True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress

Without even showing his face, the mere presence of Mo Yan Zhēnzūn left Ma Wen's internal injuries worsening. Regret filled his heart. Coming to the Heavenly Demon Palace now had been a grave misstep. Not only had his plans failed, but he'd also earned the ire of a Mahayana cultivator.

Jian Dan respectfully bowed in the direction where the divine vortex of Mo Yan Zhēnzūn had disappeared.

At the same time the divine ability faded, the ruined rear mountains of Mo Ying Peak were restored to their original state.

From within a nearby formation, Ma Chengjun staggered out, pale and shaken. Seeing his grandfather's condition, he rushed to support him from the side.

"Many thanks to the Patriarch Ma for your righteous action in helping us eliminate a major threat to Mo Ying Peak," Mo Zhang Zhěnzhě addressed Ma Wen with a loud and formal voice before giving a wave of his hand, summoning the hidden Black Robe Guards and swiftly retreating with them.

Jian Dan and Mo Yi approached Ma Wen and Ma Chengjun. The two men looked disheveled and tense. Jian Dan narrowed her eyes slightly, considering something.

She was weighing whether to finish off both men right here. With Mo Yi's help, it might just be possible, given Ma Wen's injuries. The aftermath could be blamed on Ma Shaoqi, the parasitized Divine Soul stage cultivator. The protective barrier was still active. There was room to maneuver.

Ma Wen, sensing the shift in atmosphere, lifted his gaze. His aged eyes locked with Jian Dan's. Then he spoke, slow and heavy.

"Peak Lord Mo Yue, is there something you wish to say?"

Jian Dan could tell from his response that her window to act had passed. Still, there was no harm in applying some pressure.

"I noticed you seemed injured after making your move just now. The Guest Hall has been repaired. Why not rest there and recover a bit? Wouldn't want your grandson to worry."

She spoke with grace and poise, even offering a courteous hand gesture. Her words were impeccable in form but barbed in intent.

Ma Wen understood immediately. This girl was sharp. With no opening to strike, she had turned to veiled threats instead, using Ma Chengjun as leverage.

Ma Chengjun, too, had caught the tension. He was shocked at Jian Dan's boldness. She had even dared to calculate against his grandfather.

But Ma Wen knew this was not the time to escalate. He feigned ignorance and responded calmly.

"Thank you for your concern, Peak Lord Mo Yue. I will make arrangements myself. You need not worry."

"Of course. If anything was lacking in hospitality, I ask for your understanding. I'll now inspect the peak to assess the damage."

With that, Jian Dan and Mo Yi turned and left the entrance plaza of the Guest Hall.

Ma Wen watched her retreating figure, heavy thoughts swirling, then led his grandson inside to rest.

"You were going to kill them," Mo Yi said plainly.

"Just wanted to give the Ma Clan a little scare. They've been treating Mo Ying Peak like their own backyard."

"But the Zhēnzūn already gave you enough face. Why go further?"

"Hmph. I hold grudges. That brat Ma Chengjun used a Spirit Eye to scan me the first time we met."

Mo Yi's expression stiffened for a beat.

"Looks like the rot goes all the way to the root. The problem with the Ma Clan wasn't just Ma Feijun after all."

As they walked back toward the main hall of Mo Ying Peak, Jian Dan spoke.

"To cultivate is to defy the heavens. There's no such thing as free fortune. The Ma Clan tasted the sweetness of using women to boost their cultivation, and now the whole family follows suit. Step by step, they've walked onto the wrong path."

"True."

"The Heavenly Dao is fair. What you take from others, you will eventually repay."

Mo Yi nodded in agreement. Ma Feijun had advanced to the Divine Transformation stage via dual cultivation, but among the other peak lords, he had always been seen as weak despite his realm.

"Alright then, Junior Sister Mo Yue. I've seen the show. I'll return for now. Let me know if you need anything." He bid her farewell at the grand hall entrance and headed toward Mo Yan Peak.

Inside, Jian Dan sent a divine message to Liu Chuan.

"Chuan, have you finished investigating those locations I mentioned?"

"Yes. There were some findings. Ma Feijun built a secret chamber inside the mountain, crafted entirely from spiritual-isolating stone. If not for the rear mountain battle dislodging one of the stones, even my roots couldn't have sensed it."

"Can you see inside?"

"Not yet."

"Alright. You've done well. I'll take care of the rest."

When Jian Dan seated herself at the head of the grand hall, the four personal attendants were already waiting.

"Welcome back, Jūnshàng."

She nodded and immediately summoned the Black Robe Guard.

"Gong Yi."

"Present."

"The other cultivators at the foot of the peak—don't let them return to their caves just yet. Divide your forces into two groups. One group, led by you, will search these locations. I don't care if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find everyone hiding there. The second group will conduct surprise inspections of every steward's residence. Find out who has the tightest defenses, and who lives most humbly."

She tossed him a black jade slip as she spoke.

Gong Yi scanned it with his divine sense, and his expression immediately changed. He bowed and departed without another word.

Elsewhere, Mo Yi took a detour and arrived at Mo Su's residence. He wasn't cultivating. Instead, he was playing chess under a large tree just outside his cave.

Without a word, Mo Yi sat opposite him on the cushion, picked up a white piece, and placed it on the board.

Mo Su wasn't surprised in the least. He responded with a black piece of his own.

"Done watching the excitement? How was it?"

"Not bad. Everything went according to plan. But this Junior Sister Mo Yue gives me a rather mysterious feeling. Where did you find her?"

"Just a matter of chance."

It was clear Mo Su didn't want to elaborate.

Mo Yi stroked his chin, studying the board. He looked up at Mo Su's still-pale face and asked,

"Her name is Jian Dan. You think she might be from the Jian Clan, one of those hidden aristocratic families?"

"I've thought about it. But the Jian Clan are Dao cultivators. I've never heard of one turning to demon cultivation."

That was exactly why Mo Su had never been fully certain.

Mo Yi couldn't suppress his curiosity any longer.

"You think Ma Yi and Ma Feijun were taken out by her?"

"Why do you ask?"

Mo Su looked up.

"She's too calm. Even under suspicion, she didn't show the slightest unease. She even ripped the Ma Clan's mask clean off and didn't seem worried about retaliation."

"She might appear reckless, but she's just cut off the Ma Clan's chance to reclaim Mo Ying Peak. Trust me, she'll soon wipe out every single one of their remaining agents on the mountain."

While they speculated about Jian Dan's next move, the other nine inner peaks had already felt the lingering waves of power from Mo Ying Peak, along with the fleeting presence of a Mahayana cultivator. Everyone was watching closely. Once Jian Dan dismissed the protective barrier, each peak sent trusted disciples to gather information.

Yet this time, even after the barrier lifted, no one dared to send transmission talismans out of the peak.

Because just yesterday, those who had done so were seized and punished for treason. The memory remained fresh.

At dawn, Gong Yi entered the main hall with his usual fierce expression. This time, he looked even more grim. He paused before speaking.

"Jūnshàng, we dug three feet into every location you marked. We discovered a group of female cultivators. They claimed they had no idea where they were. All of them had been abducted."