The Blindfolded Emperor: I Only Wanted a Quiet Life

Chapter 4 The Crimson Queen

Jasper had spent enough time beneath the flashing lights of his past life to learn a few hard truths. The higher you climb, the harder you fall. 

Every high has its bitter low. Luck, in his experience, never stayed for long. It was like a predator that fattened its prey before moving in for the kill.

His gaze remained fixed on the translucent blue screen hovering before him. The final ability of the black blindfold waited silently at the bottom of the list. 

Even after seeing Void Perception and Silent Cultivation, Jasper wasn't foolish enough to believe such overwhelming power came without a price. Those two abilities alone were already enough to change a person's fate.

Still… in a world where the weak existed only to be stepped on, taking risks wasn't a choice. It was survival.

Jasper had never believed in the romantic stories people told about strength. Whether it was Earth or this cultivation world, the rules never really changed. 

The strong ruled. The weak suffered. People hid their ambitions behind smiles, justice, and noble ideals, but when everything was stripped away, power was the only thing that truly mattered. 

Even the righteous heroes from the novels he once admired eventually forced the world to bend to their will. The only difference was that history was always written by those who survived.

Every gift came with a price. The only question was… how much?

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. My luck can't be that terrible. Let's see what the catch is.

He focused on the final entry.

[Active — Final Witness]

The Eye was never meant to remain within the mortal world. 

It was lost once. It will be lost again. 

The wearer is granted exactly three invocations of its absolute authority. 

Upon the completion of the third use… 

The Eye of the Void will dissolve into nothingness, returning to the primordial expanse that even time cannot contain.

Jasper read the description twice before finally letting out a slow breath. Three uses… That's all? He had expected something completely different—perhaps a long cooldown, a heavy drain on his life force, or even a crippling backlash after every activation. 

Those were drawbacks he could work around. This… this was absolute. Three uses and no more. After that, the Eye of the Void would disappear forever.

His thoughts drifted back to the item's description. A relic born from the Chaos of the Void… He searched through his memories of Path of the Heavenly Sword Emperor, trying to remember anything about the Void. Nothing, well… almost nothing. The author had mentioned Void-born beings only a handful of times throughout thousands of chapters, usually hidden inside ancient legends or forgotten records. They had never been properly explained.

Jasper slowly closed his eyes. His consciousness sank inward. After merging with this body, his Mind Sea had quietly awakened, allowing him to organize the original Jasper's memories. The cultivation system of this world wasn't as simple as most novels suggested. Instead of climbing one realm after another, the path to immortality was divided into twelve realms spread across five great phases. Some breakthroughs were only small steps, while others felt like crossing the heavens themselves. The final realm of every phase marked a complete transformation. 

THE TWELVE REALMS OF IMMORTALITY 

| Phase 1 – Mortal Phase | Realms 1, 2 and 3 |

| Phase 2 – Master Phase | Realms 4, 5 and 6 |

| Phase 3 – Spiritual Master Phase | Realms 7 and 8 |

| Phase 4 – Sovereign Phase | Realms 9 and 10 |

| Phase 5 – Eternal Phase | Realms 11 and 12 (Immortal) |

He rubbed his temples as the information settled. 

Twelve realms. 

Twelve impossible steps. 

He had only been in this world for a few hours, yet he already felt as though an enormous mountain had been dropped in front of him. And all he had to help him climb it… were three chances.

"I just hope this system has more rewards waiting for me," he muttered.

With a thought, the interface shifted once again. A new panel appeared before him.

[Blind Sovereign System]

[Host: Jasper Stoneheart] 

[Phase: Mortal Phase] 

[Realm: None] 

[Mind Sea Realm: None]

[Attributes] 

Strength: 2 

Speed: 2 

Stamina: 2 

Agility: 2 

Intelligence: 2 

Techniques: None 

Jasper blinked. Then blinked again. "…Seriously?" Every single attribute was a two. He couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. The original Jasper had truly been hopeless. No wonder Deen River had treated him like a toy. With numbers like these, the poor guy probably couldn't beat an ordinary farmer in a fistfight.

