Days went on, peaceful yet busy.

Monsters attacked the walls every so often, but with the newfound strength of several defenders, holding the line was far easier compared to the past. What once felt like desperate battles had become routine, the air outside the walls thick with dust and blood whenever intruders dared approach.

Xu Tao spent each day tirelessly, guiding Zetian, Yifa, Elder Lu, and the disciples in cultivation. Yet even now, their bodies were unable to withstand directly ingesting a Condensed True Qi Pill, making their progress slow and inefficient.

If taking the pill directly was like leaping forward ten steps, then what they were doing now was akin to taking careful, measured steps along a narrow path. Small progress, perhaps, but still progress nonetheless—and every step carried them closer to strength.

Arthur, on the other hand, busied himself with managing the city's affairs.

Through his actions—and the tireless work of his knights—he had practically become the city's unofficial mayor. Whenever the people faced problems, their first instinct was to rush to Arthur for aid, rather than seek Xu Tao's judgment.

It was the sort of shift in authority that might have caused others to worry over their own leadership. Yet Xu Tao felt only gratitude. With Arthur bearing the weight of the city's burdens, Xu Tao could devote himself wholly to his tasks, undisturbed.

Meanwhile, Achilles and his Myrmidons immersed themselves in martial training.

They honed their bodies and sharpened their minds, drilling Xu Tao's teachings relentlessly. Day and night, with barely a pause for rest, they repeated each motion until sweat drenched their skin and their muscles trembled.

Their goal was simple: to carve Xu Tao's perfection into their very bones.

Jehanne moved on a rhythm all her own. Despite her busy schedule, she never confined herself to a single duty. She worked like the tireless heart of the city, a secretary who ensured that no matter was left unattended.

She organized documents, compiled reports, rallied the maids when they weren't cultivating, and even trained her soldiers in the scraps of time left between tasks. To those watching, it seemed she lived on a clock entirely different from the rest—always one step ahead, always in motion.

As the days continued, Xu Tao felt the shadow of new problems drawing near.

Two questions still lingered, gnawing at him.

"How did Yifa transfer together with Xu Tao into Alkryon?"

And…

"How will he return with her to the real world?"

The likeliest explanation was that Yifa had been in direct contact with Xu Tao at the moment he "logged in." But if so, did that mean contact alone was enough for her to return to reality? Or was something else required? No matter how he turned the thought, the answer eluded him.

Even when Xu Tao asked the system directly, it remained silent—as if the question itself was forbidden.

And so, time passed. Days blurred into nights, and nights quietly returned to day.

Until finally, the fated moment arrived.

🔷🔷🔷

After logging in, exactly 245 hours had passed.

Beneath the Logout button, a short timer ticked down—less than five minutes remained.

"It's almost time to return," Xu Tao murmured, his voice low but steady. He turned to the quiet hitchhiker by his side. "Yifa, prepare yourself. We'll be logging out soon."

Yifa nodded, patting her robes down and checking herself over one last time. When she was certain, she raised her chin and nodded firmly. "I'm ready."

"Good." Xu Tao returned the nod.

They stood together in the middle of the courtyard, the center of the castle's grounds.

All the main figures were present, gathered a short distance away and watching intently. Arthur, the Demon Countess Andromalia, Achilles with his Myrmidons, Jehanne with her soldiers, and Zetian surrounded by her loyal maids.

Every pair of eyes was fixed on the two in the courtyard, each gaze carrying its own mixture of emotions—concern, pride, reluctance, and determination.

As the timer ticked lower, Xu Tao turned to them all and smiled faintly.

"As I told you before, I may not return for thirty-one days. That means I won't be here to help when the fourth wave strikes in twenty days. However…" His gaze swept across them, meeting each face one by one, and he gave a firm nod.

"I'm certain you can handle whatever comes. Even if another Evil Spirit interferes with the wave, I know you won't lose."

By now, nearly fifty members had reached level 950. With their sharpened stats and honed strength, there was no chance of failure—not against the fourth wave, whose boss was estimated to be only a sub–level 1,000 monster.

Compared to the last time he logged out in haste, Xu Tao felt calmer, almost at ease. He even had time to explain everything properly, so now they all knew: how he moved between two worlds, that the other was Yifa's home, and what lay beyond.

