Yun Fan could only use the teleportation array to make a surprise return.
When he arrived at Tai Xuan Divine Continent again, he discovered it was already in ruins. The battles between such powerful beings were, after all, extremely terrifying.
Countless people had died, and there was no one left alive.
As Yun Fan sensed Hong Lian's presence, he found her tens of thousands of miles away and immediately rushed towards her.
Tens of thousands of miles away.
At this moment, of the three princes Hong Lian had been fighting, only one remained alive. The situation was dire.
He was covered in injuries, but Hong Lian was not faring much better, her own wounds being even more severe.
However, with the augmentation of demonic energy, Hong Lian's recovery speed was remarkably fast.
The King of Zhen Dong spoke to Hong Lian, "Rebel, surrender now! With the formation refining you, you will perish before long!"
"Hmph!"
Hong Lian let out a cold snort. "Dream on!"
Originally, on that day, she had fought three princes and they were no match for her; she could have easily dealt with them.
After she had killed two of the princes, this sole surviving King of Zhen Dong had used half his life to activate a formation that the Empress had set up in Tai Xuan Divine Continent, trapping her within.
For more than ten days, the King of Zhen Dong had been refining her, which was why she had sustained such severe injuries.
She had been careless, forgetting that the Empress had placed a formation here. She had believed that with her demonic energy, she could devour the formation.
But the formation was already empowered with demonic energy, and with the Empress's methods added, she could not break free.
At this moment, the King of Zhen Dong said coldly, "Then I shall personally refine you, rebel!"
"King of Zhen Dong, even if you refine me, you will not survive!"
Hong Lian said, "If you open the formation, I will spare your life!"
"Hahahahaha!"
The King of Zhen Dong burst into wild laughter. "Do you think I would believe your lies? Furthermore, once this formation is activated, only the Empress can open it. Stop wasting your efforts!"
Upon hearing this, Hong Lian felt a surge of despair. She never imagined that her momentary carelessness would lead to her being trapped in a formation.
But at this very moment, Yun Fan was communicating with her using his divine soul. Since they both possessed demonic energy, their communication had no obstacles.
"Hong Lian, how are you?"
Hong Lian was instantly shocked and hurriedly warned Yun Fan, "Didn't you leave? Why are you back? Go as far away as you can! Quickly!"
"No rush!"
Yun Fan replied, "I won't abandon you!"
"You'll only wait for death here. Go quickly!"
Hong Lian's final words were, "I love you!"
These words solidified Yun Fan's resolve to save Hong Lian. He then asked her, "How much longer can you hold on?"
"Three days at most!"
In Hong Lian's view, three days was the most conservative estimate; she could barely hold on for two.
Yun Fan stated, "You don't need three days. Just hold on for one!"
"What do you intend to do?"
Hong Lian asked, confused.
"I can refine a corner of the formation to save you, but the prerequisite is that you must attract the King of Zhen Dong's attention!"
Yun Fan reminded her.
"But you also know that demonic energy cannot be refined!"
In Hong Lian's opinion, it was impossible. If it could be refined, she would have done it long ago.
Yun Fan replied, "It's fine. Don't forget, I am the ancestor of the demonic path. This bit of demonic energy will not affect me in the slightest!"
"Alright!"
Hong Lian nodded. Since Yun Fan was willing to risk his life for her, what else could she not stake?
Therefore, she immediately drew the King of Zhen Dong's attention.
"King of Zhen Dong, did you not expect this? My recovery is getting faster and faster. When I shatter this formation, it will be your death day!"
"What?"
The King of Zhen Dong was startled. He looked at Hong Lian's condition and indeed, she was much better than before. If Hong Lian were to break through, he would be the one to die.
Thus, at this moment, he gritted his teeth and accelerated the refinement of Hong Lian.
Hong Lian's situation was perilous, but at this juncture, all she could do was grit her teeth and persevere.
Meanwhile, Yun Fan was devouring a corner of the formation. The demonic energy alone posed no impediment or obstruction to him; he could easily break through it.
However, the Empress's methods were exceptionally terrifying. Thus, at this moment, he was continuously devouring the power left behind by the Empress.
One day and one night passed, and Yun Fan finally broke open a corner of the formation.
At this time, the King of Zhen Dong mockingly addressed the dying Hong Lian, "Hong Lian, did you ever imagine this day would come?"
