This arc had indeed dragged on a little too long—
It actually wasn't that long; the main issue was that updates had been slow, one chapter a day. If I wrote three chapters a day, it would be finished in a few days (not really).
But this arc had to be written. For one thing, it was meant to tie up loose ends; some grudges had to be settled eventually.
For another, this arc involved the secret of Ji Yuan's Spirit Transformation, the Nine Nether Rift, and another world connected beyond it. I already wrote what exactly it was earlier, so you can think it over—it was basically laid bare.
I looked over the outline; only the final big boss remained. It could be finished in a few days.
Once this arc ended, it would be time to return to the Abyssal Continent. Abyssal Depths, Abyssal Depths—in the end, it still had to be called Ji Yuan. That had been decided from the very beginning.
The chapter updated on New Year's Day could be treated as a side story and savored; it counted as wrapping up an important character from the middle stages.
Finally, I posted a standalone chapter, and as usual, I'm asking for monthly votes.
Qing Meng offered heartfelt thanks!