Seduce The Villainess (GL)

(Secret Headquarters Of The Crimson Demon Sect)

(Hidden Mountain Range- Temple of Agar)

Neigh!

The steed tossed back its head and roared fiercely. 

The shadows around its body twisted and contorted as a terrifying grin spread across the animal\'s face.

The portal finally closed as the beast disappeared from the sight of the crowd. Xu Lu kept walking and held her head high.

She was grateful to the sect leader for lending her that strange beast as a mount because it certainly left a lasting impression.

Xu Lu could hear the whispers of the crowd as she approached the steps of the temple and the massive grey walls that protected its interior.

The temple of Agar.

An ancient place that seemed… unsettling. There was something about this abandoned temple that caused goosebumps to appear on her arms.

This was the place where the future successor of the Crimson Demon Sect would survive a ceremony in order to be chosen. 

Despite its importance, the temple seemed run down and there were clear signs of weathering and aging.

Xu Lu took in a few deep breaths and could feel the cold metallic touch of the mask that covered her face.

She was a mystery to these demon cultivators and Xu Lu had no intention of revealing her past history.

With any luck the Holy Sword Sect still thought that she was trapped in the underground prison complex in one of the cells.

By the time they discovered that she was missing… it would be too late. 

They would have no clue about where she had gone and her current location. Actually, even Xu Lu wasn\'t sure which part of the continent the Crimson Demon Sect was located.

Xu Lu doubted that her master or her former sect leader would imagine the possibility that she rose up to become the successor of a major demonic clan.

Heh… it was actually kind of funny in a twisted way.

They would never see her coming…

Xu Lu approached the stone steps that led up to the entrance of the temple and stopped at the first one.

Her footsteps paused as she waited patiently, according to the sect leader the succession ceremony would begin immediately when she arrived.

It did feel a little bit uncomfortable standing directly in front of a crowd of thousands of demonic cultivators, but Xu Lu did not let their stares bother her.

She had received similar levels of attention during her life as Mary from both the vampires and humans who adored and feared the power of a Sun-Born.

Suddenly a loud noise interrupted Xu Lu\'s train of thought. She turned in the direction of the sound and saw the sect leader calmly step out of thin air.

She floated above the temple and her overwhelming aura forced the cultivators on the ground to their knees.

The sect leader\'s beauty was like that of an untouched rose surrounded by terrible thorns. 

Her calm gaze was like a tranquil pool of water and yet there was a hint of melancholy in her eyes.

She wore a luxurious dark purple robe with intricate patterns made from silver that had been woven carefully into the fabric.

She was like a goddess looking down on her flock of adoring worshippers. The pressure was so intense that Xu Lu could feel the joints in her knees scream out in protest.

Still… she kept standing.

This was the first test.

Xu Lu gritted her teeth in pain as the pressure intensified. Cracks appeared on the ground beneath her feet and the temple\'s walls violently trembled.

Then just as quickly as it appeared… the pressure was gone.

Yang Xia reappeared on the ground and walked up to Xu Lu. 

She placed one hand on the top of the young woman\'s head and smeared a piece of blood across the mask on her face.

"Disciples… esteemed elders… and other members of the clan," Yang Xia calmly spoke as she continued to smear the blood across the silvery grey mask.

"Today is a momentous occasion. It is the day of the succession ceremony where the future destiny of our clan will be decided."

"Our clan has lasted for hundreds of thousands of years and withstood countless trials that would have destroy lesser cultivation sects."

"Today we are feared and hated across the continent and have many enemies who seek to destroy us."

"As we are gathered here today know that the successor is not a figurehead or a puppet of my will."

"They will shoulder the heavy duties that come with guiding our clan and the responsibility of deciding the fates of many lives."

"It is not an easy burden or position to bear. Being the successor is not for the faint of heart or those who are only interested in power for personal reasons."

Yang Xia stepped back from the young woman in front of her and the crowd was silent. 

Her words echoed through the forest and the seriousness and solemnity of the ceremony finally dawned on some of the disciples.

Quite a few who wanted to participate suddenly changed their mind after listening to the sect leader\'s speech.

But for others her words were nothing more than additional motivation for them to take the position and all the power that went along with it.

"Proceed up the stairs and touch the obelisk of judgement," Yang Xia spoke with a voice no louder than a whisper.

Xu Lu nodded her head and then walked up the stone steps. Every step that she took added an invisible weight on her body.

As she walked Xu Lu\'s posture began more crocked and bent as she struggled to move without collapsing.

The demonic qi inside her body circulated wildly and she could feel a steady warm heat flowing through her meridians.

The pressure suddenly eased, and Xu Lu was able to make it up the flight of stairs. 

At the top of the stairs and right in front of the entrance to the temple was a massive red obelisk.

Somehow, she had not seen the tall structure when she was at the bottom of the steps but that did not make any sense.

How was it possible that she had not noticed this large pillar?

The obelisk rose upwards like a scarlet sentinel and was surrounded by an aura of ancient evil. Its form towered over the surrounding landscape and its surface was smooth and unyielding.

Delicate carvings around the bottom half of the obelisk depicted demonic figures screaming in pain as a pulsating light coming from the centre of the structure illuminated the carvings.

Xu Lu hesitantly stretched out her left palm and lightly touched the surface of the obelisk. There was a brief moment of silence as she waited in anticipation for what would happen next.

Screech!

One of the multiple doors leading inside the temple slowly opened and wave of whitish fog escaped from the opening.

Xu Lu could hear whispers coming from the group of floating elders since they were the only ones other than the sect leader who knew what had just happened.

"A qi tide cultivator? Hmm… I suppose if she is young then that\'s not a bad option…"

"How old is she? If she is over nine hundred years old, then is she talented enough to become the successor? I don\'t think so…"

"I\'m surprised the sect leader chose someone who is in the qi tide stage… I would have thought that she would at least be in the void stage."

"There are only two void stage cultivators in our sect… she doesn\'t really have many options…"

Xu Lu felt an invisible pull tug her towards the direction of the open door and her legs began to move automatically.

She tried to resist but it was like she was a puppet on a string dancing to the tune of an unknown master or force.

Xu Lu entered the opening and the door slammed shut behind her with a loud bang.