128 days later, Half-Island, Wildlands, Unclaimed Flatlands.

"Attention!" A single shout made the three resting guards stand and alongside their other three companions, who had been guarding the hazy window of the portal surrounding the latter. A hand resting on the hilt of their swords, and auras spread out to cover every single inch of the surrounding mile and a half.

More than four months had passed since the moment that Wu Guang and his companions had entered the Pocket World. Periodic communication was made possible via an altar created by the Imperials, but this was the first time the portal shivered, a sure indication that someone would be crossing it.

Lang Zheng, who had stayed here for all this time immediately approached as well, not before spending a few moments to calm himself. He had already supposed that the men left here by that War Minister Earth realm cultivator were strong, but this was the first time that he could sense how strong. Not to mention that the single shout was the first time they even voiced something.

He was an experienced cultivator, and one that had fought his fair share of battles, even so, he did need to calm himself after finding out that the six of them were Sage realm cultivators, and each aura trace was stronger than Teng De's!

"I thank our ancestor, the Stone Wolf, that we are not enemies with the Empire" He could only mutter. After all, just these six would be probably enough to deal with the entire forces of the Clans!

***

"How much time has passed here?" After the group led by Wu Guang exited and he greeted Lang Zheng, as well saluted the guards, he immediately asked.

"128 days, but, why do you ask?"

"The flow of time inside the pocket realm is different, but it's so well concealed that we only began to suspect it after reading through the received messages" Wu Guang, who had not changed visually at all, but gave far a stronger impression that before explained.

"I see, and how much time did you feel you remained in there?"

"We only saw 19 sunrises, with the last being underway just now"

"..." Lang Zheng could only stare at Wu Guang in surprise. If this was true, and he had no reason to suspect it wasn't, what a miracle it was!

"Mmm, it's indeed surprising" Wu Guang smiled. And the smile allowed Lang Zheng to understand that the latter had achieved his objectives, the ones he had announced before. Namely, healing entirely and advancing his cultivation, as well one of his companions.

"I take that everything went well?"

"Indeed, we have used all the qi and energies of the pocket realm. As for how much we improved, I think it will be better for everyone to reveal it when they feel like doing so"

"Hmm? You want them to surprise everyone?"

"Hahaha, probably!" Wu Guang laughed easily, and Lang Zheng had trouble connecting this smiling and joking youngster to the one he had seen just some months ago. Fighting in a war, leading troops, defending the Wildlands against hundreds of undeath, confronting the entire Sect... "It seems that something else than just some lucky breakthroughs or a complete healing occurred inside there" He thought but decided to not ask anything. After all, if Wu Guang wanted to reveal anything, he would do so by himself.

Lang Zheng then turned towards his niece, Lang Juan, and found that he could not see through her cultivation! She had not even reached the peak of the Spirit realm before, and now, Lang Zheng, a peak Soul realm cultivator had trouble sensing her strength. Honoring Wu Guang's intentions, he did not ask openly, preferring to send a qi transmission.

"What did happen inside there? Is everyone okay? How much did you all improve?"

"I am sorry Uncle, but we all promised to Wu Guang that we will not speak about each other or this period of time. Nothing bad happened and we all trained to our utmost, and that's enough. As for improving..." Lang Juan answered in the same manner, and then suddenly flared her aura.

"5th level of the Soul realm?!" The usually calm and collected Lang Zheng exclaimed in surprise. And how could he not be surprised if his niece had advanced almost an entire minor realm in less than five months?

***

It did not take long for the glyphs sent by the guards and Lang Zheng to reach their destinations, and so, just an hour later the small zone around the now again calm portal was filled up with people.

Zhen Gan, Martial Palace Master, and brother of the new Headmaster arrived first. After a somewhat tense greeting session, during which Wu Guang made sure to show his lack of grudges, Zhen Gan regained his usual wild manners.

He was followed by a female Soul realm cultivator from Blue Tree City, the single one to survive the battle at the beach. She was warmly greeted by everyone, including Lan Yanzhi, who had told Wu Guang about this woman's feat n bringing the Snake Clan to end the battle.

Then in quick succession Lang Mu and Hai Heng arrived, greeting everyone and showing an almost identical shock after finding Lang Juan and Duqi's respective cultivations. The latter had also flared his aura after he was asked, showing off a cultivation on the 3rd level of the Soul realm.

Other people also arrived, coming either just for a greeting or someone of the group, but for that moment, Wu Guang, his three companions, and two cloaked figures had already left along with the six Imperial guards.

"Hmm? Twelve people entered along Wu Guang, right?" As the six left, Zhen Gan suddenly asked.

"Yes, why?" Lang Zheng asked after confirming.

"Then how come that after six left, there are still eight here?"

"Huh?!"

"Palace Master is only half-correct. That person entered along with us. It's simply that no one saw, and so the numbers don't add now" Kuang Xiaolan explained as soon she felt the questioning glances.

"How?" Lang Zheng immediately asked.

"Only Wu Guang can answer to that" Kuang Jing answered and feeling that he may have been a bit brusque, quickly added

"I am sorry for hiding it, but we agreed with Wu Guang to not reveal anything he does not reveal himself"

"..."

