The celebration feast ended swiftly.
All members of the Dragon King Hall staggered away in a drunken stupor.
Mu Jinyu, not deliberately suppressing the alcohol, was also somewhat tipsy. After downing the last cup, he stood up and smiled at Xiang Mantang, "Ah-Xiang, I'm feeling a bit dizzy, I'm heading back now. You should rest early too..."
"Brother..." Xiang Mantang stood up as well, following him to the door. Gazing at the yellowing leaves of the trees not far away, he sighed deeply, "Brother, it's time for me to leave."
"Hm? Leave for where?"
Mu Jinyu instantly sobered up, his eyes regaining their clarity, filled with worry as he looked at Xiang Mantang.
"To the place I must go. I've long since become out of place in this world."
Xiang Mantang looked up at the dark sky.
Even though it was actually just after two in the afternoon, when the sun should've been at its brightest, thick fog blocked its rays from reaching the ground. A chill breeze swept by, giving an icy feeling.
And as the sunlight vanished, global temperatures kept falling by the day; the average surface temperature had already dropped to minus 20 degrees Celsius.
Ordinary people had long since become unable to bear it.
When the dark turmoil first started, it wasn't much of an issue. But now, nearly a month later, most of the plants in the world were dead!
And some large trees, with their slow metabolism and sizable nutrient reserves, were now only yellowing. They could still survive for a few more years.
But if the dark turmoil continued like this, in a year's time, the global average surface temperature would drop nearly to minus 100 degrees Celsius!
The food chain was gradually collapsing; herbivores, carnivores, and human sustenance would become scarcer and scarcer.
One could say that even though the demonic chaos had ended, if the thick fog above never cleared, humanity would eventually perish.
Xiang Mantang, though reluctant to leave like this, understood that he was the initiator of this dark turmoil; it was only right that he put an end to it personally.
Mu Jinyu too understood these truths, so he silently watched Xiang Mantang with mixed emotions.
With a long sigh, Xiang Mantang turned back to look at Mu Jinyu, "I can't delay any longer, Brother. Go and fetch the last Black Bone Demon for me. It's time for me to depart."
Seeing the concern in Mu Jinyu's gaze, Xiang Mantang offered a faint smile, "Brother, what's with that look? Don't worry, I'm not going to die as an apology to the world. I'm just heading back to that Folded Space I once visited, to temporarily imprison myself there. There's still a chance to get rid of the ghost shadow following me in the future."
Mu Jinyu nodded lightly, "Alright, I'll go get it for you."
Having said that, Mu Jinyu walked with heavy steps towards the underground storage, bringing up the Golden Container that held the two Black Bone Demons captive.
Then he returned to his office and also took the sack he had brought from the True Martial Hall.
Afterward, Mu Jinyu handed these three items to Xiang Mantang.
"What's this?"
Xiang Mantang knew what the two Golden Containers contained, but he wasn't sure what was in the sack.
Opening the sack, Mu Jinyu revealed some Spiritual Medicines inside, remarking, "Some Spiritual Medicines suitable to aid your Cultivation. With limited time, I couldn't get more. I hope they can help you a bit."
Some of these Medicines were unsuitable for Mu Jinyu's cultivation but were apt for Xiang Mantang; therefore, he kept them.
For example, the Red Dragon Ganoderma which, if consumed carelessly by a non-fire spirit body, could lead to an explosive death.
"Alright, thank you, Brother," Xiang Mantang said.
Taking the sack and hefting the two Golden Containers, he said, "Brother, I am leaving."
"Shall I see you off?"
Mu Jinyu hesitated, then offered with a smile.
"Sure."
Xiang Mantang considered, then nodded in agreement.
And then, Xiang Mantang bade farewell to Gu Xiyan, Su Zijin, and the others.
"Godmother, sisters-in-law, I'm off first. I'll come back to see you when I have time."
