After a long talk, Arthur managed to convince Jian Si to accompany them and Lucy would act as someone from her sect to attract less attention. The girl wanted to immediately start learning [Heavenly Slash] but her strongly objected, telling her that it's better to try to grasp it once she's out the Secret Realm. Nevertheless, Jian Si was really a sword genius as she managed to unleash that skill after he imparted her with it.

It was a very weak and incomplete version but succeeded which proved that she's not the strongest sword cultivator in Green Leaf for nothing.

Arthur possessed Lucy again and hid there while she quietly followed Cold Sword after wearing a robe that proved her fake identity.

The trip to the entrance of the dragon's lair was rather peaceful, no one caused trouble and all the monsters were disposed off by a rather energetic Jian Si, who unceasingly used [Heavenly Slash], wanting to master it as soon as possible.

…

North of the Secret Realm, a fair distance from the Paradise Garden, two silhouettes were conversing together. One was a scarred old man whose face was a bit pale and the other was an indifferent looking woman with a silver hair.

"So you've met her?"

"Yes, she was amongst the contestants. I tried to talk to her but she strongly rejected me."

With a hand on his chin, the butler contemplated the situation before asking again

"What do you think her objective was? She must've known your identity yet she entered the garden."

Angelina shrugged her shoulders and replied:

"Not exactly sure but it seemed to be a reward from the third level. Neither she nor the man with her seemed to be interested in the fourth level as they both forfeited."

"And what about their strength? Compared to you, of course."

"They had hidden quite well. If not for the fairy's intervention, I wouldn't have found out. As for their strength, I never saw them fight seriously but… one thing for sure, that man with her is the Dark Magic user!"

"Yeah, I noticed that too. It's going to be more troublesome than I thought."

"Troublesome? Even if he's strong, I don't think he can face you."

The butler shook his head while retorting

"Dark Magic isn't infamous for nothing. Moreover, that man is able to shapeshift… then there's that damned Wrath, many powers are butting in and protecting them, this may be our last chance so we better bring her back."

He seemed resolute and prepared to do anything to get Lucy and bring her to her mother. Angelina shared his thoughts and agreed to help him while disregarding her initial goals, which were to go to the dragon's lair and obtain a few Godly and Mysterious ranked treasures.

*****

Nine months after Lucy and Arthur left Astria, the war that raged on for months and killed countless people finally quietened down. As she led the undead army, Anastassia pulverized the invading forces, killing most of them and forcing the rest to retreat.

The Itas Continent's current state was even worse than the Western Continent. It became a land scorched by the evil God's fire. Half of the World Tree turned into ashes while the other half is still suffering from the flames.

Many Ice and Water mages were dispatched to lessen the damage caused by the fire but it was still futile.

The once calm and peaceful forest was nowhere to be seen, it became a land devoid of life, just like the Human Continent, which sank into the sea.

90% of the Undead remained on that continent since the harsh environment didn't affect them. The rest were guarding the MoonStar Sect while helping the survivors of the war, whether it's by escorting them or pulling carriages.

A fleet of a ten thousand ghost ships was sailing on the coast of the Western Continent. Some were used by merchants for a fee while others remained motionless, waiting for Anastassia's orders.

…

MoonStar City, High Tower, in a large room equipped with various hospital equipment brought from Earth, There were three figures talking. One of them was an old man who excused herself right after her job was done, as for the other two, one was Anastassia and the other was Mary, who was holding a newborn cute baby.

The baby loudly cried and only quietened down when his mother held him in her warm embrace. The pale-faced and sweating Anastassia softly smiled as she stared at the baby.

She experienced excruciating pain to give birth to this little boy.

"It's very cute!"

Mary sat next to Anastassia and commented while poking the small baby, who became very docile.

"Yes, he looks much like his father."

"Eeeh? Really? The way I see it, he has your soft and tender skin."

The two women happily chatted for a few some time before Mary left, telling her friend to get a much-needed rest.

Anastassia spent the whole day hugging her sleeping child, her expression melancholic.

Midnight, a black-cloaked old man with a grey hair and a grumpy expression appeared in that room. He gazed at the sleeping baby before shifting his attention to the mother.

"You asked for time and I gave you ample time. It's time to go."

Anastassia gently put her baby in his small bed and caressed his face while smiling before covering him with a blanket. She turned toward the old man and said

"You'll fulfill your end of the deal, right?"

As if he was insulted, the old man retorted

"Who do you take me for? I always stay true to my promises."

He waved his hand, causing two lifeless bodies to appear on the ground. He inspected them while saying

"You're quite lucky to have found them a short time after their death. Any second later and it would've been impossible to revive them, even with my abilities."

Anastassia didn't talk, she waited for him to bring them back to life with a hopeful look. Seeing her expression, the old man snorted and shot out two thin threads of black lights from his fingers, each hitting the foreheads of the corpses.

Upon a closer look, one of the corpses was actually Jackob while the other was her little sister, Sonia. They both died fighting the Cthulhu, in fact, if Anastassia arrived an hour earlier, she might've been able to save them.

At that time, the vice-leader sank deep into despair and only regained hope when this old man, who proclaimed to be Death itself, appeared before her and struck a once-in-a-lifetime deal.

He asked her to become his successor and in return, he'll arrive her dead family members. She demanded he gave her some time so she can give birth and time was she given.

Very soon, the pale skin of the two corpses gained some color and the two began breathing.

"It's done, they will wake up within an hour. Let's go."

Anastassia nodded her head, she crouched next to the unconscious Jackob and gave him a kiss on the forehead. She did the same to Sonia before glancing one last time at her child.

From that night, Anastassia, the vice-leader of the MoonStar sect was no more. She disappeared without a trace and followed Death, who immediately started granting her his powers.

A huge commotion occurred an hour later when Jackob and Sonia woke up. They were dumbfounded and thought this was after-life, only when Mary accidentally entered the room to check on the baby did the situation became clear.

From that day onward, the position of Vice-Leader was passed to Jackob, who meticulously did his job with the help of his assistant, Sonia.

The newborn baby, who was the couple's only kid, was named Ragnar and grew up into an extremely powerful individual, using daggers just like his mother but… that's a story for another time.

…

A few days after Arthur met with Jian Si, the trio arrived at the entrance of the cave where countless cultivators were patiently waiting for a semi-transparent barrier to vanish.

The barrier was put by the Space Dragon and it would disappear when the ancient beast gives birth as it'll focus all its energy to protect its baby.

Amongst the cultivators, Lucy saw the pink-haired girl, Clara, accompanied by the Flame Crown Prince. Elo Huo, the kid who lost an arm in the Tomb above Amidel's city was also present.

He no longer had this haughty look around him, his expression was serious as he was the only meditating in his group. All the others were either provoking rival sects, chatting, or gazing at the barrier.

Shu Ru, Emily, and the princess were also here. The Goddess of Green Leaf was chatting with a cheeky looking young man who had a tanned skin and a muscular body. He wore a white robe and had a wooden staff on his back.

This young man, who looked like an adult was the famous Sacred Priest of the Holy Academy.

This Academy had ties with the Holy Academy as they worshiped the same God but they weren't necessarily allies.

Jian Si's arrival attracted many gazes but none dared to provoke her or talk to her. The girl quietly sat next to her sect members, who were also afraid of her.