Luo Binghe began his irrevocable march down the road of corruption.

Not a single former enemy escaped a torturous death at his hands. Mastering the arts of deception and manipulation, Luo Binghe became two-faced, feigning obedience while plotting rebellion. Step by step, he gained trust, seized power, rose meteorically, and stirred up storms of bloodshed. As the plot progressed, his descent into darkness deepened. Returning to the demon realm to inherit the title of Saint Lord failed to satisfy him; he began a bloody purge of the human world’s major cultivation sects, eradicating any voice of opposition!

In the end, the legendary Luo Binghe, master of immortals and demons, unified the three realms across ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains, possessed a harem beyond counting, and his descendants were without end!

“Dumbass author! Dumbass novel!”

These were the last words Shen Yuan could curse before his spirit departed.

Think of it—a fine, upstanding young man who dutifully paid for VIP access to read the official version, and on his deathbed, the last thing he persevered through was such a shameless, money-grabbing, watered-down harem novel. Could he not curse?

The Arrogant Path of Immortals and Demons. Author: Xiang Tian Da Fei Ji (Shooting Plane at the Sky).

Just looking at that username, a lewd aura assaulted the senses. The writing was elementary school level, landmines everywhere. Shen Yuan was almost embarrassed to call the chaotic, nonsensical framework the author constructed a ‘cultivation setting.’

Have you ever seen cultivators who rode horses and carriages all day? Have you ever seen cultivators who, despite having reached the stage of ‘abstaining from grains,’ still needed to eat and sleep? Have you ever seen an author who sometimes mixed up ‘Foundation Establishment’ and ‘Nascent Soul’?

Every character in front of the protagonist acted as if their IQ had been swallowed by his turtle-king aura. Especially Luo Binghe’s master, that Shen Qingqiu—he was the fighter jet among idiots, the Li Tianyi among scum! His entire reason for existence seemed to be courting death, and then, failing to die properly, getting killed by the protagonist.

So why did Shen Yuan read such a book all the way to the end?

Don’t misunderstand; Shen Yuan wasn’t a masochist. The reason was also what frustrated him the most:

The novel was riddled with foreshadowing, pits everywhere, mystery upon mystery, layers of fog and obscurity. And in the end—not a single one was resolved!

It was enough to make one cough up a mouthful of blood to the heavens.

Why did rare herbs, miraculous pills, and peerless beauties litter the ground like they were free? Why did every antagonist have the same lines and postures for courting death and collecting their lunchbox?

And those several girls who made a stunning appearance, promised to be added to the harem… where did they go? Okay, let’s skip that for now—just who were the culprits behind those several tragic cases? What was the point of that huge cast of characters with awe-inspiring titles who sounded incredibly badass, if they were never even trotted out for a look by the end?!

Brother Xiang Tian, Brother Fei Ji, oh great one, can we negotiate here? Fill! In! The! Plotholes!

Shen Yuan felt he could be angered back to life.

In the endless darkness, a mechanical voice echoed by his ear.

[Activation code: “Dumbass author! Dumbass novel!” System automatically triggered.]

“And who might you be?” The way it spoke sounded like Google Translate.

Shen Yuan looked around. He seemed to be floating in a virtual space, pitch black, the voice omnipresent:

[Welcome to the system. Developed under the philosophy of “no bullshit,” this system hopes to provide you with the optimal experience. We sincerely hope that during the process, you can achieve your desires and transform a dumbass novel according to your will into a high-end, grand, classic masterpiece. We wish you a pleasant journey.]

Amidst the dizziness, a man’s voice gently inquired by his ear: “…Junior Brother? Junior Brother, can you hear me?”

Shen Yuan jolted, steadied his mind, and forced his heavy, battling eyelids open. The scene before him swirled like ten thousand flowers and leaves, only gradually merging into a clear, overlapping image after a long moment.

He was lying on a bed.

Looking up, he saw a bed canopy of white gauze, delicate sachets hanging from its four corners.