"But there is something that he asked us to convey to you after he left" Xiao Feng broke the silence that ensued.

"And what it may be?" Zhen Gan asked curiously.

"Well, it's actually two things. The first one is that Wu Guang will be leaving the plane in a few days. The second one is about the pocket realm, named 'The Flatlands Retreat' by him. It has a cycle of restoration of a year, so exactly in one year, all of the qi and energies will be refilled to its peak. And that he returns it to the Sect and the Clans with gratitude for being allowed to benefit from it first"

________________________________________________________________________

Two days later, Black Island, 'Crow Nest'.

The six guards that had been guarding the pocket realm gate and waiting for him to return, on Chen Jiahao's instructions, did indeed never use voice to communicate. But they did communicate with qi transmission, and as soon as Wu Guang was done greeting everyone, they passed a message from Chen Jiahao. Which was to travel to the Black Island as soon as he wanted to.

To their surprise, Wu Guang had said that he would be doing it right away, and so he simply waved a quick goodbye to everyone and asked them to lead him to the ship. Which he was not mistaken about being prepared and waiting for him. Now, he was back on the Empire's island and again hosted at the same castle he had been on his previous visit.

"I was somehow surprised to hear that you decided to travel here right away" Sitting across the table from him, Chen Jiahao said while hinting that he would like to know the reason.

"There are three reasons for me to quicken my journey, but only two are connected with the Empire"

"And what would they be?"

"The first one is that I simply fear that my days as the Young Lord Chen" Wu Guang and Chen Jiahao both wryly smiled at this title

"Would be filled with a lot of formalities that I would like to avoid"

"Well, then I need to cross the ceremonies and meetings out of your schedule" Chen Jiahao lightly chuckled, confirming that indeed, the Empire had plans for Wu Guang, no, Chen Guang to make a few appearances.

"And the other is that I already know that I will have to pay for all these rewards, graces, and gifts. Being it like this, I decided to come and confirm the true price of the Empire's benevolence" This time Wu Guang's expression did not turn into a smile, showing that he was truly serious about his words.

"So she told you?" Chen Jiahao sighed.

"Yes"

"I knew that it was a bad idea to allow the girl to accompany you"

"Not that anyone tried to stop her, probably hoping that we get engaged or something while training together" Wu Guang allowed himself to chuckle without humor.

"...I can not say I did not think of that. Still, you are mistaken about there being a price. It's just a favor, one that probably will benefit you as well, and one that you can refuse to do in any case"

"And it has something to do with the plane that I will reach via the Astral Gate, does it not?"

"Yes"

"I see. Then, Senior Chen, could you please explain to me what is it about?"

"No" Chen Jiahao shook his head immediately.

"Huh?"

"No, I can not explain it to you. After all, the only one that is allowed to, and the one that will do it is His Imperial Majesty himself"

________________________________________________________________________

Exactly on the same day he had been reborn on this plane a year ago, Wu Guang and nine others were present on the forbidden grounds of the Empire. The same garden where he had met Chen Jiahao, and the location of the Astral Gate.

Astral Gates were formed naturally and so without seeing one of them, nobody could believe that they were so majestic.

An enormous arch formed from qi crystals that shone brightly in the sunlight stood a hundred feet tall and at least double that in width. At first glance, it appeared to be empty, with nothing in the middle of the arch, but that was just an illusion. A very thin curtain of invisible astral qi was present, and this one was the true Astral Gate.

Normally a formation, one that also was created naturally covered the surrounding grounds, but this was not the case for the 'Seven Islands Plane' one. Not that it was surprising, after all, no formations worked without the stabilizing orbs, and the latter could never be able to activate a formation that wasn't specially created with them in mind.

"Are you sure that you don't want to spend at least some more time with your friends or something else?" The Emperor, the only person present along with Wu Guang and the other people that would be leaving the plane asked. Normally the gate was guarded by the most powerful guards of the palace, but since the formation did not work, it was simply a formality. And today, the guards were even recalled, as to not allow anyone to observe the Emperor's secret way to activate the gate.

"No, I thank your majesty for the concern, but the last few days had been enough for me. I also think that your majesty task is one to be completed in the quickest way possible"

"It is, but a week or two would not play any role"

"..."

"I see, if you have decided, then go ahead. I wish you the best of luck, and I trust you will be able to complete the task. Just remember, don't allow anyone to see the contents of that letter except for Lady Zhihui"

"It will be done"

***

As the previously transparent astral qi began radiating with rainbow colors, the Emperor made several different seals and pressed his hands against the right column of the arch. It could be seen how his qi, soul, and mind were infused into the crystal, and how the entire arch slowly began to resonate with the Emperor's heartbeat.

The rainbow-colored curtain began growing denser, first only hazing the image behind it and then becoming absolutely opaque.

"Now!" The Emperor exclaimed and the nine people, if we considered every one of them as one, lined before the Astral Gate entered it one after another.

"Haaah" The Emperor weakly exhaled and retrieved his hands from the column, before dropping unto one of his knees, pale and with shivering extremities.

"I hope that she does remember the promise..."