He was convinced that within another day, Hong Lian would surely die.
Hong Lian weakly asked, "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you after I break free?"
"You?"
The King of Zhen Dong scoffed. "You have no right to break free, for this is the Empress's formation. Just wait for death!"
"That's not necessarily true!"
Hong Lian sneered. "Just because there was no way before, doesn't mean I don't have one now!"
"Oh?"
The King of Zhen Dong smiled playfully. "Try it then!"
To his surprise, in the very next moment, Hong Lian shattered the corner of the formation that Yun Fan had devoured with a single punch and broke free.
"What?"
The King of Zhen Dong's expression changed, almost wetting himself. He hadn't expected Hong Lian to truly have a way to escape. At this very moment, his face was a picture of utter dismay.
He knew what his end would be.
Although Hong Lian was severely injured, he was also at the end of his rope. He was no match for Hong Lian, and even more despairing, he had no chance to escape.
"You... How did you do it?"
On the brink of death, the King of Zhen Dong only wanted to know how Hong Lian had managed it.
Hong Lian replied, "Of course, my man helped me!"
"Your man?"
Just as the King of Zhen Dong was bewildered, Yun Fan emerged. "Excuse me, I am her man!"
"What?"
The King of Zhen Dong hadn't expected that he hadn't sensed Yun Fan's presence at all. It wasn't because of his lack of strength.
It was because he had overlooked Yun Fan, focusing solely on dealing with Hong Lian and not diverting his attention to check for any approaching enemies.
He hadn't expected this oversight to become his death knell.
Knowing he was doomed, he asked Hong Lian, "Manager Hong Lian, aren't you afraid the Empress will kill you?"
"Afraid, of course!"
Hong Lian sneered. "But the Empress has not emerged from her seclusion these past few days. Do you think she would appear now?"
Upon hearing this, the King of Zhen Dong's heart turned to ashes. Logically, with such a commotion, the Empress should have emerged long ago.
But the Empress had not emerged! Could it be that something had indeed happened to the Empress?
Hong Lian continued, "From the moment I took this step, I knew my fate. Having the four of you old fools as my stepping stones is already enough!"
"I understand!"
The King of Zhen Dong said, "We shouldn't have meddled back then!"
At this moment, he regretted it. If they hadn't interfered to avenge the King of Zhen Nan, they wouldn't have ended up in this situation.
"It's too late to regret now!"
With that, Hong Lian directly ended the King of Zhen Dong's life and then gave his power to Yun Fan.
"You need it more!"
Yun Fan quickly said.
"No! I don't want to become like Bi Yao!"
Hong Lian directly spoke her true feelings.
"Understood!"
Yun Fan nodded and accepted the power, intending to refine it when they returned to Tian Xuan Divine Continent.
At this point, Hong Lian said, "Little man, I never expected you to come back and save me. I'm so touched!"
"Don't!"
Yun Fan immediately said, "I'm not someone who is heartless or unjust!"
"I know!"
Hong Lian replied, "I'm just curious why, with such a huge commotion, the Empress hasn't appeared!"
Yun Fan asked, "Could she be dead?"
Hong Lian shot him a look. "You're overthinking it!"
At this moment, Hong Lian said, "Let's go! If the Empress seeks retribution later, I will bear the responsibility!"
"Mmm-hmm!"
Yun Fan replied, "Let's just wait until she has the chance to settle accounts with you."
Afterward, the two of them stepped onto the teleportation array together and arrived at Tian Xuan Divine Continent.
At this moment, Yun Fan said, "Wait a moment, I'll bring that little girl along."
"Mmm-hmm!"
Hong Lian nodded, but inwardly, she was filled with curiosity. When had Yun Fan taken in another little girl?
However, she didn't blame Yun Fan. After all, she knew that Yun Fan had an innate ability to attract trouble with women, even if he didn't pursue them, they would pursue him.
It was just that this time, it was a bit excessive, not even sparing little girls.
When Yun Fan opened the formation, the little girl from before had already grown into a stately young lady, a veritable young woman.
"It's her!"
Yun Fan was suddenly speechless. Wouldn't this little girl's growth rate be too fast?
The moment Hong Lian's gaze fell upon her, she almost sat down on the ground.
"The... Empress!"