"Why?" The Goddess Empress Xuanwei chuckled coldly. "Let me tell you why!"
"Did you really think you ever controlled the Haotian Mirror?"
"If so, you were gravely mistaken!"
"My father founded the Heavenly Court and oversaw the myriad worlds on behalf of the Haotian Mirror. The only reason why the rulers of the Heavenly Court could control the Haotian Mirror through the ages was because the Haotian Mirror recognized my father's goodwill."
"Now that you've betrayed the duties of the Heavenly Court, do you think you can still command the Haotian Mirror?"
Xuanwei's voice dripped with sarcasm.
The crowd murmured in agreement.
The Jade Pool Empress, driven by selfish desires, had intended to kill the innocent. She was no longer fit to be the ruler of the Heavenly Court, let alone control the Haotian Mirror.
Moreover, the Haotian Mirror was a creation artifact. Not even the Jade Pool Empress—indeed, no one in existence—could truly command it.
Hearing Xuanwei's explanation only deepened the Jade Pool Empress's despair. Already weakened from the backlash, she now realized she might never again control the Haotian Mirror.
Her hands trembled with fury and bitterness, her face a mask of anger.
Those who had narrowly escaped death moments earlier now looked on with schadenfreude, delighting in the Empress's misfortune.
The Jade Pool Empress had brought this fate upon herself.
However, now that the Haotian Mirror was without a master, it was likely to spark a bloody struggle for control.
The Demon Empress Gongsun Yarou gazed at the Haotian Mirror suspended in the void, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "It seems only fitting that I should take the throne of the Heavenly Court!"
With those words, Gongsun Yarou moved swiftly toward the Haotian Mirror.
"No! Stop her!" Wen Yaxian cried out in alarm, her body already surging forward.
Seizing the throne of the Heavenly Court meant more than just controlling the Haotian Mirror. Whoever controlled the Haotian Mirror would also hold Xiao Fan's life in their hands.
Essentially, the Haotian Mirror's master would also claim Xiao Fan.
Gongsun Yarou's obsession with Xiao Fan had reached a pathological level. If Xiao Fan fell into her hands, it would spell disaster.
Before Wen Yaxian's words had even finished echoing, Leng Ruoxue, Huo Linger, and Long Xiaoxiao had already joined her in charging toward Gongsun Yarou.
They all knew that Xiao Fan must not fall into Gongsun Yarou's hands.
Seeing the four rushing to stop her, Gongsun Yarou smirked.
She knew she couldn't defeat all four in a direct confrontation.
But she didn't need to win—she only needed to delay them for a few moments.
Her innate charm and enchantment would serve her well now.
Of course, as fellow empresses, she couldn't hold them for long.
But even a brief distraction, just a few breaths, would be enough for her to seize the Haotian Mirror first.
Sure enough, as Gongsun Yarou activated her enchanting powers, Leng Ruoxue and the others immediately fell into an illusion, halting their advance.
As she gazed at the Haotian Mirror before her, Gongsun Yarou's eyes filled with madness.
"Xiao Fan, you're mine now!"
But before she could revel in her victory, a smug voice echoed behind her.
"Thank you for holding them off for me!"
Xuanwei stood there, smiling sweetly at Gongsun Yarou.
Gongsun Yarou frowned. She was wary of Xuanwei, who had always been her nemesis.
Yet she still had the advantage.
Without further hesitation, Gongsun Yarou channeled her power into the Haotian Mirror, attempting to claim its control.
But in the next moment, the mirror's divine power rebounded, sending her flying.
Seeing this, Xuanwei chuckled. "Didn't I already tell you? The rulers of the Heavenly Court could control the Haotian Mirror because my father founded the court and managed the myriad worlds on its behalf."
"Your true aim was merely to possess Xiao Fan, without any intention of bearing the responsibility of overseeing the worlds. How could you possibly control the Haotian Mirror?"
"It seems the position of Heavenly Court ruler should fall to me. After all, I am merely continuing my father's legacy."
Her father, the Immortal Emperor, had perished along with the Immortal Realm.
The Heavenly Court had been his creation. If Xuanwei could assume the role of ruler, taking on her father's responsibilities, it would hold deep personal significance for her.
With that, Xuanwei channeled her power into the Haotian Mirror and, unsurprisingly, gained control over it.
The crowd erupted in cheers as they watched the Goddess Empress take control of the Haotian Mirror.
The Heavenly Court was originally founded by the Immortal Emperor, and as his daughter, it was only fitting for the Goddess Empress to inherit his position and the Haotian Mirror.
There was no doubt in anyone's mind that she was capable of fulfilling the duties of the Heavenly Emperor.
After all, she had dispelled the illusions that had trapped them earlier, saving them from the Demon Empress's wrath.
She had also intervened to stop the Jade Pool Empress from slaughtering innocents.
Now that she had claimed the Haotian Mirror, it was a decision everyone welcomed.
As for the Goddess Empress's past behavior, which had at times been bewildering, it was best left unspoken. After all, everyone had a youthful phase.
Watching this unfold, Gongsun Yarou ground her teeth in frustration, her heart filled with bitterness and resentment.
Meanwhile, Leng Ruoxue and the others, now free from the illusion, saw that Xuanwei had gained control of the Haotian Mirror. Though they felt a twinge of disappointment, they also breathed a sigh of relief.
Although Xuanwei had been a bit… peculiar in the past, she now seemed much more composed.
And in any case, this outcome was far better than the Haotian Mirror falling into Gongsun Yarou's hands.
With the Haotian Mirror in her control, Xuanwei's first thought was to release Xiao Fan from the Immortal Execution Array.
She could no longer bear to see her master, Xiao Fan, reduced to such a state—neither truly alive nor dead.
Moreover, she didn't want Xiao Fan's life to be laid bare before the world any longer.
Xiao Fan's life had been tragic enough without being further exposed in such a humiliating manner.
As for the many questions that remained—such as how she had been sent to the lower realms and why the lower realms were still at peace—she could wait to ask Xiao Fan directly once he awakened.
As Xuanwei prepared to use the Haotian Mirror to save Xiao Fan from the Immortal Execution Array, Leng Ruoxue, Wen Yaxian, Huo Linger, and Long Xiaoxiao all beamed with joy.
The rest of the onlookers, though still curious about the truth behind Xiao Fan's supposed atrocities, trusted that the new ruler of the Heavenly Court, the Goddess Empress, would provide them with an explanation in due time.
For now, no one had any complaints.
But just then, the weakened Jade Pool Empress sneered, "If you want Xiao Fan to be utterly destroyed, go ahead and save him!"
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link https://youtu.be/GnU613H6xm8