The night breeze was slightly cool.
The moon and stars are sparse.
Soul Return Town, the main hall of Central Forest Garden.
This is the only building on the entire Weird Island that remains relatively intact after several rounds of earth-shattering Demigod- level battles.
Jiangnan sat alone at the highest point of the main hall.
The Hand of the Sun, which had fallen off due to the failure of the Fusion, rested on her lap.
In his left hand, he held a tattered Mortal Fireworks Painting life.
Jiangnan lowered his head, his fingertips tracing the scroll, and sighed.
"Debts from the past life... must be repaid in this life."
He muttered to himself, his tone self-deprecating.
He then tucked the painting, which carried the Phoenix Emperor's thousand-year obsession, into the inside pocket of his shirt.
After doing all this, Jiangnan Nan looked down at the scene below.
At this moment, all the surviving humans and ghosts had gathered in the square in front of the main hall.
Having survived the baptism of life and death, everyone waited silently, awaiting Jiangnan's next command.
A corner of the square.
Guo Shuai was bandaged up like a mummy.
His left arm was splinted and suspended in front of his chest, and his right leg was in a cast.
She could only stand up with the Circle Quan Quan's small body.
"Phew... I'm so lucky, I actually survived again."
Guo Shuai grimaced, hissing in pain as the wound aggravated.
However, his smile appeared somewhat bitter.
Because he could no longer get a response from that arrogant and disdainful old wizard, Deng.
Albert's departure left him feeling uneasy, as if a large piece of his heart had suddenly gone empty.
Seemingly noticing Guo Shuai's low spirits, Guo Shuai looked up and patted him on the Circle.
"Daddy, don't be sad, you still have Circle!"
Hearing this innocent yet sincere comfort, Guo Shuai's eyes reddened slightly, and he reached out to rub his Circle.
"That's right! Daddy and you, you little rascal."
Meanwhile, the China Sharp Blade Squad finally reunited.
Zhao Yan looked around at his teammates, who were all injured but still breathing, and sighed sincerely.
"Going through all of this today feels like having a long, drawn-out nightmare."
Both Shadow and Liu Ruyan nodded in agreement, still feeling lingering fear.
Only Xin An, who had just been dug out of the rubble, was scratching his head in a daze.
"Who am I? Where am I? What just happened? How come this place is completely flattened?!"
On the stone steps not far from them.
"Ouch! Gently... gently! Doctor, please be gentle!"
Han Fei sat on the steps, gasping for breath in pain.
A skeleton doctor in a white coat is bandaging her bloody, mangled leg wound.
This is Ms. Gang Changke from the Gang Family Chinese Medicine Clinic in the Third Ring Town.
However, the maintenance of the [Mortal Fireworks Painting] was lost.
She can no longer maintain her human disguise and has completely reverted to her original skeletal form.
"Don't move!"
A flicker of will-o'-the-wisp appeared in Ms. Gang's empty eye sockets as she rebuked her.
"You dare to move around with injuries like that? Do you want an amputation?"
"Well!"
Han Fei nodded in agreement.
Just then, the sound of a heavy object being dragged rang out.
Tu Xiaowu walked over.
She clung tightly to Tang Sirui's lifeless body with her left hand.
His right hand was holding his father Tu Xiaogang's zombie head like he was holding a watermelon.
Behind her, Tu Xiaogang's headless zombie body was being pulled by a rope.
She walked up to Ms. Gang and asked with a hopeful expression.
"Dr. Gang, could you please save my father? His head has been severed."
Looking at the huge pile of [Gundam parts], Ms. Gang rubbed her forehead with her skeletal hand, feeling a bit of a headache.
She's a proctologist!
Why are so many people seeking her out for orthopedic and surgical treatments?
But there was nothing she could do; she was the only doctor left in the entire Soul Return Town.
"Ugh, I'm really fed up with you guys. Leave it to me..."
Ms. Gang sighed and reached out her hands to take Tu Xiaogang's head.
Tu Xiaowu nodded, just about to hand over Tu Xiaogang's head.
Just then, Tu Xiaogang, who was being held in someone's arms, suddenly opened his eyes and apologized profusely.
"Xiao Wu, I'm sorry."
"Dad's useless. He couldn't catch that Yellow Hair bastard who killed Si Rui... and he even got his head chopped off."
"Father failed to avenge Si Rui."
Tu Xiaowu, her eyes red-rimmed, shook her head desperately. "Dad, you're so foolish, this isn't your fault at all."
But as she spoke, she couldn't help but sob.
"It's just a pity... that Clown escaped, Si Rui... he's beyond saving!"
