True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress

"Why?" Miao Yunrong's voice trembled, her hands clenched into fists as her Nascent Soul aura surged uncontrollably.

"You'll have to ask your dear aunt about that," Jian Dan replied. She placed another white piece on the board, then gave the full game a satisfied glance.

Jian Dan had already pieced together a rough idea of her opponent's motives. It was obvious that Miao Yanli's target was Mo Su.

She must have discovered that Mo Su possessed a Pure Yin body. In order to form a perfect dual cultivation match, she needed someone with a Blazing Sun Physique. That way, no one else could compete.

Jian Dan shook her head. "Women could be terrifying when they schemed."

Across from her, Miao Yunrong struggled to rein in her rising fury. Jian Dan gave an approving nod. At least the girl had the bare minimum of self-control expected of a cultivator.

"As for your physical condition, just tell your father. He'll take care of it."

"But if I go back like this, everyone around me will notice, and once that happens, my aunt will know too."

"Then she must have prepared a suppressant pill for you. Go find it and take one. That should buy you time."

"I won't! Ever since I returned, I've refused everything she's offered me."

"Suit yourself. If you can tolerate the pain of your body burning from within, that's your choice."

Jian Dan flicked her wrist, drawing a symbol in the air with a trace of demonic qi. With a sharp motion, she pressed it into Miao Yunrong's body.

"This talisman will mask the excess yang energy leaking from your body for three days. It's just a simple concealment technique. After that, you're on your own."

"Thank you, Jūnshàng."

"Now go." Jian Dan didn't bother to keep her any longer. This was her cave, her bed, and that girl had already occupied both for three days. She was being generous enough.

After sending Miao Yunrong off, Jian Dan sent a message to Mo Su, letting him know she would exit seclusion in a month.

Miao Yunrong, meanwhile, returned to her private cultivation chamber through a secret tunnel—one she had dug herself years ago to avoid daily practice. One path led straight down the mountain, the route she used often and which her attendants knew about. The other path, which she had dug on a whim, wound toward the peak. That impulsive act now served as her lifeline. She counted herself lucky.

By dawn, Miao Yunrong emerged from her chamber. She crossed paths with Aunt Rong, who had been keeping an eye on her, and pulled a pitiful face.

"Father summoned me. He wants me in his cave immediately."

"Shall I inform your aunt?"

"Yes, but don't let her come right away. Let Father scold me first, assign me some punishment, then she can plead on my behalf to lighten it. You understand?"

"Understood. I'll go now."

With that, Aunt Rong rushed off to Miao Yanli's cave residence.

Miao Yunrong waved off the attendants trying to follow her and made her way toward her father's dwelling.

A month later, Jian Dan ended her seclusion. The moment she lifted the restrictions on her cave, she saw Shi Ci waiting outside.

"Welcome back, Jūnshàng."

"Mm."

"This just arrived from Mo Su Jūnshàng."

Jian Dan casually opened the message. Mo Su's low voice drifted out.

"Mo Yue, come to my cave for a visit."

She brushed a finger against the tear-shaped birthmark at the corner of her eye and said to Shi Ci, "Lead the way. I'll be paying Mo Su Jūnshàng a visit."

"Yes, Jūnshàng."

The two cultivated on the same mountain peak, so the distance was short. Jian Dan flew lazily in her light escape, and in less than half an hour, she arrived at Mo Su's cave.

A young attendant waited at the gate. The moment he spotted Jian Dan, he bowed deeply.

"Greetings, Mo Yue Jūnshàng. Please, this way."

He led her through the courtyard. Mo Su was already waiting outside, in the middle of brewing tea.

His hands moved with practiced grace. By the time Jian Dan sat down, a steaming cup of fragrant tea was already placed before her.

"Jūnshàng, what elegant taste."

"Congratulations on exiting seclusion. Your cultivation seems even more solid."

"It's alright. So, what's this about?"

"Nothing major. Since your induction, you've hardly met any of your fellow disciples. They're all curious about you."

"Oh? I think what they're curious about is my magic weapon, Mó Yuè Zhǎn."

Deep within her dantian, the weapon stirred faintly, sending a ripple through her spiritual sea as if to remind her of its presence.

"Seems like nothing gets past you."

"Pick a time and place. Let's spar. I'll show them what I'm made of."

