At that moment, Gongsun Yarou suddenly awoke from the illusion.
She looked around, confused and disoriented, struggling to distinguish reality from the illusion until she saw Xiao Fan. Only then did clarity return to her eyes.
"Xiao Fan, was I just trapped in an illusion?" Gongsun Yarou's voice trembled with a hint of fear.
For someone born with the talent to enchant others, it was humiliating to fall into an illusion herself without realizing it.
Yet, the world within the illusion was so beautiful. If only it were real!
Xiao Fan didn't respond. Instead, he looked toward an altar ahead.
Following his gaze, Gongsun Yarou saw the altar too. It was clear that whoever stood on it would receive the final Demon Emperor's inheritance.
Gongsun Yarou felt a rush of excitement. She never expected to reach the inheritance so easily. More than for herself, she hoped Xiao Fan would receive the inheritance.
Just as she was about to suggest that Xiao Fan stand on the altar, a sudden attack struck her, sending her flying.
"Ah!" Gongsun Yarou spat blood, her eyes filled with disbelief as she looked at her attacker.
"Why?" Her voice quivered with pain.
Xiao Fan looked at her coldly. "Thank you for bringing me here, but I no longer need you."
"Why!" Gongsun Yarou screamed in anguish.
"I've been using you from the beginning to get into the Demon Emperor's inheritance," Xiao Fan said indifferently.
"I don't believe you! You're lying, aren't you?" Gongsun Yarou pleaded, hoping he would deny it.
But Xiao Fan's reply was dripping with scorn. "How pathetic. Did you really think I would care for a demon?"
His words were like knives stabbing into Gongsun Yarou's heart, turning her face deathly pale.
She couldn't believe those words came from Xiao Fan, who had been so close to her these past days. Now, all she saw was unmasked contempt.
"You are truly foolish!" Xiao Fan continued mockingly. "From the first moment I saw you, I was using you."
"First, I used you to save Xiaoxiao. Now, I'm using you to gain the Demon Emperor's inheritance."
His tone was heartless, leaving no room for doubt.
A bitter smile formed on Gongsun Yarou's lips. She had never been able to compare to that foolish disciple of his.
She laughed at her own stupidity and delusions.
At that moment, Gongsun Yarou's heart truly broke. She had sacrificed so much for Xiao Fan, only to be repaid with betrayal.
Seeing Gongsun Yarou's complete despair, Xiao Fan knew his mission was complete. He began walking towards the altar.
To Gongsun Yarou, it seemed he was going to claim the Demon Emperor's inheritance. But Xiao Fan knew he was walking towards his own death.
There was no fear or regret in his heart. His expression remained calm.
As he stood on the altar, a white light enveloped him, and his body began to dissolve.
Facing away from Gongsun Yarou, whose eyes were filled with hatred, Xiao Fan smiled with relief. He whispered, just loud enough for himself to hear, "Silly girl, don't be so foolish to be deceived again..."
Outside the Haotian Mirror.
Hearing Xiao Fan's final words, Gongsun Yarou clenched her fists, her teeth grinding in rage. "You liar! I will never forgive you!"
"For all eternity, I will keep you by my side to atone for your sins, or I will never be at peace!"
According to the Demon Emperor's will, Xiao Fan had died in her place. But instead of dying, he became the infamous Nether Demon Emperor.
Though she didn't know what had gone wrong, it no longer mattered. As long as Xiao Fan was alive, that was enough.
Regardless of what he had become, Xiao Fan had only one purpose in life now: to stay by her side and atone.
Resolving this, Gongsun Yarou looked up at the Empress of Yaochi in the void.
"Yao Xi, open the Immortal Execution Array and hand Xiao Fan over to me!"
Her words stunned everyone present.
The Demon Empress was unbelievably domineering, demanding Xiao Fan and addressing the Empress of Yaochi by name.
Northern Sea Empress Leng Ruoxue and the other empresses, including Dragon Empress Long Xiaoxiao, were also surprised by Gongsun Yarou's directness. But they could see that her intent was different from theirs.
Gongsun Yarou still held a grudge against Xiao Fan. If he fell into her hands, it wouldn't end well for him.
However, they knew that with the Haotian Mirror in hand, the Empress of Yaochi could handle Gongsun Yarou. It might just end in a big commotion.
Having already made agreements with the Empress of Yaochi, they decided to watch without intervening.
The Empress of Yaochi's eyes narrowed at Gongsun Yarou's audacity. "And if I don't hand him over?"
Gongsun Yarou laughed coldly. "If you don't, I will kill everyone here. If you still refuse, I will kill everyone in the world!"
"You're supposed to be the ruler of the heavens, maintaining order. If you don't hand Xiao Fan over, their deaths will be on you, the incompetent ruler!"
Her words left everyone speechless.
"What the hell?"
"I'm just passing through!"
"Do you think the Demon Empress is serious?"
"Does she look like she's joking?"
"Comrades, I'm out of here!"
"Running won't help! Didn't you hear her say she'd kill everyone in the world next?"
An imperial-level strongman was terrifying. If the Demon Empress went on a rampage, no one could stop her without the intervention of the other empresses.
Panic spread as people realized the gravity of her threat.
The Demon Empress's words were shocking. If she followed through, she would become an enemy of the world, the Demon Emperor.
The Empress of Yaochi was enraged. "How dare you!"
"I dare!" Gongsun Yarou retorted fiercely. "If you don't hand Xiao Fan over, I will be an enemy of the world. So what?"
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8