Rebirth of the Strongest Empress Chapter 2761: Epilogue (4)

"Where… did you disappear to? And why are you appearing here now?"

Luo Xue regarded Ye Qingtang with a visage filled with complex emotions.

"Let's depart from this place first." Ye Qingtang offered a smile.

Both Luo Xue and You Yun were taken aback by her words.

Leave? This desolate land was the very heart of despair within the Ancient God Karma Tunnel; how could they possibly depart?

Yet, to their utter astonishment, Ye Qingtang made a simple gesture, a casual wave of her hand, and in the span of a breath, the surrounding cursed hellscape dissolved, returning them to the familiar outside world.

As they regained their composure, Luo Xue and You Yun noticed that Ye Qingtang had already vanished, as if she had never materialized before them.

However, her parting words resonated clearly in their minds.

"I shall grant you three hundred years to cultivate your path towards a Perfected Immortal body. Our meeting shall then be in the upper realm…"

"The upper realm…"

You Yun murmured, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon.

...

The Netherworld Academy.

A millennium had swiftly passed, and the Netherworld Academy remained unaltered. Despite the passage of ten centuries, it seemed as though nothing had changed.

"Nangong Lie."

At the rear of the mountain, Ye Qingtang materialized behind a figure, her hand landing lightly on his left shoulder.

Nangong Lie turned instinctively.

Upon seeing his visitor, Nangong Lie's pupils contracted, his eyes widening with a mixture of disbelief and shock.

"You… you…" Nangong Lie’s body trembled as he pointed a finger towards Ye Qingtang.

"You no longer recognize me?" Ye Qingtang inquired with a gentle smile.

"Boss… Boss?!" Nangong Lie exclaimed, seizing Ye Qingtang's arm with palpable excitement. "Is that truly you? Boss, can this really be you?! It’s impossible, is this some kind of illusion?!"

As he spoke, Nangong Lie delivered a sharp slap to his own face.

"It’s not an illusion… Can it really be you, Boss?!" Nangong Lie stammered, his voice filled with astonishment.

The young man dressed in white, standing beside Nangong Lie, appeared precisely as he had a millennium ago, completely unchanged by the vast expanse of time.

Shortly thereafter, word spread, and Yun Chen, Jing Ze, Qin Feng, Lei Yan, and the others received the news, swiftly returning to the Netherworld Academy.

A collective sense of disbelief washed over them as they laid eyes upon Ye Qingtang.

Ye Qing had been absent for an entire millennium. Their dedicated investigations and relentless searches for their elusive teacher had yielded no trace, no clue whatsoever.

Who could have ever fathomed that their revered boss would grace the Netherworld Academy with her return after such a prolonged absence of a thousand years?

"Where is Mu Ziying?" Ye Qingtang inquired, noticing Mu Ziying's absence.

"Boss, Mu Ziying has already rejoined the Puppet Emperor’s side. After all, she is the granddaughter of the Puppet Emperor. Now that she holds command there, our contact with her has become infrequent," Lei Yan explained, his gaze fixed upon Ye Qingtang.

Ye Qingtang nodded in understanding. "I see."

"Boss, should we extend the notification to Mu Ziying? If she learns of your return, she’ll be ecstatic, jumping with joy!" Nangong Lie suggested eagerly.

Ye Qingtang smiled. "Very well."

On that same day, Lei Yan devised a method to relay the message to Mu Ziying. After half a day's journey, Mu Ziying, whose appearance had barely changed, arrived back at the Netherworld Academy.

The instant Mu Ziying beheld Ye Qingtang, a sheen of moisture misted her eyes as she embraced her mentor tightly. "Boss, where did you go?!"

Ye Qingtang’s lips curved into a slight smile as she gently stroked Mu Ziying’s long hair. "The place I went is not important. What truly matters is that we are reunited now, wouldn’t you agree?"

"Indeed, indeed. Boss hasn’t changed one bit. Just like an ancient demon!" Lei Yan quickly chimed in agreement.

Both Qin Feng and Mu Ziying shot Lei Yan disapproving glances.

Late into the night, the teacher and her disciples gathered around a crackling bonfire, reminiscing about bygone days. Waves of laughter and shared joy seemed to linger, echoing into eternity.

A few days later, Ye Qingtang quietly departed from the Netherworld Academy, ascending once more to the upper realm.

Before her departure, Ye Qingtang subtly imbued her disciples, including Qin Feng and the others, with a touch of divinity. Their fated reunion would occur in the upper realm centuries hence.