"Go on."
Livia Dong's face held a hint of malice as she looked at Jason Ji, yet her expression maintained a faint smile.
Jason's lips curved slightly. As Livia wished, he continued, "After the age of thirteen, why did your presence in Chang'an seem to disappear?"
"It's because, Princess, your reputation as 'Chang'an's Nightmare' had grown so fearsome that there was no need for you to engage in time-wasting theatrics anymore."
Livia's delicate brow arched. "And then?"
Jason's smile grew even brighter. "To be honest, I truly admire your methods! At fourteen, you consolidated all the underground forces of Chang'an through ruthless means, eliminating any dissidents among the cultivators without mercy. That day was known as the Day of No Heaven, with rivers of blood and over a thousand dead."
Ding! Red Alert: Livia Dong's hostility towards the Host has reached 90!
Jason's face remained calm, ignoring the rising threat as he pressed on, "The former Grand General of the Divine Strategy Palace, Li Mubai, also met his end at your hands. Your goal was to install your sister, Lucia Dong, into power. In reality, you've already taken full control of the Divine Strategy Army."
"But what I admire most is how you eliminated the Murong Clan—your family's sworn enemy. Taking advantage of the grand wedding held for Murong Changfeng, when all the prominent figures were gathered, you poisoned the entire clan, wiping out three hundred and seven members in one stroke. They call it the Crimson Wedding."
Ding! Red Alert: Livia Dong's hostility towards the Host has reached 95. Host is advised to cease immediately or face dire consequences!
Jason ignored the system's warning, his voice growing louder. "After the Crimson Wedding, you absorbed the Murong Clan's forces and established your own intelligence agency in Suzhou. If I'm not mistaken, you call it the Sixth Bureau. With this organization, every major event in the world is likely within your grasp. Am I right?"
At this point, Livia's faint smile vanished entirely, her gaze as frigid as the storms atop a snowy mountain. A radiant aura emanated from her; a light so beautiful yet filled with lethal power that cast a chilling shadow over Jason.
"How do you know things even the Heavenly Secret Pavilion couldn't uncover?" Her tone was icy, her aura glistening around her fingers as she lifted her hand toward Jason's chest.
Jason knew she was moments away from striking. He took a deep breath, willing himself to remain calm as he stepped closer, meeting her eyes without flinching. "If I told you I saw these things in a dream, would you believe me?"
Livia let out a cold laugh, her hand pressed against his chest, radiant energy dancing between her fingers. "I might believe you, but that doesn't mean you'll walk out of here alive. Did you think I wouldn't dare kill you in my own peach grove?"
Jason gently placed his hand over hers, his calm demeanor surprising her. Their hands overlapped, and both felt the warmth of the other's touch. Livia could feel his heartbeat, knowing a mere shift in her grip could end his life.
"Are you courting death?" Her voice was mocking, incredulous at his audacity.
"You won't kill me," Jason replied firmly, gazing into her eyes.
"And why not? Is it because of that pretty face of yours?" Her expression remained frosty, her killing intent unabated.
Jason smiled. "You consolidated the underground forces of Chang'an, took control of the Divine Strategy Army, eradicated the Murong Clan, and established the Sixth Bureau—all of it for the single purpose of overthrowing the Sacred Tang Empire's imperial power."
Livia's laughter was harsh and mocking. "Do you not realize that the more you know, the less likely I am to let you live?"
She was a woman of ruthlessness, unafraid to admit her ambition to someone she believed she could silence forever.
"Your strength is more than enough to bring down the empire, yet you haven't acted. Why? If my guess is correct, it's not the imperial family that deters you, but the Protectorate Sect guarding them, right? Within the Sect, there's a power you can't yet overcome."
Jason's tone was casual, his mind racing through the scenes from the original novel. In the story, a Saint-level master within the Protectorate Sect was indeed a barrier Livia couldn't breach at this point. This knowledge, paired with her current frustration over the delay, gave Jason the confidence to make his next move.
"So," Livia sneered, "you think you can help me destroy the Protectorate Sect?"
Her smile was laced with contempt. Jason may have the potential to grow, but to claim he could dismantle the Sect was a fantasy.
Jason took a deep breath and replied with conviction, "Give me a year. If we join forces, I promise that within a year, the Protectorate Sect will be ashes."
According to the original story, Livia could take down the Protectorate Sect within three years on her own. But crucially, she didn't know that. This was Jason's advantage—the information gap. He intended to capitalize on this difference in knowledge, offering her a feasible timeframe that would also give him the opportunity to grow strong enough to match her.
He watched her closely, gauging her reaction. She seemed genuinely contemplative, though doubt still lingered in her eyes. While she acknowledged Jason's potential, she questioned the sincerity and motives behind his one-year promise.
"Just one final step," Jason thought, knowing he'd laid out all his cards. Now, he only needed one decisive act to gain her trust.
"The truth is," he said, "my goal has never been the Protectorate Sect. Just as the Princess has no desire to rule as Empress of the Sacred Tang Empire."
Livia's brow arched; her curiosity piqued. "Oh? And what exactly do you think I desire, then?"
Jason sighed, meeting her gaze, his tone soft yet firm. "You're not interested in the throne. What you truly want is to claim the empire's military might, to wage war against the Empire of Immortal Qin and spill the blood of its First Emperor—just as he once spilled your mother's blood."
Livia's eyes held a glint of surprise and a flash of vulnerability. For the first time, her cold, otherworldly beauty softened into something raw and unreadable. Shadow would have been stunned; this was a side of Livia Dong never seen before.
After a long silence, Livia's gaze grew distant as she whispered, "It seems you really did see me in a dream."
She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her composure had returned. Jason, observing her carefully, remained silent, waiting.
Finally, she spoke, her tone icy, "Tell me your true purpose."
Jason took a deep breath, his voice steady. "My aim is simple: I seek to unseal the power within the Immortal Slayer Sword. Yet, to do that, I need the Princess's aid."
This was the truth. The Immortal Slayer Sword's true potential was locked away, a power that no one, not even Jason, fully understood. Unsealing its mysteries would unlock sword techniques of unimaginable strength, the first of which—Sovereign Over All—was already formidable. Unlocking the remaining five techniques was Jason's goal.
Livia narrowed her eyes, questioning, "Then why not turn to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion?"
Jason had anticipated this question and answered smoothly, "Because, like the Princess, I have no desire to make my ambitions public."
Livia nodded, her expression contemplative. His reasoning resonated with her; the fewer who knew of the Immortal Slayer Sword's sealed power, the better.
"So, shall we proceed with this partnership?" Jason asked, meeting her gaze earnestly.
Livia considered for what felt like an eternity, each passing second weighing heavily on Jason. Finally, she nodded. "This arrangement is acceptable."
Relieved, Jason felt the tension in his chest ease. He knew Livia Dong was a near-unbeatable force, her strength and prowess both a mystery and a terror. Yet, securing her as an ally marked a significant step forward. With her support, his actions within the Sacred Tang Empire would become exponentially easier.
"One last question." Livia withdrew her hand from Jason's chest, her gaze unwavering as she asked, "Did you truly see me in a dream and thus know everything I've done? Even my innermost thoughts?"
Jason hesitated, then answered with a mysterious smile, "Believe it or not, even I was skeptical at first. But now, having met you, I'm certain fate brought us together. You and I… we are destined to stand side by side."
Livia's lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile. "Destiny, huh? Let me tell you, fate is nothing but a convenient excuse—something that only shows up when it suits you."
Jason merely gave a noncommittal smile.
After a long pause, she extended her hand to him. "To a successful partnership."
Jason clasped her cool hand with a gentle smile. "To our alliance."
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