Zuoxu Shrine.
The table with the bronze mirror on it trembled, and then a group of monks stumbled out.
They had returned to the real world, their expressions still unsettled, minds immersed in the despair and panic of the world's recent destruction—unable to extricate themselves for a long time.
After them, Sheng Rulai came out, followed by Mu Jinyu, who was holding Jian Ruyan's hand and dragging her out as well.
After Jian Ruyan came out, her pretty face was pale, obviously frightened.
They had narrowly suppressed the eminently menacing disaster, but they almost got trapped in that crumbling world as well.
Then, Jian Ruyan tugged on her left hand, which was still extended into the bronze mirror, but she couldn't move Xiang Mantang.
Her expression suddenly changed.
Her brother stayed until the last moment to cover their retreat, but now she couldn't pull him through—could something have happened?
No, she had to go save him!
Just as Jian Ruyan was preparing to re-enter the Mirror World to check on Xiang Mantang...
The hand she was gripping suddenly exerted more force, and then Xiang Mantang stepped out from the bronze mirror!
"Bang!"
As soon as Xiang Mantang came out, for some unknown reason, the bronze mirror shattered.
What did the destruction of the bronze mirror signify?
It meant that even if the Mirror World hadn't collapsed and it was still possible to travel there through the mirror, without the coordinates, it was nearly impossible to return to that place.
"Amitabha..."
At that moment, Sheng Rulai and the group of monks, seeing that only a dozen had returned out of the dozens who had set out, realized that the leaders of Brilliant Divine Authority led by Reinhardt had all sacrificed themselves to contain the Tide of Chaos and revealed a mournful expression, beginning to recite Buddhist Scriptures softly.
Mu Jinyu and Xiang Mantang also wore silent expressions, feeling unsettled.
The Brilliant Divine Authority had been somewhat at odds with their Dragon King Hall in the past, but now, nearly all their leaders had remained in the Mirror World. In reality, the existence of Brilliant Divine Authority was nothing more than a name.
In the past, they might have rejoiced at this turn of events, but their sacrifice had arguably been to resolve the darkness and chaos at the earliest possible moment and to help them leave this place, which made it very difficult for them to feel comfortable with the outcome.
Mu Jinyu thought back to what had recently happened and mused that maybe Reinhardt's sudden decision to seize the opportunity to imprison the Tide of Chaos wasn't made on an impulse.
After all, this was a decision that required sacrificing one's life—how could it be made on a whim?
The best course of action was clearly to return first and then find a way to obtain an advanced-level magic artifact and to research Ghost Candles, analyze their composition, and produce them in large quantities.
So, Mu Jinyu surmised that maybe everyone hadn't noticed when the eminently menacing disaster was first contained, lesser signs that the Mirror World was beginning to collapse, but Reinhardt had noticed.
He couldn't guarantee after they left whether the disappearance of the eminently menacing disaster would prompt any changes in the Mirror World, whether they could re-enter it, or whether they could find the Tide of Chaos again, which was why he had no choice but to decide to sacrifice himself!
Mu Jinyu didn't know if his speculation was correct, but regardless, Reinhardt and the others had ultimately sacrificed themselves for the sake of others, which was enough to make them sentimental.
"Amitabha, Dragon King, Hall Master Xiang, now that matters are settled here, we will take our leave."
After Sheng Rulai led the monks in the recitation of the scriptures, he put his palms together and spoke to Mu Jinyu and the others.
"Mhm, thank you, Tathagata, and all the masters for your help along the way," Mu Jinyu nodded in reply.
Afterward, Sheng Rulai led the monks away from Zuoxu Shrine.
"Senior brother, it seems the sky has cleared up a lot outside," Xiang Mantang said, stepping out of the shrine and looking at the slightly gloomy sky, turning back to speak to Mu Jinyu.
Mu Jinyu followed him outside, squinting at the sky and saying, "Mhm, it seems that with these demons imprisoned, the world will eventually return to its original peace."
"So, senior brother, now that the eminently menacing disaster and the Tide of Chaos have been dealt with, but there are still many demons roaming the earth, Ah-Xiu and I will set off again to imprison them, and then come back for you."
Xiang Mantang didn't have time to grieve over Reinhardt's sacrifice; he was eager to set off without delay to confine the remaining demons.
He was already impatient, eager to see the originally azure and crystal-clear sky again.
"Mm, then take care," Mu Jinyu's lips moved a few times before he finally cautioned.
"Mhm, senior brother, you take this golden safe back, remember to be careful. Ah-Xiu and I will go ahead."
Xiang Mantang held Jian Ruyan's hand and immediately turned around, heading in a certain direction.
Watching Xiang Mantang and Jian Ruyan leave,
Mu Jinyu returned to the Shrine, looking at the golden container the size of a safe. Inside it was the only self-aware demon he had encountered so far.
After removing the Demon Seed it had secretly sown, Mu Jinyu no longer had any thoughts of communicating or making deals with it.
Lifting it up, Mu Jinyu walked out of Zuoxu Shrine and looked up at the gloomy sky, wondering if the world would indeed return to peace and the once azure sky reappear after Xiang Mantang had imprisoned all the demons causing chaos around the world?
Or would it only be possible after Xiang Mantang had dealt with the dark source behind him?
But how to deal with that ghost shadow?
Mu Jinyu really didn't know and felt that Xiang Mantang was also at a loss.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have to keep bringing Jian Ruyan along to utilize her Ice Phoenix Bloodline to help suppress the ghost shadow.
"Hopefully there will be a way to resolve this by then, or maybe just let Ah-Xiang live and cultivate with the ghost shadow? Until she can get rid of it?"
Mu Jinyu muttered to himself in a low voice.
Shaking his head slightly, Mu Jinyu stopped thinking further and, carrying the golden container, hurried toward Huaxia Capital City.
Capital City.
Dragon King Hall headquarters.
At the entrance, two groups of people were making a noisy argument.
"Xiaorou, why won't you listen to Mom? The mortal world is now very unsafe; Mom is taking you to a safe place to take refuge!"
At the entrance, the one leading a group that did not belong to Dragon King Hall was a middle-aged beautiful woman who bore some resemblance to Wen Rou.
From what she said, could she be Wen Rou's mother?
Had she come to take her daughter back?
Around the beautiful woman stood four or five men with exceedingly strong auras, clearly not ordinary people.
They had calm faces and remained silent, but to Mu Hongchen, they seemed even more terrifying than Energy Transformation Warriors like Wu Shisan who had reached the Complete Energy Transformation Stage!
Similar to Mu Jinyu and Xiang Mantang back when they were at the Peak Energy Transformation Stage.
Could it be that they were all warriors at the Peak Energy Transformation Stage?
Mu Hongchen speculated, not daring to forcibly drive them away since, after all, she was now the only Energy Transformation Warrior left in Dragon King Hall.
"You... are you really my mom?"
Wen Rou looked at the beautiful woman in front of her, her face pale, as she faintly recognized the shadow of her mother from the past.
However, her mother had divorced and disappeared early in her childhood, and no photographs of her had been left at home, leaving Wen Rou without any memory of her mother.
Wen Rou remembered her mother as having been gentle and virtuous, speaking softly and gently, enduring even when her father began to treat her poorly until she could no longer bear it and vanished after the divorce.
She had never been so domineering!
"Of course, Xiaorou, have you really forgotten your own mother?"
The beautiful woman, upon hearing Wen Rou's words, took out a yellowed old photograph from her bag and handed it to Wen Rou.
It was a family photo.
Wen Rou took it and saw at a glance that the man in the photo was her father, Wen Yue, and standing beside her father was the woman—that is, a younger version of the beautiful woman.