Looking down, he wore pristine white robes of ancient elegance, a folded paper fan resting against the pillow.

Looking left, an elegant young man in dark formal robes sat by the bedside, gazing at him with concern.

Shen Yuan closed his eyes, suddenly reached out to grasp the folding fan, flicked it open with a snap, and fanned away the cold sweat rolling down his forehead.

Delight flickered in the young man’s eyes as he asked gently, “You’re finally awake, Junior Brother. Is there any place you still feel unwell?”

Shen Qingqiu replied with reserved dignity, “It is of no consequence.”

The information load was somewhat heavy. Dazedly, he tried to sit up. Seeing this, the young man hurriedly reached out to support his back, helping him lean against the headboard.

Having read countless transmigration and rebirth novels on Journey’s End, Shen Yuan had long resolved that if he ever woke up to find himself in an unfamiliar place, before figuring out the situation, he would absolutely not grin foolishly and say something like, “Is this a TV drama set? The props are so realistic, your crew is amazing!”—words that reeked of idiocy and a search for security. He would simply pretend to have just woken up, his expression dazed: “I… where is this?”

The young man was taken aback. “Have you slept yourself silly? This is your Qing Jing Peak.”

Shen Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. He continued his performance, feigning faintness. “I… why have I been unconscious for so long?”

The young man said, “I should be asking you. How did you come down with such a high fever out of nowhere? I know the Immortal Alliance Conference is approaching, and you’re anxious for success in teaching your disciples. But given the foundation and reputation of our Cang Qiong Mountain now, even if we didn’t send a single participant this time, no one would dare question us. Why bother with such vain prestige?”

The more Shen Yuan listened, the more wrong it sounded. Why did these words seem so familiar?

No, why did this setting seem so familiar?

The next sentence from the man, spoken with grave sincerity, finally confirmed his suspicion.

“Qingqiu, Junior Brother, are you listening to your Senior Brother?”

At that moment, a “ding” sounded. The mechanical, Google Translate-like voice from the dream rang out again.

[System activation successful! Bound character: Luo Binghe’s master, Master of Qing Jing Peak, Cang Qiong Mountain Sect, ‘Shen Qingqiu.’ Weapon: Elegant Sword. Original B-Points: 100.]

“What the hell are you?! How are you talking directly in my head?! Does Xiang Tian Da Fei Ji know you’re plagiarizing the setting of The Arrogant Path of Immortals and Demons like this?!”

Of course, Shen Yuan didn't say it out loud, but that voice responded quickly.

[You have triggered the system's execution protocol. Account 'Shen Qingqiu' has been bound.]

[Multiple metrics will gradually unlock as the plot progresses. Please ensure no metric falls below 0. Otherwise, the system will automatically administer punishment.]

Stop. Enough. Shen Yuan was certain. He'd hit the jackpot. He'd been reborn!

Reborn into a dark harem novel he'd just finished reading and had scorned, and he came with some kind of ghostly system attached. As a veteran VIP reader of the Journey's End literary site in the new century, long accustomed to the baptism of countless save-scumming and soul-possession YY novels, Shen Qingqiu could have happily and quickly accepted this fact. But of all the rotten luck, the shell he'd borrowed belonged to the protagonist's scumbag villain master, Shen Qingqiu. This... well, the situation was a bit complicated.

The good-natured fellow sitting beside him was the current Sect Leader of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect, Shen Qingqiu's Senior Brother, the "Xuan Su Sword," Yue Qingyuan. Holy shit.

Shen Yuan's internal 'holy shit' was directed specifically at Yue Qingyuan for a very significant reason—in the original work, Yue Qingyuan was killed by his own dear Junior Brother, Shen Qingqiu!

And his death was beyond brutal.

Pierced by ten thousand arrows, his body and bones utterly destroyed!

And now, the face of this victim was turned toward him, the "murderer," expressing warm concern. The pressure was immense.

