Time had passed unknowingly.
Gongsun Yarou and Xiao Fan now had many children. The couple was deeply in love, and their children were adorable and well-behaved.
Although they spent their days herding on the grasslands, watching the sunrise and sunset, it was far from boring.
Gongsun Yarou was completely immersed in this blissful, simple life, having entirely forgotten about the past.
...
"She has failed. She has completely succumbed to the illusion."
The speaker was an exceptionally beautiful woman, her body ethereal and insubstantial. This woman was the remnant will of the Demon Emperor, the master of this inheritance.
Of course, she was not the true Demon Emperor but an embodiment of his lingering will, waiting for the arrival of a worthy inheritor.
Gongsun Yarou was chosen because she shared the same constitution as the Demon Emperor, possessing an innate talent for enchantment.
The Demon Emperor's will had waited countless years for Gongsun Yarou's appearance. Seeing her fail and succumb to the illusion brought a touch of sadness to the face of the will's embodiment.
She had never anticipated that the most suitable inheritor she had identified over countless ages would be thwarted by an unforeseen variable—Xiao Fan.
Xiao Fan's unexpected presence disrupted Gongsun Yarou's destiny. Without him, Gongsun Yarou would have completed the trial and obtained the inheritance.
The most perplexing thing was that until Xiao Fan appeared before her, she had never sensed his existence. It was as if he was an anomaly, someone who shouldn't exist but did.
Thus, the fates originally planned were completely upended.
Xiao Fan stood beside the embodiment of the Demon Emperor's will. When Gongsun Yarou entered the final trial, she immediately fell into the illusion, while Xiao Fan remained unaffected.
He had already used the divine medicine to fully recover his body.
The embodiment was surprised by his presence. Hearing that Gongsun Yarou had failed, Xiao Fan's heart tightened, his face filled with worry.
He had learned from the embodiment that failing the trial meant more than just losing the inheritance. It meant Gongsun Yarou would be trapped in the illusion forever, until she perished.
"Senior, can you give her another chance?" Xiao Fan asked, his expression serious. He couldn't let Gongsun Yarou die here.
"Her heart has a weakness. No matter how many chances she gets, it will be useless," the embodiment replied, her gaze deep as she looked at Xiao Fan. She wanted to give Gongsun Yarou another chance, but it seemed futile.
The embodiment of the Demon Emperor's will had prepared everything for Gongsun Yarou. If she failed, the inheritance would end, and the embodiment would dissipate.
"Weakness?" Xiao Fan understood immediately. He was Gongsun Yarou's weakness, the reason she couldn't pass the trial.
Realizing this, Xiao Fan said without hesitation, "Senior, if you give her another chance, I'll do whatever it takes!"
The embodiment responded slowly, "I cultivated the path of emotionlessness, but she now has feelings. If you can help her sever those feelings, she can pass the trial and inherit my power."
"Okay." Xiao Fan looked at Gongsun Yarou, immersed in the illusion, without any hesitation.
"Don't agree so quickly!" The embodiment warned seriously. "There is only one chance. If she fails again, there won't be another. You being here is an anomaly. If you wish to give her your chance, you must die in her place. Do you still agree?"
"I agree," Xiao Fan said without hesitation. Without Gongsun Yarou, he would have been dead long ago. Now, he could repay her by giving his life.
"Can you tell me why you're willing to give up your chance for her?" The embodiment asked, unable to comprehend why someone would sacrifice their life for another.
Xiao Fan looked at Gongsun Yarou with eyes full of tenderness. He couldn't quite understand his feelings either, but he remembered her painful cries of "Master" during his coma.
He smiled faintly, "Maybe it's because she called me Master. As her Master, I should do something for her."
Outside the Haotian Mirror.
Hearing Xiao Fan's words, Gongsun Yarou froze. So, Xiao Fan had known it was her calling him while he was in a coma. He hadn't mistaken her for anyone else.
Tears welled in her eyes, her hands trembling. The truth was clear now. She had failed the trial, and Xiao Fan gave up his chance to save her. He had done those things later to help her sever her feelings.
"You liar, you promised not to lie to me!" Gongsun Yarou's face twisted with anger as she glared at the now lifeless Xiao Fan in the Primordial Imperial City.
"Xiao Fan, do you think I would be grateful for this?" She muttered, her eyes filled with hatred.
Everyone was shocked by her reaction. They had expected her to join the effort to save Xiao Fan after learning the truth, but it seemed she hated him even more.
Northern Sea Empress Leng Ruoxue was furious at Gongsun Yarou's response. This demoness had taken advantage of their Master and still acted so ungrateful.
"Demoness, don't push your luck!" Heavenly Fire Empress Huo Ling'er angrily shouted.
But Gongsun Yarou ignored them, her eyes fixed on the lifeless Xiao Fan.
In the void above, the Empress of Yaochi frowned. Though Gongsun Yarou seemed filled with hatred for Xiao Fan, the Empress felt she might be planning something.
For now, she decided to wait and see.
Inside the Haotian Mirror.
"Master and disciple, huh?" The embodiment of the Demon Emperor's will seemed to understand something, then said no more.
"I have given her your chance. Whether she can seize this second chance depends on you."
With that, the embodiment slowly disappeared.
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8