In these five years, the world underwent seismic changes. Most noteworthy was the reappearance of the 'Zhan' warriors, figures whose presence had vanished for hundreds of years, stripping the 'Zhan' of its former mystery!

It turned out that the disappearance of these individuals was due to the sudden manifestation of a unidirectional teleportation array, whisking them all away to an alternate dimension. And this small teleportation array was not man-made; it formed naturally, which is precisely why it possessed the power to transport tens of thousands of people away! In essence, it resembled some kind of spatial fold!

Of course, this type of 'unidirectional teleportation array' was not singular; they were all concentrated in areas where immense quantities of diamonds and crystals had suddenly appeared. This was one catalyst for the 'Zhan' occurrences. Furthermore, another factor attracting a host of top-tier experts to participate in these conflicts was the emergence of unknown extraterrestrial organisms: the ferociously powerful Demon Bugs!

Now, the gradual return of these 'Zhan' warriors severely impacted the power structures of every nation. Against these figures, even the mightiest experts seemed fragile and easily broken! Fortunately, not all these returning 'Zhan' warriors were as belligerent as Bier, and they kept each other in check, none daring to push boundaries too far!

Nevertheless, the world was no longer as peaceful as it once was. All manner of crime surged, and friction between nations constantly escalated. A single spark could ignite a far-reaching war!

Moreover, humanity now faced an existential threat, brought on not only by the returning 'Zhan' warriors but also by those terrifying Demon Bugs! It was as if a gate had opened, connecting this world to the alternate dimension. As long as this gate remained unsealed, not only would more 'Zhan' warriors continue to emerge, but vast swarms of Demon Bugs would also pour in! For the moment, however, there was some relief: these Demon Bugs were mostly confined to the dense forests, rarely venturing into human settlements!

Beyond these issues, artifacts from the 'Zhan' era were also heavily affected. Their prices plummeted daily; relics once considered rare and priceless from the 'Zhan' period were becoming commonplace! (It was fortunate that Zhong Shenxiu had already sold off the 'Zhan' relics he deemed useless beforehand, or he would have suffered heavy losses!)

It must also be mentioned that these returning 'Zhan' warriors differed from Bier, who had appeared earlier. They did not arrive naked; some clothing and equipment remained. This was primarily because they returned via 'spatial loosening,' not by being forcefully dragged through!

The alternate dimension seemed to possess an endless supply of gems and crystals. Every returning 'Zhan' warrior carried a substantial amount, which inevitably put a strain on national economies. Even the 'Dark Commerce Guild' felt a slight ripple.

While the 'Dark Commerce Guild' business remained booming, its overall situation was precarious. More and more 'Zhan' warriors were directing their attention toward the Guild, with many secretly probing for the whereabouts of its elusive boss. Thankfully, no one had been as rash as Bier, launching an attack before understanding the true depth of the Guild's power! However, being targeted was an undeniable reality!

Having detailed the state of the world, let us now turn to Zhong Shenxiu and his companions!

Over these five years, every member of the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group' successfully completed the tasks assigned by Zhong Shenxiu. It could be said that they all managed to step across the threshold into the realm of cultivation!

The most rapid progress was undoubtedly made by Angelina. Through five years of relentless effort, she had now reached the 'Integration Stage.' This was partly due to her earliest exposure to Zhong Shenxiu, giving her a significant head start in understanding and comprehension compared to the others. Cultivation realms, from lowest to highest, were categorized as: Foundation Establishment, Aperture Opening, Integration, Heart Stirring, Spirit Seclusion, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Leaving, Spirit Dividing, Body Integration, Tribulation Crossing, and Mahayana! (And each stage was further divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower tiers!)

Second in terms of swift advancement was Xia Luo, who was tantalizingly close to reaching the 'Integration Stage.' She currently occupied the Lower tier of the 'Aperture Opening Stage' and could break through at any moment!

Aside from these two, individuals like Rhys, Elena, Marksin, Leng Xiangxue, and Mercedes had all successfully attained the 'Aperture Opening Stage.'

The only ones among the group who had not reached 'Aperture Opening' were the two dwarves, Andrew and Yale. Their comprehension was comparatively slower, but they had still managed to reach the 'Foundation Establishment Stage'!

Another interesting point was that although Zhong Shenxiu intended to teach them all cultivation, the specific techniques they learned were highly diverse! For instance, Stanley and Faraday, the two Necromancers, learned techniques categorized as 'Witchcraft,' while Gandalf studied Demonic Path cultivation. Shirley's path was 'Buddhist' cultivation—truly adapting the method to the individual!

Beyond this, their signature moves also varied greatly. The two dwarves had mastered a set of 'Hammer Techniques'; Wu Feiyan specialized in 'Heavenly Demon Sound'; and Leng Xiangxue learned the 'Ice Sword Art'...

