Villains Aren't Stepping Stones!

The swirling, disorienting sensation of spatial transport faded, and Shen Xinye landed on her feet with a heavy, dramatic *thud*.

She immediately dropped into a sharp, defensive stance, her eyes blazing, her fingers twitching with lethal grace. "Show yourself, you old pervert! I am ready for whatever degenerate trap you’ve laid out this time!"

However, as her vision cleared, her fierce combat posture slowly collapsed, her jaw dropped, her arms limply falling to her sides.

Instead of another silk-draped bedchamber or a room full of pink singing puppets, she stood in the center of an awe-inspiring, ancient subterranean colosseum.

Towering obsidian pillars reached up into the darkness, and the stone walls were carved with grand, glowing runes of ancient arrays.

In the center of the massive arena sat a colossal, towering throne made of polished dark jade.

And sitting upon that throne—or rather, suspended above it—were three colossal, terrifying projections of high-level ancient spirit beasts: a Nine-Headed Shadow Hydra, an Armored Nether Bear, and a Celestial Flame-Winged Eagle.

Each beast radiated the terrifying, suffocating aura of a Peak Nascent Soul powerhouse, their glowing eyes locked entirely onto her small, fragile figure.

[HELLOO AGAIN, MY DEAR PRUDE!]

The booming, overly cheerful voice of the Shameless Binding Emperor exploded inside her skull, complete with the mental sound effect of a cheering crowd and fanfare trumpets.

[Welcome to the Third Trial of my inheritancr: THE ARENA OF GRAND SUBMISSION! 🎉!]

Shen Xinye’s cheek twitched violently as she rubbed her temples, a deep, heavy sigh escaping her lips. "Let me guess... another bondage joke?"

[Joke?! How dare you! This is the core of my entire Dao!] the Emperor declared, his voice suddenly shifting from playful to surprisingly grand and authoritative. [Listen closely, child! You have spent your entire life holding back. You worry about being inadequate. You worry about dragging down that handsome young master of yours. You walk in his shadow, terrified of that your strength isn’t enough, afraid of being judged, constantly tying your own soul in knots of self-doubt!]

Shen Xinye froze. The cold, sarcastic retort died in her throat, her heart skipped a beat as his words pierced through her defenses, hitting the exact, painful raw nerve she had tried so hard to hide beneath her polite smiles.

"You think my Dao is just about ropes and silk?" the Emperor continued, his tone carrying a strange, ancient wisdom beneath its shameless exterior. "True Restraint is not about tying up your body; it is about SUBJUGATING the world around you! It is about looking at the chaos of the heavens, looking at terrifying beasts and arrogant enemies, and declaring: ’YOU WILL SIT, YOU WILL STAY, AND YOU WILL OBEY ME!’ Today, you will break your own mental chains by chaining everything else!"

*Ding!*

A golden scroll materialized in the air before her, unrolling to reveal the official trial objectives.

[THIRD TRIAL: THE CRUCIBLE OF DOMINANCE]

[OBJECTIVE: Defeat and completely subjugate the three Peak Nascent Soul Manifestations.]

[RESTRICTION: Swords, spells, and offensive qi attacks are BANNED. You may ONLY use the Divine Restraint Rope and the Seven Heavenly Knot Formations.]

[SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Each beast must be bound in a specific, highly humiliating posture and forced to bow its head to you until its inner spirit yields. And you must scream the technique’s name for it to be effective]

Shen Xinye stared at the scroll, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Wait... WHAT?! I have to tie up three Peak Nascent Soul beasts using ONLY ropes?! Without using any offensive skills?! Are you out of your mind!?"

*ROAAAAAR!*

Before she could even finish her sentence, the colossal Armored Nether Bear let out an earth-shattering roar that shook the entire colosseum.

Its massive, razor-sharp claws slammed against the stone floor, and it charged straight toward her like a runaway mountain of black fur and heavy armor, opening its jaws to crush her in a single bite!

"NO, NO, NO! STAY AWAY!" Shen Xinye shrieked, her survival instincts kicking in.

She turned on her heel and sprinted across the arena floor at maximum speed, her robes fluttering frantically behind her as the gigantic bear thundered right on her heels.

[Tsk, tsk, tsk! Running again?] the Emperor’s voice taunted playfully in her head. [Where is that pride of the Shen Clan?! Where is the fierce maiden who swore to kick my balls?! Stop running from your own power, girl! Use the rope! ASSERT YOUR DOMINANCE!]

