Chapter 736
Ren Xue
The threat of the abyss was temporarily sealed, and the Tree of Life was revitalized. Pale golden veins flowed across its white trunk in the dim light, and a pure white flower at the crown slowly bloomed, casting soft light like Isis's final blessing. However, the price of victory was heavy—Tang Wulin had less than ten years of life left, his divine power dissipated, his Golden Dragon King bloodline was completely sealed, and he fell from his divine pedestal to the mortal realm.
Qian Renxue held Tang Wulin tightly, her fingertips able to feel his body trembling and his body losing warmth. Her tears slid silently down her cheeks, mingling with dust and blood, dripping onto the back of his hand. "Let's go home..." she repeated, as if it were the only salvation.
Bibi Dong stood to the side, a complex emotion flickering in her dark purple eyes. She raised her hand, conjuring a wisp of deathly aura, but instead of attacking, she transformed it into gentle energy that probed into Tang Wulin's body. After a moment, she withdrew her hand, her voice low and somber: "The rate at which life force is draining is slower than expected, but it's irreversible. Ten years... perhaps even shorter." She didn't finish her sentence, turning to look at the now-calm Abyss Gate. The gate still stood, but it was now entwined and covered by the roots of the Tree of Life, emitting a soft white light, forming a solid barrier. The roars and commotion behind the gate had been shut out, leaving only a deathly silence.
Dai Chengfeng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and walked to Tang Wulin's other side. "Can you walk?" he asked, his voice filled with rare concern. Tang Wulin nodded, trying to straighten up, but stumbled, only to be firmly supported by Qian Renxue. "Don't push yourself," Qian Renxue whispered, placing his arm on her shoulder. Bibi Dong glanced at them, saying nothing, but instead raised her hand and summoned a dark purple bridge of light that extended from the foot of the Tree of Life outwards. "Walk this way; it'll save you some energy."
The four of them stepped onto the bridge of light and left the core area. Looking back, the Tree of Life shone brightly against the gray backdrop of the abyss, its white blossoms showering down a rain of light, purifying the remaining filth. Isis's phantom had completely vanished, but the tree seemed to breathe anew, each leaf swaying gently, as if bidding farewell.
The journey across the battle-ravaged wasteland was silent and slow. Tang Wulin relied on Qian Renxue for support most of the time, occasionally taking a few steps on his own, but he quickly became breathless, cold sweat beading on his forehead. His Dragon God Wings had long since retracted, the remaining golden markings on his skin were fading, and the violent aura of the Golden Dragon King had vanished completely, replaced by an almost transparent weakness. Qian Renxue would occasionally look down at him, her eyes filled with heartache, yet she forced herself to hold back her tears—she had to be strong, just as he had once done for her.
Bibi Dong led the way, using her divine power to sweep away the remaining remains of abyssal monsters along the way. Her movements were swift and efficient, but her brow remained slightly furrowed. Dai Chengfeng brought up the rear, wind elements circulating around him, alert to any possible disturbances. It wasn't until the edge of the wasteland, when the sky turned from eternal night to dark red, and then gradually revealed a grayish-white light, that they realized how much time had passed.
"How long have we been here?" Qian Renxue suddenly asked. Bibi Dong raised her hand to sense the surroundings, and after a moment replied, "About three days outside." Three days felt like an eternity in the distorted spacetime of the Abyss. Tang Wulin leaned against a rock to rest, and said with a wry smile, "I'm afraid I'll get a terrible scolding when we get back." He was referring to his relatives and friends in the God Realm—Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Yuhao, Tang Wutong… and their child. Qian Renxue squeezed his hand: "As long as we get back, anything is fine."
After a brief rest, Bibi Dong tore through space, opening a temporary passage to the God Realm. The passage was extremely unstable, its edges crackling with dangerous blackish-purple arcs of electricity. "My remaining divine power is only enough to support it through once, and the exit might be off-center," she warned. Dai Chengfeng nodded: "It's better than being trapped here." The four stepped into the passage one after another, navigating through the spatial turbulence. Tang Wulin was tightly held in Qian Renxue's arms, while Bibi Dong and Dai Chengfeng used their divine power to withstand the impact, one in front and one behind. After an unknown amount of time, a point of white light appeared ahead, followed by a sudden opening—
They tumbled onto a soft carpet of clouds, surrounded by familiar sights: floating celestial mountains, flowing golden rivers, and majestic temple complexes in the distance. The divine realm had finally returned. But the exit wasn't the designated Divine Realm Committee Plaza, but rather the "Garden of Tranquility" on the edge of the divine realm, a tranquil place often used for recuperation.
“Good luck.” Bibi Dong glanced around, and after confirming it was safe, she withdrew her divine power. Her face was slightly pale; opening the passage had clearly taken a toll. Dai Chengfeng immediately sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing, and wind elements formed a small vortex around him, absorbing the pure spiritual energy of the divine realm.
Qian Renxue helped Tang Wulin sit down, anxiously looking around: "We need to find someone to help..." Before she could finish speaking, several powerful auras rapidly approached from afar. Leading them were two figures, one in blue and one in pink, who arrived in an instant.
"Wu Lin!" Xiao Wu's voice trembled with tears as she practically leaped from mid-air to embrace her son tightly. Tang San, following closely behind, didn't lose his composure, but his trembling hands and reddened eyes betrayed his emotions. He knelt on one knee, placing his palm on Tang Wu Lin's back, channeling his vast divine power to examine him. A moment later, his face turned pale.
“Life force depleted… soul damaged… bloodline sealed…” Tang San’s voice grew deeper with each word. Xiao Wu covered her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes. At this moment, more figures arrived: Dai Yuhao, Tang Wutong, Huo Yun’er, Ji Dong, Lie Yan… and Tang Wulin and Qian Renxue’s children—Tang Xuanyu, Tang Yilin, and the youngest, Tang Nianxue. The children were all stunned to see their father’s weakened state, and then rushed over, bursting into tears.
"Dad!" Tang Xuan Yu was already a teenager, but he cried like a child. Tang Wu Lin raised his hand with difficulty and rubbed his head: "It's okay... Dad is back." Tang Nian Xue was only five years old. She hugged Tang Wu Lin's leg and cried loudly. Qian Ren Xue quickly picked her up and gently comforted her.
Chaos reigned at the scene. Tang San took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions, and commanded in a deep voice: "Return to the Temple of Life first, and use the Lake of Life to nurture them. Yuhao, go and invite the God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life; Ji Dong, notify the God Realm Committee that the Abyss Gate is temporarily sealed, but it needs to be continuously monitored; the rest of you, maintain order in the God Realm and do not leak any information." His arrangements were methodical, but his slightly trembling fingertips betrayed the turmoil in his heart.
Everyone acted immediately. Tang Wulin was enveloped in Tang San's divine power and slowly lifted up. Qian Renxue stayed close by, and the children followed closely. Bibi Dong and Dai Chengfeng lagged behind, maintaining a distance from the gods of the God Realm. The God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life quickly arrived, both God-Kings frowning upon seeing Tang Wulin's condition. The Goddess of Life's gentle green divine power enveloped Tang Wulin, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea, yielding minimal feedback. "His life force is damaged, and cannot be repaired by external forces," she sighed, shaking her head. "Only time and his own recuperation can help, but with his remaining lifespan..." She didn't finish her sentence. (End of Chapter)