As Liu Hui wreaked havoc upon the member states of the New International Alliance, An Qi, Liang Jingyue, and Shu Yan remained by his side in silent companionship. Though they understood his need to avenge Hu Xian'er, witnessing the slaughter of so many innocent civilians across the globe at the hands of Xiao Hei caused them deep distress.

They equally abhorred the enemy's vile act of attacking Liu Hui, which ultimately led to Hu Xian'er's death, yet they maintained their composure as Liu Hui unleashed his killing spree. This was because they knew, with certainty, that once Liu Hui emerged from his frenzy, he would surely regret the destruction he had wrought.

However, they could find no justification to halt his vengeance, so they chose only to stay near him, sharing the psychological burden of the carnage. When Liu Hui eventually succumbed to self-reproach over these killings, they could at least bear a portion of the culpability.

Three days and three nights had passed since Xiao Hei first landed in Tokyo; the entity had already circled the globe once in its rampage. Yet, the anger burning in Liu Hui’s heart was not fully extinguished. Just as Liu Hui prepared to direct Xiao Hei south to wreak havoc upon Australia, Desheng burst into his room, his face alight with excitement, proclaiming, "Boss, there's a call..."

Liu Hui responded impatiently, "Desheng, how many times must I say it? I refuse to take any calls right now. Handle whatever comes up amongst yourselves."

Desheng insisted, his voice urgent, "Boss, no... I think you absolutely must take this call..."

Liu Hui snapped, "Didn't I just say I'm not taking calls?"

But Desheng refused to yield, holding up the phone and declaring, "Boss, you have to hear this call..."

A flicker of surprise crossed Liu Hui’s face. He couldn't fathom why Desheng was so insistent he take this particular call, knowing Desheng was usually self-aware enough to drop an issue immediately upon Liu Hui's refusal. Puzzled, Liu Hui paused, then took the phone from Desheng's hand. He raised it to his ear and stated, "This is Liu Hui. Who is this?"

Silence met him on the other end, followed by a frail, feminine voice: "Water Buffalo, are you alright?"

At the sound of that voice, Liu Hui’s heart leaped into a fever pitch, for the speaker sounded exactly like Hu Xian'er. But he immediately corrected himself—Hu Xian'er could not have survived that chain of apocalyptic nuclear detonations. He demanded harshly, "Who are you? Why are you impersonating my Xian'er?"

The weak voice on the line replied, "Water Buffalo, it really is me. Can't you recognize my voice?"

This time, Liu Hui truly focused on the voice, having lived with Hu Xian'er for so many years that her voice was etched into his very being. The person on the phone was undeniably Hu Xian'er. Confused and doubtful, he asked, "Are... are you truly Xian'er?"

The woman’s voice responded, "Water Buffalo, I am Xian'er! It's wonderful; I thought I would never see you again..."

Liu Hui asked, his voice trembling, "But weren't you... weren't you caught in that chain of nuclear explosions..."

Hu Xian'er on the line cut in, "Water Buffalo, it’s a long story. Just come and get me. I’ll tell you the details when we meet."

Liu Hui was ecstatic. Hu Xian'er, whom he believed dead, was calling him, alive. What could possibly bring him more joy than the revelation that Hu Xian'er lived?

Stammering in his excitement, Liu Hui rushed his words. "Xian'er, yes, I'm coming right now. Where are you? Oh, never mind—you're using a Spiritual Energy Fluctuation Phone. I'll pinpoint your location immediately. Do not leave where you are; I’ll be there in a moment..."

He turned to Desheng standing nearby, "Desheng, quickly locate Xian'er's position..."

Desheng smiled broadly, "Boss, we located Madam Boss’s position long ago, and the aircraft is already prepared. You can depart immediately."

Liu Hui beamed. "Desheng, you’ve done excellently this time. I’m very pleased. We'll discuss everything else after I bring Xian'er back!"

Liu Hui's three women caught the essence of the joyous news from the exchange between him and Desheng. An Qi asked with surprise, "Liu Hui, what's happening? I thought I heard you say Sister Xian'er wasn't dead—is that true?" Liang Jingyue and Shu Yan looked at Liu Hui with equal anticipation.

Liu Hui laughed heartily. "That's right, Xian'er is alive! I'm leaving to fetch her now. You all wait for me at home; our family needs a proper reunion..."

Hearing that Hu Xian'er was alive brought overwhelming joy to the women, especially Shu Yan, who began to weep aloud. As long as Hu Xian'er lived, surely Liu Hui's bloody rampage would cease under her counsel, pulling the world back from the brink of annihilation.

Anxious, Liu Hui rushed out to check the location of Hu Xian'er. He found her situated on a small island near Attu Island in the North Pacific. He had no idea how she ended up in such a remote spot, but he immediately went to the airfield, boarded a pre-arranged hover-fighter jet, and sped toward the coordinates of Attu Island.

