In the void above, the Jade Pool Empress's face was extremely grim. Both the Demon and Dragon Clans seemed to have no respect for her authority as the ruler of the heavens. The Demon Empress's earlier disregard for her had especially incensed her.
However, seeing the imminent confrontation between the Demon and Dragon Clans, she had to step in to prevent the conflict. It was her duty as the ruler of the heavens to maintain order.
"Demon Empress, Dragon Empress, control your clans. This is not your battlefield!" the Jade Pool Empress warned.
At last, the Demon Empress turned her gaze to the Jade Pool Empress.
"Yao Xi, I advise you not to meddle. You wouldn't want the three of us to gang up on you, would you?"
As she spoke, the Demon Empress cast a playful glance towards the Northern Ming Empress, the Taiyin Empress, and the Heavenly Fire Empress.
The three were taken aback. The Demon Empress was indeed unpredictable. However, having another Empress on their side would be beneficial.
"How audacious!" The Jade Pool Empress's fury reached its peak. The Demon Empress not only addressed her by her given name but also openly threatened her!
"Yao Xi, don't take your role as the ruler of the heavens too seriously! Or else, I might just take an interest in your position."
The Demon Empress's smile remained, her eyes filled with mockery. The seven Empresses coexisted, and the heavens were no longer what they once were. The so-called authority was now a mere joke.
The Jade Pool Empress had not yet accepted this reality, still clinging to her role.
"You!" The Jade Pool Empress trembled with anger.
The Demon Empress's words struck a nerve. She had lost much of her former pride.
The ancient heavens, passed down since the creation of the world, had fallen into decline. Her title was now in name only.
She no longer desired this position. Once she found her husband's soul vessel, she would revive him and live as immortal lovers, free from worldly affairs.
Having dealt with the Jade Pool Empress, the Demon Empress turned to Long Guang, whose anger was rising.
"Little mudfish, are you sure your Dragon Empress will fight for you?"
Long Guang was stunned. The idea that the Dragon Empress wouldn't support them seemed absurd.
"Such poor little mudfish," the Demon Empress said pityingly. "Let me share a harsh truth."
"Enchantress, we won't be deceived!" Long Guang retorted firmly.
The Demon Empress smiled, "When we attacked your Dragon Clan, your elders were tough to deal with. It was your Dragon Empress who crushed them, allowing us to win easily!"
These words shocked the Dragon Clan. Despite their resolve not to believe the Demon Empress, her revelation caused turmoil.
"Impossible! You won't sow discord between us and our Empress!" Long Guang declared.
The other Dragons also refuted the Demon Empress's claims.
"You don't believe me? Why don't you ask your Dragon Empress?" she suggested, smiling.
Long Guang turned to the Dragon Empress, Long Xiaoxiao, "Empress, we trust you. We won't be swayed by this enchantress!"
He hoped for a reassuring response to calm the clan.
However, Long Xiaoxiao didn't even glance at them. She had never intended to lead the Dragon Clan to resurgence. She only cared about one thing—the meaning behind the Demon Empress's words and the so-called surprise.
Seeing no response from Long Xiaoxiao, Long Guang felt a chill. But he rationalized that she was simply taciturn.
Long Guang shared his thoughts with the clan, and they felt reassured.
"Exactly! If the Empress acknowledged such lies, she'd fall into the enchantress's trap!"
"When Xiao Fan's memories are revealed, the truth will prevail!"
"Empress, lead us to glory!"
The Dragons cheered, their spirits high.
The Demon Empress hadn't anticipated this reaction. She mused that simple-mindedness sometimes led to happiness.
She smiled expectantly, wondering how they'd react to the truth.
Inside the Hao Tian Mirror, Xiao Fan looked seriously at the maid named Ya Rou.
She had just revealed a shocking secret—a plot the Dragon Clan had been hatching for millennia.
Decades ago, Long Xiaoxiao's father had awakened the True Dragon bloodline but was supposedly killed by the Demon Clan, as was widely believed due to their enmity.
But Ya Rou told him a different story.
Long Xiaoxiao's father wasn't killed by the Demon Clan; he was forced to death by the Dragon Clan. Instead of nurturing their prodigy, they pushed him to his death.
This was illogical until Ya Rou explained the secret behind his demise.