As the fiery figure appeared, the crowd below erupted in exclamations.
"That's the Skyfire Empress! I never expected to see her here!"
"Just her presence makes the temperature unbearable. Truly worthy of being the supreme ruler of the Skyfire Divine Empire!"
"The Skyfire Empress is incredibly beautiful. Seeing her today is a life well-lived!"
"I've heard rumors about her eccentric and unorthodox ways, even keeping male pets..."
"You're bold to speak such things!"
"It's not just baseless gossip; I've also heard she kept male pets before..."
"So you've all heard the same rumors! I thought I was the only one!"
"Where there's smoke, there's fire. With so many people hearing the same thing, it must have some truth to it."
Thinking this, everyone looked at the Skyfire Empress with heated gazes.
The Skyfire Divine Empire dominates the Central Continent, a colossal force in the cultivation world. The only power that might surpass them is the eternal Heavenly Court.
Being favored by the Skyfire Empress would be a great fortune. Moreover, she is an extremely beautiful woman with a stunning figure.
Suddenly feeling the lustful stares from many below, the Skyfire Empress raised an eyebrow, a mysterious smile playing on her lips.
Seeing her smile, the cultivators believed even more that she might indeed have such hobbies, and they started to make even more exaggerated gestures to attract her attention.
Smiling, the Skyfire Empress's eyes suddenly narrowed, her gaze turning as intense as the sun itself. Anyone who met her eyes, regardless of gender or age, felt their eyes burning painfully.
"My eyes! My eyes..."
Countless cultivators clutched their eyes, crying out in agony.
Those who survived were filled with fear, realizing the stories of her volatile and violent nature were true.
They deserved it. Disrespecting the Skyfire Empress based on unfounded rumors was unforgivable. Burning their eyes was already a great mercy.
From the moment she appeared, the Skyfire Empress had captured everyone's attention. Even the aloof Jade Pool Empress had to regard her seriously.
In terms of power, without the Haotian Mirror's support, she might not be able to defeat the Skyfire Empress. In terms of status, the Skyfire Empress was the ruler of the Skyfire Divine Empire, a rapidly growing and influential power.
The Skyfire Empress's temper was notorious, even more so than the Jade Pool Empress's. Therefore, she had to take her seriously.
But the Skyfire Empress's attention was not on them. She was smiling at Xiao Fan, now a lifeless shell in the Original Imperial City.
Those familiar with her would recognize that her smile was the calm before the storm.
The Taiyin Empress remained silent, agreeing that the truth would be revealed as they watched.
Inside the Haotian Mirror.
After Wen Yaxian became Xiao Fan's disciple, her father was the happiest, affectionately calling Xiao Fan "brother," no longer fearing he might take his daughter away.
He wasn't looking down on Xiao Fan, but considering Xiao Fan's current condition, he couldn't take care of his precious daughter.
A father always wants the best for his daughter.
In the following days, with explanations from the Wen family, Xiao Fan was portrayed as a martial arts master, easing the villagers' fears.
Knowing Xiao Fan would stay, the villagers felt secure, no longer fearing bandits or robbers.
Some bold children even asked Xiao Fan to teach them martial arts, but Wen Yaxian sent them away, not wanting them to disturb Xiao Fan's rest.
Her sole focus was curing the poison in Xiao Fan's body. Being his disciple gave her a legitimate reason to stay by his side. With Xiao Fan blind, she could watch him as long as she wanted without being noticed.
Although he was blind, Xiao Fan could sense Wen Yaxian's constant gaze but pretended not to notice.
As time passed, their feelings grew.
One day, Wen Yaxian, in frustration, knocked over all the herbs on the table.
"Why! Why is nothing working?" she cried out, releasing her pent-up emotions.
She had tried countless times, each time hoping to cure Xiao Fan, only to be cruelly disappointed.
"Master, why am I so useless..." she sobbed.
With each new thing she learned from Xiao Fan, she realized the poison in his body was incurable. If it were possible, Xiao Fan would have cured himself long ago.
Listening to her anguished cries, Xiao Fan's heart ached, but he knew he couldn't show his true feelings.
He waited for her to calm down before speaking. "Stop wasting your efforts. No one understands my condition better than I do."
"Instead of spending time on me, focus on your cultivation."
Xiao Fan had long wanted to teach Wen Yaxian cultivation so she could protect herself and the village in his absence.
But she stubbornly refused to divert her attention until she cured him.