At Liu Hui’s relentless urging, the hover-fighter maintained its maximum speed. An hour later, they reached the North Pacific sea. After a thorough search, they finally located the small island where Hu Xian'er was, and the jet hovered above the island, preparing its descent.

Liu Hui simply couldn't wait any longer. He wrenched open the cockpit door and leaped out from the high altitude, an action that startled Desheng aboard the aircraft. Only when he saw Liu Hui land steadily on the ground did Desheng let out a breath of relief. Yet, a question immediately surfaced in Desheng’s mind: in all the years he had served Liu Hui, he had never witnessed his boss display any martial power, yet here was evidence of agility so exceptional. Could it be that his boss was a deeply hidden, peerless master?

While still in the air, Liu Hui scanned his surroundings and spotted a woman dressed in white standing on a northern cliff face—the very Hu Xian'er he thought dead.

Seeing Hu Xian'er truly alive and standing before him nearly burst Liu Hui’s heart with sheer delight. As his feet touched the island, he immediately sprinted toward the cliff, gazing wordlessly at the woman before him.

Hu Xian'er had long since noticed the hover-fighter above and watched Liu Hui descend. She looked at him tenderly and said, "Water Buffalo, we meet again."

Liu Hui paused only for a moment before surging forward, pulling Hu Xian'er into a tight embrace. Only when he felt the warmth of her body against him did he believe she was truly alive, and not merely a lingering remnant of a soul.

Holding her close, Liu Hui began to sob uncontrollably, crying out, "This is wonderful, truly wonderful! Xian'er, it’s so good that you’re alive..."

Hu Xian'er, held tightly in his grasp, first smiled happily, but that expression quickly morphed into one of pain. She gasped, "Water Buffalo, you’re holding me too tightly! It hurts..."

Startled, Liu Hui instantly loosened his grip. He looked anxiously at her body and asked, "Xian'er, where do you hurt? Are you injured?"

Hu Xian'er glanced at Liu Hui and laughed lightly. "Water Buffalo, I'm not hurt. You were just holding me with too much strength; you squeezed me painfully."

Looking at the breathing, vocalizing Hu Xian'er before him, tears streamed down Liu Hui’s face against his will. He laughed, "Xian'er, you’re joking with me again. You are a supreme expert of the Nascent Soul stage in the Cultivation World now; how could a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like me possibly squeeze you in pain?"

Hu Xian'er replied with a bitter smile, "Water Buffalo, I have to tell you something—I am no longer a cultivator. Right now, I am just an ordinary woman."

Liu Hui froze, asking dumbly, "Xian'er, you say you’re an ordinary woman? What happened?"

Hu Xian'er explained, "When I was in space, facing that first incoming missile, I had no other choice but to detonate it. Fortunately, I succeeded in setting off that warhead, which then triggered the chain reaction across the other nuclear bombs. During that immense chain explosion, my white light-sword protected me continuously. However, the force of the blast was overwhelming; eventually, the sword's energy was exhausted, and my protective field finally failed."

Listening to Hu Xian'er recount those moments, Liu Hui felt an intense tension, even though she was safe before him. He asked worriedly, "Xian'er, then what happened?"

Hu Xian'er smiled slightly. "When the white light-sword broke and failed, I had to rely on my own power to resist the force of the linked detonations. Although I had reached the Nascent Soul stage, I still stood no chance against that world-shattering nuclear event. My True Essence was rapidly depleted. Just as I thought my end was near, the reserve True Essence left within my body by that senior who taught me cultivation—the essence I hadn't refined yet—was somehow activated. It was this unrefined True Essence that helped me survive the ordeal."

Liu Hui first looked stunned, then overjoyed. "It seems you truly share a profound fate with that senior. He not only taught you the cultivation arts but saved your life twice."

Hu Xian'er conceded, "I think so too; I must have a deep connection with that senior. When the external threat erupted, the latent True Essence was triggered, instantly forming a powerful shield around my body. It was this shield that allowed me to survive the violent chain reaction. Propelled by the explosions, I entered Earth's atmosphere and eventually plunged into the Pacific Ocean. Perhaps it was fated that I should live: the True Essence sustaining this powerful shield was nearly depleted fighting the nuclear blasts, on the verge of vanishing entirely, but it held until I hit the seawater, whereupon it finally dissipated. Protected by it, I survived the nuclear chain reaction without a scratch."

Liu Hui laughed. "It seems even the heavens watch over us, knowing we are meant to be together forever, so they sent you back to me."

Hu Xian'er said with a touch of regret, "Water Buffalo, although I survived the chain reaction safely, the excessive use of my internal True Essence to resist the blasts completely destroyed my Dantian. Thus, I have permanently lost the ability to cultivate. Furthermore, the True Essence left by that senior was entirely consumed, leaving me as just a regular woman. Water Buffalo, from now on, I can no longer protect you."

As Liu Hui listened to her account, his heart ached terribly. Though Hu Xian'er recounted it lightly, he knew the reality must have been far more perilous; her survival was truly a narrow escape from death. He gently pulled her back into his embrace and whispered, "Xian'er, as long as you are well, that is all that matters. Besides, I am your husband; it is my duty to protect you. Even if you are an ordinary person now, I will always shield you, ensuring you never suffer even the slightest harm again."

Having faced life and death separation, Hu Xian'er discovered her true feelings for Liu Hui in that crucial moment. Receiving his comfort now filled her with deep contentment. She nestled into his arms, and they held each other tightly, wordlessly.

After a while, Liu Hui asked, "Xian'er, how did you end up on this island?"

Hu Xian'er replied happily, "While drifting at sea that day, I encountered a couple who were out fishing. They saw me adrift and rescued me, bringing me to this small island where they lived. Fortunately, their children, living outside, had bought them a Spiritual Energy Phone for easier contact, which is how I managed to reach you."

Liu Hui smiled. "They are not only your saviors but mine as well. They saved us, and I will never forget them."

Looking at Liu Hui’s current appearance, Hu Xian'er felt a pang of concern. "Water Buffalo, what has happened to you? I’ve only been gone a few days, and you look so haggard—you haven't even shaved your beard?"

Hearing her words, Liu Hui turned serious. "Xian'er, there is something important I need to ask you."

Hu Xian'er smiled and said, "Water Buffalo, ask away."

Liu Hui inquired, "If I killed many innocent people, displaced countless others, and brought catastrophic ruin to the Earth, would you forgive me and still stay with me?"

Hu Xian'er smiled back, "Water Buffalo, you are my husband, and I know your character intimately. If you truly did such things, it would mean there was a justifiable reason for you to act so. Given that, why wouldn't I forgive you? Remember, we are husband and wife, meant to be together forever. Even if you end up in the deepest depths of hell, I will stay by your side."

Hearing her words, Liu Hui was profoundly moved. He pulled Hu Xian'er into his arms once more, saying, "Xian'er, meeting you in this life is truly my greatest fortune..."

When Liu Hui brought Hu Xian'er back, An Qi, Liang Jingyue, and Shu Yan were overjoyed to see her safe return. Following this ordeal, the relationship between the four women became harmonious, shedding the prior tension over Liu Hui's affections.

Friends like Zhou Tengyun and Yue Wang were immensely relieved to hear of Hu Xian'er’s homecoming. Desheng, in particular, breathed a sigh of relief—now that the Boss's wife was back, perhaps the Boss's killing spree would finally halt!

Soon, the entire "Starry Sky City" learned of Hu Xian'er’s safe return, leading to widespread jubilation and celebration for their Boss's fortune. Some citizens even took to the streets to light longevity lamps for Liu Hui’s family, wishing them lifelong happiness and well-being. This spontaneous act by the simple, loyal citizens deeply touched the Liu family.

By this point, Liu Hui’s burning resentment over the attack by the New International Alliance had largely subsided. He began to halt the global destruction campaign. Under his control, Xiao Hei, which had been preparing its southward move toward Australia, instead sank into the abyssal depths of the deep sea, vanishing from public sight.

As Liu Hui regained full awareness, he was instantly confronted by the magnitude of the global catastrophe he had caused through Xiao Hei. According to incomplete tallies, eighty million people had perished during the disaster engineered by Xiao Hei, with countless more injured, not to mention the staggering economic losses.

The nations ravaged by Xiao Hei saw their most vital urban clusters completely destroyed, rendering centuries of economic progress to dust and drastically weakening their overall strength, erasing any realistic chance of future resurgence.

Liu Hui felt a chilling alarm at the immense harm he had inflicted upon the world, yet, even so, he harbored not a single regret. Anyone or any nation that harmed "Starry Sky City" must pay the price; no one could inflict damage and escape unscathed. This world ultimately operates on the principle of cause and effect, and even his "Starry Sky City" was no exception. If someone possessed the power to destroy "Starry Sky City," Liu Hui would welcome them to seek vengeance. Having chosen a path in the martial world, Liu Hui had long accepted the inevitability of retribution.

After suffering localized strikes from the super laser cannons followed by the destructive assaults of Xiao Hei, the nations of the New International Alliance had no remaining fighting capability. They now focused all their energy on managing domestic casualties, daring not make a single aggressive move.

This apprehension was fueled by the constant passage of "Starry Sky City's" hover-fighter jets overhead. Now that their dynamic simulation formations were deactivated, the massive size of the fighters instilled dread in the populace of those countries. Consequently, the newly formed New International Alliance crumbled rapidly after only a few days, and the member states that had declared war on "Starry Sky City" began proactively contacting it, seeking to surrender.

