The Demon Lord Becomes a Mortal

"You say the path of cultivation is dull and tedious, but do you know what is truly an abyss? This mortal world, the daily struggle to put food on the table, the endless toil for a few scraps of silver. Here, there are no divine powers that can destroy the heavens and earth, only the same compromises day after day. There is no eternal life, only the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. This is the hardest cultivation of all."

"So, you want to hear me brag? Then let me tell you: I used to be as impressive as I am wretched now. Does that count as being impressive?"

He raised a hand caked in dust and grease and waved at the apparition, slowly... so very slowly.

There was no mockery or anger in the gesture, only bottomless exhaustion and the resigned dismissal of someone shooing something away.

"Go back to your heavens."

His voice was so quiet it was nearly drowned out by snores. "I, this insignificant ant... need to sleep too. I have to clock in at six tomorrow morning..."

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.