Chapter 1392: Curtainfall, Reunion

"This Qin Jiujie really is quite a ruthless character."

Watching Qin Jiujie's figure vanish into the surging waters of the Boundary River, Dantai Lan's gaze flickered. Whether it was his ruthlessness toward the Qin Li Tianwang lineage or his sudden counterattack against the Faceless Underworld King, he had shown extreme decisiveness and viciousness.

Perhaps, given his temperament, he really would thrive in the Return-to-One Society.

"It's a pity Qin Jiujie got away. He's also the chief culprit behind grandfather's current state." Li Luo felt some regret over Qin Jiujie's escape.

The Faceless Underworld King's physical body had been torn apart and banished, and the two natal face-skins had fallen into Qin Jiujie's hands—this could be considered eliminating one threat.

"Can't be helped. We'll just have to wait for another chance to take revenge later."

Dantai Lan came to Li Luo's side. The Return-to-One Society's scheming ran far too deep and was far too airtight; one contingency after another kept emerging. Even all four Li Tianwang lineages had fallen into their calculations. If not for her appearance as a variable this time, she dared not imagine what a tragic scene it would have been.

Li Luo nodded, then his gaze swept toward Qin Baiyan, Qin Beiming, Qin Yi, and the others. At this moment, the people of the Qin Li Tianwang lineage were all listless and deathly pale.

The Abyss City had sunk, and along with the waters of the Boundary River, it had been swept into the depths of the void. The people within the city were likely doomed—these losses were a crippling blow to the Qin Li Tianwang lineage.

Especially the Black Water Guard... this generation was probably wiped out entirely.

Even with the Qin Li Tianwang lineage's foundation, rebuilding the Black Water Guard would probably require decades of cultivation time...

In this upheaval of the Boundary River Domain, the Qin Li Tianwang lineage was the most wounded party.

Not only had they lost a Double-Crowned King, but also many mainstay Marquis-level experts like Qin Qin Lian.

Still, they could blame no one but themselves. Who told the old Qin Li Tianwang to be so blind as to hand the Qin Li Tianwang lineage over to a traitor?

Meanwhile, the Divine Tiger King Zhao Zong and the White Elephant King Zhu Yuan each gathered their remnants and took a quick headcount, their expressions turning rather unsightly.

These two Li Tianwang lineages had likewise suffered heavy casualties.

The two Single-Crowned Kings had no mind to linger here any longer. From afar, they cupped their fists toward Dantai Lan's position, then quickly led their remnants away.

As they departed, the forces of other factions also scattered one after another. But before leaving, they all cupped their fists toward Dantai Lan in gratitude for her turning the tide this time.

Lü Shuanglu and Zhang Cuicheng also exchanged a few words with Li Luo, then fled in disarray with their people. Right now they only wanted to leave this godforsaken place as fast as possible.

However, the teleportation arrays between the Boundary River Domain and Outer Shenzhou were still sealed. It might take another day or two before traffic could resume.

Regardless, this great tribulation had finally been quelled.

The earth-shaking battle that swept across the entire Boundary River Domain finally drew to a close with Abyss City sinking into the depths of the void.

All factions returned to their strongholds exhausted, bearing heavy casualties.

In the Boundary River Domain, countless uneasy hearts finally had a moment to breathe.

The upheaval of the Black Rain Ghost Calamity this time was truly enormous. Not only did numerous King-level experts take action, it even drew the descent of the "Three-Pupil Profound Fetus Great Demon King."

Even now, far away in the void above the Boundary River Domain, at the Boundary River Hollow, there remained a petrified giant eye, its gaze cold and eerie as it watched over the Boundary River Domain.

That was the manifestation of the Three-Pupil Profound Fetus Great Demon King.

Although it ultimately failed to descend successfully, this petrified gaze would bring enormous and far-reaching consequences to the Boundary River Domain.

The might of a Great Demon King—even if only a gaze—could unsettle the hearts of men, and even easily breed intense negative emotions.

So one could imagine that from now on, the Boundary River Domain would surely struggle to recover its former prosperity, and many treasure hunters would no longer dare to come here lightly.

Perhaps, when the teleportation points between the Boundary River Domain and Outer Shenzhou reopened, countless explorers from the Boundary River Domain would flee far away in terror.

The upheaval that erupted in the Boundary River Domain this time had given them far too great a fright.

And after this great upheaval, the Boundary River Domain would surely shift from its former prosperity to desolation.

This was the Great Demon King's method. Merely the gaze of a petrified eye had gradually transformed what was once a cultivation treasure ground brimming with trials into an evil land.

Sky Dragon City was draped in white, a heavy atmosphere pervading the city.

They were mourning Li Li Jingzhe.

After all, aside from Dantai Lan, Li Luo, and the few others who knew the exact news, everyone else believed Li Li Jingzhe had perished.

The fall of a Pseudo Triple-Crowned King was absolutely a crippling blow to the Li Li Tianwang lineage, so every branch was in extreme grief.

Within the city, deep in Sky Dragon Pavilion, in a quiet courtyard.

Dantai Lan was temporarily staying here, while Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge remained to keep her company. The others knew they had been separated for many years and must have much to say, so even Niu Niu Biaobiao did not stay to catch up.

