To avoid worrying the Evil Consort Master and the Jialan Fairy, the master and disciple didn’t linger too long in their “secret base.” They returned to that little home before dawn.
The Evil Consort Master and the Jialan Fairy were still sitting in their original spots, apparently without having moved an inch.
When they saw the pair return, the Evil Consort Master immediately opened her eyes. Two sharp gazes swept over them, as if trying to catch some incriminating evidence.
The Jialan Fairy spoke mildly, “Did you get the Star God Authority?”
Chen Xi hummed in affirmation. “As long as we handle the follow-up arrangements properly, we can leave the Eighth Continent.”
Yan Zhen turned to the Evil Consort Master. “Before we go, does Evil Consort Master want to visit the Evil God Clan’s territory?”
Hearing Yan Zhen still thinking about this minor matter put the Evil Consort Master in slightly better spirits. “No need. There’s no trace of the Evil God Clan left there anymore. Let’s head back soon—we’ve already been out for over a month.”
From the Heavenly God Clan to the Dragon God Clan, then the Snake God Clan and Star God Clan, they’d spent a bit longer at the Heavenly God Clan and Snake God Clan mainly.
Yan Zhen smiled. “Alright. I’m starting to miss home too. I always feel a bit out of place here on the Eighth Continent.”
Chen Xi patted her precious disciple’s head. “That’s just how the God Race is, especially for those with high bloodlines. To change them, you’ll have to wait until Zhen’er ascends to the Emperor Throne.”
The Evil Consort Master beside them coughed pointedly twice. Chen Xi shot her a sidelong glance. “You’re the perfect example, Evil Consort.”
Before being subdued by Yan Zhen, the Evil Consort Master had viewed everyone as lowly trash. She hadn’t even bothered bullying the likes of the Nine Star Great Saint Demon Domain Lord—he simply wasn’t worth her time.
The Evil Consort Master snorted coldly and turned her face away.
Yan Zhen quickly played peacemaker. “Evil Consort Master is different now. She’s a very cute Evil Consort Master.”
The Evil Consort Master grumbled in dissatisfaction, “Don’t call This Palace cute, you cheeky brat!”
Yan Zhen chuckled. “In my eyes, Evil Consort Master is super cute~”
The Evil Consort Master felt a bit shy. Seeing the strange looks from Chen Xi and the Jialan Fairy only made her more embarrassed. In a fit, she unleashed the Life-Death Reversal Vital Mystic Force on Yan Zhen, de-aging him.
Yan Zhen felt a glow envelop him, and then his body began to shrink, transforming into his five-year-old self.
He stared blankly at his tiny hands and feet.
Chen Xi and the Jialan Fairy were also stunned. “Evil Consort, when did you learn this trick too?”
The Evil Consort Master replied proudly, “Is it that hard? This Palace picked it up after watching a few times.”
With that, she scooped up five-year-old Yan Zhen, placed him on her lap, and huffed, “Speak carelessly again, and This Palace will punish you like this.”
No sooner had she said it than he vanished—snatched away by the Jialan Fairy.
“Turning Yan’er small is for doting on him better. Who said you could use it as punishment? If you scare Yan’er and he refuses to shrink again later, I’ll hold you accountable, you wicked woman.”
It was clear the Jialan Fairy was quite displeased. Calling her way of pampering Yan Zhen “punishment” was too much.
The Evil Consort Master was equally upset—no one had ever dared snatch someone from her hands. “Yan’er doesn’t want to anyway. You’re the one toying with him. Give him back, Jialan—Yaner hates you the most!”
The Jialan Fairy ignored her completely. “Nonsense. Yan’er and I get along great. Don’t try to sow discord here, you wicked woman.”
Chen Xi sighed softly. “Enough, you two. Stop dragging Zhen’er into your squabbles.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she used Spell Position Swap to exchange Yan Zhen into her own arms. She patted his head and restored him to his original form.
