True Heir of Chaos: From Villainess to Empress

Hua Gen was shocked, but the Patriarch, Hua Kun, said nothing to stop it.

Hua Qian easily entered the steward's sea of consciousness and, taking advantage of his unguarded mind, erased all memories related to his child and the Soul-Nurturing Flower.

Even if the boy had a companion plant spirit, the Hua clan would never accept him. He was only a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and he hadn't been raised within the family nor supported by its resources. His loyalty could never compare to that of someone raised by the clan.

Once it was done, Hua Qian quietly vanished. Hua Gen remained standing in the main hall, his expression slightly dazed as he looked up at Hua Kun.

"Hua Gen, you've done well acquiring rare spiritual materials in Huanle City. I grant you ten days' leave to spend time with your family. After that, I will arrange your next assignment."

Hua Gen felt as though he had forgotten something important, but he couldn't recall what it was. He bowed and left the hall.

Only after he departed did Hua Shisan, who had been waiting, step into the hall.

"Reporting to the Patriarch. Per your orders, I transplanted one hundred peach trees and delivered them to Mo Yue Jūnshàng. She seemed pleased and even rewarded me with a storage pouch."

He carefully presented the low-grade pouch.

Hua Kun gave it a glance. Inside was a heap of low-grade spirit stones, along with two middle-grade ones. He wasn't interested and waved a hand.

"If it was gifted to you, keep it. You only returned today to report on the acquisition of spiritual materials. As for seeing Mo Yue Jūnshàng, let that stay buried in your stomach."

Hua Shisan was startled, unsure what had happened, but quickly answered, "Yes, Patriarch."

—

Jian Dan had returned to her own peak. The chief steward of Ying Peak was already waiting outside the main hall.

As she entered, she glanced at him. "What is it?"

The steward promptly stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Jūnshàng, these are several spiritual treasures sent by Tian Mo Peak for your selection."

He gestured toward the entrance. A team of black-robed guards entered the hall, each carrying a tray with a different treasure.

On the first tray was a set of black armor, thin as cicada wings but gleaming with a metallic sheen.

The second tray held a miniature mountain, reminiscent of Mo Su's mobile peak. It was likely a similar treasure.

The third tray featured an oval mirror, its frame shaped like a curled-up Bai Ze beast.

The fourth tray offered a high-grade storage pouch filled with middle and high-grade spirit stones—a straightforward and tempting gift that Jian Dan liked.

"Mm. These look good. I'll keep them all."

"Yes, Jūnshàng."

The guards left promptly to report back.

Jian Dan signaled for Gong Yi to hand over the pouch received from the Hua clan to the steward.

Then she spoke leisurely, "Ying Luo, I find our Ying Peak a bit lifeless. It puts me in a bad mood. These are thousand-year peach trees I dug up from the Hua clan. You have fifty years to plant them. When I return, I want to see peach blossoms dancing with butterflies. Can you manage that?"

"Yes, I will complete this task to perfection."

Ying Luo, the first steward of Ying Peak, took the pouch and set off.

Jian Dan turned to Gong Yi. "You've worked hard accompanying me. Go report to Mo Cang Zhūnzhe and take the jade slip with you. Give it to the Zhūnzhǔ. You're off duty until tomorrow."

Gong Yi received the jade slip and departed with nine guards, heading toward Tian Mo Peak.

Jian Dan, meanwhile, turned and made her way to the rooftop corner of Ying Hall. There, she sat cross-legged and began communicating with Liu Chuan.

"Chuan, when I rewarded Hua Shisan earlier, what did you slip into the storage pouch?"

She hadn't asked earlier due to the presence of Hua Kun, but now she wanted answers.

"I saw you liked the boy. So I gave him one of my seeds. Whether it grows depends on him."

"Oh? That's quite a gift. So you think he has potential?"

"He's got both wood and fire spiritual roots. Solid foundation. I thought I'd give him a hand."

—

Hua Shisan, cheerful from his reward, returned to his courtyard and gave the spirit stones to his parents. They were happy for him but only accepted one hundred low-grade stones, pushing the rest back for him to cultivate with.

He knew he had to grow stronger to protect his family, so he didn't argue. He brought the remaining stones to his room, planning to divide them into several caches.

Though most cultivators carried their wealth, he believed in having backup plans.

As he sorted the stones, a tuft of white fluff fell out. He pushed it aside and discovered a tiny speck hidden inside. It was so small that it was easily overlooked.

Suddenly, the speck flew into his forehead.

Before he could react, Hua Shisan collapsed.

The scattered spirit stones began to tremble. Their spiritual energy surged toward his brow. First the low-grade stones turned to dust, then the middle-grade ones followed.

Within his forehead, the Liu seed absorbed the energy, sprouted, and began to grow. Two small willow leaves appeared, then four. By the time the last of the energy was consumed, a willow branch the thickness of a child's arm had formed, its leaves vibrant and green.

The branch twirled slightly, noticing its host had not awakened. It shed a single leaf that merged into his meridians.

The leaf dissolved into pure energy and circulated through his system, completing one full cycle and settling into his dantian. His cultivation leapt from early Foundation Establishment to the late stage.

Exhausted, the branch retracted into his dantian to rest.

—

Hua Shisan awoke the next day, stunned. He had merely slept, yet somehow reached late Foundation Establishment. The powdered spirit stones around him confirmed that he had indeed broken through. The cost, however, left his heart aching.

Just then, a voice echoed inside his mind.

"Master, I helped you advance."

Startled, he spent a moment confirming that the voice was real. He swallowed hard and asked, "Where are you?"

"I'm in your dantian."

He finally thought to check his internal view. Sure enough, he saw a spinning willow branch nestled in his dantian. When his spiritual sense brushed against it, he felt a natural closeness, as if they had always been one.

Thus, the next generation heir of the Hua clan's companion plant spirit, Liu Sheng, was born.