“Someone opened the gate from outside?” Bujiang asked in surprise. “Who was it?”

Zanxing fell silent for a moment: “It was an ordinary mortal girl without any cultivation.”

Gu Baiying also found it incredible and asked Zanxing, “An old acquaintance of yours?”

Zanxing shook her head: “I didn’t know her, and she didn’t know me. She seemed… to think someone else would come out from the gate.”

She still remembered the girl she encountered—she looked ordinary with delicate features. For this girl, pushing open the Ten Thousand Ghost Ashura Path was no easy task. One careless move and she would be dragged into the corridor by the evil ghosts within. If not for Zanxing using her demonic power to restrain those Ashuras at the critical moment, the girl would likely have been dragged in as well.

Mortals wouldn’t approach the Ashura Ghost Path, yet that girl seemed very familiar with this place. Though she feared the Ashuras within, she wasn’t as terrified as someone seeing them for the first time would be. She must have come here before.

Perhaps she was waiting here for someone? But at that time, Zanxing was only a fragment of primordial soul—she couldn’t manifest physically, nor could she tell this woman. Apart from evil ghosts, she was the only living being in the Ashura Ghost Path. The person this girl was waiting for was probably not there.

That girl ultimately waited there for half a month without any further movement from the Ashura Ghost Path, then left. Before departing, she placed a pouch at the gate. Zanxing saw it bore the character “Chun.”

“Regardless, thanks to her opening that gate at the critical moment, I was able to get out.” Zanxing said, “However, although my primordial soul was complete then, I couldn’t refine and reshape a physical body, so I still couldn’t manifest or travel far. I could only continue nurturing it bit by bit.”

Like a seed that requires careful tending and watering to grow into a complete tree.

“Fortunately, the spiritual energy in Duzhou has gradually become abundant over the years, which greatly benefited my nurturing process. I searched everywhere for places rich in spiritual energy, immersing my primordial soul and slowly refining and reshaping my body.” Zanxing sighed: “But even at the fastest, it took several full years.”

Bujiang looked at Zanxing: “So now you…”

“I had almost completely reshaped my body before, only lacking the final bit of heavenly demon power. Now that I’ve returned to Heishi City, I’ve replenished the last trace of Demon Lord power from the spiritual veins in the mountains. From now on,” Zanxing smiled, “I’ll be no different from before!”

This wasn’t entirely accurate—her cultivation had suffered some damage. But for Zanxing, this was already the best possible outcome. As for other matters, they could be slowly repaired in the future; there was no need to rush.

Hearing this, Bujiang finally felt relieved. She patted her chest and said, “This is wonderful indeed. It seems our demon clan’s fate is not yet exhausted. Gui Yansheng, through a twist of fate, actually did something good.”

She looked at Zanxing and slowly smiled: “Welcome back, Zanxing.”

Time, which had stopped, continued moving forward. What was immensely fortunate was that everything hadn’t ended yet—perhaps this was a new beginning.

Noisy voices arose from the entrance, mixed with calls of “Young Palace Master.” Xiao Shuang walked in from outside. Bujiang asked: “It’s so late—who’s making such a commotion outside?”

Xiao Shuang replied: “The Lamp-Blowing Ghosts learned that the Young Palace Master has returned and are clamoring to see her.” He looked toward Zanxing, his gaze also filled with the joy of reunion. “I once told them that if the Young Palace Master ever returned, they could come back to the Chaos Hall. Now…”

Now was the day to bring them back to the hall.

Zanxing: “…..”

She turned to look at Gu Baiying, who was watching her with leisurely composure, a slightly cold smile playing at the corners of his lips.

Zanxing made a quick decision, grabbing Gu Baiying’s hand and spinning around to head outside: “It’s too late today. Whatever needs to be said can wait until tomorrow. I still have some things to ask Gu Baiying. Mother, I’ll go down first.”

She pulled Gu Baiying away with her. Xiao Shuang looked toward Bujiang on the high seat.

The Demon Empress smoothed the folds of her black robe, propping her chin with one hand as she watched the retreating figures. For the first time in all these years, she laughed aloud with genuine relief and comfort.

Xiao Shuang also began to smile. Smiling and smiling, he thoughtfully inquired: “Your Highness, should the city celebrate for several days?”

Bujiang stretched lazily, as if casting off years of weariness, and spoke drowsily: “It’s been quiet for so many years; it’s time for some festivities.”

“Send word,” she said, “The Demon Lord has returned to the city. Celebrate for a hundred days.”

……

The Chaos Hall remained as it always was.

Hong Su managed the Chaos Hall during the day. Worried that a young human girl might be frightened alone in such a vast hall, Bujiang specifically allowed her to stay in the Yao Ming Hall at night.

The Yao Ming Hall never lacked male consorts—with people coming and going, it was ultimately livelier.

It was too late now, so Zanxing hadn’t yet had anyone tell Hong Su the news of her return.

Without the hundred bright lamps waiting, the empty Chaos Hall seemed somewhat desolate. In Lord Shui’s pool, the Yin Spirit Demon Bones were polished daily until they gleamed. The Nine Sons Demon Mother painting on the pillars remained as colorfully vibrant as always.

Zanxing’s gaze fell on the thick cable rope swaying gently by the window.

This cable rope had been hung there for Mimi to play with. Mimi loved grabbing the rope and swinging back and forth in the air. Ordinary ropes would be worn through in just a few days. Only General Cable’s thick rope—impervious to water and fire, resistant to blades and spears—was sturdy enough.

Now the wind pushed the cable rope back and forth, but there was no trace of the spirit beast.

Gu Baiying walked to her side, following her gaze, and hesitantly spoke: “Mimi…”

When Zanxing used herself as a chess piece, Mimi had carried her into the vortex together. It was born because of her and perished because of her as well.

Now Zanxing had returned, but Mimi…

Gu Baiying was somewhat moved.

Zanxing turned around. From her palm, a glowing golden pearl gradually emerged—about the size of a goose egg. In her hand, it faintly radiated warmth, as if alive, breathing, and pulsing.

“This is…” He was stunned.

“This is Mimi,” Zanxing said.

“Back then, I hadn’t formed a contract with the spirit beast, but this allowed it to escape disaster. Mimi has an ancient divine beast bloodline—even the Heavenly Dao cannot completely erase it.” After a pause, Zanxing continued: “It’s just that even after five years, I could only condense this egg to this state. Perhaps it will take another ten years, twenty years, or even fifty years before this egg is filled with spiritual energy and Mimi can break out of its shell.”

“However,” Zanxing smiled again, “this is already the best possible outcome, isn’t it?”

Gu Baiying looked at the egg and chuckled: “Indeed.”

No matter what, as long as it still existed, there was hope, and everything had meaning.

Zanxing carefully put away the golden egg and spoke with feeling: “When I left, I tried my best to arrange everything properly. Looking at it now, every matter has turned out satisfactorily. I truly didn’t waste all my painstaking efforts.”

Gu Baiying glanced at her, as if reminded of something, and snorted: “Indeed, you even properly arranged for the remaining consorts. How thoughtful of you.”