The Empress Begs for Forgiveness? I, the Villainous Overlord, Won't Pretend Anymore! - Chapter 5:

Chapter 5:

The first thing that entered sight was a graceful figure in a red robe.

The woman wearing it had an exquisitely beautiful face, her skin fair and delicate, smooth as porcelain and soft to the touch. Her red lips were lush and tempting, evoking the urge to kiss them. Her delicate nose was perfectly shaped, and her pair of peach blossom eyes sparkled with brilliance.

Her three-thousand strands of dark hair hung like fine silk down to her waist, adorned with golden clasps and jade ornaments, showcasing a noble and luxurious aura.

She looked down at everyone from above, as if gazing at a group of ants.

“Greetings to the Xuansheng Empress!”

All present bowed in unison. Only Xu Ning gave her an extra glance before lowering his head.

The Empress’s beauty could only be described as peerless, and that lofty aura she exuded stirred an intense desire in Xu Ning—a desire to conquer.

In the original novel, the Empress, as a major antagonist, was either slain by Long Lingtian or accepted into his harem. If even he could do that, then why couldn’t I?

As the thought rose, a bold idea surged within Xu Ning’s heart.

With his head still lowered, he didn’t notice that the Empress was carefully observing him with those peach blossom eyes.

Her gaze flickered with interest, and without a word, she raised her hand slightly toward the distance.

A palace maid immediately stepped forward. Judging by the fluctuations of her aura, she too was a Heaven Venerable Realm expert!

The Empress parted her red lips, as if whispering something to the maid. The maid then took a step forward and declared loudly,

“By the Mandate of Heaven, the Empress decrees: Yuwen Wushuang, General of the Northern Frontier Army, colluded with the Beiming Divine Domain and betrayed the Xuansheng Immortal Empire. The Empress is enraged to the core, unable to rest until justice is done. Hence, the entire Yuwen family shall be punished by association!”

“Xu Ning, young and accomplished, saw through Yuwen Wushuang’s treachery. He is hereby appointed as the imperial agent in charge of confiscating the Yuwen family’s assets. The operation begins tomorrow. So decrees the Empress!”

Her voice boomed like a sacred bell, solemn and dignified, infused with profound spiritual power that echoed through the entire capital.

Upon hearing this, everyone present—guests and Xu family members alike—were stunned. The Xu family members were even more elated.

The Yuwen family was once the top family in the entire Xuansheng Heavenly Domain!

After years of reaping benefits in the north, their accumulated wealth and hidden power were unimaginable.

If the Xu family could devour the Yuwen family’s foundation, they could very well rise to become the new number one family in the domain!

And the one who triggered all this was none other than the “good-for-nothing young master” Xu Ning, whom the world had always looked down on.

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Xu Tianyue immediately knelt and kowtowed. “Long live the Empress!”

The rest of the Xu family followed suit, the sound of foreheads striking the ground echoing endlessly.

Even Yao Ling’er, who had just married into the family, knelt under the Empress’s immense pressure.

Only Xu Ning stood unmoved. It wasn’t that he was arrogant—he simply wasn’t used to kneeling.

Seeing him remain standing, Xu Feng, still kneeling, panicked and was about to pull Xu Ning down when the Empress’s indifferent voice rang out.

“Xu Ning, young and accomplished, is granted exemption from kneeling.”

Xu Feng’s face lit up. It seemed the Empress held his son in high regard.

But before his joy could settle, his face drastically changed at the Empress’s next words.

“Xu Ning, didn’t you tell Us that the Xu family had a rare flower in bloom, pure qi soaring to the heavens, triggering countless visions?”

Her expression turned icy, and her tone carried a sharp edge.

Xu Ning’s pupils shrank violently. His heart trembled.

Yesterday, he had used every means available—including an outrageous lie—to get the Empress to come.

He never expected she would settle accounts afterward, catching him completely off guard!

He knew well from the original novel that although the Empress wasn’t bloodthirsty, she was by no means easy to deal with—otherwise she wouldn’t be worthy of her role as the final antagonist.

He took a deep breath. Though panic surged within him, he remained outwardly calm. Stepping forward, he cupped his fists and said,

“Just as the Empress said, there was no rare flower in the Xu family.”

Everyone from the Xu family was stunned, their faces stiff, cold sweat beading at their temples.

Xu Ning actually admitted, in front of everyone, to lying to the Empress!?

Was he trying to get himself killed?

The Empress’s expression remained stern, but a flicker of curiosity flashed in her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, Xu Ning continued,

“Your subject received news that the Northern Frontier Army had rebelled and planned to massacre the Xu family today. That’s why I resorted to such a desperate measure. It was a breach of etiquette, and I accept Your Majesty’s punishment.”

His tone was firm and powerful, exuding great confidence.

Using me as a weapon?

