In the Imperial Capital of Everpeace, Quinn Shepherd stood outside the city, surveying the true-god stone statues that had drilled up from the earth. Three months had passed since the crisis at Godsever ended. During these months, the wounded had been recuperating under Apothecary’s personal care, their recovery swift thanks to his skills.
Sage Nicholas Tranquil returned to Little Jade Capital Sect, but would come by to visit everyone from time to time. Fox Immortal and Rat Immortal took Willow Immortal, Weasel Immortal, and Hedgehog Immortal’s ashes back to Willow Prefecture. Whale King and Skywing Queen escorted Sean Blacktide’s shell back to the Black Tortoise Clan overseas, returning him to his people.
The Cult’s dharma-protecting elder personally delivered the Young Heavenly Demon Patriarch’s ashes, burying them beneath the sacred tree.
Quinn Shepherd himself returned the Old Dao Lord’s body to Dao Gate, while Grandpa Mark brought the Elder Buddha’s remains back to Great Thunderclap Temple to be enshrined in the Ten-Thousand Buddhas Pagoda.
Earthwalker chieftain Rocky Clayborne also died in this disaster. He and his foe were buried together in the underground lava. Sage Nicholas Tranquil made a trip below the surface, bringing with him a woman nearly as tall as Rocky—his widow. She mourned at the place where Rocky fell, then told Quinn Shepherd, "The Earthwalker God-Clan will never betray our ancient oath. If the Human Emperor summons, our sons will again come forth."
After this battle, the Godsever Mountains disappeared, and darkness from the Great Ruins began to invade Everpeace. Quinn Shepherd checked the flags he had planted; the darkness had not yet fully entered Everpeace, which gave him some relief.
The colossal world-hole blasted open by the Quake Cauldron at Godsever’s peak still remained, through which the inverted demon realm could be seen.
In that world, the demon clans were still busily preparing something unknown.
Occasionally, demon-god stone statues would appear in the ruins of Godsever, and sometimes stray demons would emerge from places unknown.
The Imperial Preceptor ordered Everpeace’s academies to send scholars and cultivators to train in the region, hunting scattered demons that appeared from time to time. As a result, the area was full of adventurers by day, and it became very difficult for the demon clans of the other world to assemble their forces.