Hearing Tu Xiaowu's tearful account, the members of the Sharp Blade Squad, who were not far away, were also saddened.
Although this trip to the Weird Island thwarted the conspiracy of the Desolate God Society, the price paid was far too high.
Not only was Tang Sirui's soul abducted, but even Elder Yue Tian, who was in charge of leading the team, is still missing and his fate is unknown.
However.
At that very moment, Jiangnan, sitting on the roof of the main hall, took in the entire scene unfolding below.
Behind Jiangnan, Dusk quietly approached.
He was holding two key spoils of war in his hands.
One was the [Ten Thousand Souls Orb] emitting mournful cries, and the other was the Tailor's exquisitely beautiful head!
Dusk Hun walked forward expressionlessly and respectfully handed the Ten Thousand Souls Orb to Jiangnan.
Jiangnan accepted the Ten Thousand Souls Orb.
He could clearly see that inside this transparent bead were imprisoned thousands of vengeful spirits with hideous faces.
But if you look closely, you'll find that besides these vengeful spirits, there's another group of huddled, trembling souls hiding in a corner.
Those were the remnant souls of innocent Soul Return Town, forcibly sucked away by the Clown...
At the edge of the group of townspeople, there was a figure smashing the Ten Thousand Souls Orb —it was Tang Sirui!
"Buzzing..."
Just as Jiangnan was examining the Ten Thousand Souls Orb, the [Human Emperor Lamp] hanging at his waist suddenly bumped into his thigh.
[Hungry... want food...]
Jiangnan remained calm and composed, then suddenly squeezed!
"Snap!"
The Ten Thousand Souls Orb was crushed into countless fragments by Jiangnan's exceptional grip!
"Awoo!"
The moment they were freed from their restraints, thousands of vengeful spirits, driven mad by their own rage, let out shrieks and were about to burst out of the bead, ready to wreak havoc in the mortal world!
But the Human Emperor Lamp reacted even faster than them!
It was like a wild dog that hadn't eaten for three days and three nights smelling excrement; it flew out from Jiangnan's waist and pounced on it to tear it apart!
In a matter of moments, it swallowed all the thousands of cold, vengeful spirits, transforming them into warm [Love Values]!
After all, these vengeful spirits have long since lost their minds and humanity.
She doesn't deserve to be considered a factory worker in Jiangnan who can operate a sewing machine.
Their best purpose is to be used as fuel and points.
Aside from these Evil Ghost spirits and vengeful ghosts.
The souls of the townspeople who huddled together in the corner, as well as Tang Sirui's soul, were granted a general amnesty by Jiangnan!
Because they haven't been separated from their bodies for long, a faint bond still exists between their souls and bodies.
In an invisible breeze, these souls transformed into specks of light, drifting into their respective bodies in the plaza below.
This also includes Tang Sirui.
"Whoosh!"
The light streamed into that lifeless body.
Tang Sirui's eyes widened, and she shuddered!
The soul enters the body, the Magic Core returns!
However, this kid's subconscious was still inside the Ten Thousand Souls Orb, the moment he wanted to smash the wall!
"Damn Clown! Let me out!"
As soon as Tang Sirui woke up, before she could even see the situation clearly, her muscle memory had already kicked in.
He simply closed his eyes and unleashed a smooth mini-combo right there on the spot!
"Thought Rabbit Fist! Thoughts flowing like a spring!"
He threw a punch, and with a bang, it hit Tu Xiaowu's left eye!
He punched her so hard she got a huge bruise around her eye!
"Thought Rabbit Sword! Never forget it!"
Immediately afterwards, he joined his hands together in a sword-like gesture and thrust them forward with such force that the tips of his fingers almost pierced into Tu Xiaowu's astonished eyes!
"Tang Mist Palm! For all eternity!"
Finally, he crossed his palms and knocked Tu Xiaowu, who hadn't even had time to react, to the ground!
"Ouch!!!"
Tu Xiaowu let out a scream, covered her eyes, and rolled on the ground in pain.
"Whoosh!"
This sudden scene left everyone stunned!
Without a doubt!
The freak who could pull off this abstract combo must be that eccentric Magic Core with a unique thought process.
It's definitely Tang Sirui himself!
"You brat! You're still alive?!"
Zhao Yan was the first to react. He rushed forward, both surprised and delighted, and grabbed Tang Sirui by the back of her collar, who was still posing with her eyes closed.
"Old Zhao Laodeng?!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Tang Sirui opened her eyes.
He looked at the familiar crowd around him, completely bewildered.
"Wait a minute? Wasn't I locked inside a glass ball by that Clown who looks like a ghost?"
