True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress

When Jian Dan left the side hall of the Heavenly Demon Palace, even the ever-serene Mo Zhang Zhēnzhě couldn't help but smile slightly.

"Palace Master, it seems your well-laid plan might not go as expected."

"That much is clear. This Mo Yue is rather decisive."

"More than decisive. You picked her to eliminate the Ma Clan and several idle forces because she had no backing, no clan interests to clash with, and no influence within the sect. You thought she would be reliant on you. But while she accepted, she also borrowed people to do the work. She won't even have to dirty her own hands."

"True," Palace Master Mo Lie nodded. While he had pushed Jian Dan into the spotlight, everyone now saw clearly that he was her greatest support.

"She doesn't belong to any faction, has few concerns, and won't be bogged down by family interests. Her strength is clear after the duel. She strikes fast and acts cautiously, and not even the authority of a peak lord blinded her."

"That just means the benefits weren't tempting enough."

"Not entirely. I think unless it concerns her life, she sees everything else as fleeting."

"Then let us wait and see. Send a few people to Mo Yue's side and help her settle things at Ying Peak."

"I'll dispatch a 'Gong' unit of the Black-Robed Guards under her command. Ying Peak is still sealed. I must conduct a full investigation of everyone on the peak. The Ma Clan's succession issue should be resolved in the next few days. They'll likely come to Ying Peak afterward."

"Make it look official. Let Mo Yue handle the rest. Best if she settles everything before the Ma Clan arrives."

"Understood, Palace Master."

Jian Dan flew back to her residence on Mo Yan Peak after leaving the Heavenly Demon Hall.

"Congratulations on your victory, Jūnshàng!"

The four attendants were already waiting at the entrance, beaming with excitement. Her victory brought them honor. If their Jūnshàng was strong, they wouldn't be looked down upon by those from other peaks.

"Tidy up the residence and gather your essentials. Tomorrow, we're moving."

The four swiftly began preparations.

Back in her chambers, Jian Dan activated the barrier and took out the golden bell she had forcibly severed from its previous owner. No wonder it felt familiar. It was almost identical to the one Tao Chengfeng had gifted her in Lingyun City.

That had been more than thirty years ago, during a joint mission to the Chilang Secret Realm. She had spotted the bell in the West Market of Yunling City. Before she could buy it, Tao Chengfeng had purchased it and handed it to her as a gift.

Jian Dan retrieved the original silver bell from her storage and opened the brocade box. Before she could act, the golden and silver bells hovered, drawn to each other like long-lost siblings. Slowly, they merged into a slightly larger, rose-gold filigree bell.

The bell floated before her briefly. When Jian Dan showed no intention of binding it, the bell returned to the brocade box on its own.

A quick scan with her spiritual sense revealed that the fused bell was now a complete spiritual treasure, with both illusion-casting and illusion-breaking abilities.

As for why the original bell had shown her such disturbing illusions, that was a question for its former owner, Pan Yuanyuan.

The next day, a unit of nine Black-Robed Guards arrived outside Jian Dan's cave. They were the 'Gong' unit, each at the Nascent Soul stage. Their leader, Gong Yi, was already at late Nascent Soul, on the verge of Divine Transformation.

"Gong Yi, leading the 'Gong' unit, greets Mo Yue Jūnshàng. This is the Ying Peak Lord's Token, granted by the Palace Master. We await your orders."

Dressed in black, Gong Yi had a powerful presence, his expression stern and commanding. He handed over the obsidian token without delay.

It was carved from black jade, with 'Ying' engraved on one side and an embossed depiction of Ying Peak on the other. A faint demonic aura pulsed from within, giving the token a life-like presence.

Jian Dan raised an eyebrow. "Thank you. Let's go to Ying Peak now."

Gong Yi hadn't expected her to move so quickly, but he followed orders without hesitation and waited outside.

Jian Dan swept her hand, gathering all her belongings into storage. Her precious Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade Bed had to be packed with care.

Her four attendants stood ready without a word. They followed her light as she soared through the skies, circling Mo Yan Peak once before heading toward Ying Peak.

Along the way, Jian Dan sent message talismans to Mo Su, Mo Yi, and Mo Qi, informing them of her destination.

Mo Su was unsurprised. Knowing his master, he had expected this move. Mo Yi cleaned himself up, planning to go watch the excitement. Mo Qi read the message, thought for a moment, then immediately understood Mo Lie's intentions.

"Jūnshàng, Mo Yue just reached the early Divine Transformation stage. Can she really subdue the elders of Ying Peak?" her attendant asked.

"If she didn't have the strength, she wouldn't have taken such a thankless role," Mo Qi replied.

Dressed in brilliant red robes, she looked both elegant and striking, munching on preserved fruit sent from home.

"But Jūnshàng, she hasn't been in the sect long. To already be a peak lord? Many will be unconvinced. Even by seniority, she's too new."

"Enough with the sour words. The Palace Master has his reasons."

Meanwhile, Jian Dan's group arrived at Ying Peak with great fanfare.

The Black-Robed Guards stationed at the base immediately recognized her and her escort. They understood what this meant and escorted them straight to the summit's Ying Hall.

"Mo Yue Jūnshàng, we were ordered to seal the peak and search for suspicious individuals. Mo Zhang Zhēnzhě instructed us to leave once the sweep was complete."

Jian Dan stepped into the hall and took the central seat. She addressed the guard who had led them in.

"What were your findings?"

"We have isolated the suspicious individuals. The residences of Ma Feijun and his father remain sealed. All others have been ordered to stay within their quarters."

"So in short, you found nothing."

Her words were blunt and direct. The guard lowered his head and admitted, "We were incompetent."

"It's not your fault. The attacker was too strong. If you had found anything, it would likely have been a planted clue."

"Jūnshàng is wise."

"Keep the peak sealed. If any members of the Ma Clan come, lead them directly to Ma Feijun's former residence."

"Understood."

While giving orders, Jian Dan lightly touched the underside of her wrist where a willow-leaf shaped mark rested. She reached out to Liu Chuan with a mental message:

"Chuan, are there any cultivators on Ying Peak parasitized by the black armored beetles?"

"Yes."