"EASY FOR YOU TO SAY, YOU AREN’T THE ONE GETTING CHASED!" Shen Xinye screamed back, ducking under a massive, stone-shattering claw swipe that missed her nose by a fraction of an inch.

The wind pressure blew her golden hair wild.

She tumbled across the stone floor, coming to a sudden stop right at the base of the central obsidian pillar.

Looking back, she saw the bear rearing up on its hind legs, preparing to bring both of its colossal fists down to crush her into paste.

[You coward. If you simply keep turning around, how dare you dream of even standing beside that outstanding man?] The emperor’s voice echoed. [You are afraid, you feel unworthy, you feel as if you doesn’t deserve it...but, can’t you at least try?]

’...try?’

In that split second of life-or-death pressure, something inside Shen Xinye snapped.

’...am I... going to keep on running?’

She remembered the way she had felt standing beside Shen Haoran in the desert—feeling like a fragile ornament, dependent entirely on his protection, terrified that she would fail him during the broadcast.

When had she become this meek and timid? Back then, she was proud and powerful.

She can express herself, even facing against Shen Fei who was the former First Crown, she can stare at him in the eyes and say that she was better.

So, just when did she became like this?

At that moment, the image of Shen Haoran, smiling, pointing at her with a finger gun, and firing sword intent bullets flashed into her mind.

Yes...it was back then.

During the Heaven’s Choice tournament, when Shen Haoran had so easily copied and used the technique she had spent years to master.

Years ago, when she first developed sword intent bullets, she was actually incredibly proud.

It was a unique technique that earned the praises of even the Seven Enshrined Elders.

It was her pride, the reason for her arrogance.

Yet during that tournament, she was made to face reality.

In front of that man, the talent that she was so proud of, was as worthless as a piece of wet paper.

Whatever she can do, he can do better.

Worse, when she found out that her ex-husband, whom she pitied and treated as an ordinary mortal, turned out to be a powerful individual, and is also a spy, she felt like she was slapped in the face.

While she was caring for him, was he secretly laughing behind her back?

While she was worried for him, was he secretly insulting her behind her back?

If he was a spy, why did he decide to use her as a cover? Did he think she was worthless and was easy to fool?

Worse, as she watched Shen Haoran being surrounded by many incredible women, she felt inadequate.

Was she even worthy to stand by his hand? It feels like compared to the others, she was not that special.

Far from special, she was a widow. Why would someone as outstanding as Shen Haoran need a widow beside him?

But...

But even so...

[Look at me! Look at what I built! Do you think I ascended to immortality by cowering in fear of what the world thought of me? Do you think the heavens favored me because I hesitated?! No! Abandon your fears! Stop looking at the ground beneath your feet and look forward!]

[A true cultivator does not beg for a place beside the strong—she carves it out with her own hands! Face the trial ahead with your head held high! The world, the beasts, the arrogant geniuses—let them all see the absolute, undeniable majesty of who you truly are! Take a step forward, hold nothing back, and try with everything you have!]

’...yes. No more,’ she thought, a sudden, blinding heat igniting deep within her dantian. ’The young master gave me this trial. He trusted me to stand on my own two feet. I am NOT weak! I am NOT a burden!’

"If this perverted old bastard could conquer the heavens with a piece of string..." Shen Xinye’s eyes suddenly blazed with an absolute, terrifying crimson light as she stood up straight, "...THEN SO CAN I!"

[NICE! AN EPIC COMEBACK!]

At that moment, as if responding to her will, a red rope suddenly materialized from her hands.

Then, instead of retreating, she took a bold, heavy step forward, her qi exploded from her body, no longer restricted or held back by her insecurities, but surging like a unleashed tidal wave.

She took a deep breath, remembering that she had to scream the name for it to be effective.

"...DIVINE RESTRAINT TECHNIQUE: FIRST FORM!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the colosseum with unyielding authority. "BOUNDLESS HANGING SUSPENSION!"

[Such voice! Very flirtatious, very—]

"Shut up!"

With a flick of her slender wrist, the ruby rope shot out like an absolute dragon of light.

Moving at a speed that defied the laws of physics, the rope split into dozens of glowing red threads that wrapped around the colossal Nether Bear’s massive limbs, its neck, and its heavy claws.

*SWISH-SWISH-SWISH!*

Before the bear could even process what was happening, Shen Xinye yanked her hands back, channeling her qi into the knots.

*SNAP!*

The massive, mountain-like beast was instantly yanked off the ground.

In less than three seconds, the giant Armored Nether Bear was hoisted thirty feet into the air, suspended beneath the ceiling in a perfectly executed, ridiculously complex, and utterly humiliating Suspension Bind!

