Outside the Haotian Mirror.
Many people felt numb. It was becoming clear that Xiao Fan had once again been wronged. The one responsible for the deaths of Emperor Huo and half of the citizens in the capital was not Xiao Fan, but Emperor Huo himself. A wise and virtuous ruler had ultimately brought about a great disaster because of one wrong decision.
Putting themselves in Emperor Huo's shoes, many could understand his choice. From the moment a cultivator steps onto the path of cultivation, the desire for immortality is unending. If given a chance to break through to the Saint Realm, who could resist such temptation?
However, now was not the time for reflections. Many turned their eyes to Tianhuo Empress Huo Ling'er, curious about her reaction to the truth. Would she turn against the Youming Demon Emperor?
"Father..." Tianhuo Empress Huo Ling'er's eyes were filled with shock. She found it hard to believe what she was witnessing. The disaster had been caused by a moment of weakness from her father.
The truth was difficult to accept. Her father, once so wise and benevolent, had caused such a catastrophe due to a moment of selfishness.
"Father, why did you do this? Was it really worth it?"
"Is breaking through to the Saint Realm so important that you would risk your life?"
"If you had known that your decision would not only cost your life but also that of your brother and half the innocent people in the capital, would you still have done it?"
Tears filled Huo Ling'er's eyes, and her expression was one of deep sorrow. She felt a deep sense of irony. Her father, whom she had always seen as wise and benevolent, was the true culprit behind the disaster. He was the sinner of the entire Tianhuo Kingdom.
And she, the daughter of a sinner, had no right to sit on the throne.
"Pfft—" Tianhuo Empress Huo Ling'er spat blood. Her lips were stained red, and her eyes were filled with despair. Her aura weakened rapidly, and her eyes grew lifeless.
"Sister!" Tianhuo King Huo Yang shouted, deeply worried for his sister. He could sense that she had lost the will to live. The truth was harsh, and he also found it hard to accept.
However, without his sister, the Tianhuo Kingdom would not have become the Tianhuo Empire. Despite their father's mistakes, Tianhuo Empress Huo Ling'er's achievements had long outweighed those sins. Though the lives of the innocent victims couldn't be measured against her deeds, the people of the Tianhuo Empire needed her. She was their beacon of hope, their source of peace and prosperity.
If she wanted to atone, the best way was to live on and continue her work. However, no matter how Huo Yang tried to persuade her, Huo Ling'er remained unresponsive, her eyes empty.
Even trying to take her away seemed impossible. Huo Yang felt helpless and looked toward Xiao Fan, who lay lifeless in the original imperial city. He realized only Xiao Fan might be able to bring his sister back to life.
But with Yaocchi Empress watching closely, any move related to Xiao Fan would likely provoke a fierce response. In his sister's current state, she couldn't withstand Yaocchi Empress's wrath. He could only wait for the right moment.
"Hmph!" Yaocchi Empress scoffed when Huo Yang backed down. She turned to the despondent Tianhuo Empress and smirked. Such a fragile mind was unworthy of being compared to her.
She had thought Tianhuo Empress might be a worthy opponent, but now she saw she was nothing. In her current state, Tianhuo Empress was no match for her.
However, Xiao Fan being wronged again irritated Yaocchi Empress deeply.
"Xiao Fan, how long can you keep up this charade?" she muttered, looking coldly at the lifeless Xiao Fan.
Miles away, Beiming Empress Leng Ruoxue and Taiyin Empress Wen Yaxian exchanged a knowing glance, their faces breaking into smiles. Their master Xiao Fan was innocent, just as they had believed.
Leng Ruoxue still harbored resentment towards Huo Ling'er, but she knew personal grudges needed to be set aside. If they could win over Tianhuo Empress Huo Ling'er, their chances of saving Xiao Fan would increase significantly.
For now, Leng Ruoxue focused on recovering her strength and urged Wen Yaxian to expedite her recovery.
Inside the Haotian Mirror.
Xiao Fan crawled out from the rubble. He had been thrown out of the chamber just before the disaster struck. The chamber, made of special materials, had absorbed much of the blast. Not being at the explosion's epicenter and having high cultivation, Xiao Fan had survived. Unfortunately, the guards around him were not as lucky.
The devastation around him was overwhelming. The blast had likely claimed the lives of countless civilians. Xiao Fan felt deep sorrow, knowing who was responsible for this tragedy. He didn't want to believe it but had no choice.
The chamber was destroyed, and Xiao Fan made his way towards Emperor Huo, his body barely holding up. Seeing the emperor's desolate expression, Xiao Fan felt an overwhelming urge to ask many questions, but he held back, seeing the emperor's aged and sorrowful face.
Emperor Huo's eyes filled with tears as he looked at Xiao Fan. "Are you disappointed in me?" he asked, his voice filled with despair.
Xiao Fan remained silent, unable to find the right words. Sometimes, silence was the best answer.