The black-robed man froze, his expression blank.

After a moment, he recovered, turning to Mu Zhi’an, his voice a chilling whisper. “You’re going to kill me?”

He knew his worth, the value of the secrets he possessed. That’s why he’d been so confident, so relaxed during their conversation.

When Lan Mulian had trapped him, he’d envisioned various outcomes, but it had never occurred to him that Mu Zhi’an would simply… kill him.

“Think carefully, Young Master Mu. Don’t you have even a shred of curiosity about the secrets I hold?”

Mu Zhi’an looked at him. “Ask away. If I’m interested, I might spare you.”

The black-robed man hesitated, then shook his head.

As Mu Zhi’an rose to his feet, drawing his sword, the killing intent in his eyes unmistakable, the demon panicked. “If you kill me, the Seventh Seat will know! You’ll become an enemy of the Demon Realm! Think about the consequences!”

Bound by Lan Mulian’s spell, weakened by his injuries, he was vulnerable, even to a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Mu Zhi’an paused, his brow furrowing. “The Seventh Seat?”

The black-robed man’s eyes flickered, but he remained silent.

He looked up at Mu Zhi’an, desperation in his voice. “If you swear to release me and ensure those cultivators outside don’t harm me, I’ll tell you everything about the Seventh Seat—”

He didn’t get to finish his sentence.

Mu Zhi’an’s sword pierced his throat.

The black-robed man stared at him, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

“I *am* curious about the Seventh Seat, but I’m more interested in ensuring you never leave this cave.” Mu Zhi’an wiped the blood from his blade and sheathed his sword, watching coldly as the demon collapsed.

From the moment he’d entered the cage, he’d never intended to let the black-robed man live.

Killing him now was less troublesome than dealing with him later.

The hatred in the demon’s eyes had been undeniable.

He wanted Mu Zhi’an dead. He wanted the Mu family destroyed. He wanted Bai Ruoxi.

And he knew she possessed the Heavenly Dao Aura. Releasing him would be a disaster.

It was better to silence him, to bury his secrets with him.

Mu Zhi’an watched as the demon’s life faded, then opened his status window.

He wanted to see how much his “Supporting Character” status had changed after suppressing Ye Yu, the “protagonist.”

The word “Supporting Character” had faded from its original deep purple to a pale pink.

Pink… that was a good sign. It meant that by weakening Ye Yu’s protagonist status, his own role as a supporting character was diminishing.

The achievements “Heaven’s Jealousy” and “Inborn Celestial Vessel” remained a deep purple.

But then, he noticed something strange.

The words “Friend of the Antagonists” had darkened, shifting from a dark purple to an almost pitch black.

He frowned.

That’s odd. I just killed one of the antagonists. Why did it get darker?

If the black-robed man hadn’t lied, killing him should have made him an enemy of the Demon Realm, putting him on the “Seventh Seat’s” hit list.

So why was the achievement darker?

As he pondered this, he noticed the black-robed man dissolving into smoke.

However, the smoke didn’t dissipate. It spread through the cage, gradually corrupting the pristine white light, staining it with darkness.

Something’s wrong. Mu Zhi’an felt a chill run down his spine. He turned to leave the cage.

A sweet, seductive voice echoed through the cave, a voice that sent shivers down his spine.

“An Inborn Celestial Vessel. If you weren’t in the Eastern Realm, you could be my pet.”

He turned slowly, his skin crawling.

An overwhelming presence had descended upon the cave, a vast and ancient power that pressed down on him, making it difficult to breathe.

She wore a loose-fitting robe that did little to conceal her alluring curves. Her eyes were captivating, radiating a seductive charm that was both alluring and terrifying, making it impossible to meet her gaze.

Even though he’d never seen her before, he recognized her instantly.

This was the “Empress,” the ruler of the Demon Realm!

The serpentine tail was a dead giveaway.

She had taken the form of a mature and alluring woman, the kind he usually found irresistible, yet his body tensed involuntarily.

No wonder “Friend of the Antagonists” was so dark. To think she’d personally intervene…

If he’d known killing the black-robed man would summon the Demon Empress, he would have never done it.

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” he said, bowing respectfully.

She approached him, her ethereal form shimmering in the dim light. She looked down at him, a playful smile on her lips. “I thought it was Shang Yanfei. To think a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator would summon a fragment of my consciousness.”

Mu Zhi’an kept his head bowed, pondering the name “Shang Yanfei.”

Someone capable of rivaling the Sky Swallowing Python. Could it be the Sect Master of the Two Polarities Sect?

Was that her name?

“May I ask why you’ve graced us with your presence, Your Majesty?” Mu Zhi’an asked, his voice calm despite his racing heart.

She looked at him, her voice soft and seductive. “Where is it?”

“If you desire it, Your Majesty, I will retrieve it for you,” Mu Zhi’an replied earnestly.

“How thoughtful. But I’m not particularly interested in the Heavenly Dao Aura.” She shook her head. “I have something more intriguing.”

He looked up at her, and she smiled, her gaze intense.

“You.”

An Inborn Celestial Vessel cultivating with such a being could accelerate one’s progress tremendously, although it wouldn’t be of much use to someone of her level.

Still, indulging in a taste of his potent spiritual energy… it would be a delightful experience.

She changed the subject. “If I’m not mistaken, the Two Polarities Sect’s entrance exams are in less than half a month. Join the sect. I’ll have someone contact you. Report to me every three months with information about the sect.”

Mu Zhi’an was stunned. “Why me?”

He couldn’t understand her motives. He’d assumed she’d come to avenge the black-robed man, but she clearly didn’t care about his death.

So why was she here?

Could it be because of the “Friend of the Antagonists” achievement?

She reached out, her slender finger tracing the line of his jaw. “With your talent, it shouldn’t be difficult to infiltrate the sect’s inner circle.”

Seeing his hesitation, she asked softly, “Are you refusing me?”

It was better to agree for now and deal with the consequences later… Mu Zhi’an nodded. “If it is your wish, Your Majesty, I will not disappoint you.”

She smiled, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “I look forward to your reports. Once you’re inside the sect, I’ll have someone contact you.”

So there are already demons within the Two Polarities Sect… She’s playing a dangerous game… Mu Zhi’an nodded, his expression carefully neutral.

“Oh, and one more thing…”

As her presence began to fade, a sweet fragrance filling the air, she leaned in close, her lips brushing against his ear.

“I can read minds.”

Mu Zhi’an froze.

As the Demon Empress vanished from the cage, he realized his back was drenched in sweat.

For the first time since regaining his memories, he understood the truth of the saying: when the power gap is too wide, schemes and tricks are useless.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay