The group from the Chu Kingdom arrived slightly earlier. Fang Mingtong, accompanied by his grandson, King of Chu Fang Yuan, and a group of people, stopped at the city gates. As Fang Yuan looked on in bewilderment, Fang Mingtong's voice, filled with intense excitement and reverence, said solemnly: "Inside... could there be an old acquaintance?"

Soon, a young voice came from within the city, tinged with a trace of laughter: "Marshal Fang, please enter!"

The sound immediately made the corners of Fang Mingtong's eyes damp. He hadn't heard it for over sixty years, yet it felt as familiar as ever.

It was him!

The very youth who, with idle chatter back then, had stirred the winds of the Mortal Realm.

Sixty years had passed, yet his voice was still so youthful, as if time had held no meaning for him.

Soon, Fang Mingtong heard another voice—one that left him utterly shaken and trembling with excitement.

"Old friend, it has been many years. Are you well?"

"Fan Wudi!" Fang Mingtong could not help but exclaim in shock.

The appearance of this voice surprised Fang Mingtong even more than the return of Chu Mo!

Beside Fang Mingtong, King of Chu Fang Yuan stood utterly stunned. Fan Wudi... this name was far too familiar to him!

But wasn't he dead? Just as his grandfather had said, if Fan Wudi hadn't died, forget about the Chu Kingdom—even the entire Mortal Realm wouldn't have been able to stop his unstoppable march!

What... was going on?

Suddenly, King of Chu Fang Yuan felt a chill run through him, as though the lofty throne of the Chu Kingdom might slip away from him at any moment.

At this moment, Fang Mingtong glared fiercely at Fang Yuan and transmitted his voice directly to his grandson: "Stand tall like a man! Don't disgrace me!"

Without hesitation, Fang Mingtong rushed straight into the city, shouting excitedly, "Old friend, you're still alive! That's wonderful!"

Soon, the two sides met.

These people—Fang Mingtong could not be more familiar with them.

Chu Mo's dear friends and family were all miraculously present before him, unharmed.

Nayi, the queen from the Prairie, whose relationship with Chu Mo had been the stuff of legends in this world for years.

Mr. Tantai, Mr. Weichi, the nameless old eunuch...

Long Qiushui and the child she held in her arms!

A child? Sixty years had passed… still a child?

Were it not for his attainment of the innate realm, Fang Mingtong might have thought he was seeing ghosts in broad daylight!

Chu Yan and He Xu—they were also familiar. Figures once like the right and left arms of Chu Mo.

Xu Fufu, Liu Mei'er, and their family of three… need no further mention.

Even now, a trace of sorrow lingered on Xu Fufu's face, especially when he saw Fang Mingtong. Though he managed to force a smile, the sadness was palpable.

Was this because... Fang Mingtong's thoughts immediately turned, and he understood. It was likely because Xu Zhongliang was no longer alive.

"What... is going on here?" Fang Mingtong looked at the handsome young man before him and felt as though his mind had been overwhelmed. The scene before him defied all his understanding.

"They once died, but now, they live again," Chu Mo said with a faint smile.

Fang Mingtong's heart shook violently. Chu Mo's simple sentence upended his entire perception of the world.

As for King of Chu Fang Yuan, he stood frozen like a statue. He hadn't forgotten his grandfather's recent admonition, yet standing before this group of people, it was truly difficult for him to straighten his back.

Because in terms of age, he was likely dozens of years younger than the child held by Long Qiushui!

Yet here they were—the ones who had supposedly died years ago—appearing vividly alive before them.

At this moment, a guard from the Chu Kingdom came to report: "The people of the Prairie Empire have appeared a hundred miles away and are advancing rapidly!"

Fang Mingtong froze momentarily, then turned to look at Nayi.

Nayi's eyes revealed excitement but shifted toward Chu Mo.

Chu Mo smiled and said, "It's Lie Ge. Let them come!"

However, the guard cautiously glanced at King of Chu Fang Yuan.

Fang Mingtong scolded softly, "Hurry and go! Don't be foolish!"

"Yes, hurry, hurry!" Fang Yuan suddenly snapped back to his senses.

The guard had no idea what mistake he had made. So many years had passed, and many old tales had long become mere legends.

A stretch of sixty years might mean little to cultivators, but in the mortal world, it was enough for countless changes to take place.

As the guard went to notify and permit the Prairie Empire's entry, Fang Mingtong turned to Chu Mo and began to explain: "Young Master…"

"No need to say much, Marshal Fang. Over the years, the Chu Kingdom has survived because of you and Senior Xu. Sadly, Senior Xu was not a cultivator and has already passed away. Marshal Fang's efforts in maintaining the Chu Kingdom to this point have truly been remarkable," Chu Mo said with a gentle smile. "Thus, I hope Marshal Fang can continue on. It doesn't matter if the Chu Kingdom changes its name. This time I bid farewell, and perhaps it'll be many years before we meet again."

At that moment, the heart that King of Chu Fang Yuan had been holding tightly suddenly dropped back into his chest. However, Fang Mingtong heard much deeper meanings in Chu Mo's words. He couldn't help but look up at Chu Mo: "Young Master, are you planning to take them and leave the Mortal Realm for good?"

Chu Mo nodded and replied, "In truth, the Mortal Realm no longer exists. Now, the Mortal Realm, Spirit Realm, Immortal Realm, Heavenly Realm… as well as some of the former outer domains have all merged back into a single plane. In other words, it is now much like the ancient past—a unified, complete continent. Marshal Fang should also sense the changes in the spiritual energy of this world. Moving forward, I'll send people to focus on finding suitable children here for cultivation."

As for whether the Chu Kingdom should expand or strive to become a massive Cultivation Kingdom, those issues no longer mattered to Chu Mo.

A person's vision and perspective are shaped by their altitude. From the heights at which Chu Mo now stood, such concerns had lost significance. So long as those around him could live happily, that mattered far more than anything else.

Meanwhile, the people of the Prairie Empire galloped straight into the city. Lie Ge, crying uncontrollably, rushed inside, fell to his knees before Nayi, and hugged his sister as he wailed aloud.

Nayi's abrupt disappearance all those years ago had devastated Lie Ge profoundly.

Lie Ge's son, Yi Ge, had arrived as well. Seeing Chu King Fang Yuan, Fang Mingtong, and the father he revered as a deity crying so openly before an incomparably beautiful woman, Yi Ge's mind went utterly blank.

After regaining clarity, he was struck by an inexplicable realization. He and Chu King Fang Yuan—everything they had pursued in life seemed childish and laughable in front of these people.

For reasons unknown, Yi Ge felt this emotion arise in his heart. Then instinctively, he glanced at Chu King Fang Yuan. At that moment, Fang Yuan also cast his gaze toward Yi Ge. The two locked eyes and instantly understood each other's thoughts.

Oftentimes, the one who truly understands you is not your friends but your adversary.

Their shared understanding emerged through their gaze, and then they exchanged smiles—bitter smiles.

Nayi was equally overwhelmed, realizing her once-rebellious younger brother had grown old. Though his energy and spirit were still sturdy, the years had left their mark on him.

Looking at the man who bore a striking resemblance to Lie Ge, Nayi teared up and asked, "Lie Ge, is he my nephew?"

Lie Ge turned and shouted at Yi Ge: "Why are you still standing there, fool? Hurry over to greet your aunt!"

Yi Ge quickly came forward, shedding all traces of his imperial bearing. The burdens of being an emperor had already flown beyond the Nine Heavens. He was merely the mortal king, but his aunt was a living immortal!

Obediently, he knelt to the ground: "This child Yi Ge greets Aunt with reverence!"

"This is your Uncle Chu," Lie Ge said, gesturing toward Chu Mo. Truthfully, he wanted to say this was your uncle by marriage, but he didn't dare.

"This child greets Uncle Chu!" Yi Ge sincerely kowtowed.

"This is your Uncle Chu's grandfather, the revered General Fan Wudi!"

"This is…"

"This is…"

Lie Ge went on to enthusiastically introduce everyone to Yi Ge. Yi Ge utterly abandoned his imperial persona, bowing respectfully to each individual.

By the time Yi Ge finally stood, his mind was still spinning.

Yet, within his heart, sheer joy blossomed!

Not for any other reason but this simple thing—his own aunt had an extraordinarily close relationship with the godlike Chu Mo. Even if theirs wasn't a romantic connection, their bond undoubtedly stood firm. Wouldn't these people take care of him?

Yi Ge was perceptive. Despite being the ruler of the Prairie Empire, its people had long abandoned their historical nomadic lifestyle. Culturally, the Prairie Empire was now indistinguishable from the other empires.

His reign was legitimate, driven by ambition. Upon meeting this group, Yi Ge instantly understood something: the Chu Kingdom must remain untouched. He would not move against it, not now or ever. But the other nations of the Mortal Realm? From now onward, they would fall one by one beneath the iron hooves of his Prairie Empire!

If he pleased, he could even join forces with Chu King Fang Yuan… to divide the entire Mortal Realm evenly!

What a pity—if only Fang Yuan were absent, it would be even better. This thought flitted briefly across Yi Ge's mind. But he quickly regained his happiness, for Fang Yuan now stood there, gazing sullenly at his own grandfather.

Fang Mingtong glanced at Lie Ge and bitterly smiled. In his earlier excitement, he had completely forgotten to introduce his grandson to the group. Especially since, deep down, he worried that Fang Yuan might assert his status among these people, which would be worse than remaining unacknowledged.

Consequently, Lie Ge—the little fox—had reaped the advantage...

It wasn't entirely unfair to call Lie Ge a little fox, given the age difference between them. Fang Mingtong was significantly older than Lie Ge.

None of these things mattered to Chu Mo—or anyone present, including Xu Fufu, who clearly understood what was happening. As for which side bore closer ties, well, that wasn't straightforward. But this was now Chu Mo's dilemma to handle, irrelevant to the rest.

To Chu Mo, however, trivial matters held no significance.

He subsequently instructed everyone to bid farewell to their families within this world as needed. In three days, they would depart for Piaomiao City in the Heavenly Realm!

This group would establish their future lives in that city.

If nothing out of the ordinary occurred, they would likely never set foot in the Mortal Realm again.

Though the world had fused into one again, its expanse remained boundless. Even cultivators at the Emperor level would require countless years to traverse the entire continent.

For those dwelling in the Mortal Realm, venturing beyond their boundaries was a daunting challenge.

So, even knowing that immortals existed, whether one could encounter them… well, that wholly depended on fate.

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