Jasper sighed. The memories of the duel replayed in his mind. wait no cultivation, no martial technique and no physical strength. Yet he still accepted the challenge because Marlene Azure happened to be watching. 

He hadn't walked into that spar hoping to win. He had walked into it hoping to protect what little pride he had left. Unfortunately… he lost both the fight and his life.

You really were an idiot… Jasper shook his head.

Just as he was about to close the system, a series of firm knocks echoed from outside the door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Young Master." Chris's respectful voice came through the wooden door. "The Family Head requests your presence."

Jasper's expression stiffened. The Family Head… his father. According to the original Jasper's memories, the man had barely acknowledged his existence for years. 

He remembered the names of his gifted sons, their accomplishments, and their birthdays. But the third son… he was little more than an afterthought.

Jasper quietly pushed those thoughts aside. Now wasn't the time to dwell on resentment. For the moment, he had to continue playing the same role the original Jasper always had—quiet, obedient, and forgettable. Sometimes the safest place in a house full of wolves… was inside their blind spot.

He dismissed the system with a thought and walked over to the door. The iron bolt slid aside with a metallic scrape. Outside, Chris and Victor stood waiting with unusually serious expressions.

"The Family Head is waiting," Chris said softly.

Jasper simply nodded. "Lead the way."

The three of them walked through the estate in silence. Now that his mind had settled, Jasper finally had the chance to appreciate the true scale of the Stoneheart residence. 

It was enormous. Stone pathways wound through beautifully maintained gardens where strange flowers bloomed in colors he had never seen before. 

Ancient trees stretched high into the sky, their thick branches casting gentle shadows over crystal-clear ponds that reflected the surrounding pavilions like polished mirrors. 

Servants hurried along the walkways carrying trays, scrolls, and baskets of herbs. Every one of them stopped and bowed the moment Jasper passed.

The deeper they ventured into the estate, the grander everything became. Elegant pagodas rose above the rooftops. Golden ornaments decorated the edges of every tiled roof. 

Beautiful carvings of dragons and ancient beasts wrapped around towering wooden pillars. This wasn't the home of an ordinary noble family. It was the residence of a clan that had stood for generations.

Eventually, they arrived before the massive entrance to the main pavilion. Two armored guards stood motionless outside. The moment Chris and Victor stepped forward—

Clang.

Their crossed spears blocked the entrance. "Only the Third Young Master may enter."

Jasper glanced back at his attendants and gave them a small nod. "I'll be fine."

Without another word, he pushed open the heavy wooden doors and stepped inside. The study was far larger than he expected. Bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling, packed with ancient scrolls, leather-bound books, and countless jade slips. 

A massive desk carved from dark ironwood dominated the room, its surface covered with brushes, inkstones, official documents, and unfinished reports. 

Behind it hung an enormous painting of a lone mountain disappearing into endless mist. The scent of old paper mixed with burning sandalwood filled the quiet room.

Standing behind the desk… with his back facing the entrance… was the man known as the head of the Stoneheart Family.

His father.

---

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away—beyond the raging seas and towering mountain ranges that divided the world—an entirely different storm was beginning to gather.

At the heart of the Star Rise Dominion stood a palace so vast it seemed capable of holding an entire city within its walls. Deep inside that palace, in a throne room grand enough to swallow a mountain, a woman sat upon the imperial throne.

The atmosphere inside the hall was heavy with a quiet pressure that made even breathing feel difficult. Towering golden pillars stretched toward the domed ceiling, where magnificent murals depicted ancient wars, fallen kingdoms, and rivers stained red with blood. Crimson banners embroidered with the golden crest of the Dominion hung proudly between the pillars, swaying gently beneath the light of hundreds of floating lanterns.

A broad avenue of polished white marble led from the towering entrance all the way to the jade throne. Standing along both sides of the marble floor were dozens of ministers and court officials dressed in elegant blue and gold ceremonial robes. Although their heads remained respectfully lowered, quiet whispers still spread through the hall. No one dared raise their voice. Not in her presence.

