The Empress of Yaochi's mind raced through countless possibilities, searching for a solution to her current predicament.
Wait, there was still one option!
Among the seven Empresses, one had yet to appear. If she could intervene and stop Gongsun Yarou, this crisis could be resolved.
But no one knew if the final Empress would show up.
The Empress of Yaochi decided to take a gamble.
"...Two, one." Gongsun Yarou's voice was tinged with disappointment as she looked at the Empress of Yaochi. "Yao Xi, I gave you extra time to consider, but it seems you've made your choice. So, don't blame me for what comes next."
With that, Gongsun Yarou's eyes narrowed as she looked at the gathered cultivators below.
"You see, your Empress of Yaochi has abandoned you. But don't worry, I'll let you die in your dreams without feeling any pain."
Indeed, with her enchantment ability, they would die painlessly in a beautiful illusion. But death was still death.
Fear of death filled everyone's eyes. They never expected the Empress of Yaochi to abandon them.
Her decision was truly disheartening.
Yet, before they could feel any resentment, they were already trapped in Gongsun Yarou's illusion.
This illusion, called "Beautiful Nightmare," would soon cause them to die peacefully in their sleep.
Gongsun Yarou continued casting her illusion, ensnaring everyone, regardless of race or cultivation level.
"Will the Empress of Yaochi not intervene?" Northern Sea Empress Leng Ruoxue frowned as she watched the innocent people fall into the illusion. If they weren't awakened soon, it would be too late.
Heavenly Fire Empress Huo Ling'er had already gathered her people behind her, and the Dragon Clan had taken refuge behind Dragon Empress Long Xiaoxiao, relying on their Empress's protection to keep Gongsun Yarou at bay.
Seeing the innocents caught in the "Beautiful Nightmare," Lunar Empress Wen Yaxian struggled to hold back. As a healer, she couldn't bear to see so many people die.
She was about to intervene when Huo Ling'er stopped her.
"Wait a bit longer," Huo Ling'er said, looking up at the Empress of Yaochi, who seemed calm. "Someone's probably more anxious than you right now."
Huo Ling'er was right; the Empress of Yaochi was at her breaking point. It seemed the final Empress would not appear.
Just as she was about to act, a dazzling divine light shone from the sky.
A figure emerged from the divine light, her body radiant, every step producing a lotus blossom, surrounded by celestial energy and accompanied by the sound of the Dao.
As she appeared, the world became instantly pure and serene.
Bathed in divine light, her face was obscured, but her ethereal aura made her seem like a celestial being descended from the heavens, inspiring awe and reverence.
Under the divine light, those trapped in Gongsun Yarou's illusion abruptly woke up.
Realizing who had saved them, they knelt and worshipped the holy figure.
"Thank you, Empress of the Divine Clan, for saving us!"
Everyone recognized the figure as the last Empress, the Empress of the Divine Clan, the most discussed of the seven Empresses.
Rumors claimed she was from the celestial realm, from the ancient and powerful Divine Clan.
Most dismissed it as a mere rumor, thinking no one from the celestial realm would descend to the lower world. However, the celestial realm and the lower world were connected before Xiao Fan, the Nether Demon Emperor, severed the celestial road.
Cultivators could ascend to the celestial realm, but no celestial being had ever descended to the lower world, leaving the celestial realm shrouded in mystery.
The Divine Clan Empress was said to be from the celestial realm because she radiated divine light and had an otherworldly aura, far beyond that of the lower world's beings.
She was discovered sealed in a block of celestial source, a crystal of pure celestial energy impossible to form in the lower world. Countless cultivators sought to capture her and her celestial source.
But before the Divine Clan Empress, even the strongest dared not act disrespectfully, compelled to worship her.
She claimed their reverence was due to the divine nature of her clan.
When asked about the celestial realm, she could only remember being from the Divine Clan, with no other memories.
Despite this, the legend persisted.
Skeptics believed the Divine Clan Empress fabricated the story to appear more powerful.
However, upon seeing her, those who once doubted realized their ignorance. This transcendent, holy woman was undoubtedly celestial.
Bathed in her divine light, everyone's hearts filled with peace.
From now on, she would be their unshakable faith.
This was a true goddess, a celestial being!
The Empress of Yaochi, who had abandoned them, was forgotten. How had anyone ever ranked her first among the seven Empresses?
Now that all the Empresses were revealed, it was clear the Divine Clan Empress was the true leader.
All eyes were on her, even those of the other Empresses.
This was their first encounter with the legendary Divine Clan Empress, and she was as awe-inspiring as the stories claimed.
Such a transcendent, untainted being surely came from the celestial realm.
"Could she truly be from the celestial realm?" the Empress of Yaochi wondered, feeling a rare sense of defeat in the face of the Divine Clan Empress.
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8