Half a Year Later, the Deity Descends Once More

Half a year later.

The underground city had completely transformed into a second metropolis suitable for human habitation.

The Array Department's special barriers created an artificial sky and an artificial sun.

The Gu Family cultivated a new type of soil that could shorten plant growth cycles and increase yields.

Roads were paved, and residential buildings were renovated one after another.

Schools and hospitals became more well-equipped.

Over these six months, people gradually came to accept the reality of living underground.

But... they still dreamed of returning to the surface.

Even though most knew the surface was no longer fit for human life.

Inside a Gu Family cake shop.

Ding-a-ling~

The door swung open.

"Welcome~"

"What would you two ladies like?"

A silver-haired cashier girl greeted the customers with cheerful energy.

But when she saw who had entered, a peculiar glint flashed in her eyes.

"Hmm~ Let me see..."

The newcomer had dyed blonde hair and wore the distinctive uniform of a Swordbearer, with a stellar emblem pinned to her chest.

Beside her stood an expressionless black-haired Swordbearer girl.

They were none other than Leng Ling'er, now a Grandmaster, and Ning Qian, who had just reached the Master level.

Today was a special occasion, so she had come to buy a cake for a celebration.

After browsing left and right, Leng Ling'er finally pointed at a fruit cake. "This one!"

"Understood. That’ll be 180 Underground Coins."

"Eh? So expensive! Can’t you give a discount?"

"No bargaining in this shop."

"Fine..."

Leng Ling'er reluctantly handed over two black coins, each worth 90.

After moving underground, the Underground Coin had become their currency.

There were two simple ways to earn it: either by hunting monsters in exchange for coins or supplies, or by participating in the underground city’s construction work for wages.

"Wrap it up nicely, please."

Leng Ling'er emphasized—this cake was for her sister.

Beside her, Ning Qian gave the cashier a strange glance as the girl took the coins and headed to the back for a packaging bag.

Something felt off about this cashier...

Her name tag read... Little Bai?

Who would name themselves that?

Still, Ning Qian leaned closer to Leng Ling'er and whispered, "Ling'er-jie, isn’t this cake shop owned by your brother-in-law’s family? Why are you paying?"

Leng Ling'er hmphed and raised her chin. "That jerk brother-in-law’s been missing for so long, not even a shadow of him. The bond’s gone cold—I refuse to use his dirty money."

"Ling'er-jie truly lives up to being the top talent of the new generation. Such principles—Ning Qian admires you."

"Heh-heh, Xiao Qianqian, as long as you understand. This is the way of my martial path!"

In the back.

Little Bai’s expression darkened. She clenched the packaging bag tightly, muttering under her breath, "Disgusting. These two little wenches dare insult our lord like this."

"Just because one of them was once favored by him?"

"The lord must’ve been bewitched to settle for such a plain woman from the mundane world!"

"So what if she’s strong, pretty, and imposing?! That’s still nothing special—why does she deserve to stand with him?!"

Nearby.

A thick-browed young man carrying a box full of cake shop supplies said sternly, "Enough, Little Bai. That’s the lord’s sister-in-law, not a wench."

"Hmph! Even you’ve changed, Shitou-ge! The lord left us here—he must be abandoning us!"

Little Bai pouted, tossed the packaging bag to the ground, and crouched with her face in her hands.

Her mind wandered back to the scene half a year ago, during the monster invasion.

Back then, they had been waiting joyfully in the Light of Hope, expecting Gu Yan to lead them in conquering the world.

But who could’ve guessed...

The lord disbanded them, announcing the dissolution of the Night Organization.

Though called a disbandment, they were merely reassigned to work under the Gu Family’s businesses across the underground city.

To this day, their original group remained scattered across different sectors, their true identities hidden.

Shitou shook his head firmly. "No. The lord must have his reasons."

"Besides, isn’t life good for us now?"

"No more battles—just peaceful work under Principal Luo Ya’s assignments."

"That was the lord’s final order. The only difference is we don’t fight anymore."

Little Bai looked up, hesitating before sighing. "But... I still want to see him."

"Shitou-ge... where do you think the lord went?"

Shitou’s face also twisted in frustration. "I... I really don’t know."

"Maybe he’s handling something more important?"

......

......

First Layer of the Underground City.

This was the sector closest to the surface.

It served as the stronghold for both the Gu Family and the Martial Alliance.

The world above was now a frozen wasteland, overrun by monsters—a true post-apocalyptic ruin.