The throne itself was a work of art, carved from a single block of flawless white jade streaked with veins of natural gold that shimmered beneath the lantern light. It wasn't simply a seat. It was a symbol—a reminder that only one person ruled this empire.

Yet even the throne was overshadowed by the woman sitting upon it. She possessed a beauty so breathtaking that it could make kingdoms wage war. Her crimson robes flowed over the white jade like liquid fire, while intricate golden embroidery shimmered with every small movement. The elegant design revealed long, flawless legs beneath the folds of red silk, making the contrast between pale skin and crimson cloth all the more striking.

Her long black hair was gathered into an elaborate arrangement, secured by golden phoenix pins decorated with deep crimson gemstones that caught the light with every slight turn of her head. Her features were flawless, cold, and untouchable. But it was her eyes that drew everyone's attention—dark, sharp, and merciless. One look from those eyes was enough to silence an entire hall.

An invisible pressure spread from the throne, pressing down on every official present. She was an emperor in everything but name, a ruler whose authority had never been questioned… until recently.

The elders of the court had slowly begun testing her patience. Not openly—never openly. Instead, they wrapped their intentions in polite words and respectful smiles.

"Your Majesty…" An elderly minister stepped forward and bowed deeply. "For the long-term stability of the Dominion, the imperial bloodline must continue."

Another official immediately followed. "The noble families have already begun making preparations. A suitable consort should be chosen as soon as possible."

A third bowed. "Only then can the people rest easy."

One after another, the ministers continued speaking. Every sentence sounded respectful. Every word sounded reasonable. Yet hidden beneath those carefully chosen phrases was the same demand: Choose a husband. Produce an heir. Share the throne.

Silence followed. Not a single official dared raise his head. Each of them waited.

The woman upon the throne remained perfectly still. Then… she smiled. It wasn't warm or gentle. It was the kind of smile that appeared moments before someone was sentenced to death. The temperature inside the hall seemed to drop. Several ministers instinctively lowered their heads even further.

Only then did she finally speak.

"So…" Her voice was calm, soft, and beautiful. Yet every syllable carried enough weight to make the hall tremble. "You've all gathered here today… to tell me how I should live my life?"

Silence. No one answered. No one dared.

The smile on her lips deepened ever so slightly. "Interesting."

She slowly rose from the jade throne. The sound of her heels echoed clearly across the vast hall. Step, Step, Step. Each footstep seemed to strike directly against the hearts of everyone present. The ministers remained kneeling. Not one of them had the courage to look up.

She descended the steps of the throne with slow, graceful movements until she stood before the first row of officials. Her gaze swept across them.

"I've ruled this Dominion alone. No one questioned me. I expanded our borders. No one objected. I crushed every kingdom that dared challenge us. None of you complained." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "But now… you suddenly believe I need someone standing beside me?"

The hall became deathly silent. Cold sweat trickled down several foreheads. The old minister who had spoken first lowered himself even further. "Your Majesty misunderstands. We only wish to ensure the future of the Dominion."

"The future?" She gave a quiet laugh. It was beautiful. It was also terrifying. "My future… doesn't require your permission."

The minister's body trembled. "I would never—"

Before he could finish, a terrifying pressure exploded throughout the throne room. Boom! The polished marble floor cracked beneath everyone's feet. Several weaker officials collapsed face-first onto the ground. Others struggled just to remain standing. The lantern flames flickered violently. The air itself felt unbearably heavy.

The Empress looked down at the trembling officials with complete indifference. "If any of you wish to choose my husband… then defeat me first."

Not another word was spoken. No one moved. No one even breathed too loudly. Because every person in that hall understood one simple truth: There wasn't a single cultivator within the Star Rise Dominion capable of doing such a thing.

A faint smile lingered on her lips as she turned back toward the jade throne. Her crimson robes flowed behind her like a river of blood. To the ministers, she wasn't simply their ruler. She was their greatest fear.

And across the endless sea… without realizing it… a certain blind young man had already begun walking toward the fate that would one day intertwine with hers.