True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress

Before Bai Jue Zhēnzūn and Yingge stood a projected image of Jian Dan. She was clad in the Heavenly Sword Sect's robes, serene and graceful, with a soft smile in her eyes. After greeting Yingge warmly, she turned to Bai Jue Zhēnzūn and offered a respectful bow.

"Yunzu greets Bai Jue Zhēnzūn. I am currently undertaking a sect mission and cannot visit the beast clan to see our adorable Yingge. But I trust that, under your guidance, his cultivation will progress by leaps and bounds.

I recently acquired something by chance that may enhance Yingge's bloodline. I've sent it to you. If you've examined it and found no issues, please allow him to use it.

Also, I encountered a powerful enemy not long ago and had to use the phoenix token you gave me. I'm sending it back now. If you could seal another attack into it, I would be immensely grateful. I'll retrieve it in person the next time we meet."

After she bowed again, the projection faded, revealing a palm-sized egg sealed within the box.

Bai Jue Zhēnzūn picked up the egg and sensed the pulse within it, along with a trace of phoenix bloodline. Joy flickered in his eyes. This truly was the best gift for Yingge.

He dismissed his subordinates, then led Yingge and the egg into the heart of the clan grounds. Along the way, he explained everything.

"Yingge, this Shan Xiaoyou truly holds you dear. This sealed egg contains a trace of phoenix bloodline. I will extract it for you. Once you refine it, your bloodline will become even purer. That should be enough to push you to fourth-rank."

Yingge was thrilled. Only Xiao Zhuzhi was this good to him. Flapping his wings, he eagerly flew back to the place where he had broken through last time.

"Are you ready, Yingge?"

Perched on a rock amid a sea of flame, Yingge nodded solemnly.

Bai Jue Zhēnzūn raised a hand and broke the egg's seal. The egg, sensing danger, trembled and struggled to escape his grasp. But how could an unborn creature resist a seventh-rank beast in the Void Refinement stage?

In the end, Bai Jue refined it with his beast force, transforming it into a crimson thread that he guided into Yingge's body. Yingge let out a clear cry before sinking into the fire, beginning the long process of refining.

Seeing no rejection from Yingge's body, Bai Jue was reassured. The bloodline was indeed compatible. He quickly formed a series of hand seals to activate the flame sea's defenses, shielding the entire area.

Still cautious, he used his own beast force to lay a barrier. If anyone tried to interfere, he would sense it immediately.

Just as he finished and was about to leave, a fragrant breeze swept past. A purple figure appeared beside him, an arm draping over his shoulder.

"Xiao Bai, I sensed a phoenix's bloodline just now. And you gave it to that sweet little fool of a brother of yours?"

Bai Jue's eyes flickered with helplessness. He turned and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Senior Jiuwéi. The item was given by a human cultivator who requested that I pass it to my younger brother. I could not disregard such sincerity."

Draped in sheer purple silk, her figure was graceful, her hair styled in a celestial bun tied with purple ribbon. Her fox-like eyes shimmered with mischief and allure, her violet pupils glowing faintly. At her brow sat a small purple fox formed from nine flower petals. From afar, it could be mistaken for decorative makeup.

This great beast was Jiuwéi, the current Mahayana-stage Zhēnzūn of the beast race. Her true form was a purple nine-tailed celestial fox. With ten thousand years of cultivation, her power rivaled even the Loose Immortal Yin Lao. She was one of the cornerstones of the beast clan's dominance on Lingyun Continent, standing equal to the top cultivators and demon cultivators of the human and demon races.

Jiuwéi had long been searching for a successor and had high hopes for Bai Jue. His strength and temperament were admirable, though his excessive care for his useless brother was her only complaint.

Unexpectedly, thirty years ago, things took a turn. Bai Jue actually sent his beloved brother away.

Then, after returning from the Purple-Rank Secret Realm, Yingge had somehow gained the ability to cultivate. In the past thirty years, aside from that one retrieval, Bai Jue had remained in the clan lands, overseeing Yingge's training.

Today, on a whim, Jiuwéi left her cave to wander and noticed a disturbance from the Bai Honghe clan's territory, prompting her visit.

"You're so dull. I was just teasing. No need to answer so seriously."

She waved her sleeve and then added with a smirk:

"Now tell me about your dear Yingge and that little human friend of his. I want the whole story—love, hate, drama, all of it."

Bai Jue could only sigh. Used to her antics by now, he led her to his dwelling and began recounting the tale of Yingge and Jian Dan.