The Jialan Fairy looked a tad regretful, while the Evil Consort Master put on her haughty airs again.
Yan Zhen breathed a secret sigh of relief. But thinking of how Evil Consort Master had learned this trick, he realized he’d be in for it often now—her temper wasn’t the friendliest.
He recalled that his beautiful master seemed to know a similar spell too (from Volume 2 side story).
—Perish that thought!
Yan Zhen shook the weird idea from his mind. After resting a bit with his three beautiful masters, the sky had already brightened.
When the sun was high in the sky, the Fifth Star Lord arrived before the little house, escorting the Four Holy Star Lords and the Twenty-Eight Mansions Star Officials with seven trusted subordinates in tow.
The four stepped out. Chen Xi planted a Slave Seal on each of them before allowing Yan Zhen to release the Petrification.
The Four Holy Star Lords and the others were all horrified, clearly sensing Chen Xi’s control over them. They couldn’t help kneeling before her.
“I won’t kill you outright—you won’t die that easily. Serve the Star God Clan well and contribute your strength. After enjoying so many years of privilege, it’s time to give back. Fifth Star Lord, you know how to handle the arrangements.”
The Fifth Star Lord nodded, then asked, “Have you secured the Star God Authority?”
This made the Four Holy Star Lords and Twenty-Eight Mansions Star Officials tense up as well. Chen Xi replied, “Indeed. I’ve taken the Star God Authority from deep within the Ancestral Temple. Only the Star God Artifact remains, but its core is in my hands too. If you want to use it, apply to me, and I’ll approve on a case-by-case basis.”
With this move, Chen Xi had firmly grasped the Star God Clan’s lifeline. She didn’t fully trust the Fifth Star Lord either—the two weren’t close, sharing only similar views on the God Race’s development.
Had he not known he couldn’t win, the Fifth Star Lord likely wouldn’t tolerate her brazenness. Both sides knew this tacitly; they were simply using each other.
Without the old clan leader and Four Holy Star Lords obstructing him, the Fifth Star Lord could pursue his ambitions and reform the Star God Clan. And Chen Xi didn’t want the entire Star God Clan destroyed because of her—after all, it was her homeland.
Chen Xi’s gaze fell on the unremarkable Star Slave amid the crowd. This so-called Eldest Miss, who had once looked down on and bullied her, was now less than an ant in her eyes—killable with a flick.
But she didn’t. Killing was too easy, meaningless. She wanted Star Slave to taste the bitterness of exploitation and oppression.
In her previous life, Star Slave had died during the Demon Domain invasion, reduced to fodder for the Demon Domain Lord’s myriad demons. This life would likely be no different.
Next, Chen Xi had the Fifth Star Lord fetch the Clan Leader Seal and stamp the Alliance Book, binding them to the Century Alliance. Any violation would trigger soul backlash on the Fifth Star Lord.
Thus, the Dragon God, Phoenix God, Snake God, Heavenly God, and Star God Clans formed a secret alliance. Any stirrings from the Demon Domain would prompt an immediate response—a united front to slay the demons!
As a reincarnator with the script in hand, how could she let the Demon Domain Lord lead her around by the nose again?
With everything arranged, the master-disciple quartet left the Star God Clan. They stopped by the Heavenly God Clan, Dragon God Clan, and Snake God Clan to pick up their people, agreeing with the clan elders on a future engagement ceremony with their daughters.
“Qing’er is coming back with us too?”
Yan Zhen was a bit surprised. Cai Lian said coolly, “The Snake God Clan doesn’t need her right now, so she’s here to assist this lord.”
“Like that, then? Sure, one or two more won’t make a difference.”
“Hmph.”
—Idiot!
Yan Zhen thought he heard his Snake Snake Wife muttering under her breath, but he wasn’t sure. He’d settle the score with her later.
The group boarded Yan Zhen’s luxury speedboat and arrived at the Realm Gate.
They passed through the Realm Gate, returning to the Holy Land at last!
