Just as Tianhuo Empress and Yaochi Empress were locked in a fierce battle, Dragon Empress, who had remained silent since her appearance, suddenly intervened in the fray.
Her face was devoid of any emotion, making it impossible to gauge her intentions. Given that an emperor-level powerhouse was getting involved, neither Tianhuo Empress nor Yaochi Empress could afford to be careless. They had to be vigilant of Dragon Empress, unsure of which side she might support.
Finally, Dragon Empress made her move, targeting Yaochi Empress.
"Hmph! Courting death!" Yaochi Empress sneered, not at all surprised. After all, she had seen through the Haotian Mirror that Dragon Empress had been dependent on Xiao Fan during her childhood. It was not unexpected that she would assist Tianhuo Empress in attacking her now.
The spectators below were also of the same mind. However, what puzzled them was why Dragon Empress had initially joined forces with the other six empresses to suppress Xiao Fan if she intended to save him later.
With Dragon Empress joining the fight, Tianhuo Empress Ling'er felt some doubts but couldn't dwell on them. If they could capture Yaochi Empress swiftly, they could control the Haotian Mirror and rescue Xiao Fan.
Facing the combined assault of two empresses, Yaochi Empress gradually fell into a disadvantage. Seeing Tianhuo Empress and Dragon Empress being so shameless, she felt no need to hold back. Two against one? With the Haotian Mirror, she feared no number of opponents.
Tianhuo Empress Ling'er noticed Yaochi Empress's intention. If Yaochi Empress successfully activated the Haotian Mirror, they would lose their chance.
"We must stop Yaochi Empress from activating the Haotian Mirror!" Ling'er shouted urgently to Dragon Empress, pressing her attack on Yaochi Empress.
Seeing this, Yaochi Empress grew anxious, her previously composed demeanor faltering. She was eager to activate the Haotian Mirror but had to avoid Ling'er's attacks. With Dragon Empress lurking nearby, the prolonged battle was not in her favor.
"There's an opportunity!" Ling'er rejoiced inwardly, sensing Yaochi Empress's panic. "Come help me!" she called to Dragon Empress.
However, Dragon Empress suddenly stopped moving. With a blank expression, she said, "I helped you earlier to repay my debt. We are even now."
Ling'er nearly spat blood in frustration. What kind of repayment was this? Either help completely or not at all. Stopping halfway was not repaying a debt but causing harm.
In that moment of Ling'er's distraction, Yaochi Empress seized the opportunity. "Haotian Mirror, suppress them!" she commanded.
The Haotian Mirror exuded supreme power, pressing down on Ling'er. Ling'er had no choice but to focus all her strength on resisting the mirror's might. However, against this legendary chaotic artifact, her resistance was only a matter of time.
"Big sister!" Huo Yang, the Tianhuo King, cried out, ready to charge in to help Ling'er resist the Haotian Mirror's power.
"Don't be foolish, run!" Ling'er shouted sternly. Huo Yang, despite his quasi-emperor level, was no match for true emperor-level beings. Rushing in would be suicide.
She knew that missing this chance meant Yaochi Empress would never be so careless again. She blamed Dragon Empress for her predicament. If she were alone against Yaochi Empress, she would have left a way out. Now, her rashness had backfired.
"No!" Huo Yang screamed, his voice filled with despair.
The battle's sudden shift left the spectators stunned. They were most baffled by Dragon Empress. Her actions seemed incredibly treacherous.
However, for them, this was good news. Yaochi Empress's victory meant Xiao Fan would remain imprisoned, unable to be rescued. This was the outcome they preferred.
Though Xiao Fan had shown no signs of malice in the glimpses of his past, and had even performed deeds that put many to shame, he had lived for nearly ten thousand years. The few decades they had seen were not enough to judge his entire life. While he seemed good now, it did not mean he had always been good.
Could all the heinous acts attributed to him over millennia be mere misunderstandings? That was implausible. They couldn't let sympathy cloud their judgment. Xiao Fan must die to atone for his countless victims.
Unfortunately, Tianhuo Empress, and previously Beiming Empress and Taiyin Empress, had sided with Xiao Fan out of misplaced sentiment. This pained and angered their former admirers.
They hoped no more empresses would betray their cause. Any further defection to Xiao Fan's side would be another stab to their hearts.