"Arthur," Xu Tao called, turning to the blonde king.

Arthur straightened, meeting his gaze with unwavering eyes.

"The people of this city trust you the most," Xu Tao said. "While I'm gone, I'll leave most of the responsibility in your hands."

Arthur smiled, raising his fist to his chest with a knight's salute. "Understood. Don't worry—leave everything to me. I'll ensure that everyone is safe and accounted for when you return!"

"Mm." Xu Tao nodded in approval. "And also… I don't mind if you become the ruler of this place before I come back. Don't let me hold you back."

Arthur's lips curled into a wry smile before a laugh broke from his chest. "Hah! That's quite the joke, Sir Tao. After swearing my oath, there's no way I'd usurp your place."

"Well, the choice is yours," Xu Tao replied lightly.

He then shrugged before turning to the next person.

"Achilles, you... just make sure not to cause problems for everyone, okay?"

"Hah?!" The man raised a brow, irritation sparking in his eyes at Xu Tao's words. "Why do I get a warning like that? I'm not a kid, you know! Stop treating me like a child!"

"But you did cause trouble for me multiple times. That's a fact."

"Ugh... G-Got it, I got it! I won't cause problems while you're gone! There, happy?!"

"Yes, yes. Good boy."

"Fuck!"

Achilles didn't seem to realize Xu Tao was just teasing him. Yet, the warning itself was not a joke—it carried weight. If Achilles, a level 950 warrior, stirred up chaos, the others would be forced to band together just to restrain him.

After enjoying his fair share of chuckles, Xu Tao turned to the next person in line.

"Jehanne, this time, leave the governing to Arthur and take a break," he said, his tone gentle yet firm. "You've already done more than your share. You need to rest every now and then too."

Jehanne's expression faltered, sadness flickering briefly in her eyes. Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something... only to close a moment later, replaced by a wry smile.

"I will..." she answered softly, her voice tinged with quiet sorrow.

Xu Tao could tell she was holding something back. But since she chose silence, he didn't press further. Forcing her words would only deepen the weight she carried.

"Elder Lu," he continued, turning to the next person. "I'm leaving the disciples in your care. Also, take this for emergencies. Use it when you see fit."

With that, Xu Tao handed her a small bundle of jade bottles filled with Condensed True Qi Pills.

Although she could not yet use them safely, it didn't mean she wouldn't reach that point soon. Elder Lu was among the few Elders just a single step beneath Xu Tao's cultivation realm—a true powerhouse of the Azure Dragon Sect.

"Yes, Grand Elder. I'll make use of it when the time comes." She bowed respectfully, her sleeves rustling softly as she tucked the pills away.

Xu Tao nodded, satisfied with her answer, before turning toward the next person—

[Notice! Logout function will be available in 10 seconds!]

—but was abruptly cut off by a sudden notification.

"Oh...!"

He had been so absorbed in assigning everyone their duties that he nearly forgot his own time limit.

Without hesitation, he flickered across the space using Ground Shrink, appearing beside Yifa in an instant. He pulled her by the waist, pressing her firmly against his body.

"M-Master?!" Yifa stammered, her cheeks instantly flushing a deep shade of red.

Of course, Xu Tao paid no attention to her reaction. Instead, he calmly announced, "Get ready. We'll be returning in seven seconds."

"...!"

Even Yifa had lost track of time. Now that the countdown was almost over, her heartbeat thundered in her chest—though she refused to admit it had little to do with leaving and everything to do with being in Xu Tao's embrace.

Seconds slipped away one by one. Xu Tao's sharp gaze locked on the Logout button, unwavering. He couldn't afford a single wasted breath.

To avoid distraction, he even turned his back to the others. Though his goodbyes remained half-finished, he had no choice.

Three seconds... two... one...

"Logout!"

Just as he shouted, moving his finger toward the button—

THUD!

—something collided against his back, jolting him forward.

He had no time to turn and see who it was. In the very next moment, his entire body was engulfed in a pillar of blinding light, his figure dissolving from Alkryon... dragging along everyone who happened to be in contact with him.

"W-What the..."

Arthur, who witnessed it all in the last instant, could only grumble under his breath.

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