"I thought Ye Chen was exaggerating, but I didn't expect there to be another expert."

The corner of Lu Shou's mouth twitched slightly.

Earlier, he had thought that Ye Chen, the destined protagonist, was already terrifying enough. From the fourth level of supernatural power, Ye Chen had instantly risen to the seventh level of sainthood, which was astonishing.

But Liu Ruyue, the destined heroine, had surpassed him, directly becoming an eighth-level celestial being. This went beyond the realm of cheating.

These two were on another level!

If Lu Shou didn’t have the [Villain Simulator], he would have been killed by either of them.

It truly felt like the villains were being underestimated!

However, now that he had used the “villain life simulation,” Lu Shou was able to uncover the true nature of these two, allowing him to make contingency plans.

"It seems that Demon City is full of hidden talents and isn’t as simple as we thought."

"From the current situation, Liu Ruyue doesn’t seem to have any intention to kill me. Otherwise, I would have died countless times already. Even Lu Zhong couldn’t stop it."

"It seems like two groups are targeting me. One is the so-called mastermind behind the scenes, and the other is Liu Ruyue."

"The Lu family sent me here from the capital, but whether that’s a blessing or a curse, I don’t know."

"I’ve just escaped the tiger's den, only to walk into the wolf's den again."

Despite being in Demon City with a powerful saint protecting him, Lu Shou didn’t feel safe. After all, there was a heavenly being lying right in front of him.

If the other party decided to act, he wouldn’t be able to resist at all.

It was a terrible feeling, knowing that his life and death were entirely out of his control.

"We must quickly gain the power to control our destiny."

[You looked at Liu Ruyue, who had just disappeared in shock. No one could have predicted that Liu Ruyue was such a peerless celestial being. At the same time, you were glad that your red talent, "You Can’t See Me," had worked in time.]

[Otherwise, if Liu Ruyue had realized you uncovered her secret, the consequences would have been disastrous.]

[It’s not just the mastermind behind the scenes targeting you; there’s another group as well.]

[You suspect that Liu Ruyue is likely either an ancient monster in disguise or the reincarnation of some peerless power. After all, it’s impossible for someone so young to be a celestial being.]

[At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before Liu Ruyue breaks through to the True Immortal level. By then, she will be unstoppable.]

[In comparison, the mastermind behind the scenes seems outdone. The people they sent were only at the Transcendent or Saint Realm, and none from the Heavenly Realm have appeared yet.]

[You realize just how deep the waters of this world are, and how little you understand it.]

Ye Chen’s sudden arrival interrupted your thoughts. He seemed to be searching for something, his face filled with anxiety.

“No!!!”

Ye Chen let out a howl of grief and rage, apparently misunderstanding that Liu Ruyue, the goddess in his heart, had been taken away.

Looking at this classic scene, you had an idea. With Liu Ruyue, the immortal, gone, it was likely that the killer who had mastered the "Thousand Shadows Magic" was waiting in ambush at a nearby hotel. This was a perfect opportunity.

[You decided to attack Ye Chen.]

Ye Chen was at the fourth level of magical power, just like you. He had a trump card that could improve his power by one level, but you had the Supreme Emperor Bone, so you weren’t afraid.

As for Ye Chen’s secret method, which supposedly allowed him to improve several levels at once, you weren’t concerned. After all, he didn’t have it yet. If he did, he wouldn’t have been crippled by Lu Zhong and lost his hand during the second simulation.

You also saw this as an opportunity to sharpen your combat experience. Skills alone weren’t enough; you needed experience, or you’d be nothing but a fool.

Right now, Ye Chen, the destined protagonist, was a perfect opponent. Even if you couldn’t beat him, you were sure you could escape.

You didn’t rush in. Instead, you used the "Shadow Simulation" ability to change your face, adopting the appearance of Zhao Kun, the unfortunate man you had killed earlier.

You covered your face with a black cloth to divert the blame.

Just as Ye Chen turned around to search for Liu Ruyue, you decided to launch a sneak attack.

[Swish!]

Shadows emerged from the ground, entangling Ye Chen’s shadow. He froze in place, as if restrained.

Eight demonic shadows appeared, holding shadow knives and chopping at his limbs, almost crippling him.

Ye Chen was terrified, especially when he saw four knives aimed at his lower half. He nearly panicked.

In a desperate move, Ye Chen erupted in flames, breaking through to the fifth level of the Mountains and Rivers Realm, freeing himself from the shadow’s grasp.

He blocked the blade aimed at his lower body, allowing the other blades to strike his limbs. His body was covered in blood and bruises.

He preferred to be hurt on his body rather than on his most vulnerable area.

You were surprised. You didn’t expect Ye Chen to react so quickly to your sneak attack.

[Boom!]

A terrifying flame erupted, incinerating the seven demonic shadows and exposing your true form.

"You despicable bastard, how dare you attack me! I’ll kill you!"

Ye Chen was furious. No longer concerned about Liu Ruyue’s safety, he only wanted to kill the person in front of him.

Faced with the enraged Ye Chen, who was one realm higher than you, you quickly found yourself at a disadvantage. However, using the ghostly speed of the "Thousand Shadows Magic Art," you dodged his attacks.

Though you didn’t always react in time and were hit by Ye Chen’s furious blows, your "Dragon Elephant Tyrant Body" allowed you to withstand them.

You realized that while you could hold your ground, defeating Ye Chen, who had rich combat experience, was a different story.

Just as you were about to use the "Supreme Emperor Bone" for the first time, you discovered you couldn’t. Something seemed to be missing.

You were taken aback.

Could it be that your current cultivation level was still too low to use it?

Suddenly, a cold, overpowering warmth surged from your spine, flowing into your brain.

In your eyes, Ye Chen’s movements began to slow down. His actions seemed slower, as if they were being analyzed and absorbed by you...

You realized that in this state, you could absorb the enemy’s fighting style, purifying it and rapidly improving your combat experience.

At this moment, you felt like a true god, overlooking everything. Everything in your sight became clear, and you were the one in control.

You realized the true power of the "Supreme Emperor Bone."

It seemed to possess some kind of awareness that could understand what you needed.

You were silent for a moment, then you felt a sense of relief. You named this special state "Supreme Mode."

With the help of "Supreme Mode," your growth was rapid. You became evenly matched with Ye Chen, gaining the upper hand and almost overwhelming him.