After the Heavenly Marriage, several thousand more years passed on Purple Tenuity.
Kong Xuan returned from the south, spoke of Yuanfeng's recent circumstances in the valley, then stayed to cultivate under her master.
Qing Xuan and Qing Yi made no further journeys, until this day, when a streak of dusky yellow radiance descended outside the Star Palace.
Houtu climbed the stone steps alone and solemnly greeted the two.
"Everything in the Ancestral Land has been settled."
Her aura was more composed than when she had left the Blood Sea, and that speck of azure light still lingered between her brows.
Qing Xuan looked over the Dao rhythms surrounding her and asked, "Have you recovered the blood essence you lost?"
"I have."
Houtu said, "Xing Tian can now use that blood essence to connect to my position in the formation, but the formation's power he can withstand is still far short of what I could bear."
"My elder brothers will look after the rest. I have come to ask you two Sages to accompany me to the Netherworld."
Qing Xuan rose, and Qing Yi came over from beside him.
"Let's go."
Before long, outside the Blood Sea.
The tides still sounded heavy. Countless yin currents converged from beneath the earth of the Primordial World, passing through the dark soil and sinking into the depths of the Blood Sea.
The shadowy netherland revealed before lay amid these myriad yin currents.
Minghe emerged from the sea and bowed to the two.
"Greetings, Sages."
Qing Xuan nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the Asuras in the distance who had yet to disperse.
"Changes will take place here today. Look after your people."
"Yes."
The blood tides receded into the depths. Minghe gathered all the Asuras back and advanced no farther.
Houtu passed the shore