"You're certainly direct."

"Why waste time with fake pleasantries? If they don't accept me, I'll beat them into submission."

Mo Su wasn't surprised. With that kind of confidence, she must already feel certain of victory. He didn't press further and simply nodded. He would handle the arrangements and notify her later.

"By the way, thank you for helping Yunrong."

Mo Su hesitated, not sure how to broach the topic. It wasn't just about Yunrong. He was involved too, and there were secrets he still couldn't speak of.

"Is she alright now?"

"Some damage. Her cultivation dropped drastically."

Jian Dan lifted her cup, let the tea touch her lips, then set it down. She looked at Mo Su.

"Thanks isn't necessary. But why so severe?"

"Master was furious. He forcibly stripped the so-called Blazing Sun Physique from her. Since Yunrong's foundation wasn't solid to begin with—even though she successfully formed her Yuányīng with your help—Master still decided to disperse all her cultivation."

Jian Dan's gaze sharpened. So Mo Lie Zhēnzhǔ could be ruthless, even to his own daughter. In that case, Miao Yanli wouldn't fare much better.

"That was decisive. Probably for the best. This way, Yunrong can rebuild properly."

"Yes. The Palace Master was measured. Yunrong wasn't hurt at her foundation. She's now cultivating in the secluded area of the back mountain. She won't be coming out anytime soon. She asked me to thank you and said she'll have to delay delivering the ten-thousand-year Coldjade Bed."

"This little girl. She's already shut herself away, and she's still setting traps for me."

Jian Dan didn't mind. Mo Su handed her a storage pouch.

"The Palace Master asked me to give this to you as a token of thanks for guiding Yunrong."

Jian Dan swept it with her divine sense. Inside was a slab of ten-thousand-year Coldjade and a token engraved with the character "藏" [藏: Cáng, 'to store'].

"This is a pass to the Scripture Pavilion. With it, you can access all texts and jade slips below the Divine Soul level anytime, free of charge."

"Useful indeed. Thank the Palace Master for me. I'll visit the pavilion when I get the chance."

"I've been in seclusion for a month. Anything interesting happen in the outside world?"

Mo Su took a sip of tea and smiled.

"As a matter of fact, yes. If we hadn't left early, we might've seen it unfold with our own eyes."

"Go on."

"Three days after we left the auction, the human, demon, and beast races joined forces and purged Huanlecheng. They completely uprooted the foreign black-armored insects that had taken root there."

"Was it you who leaked the intel?"

"No. We interrogated everyone we caught. Only a handful had been possessed or controlled. They were merchants from Yunling City, but the trades they dealt in were... unsavory."

Jian Dan nodded. She noticed Mo Su watching her intently with his pitch-black eyes.

"The source of the leak was confirmed. It came from the Heavenly Sword Sect."

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纯阴之体 (Chún yīn zhī tǐ) Pure Yin Body. This somehow similar with Xie Yingying's (太阴, Tàiyīn)

Both of them often described as Top of Yin align physique, and top tier furnace depend on the novels itself. But for me, or in general sense, Tàiyīn is higher than Chúnyīn. 

Because if we look at their hanzi:

太 (Tài) means "great," "supreme," or "extreme."

阴 (Yīn) means "Yin," the passive, dark, cold, and feminine force.

纯 (Chún) means "pure," "unmixed," or "absolute."

Combined, 太阴 implies "Supreme Yin"—an elevated, almost celestial form of Yin, often associated with the moon (e.g., 太阴星君, the Moon Goddess in Taoism). And this is the reason why I call Taiyin as Lunar Sovereign.

May still have a trace of Yang (as "supreme" implies harmony).

Associated with the moon, divine Yin.

Combined, 纯阴 means "Pure Yin"—a state of absolute Yin without any trace of Yang.

Completely devoid of Yang (100% Yin, which can be unstable).

Associated with ghosts/spirits, extreme Yin.

And so:

太阴 (Tài Yīn) is rarer because it represents perfected Yin—strong yet balanced.

纯阴 is the "Absolute Yin"—pure, extreme, and potentially unstable.

I think that the reason why cultivator who have Pure Yin physique often associated with 'fragile', 'cold', 'sick'. Because their physique is too extreme and it can hurt their body.