True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress

The conclusions drawn by the group were not kept secret. They reported everything back to their sects. The cultivation world might soon be thrown into another wave of unrest. As for Jian Dan, she bore no mental burden. Some matters needed to be exposed. Pretending everything was peaceful would not make them go away.

The few captured lackeys were handed over to the black-robed unit under Mo Su's command. The kidnapped cauldrons were dealt with case by case: those with families were allowed to contact them, those with sects reached out to their own, and the loose cultivators were released after confirming they had not been parasitized.

Once these trivial matters were taken care of and just before leaving, Jian Dan offered a sincere invitation to Cao Chenfeng. She asked if he would accompany her to the underground auction in Huanle City the following day.

Mo Su Jūnshàng simply smiled without speaking. He did not interfere, acting more like a spectator enjoying the scene. At his side, Miao Yunrong finally let down her guard. Since Jian Jūnshàng was clearly busy bothering another male cultivator, her own crisis seemed to be partially over.

"Jūnshàng, this…"

Cao Chenfeng could only sigh helplessly. Why did it feel like she was teasing him on purpose? And she did so with such gentle words, not a hint of coercion. He couldn't even get angry.

"Cao Xiaoyou, there is no need to refuse so hastily. After all, you were captured and brought here. Aside from your natal spirit sword, I doubt you have much else on hand. Without spirit stones, how will you return to the Heavenly Sword Sect? Even if your sect sends help, it will take time. Why not treat it as a way of repaying me for rescuing you? Come with me to the auction. It may even be fun."

She sounded entirely sincere. The only problem was the constant, playful glint in her eyes that made even the stoic Cao Chenfeng feel overwhelmed. In the end, he could only nod stiffly in agreement.

Jian Dan was clearly satisfied. She called over the innkeeper and had him arrange a room next to hers for Cao Xiaoyou to rest. Only then did she return to her own room. Once she set up the defensive array, her expression finally relaxed.

This had been an unexpected gain. The threat of the black beetles had been brought back into the spotlight. The damage to her divine sense had been worth it. With a flicker, Jian Dan entered her private space. This time, Cotton Candy flew over at once and wrapped around her tightly, not letting her take another step forward.

"Cotton Candy, what is it?"

"Master, you didn't take me into battle. I was so bored here. I want to stay with you."

"This time your master had to change her identity. Bringing you along could have given me away. Even last time, when I wore you as an earring, Mo Su already started paying attention."

"Then, if I change my appearance, can I come out again?"

"Mhm. What do you want to change into?" Jian Dan asked teasingly.

Cotton Candy shrank down, coiling tightly in place. After a long pause, she still looked like a little cloud puff.

Jian Dan found her absolutely adorable and couldn't resist rolling her around in her hands for a while. After that, she let her go and told her to find a way to change her form. Once she succeeded, she could call for her.

Meanwhile, Jian Dan went to the first floor of her bamboo house and lit a stick of Soul-Consolidating Incense. This was not the same as the Concentration Incense she had used for Feng Nianyue. This one stabilized the soul and healed damage to the divine sea. It was a rare treasure, nearly extinct in the cultivation world.

As the fragrance drifted through the air, Jian Dan sat cross-legged on a spiritual cushion designed for soul cultivation and began channeling the Divine Transformation stage of the Heavenly Demon Art to solidify her foundation.

Within her body, her Yuányīng—Little Jian Dan—released the Yin-Yang Taiji Plate. The massive spiritual energy she had absorbed was converted into demonic qi, reinforcing her cultivation at the early Divine Transformation stage. Once that stabilized, Jian Dan switched to circulating the Divine Transformation stage of the Primordial Chaos Art. Five-colored spiritual energy flooded in from all directions, gradually firming her foundation in this new realm.

The transition between the two techniques was smooth. After a full cycle, she ended her cultivation session. Her divine sense swept through the space and found Cotton Candy by the river, practicing shape-shifting in front of her reflection. Jian Dan couldn't help laughing at the sight—it was simply too cute.

In the fruit grove beyond, Mo Ran and Jade were nestled among the branches of a Fortune Fruit tree. One disguised itself as a branch, the other lay atop a leaf, both cultivating diligently. Their auras had grown noticeably stronger, and their training was clearly progressing.

Everything in the space remained as it had been. Jian Dan retrieved the sword mold she had forged last time. The dark blade, about sixty centimeters long, had taken shape, gleaming with a metallic luster. What she needed now were the materials Mo Xi, the sword spirit, had mentioned. Once added, she could begin the second round of tempering. This was why she had to visit the underground auction.

As her cultivation steadily advanced, the sealed portions of the space also continued to unlock. More high-grade spiritual plants and artifacts had appeared. However, Jian Dan refrained from using them lightly.

Many of these resources were nearly extinct in the cultivation world. To avoid unnecessary trouble, she left the rare herbs in their spiritual fields, letting them grow undisturbed.

For this auction, she needed something impressive. So, she began searching the space.

After surveying for a while, Jian Dan decided to harvest a thousand-year-old Crimson Blood Ganoderma. This fifth-tier spiritual herb was incredibly rare and known for its life-saving properties. No matter how severe the injuries, as long as the body remained and the soul was intact, it could extend life. Its effect lasted based on its age—a thousand-year Crimson Blood Ganoderma could extend life by at least a hundred years.

She also retrieved a piece of Starfall Ore from the ring left by Mo Mei. As the name implied, it was a stone formed by falling stars, used in crafting to enhance the strength and resilience of artifacts.

After sealing both items in jade boxes and storing them in her ring, Jian Dan went to tease Cotton Candy one last time, finding amusement in her shapeshifting struggle. Only after that did she exit the space.

By evening the next day, Jian Dan and her group arrived discreetly at the commercial district. The entrance to the underground auction house was hidden in one of the shops. Mo Su handed over a jade token, and the group was led to a short-range teleportation array in the back alley. Once activated, they were transported directly to the auction site.

Mo Su brought along Ma Rong, Miao Yunrong was accompanied by Uncle Miao, and Jian Dan had Cao Chenfeng at her side. The six of them were shown to a private room.

The room was square, with three walls blocking all divine sense. The fourth wall, facing the auction floor, was a crystal screen that allowed them to see the venue. Divine sense from outside could not penetrate it.

There were six sets of chairs and tables. Each table had a crystal orb for communicating bids, along with a plate of third-tier spiritual fruits.

A clean-faced Foundation Establishment cultivator entered, bowed respectfully, and said:

"Honored seniors, the auction is about to begin. Here is the list of items for sale. Please look it over so you do not miss anything of interest."

"If we see something we like, can we buy it early?" Miao Yunrong asked eagerly.

"It is possible, but the price will be ten times the listed value. If it goes to auction, the final price might be even higher," the man replied.

"Shameless profiteers!" she muttered.

"Enough. If you want it, pay for it yourself," Mo Su said calmly, putting a stop to her grumbling.

Uncle Miao received the auction jade slip, checked it, and handed it over to their young mistress.

"This may be your first time at our Huanle City auction," the attendant continued. "Our master has said that, since all of you have contributed to the city, anything you take a liking to can be purchased directly at the listed price."