The rumors were Xue Lian's new favorite entertainment.
She heard them whispered by maids as they polished the new, non stabby banisters. They were debated by guards during their state mandated breaks. They were even murmured in the court itself, a constant, buzzing undercurrent to the usual political posturing.
"They say the Empress ventured into the mortal realm herself and defeated a heavenly beast just to steal its legendary spices for our kitchens."
"I heard she redesigned the throne room not for beauty, but as a vast formation circle to amplify our cultivation! The comfort is just a side effect!"
"My cousin works in the magma forges. He says the new 'safety protocols' have already saved three lives. The Empress… cares."
That last one always made her want to both laugh and cry. It was the most basic decency, and here it was seen as a revolutionary act of benevolence. She'd just implemented demon world OSHA. But she'd take it.
Whenever she heard a particularly outlandish or heartening one, a slow, genuine grin would spread across her face. It was a strange feeling. She'd spent her first life invisible, a cog in a machine. Here, every action, no matter how small, sent ripples through an entire civilization. It was terrifying and utterly addictive.
The improved morale wasn't just a nice side effect; it was a strategic asset. A content populace was a loyal one. And loyal soldiers were crucial for what came next.
It was time. The stage was set. The heroine's entrance needed to be orchestrated.
She summoned her three most trusted or perhaps, most effectively bound commanders to the war room. The room itself was another of her redesigns: a large, circular chamber with a polished obsidian table at its center, etched with a glowing, three dimensional map of the cultivation world. It was efficient, intimidating, and had excellent acoustics.
The three figures who entered were as different as the realms they hailed from.
First was Kael, a full blooded Netherworld Demon of the Oni clan. He was a mountain of muscle and dark, craggy skin, with two curved horns sweeping back from his brow. His eyes glowed like embers. He was a traditionalist, a brute force strategist, and his loyalty was to strength above all. He respected Xue Lian because she had decisively crushed her enemies and then given his soldiers better rations. His motivations were simple: fight, feast, and follow the strongest leader.
Second was Vex'aal, a cunning Shadow Stalker demon. She was slender and seemed to be made of living smoke and shifting purple armor. Her form was never entirely solid, and her voice was a whisper that seemed to come from everywhere at once. She was Xue Lian's spymaster, the head of the Silent Web, an network of informants that stretched into every sect and royal court. Her loyalty was to the stability of the realm, which she believed Xue Lian uniquely provided. She appreciated the new, more efficient filing system for intelligence reports.
The third was the outlier. General Kairo. He was a human. Or, he had been. Once a promising cultivator from a minor righteous sect, he'd delved too deep into forbidden demonic arts in his quest for power. Now, he was something else a Demonic Human Cultivator. His qi was a turbulent, violent mix of pure spiritual energy and corrosive demonic power. His eyes held the cold calculation of a human strategist, but his methods were utterly ruthless. He wore polished black armor that seemed to drink the light. His loyalty was to Xue Lian because she alone offered him a place where his twisted power was not just accepted, but valued. She saw his hybrid nature not as an abomination, but as a unique tool. For that, he was unshakably hers.
The three commanders knelt before her. "Your Majesty."
"Rise," Xue Lian said, her voice echoing softly in the chamber. She didn't sit; she paced around the map table, her dark robes swirling. "The reforms proceed. The realm grows stronger. But strength without a clear future is meaningless. My court, in its short sightedness, clamors for an heir. They are not entirely wrong."
She stopped and placed a single, sharp nailed finger on the map, right over the location of the Azure Cloud Sect. A light glowed beneath her touch.
"The solution is not among the braying lords of our court. It is here."
Kael leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "The righteous sect? You wish to raid them for a breeding slave? A bold move, Empress. Their defenses are "
" predictable," interrupted General Kairo, his voice a low, smooth baritone that contrasted with his demonic energy. "Their patrol routes are fixed. Their formation arrays are powerful but rigid. A precise, surgical strike could penetrate them."
Vex'aal's smoky form coalesced near the map. "The target?" she whispered.
"The Head Disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect," Xue Lian said, her amber eyes gleaming. "Lan Yue."
A silence fell over the room. Even Kael looked shocked.
"The prodigy?" he grunted. "The one they call the 'Celestial Moon'? She is their greatest weapon! Kidnapping her isn't a raid; it is an act of war!"
"It is a statement," Xue Lian corrected, her tone leaving no room for argument. "And she is not a weapon. She is the prize."
Vex'aal stirred. "The intelligence on her is… strange. She is designated a Beta, but her power level is anomalous. It does not fit. There are gaps. Mysteries."
"The mysteries are not your concern," Xue Lian said, though she filed Vex'aal's observation away. Her spymaster was too sharp. "Your concern is the operation. Kael, you will provide the diversion. A show of force at the southern pass. Make it loud, make it brutal, make it draw their entire attention."
The Oni commander grinned, cracking his knuckles. "That, I can do."
"Kairo," she continued, turning to the demonic cultivator. "You will lead the extraction team. Your… unique energy signature can be masked to feel purely human for a short time. You will infiltrate during the chaos. Your team will be small, elite, and fast. You are not to engage anyone but the target. Your orders are to subdue and retrieve. Is that clear?"
Kairo bowed his head. "Perfectly, Your Majesty. Subdue and retrieve. She will not be harmed."
"Vex'aal," Xue Lian said finally. "The Silent Web will ensure their retreat path is clear. You will neutralize any scouts, misdirect any pursuers. I want them to vanish without a trace. The righteous path must be left baffled and angry, but without a single clue to follow."
"It will be as you command," Vex'aal whispered, already beginning to dissolve into shadows to relay the orders.
Xue Lian looked at her three commanders, a trifecta of demonic might, shadow, and perverted righteousness. "This is not a mission of conquest. It is a heist. The future of our realm depends on your success. Do not fail me."
As they filed out to execute her orders, Xue Lian turned back to the map, her finger still resting on the Azure Cloud Sect.
It's done, she thought, a thrill of nervous anticipation coursing through her. The wheels are in motion. Sorry, Lan Yue. I promise the room service will be excellent.
The gambit had begun.