Xiao Long and Wang Teng spent five years in seclusion.
They had already spent twenty years in that doomsday world, enduring countless hardships and few joys.
Every difficult battle, every life-and-death separation, and the complex spells they learned were deeply reflected upon during these five years.
Upon emerging from seclusion, the animosity they carried had significantly lessened compared to before.
This wasn't about letting go of their hatred, but rather burying it deep within their hearts.
Shaving his beard and cutting his hair, Xiao Long transformed back from a melancholic uncle into a handsome young man.
The last time he visited home, his father almost mistook him for a burglar.
This period of seclusion also allowed them to advance by a minor realm. Chu Yang had Xue Qianwei brew them both a batch of marrow-cleansing liquid, greatly enhancing their physical resilience.
With others still engaged in combat, Chu Yang naturally wouldn't let these two remain idle.
"You now have two options: would you prefer to fight alongside Luo Xiaowei and the others, or with Meng Zibin and his group?"
"Huh?"
Chu Yang explained, "The worlds where they are located are currently engaged in war with the Shitian clan. Unlike the thirteenth immortal cultivation world, humans seem to have a slight advantage. Sending you to these two worlds is for mutual support. After so long, they have experienced all that they could."
The two exchanged glances and instinctively leaned towards Luo Xiaowei's world.
After all, they didn't particularly enjoy being with Chen Xiaohan, and they still weren't sure if the poisonous蛊 (gu) worms he might have left within them were still active.
But then, they considered what would happen if such poisonous蛊 (gu) worms, capable of entering through wounds, were unleashed on the battlefield against the Shitian clan.
"Hiss!"
Both of them simultaneously gasped. Having experienced battle, they knew that avoiding injuries on the battlefield was nearly impossible.
Sometimes, the silent detonation of poisonous蛊 (gu) worms hidden within enemies could be the very force that turned the tide of battle.
Their hatred for the Shitian clan made the thought of such a scene incredibly stimulating.
"I want to go to Meng Zibin's world!"
"Me too!"
Chu Yang was somewhat taken aback, having expected them to seek out A'wei.
It seemed the "crazy woman" still had her charm.
"Since that is your decision, then go. I believe you understand this principle better than anyone else: all humans across all planes are our compatriots."
Both nodded solemnly, as no one could understand this better than they did.
"Therefore, you already know how detestable the Shitian clan is. Go and give them a good beating alongside Meng Zibin and the others!"
"We'll beat them so badly their mothers won't recognize them!"
Chu Yang nodded, confident in the two of them.
Given that the world they were heading to was relatively safe and humans held an advantage, Chu Yang decided against providing them with protective talismans.
Otherwise, without a sense of crisis, the trial would not be effective.
He took out the Book of Planar Anchors and sent the two of them in.
Counting the time, others had already spent about forty years in their respective immortal cultivation worlds, nearing the halfway point.
"I hope you can give me some pleasant surprises. The Shitian clan cannot defeat you. In the future, you must become their nightmare, just like Emperor Creation..."
...
After the Shitian clan's invasion, the Immortal Emperors of this world also quickly returned.
In the early stages of the war, humanity was caught off guard by the surprise attack of the Shitian clan. However, with the rapid response of the top sects, a defense line was quickly established, gradually pushing the Shitian clan back.
Due to the dire situation, the grievances and conflicts between these sects had to be suspended, as this was a battle for all of humanity.
The Demon Cult, Heavenly Poison Cult, the most ostracized on the entire continent, was a paradise for poison cultivators, accepting all, regardless of whether they were righteous or evil.
Furthermore, poison and medicine were inseparable topics. The Heavenly Poison Cult had its own Medicine Valley, whose wealth rivaled Chu Yang's Ten Thousand Fragrance Valley.
Therefore, becoming a Holy Son or Holy Daughter of the Heavenly Poison Cult offered terrifying opportunities.
Even more outrageously, Meng Zibin and Chen Xiaohan respectively became the Holy Son and Holy Daughter of the Heavenly Poison Cult.
When they first left Tiangang Mountain, Tiangang Mountain even attempted to declare war on the Heavenly Poison Cult, but their ten thousand disciples were held hostage by Chen Xiaohan.
Everyone in the cultivation world loathed Chen Xiaohan because she was simply too terrifying.
The cultivation technique she practiced allowed her to plant poisonous蛊 (gu) worms without the victim's knowledge, making her a killer that no one wanted to face.
However, when the war against the Shitian clan began, the disciples of the Heavenly Poison Cult unexpectedly became the backbone of the fight.
Chen Xiaohan, in particular, was now on the Shitian clan's kill list.
In one battle, Chen Xiaohan fought alongside Meng Zibin against the Shitian clan. At the Nascent Soul realm, the Shitian clan was no match for them.
However, they encountered pursuit from a fifth-realm Shitian clan member. The Shitian clan harbored immense killing intent towards human prodigies.
Ten Shitian clan members, equivalent to the Void Return realm, surrounded the two.
Meng Zibin and Chen Xiaohan both cried for help, but whether the other cultivators didn't hear or pretended not to, no one came to their rescue.
In a fit of rage, Meng Zibin broke through to the Void Return realm on the spot, drawing heavenly lightning. He then forcibly broke through the encirclement with Chen Xiaohan, sustaining severe injuries himself.
If it had ended there, it wouldn't have been so significant. What was more important was that after they escaped, all ten of those fifth-realm Shitian clan members died of poisoning, their hearts pierced by ten thousand蛊 (gu) worms.
Both the Shitian clan and the human side were stunned by this scene.
This was not how one transcended levels!
Chen Xiaohan was only at the late Nascent Soul stage, and yet all ten of those Shitian clan members were dead!
From then on, Chen Xiaohan became famous, although she was already renowned.
Later, internal strife erupted within the human forces, and Meng Zibin personally killed Yu Qingxuan, the Holy Daughter of the Hanxin Palace.
This was because Yu Qingxuan had secretly leaked their location to the Shitian clan during their previous encirclement.
She had hoped that the Shitian clan would kill Chen Xiaohan.
Colluding with the enemy was the gravest of capital offenses.
Yu Qingxuan could never have imagined before her death that the one killing her would be the man she yearned for.
She tearfully asked, "Why?"
Meng Zibin replied with utter disgust, "You colluded with evil creatures to attack me, and you ask why?"
"I did it all for you..."
Meng Zibin had never heard such a ridiculous statement. Compared to Chen Xiaohan, Yu Qingxuan was the truly crazy woman.
Therefore, he killed her without any hesitation.
The events they experienced over these thirty-odd years were certainly spectacular. The first half was spent developing within their sects, and the latter half was spent battling the Shitian clan.