True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress

The Peak Lords had already taken their seats on the first-tier platform. High above, Mo Lie Zhūnzhǔ and Mo Zang Zhēnzhě appeared within the dueling arena, choosing to witness the battle in person.

One after another, water mirrors appeared along the tiered steps, drawing more attention to the match. Most of those present in person were Divine Transformation or Divine Soul stage demon cultivators. Void Refinement cultivators, unable to attend, watched through the water mirrors. The energy in the arena shifted completely.

At first, the Peak Lords quietly exchanged thoughts via divine sense. But as more mirrors manifested, even those whispers fell silent. Among them, the Nascent Soul cultivator Pan Yuanyuan sat stiffly, not daring to breathe too loudly, though her clenched skirt betrayed her emotions.

Pan Yuanyuan seethed. Why did Jian Dan receive such attention? Even Mo Su Jūnshàng, who never spared a second glance at female cultivators, personally went to escort her. In the past, when Miao Yunrong was close to him, admirers like Pan Yuanyuan had no chance. That was why she settled for Tang Jian, who was easier to manipulate.

Now that Mo Su had returned from his Divine Transformation breakthrough, she had planned to push her cousin into his circle. But then Jian Dan appeared. Worse, she might have to cozy up to this new rival just to recruit her to their side.

While Pan Yuanyuan plotted, steel clashed in the arena. Hundreds of blows had already been exchanged.

Jian Dan didn't need to consciously control Mó Yuè Zhǎn. The blade struck from cunning angles, pressing Tang Jian back again and again.

Tang Jian had begun the match by unleashing the full pressure of his mid-stage Divine Transformation cultivation, hoping to suppress Jian Dan and attack at his leisure. But his plan failed. Jian Dan moved with speed and precision, unfazed by his aura. Her calm counterattacks threw him off.

This wasn't entirely Tang Jian's fault. Jian Dan's divine sense had always surpassed her cultivation. Since arriving at the Heavenly Demon Palace, she had never displayed her true strength. Even Mo Su, who had fought alongside her, never revealed anything to Tang Jian. From the first move, his strategy crumbled.

Still, Tang Jian wasn't a mere lucky fool. He quickly adapted, suppressing his pressure and gripping his greatsword with both hands. Pouring demonic energy into the blade, he swung again and again, each strike heavier than the last.

Within Jian Dan's dantian, the Mò Xī Sword stirred.

"My ancestor, are you trying to blow my cover? If you come out now, how am I supposed to keep my disguise? We agreed I'm on a secret infiltration mission, remember?"

"Troublesome! Dao cultivator or demon cultivator, you're still you. Why bother hiding?"

"This isn't the Immortal Realm. Could we try being subtle for once?"

"Fine, focus on your opponent. Losing would be embarrassing."

Mò Xī fell silent again.

Jian Dan leapt back as Tang Jian's greatsword slammed into the ground, splitting the platform. The wave of sword aura was relentless. Mó Yuè Zhǎn split into two crescent arcs. One collided with the incoming strike, while the other spun rapidly around Jian Dan, neutralizing the remaining sword energy.

From the sidelines, Mo Yi watched with relish. "Why is Jian Dan Shimei only dodging? She's barely counterattacking."

"She's studying the weight of his sword," Mo Su replied calmly. "She'll begin her counter soon."

The surrounding Peak Lords caught his words and turned to observe. As expected, Jian Dan began to press forward.

She crouched, gathering strength, then shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow. Her wide sleeves fluttered, and the Obsidian Bracelet on her wrist activated, infused this time with demonic energy. A massive black fist projection met Tang Jian's sword head-on.

The force of the clash knocked both back.

The two Mó Yuè Zhǎn merged and sliced a half-arc through the air, breaking Tang Jian's projected sword shadow.

Jian Dan landed steadily and surged forward again, fists aimed at his arms and throat. As her Obsidian Bracelet poured in more power, each punch hit harder than the last. The rhythm of the battle was now firmly in her hands.

Tang Jian refused to yield, his blade shattering her strikes blow for blow. The match turned into a contest of speed and precision. A single mistake could mean a direct hit.

Jian Dan, exhilarated, found herself fully immersed. Her body, strengthened by the Ice-Skin Jade-Bone Demon Body Art, had reached the bone-refining stage post-Divine Transformation. She had yet to find the right beast blood to continue cultivation, but even so, she held the advantage.

"She's using the fight to refine her control," Mo Qi Jūnshàng suddenly said, a faint smile on her face. "Which means she doesn't plan to lose. She's tempering her power."

The other Peak Lords understood too. Tang Jian was fighting someone who hadn't even gone all out.

Tang Jian realized this as well. Mó Yuè Zhǎn had hardly attacked directly, merely supporting.

"So she looks down on me?"

Anger surged in Tang Jian's chest. But despite his rage, he couldn't overpower her. Frustrated, he secretly activated the Phantom bell Pan Yuanyuan had given him and infused it with demonic energy. The bell trembled soundlessly, releasing waves of illusionary energy toward Jian Dan.

When the wave hit, the image that appeared before Jian Dan nearly made her retch.

It was Tang Jian, clad in translucent gauze, posing seductively and slowly removing the last of his covering. Disgusting beyond words.

A duel was still a duel. In that brief moment of distraction, Tang Jian struck her shoulder. The impact should have pierced through her, but her battle robe and the silver-armored insect barrier absorbed the force. Even so, she was knocked back toward the platform.

The audience was stunned. Mo Su, face in palm, muttered, "He's asking for death."

Just before she hit the ground, Mó Yuè Zhǎn expanded and caught her. Stabilized in midair, Jian Dan's eyes flashed blue as she shattered the illusion.

She swept her divine sense across Tang Jian. Hidden in his sleeve was the illusion bell. Familiar.

No need to rush. Let him bask in that smugness for a moment.

Jian Dan narrowed her phoenix eyes, demonic energy swirling around her. Her momentum did not falter. She hovered in the air and advanced.

Mó Yuè Zhǎn shifted rapidly, producing hundreds of crescent-shaped blades, each about thirty centimeters long.

"Crescent Dance!"

As Jian Dan's lips parted, the blades followed a precise orbit around Tang Jian, striking at his every weak point. Each arc disrupted his sword rhythm, hitting the same spot on his blade again and again.