The Great War Ends, Return

Time passed swiftly, and a hundred days vanished in a flash.

Above the heavens, the colossal golden gate spanning the sky and earth slowly creaked open.

Endless divine light poured down, illuminating the entire battlefield like a sea of molten gold.

The voice of the Heavenly Dao resounded thunderously:

["The hundred-day period has ended—the War of Faith is concluded!"]

["Behold the complete Golden Ranking—"]

Hummm—!

A radiant golden scroll unfurled in the void, its shimmering light revealing the faith value rankings of each sacred domain one by one:

[1st Place: Netherfrost Divine Domain—Faith Value: 9,999,999]

[2nd Place: Frigid Sky Sacred Domain—Faith Value: 1,200]

[3rd Place: Nine Heavens Sacred Domain—Faith Value: 1,100]

[4th Place: Exquisite Celestial Domain—Faith Value: 800]

...

The moment the rankings appeared, an uproar swept through the crowd.

"N-nine... nine hundred ninety-nine thousand?!"

The Exquisite Empress paled, her nails digging deep into her palms.

Her trembling voice was barely audible as she stared at the staggering number on the golden scroll. "How is this possible?!"

The rulers of the other sacred domains were equally stunned, their pupils shaking violently. Some even collapsed to their knees, legs giving way beneath them.

Nine hundred ninety-nine thousand faith points... This wasn't just a "crushing victory"—it was an insurmountable chasm of difference!

They had always known the Netherfrost Divine Domain was formidable.

But to think... they were this overpowering?

Meanwhile, the members of Netherfrost Divine Domain remained utterly unfazed, as if they had expected this outcome all along.

Huo Feng munched on a spirit fruit, mumbling through a full mouth, "Didn't Qin Luo say the faith value cap was ten million? Why are we just shy of it?"

Li Mingyuan adjusted his glasses. "The Heavenly Dao is stingy—didn’t want to give us the full amount."

Little Ke giggled. "Or maybe it’s afraid we’d get too cocky."

Su Muwan, lazily leaning against Qin Luo’s shoulder, yawned. "Finally over... I’ve already finished all my chips."

Qin Luo chuckled and ruffled her hair. "I’ll buy you more when we get back."

Then, the Heavenly Dao’s voice boomed once more:

["Netherfrost Divine Domain ranks first—bestowed with one Eternal Dao Fruit! Heavenly blessings descend upon you!"]

Boom—!

A blinding golden light cascaded from the heavens, enveloping all one hundred thousand cultivators of Netherfrost Divine Domain—along with the entire divine realm itself!

In an instant, warm currents surged through their bodies, and the bottlenecks in their cultivation shattered one after another!

Ouyang Xuan, Li Mingyuan, and others broke through to the Sovereign Realm on the spot!

Huo Feng advanced even further, reaching mid-stage Sovereign Realm, his crimson flames now tinged with gold!

Even Su Muwan, who had been lazing around, blinked in surprise as she realized her Frost Origin had become at least twice as pure!

Meanwhile, the spiritual energy density of Netherfrost Divine Domain skyrocketed, far surpassing that of any other realm!

"Huh?"

She blinked again. "Did I just... get stronger?"

Qin Luo pinched her cheek affectionately. "Of course. You are the young mistress, after all."

Su Muwan lifted her chin proudly. "Damn right!"

The Heavenly Dao’s blessings lasted a full quarter-hour before fading.

As the golden light dissipated, the Heavenly Dao’s voice solemnly declared:

["The Great Thousand War is officially concluded! All participants shall return immediately!"]

Hummm—!

Pillars of golden light descended from the sky, enveloping the cultivators of each sacred domain.

"Finally... we can go back!"

"I don’t want to spend another second in this hellhole!"

Tears streamed down the faces of the allied sacred domain cultivators. For a hundred days, they had either been fighting for their lives or running for them.

Some had even died once—only to be revived—and now, at last, they were free.

Lei Zhentian and the other domain rulers, their lifebound treasures damaged and injuries still lingering, knew full well that Netherfrost Divine Domain’s rise was now unstoppable.

After a long hesitation, they finally clasped their hands and spoke.

"Domain Master Su... Qin Luo... Once we return, we would like to discuss your proposal about the Great Thousand Network in detail."

"There were some... misunderstandings before. We hope you won’t hold it against us."

Qin Luo waved cheerfully. "Don’t worry. My young mistress and I aren’t the petty type."

Su Muwan nodded. "Mm-hmm. If Qin Luo says so, then it’s fine."

The others sighed in relief.

"Young Mistress, shall we head back too?"

"Sure~"

Golden light shimmered.

The Great Thousand Battlefield vanished without a trace, returning to its deathly silence.

But...

Skreee—

From the depths of the dense forest, the unsettling sound of countless segmented limbs scuttling echoed relentlessly.

...

Star Palace.

Golden light flashed as Tian Zixing and the others reappeared in the grand hall.

"We’re back..."

Tian Zixing stared at his palm, memories of the hundred-day battlefield flooding his mind.

The tide of abominations, the skeletal titan, the Shadow Garden... and the figure who had taken a blade for him.

"Xiao Lian..."

His heart wrenched as he recalled his earlier suspicion—

[Perhaps she was just an illusion from a fragment of time...]

"Was she really... just an illusion?"

His fists clenched, pain flashing in his eyes.

"Benefactor!"

A familiar voice suddenly called out from behind.

Tian Zixing froze, then whirled around—

There, standing at the hall’s entrance in a pristine white dress, was Su Bailian.

Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes as she whispered, "I... I got lost and couldn’t find you..."

Boqi wagged his tail furiously at her feet, drooling at the sight of Tian Zixing.

"Woof!"

Translation: Feed me.

Tian Zixing’s eyes reddened instantly.

He strode forward, wanting to pull Su Bailian into his arms—but stopped short, as if afraid to taint her purity.

Last time, her miraculous revival had made him act impulsively, but now...

His voice was hoarse. "Xiao... Xiao Lian..."

Su Bailian’s eyes flickered with mischief before she timidly reached out and grasped his hovering hands.

With a sweet smile, she said, "Benefactor, it’s really me."

Tears welled in Tian Zixing’s eyes. "Good... good. Lian Lian, from now on, Star Palace will protect you for life!"

Su Bailian lowered her head with a demure "Mm," though the corners of her lips curled ever so slightly.

Boqi: "Woof!"

"Brother Zixing, Boqi says he’s hungry."

"Let’s eat! Right now!"

"He only likes steak."

"Fine! Star Palace has a Heavenly Mechanism Cow—the old domain ruler’s dead, so it’s mine now!"

"Okay!"

Nearby.

Tianjizi of the Tianji Sacred Domain watched the scene and nodded approvingly.

True, his junior brother had perished in the Great Thousand War.

But.

Tian Zixing was a talent worth nurturing—just as they had planned.

Rest easy, junior brother. With me overseeing things, no one will steal the domain ruler position from Tian Zixing.

Wait—what did they just say they were going to eat?

The... Heavenly Mechanism Cow?!

Tianjizi’s pupils constricted in horror as he sprinted after them.

"Hold on!! The Heavenly Mechanism Cow is a revered elder of the sacred domain!! You can’t eat it!!"

.....

....

Author’s Note: The novel is now entering its final arc for the conclusion~~~