To defend against potential breaches of the barrier and reinforce the arrays, the Alliance and the Gu Family jointly guarded the First Layer and the surface.

The Gu Family’s advanced technology could effectively treat martial injuries, and they supplied resources for the entire underground city, distributing them layer by layer from the top down.

At the teleportation array.

A group of heavily armored martial artists stood ready, weapons in hand, awaiting something.

The next moment—

BOOM!

A gust of icy wind surged in as a team clad in frost-resistant combat gear materialized from the array.

Leading them was a woman, her squad hauling abundant monster-hunting spoils.

Prepared logistics personnel stepped forward to collect the goods.

"Captain Bai, welcome back."

"Whew~ I’m exhausted! The cold out there is brutal!"

Captain Bai—Bai Qionglan.

Half a year ago, after Bai Jun was turned into an anti-monster weapon and died, she had thrown herself into relentless training.

Combined with the Gu Family’s specialized regimen and the supply of [Spirit Cuisine], she had now reached the Master level.

Brushing snow off her shoulders, she removed her helmet, revealing her ever-energetic smile.

The logistics member nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Captain Bai."

"Honestly, the underground feels more like home now."

Then, remembering something, she added, "Oh, right—Ling'er-jie came by earlier. She said to find her when you got back. Something about a special day..."

"Ling'er-jie is looking for me?!"

Bai Qionglan’s face lit up. Before the logistics member could finish, she vanished in a flicker of movement.

"Gah! The speed of a Master—terrifying!"

......

......

First Layer Combat Zone, Leng Qingqiu’s Private Office.

Click—

Leng Ling'er pushed the door open, cake in hand.

As she walked in, she announced, "Jie, today’s the one-year anniversary of you meeting that brother-in-law of mine."

"Too bad the jerk’s still missing."

"Jie?"

Leng Ling'er glanced around the empty office.

Suddenly, she noticed her elder sister standing by the window.

Her expression seemed lost in thought.

Leng Ling'er walked over, set down the cake, and froze.

Because on the desk, there was already a bouquet of flowers made of cream puffs.

[Happy First Anniversary]

?

Leng Ling'er blinked in confusion. What the heck was this?

She picked it up and immediately brightened. "Sis, did my brother-in-law send this? Has he been here?"

"No."

"He had someone deliver it."

Leng Qingqiu turned around, her expression calm but her tone carrying a hint of complexity.

The person who delivered the flowers was none other than Luo Ya, the current acting head of the Gu Family.

"Had someone deliver it? What the hell is that jerk up to? But still... it's fine!"

Leng Ling'er patted her chest and let out a relieved laugh. "As long as my brother-in-law is alive, that's all that matters!"

Alive... yes.

But with no news for half a year... what... is he doing now?

A faint unease stirred in Leng Qingqiu's heart.

Because she had discovered something—every member of the Night Organization that Gu Yan had once impersonated... was now in the underground city.

Even Old Gao was there.

Considering how Gu Yan had appeared alone in the sky half a year ago...

Was he... planning to face something alone?

In Leng Qingqiu's mindscape.

[...]

Little Cold seemed to sense something.

She let out a soft sigh.

What was coming... had finally arrived.

......

......

Outside.

A beam of light suddenly streaked across the sky.

As the light descended, a figure landed on the snow-covered ground.

The silhouette gradually became clear—against the backdrop of white snow, His form was tall and elegant, every inch of His skin seemingly radiating a divine glow.

His eyes were like endless starlight, deep and shimmering, as if they could pierce through everything.

His hair flowed like a river of stars, swaying gently in the breeze, emitting a faint luminescence.

He wore a robe woven from starlight, its colors shifting with every angle.

His divine gaze swept indifferently across the snowy world.

"Found it."

He murmured softly before vanishing in an instant.

At the same time.

In another place—a [Night Realm] brimming with the power of darkness.

A figure slowly opened his eyes.

It was Gu Yan, who had climbed multiple levels in just half a year, now reaching the thirteenth tier of divinity.

His current cultivation had already matched that of his first life.

He stood up and said coolly, "Finally... you're here."

BOOM! CRACK!!

As his voice fell,

the Night Realm was forcibly torn open, a rift splitting through space.

Then, that divine figure descended into it.

Gu Yan looked at Him.

He looked back.

SWISH!

Summoning Phantom Annihilation,

the battle... was about to begin!