True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress

The two stood suspended in midair. When they looked toward Ma Feijun's dwelling, they saw Ma Wen, his spiritual sense wounded, staggering unsteadily out of the cave with help. Ma Chengjun followed, his face pale as death.

Ma Chengjun was still shaken. That brief moment had been terrifying. If not for their ancestor stepping in and using the clan's secret art, "Tracing the Source", he would have died without question.

"Patriarch Ma, what just happened? What did you discover?"

"Our ancestor used the clan's secret technique just now and was close to uncovering the source, but a powerful force bounced it back."

"Chengjun, no need to say more," Ma Wen cut him off, his face lined with age and drained of all color.

Jian Dan understood without needing to ask. Ma Wen had been probing his ancestor. But with his current cultivation, it was simply beyond him. Still, it indirectly confirmed that the Heavenly Demon Palace had hidden nothing. Ma Yi's death, with not even bones left behind, had indeed been caused by a Dao cultivator of great power.

Cut off mid-sentence, Ma Chengjun dared not speak further and could only stand respectfully behind his grandfather.

"Gong Yi, take Patriarch Ma to the guest hall to rest."

"Understood!"

Gong Yi had been waiting nearby. The moment Jian Dan gave the signal, he swiftly escorted the Ma family to the guest hall.

Jian Dan and Mo Yi returned to the main hall atop Ying Peak. They hadn't been gone long, and all the stewards remained obediently in place, no one daring to leave early.

"Organize everything you're working on into jade slips. I'll look through them when I have time. If there's a problem, I'll summon you. For now, stay on Ying Peak. Stop wandering around. This place is riddled with holes like a sieve."

"Yes, we obey, Peak Lord!"

The chorus of replies rang out, loud and clear. No one wanted to risk upsetting Lord Mó Yuè.

"You're dismissed."

Jian Dan waved them off impatiently.

The stewards bowed respectfully and exited the peak lord's hall.

"Junior Sister Mó Yuè, I never expected this from you. Word of today's events will spread quickly. You'll be flooded with invitations from other peak lords—wine tastings, scenery viewing, tea ceremonies, the works."

Mo Yi looked smug, like he had seen it all coming.

"That sounds lovely! I should visit the other peaks to learn how to be a proper peak lord. Never done it before, after all."

"Haha! If it's you, you'll do just fine."

His tone turned serious again. "But finding so many parasitized cultivators on one peak is no small matter. The Palace Master and elders will likely come knocking."

"I'm only the acting peak lord. The previous one wasn't me. With someone like Ma Feijun in charge, it's no surprise the black-armored beetles passed him over. His cultivation was probably too weak to interest them."

"Highly likely."

"And here you two are, hiding away while the other peaks are in chaos?"

A flash of vivid flame streaked into the main hall—Lord Mó Qǐ had arrived.

"Senior Sister Mó Qǐ, you're actually willing to leave your own peak today? Come to watch the fun?"

She shot a glare at Mo Yi's teasing and replied, "You're always where the trouble is."

"Naturally. I love excitement, and I'm well-informed. How bad is it on the other peaks?"

Jian Dan let the two banter while she retrieved a set of white jade cups and poured tea for them.

"Senior Sister Mó Qǐ, have some tea to soothe your throat. Sit and tell us slowly."

"You're remarkably calm about this."

"What can I do? I was pushed into this. Soldiers face swords, water faces earth. One step at a time. The fact that I officially took over as peak lord today is a good start."

"Hahaha! Mó Yuè, you really say it like it is. Wasn't it more like you killed over a hundred people and took the post by brute force?"

Mo Yi rolled his eyes so hard they nearly reached the ceiling.

"Ahem. No need to be so blunt. Besides, weren't they potential enemies? Clearing the peak was part of my duty."

Mó Qǐ raised a hand to stop the banter. After thinking a moment, she asked seriously, "Junior Sister Mó Yuè, how did you identify the cultivators parasitized by the black-armored beetles?"

Jian Dan had expected the question and replied without hesitation.

"At the auction in Huanle City, I acquired a spiritual plant that can detect these foreign beetles in a vague sense."

As she spoke, she flipped her hand and produced a jade-green willow leaf, offering it to Mó Qǐ.

"Senior Sister, consider this a gift. If you tour your peak with this, it will heat up when it nears a parasitized cultivator. You'll know instantly."

Mó Qǐ accepted it with care. The leaf felt fresh and pliant, like the foliage of a thick-leafed herb. It quietly affixed itself to her wrist and didn't move again.

"This plant is quite damaged, and I'm still nurturing it. I can only spare one leaf for now. I hope you understand. And please, there's no need to tell anyone else about it."

It was her treasure, after all. No need to invite unwanted attention.

"No problem. As long as it works, I'm grateful. Even if you hadn't given it, I would've been glad to borrow it. And I know what to say and what not to."

"What's the situation outside?" Mo Yi couldn't hold back and directed the question at Mó Qǐ.

"It's a mess. Rumors are flying." She stroked the willow leaf calmly, then gestured to the attendant behind her. The attendant stepped forward, bowed to Jian Dan, cleared his throat, and began reporting.

"Lord Mó Yuè's high-profile takeover of Ying Peak drew a lot of attention. Many believed there was no way you would succeed so smoothly."

Jian Dan nodded. Plenty of people had predicted her failure.

"You activated Ying Peak's defensive array, and the other peak lords assumed it was a whim. After all, it costs spirit stones to activate. Unless there's an emergency, no one turns it on, and even then, it usually requires approval from the Palace Master."

Jian Dan paused mid-sip, then turned to ask Gong Yi, "How long did we keep it active? How many spirit stones did it use?"

"Peak Lord, it ran for less than two quarters of an hour. Around a thousand high-grade spirit stones were spent."

"I see. Earlier, while Mo Yi and I were away from the hall, did anyone try to send messages to the outside?"

"I remember clearly."

"Good. Take my command token, visit the caves or work areas of the relevant stewards, and confiscate their belongings. Use that to make up the losses."

Gong Yi froze briefly. He understood the words but not the deeper meaning. Frowning, he asked cautiously, "What reason should I give?"

"Treason."

Mo Yi winced. He exchanged a glance with Mó Qǐ and said, "Junior Sister, that's quite the charge. Isn't that too much?"

"Senior Brother, you worry too much. Anyone who tries to send out messages while in the peak lord's hall—what good intentions could they possibly have?"

Before they could respond, Gong Yi had already cupped his hands and said, "This subordinate understands. I will carry it out."

With a wave, he led the remaining eight attendants out of the hall. Silence settled briefly.

Jian Dan turned to her four personal guards.

"I calculated it just now. Tonight's moon will be especially beautiful. I plan to enjoy the moonlight. Go make preparations. Once you're done, find a safe place to stay. Don't wander around."