Its massive paws were tied behind its back, its tail tied in a neat little ribbon bow, leaving the apex predator hanging completely helpless like an oversized holiday roast!

The giant bear let out a confused, pathetic "Muuu...?" sound, its red eyes blinking in absolute, traumatized shock.

[OOHHHHHHH! HOLY SHIT!] the Emperor screamed in her head, virtual fireworks exploding in her mind. [A WORK OF ART! LOOK AT THAT TENSION! LOOK AT THAT RIBBON ON THE TAIL! 10/10! PERFECT EXECUTION!]

Shen Xinye didn’t even care about the perverted commentary anymore.

She stood in the center of the arena, panting slightly, staring up at the suspended, helpless behemoth.

A strange, unprecedented feeling of absolute euphoria and overwhelming power rushed through her veins.

She had just completely neutralized a Peak Nascent Soul beast using nothing but a rope and her own refined qi control!

So this is the dao of restrai—no, the Dao of Invincibility!

*ROAAAAR!*

Just then, the Nine-Headed Shadow Hydra and the Celestial Flame-Winged Eagle, seeing their comrade humiliated, flew into a collective rage and lunged at her simultaneously from two directions!

Fire and shadow rained down from above, threatening to incinerate the entire floor!

"YOU’RE NEXT!" Shen Xinye bellowed, her timid demeanor completely vanishing, replaced by the wild, terrifying aura of a true queen of battle.

She threw her head back and let out a manic, triumphant laugh that echoed off the ancient stone walls.

Her hands became a blur of absolute speed as she unleashed the full, unbridled force of her spatial talents.

"SECOND FORM: DOUBLE-TURTLE LOTUS HARNESS!"

*SWISH!*

The long, terrifying Nine-Headed Hydra was instantly tangled in its own nine necks! Shen Xinye’s ropes bound all nine heads together into a massive, tangled ball of snouts, forcing the legendary beast to tie itself into a literal giant pretzel before slamming hard onto the floor!

"THIRD FORM: SUSPENDED BUTTERFLY BIND!"

*SNAP!*

The giant Flame-Winged Eagle’s wings were pinned back, its divine feathers tied up in a neat, decorative silk mesh that forced the majestic bird of prey to land on its stomach, sliding across the stone floor like a helpless, plucked chicken right to her feet!

Within less than five minutes, all three apex predators of the trial zone—beasts that could have leveled an entire city—were lying or hanging around her in various state of intricate, highly humiliating bondage bindings.

They whimpered softly, their ferocious aura completely broken, staring at the small maiden with eyes full of absolute, terrified submission.

*Ding!*

A blinding golden light erupted from the central jade throne.

The three beasts dissolved into streams of pure, ancient spiritual energy that flowed directly into Shen Xinye’s body, washing away her fatigue, expanding her meridians, and elevating her cultivation foundation to an entirely new, transcendent realm.

The glowing scroll floated before her one last time.

[TRIAL COMPLETE! RATING: ABSOLUTE DOMINANCE.]

[SUCCESSOR APPROVED: SHEN XINYE.]

[YOU MAY PROCEED TO INHERIT THE LEGACY]

Shen Xinye stood tall in the quiet arena, her white robes fluttering, her eyes shining with a fierce, unwavering confidence that had never been there before.

The doubts, the insecurities, and the fear of standing beside Shen Haoran had been thoroughly crushed under the weight of her own absolute strength.

She realized that she didn’t need to hide behind anyone; she possessed the power to subjugate the world herself.

[Bravo, my dear successor! Bravo!] the Emperor’s voice echoed softly, carrying a rare, genuine warmth and pride. [You have broken your own chains. You are no longer a follower; you are a master of restraint. Now go, show that young master of yours what a true woman of the Dao looks like!]

Shen Xinye looked at the glowing ruby rope in her hands, then looked up at the stone portal opening toward the final chamber.

A slow, supremely confident, and slightly dangerous smile curled her lips.

"You darn pervert. Don’t tell me everyone will undergo the same trial as this?" She asked, utterly mortified.

[Nope. Aside from the first test, the rest of the tests are different for every individual]

She sighed in relief. At least no one would know how humiliating her trials were aside from her...and possibly the young master.

"...Thank you, old pervert," she murmured softly, adjusting her robes with an air of absolute authority. "Though... I am still burning every single book about you the moment I get back."

With a soft chuckle, she turned around, her posture proud and majestic, and strode boldly through the gateway to rejoin her young master.

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