But for now, it seemed the plot hadn't progressed to that point. Yue Qingyuan was still alive and well, meaning Shen Qingqiu hadn't yet been stripped of his hypocrite's mask, nor had his reputation been ruined.

Yue Qingyuan was just a decent, kind man, nothing to fear. Though a bit of a tragic figure, Shen Yuan had actually liked this character while reading. As a sliver of relief washed over him, a line of text bizarrely floated into his mind.

[...In a pitch-black room, an iron chain hung down from the rafters. At the end of the chain was a ring. The ring was fastened around a person's waist. If it could still be called a 'person.' This 'person' was disheveled and filthy, like a madman. Most horrifying of all, all four of his limbs had been severed. His shoulders and thighs were nothing but four bare, fleshy stumps. If touched, he would emit a hoarse 'ah-ah' sound. His tongue had also been torn out, so he couldn't form complete words.]

↑ A selected passage from The Arrogant Path of Immortals and Demons: Shen Qingqiu's Finale.

Shen Yuan—no, Shen Qingqiu—lowered his head, pressing a hand to his forehead.

What right did he have to lament someone else's miserable death? The one who died most miserably was him!

He absolutely must not allow such a colossal mistake to happen!

He must snuff out the spark before the error occurs √

From now on, desperately cling to the male lead's thigh √

Become a diligent, earnest, gentle, and guiding mentor and friend, showering him with concern and meticulous care √

The moment this thought surfaced, a long, blaring alarm exploded in Shen Qingqiu's mind, as if a hundred police cars carrying a hundred mythical beasts were shrieking past. The noise jolted his entire body, and he clutched his head in pain.

Yue Qingyuan asked with concern, "Junior Brother, does your head still hurt?"

Shen Qingqiu gritted his teeth, not answering. The system sharply reminded him: [Warning. Your recent intention is highly dangerous. It constitutes a violation. Please do not attempt it, or the system will automatically administer punishment.]

"What's the violation?"

[You are currently at the initial level. The OOC function is frozen. It will only unlock after completing the preliminary stage tasks. Before unlocking, any action that violates the original 'Shen Qingqiu' character setting will deduct a certain amount of B-Points.]

As a semi-shut-in, Shen Qingqiu had occasionally read some doujinshi in his past life—you know the kind—so of course he knew what OOC meant.

Out Of Character. Literally, character collapse, not conforming to the original character's personality.

"...So, you're saying that before that whatever function unfreezes, my behavior and actions cannot exceed what 'Shen Qingqiu' would do?"

[Correct understanding.]

They'd already shoved him into Shen Qingqiu's shell, and they were still worried about details like OOC?

Shen Qingqiu asked another question. "You said earlier, something about... metrics not falling below 0. What happens if they do?"

[You will be automatically repatriated to your original world.]

Original world? But in the original world, Shen Yuan's body was already dead.

Which meant that if those B-Points were completely deducted, what awaited him was: death.

Then, if I just ignore the male lead, do nothing, that should be fine, right?

He lifted his head, scanning the disciples attending nearby, but didn't see anyone matching Luo Binghe's description. He feigned nonchalance. "Where is Luo Binghe?"

Yue Qingyuan paused, looking at him strangely.

Shen Qingqiu remained expressionless but secretly rejoiced. Could the timing be off? Had the male lead not yet become a disciple of Cang Qiong Mountain?

Yue Qingyuan said, "Junior Brother, don't be angry anymore."

A sense of foreboding welled up in Shen Qingqiu's heart.

Yue Qingyuan sighed. "I know you don't like him. But that child has worked hard enough and hasn't committed any major wrongs. Please don't punish him further."

Shen Qingqiu's lips felt dry. He licked them. "...Just tell me straight. Where is he?"

Yue Qingyuan was silent for a moment. "After you finished whipping him and had him strung up, didn't you always lock him in the woodshed?"

Shen Qingqiu's vision went dark.