The threat of the Abyss was temporarily sealed, the Tree of Life regained its vitality, its white trunk flowing with pale golden patterns in the faint light. The pure white flower at the canopy's peak slowly bloomed, sprinkling soft light points like Isis's final blessing. However, the price of victory was heavy—Tang Wulin's vitality had less than ten years remaining, his divine power dissipated, his Golden Dragon King bloodline completely sealed, falling from the divine altar to mortal dust.
Qian Renxue tightly supported Tang Wulin, her fingertips sensing the trembling of his body and the fading of his temperature. Her tears silently fell, mixing with dust and blood, dripping onto the back of his hand. "Let's go home..." she repeated this phrase, as if it were the only salvation.
Bibi Dong stood nearby, a trace of complexity flashing through her purple-black eyes. She raised her hand to condense a wisp of death aura, yet it was not an attack—instead transforming into gentle energy that probed into Tang Wulin's body. After a moment, she withdrew her hand, her voice low: "The speed of vitality loss is slower than expected, but irreversible. Ten years... perhaps shorter." She didn't continue, turning to gaze at the now calm Abyss Gate. The gate still stood, but was entwined and covered by the Tree of Life's root system, emitting soft white light, forming a solid barrier. The roaring and restlessness from behind the gate had been isolated, leaving only deathly silence.
Dai Chengfeng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, walking to Tang Wulin's other side. "Can you walk?" he asked, his voice carrying rare concern. Tang Wulin nodded, trying to straighten his body, but stumbled, firmly supported by Qian Renxue. "Don't push yourself." Qian Renxue said in a low voice, placing his arm over her shoulder. Bibi Dong glanced at them, saying nothing, only raising her hand to summon a dark purple light bridge extending from the Tree of Life's base toward the periphery. "Take this, save some strength."
The four walked across the light bridge, leaving the core area. Looking back, the Tree of Life shone brilliantly against the Abyss's gray background, the white flower on its canopy sprinkling light rain, purifying the remaining filth. Isis's phantom had completely dissipated, but that tree seemed to have new breath, every leaf gently swaying as if bidding farewell.
Crossing the battle-devastated wasteland, the journey was silent and slow. Tang Wulin mostly relied on Qian Renxue's support, occasionally walking a few steps himself, but soon panting for breath, cold sweat beading on his forehead. His Dragon God Wings had long been retracted, the residual golden patterns on his skin fading, the violent aura belonging to the Golden Dragon King completely gone, replaced by a nearly transparent weakness. Qian Renxue frequently looked down at him, her eyes full of heartache, yet forcibly holding back her tears—she must be strong, just as he once did for her.
Bibi Dong walked at the front, using divine power to clear away residual Abyss monster remains along the path. Her movements were crisp and efficient, but her brows remained slightly furrowed. Dai Chengfeng guarded the rear, wind elements flowing around him, vigilant for any possible abnormalities. Until the wasteland's edge, where the sky transitioned from eternal night to dark red, then gradually revealed gray-white light, did they realize much time had passed.
"How long have we been in here?" Qian Renxue suddenly asked. Bibi Dong raised her hand to sense, then said after a moment: "About three days outside." Three days—in the Abyss's distorted spacetime, it felt like ages. Tang Wulin leaned against a rock to rest, smiling bitterly: "Going back, we'll probably be scolded terribly." He referred to their relatives and friends in the Divine Realm—Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Yuhao, Tang Wutong... and their children. Qian Renxue gripped his hand: "As long as we return, anything is fine."
After a brief rest, Bibi Dong tore space open, creating a temporary passage to the Divine Realm. The passage was extremely unstable, its edges flashing with dangerous black-purple electric arcs. "My remaining divine power can only support one passage, and the exit position may be offset." she warned.
Dai Chengfeng nodded: "Better than being trapped here." The four entered the passage one by one, shuttling through spatial turbulence. Tang Wulin was tightly protected in Qian Renxue's embrace, while Bibi Dong and Dai Chengfeng used divine power to withstand impacts from front and rear.
After who knew how long, a point of white light appeared ahead, then suddenly opened up—
They fell onto a soft cloud blanket, surrounded by familiar sights: floating immortal mountains, flowing golden rivers, and in the distance, the majestic divine temple complex. The Divine Realm, finally returned. But the exit was not the predetermined Divine Realm Committee plaza, but rather the "Garden of Tranquility" at the Divine Realm's edge—a quiet place commonly used for recuperation.
"Pretty good luck." Bibi Dong surveyed the surroundings, confirming safety before retracting her divine power. Her face was slightly pale—the consumption from opening the passage was clearly considerable. Dai Chengfeng immediately sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing, wind elements forming a small vortex around him, absorbing the Divine Realm's pure spiritual energy.
Qian Renxue helped Tang Wulin sit down, anxiously looking around: "We need to find help..." Before her words fell, several powerful auras rapidly approached from the distance. Leading were two figures, one blue and one pink, arriving in an instant.
"Wulin!" Xiao Wu's voice carried sobs—she practically threw herself from the air, tightly embracing her son. Tang San, following closely behind, though not losing his composure, betrayed his emotions with trembling hands and reddened eyes. He knelt on one knee, pressing his palm to Tang Wulin's back, vast divine power pouring in to investigate. After a moment, his face turned pale.
"Vitality exhausted... divine soul damaged... bloodline sealed..." With each word Tang San spoke, his voice grew heavier. Xiao Wu covered her mouth, tears gushing out. At this time, more figures arrived: Dai Yuhao, Tang Wutong, Huo Yun'er, Ji Dong, Lie Yan... and Tang Wulin and Qian Renxue's children—Tang Xuanyu, Tang Yilin, and the youngest Tang Nianxue. The children, seeing their father's weakened state, were all stunned, then threw themselves forward crying together.
"Dad!" Tang Xuanyu was already a youth, yet now cried like a child. Tang Wulin raised his hand with difficulty, rubbing his head: "It's fine... Dad's back." Tang Nianxue was only five years old, hugging Tang Wulin's leg and wailing loudly. Qian Renxue quickly picked her up, gently comforting her.
The scene was chaotic. Tang San took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his emotions, commanding in a heavy voice: "First return to the Temple of Life, use the Lake of Life for nourishment. Yuhao, go invite the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life; Ji Dong, notify the Divine Realm Committee that the Abyss Gate is temporarily sealed but requires continuous monitoring; the rest, maintain Divine Realm order, do not leak this information." His arrangements were methodical, but slightly trembling fingertips betrayed the turmoil within his heart.
Everyone immediately acted. Tang Wulin was wrapped in Tang San's divine power, slowly lifted. Qian Renxue stayed close without leaving an inch, the children following tightly. Bibi Dong and Dai Chengfeng fell to the rear, maintaining some distance from the Divine Realm gods. The God of Destruction and Goddess of Life quickly arrived—the two God Kings' brows tightly locked upon seeing Tang Wulin's condition. The Goddess of Life's gentle green divine power wrapped around Tang Wulin, yet it was like a stone sinking into the sea, feedback extremely faint.
"His vitality source is damaged, not repairable by external forces." she shook her head and sighed, "He can only rely on time and self-nourishment, but with his remaining lifespan..." She didn't continue.
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