A fleeting trace of killing intent flashed through the Empress’s eyes. But considering Xu Ning’s immense contribution, she decided to treat it as making amends through merit.

To think someone would dare deceive me… He’s the first.

“Hmm.” She nodded lightly, unable to suppress her growing curiosity about Xu Ning.

“The death penalty is spared, but the living one remains.”

“I hereby appoint you as the new General of the Northern Frontier. Tomorrow, you are to head north to eliminate the Yuwen rebels. Earn merit through action and take Yuwen Wushuang’s place as the King of the Northern Frontier.”

“When the purge is over, report to my Qianqing Palace to receive your punishment.”

A faintly mischievous smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

…

Outside the Imperial Capital of the Great Zhou Empire – Wasteland

Long Lingtian stumbled out of a spatial rift, collapsing onto the ground.

He was a complete mess—his clothes were in tatters, covered in blood, his bones fractured nearly all over.

“Xu Ning… Xuansheng Empress… Just wait! I’ll kill you both!”

Clutching his wounds, he roared in rage, his face twisted like withered bark, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.

Suddenly, his storage ring pulsed, and a twelve-armed demonic statue shot out, its eyes glowing red as it pointed westward.

Long Lingtian’s eyes gleamed with joy. “This is within the borders of the Great Zhou? That means the Demon Lord’s Tomb isn’t far!”

“Just wait, Xu Ning. Once I inherit the Demon Lord’s legacy, I’ll kill you. I’ll even refine Yao Ling’er and the Empress into human furnaces—my personal tools for cultivation!”

…

After all that chaos caused by Long Lingtian, the Empress had lost all interest in flower viewing. After announcing her edict, she returned to the palace.

Once Xu Ning sent everyone away, he returned to his room.

According to the original plot, Long Lingtian was now headed for the Demon Lord’s Tomb located in the Great Zhou Empire, to inherit the Demon Lord’s legacy.

And coincidentally, the Yuwen family was very close to the Great Zhou.

“That Demon Lord’s Tomb must be filled with danger. Entering blindly would be suicidal. Perfect—let Long Lingtian be my pathfinder.”

“I can use this time to raid the Yuwen family’s treasures and improve my cultivation!”

He inhaled deeply. His mind already formed a rough outline of the road ahead.

“Now then, let’s see what I can exchange with my Fate Points.”

He sat cross-legged on the bed and opened the system interface.

[Host: Xu Ning]
[Identity: Direct descendant of the Xu family]
[Realm: 5th stage Creation Realm]
[Physique: Mortal]
[Technique: Xu family’s Origin Return Technique]
[Fate Points: 1,400]
[Store: Unlocked]
[Inventory: Newbie Gift Pack (Unopened)]

“Newbie gift pack?” Xu Ning blinked.

His eyes lit up as he silently said in his heart, “Open the newbie gift pack.”

At once, a golden gift box appeared before him, glowing with radiant light.

As the box slowly opened, the system notification followed.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Dao Heart Divine Seal, Great Dao Slave Codex!]

When he heard the words Dao Heart Divine Seal, Xu Ning’s pupils shrank!

The Dao Heart Divine Seal was a legendary treasure. Its host would be immune to Dao Heart backlash!

In short, even if he swore on his Dao Heart and lied, he wouldn’t suffer any consequences!

It was utterly heaven-defying!

As for the Great Dao Slave Codex, it too was a mythical treasure. It allowed the user to plant invisible slave marks on others, undetectable by any means—truly terrifying!

“Tsk tsk… With these two treasures in hand, killing a mere Long Lingtian is child’s play.”

He then opened the system store and examined it closely.

The store had everything—divine techniques, secret arts, ultimate weapons—all of top-tier quality.

But with his current Fate Points, he couldn’t afford much.

“System, can I use Fate Points to raise my cultivation directly?” he asked mentally.

He would soon have to face Long Lingtian again. After awakening his dragon blood, Long Lingtian’s cultivation would rise to the 8th stage Creation Realm. Xu Ning was no match as things stood.

[Confirmed. Within the Creation Realm, each stage upgrade costs 400 Fate Points.]

“Good. Raise me to the 8th stage Creation Realm!”

After consuming 1,200 Fate Points, a mysterious power surged from his dantian, flowing through his limbs and bones. Everywhere it passed, spiritual energy swelled and his meridians expanded!

His joints cracked loudly as his cultivation rapidly soared—

5th stage, 6th stage… all the way to 8th stage Creation Realm!

“Whew… If it weren’t for the system, even with the Xu family’s resources, it’d take years to reach the 8th stage Creation Realm!”

He clenched his fist and punched forward—space distorted with a tearing sound.

Satisfied, he finally nodded.

The next day, led by Xu Ning, six Heaven Venerables from the Xu family served as his escort, accompanied by many attendants, setting out in grand procession toward the Yuwen family.