Afterward, the two Divine Monarchs left the great hall. Standing atop a mountain range, the Absolute Cold God Monarch asked the Crownless God Monarch, "Senior Brother, now that we’ve told that old woman everything, does this mean we’ll be under her thumb from now on?"
"Of course not. She wishes!" the Crownless God Monarch said coldly.
"Oh?" the Absolute Cold God Monarch asked, puzzled.
"She certainly has some tricks up her sleeve," the Crownless God Monarch explained. "For now, we must prepare for two possibilities. The first revolves around her final battle with the Evil You Ancestor. Only she can force a battle to the death with him. Regardless of who wins, we’re confident we can ambush the severely wounded victor and finish them off!
"The second possibility involves that kid. If we can kill him, we can leave ahead of schedule, take the Divine Talisman, and command the Evil Clan! We’ll make the Evil Clan fight for us. When the time is right, we’ll take down the Righteous Divine Lineage and the Demon Clan as well! That old crone actually thinks I’ll work for her. How naive."
So that’s his plan, the Absolute Cold God Monarch thought. It’s a good strategy, a fine choice indeed. Whether it’s feasible, however, will depend on seizing the right opportunity. That’s the only way we can carve out a chance for survival.
Meanwhile, Ye Fan had already arrived at Demon Mountain. The Seven-Colored Demon Empress was in grave danger, and he had a sinking feeling that not bringing the Evil You Ancestor had been a terrible mistake. Unfortunately, the Evil You Ancestor was in a deep slumber that no one could disturb. The ancestor wouldn’t awaken for at least another ten days. Until then, everything depended on Ye Fan alone.
Inside the prison, the Seven-Colored Demon Empress looked pale. She had endured constant torment for days. Just then, the Undying Phoenix arrived.
The Undying Phoenix sneered, "You’re about to be executed for betraying the Demon Clan!"
"Hmph! That’s just an accusation you’ve concocted. The heavens themselves can attest to my devotion to the Demon Clan!"
"HAHAHA! I stopped believing in the heavens long ago. In this day and age, you still cling to such ethereal nonsense? I have something else to tell you, by the way."
"Speak!" the Seven-Colored Demon Empress said coldly.
The Undying Phoenix said, "That boy will be joining you soon. I’ve already spread the news that you’re about to be executed. If he really cares about you, he’ll surely come to your rescue!"
"Don’t you dare!" the Seven-Colored Demon Empress exclaimed sharply.
"My dearest disciple," the Undying Phoenix said, her voice laced not with anger but with amusement, "I painstakingly taught you martial arts and elevated you to the pinnacle of the Demon Clan. You’ve had your share of glory over the years. It’s time you made a contribution to me!"
The Seven-Colored Demon Empress retorted coldly, "I have never enjoyed any glory; I have merely shouldered the responsibilities of the Demon Clan! Only a greedy, selfish person like you would think that way!"
The former bond between master and disciple had degenerated into this state of desperation, their eyes holding nothing but hatred and the intent to exploit.
The Seven-Colored Demon Empress’s heart broke. She knew that once the Demon Clan fell into the Undying Phoenix’s grasp, its destruction would not be far behind.
The Undying Phoenix said coldly, "It seems you still fail to see the truth. When you reach my age and my level of cultivation, you’ll understand that in this world, nothing matters but yourself! As long as I can benefit, even sacrificing the entire world is a trivial matter!" she declared, revealing her most ruthless and decisive nature.
"I could never do that! It is precisely because of greedy people like you that this world is plagued by so many disasters and wars! Therefore, I will never be the same kind of person as you!" the Seven-Colored Demon Empress spat.
"Whether we are the same or not doesn’t matter. You’re going to die anyway. I’m merely extracting your remaining value before you do."
"I understand. Then kill me now!" the Seven-Colored Demon Empress said flatly.
The Undying Phoenix laughed. "You wish to die? I can grant that wish at any time, but not yet! Enjoy these final moments. I’ll be sure to have your little lover join you! HAHAHA!"
Holding the map Xiao Tian had given him, Ye Fan made his way into the depths of Demon Mountain. After passing through numerous trials, he finally found and opened the prison. The moment he opened the prison door, he saw the unconscious Seven-Colored Demon Empress.
He rushed to her side. "My love, don’t sleep now! Wake up!"
But there was no response. Suddenly, he felt a powerful force slam into him from the opposite side. Caught completely off guard, Ye Fan was sent flying backward.
"Gah!" He clutched his chest, looking ahead in shock. He was stunned to see that the person before him had raised their head. It was the Crownless God Monarch!
The Crownless God Monarch laughed wildly. "Kid, how did you like a taste of my Crownless Heart-shattering Palm?"
"You... you shameless bastard!" Ye Fan roared in anger.
"Say what you like. You’re a dead man anyway!" the Crownless God Monarch sneered.
"Just you?" Ye Fan scoffed.
"Of course, it’s not just me. They’re here as well!" the Crownless God Monarch sneered. As his voice fell, the Absolute Cold God Monarch materialized beside him. At the same time, an even more arrogant laugh echoed through the prison. Ye Fan spun around and saw the Undying Phoenix. She held the Seven-Colored Demon Empress in her grasp. When the empress saw Ye Fan’s injuries, tears streamed down her face. She knew she had doomed him.
She cried out, scolding him, "You idiot! This is a matter of my Demon Clan! Why did you have to get involved? Now you won’t even be able to save yourself!"
"For you," Ye Fan replied, his voice firm, "I would walk into certain death to be by your side."
The Seven-Colored Demon Empress was deeply touched. She had never truly accepted Ye Fan, yet at this critical moment, he had come for her. This place was so dangerous!
"That’s enough," the Undying Phoenix snapped. "Save your tender reunion for Hell!" She was genuinely enraged. For a moment, she saw in Ye Fan’s defiant stance the shadow of another man in flowing white robes, the one who had so cruelly rejected her long ago.
Ye Fan said, "I still have one question!"
"What is it?" she asked.
"I followed the map here exactly. How were you all so prepared for me? It looks like you’ve been waiting for a long time!"
"HAHAHA! For that, you have the little lackey who gave you the map to thank!" the Undying Phoenix laughed maniacally.
Ye Fan’s eyes widened in realization. "Xiao Tian!"
The Seven-Colored Demon Empress seethed with rage as well. Of all the possibilities she had considered, she never imagined Xiao Tian Demon General would betray her. After all, he and Jiufeng Demon General had once been her most trusted subordinates.
"Come on out, you little lackey!" the Undying Phoenix shouted. "Take a look at the master you betrayed!"
Prodded by her command, Xiao Tian emerged. He walked out from a dark corner with trepidation, not daring to meet the eyes of Ye Fan or the Seven-Colored Demon Empress.
"Why did you betray me?" the Seven-Colored Demon Empress asked weakly. "I can’t believe it was you."
"Boss," Xiao Tian said, trembling, "I’m sorry!"
"Don’t apologize to me," the Seven-Colored Demon Empress said, her eyes filling with tears. "I have no such shameless subordinate!"
Xiao Tian couldn’t even lift his head. It felt as if it weighed a hundred thousand pounds, heavy enough to drop right to the floor.