Outside the Haotian Mirror, everyone was speechless with shock as they saw the horrifying scene through Xiao Fan's eyes.
The Haotian Mirror's images were projected across all worlds, meaning everyone could see the current scene within the mirror.
Mountains of corpses and seas of blood, human lives treated like worthless grass.
Cultivators, once revered by mortals as untouchable, holy beings akin to immortals, were now revealed to regard mortals as mere livestock.
Slaughtered at will, like ants.
And it wasn't just one Qingyun Sect—who knew how many other "Qingyun Sects" there were?
The Qingyun Sect had been wiped out by the Netherworld Demon Emperor a thousand years ago, yet the mysterious disappearances of children had never ceased.
Some parents who had lost children connected the dots upon seeing the scenes in the Haotian Mirror. Their children had likely suffered the same fate, becoming part of this gruesome display.
"My son! My poor son!"
"Woo~ My child, my innocent child!"
"What cultivators! You are devils, demons!"
For the first time, mortals across the world began to openly denounce cultivators. The rift between mortals and cultivators widened to an irreparable chasm.
Mortals had no way of knowing the whole truth about the cultivation world. They only knew that all cultivators condemned the Netherworld Demon Emperor as a scourge upon the world.
But if the Demon Emperor had destroyed sects as evil as Qingyun Sect, how was he wrong?
Mortals demanded answers, their voices rising in anger and indignation.
Countless mortals stormed temples and shrines, smashing altars and idols.
These idols, representing the cultivators, were actually a method for cultivators to absorb incense and accumulate merit. The destruction of these temples not only reduced the cultivators' power but also caused severe backlash due to the surge of resentment, leaving them gravely injured.
It was no exaggeration to say that Qingyun Sect's actions had single-handedly destroyed the esteem and reverence that countless predecessors had painstakingly built in the hearts of mortals.
From now on, the exalted image of cultivators would never be the same in the eyes of the common people.
Outside the Imperial City of Primordial Origin, all cultivators glared coldly at the elder from Qingyun Sect. He was the son of the sect's former leader—surely he must have known about these heinous acts?
Many of the cultivators present had suffered significant losses in power due to the backlash from this incident. Their hatred for Qingyun Sect was now bone-deep.
"Impossible! This can't be real! It's all lies!" The elder's face was twisted with disbelief as he watched the scenes in the Haotian Mirror.
He couldn't believe Qingyun Sect had committed such abominable acts.
"Impudent!" A stern voice exploded in his ear.
Spurt!
The elder spat a mouthful of blood and collapsed, barely conscious.
In the void above, the Empress of Jade Pool looked down at him with icy eyes.
His words had questioned the authenticity of the Haotian Mirror and, by extension, her authority!
As the ruler of the Heavenly Court, the mortal world's worshipped Heavenly Emperor was her incarnation. The destruction of temples and the surge of mortal resentment had affected even her.
The Heavenly Court's ancient duty was to protect all living beings and maintain order.
Given the Qingyun Sect's atrocities, the Heavenly Court's standing had been severely undermined, and Qingyun Sect deserved death.
Even if the Netherworld Demon Emperor hadn't annihilated Qingyun Sect, she would not have spared them.
However, the occurrence of such atrocities pointed to a lapse in the Heavenly Court's oversight. A thorough purge was overdue.
The Empress of Jade Pool used the power of the Haotian Mirror to reveal her true form to all living beings across the worlds.
"I am the Empress of Jade Pool, ruler of the Heavenly Court!"
"The heinous acts of Qingyun Sect are a failure of the Heavenly Court's vigilance."
"I promise to cleanse all darkness from the world and restore a clear sky for all!"
With that, the Empress of Jade Pool activated the divine power of the Haotian Mirror, scanning the heavens and earth.
Under the Haotian Mirror's scrutiny, all darkness would have nowhere to hide.
Outside the Imperial City of Primordial Origin, the elder from Qingyun Sect suddenly clutched his head, howling in pain.
It felt like his soul was being torn apart.
He truly had no knowledge of Qingyun Sect's atrocities. As the sect leader's son, he held an exalted position, far removed from such sordid affairs.
However, his hands were not entirely clean.
The elder remembered the Soul-Nurturing Pills he had consumed to refine his soul. These pills required pure soul essence, which was extremely rare.
But in Qingyun Sect, he had an endless supply.
Could it be...?
The elder grasped a horrifying truth.
Children's pure souls could substitute for pure soul essence in these pills.
"So that's it..."
In that moment, the elder's faith collapsed entirely.
His life ended as his soul shattered into countless fragments, dispersing in the air.
These fragments were the souls of innocent children. Under the Haotian Mirror's purification, they were given a chance to reincarnate.
Many innocent souls were saved and purified by the Haotian Mirror. Some children's souls returned to their parents.
"Father, Mother, the Empress of Jade Pool saved me. I can be your child again."
With that, these souls entered their mothers' wombs.
"My son! My son has returned! Thank you, Empress of Jade Pool!"
Mortals wept with joy, grateful beyond words to the Empress of Jade Pool.
Meanwhile, the entire cultivation world was in upheaval. Hypocritical cultivators were exposed, their souls scattered under the Haotian Mirror's divine power, never to reincarnate.
Many righteous cultivators felt a deep sense of regret.
Who would have thought that those seemingly virtuous cultivators were so vile?
In the end, the Empress of Jade Pool's purge dispelled the mortals' resentment, solidifying her supreme status.
Though many cultivators and sects were lost, it was a great merit for the entire cultivation world.
Some couldn't help but marvel, "We owe this great merit to the Netherworld Demon Emperor."
"Indeed, without his memories, we wouldn't have realized how corrupt the cultivation world had become!"
"Do you think we've misjudged the Netherworld Demon Emperor all along?" someone boldly suggested.
After all, from what they had seen so far, the Netherworld Demon Emperor Xiao Fan had not committed any evil acts.