Outside the Haotian Mirror.
The spectators were awestruck by the perfect little world within the dragon clan's secret realm. It was their first glimpse of the true dwelling place of the dragons, and it was truly eye-opening. They were certain that Xiao Fan's praise was sincere; no words could do justice to the marvel of this dragon realm.
Behind Dragon Empress Long Xiaoxiao, the quasi-emperor-level dragon warriors were moved to tears. To outsiders, this might seem exaggerated, but for them, seeing their homeland again stirred indescribable emotions.
Though they now possessed great strength and were leaders among the dragon clan, they had once lived carefree in this very secret realm as children. This was their homeland, the foundation of their spiritual sustenance, where generations of dragons had lived.
However, everything had been destroyed in the war with the demon clan. The dragon secret realm they saw now had long ceased to exist, lost in the mists of history. And the culprit responsible for all this was the very Xiao Fan, now praising the dragon realm within the Haotian Mirror.
"Nether Demon Emperor Xiao Fan's crimes are heinous! He harmed our clan and destroyed our home. We must never forget this hatred. Each dragon descendant must remember this always!"
"Kill the Nether Demon Emperor Xiao Fan! Restore the glory of the dragon clan!"
Long Guang shouted, condemning Xiao Fan and rallying the dragon warriors behind him.
"Kill the Nether Demon Emperor Xiao Fan! Restore the glory of the dragon clan!"
"..."
The air was filled with shouts of fury and determination. Thousands of dragons roared, their killing intent palpable, almost piercing the sky. The surrounding cultivators retreated in fear, their hearts trembling at the sheer force of the dragons' anger. Those with weaker cultivation feared they might bleed from their orifices if they stayed too close, their vital energy severely injured.
Even from a distance, one could feel the deep-seated hatred the dragon clan held for Xiao Fan.
"He's so noisy! If anyone keeps shouting, I'll roast them into crispy eels!" Heavenly Fire Empress Huo Ling'er shouted, her voice resonating with authority.
Northern Empress Leng Ruoxue and Lunar Yin Empress Wen Yaxian didn't speak, but their cold gazes were enough to silence the crowd.
They were still alive and well! How dare the dragon clan so openly declare their intent to kill their master!
Did they think these three Empresses were easy targets?
"Outrageous!" Long Guang seethed with anger. How dare the Heavenly Fire Empress insult the dragon clan by calling them eels!
He looked to Dragon Empress Long Xiaoxiao for support, hoping she would stand up for the dragon clan. However, she remained indifferent, her focus solely on the Haotian Mirror.
"Your Majesty, please..." Long Guang began, but was cut off by a curt, "Shut up!"
Long Guang was taken aback, realizing their Empress had no intention of supporting them. Another dragon warrior whispered in his ear, "Elder, have you lost your senses? The Empress is outnumbered. Forcing her to stand against the three Empresses would only embarrass her."
Enlightened, Long Guang felt a wave of regret. He had almost put their Empress in a difficult position out of his own anger. Fortunately, the Empress had deftly ignored his plea, avoiding further embarrassment. With such a wise and capable leader, the dragon clan was destined for revival.
In reality, Long Xiaoxiao had simply found the shouting annoying. She had no interest in the dragon clan's plight. When Long Guang had proclaimed her as the leader, she had never agreed to it. Everything was merely the dragon clan's one-sided desire.
Her desire to kill Xiao Fan stemmed from her personal grievances, not for the dragon clan's sake.
Inside the Haotian Mirror.
Long Xiao, pleased with Xiao Fan's compliments, couldn't hide his proud smile. After some polite conversation, Long Xiao led Xiao Fan to the core of the dragon secret realm.
The place was filled with elegant pavilions, palaces, and terraces, resembling human architecture. This surprised Xiao Fan, who had expected the dragon dwellings to be more primitive, like caves.
Seeing Xiao Fan's astonishment, Long Xiao laughed heartily. "Xiao Fan, don't be constrained. Many first-time visitors from the human race react just like you. They think our dragon clan is crude and lacks refinement."
Xiao Fan nodded slightly, pondering Long Xiao's words. It seemed many humans had visited this secret realm. Curious, Xiao Fan followed Long Xiao to his residence.
Long Xiao's estate was a vast garden, comparable in size to the palace of the Heavenly Fire Kingdom. After settling Xiao Fan and Long Xiaoxiao, Long Xiao excused himself to report Long Xiaoxiao's return to the dragon clan elders. Before leaving, he instructed the steward to show Xiao Fan and Long Xiaoxiao around.
"Are you human?" Xiao Fan asked, surprised by the steward.
"Yes, Master Xiao," the steward replied, nodding.
The steward then gave Xiao Fan a tour, explaining that all the servants in the estate were human, as were Long Xiao's 385 wives. This wasn't unique to Long Xiao's estate; it was a common practice throughout the dragon secret realm. Humans vastly outnumbered dragons in this realm, serving them.
Inviting human guests like Xiao Fan was rare. According to the steward, Long Xiao had never invited any human into the dragon secret realm before.
Xiao Fan pondered this information deeply. The situation within the dragon secret realm was far beyond his expectations.