True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress

The reason Jian Dan went to such lengths to deal with the Hua Clan was simple: to sever Du Yanran's strongest connection in the cultivation world. That connection was none other than the son of Steward Hua Gen, who possessed a soul-nourishing companion plant, the Soul Bloom named Hua Po.

In her previous life, the ancestor of the Hua Clan did eventually have his soul fully returned. However, the worst still happened. The reincarnated fragment refused to disperse and fought for control over the body.

Though the ancestor managed to overpower that soul after millennia of cultivation, the battle severely damaged his own primary soul. His path to ascension became even more difficult.

At the same time, Hua Gen brought his illegitimate son back to the clan. Using the Soul Bloom as a guide, they plucked its petals to refine the Soul-Nourishing Pill for the ancestor. The damage to the ancestor's soul healed swiftly thanks to the pill, which had been crafted using a companion plant. This elevated the status of that illegitimate child.

In gratitude, the ancestor added him to the clan registry, named him Hua Po, and even accepted him as his final disciple.

With the Hua Clan's full support, Hua Po's cultivation soared. He wasn't foolish either. Having grown up scrabbling on the bottom rungs of the cultivation world, both he and his mother would stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Over time, a group of loyalists gathered around him within the clan.

While everything was going well for Hua Po, he once visited the Pill Sect to collect a batch of Soul-Nourishing Pills for the ancestor. There, he met Du Yanran, who had already taken a master. After a few encounters, they took a liking to each other.

Birds of a feather flock together. Both sought power and influence, and in helping each other, they carved out their own space in their respective families and sects.

Jian Dan had witnessed much of this unfold from the sidelines. Some information came from Du Yanran herself, who had bragged in front of her. Though they hadn't publicly fallen out at the time, cracks had already formed in their relationship. Jian Dan had yet to fake her death and escape, which is why she still knew the inner workings of the Hua Clan so well.

After the Hua Clan's ancestor ascended, Hua Po aimed for the clan head position. But he knew he lacked the strength to challenge the current leader directly.

So he secretly allied with remnants of the Hua and Kong Clans, both nearly destroyed by the Heavenly Sword Sect. With black beetles invading the land and chaos spreading throughout the cultivation world, he began to slowly devour the Hua Clan from within.

The current clan head noticed something was wrong, but as he was about to head to war, he had no time to deal with it personally. Acting swiftly, he purged internal traitors and exiled Hua Po.

Hua Po held a deep grudge. While the clan head was away fighting, he launched a coup with Du Yanran, the remnants of the Hua and Kong Clans, and his loyalists still hidden within the family. It turned into a full-blown civil war.

Hua Qian, the family's protector, was forced to appear. Her companion plant was heavily damaged in battle. Though they managed to repel Hua Po, she suffered a major drop in cultivation and could no longer protect the clan. In a desperate move, she appointed Hua Man (formerly Hua Shisan) as acting clan head and led the remaining cultivators into a spatial battlefield for refuge.

The Hua and Kong remnants then took over the Hua estate. But this "Hua" was no longer the Hua Clan.

While Hua Po basked in his success, he had already become a puppet for the Hua and Kong Clans. The only reason he hadn't been discarded yet was Du Yanran's connection to the Pill Sect.

Jian Dan had gathered these details after leaving the Pill Sect and faking her death to escape Du Yanran. Most came from passing cultivators she met during her travels, but the core of the truth came from a book she saw upon her reincarnation.

She hadn't taken offense to Hua Qian's earlier probing because the Hua Clan itself wasn't evil. They had simply been infected by a single parasite. Her actions this time were meant to help the clan rebuild good karma—and more importantly, to cut off one of Du Yanran's vital lifelines.

She wanted her to taste what it meant to be utterly alone.

"Shisan, I'm in a good mood today. I'll allow you to ask me one question," she said with a chuckle.

Hua Shisan, still dazed from her laughter, was startled. To him, a Divine Transformation cultivator was a towering figure. For her to answer one of his questions was like spending thirty years of good fortune all at once. He immediately bowed.

"Thank you, Peak Lord. I'm honored, but I haven't thought of a question yet."

"No rush. When you've decided, you may ask." She handed him a message talisman. He would be the future clan head of the Hua Clan—an investment worth making.

"These peach blossoms are wonderful. Tell your clan head to transplant a few to my peak. Their color brightens the mood."

She waved her fan lightly. The petals, which had been drifting down lazily, suddenly whirled into a flurry, showering the entire pavilion in a gentle rain of flowers.

Outside, her six guards stood alert at each corner of the pavilion. Not one of them relaxed.

They knew perfectly well that just earlier in the guest hall, they had crossed hands with their Peak Lord. It had clearly not gone in their favor. That was likely why the Hua Clan was now being so polite.

At that moment, a steward from the Hua Clan hurried over.

"Peak Lord of Mo Yue, our clan head has prepared spirit wine and dishes. He invites you to the flower hall."

Jian Dan understood. She had given them too much information in too short a time. Now that they had calmed down, they were looking to verify her claims.

She was prepared. Her second jade slip was already in hand to increase her leverage.

Hua Clan Flower Hall

"Peak Lord Mo Yue" Hua Qian greeted her with a raised glass of spirit wine, "we apologize for any earlier offense. Please forgive us. This wine is our way of making amends."

Jian Dan lifted the glass on the table and nodded politely to both Hua Qian and Hua Kun. Her lips never touched the wine. It was merely a gesture, but one accepted in turn.

"It seems you've come to a decision. I won't linger. I have plans to sightsee with my senior sister tomorrow."

She stood up as if to leave. Hua Kun quickly stopped her.

"Peak Lord, are you still upset? One glass of wine isn't enough to send you away, is it?"

Jian Dan smiled and turned to the twin lotuses of the Hua Clan.

"You'll need time to verify what I've told you. No matter how much I say, you won't fully believe me until you see it yourselves. I'm only reminding you—act quickly."

"Is there something the Hua Clan can do for you in return?"

So that was their aim: to probe her true demands. Jian Dan's gaze shifted slightly. She already had her answer.

"There is something. A personal matter. I would like to use your clan's information network."

"Please, go ahead."

"This person. I want every auction house and shop under your name to refuse her entry. Until she dies or ascends, she is not to be served."

Hua Qian and Hua Kun exchanged a look before taking the jade slip she handed over.

Inside was an image of Du Yanran—petite, charming, with scheming eyes.

When Hua Kun scrolled down further, his eyes flickered in surprise. He passed it to his sister and looked up.

"Peak Lord, this is…"

"My compensation for your potential losses."

"These details… if true, you'll be taking a huge risk," Hua Qian warned.

"Sometimes you have to give something up to gain something greater."