Volume One, Chapter 50: Rest assured, I will grant you a thorough reckoning in due time!

After channeling some shadow energy into the Phoenix Formation, Lin Yao said to Xia Mengying, "Mengying, darling, toss some energy stones into the Phoenix Formation."

"This last Empress really seems to be undergoing a true rebirth, fully awakening this time," he added.

Xia Mengying rolled her eyes at Lin Yao, then took out a pouch of energy stones from the Beast Master Ring. It was a type of spatial device containing energy stones worth a hundred million.

Before throwing the pouch into the Phoenix Formation, she asked, "Are you sure nothing uncontrollable will happen?"

She was unsure of the last Empress's strength after revival and uncertain about her attitude toward the current Rose Family. If the Empress returned as an enemy rather than an ally, they would be in serious trouble.

Lin Yao sighed, "Mengying, darling, after a few days without closeness, you don’t even trust your husband anymore?"

Xia Mengying glared at him, thinking it best for Lin Yao to be serious at such a moment. Yet his carefree attitude suggested he must have a way to prevent accidents.

With that in mind, she opened the spatial pouch, letting a torrent of energy stones flow like a river into the Phoenix Formation.

At this moment, Xia Yumeng imitated Zhu Zhihan’s manner, wrapping her arms around Lin Yao’s left arm, grinning, "Husband, sister’s not listening. Let this little wife take the lead."

Zhu Zhihan followed suit, "Brother! Zhihan is the most obedient. Let me take the lead!"

Though she said this, she didn’t quite understand why there was a struggle to be the main wife.

Though Lin Yao was embraced on both sides, he was far from happy. Zhu Zhihan and Xia Yumeng’s teasing left him itching with desire, but he couldn’t act on them, especially Xia Yumeng, who was deliberately mischievous, grinding softly against his arm rather than holding it properly like Zhu Zhihan.

If not for his strong willpower, he’d have already been overwhelmed.

Soon, a crimson radiance suddenly enveloped the surroundings inside the Phoenix Formation. To Lin Yao’s astonishment, he found himself standing directly before the last Empress, who wore the ethereal Rainbow Feathered Robe and had just awakened.

Empress Xuan Yan, biting her red lips, said, "Serve me immediately!"

---

Lin Yao was still trying to make sense of the situation.

He vaguely understood that the sealed space was formed by the blazing Red Lotus Flame and, just as he had suspected, the last Empress had truly awakened.

However, her demands and condition struck him as very strange.

Empress Xuan Yan gave Lin Yao no time to ponder further and approached him.

As one of the ancient overlords, her aura was supremely elegant and majestic. Her flawless beauty and figure embodied all the virtues of Zhu Zhihan, Xia Mengying, and Xia Yumeng combined, all possessed by her alone.

Most notably, she wore only a sheer, delicate Rainbow Feathered Robe, revealing an enticing, misty allure.

Having set the stage in advance, Lin Yao could forcibly control Empress Xuan Yan with shadow energy, but this was not how he intended to use it.

Such a blessing was not something to refuse.

Yet he soon realized this was no blessing, but a costly pleasure.

Empress Xuan Yan said, "Years ago, I absorbed all the energy and memories of a woman, profoundly influenced by her."

Lin Yao couldn’t help but ask, "That Beast Master was called Song Xiyan, wasn’t she?"

The Empress paused briefly, then nodded, "Yes. She was betrayed by her comrades, and in a desperate escape, stumbled into the Phoenix Formation and was instantly disintegrated."

"Now, I am deeply affected by her memories and personality. I need you to help me purge the fiery rebirth within me."

"Rest assured, after this, I will reward you handsomely and not trouble you."

"Serve me quickly... I am... losing control."

Empress Xuan Yan tightened her long, fair legs. Influenced by Song Xiyan’s memories and temperament, she felt driven nearly mad by desire for a man.

She could not fathom how Song Xiyan could not live without a man.

Thousands of years ago, she had grown from an innocent girl to inherit the throne, utterly uninterested in men—even the teacher who cared for her like a father and harbored special feelings, whom she loathed deeply.

Never had she imagined that after countless rebirths, she would finally awaken, only to be so thoroughly tainted by Song Xiyan, whose memories and personality had become the base color of her blank slate.

At the very moment of awakening, she couldn’t help but grab the nearest man, wishing to indulge in passion, something she had never understood before but now knew every nuance thanks to Song Xiyan’s memories.

Unable to restrain herself, she moved her lips closer to Lin Yao’s waist.

Lin Yao, having read Song Xiyan’s diary, knew how wild and extraordinary Murong Tiansheng’s mother had been.

He never expected Song Xiyan’s death to impact the revived Empress Xuan Yan so profoundly.

Yet this was not entirely a bad thing.

Zhihan was still young and he couldn’t be too licentious with her.

Although Xia Yumeng had grown in some ways, she was still young and the same age as him, so he could afford some leniency.

As for Xia Mengying, the mature little lady, he could handle her later.

But now, with this supreme older sister embodying the best qualities of all three women at his side, there was no need to trouble Xia Mengying.

Moreover, Xia Mengying and Xia Yumeng would eventually return to their family.

After savoring this taste, when they were gone, he would truly have his hands full.

Empress Xuan Yan had arrived at the perfect time, and in some ways, the late Miss Song Xiyan had done him a great favor.

Otherwise, even with shadow energy control, attempting anything with Empress Xuan Yan would carry immense risks.

"Hiss—"

Lin Yao couldn’t think further and gasped sharply, for in that brief moment, Empress Xuan Yan, using Song Xiyan’s techniques, made him understand the meaning of the Peach Blossom Shadow Sword and the Jade Flute of the Azure Tide.