Becoming the Demon Lord: Taming the Demon Queen Begins

"What's with that look?"

Vivian, who had always been treated with the utmost respect, had never been on the receiving end of such a gaze. The moment Timothy's eyes locked onto her, she felt an unexpected chill run down her spine.

He hadn't made any overt moves, yet his stare carried a cold, cutting edge that sent a shiver through her.

"How is that even possible?"

Vivian froze for a moment, completely caught off guard by the oppressive aura she was feeling.

She had heard rumors about Timothy's terrifying strength and talent, but surely he hadn't reached the level of a Holy Emperor yet. He couldn't possibly compare to Holy Emperor Luminis, right?

For the first time, the usually arrogant Vivian felt a flicker of fear creeping into her heart. But she quickly shook her head, dismissing the unease.

After all, as the potential future wife of Holy Emperor Luminis, she had been showered with respect and privilege her entire life. No one had ever dared to look at her with such cold disdain.

Besides, what did it matter how strong Timothy was? Could he possibly surpass Luminis, who had already ascended to the rank of Holy Emperor?

With that thought, the brief moment of fear vanished completely. Instead, her hostility toward Timothy only grew stronger.

Vivian sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, my meaning is quite simple.

Luminis is planning to personally visit Sky Sanctuary today, and I thought I'd get here ahead of him to spread the word. But I never expected to witness such a ridiculous scene.

There are rumors going around that the disciples of Sky Sanctuary are not only exceptionally talented but also have a unique approach to cultivation.

And yet, your so-called cultivation method is... running laps!

Ha! Even third-rate sects rarely bother with such a useless form of training. Physical conditioning? Seriously? That's the most pointless method of cultivation I've ever seen.

I can't believe the prestigious Sky Sanctuary, under the guidance of a goddess no less, would resort to something so laughable.

If word of this gets out, you'll be the laughingstock of the entire realm. Hahaha!"

Vivian's laughter was laced with mockery, her disdain clear as day. When she mentioned Holy Emperor Luminis, she deliberately referred to him as just "Luminis," as if to emphasize the closeness of their relationship, hoping to remind Timothy of his place.

The unspoken message was obvious: I'm practically the future wife of the Holy Emperor. Do you really think you can touch me?

"Ridiculous?

Heh, and what makes you so sure that this kind of training is useless for cultivation?

More importantly, do you really think you're qualified to judge the disciples of Sky Sanctuary?"

Timothy's voice was cold and unyielding, cutting through the air without mercy.

From the whispers of the disciples earlier, he had already pieced together the identity of this short-haired woman who had suddenly appeared.

The potential future wife of Holy Emperor Luminis?

Please. Forget about Luminis, who could barely get it up on a good day. Vivian had no idea who she was dealing with. Standing before her was the actual boyfriend of Goddess Sylvia herself... and a part-time Holy Emperor, no less.

"What? You dare say I'm not qualified?"

Vivian's face twisted in anger. For years, her status had ensured that no one dared show her the slightest disrespect, no matter where she went.

But Timothy's sharp words and dismissive tone made it clear that he didn't care about her at all.

"That's right. You're just a potential wife of a Holy Emperor. And your confidence... is it really based on Luminis, whose body is weaker than most eight-year-olds?" Timothy stepped forward, his mocking smile returning the insult in full.

"You—what did you just say?!"

Vivian was livid. "With my engagement to Holy Emperor Luminis, by all rights, I should be considered your senior. Are you really planning to defy the authority of Holy Emperor Luminis?"

At this point, Vivian was completely enraged. Never in her life had she been challenged like this, no matter what she did.

"Oh? So, if you're so keen on talking about status, does that mean a real partner of a Holy Emperor-level figure has the right to hit you?"

Even after Vivian invoked Holy Emperor Luminis as her backing, Timothy showed no fear. In fact, his gaze only grew colder, more indifferent.

"Senior Timothy, this woman has a special status and a close relationship with Holy Emperor Luminis. Please, for the sake of peace, don't stoop to her level," one of the nearby disciples whispered, trying to de-escalate the situation.

"You dare speak to me like that!" Vivian was now completely enraged, her eyes locked onto Timothy, burning with fury.

"Hmph, maybe if you were someone of equal standing, you'd have the right to argue with me. But do you really think you're worthy?

I've heard rumors that the Goddess seems to favor you, but Goddess Sylvia is a proud and distant figure. At best, she probably just sees some potential in you, nothing more.

Do you seriously think the Goddess would be interested in you, someone on the same level as me?

Hah, what a joke! You're delusional! Experience tales at empire

How dare you defy me? Today, I'll—"

Slap!

Before Vivian could finish her sentence, a sharp, resounding slap echoed through the air.

The sound was so loud that every disciple present heard it clearly.

A bright red handprint appeared on Vivian's once-arrogant face, the sting of the slap spreading quickly. Her eyes widened in shock.

She stared at Timothy, her gaze filled with a mix of rage and disbelief.

Vivian could hardly process what had just happened. She had been hit.

And not just by anyone—she had been slapped after invoking the name of Holy Emperor Luminis, a name that had always shielded her from any disrespect. Yet Timothy had completely ignored it, treating her as if she were nothing.

For years, even though Luminis had shown little affection for her, Vivian had used her status as his potential future wife to act with arrogance and impunity. She had never considered anyone else worth her time.

But now, here she was, slapped in front of everyone.

Her pride, her dignity—everything had been shattered in an instant.

Rage consumed her, pushing her to the brink of madness. "Do you even know who I am? I'm engaged to Holy Emperor Luminis, and I—"

Slap!

Before she could finish, another slap—this one even harder—landed squarely on her face.

The force of the blow was overwhelming. Vivian had no chance to resist. Her body was flung sideways, spinning twice in the air before crashing to the ground with a heavy thud.

Dust flew up as she hit the ground, her body aching as if her bones were about to break.

But the worst pain came from her face, which burned with a fiery, stinging sensation. The searing pain was so intense that she wanted to scream, to roll on the ground in agony.

"It hurts so much! You actually dared to hit me!" Vivian's eyes were filled with a mix of terror and fury.

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the distance.

Holy Emperor Luminis was approaching.