Once the others had left, Dantai Lan turned around, her face bearing a gentle smile as she gazed at the two little ones who had always weighed on her heart.

"Come let mother hold you."

Dantai Lan smiled and reached out, first embracing Jiang Jiang Qinge, then beckoning to Li Luo.

"So mushy, we're not kids anymore," Li Luo muttered.

"What did you say?"

Dantai Lan's gentle tone instantly turned dangerous. This brat, after just a few years apart, actually dared to call his own mother mushy!

Li Luo had no choice but to step over, and Dantai Lan forcibly pressed his head onto her shoulder.

Though his words sounded unwilling, he still reached out and embraced the gentle, elegant woman before him, a tide of intense longing welling up in his eyes.

Jiang Jiang Qinge gazed at that face that always wore a gentle, elegant smile, and her eyes involuntarily reddened. Over these years, how could they not have been constantly missing Dantai Lan and Li Taixuan?

The familiar, reassuring fragrance lingered at the tip of her nose as she said softly, "Shimu, it's truly wonderful that you returned safely."

Dantai Lan tenderly stroked Jiang Jiang Qinge's smooth long hair and sighed, "After a few years apart, little E has truly grown even more lovely. This peerless grace far surpasses what I had at your age."

"Eh?"

Suddenly, the hand Dantai Lan was using to stroke Jiang Jiang Qinge's hair paused, and a subtle shift flickered through her eyes.

"Shimu, what's wrong?" Jiang Jiang Qinge asked, somewhat puzzled.

Dantai Lan hesitated and said, "Your body..."

Jiang Jiang Qinge was clever enough to read the meaning from Dantai Lan's gaze at once, and even with her composure, she could not help but blush crimson, at a loss for words.

Li Luo beside her felt a bit awkward, then put on an honest smile and explained, "Mother, about this matter, at the time it was mainly because circumstances forced our hand..."

But before he could finish, Dantai Lan reached out and pinched his ear.

"You little rascal, you look rather pleased with yourself, don't you?"

"You blockhead—are you worthy of my little E?" Dantai Lan's fierce voice rang out.

Li Luo nearly burst into tears at once; this familiar routine, this familiar status—unexpectedly, after so many years, nothing had changed at all.

In this moment, he missed Li Taixuan deeply.

At the very least, if Li Taixuan were here, he could share some of the burden.

Tantai Lan quickly let go, embracing Jiang Jiang Qinge with even greater tenderness, and said earnestly, "Xiao'e, matters of the heart must follow your own will; you cannot wrong yourself out of a sense of gratitude."

Blushing, Jiang Jiang Qinge said softly, "Mother-in-law, these past years, Li Luo and I have relied on each other. He has given so much for me. From the Empty Phase, step by step, he has reached where he is today; the effort he expended along the way is no less than anyone else's."

"To protect me, he was even willing to risk his life in battle."

"Therefore, this feeling is not what people call gratitude."

"I... like him."

"I am willing to share life and death with him."

Though somewhat shy, Jiang Jiang Qinge was not the type to be coy, so she bravely revealed her true feelings.

Li Luo, standing nearby, was also swept with emotion and could not help but reach out, taking her slender hand.

Tantai Lan could hear the sincerity in Jiang Jiang Qinge's words and felt somewhat gratified; it seemed her foolish son did possess a certain charm.

Then she looked at Li Luo and said with approval, "Four years to successfully become a Marquis, breaking the five-year lifespan limit—not bad."

In truth, since leaving these past years, she and Li Taixuan had constantly worried about Li Luo's five-year lifespan issue, after all, the method to resolve the Empty Phase was one they had left behind.

Becoming a Marquis within five years was an extremely difficult feat for anyone; before knowing Li Luo's talent, no one could be certain he could complete this challenge.

Fortunately, Li Luo was not crushed by this heavy pressure.

"But you rascal, having broken the five-year limit and restored your vitality to its peak, what is the matter with this hair? Why didn't you fix it back!" Tantai Lan glanced at Li Luo's gray-white hair and said with disdain.

Li Luo said sheepishly, "Doesn't this make it even more distinctive?"

Sigh, truly a biological mother; they had just reunited for such a short time, and she was already picking faults with him.

"Mother-in-law..." Jiang Jiang Qinge began.

"Still calling me Mother-in-law?" Tantai Lan asked playfully.

Jiang Jiang Qinge paused slightly, then her face grew even redder as she softly called out, "Mother."

This title held no awkwardness or hesitation for Jiang Jiang Qinge, for through their years of companionship, she and Tantai Lan had long become like a real mother and daughter; the depth of their bond needed no words.

"What a wonderful daughter; if Li Taixuan knew, he would be even more excited than when he broke through to the Peerless realm," Tantai Lan said with a smile, holding Jiang Jiang Qinge's face.

Hearing Tantai Lan mention that name, Li Luo finally scratched his head and asked about the person with the lowest presence in the household.

"Mother, where is Father? Why didn't he return with you?"

"And how did you manage to come out from that River of Worlds?"

"Also, how did you become a Great Peerless Marquis?"