Inside the Haotian Mirror.
Upon entering the Immortal Palace, Xuanwei led Xiao Fan to hide behind a cloud-shrouded stone pillar. It was there that Xiao Fan finally saw other immortals for the first time.
These immortals, though varying in appearance, stature, and attire, all exuded a serene, peaceful aura, as if detached from worldly conflicts.
In short, they all seemed to embody the qualities of venerable, approachable elders. When they encountered one another, they were exceptionally polite.
But this was to be expected. After all, anyone who could ascend to the Immortal Realm had endured countless trials and tribulations. Through such tempering, their hearts had become calm and composed. Having finally ascended to the Immortal Realm, they were here to enjoy the fruits of victory.
Now, with endless lifespans and an abundance of immortal herbs and treasures, there was little reason for conflict or strife among them.
Outside the Haotian Mirror.
"That's Fa Tian Dao Ren, the founder of Lingyun Sect!" an elderly man in the crowd exclaimed, tears streaming down his face as he gazed at the image in the Haotian Mirror.
He was the current head of Lingyun Sect and had spent nearly every day paying homage to the portrait of their founding patriarch, Fa Tian Dao Ren. He was absolutely certain he couldn't be mistaken.
Hearing this, others couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. After all, seeing the true visage of one's sect's founding patriarch through the Haotian Mirror was an immensely exciting and rare opportunity.
With this precedent set, others in the crowd began searching the images in the Haotian Mirror for glimpses of their own sects' predecessors who had ascended to the Immortal Realm.
Soon, more and more voices filled the air, each exclaiming in excitement.
Inside the Haotian Mirror.
The immortals were engaged in discussions about the recent phenomenon of withering plants and the gradual thinning of immortal energy. Xiao Fan could see the worry etched on their faces.
For such serene and detached immortals to lose their composure, it was clear that the situation was indeed serious.
Once all the immortals had gathered, the figure of the Immortal Emperor appeared above the Immortal Palace.
"Greetings, Immortal Emperor!" everyone respectfully bowed in reverence.
At that moment, Xiao Fan finally saw another side of the Immortal Emperor—one of majesty, grandeur, and solemnity, making it impossible to look directly at him.
He stood like a god above all, evoking an overwhelming urge to bow and submit.
The Immortal Emperor's voice resonated through the hall.
"I'm sure you have all noticed the changes occurring in the Immortal Realm recently."
All the immortals listened intently, hoping the Immortal Emperor would provide them with answers and peace of mind.
But when the Immortal Emperor spoke his next words, their faces paled, their composure shattered.
"The end of all things has come, and our epoch has reached its final moments," the Immortal Emperor declared. "Soon, everything will decay, and darkness will consume all. It will spread from the Immortal Realm to the lower realms until everything in existence is completely obliterated in the destruction of this epoch."
The shock on the faces of the immortals was beyond words. They stood frozen, unable to comprehend the gravity of what they had just heard.
Xiao Fan was no exception. The news was simply too overwhelming to accept.
The end of the epoch meant that everything in existence would be annihilated. Not just the Immortal Realm, but all realms, all dimensions, would be erased.
Even the most steadfast of the immortals could no longer maintain their composure.
If this news were to reach the lower realms, the panic it would incite would be unimaginable.
If these words had come from anyone else, they might have been met with skepticism. But they were spoken by the Immortal Emperor, the most revered and powerful being in existence. No one would dare think it was a joke.
Outside the Haotian Mirror, everyone's eyes widened in disbelief, their lips trembling as they struggled to accept this harsh truth.
"I don't believe it! If what the Immortal Emperor says is true, then why are we all still here, unharmed?"
As soon as someone voiced this doubt, others quickly chimed in agreement. "Exactly! What we're watching are events from thousands of years ago, involving the Netherworld Demon Emperor. If the world was really going to end, it would've happened long ago!"
This view quickly gained support among the crowd. After all, they were still standing here, alive and well. The world seemed to be in perfect order, with no signs of imminent destruction.
No one wanted to believe—or could believe—that the epoch had truly reached its end. After all, who wants to die?
Even the Empresses, like Leng Ruoxue, were reluctant to accept this truth. They still harbored hopes of rescuing Xiao Fan and spending endless years together in the future. To be told now that everything was coming to an end was something they couldn't bear to accept.
Everyone clung to their disbelief.
Until…
"So, are you saying my father was lying?"
A sharp, anguished voice cut through the air.
Everyone turned to see the Divine Empress had dispersed the divine light that had shrouded her, revealing a face streaked with tears, filled with utter despair.
The sight of the Divine Empress's haggard face left everyone in shock.
There was no doubt that the Divine Empress had recalled something, something so devastating that it had utterly crushed her.
The firm resolve of the crowd began to waver. Could it be that the Immortal Realm truly no longer existed?
But if that were the case, why had the lower realms remained untouched?
"Divine Empress, have you remembered something? Can you clarify this for us?" someone asked, desperate for answers.
Wiping the tears from her face, Xuanwei responded with a heavy heart, "I did recall a memory—of the Immortal Realm being consumed by darkness."
"Everything in the Immortal Realm, including my father, the Immortal Emperor, has been completely obliterated, gone forever."
"There is no longer an Immortal Realm."
Her words were filled with sorrow.
Upon hearing that the Immortal Realm had indeed ceased to exist, the faces of everyone turned pale, unable to process the reality.
For centuries, people had yearned to become immortals and ascend to the Immortal Realm. But now, the Immortal Realm was no more. This was not something that could be accepted in an instant.
They didn't want to believe it, but the Divine Empress's grief-stricken expression left no room for doubt. There was no way she was lying or joking about this.
After all, no one longed to return to the Immortal Realm more than the Divine Empress herself.
Then, Xuanwei continued, "As for why the lower realms have remained untouched, I believe it has something to do with Xiao Fan severing the path to the Immortal Realm."
Her words ignited a storm of disbelief.
If what the Divine Empress said was true, and Xiao Fan's actions had actually saved the lower realms, did that mean the Netherworld Demon Emperor Xiao Fan was not the villain they had believed, but rather a hero who had saved the world?
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*Author's Note:* The flashback arc will likely end within half a month, after which we'll dive into the main storyline. The main storyline will feature a brand-new approach—still dramatic but definitely not the clichéd plot you might expect. Stay tuned, everyone!
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8