Apart from the core members of the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group,' others had also made significant progress. Belladonna had reached the 'Aperture Opening Stage,' Tiya was at 'Foundation Establishment,' and Niu Niu, though the weakest among them, was still considered a minor expert!

Speaking of which, perhaps the most anticipated query concerns Zhong Shenxiu and Robin. How had they fared over these five years?

After five years, Zhong Shenxiu was now over twelve years old, having grown considerably taller. His appearance could be described as that of a handsome youth, possessing immense charm that held a strong allure for women. Most astonishingly, Zhong Shenxiu's power had become terrifyingly profound; he had reached the 'Mahayana Stage,' only a hair's breadth away from his peak former strength!

The most joyous development was that Zhong Shenxiu could now manifest the 'Qiankun Domain,' allowing him to retrieve the artifacts stored within! Treasures such as the Qiankun Cauldron, the Divine Compass, and the Chaos Tablet had returned to Zhong Shenxiu's command!

Zhong Shenxiu could now justifiably be called peerless! (Though, perhaps he never had any true rivals...)

Now, regarding Robin: she was over fifteen now, her body developing splendidly. With bright eyes, pearly teeth, and a figure of perfect curves, she had blossomed into a beautiful young woman! Standing beside Zhong Shenxiu, they were undoubtedly a match made in heaven—a perfect pair of celestial youth and beauty!

And Robin's strength had reached the 'Spirit Dividing Stage,' cementing her status as the undeniable second 'little monster'! Furthermore, Robin's temperament had changed significantly; she occasionally initiated conversations with other members, and smiles were now a frequent sight!

Today was the day Zhong Shenxiu and the others would finally emerge from the 'Zhong Luo Great Hall.' Excitement buzzed through everyone; they were eager to discover what changes had swept the outside world during their five years of seclusion.

"All members, follow me now to greet the world!" Zhong Shenxiu's lips curved slightly. His personality had transformed drastically; he could now mingle easily with the members. Respect from them was now mixed more with admiration than fear!

It seemed the five years of isolation had not been in vain!

"Yes!" the team chorused, light shining brightly in every pair of eyes.

Pushing open the doors of the 'Zhong Luo Great Hall,' a ray of sunlight bathed their faces—it felt so incredibly warm.

It was spring, the time of renewal. Who knew what impact Zhong Shenxiu's reappearance would have on the world? It suddenly felt like something truly worth anticipating!

"Young Master, since we are finally out, let's go sight-seeing properly?" Marksin suggested.

The group rarely called Zhong Shenxiu 'Commander' anymore, preferring the more intimate title, 'Young Master.' His current appellations primarily included three: Young Master, Little Xiu, and Brother Xiu!

"Good idea. Let's have a splurge today. All your expenses will be covered by the guild funds!" Zhong Shenxiu declared with a laugh.

He was much more outgoing now. Setting aside his terrifying power, he possessed the typical demeanor of a young man, though his mischievous habit of playing pranks remained, thankfully now directed away from those close to him (or if enacted, they were very mild, ahem!).

"The Young Master is treating! We won't be polite then!" A burst of laughter erupted from the group; the atmosphere was delightfully harmonious.

The group headed straight for the nearest city and immediately booked out an entire hotel. After feasting to their hearts' content, they plunged into the delight of shopping, knowing the bill was on the guild. Consequently, everyone indulged without restraint, snatching up anything they fancied.

However, the sums they spent were mere drops in the ocean to Zhong Shenxiu; he could buy the entire city without blinking. It was no exaggeration to say that the 'Ethereal Mercenary Group's' guild budget ranked first among all mercenary organizations in the world!

Zhong Shenxiu did not join the mad shopping spree. He and Robin went to the 'Mercenary Association,' and not for any casual reason. They needed to check on the completion status of previously issued tasks and confirm if the precious materials had been fully collected.

Although he could now activate the 'Qiankun Domain,' he still lacked several materials essential for reconstructing his physical body. Resources in the previous Cultivation World had been severely scarce, compounded by Zhong Shenxiu’s own research expenditures, meaning the treasures within the 'Qiankun Domain' were not inexhaustible!

Pagie's 'Ghost Cultivation' power could now manifest physically, but lacking a true body presented many limitations. Zhong Shenxiu also yearned to reunite mother and daughter soon, if only for Robin’s sake!

The moment Zhong Shenxiu and Robin entered the 'Mercenary Association,' they commanded immediate attention. Every eye present showed sheer astonishment!

Is this young man truly a boy? He is too exquisitely handsome!

Who is that young woman? What a perfectly formed beauty! Why have we never seen her before?

All gazes followed Zhong Shenxiu and Robin as they made their way toward the service counter.

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