By the time Qing Xuan set his teacup back on the table, Kong Xuan had already risen.
She glanced north, then turned to the two of them. "Master, Mistress, I'll head south first this time. It's a good chance to go back and see Mother."
Qing Xuan nodded. Kong Xuan had grown up now.
As his disciple, she would encounter no danger even when traveling outside.
After bidding the two farewell, Kong Xuan vanished into the sea of stars beyond the valley amid five-colored cloud light.
The war drums in the north had fallen silent, and the starlight before the spring was gradually drawing back. Yet gravely wounded Demon Gods continued to arrive at the Sun Palace.
Bai Ze safeguarded Jiu Ying's primordial spirit, which Di Jun had sent back. When he entered the hall again, Taiyi was still standing beside the bloodstained ancient bell.
He bowed to the two Demon Emperors. "All those we could bring back have returned. I have ordered the remaining tribes in the north to withdraw."
He looked up at the battle banners before the steps. Some still had Demon Gods standing guard over them; others were reduced to a broken length of pole.
In the end, he left unspoken the names of the tribes he had been about to report.
Di Jun watched for a while, then said, "Save the wounded first. Keep the banners that have no masters."
Bai Ze withdrew with his orders. Taiyi brushed the blood from the bell, but bright red still stained his fingertips.
He had placed the ancient bell at the very front to shield them, yet had failed to get every clansman behind it.
The next time they entered the north, if he could still protect only one place like this, the other tribes would once again