Su Zijin and Gu Xiyan weren't exactly sure why Xiang Mantang had entered that folded space again, sealing it off; he wouldn't come out unless a solution was found.
They were also a bit shocked but then laughed and said:
"Little Xiang, why are you leaving so soon?"
"Little uncle, take good care of yourself!"
"Little master uncle, come back when you have time."
"..."
One by one, Xiang Mantang bid them farewell with a smile, and then, taking Jian Ruyan by the hand, he set off with Mu Jinyu towards the direction of the Mesopotamian Plain.
Half a day later.
The three of them — Mu Jinyu, Jian Ruyan, and Xiang Mantang — arrived at the riverbanks.
Mu Jinyu and Jian Ruyan couldn't see anything unusual about the wasteland before them, but Xiang Mantang, who had fused with that strange mask, could see the folded space.
"Senior brother, take good care of yourself and help me look after Ah-Xiu," Xiang Mantang said, letting go of Jian Ruyan's hand and ruffling her hair, speaking to Mu Jinyu.
Mu Jinyu was taken aback at his words.
"Eh? Brother!!"
Hearing Xiang Mantang's words, Jian Ruyan immediately panicked, "Brother, aren't you taking me with you?"
Xiang Mantang shook his head and smiled, "There's no need. In that demon world, I don't need to consciously suppress the spread of the ghost shadow anymore. I can also tell from the changes in the ghost shadow whether there's a way to completely suppress it. I'll consider how to rid myself of this demon. You don't have to suffer with me."
"Brother, I don't want this!"
Jian Ruyan looked at Xiang Mantang with pleading eyes.
Xiang Mantang shook his head, "It's no use not wanting it. There's no food inside, and you're just an Energy Transformation Warrior, not yet in the God Realm, and haven't reached the Fasting level, unable to live by drawing Qi alone. If you go in, you'd just be waiting to die!"
"I have Fasting Pills..." Jian Ruyan pleaded.
In fact, with Jian Ruyan's aptitude, if she hadn't been following Xiang Mantang all over the world searching for demon traces in the past few days, she would have already reached the God Realm.
"I won't be coming out of there in just a year or half a year. Will your Fasting Pills last long enough?" Xiang Mantang asked.
Jian Ruyan fell silent immediately.
Her Fasting Pills were indeed only enough for half a year.
If she were to be in the demon world for the long haul, she would definitely starve to death.
Seeing that Jian Ruyan had fallen quiet, Xiang Mantang looked towards Mu Jinyu, "Senior brother, please take good care of Ah-Xiu. Sometimes she can be quite wilful, so please indulge her a bit."
Mu Jinyu sighed softly, resignedly saying, "Ah-Xiu's temperament is fine, isn't it? But you want me to take care of her? Are you not afraid I'll end up making her my wife? Make sure to come out early!"
Jian Ruyan's face turned a slight shade of red upon hearing Mu Jinyu's words, glaring fiercely at him.
Xiang Mantang chuckled lightly, "If she truly likes you, there's nothing I can do. But you already have so many wives, don't torment Ah-Xiu just to provoke me!"
Xiang Mantang knew what Mu Jinyu meant; he wanted him to worry about Jian Ruyan so that he would come out of the demon world sooner.
Otherwise, Mu Jinyu might make his move on Jian Ruyan, turning her into one of his little wives, to infuriate him!
However, regarding this matter.
Xiang Mantang felt that his sister would have to get married sooner or later, but if she couldn't find a husband who would treat her well, then he would rather she stayed with Mu Jinyu than be with a scoundrel who would drive him to an early grave.
Of course, Mu Jinyu was only a second choice, since he had too many wives already.
If he wasn't already married and still single, Xiang Mantang would indeed be quite willing to match the two of them.
But now, he hoped that Jian Ruyan would meet someone more suitable who wouldn't mistreat her.
Unless there really was no one else and Jian Ruyan would not marry anyone but Mu Jinyu, he would not agree to it.