How did I get out?
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he looked down at the enemy who had been beaten to a pulp on the ground by his combo.
When he realized it was a female zombie, he almost split apart on the spot!
"Holy crap!!! Wife?! What are you doing lying on the floor?!"
Tang Sirui rushed over as fast as he could, wanting to help his wife up with heartache.
Get out of my way! Don't touch me!
Tu Xiaowu covered her eyes, and a rabbit peg kicked him away.
Sitting on the rooftop, Jiangnan looked down at the scene below and couldn't help but smile.
"It's good to be alive..."
And just then...
A scraping sound of tiles scraping against each other echoed from the edge of the roof.
Three figures climbed up the eaves onto the roof; it was Little Sparrow and Shangguan Shuyi.
Behind them followed Shen Yingchun.
Unlike the crowd below who celebrated their narrow escape, the three of them walked to a spot not far behind Jiangnan.
"Thump!"
The three of them knelt on one knee!
"Greetings, Lord Dragon God!"
As a native of Soul Return Town, I am a survivor who has lived through a thousand years.
There was no joy of victory on their faces, only an undisguised bitterness.
The Phoenix Emperor has fallen, Mortal Fireworks Painting has been destroyed.
The thousand-year dream of Soul Return Town has finally shattered.
What will become of these beings who depend on Spirit Artifact for survival?
What will become of these loyal subjects of Phoenix Emperor?
Jiangnan did not turn around, nor did she answer them.
"Whoosh."
A gentle breeze swept by.
A Memo Paper fluttered from Jiangnan's hand and landed in Shangguan Shuyi's palm.
Shangguan Shuyi looked down.
[No need for further explanation, I know why you have come.]
"For the greater good, and for her sake... I will restore that painting, and restore her."
Looking at the promise on the note, the three of them exchanged glances, and their hearts, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
We... we swear to follow the Dragon God to the death!
The three of them kowtowed deeply once more.
Jiangnan didn't turn around; he simply waved casually, as if agreeing to follow.
Immediately afterwards, he tossed out a second note.
This time, it was Shen Yingchun who caught the note.
It says above.
[Send a few quick-thinking people to the Confucian Scholar Dojo to find a hidden giant RV.]
That's my mobile base; my people are still on board.
Bringing the car and its occupants back safely is your first mission accomplished.
After reading it, the three immediately clasped their hands in a fist salute and answered decisively, "Yes!"
Shen Yingchun stepped forward and volunteered, "Dragon God, I request to personally lead the team!"
"I was once the commander of the ghost messengers, and I know the terrain and routes of this Soul Return Town like the back of my hand. There will be no mistakes!"
Little Sparrow and Shangguan Shuyi nodded in agreement, since Shen Yingchun was a professional soldier and was perfectly suited to carry out this kind of search and rescue mission.
"But before you leave, you'll need a few things."
Shangguan Shuyi called out to Shen Yingchun.
She pulled an ordinary calligraphy brush from her bosom and paused for a moment.
Shangguan Shuyi only realized she was the spirit of the [Mountains and Rivers Brush] after waking up.
"So... Liu Ruyan wasn't lying, and she wasn't mistaken; I really didn't become a monster back then..."
"Phoenix Emperor, why did you keep this from me?"
Her mind was filled with questions, but only by moving forward could she find the answers.
Shangguan Shuyi took a deep breath and moved on to the next step.
She used the void as her canvas, swiftly wielding her brush and splashing ink.
With a few flashes of ink, a set of human skin disguise was drawn on Shen Yingchun's skeletal body!
Even his leg, which had been broken by Circle using Two-Dimensionalization, was painted with a black prosthetic limb.
Although this disguise and prosthetics are far less useful than the original ones provided by [Mortal Fireworks Painting].
But that was enough to turn him back into a human, no longer a terrifying skeleton.
"Thank you, Abbot Shangguan."
Looking at her hands, which had returned to human form, Shen Yingchun thanked him gratefully.
He then immediately summoned several surviving ghost messengers from the square to carry out the task of finding the RV.
And what about Jiangnan?
He remained quietly seated at the highest point of the main hall.
I looked up and saw the faint first light of dawn appearing on the eastern horizon.
He was waiting.
He knew very well that when the morning sun truly rose...
It doesn't mean that all suffering will be washed away by the night and forgotten.
On the contrary.
As dawn broke, and as he completely shattered the thousand-year seal of Soul Return Town...
There will be new...
Even more terrifying...
Even more unknown trials await him.
That...
The trials that would allow these survivors to truly return to Blue Star.