True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress

Ma Long and Ma Hu were no fools. They realized instantly that their plan had not only been exposed, but they had also fallen into a counter-trap. Without a word, they released a concentrated blast of demonic qi toward the two figures in the sky.

Jian Dan and Mo Qi shifted swiftly through the air, weaving trails of light as they dissolved the attack. The Ma brothers were blood siblings and trained together daily, giving them seamless coordination. It was said their combined strength could hold off even an early-stage Divine Soul cultivator.

So when one wielded a saber and the other a sword, striking together in perfect rhythm, Jian Dan didn't hesitate. She summoned the Mó Yuè Zhǎng. The blade split into two as it left her dantian, targeting each brother separately in an attempt to break their rhythm.

Mo Qi spun her hands, conjuring a pair of blackened short daggers, each only thirty centimeters long. With her first strike, they turned into sharp shadows, slicing toward the brothers like darting vipers.

"Senior Sister, you aim low. I'll try to break their coordination point. Once the link is severed, we can take them one-on-one."

Jian Dan sent her thoughts via spiritual transmission. Mo Qi nodded and adjusted position. The two separated, attacking from different angles.

Pan Yuanyuan, caught in the shockwave of the Divine Transformation clash, stirred back to consciousness. She saw the four figures clashing midair and gritted her teeth. Wrapping herself hastily in clothing, she tried to slip away. But before she could step outside, a willow branch coiled around her waist and yanked her back. In seconds, she was tied up like a dumpling.

By now, the fight in the sky had gone through hundreds of exchanges. Jian Dan had begun to fully read their patterns. The Mó Yuè Zhǎng suddenly split into hundreds of flying blades, completely surrounding the Ma brothers.

Startled, the brothers knew that if they let the ring close, they were finished. They poured demonic qi into their weapons and slashed hard at the weakest point in the encirclement.

But the Mó Yuè Zhǎng seemed to possess intelligence. Just as the saber and sword struck, a gap opened, letting the attack miss. Yet the moment one foot stepped out, the blades reformed in an instant. One of them spun at high speed and slashed at their weapons.

Mo Qi saw Jian Dan holding her own against two Divine Transformation cultivators and immediately shifted from offense to support. She dismissed her own demonic tools and began summoning blades of demonic qi aimed at the brothers' ankles.

"Argh!" Ma Hu cried out as one of Mo Qi's blades severed his foot, throwing off his balance. That was the moment Jian Dan had been waiting for. The Mó Yuè Zhǎng around Ma Hu merged into a single blade and slashed down from above. Ma Hu was still midair.

Meanwhile, another blade coiled behind Ma Long, who had reached out to catch his brother. The weapon spun and sliced toward his heart.

A harsh clang rang out, followed by a crackling hiss. The strike had landed on Ma Long's heart-shielding mirror. It shattered under the force, blocking a fatal blow.

Ma Long was thrown back. Mo Qi flashed forward and landed a palm strike squarely on the crown of his head.

He didn't even have time to scream. Ma Long fell lifeless, and the escaping Yuányīng was shredded by one of Mo Qi's dark qi spheres.

The battle was over.

Jian Dan collected the brothers' storage rings and treasure pouches. She kept Ma Hu's spoils, while Mo Qi claimed Ma Long's. After dividing their spoils, Jian Dan collapsed the spatial barrier.

The barrier shrank into a Manjushahua flower, returned to her palm, and disappeared into her sleeve. The wrecked terrain beneath them restored itself, as if nothing had happened.

With a sweep of her sleeve, Jian Dan stored the bound Pan Yuanyuan inside. Then she turned to Mo Qi.

"Senior Sister, shall we go check on the others? I wonder if our Senior Brother have wrapped up yet."

Mo Qi tossed the storage ring she had claimed and rolled her wrist lazily. "Those two? They're not the type to fall behind. We took longer than expected. They're probably done already."

"Let's go, then."

They arrived at the entrance to the Wanwu Pavilion as agreed. Sure enough, Mo Su stood there with his folding fan, posturing like a scholar. Beside him, the towering Mo Yi stood arms crossed, drawing glances from every female cultivator nearby. Even the disciple attending the door didn't dare drive them away. One look at their presence was enough to know these two weren't to be provoked.

"You two really out here attracting flies at the door?" Mo Qi's teasing voice drew all eyes to her. Mo Su and Mo Yi turned. Another high-stage female cultivator stood before them. Judging by her aura, she was no weaker than the two men.

The wandering stares shrank back. Half out of fear, half out of awe.

"Keep looking and I'll dig your eyes out." Jian Dan's voice was light and pleasant, but the threat beneath it was ice-cold. Screams followed, and after that, no one dared glance their way again.

Mo Su and Mo Yi gave the girls a once-over. Seeing no injuries, they nodded and led the group into a private chamber of the Wanwu Pavilion.

"You finished already?"

"As soon as we got your signal, Mo Su and I came running. We were worried you might be overwhelmed, but then you opened a spatial barrier and we couldn't get in. So we waited."

"Did you take care of the two we left for you?" Mo Qi asked, grinning.

"At least you had the decency to leave us something. Turns out they weren't from the Pan Clan though. Likely assassins that Pan Yuanyuan hired."

"Oh? And they weren't too much for you?"

"If they were, we wouldn't be standing here."

"Pity for the Pan Clan, but it doesn't matter. Mo Yue has a lovely gift ready for them."

Jian Dan smirked and tossed Mo Yi a jade slip. His expression changed dramatically.

"I need to wash my eyes."

Mo Su, learning from his companion's fate, didn't even touch the jade slip. Jian Dan's sly smile was warning enough.

The manager of Wan Wu Pavilion in Tian Mo City soon arrived, personally attending to the four Jūnshàngs.

"Xue Lei of Wan Wu Pavilion greets the honored Jūnshàng. What items may I procure for you?"

He had a thin face and cheerful mustache, his attitude respectful but not obsequious.

"Do you carry heart-shielding mirrors?" Jian Dan asked.

Earlier, Ma Long had survived her Mó Yuè Zhǎng thanks to that mirror. She needed one.

"We do. Would the honored Jūnshàng like anything else? I can bring a full selection for you to examine."

"Defensive spirit tools. All that can withstand Divine Soul level attacks."

"At once. Please wait a moment."

He bowed and left swiftly.

Jian Dan began inspecting the contents of the storage rings, which had already been wiped of spiritual marks. Just then, she sensed a distress signal from the Law Enforcement Hall of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Her brow furrowed slightly. She stood and gave the others a slight bow.

"Senior Brother, Senior Sister. I think I saw someone I know. I'm not sure yet. You go ahead and browse when the goods arrive. I'll be back shortly."

With a graceful pivot, her figure vanished from the room.