True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress

"I knew you'd see through it," Mo Yi said, taking a sip of spirit wine. The gentle surge of spiritual energy flowed through his core, refreshing him from the inside out.

"Go on," Jian Dan replied with a soft smile, refilling his cup. She waited patiently.

"Tang Jian does have some skill," Mo Yi said. "Born with brute strength, he wields a massive greatsword and walks the path of raw force. The question is, can someone as delicate as you withstand his strikes?"

Jian Dan nodded calmly. Her phoenix eyes shimmered, unbothered.

"If you can match his strength, then you'll be fine. But..."

"But you're worried he'll resort to underhanded tricks, aren't you?" Jian Dan cut in.

"Hah! Spot on," Mo Yi laughed. "That man's arrogance aside, he's got a soft spot between his ears. Lately, he's been utterly bewitched by that Nascent Soul stage cultivator from the Pan family. Lost all his backbone, disgraceful for a man."

"Mo Yi Shixiong," Jian Dan said with a smile, covering her lips as she chuckled, "You're not a fish. How would you know the joy of a fish?"

Then, shifting back to a serious tone, she added, "That Pan beauty must be quite capable if she has Tang Jian wrapped around her finger."

"You'd have to ask her yourself. From what I've heard, she manages many affairs of the Mo Yun Peak on his behalf. He even consults her when something goes wrong. She's basically his strategist."

Jian Dan nodded. What started as a duel was now entangling the Pan family too. The factions in the Heavenly Demon Palace were indeed complex.

"I understand. Thank you, Mo Yi Shixiong. I'll keep an eye out. I'm sure she'll show up tomorrow to cheer her 'Jūnshàng' on."

"As long as you're prepared. The jade slip has been delivered, the wine drunk. The rest is up to you. Tomorrow, we'll escort you to the dueling grounds."

"I appreciate it. This is some Purple Heart Fruit Wine I brewed myself. A small token of thanks, please accept it."

Jian Dan rose and saw the two Jūnshàngs off, handing them her gift of spirit wine. They accepted it without fuss and left the residence.

Once alone, Jian Dan examined the jade slip containing Tang Jian's combat techniques. After committing the contents to memory, she closed her eyes and entered meditation, calmly waiting for dawn.

—

The next morning, Jian Dan dressed herself and stepped out of her cave residence. The four attendants stationed outside bowed in unison.

"May Jūnshàng triumph in your first battle and shake the Heavenly Demon Palace with your might."

"Rise. I'm not going to war," Jian Dan said with a faint smile. "This is just a spar between peers. Don't exaggerate."

She stepped forward, and moments later, a familiar golden chariot drawn by two unicorn pegasi descended before her. The moment the creatures saw her, they neighed in delight, wings flaring as they brought the chariot to a gentle halt.

"Jian Dan Shimei, hop on!" Mo Yi's cheerful voice came from behind the sharkskin veil as he waved at her.

Jian Dan stepped forward. One of the attendants deftly lifted the veil, allowing her to enter the carriage.

"Mo Su Shixiong, isn't this Yunrong's chariot? Why is it with you?" she asked curiously.

"We came back together last time, and your unicorn pegasi never returned to the beast garden. They usually ignore everyone, but today, they jumped out the moment I arrived. I had no choice but to borrow them."

"Wow, what a show of favor. This carriage could carry a Void Refinement Zhūnzhu easily. Thanks to you, I get to enjoy the ride today too," Mo Yi chuckled, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

"You talk too much," Mo Su said, raising an eyebrow. "Let's go."

Jian Dan simply smiled and snapped her fingers. The chariot lifted smoothly into the sky, soaring toward Tianmo Peak.

—

Outside the main hall of Tianmo Peak, the Peak Lords of the nine inner peaks—excluding the fallen Mo Ying Peak—and the five outer peaks had already gathered in small groups. Some brought their disciples, others their deputy Peak Lords. The scene felt less like a duel and more like a social gathering. Everyone not in closed-door cultivation had come to watch.

Pan Yuanyuan stood beside Tang Jian, putting on her usual demure and soft-spoken act as she exchanged greetings with the other Peak Lords.

Standing out from the crowd was Fei Qiwen, the Mo Qi Peak Lord and a late-stage Divine Transformation cultivator known as Mo Qi Jūnshàng. Dressed in a vivid red battle robe with her long hair tied behind her head, her outfit was sharp and tailored, far from the ethereal flowing robes of typical cultivators. Her blood-red deerskin boots gave her an imposing air. Pan Yuanyuan's eyes were visibly drawn to the elegant yet intimidating outfit.

But while Pan Yuanyuan admired the robes, Tang Jian couldn't resist provoking, "It's my duel today, but Mo Qi Shijie looks more prepared for the arena than I am. Are you thinking of stepping up yourself?"

Mo Qi Jūnshàng was known to loathe arrogant male cultivators. In the past, Ma Feijun of Mo Ying Peak had dared to flirt with her despite also being in the Divine Transformation stage. She had dragged him onto the dueling platform and broken nearly every bone in his body. It took him a month to recover. Since then, he avoided her like the plague.

She hadn't shed a tear when he was erased recently. And now, another provocateur was stepping up.

"Mind your own business. Don't embarrass us by losing today. I don't know where your confidence comes from, bringing a concubine to a public duel like this. Aren't you worried she'll get dazzled by all these Divine Transformation cultivators and start second-guessing her loyalty?"

That jab cut deep. Pan Yuanyuan's expression turned pale, tears welling up in her eyes. Tang Jian bristled, ready to retort, when the sky filled with the sharp cry of unicorn pegasi.

A golden chariot shimmered in the sunlight as it glided down onto the open ground before the main hall. Mo Su and Mo Yi stepped down, and Jian Dan followed gracefully, every eye turning toward her.

Pan Yuanyuan quickly composed herself, but Jian Dan caught the jealousy and resentment in her gaze. So this was the Pan family's Nascent Soul cultivator. Couldn't secure power through strength, so she chose to be someone's concubine instead.

"Quite the grand entrance," Tang Jian scoffed. "Making us all wait."

"Right back at you. Isn't everyone here just for the show?" Jian Dan replied with a calm smile.

The group entered the main hall together.

Just as Jian Dan wondered why the duel was set within the hall itself, the floor lit up with glowing formation lines. In a flash of light, all cultivators within the array vanished.

The next moment, Jian Dan and Tang Jian stood in the heart of what resembled a coliseum. Tiered stone seating rose around them. Protective formations locked into place above them like a dome.

A deep voice echoed out.

"The duel begins."

Tang Jian's greatsword was already swinging down. A massive shadow trailed the strike, crashing toward Jian Dan.

Mó Yuè Zhǎn met it head-on midair.

Sparks erupted as the two blades clashed, the screech of metal grinding against metal lighting up Jian Dan's striking face in bursts of fire.