However, these nations quickly recalled Liu Hui's prior broadcast declaration—that "Starry Sky City" was irreconcilable with them—and feared Liu Hui would reject their surrender, leaving them facing continued attacks until utter annihilation.

Unexpectedly, with Hu Xian'er safely returned, Liu Hui's rage had long since dissipated. He swiftly issued new directives: these New International Alliance nations could surrender, but it had to be unconditional. "Starry Sky City" would negotiate terms of surrender with no state.

After "Starry Sky City" presented its terms, the desperate nations of the New International Alliance deliberated briefly before finally agreeing to Liu Hui's conditions, deciding to surrender to "Starry Sky City" without reservation.

Liu Hui immediately summoned the representatives of these nations to "Starry Sky City" to discuss the arrangements following their surrender. After witnessing the overwhelming might displayed by "Starry Sky City," these nations suddenly realized that their organization was utterly invincible. They were struck by the sheer idiocy of having ever declared war on "Starry Sky City." They were now consumed by regret, but regretting it now was far too late; there was no medicine for regret sold in this world.

The first directive Liu Hui issued upon meeting these national representatives was that each country must first hand over all members of the Dragon Slaying Society within their borders, followed by the key decision-makers who authorized the war against "Starry Sky City," to be judged aboard "Starry Sky City."

To ensure these nations knew exactly who was required, Liu Hui specifically provided them with a list, compiled by Desheng, detailing the leaders of the Dragon Slaying Society and the government officials who initiated the conflict, demanding these individuals be brought to "Starry Sky City" immediately, or their surrender would be rejected and attacks would resume.

The representatives of these nations immediately relayed Liu Hui's demands back home. These countries convened emergency meetings, and following those discussions, they ultimately agreed to Liu Hui’s terms. They then swiftly moved to follow the blueprint, apprehending members of the Dragon Slaying Society and government decision-makers within their borders, and handing them over to the "City of Starlight." As these nations completely submitted to the "City of Starlight," the glory once bestowed upon them by their ancestors utterly dissolved. From this moment forward, they could only follow closely behind the "City of Starlight," striving desperately to earn its favor.

Upon accepting those individuals whom they had defined as war criminals, the "City of Starlight" immediately proceeded with identity verification. Only after confirming that no member of the Dragon Slaying Society had been overlooked did they formally accept the surrender of the newly formed International Alliance. Thus, the Third World War, which many expected to rage on for a considerable time, abruptly concluded in just one week. The seemingly invincible New International Alliance was utterly defeated, while the "City of Starlight" achieved a comprehensive victory.

The members of the Dragon Slaying Society began facing trial as war criminals under the jurisdiction of the City of Starlight. Their trials were concluded with extreme swiftness; all were sentenced to death and promptly executed. With this, the Dragon Slaying Society—the oldest clandestine power in human society, having existed for several centuries—was officially shattered. Under the total erasure campaign launched by the "City of Starlight," no trace of their existence could ever be found anywhere in the world again.

In the subsequent negotiations with the defeated nations of the New International Alliance, the "City of Starlight" adopted an overwhelmingly hardline stance. They demanded that these defeated nations completely disband their domestic armies and refrain from any military-related research, asserting that internal security would henceforth be the responsibility of the "City of Starlight." Within their own territories, these nations were only permitted to maintain police forces, which could not be excessively large and were forbidden from being equipped with high-powered automatic weaponry.

The members of these nations' governments could be chosen through open elections by their populace, but any election result was only deemed legitimate after receiving ratification from the "City of Starlight."

The authority to legislate laws in these nations was wholly transferred to the "City of Starlight," whose courts also took jurisdiction, with the "City of Starlight" presiding over all trials. Furthermore, their right to issue domestic currency was revoked; within these countries, the use of Starlight Coin was authorized, rendering all other currencies illegal. While the "City of Starlight" claimed it would not interfere with the internal economic operations, these nations were mandated to remit 30% of their annual fiscal revenue to the "City of Starlight."

The conditions imposed by the "City of Starlight" were devastatingly harsh. If these nations accepted such rigorous terms, it was essentially tantamount to declaring the end of their sovereignty. However, under the pressure of the "City of Starlight's" overwhelming military might, compounded by the severe livelihood crises gripping their domestic populations, the defeated nations of the New International Alliance found themselves with no alternatives. After a period of hesitation, they ultimately consented to all the terms set forth by the "City of Starlight" and signed the relevant documents, embedding every condition within them.

From that point on, these nations entirely forfeited the characteristics of sovereign states, forced to cling to the protection of the "City of Starlight." The "City of Starlight" thus became the de facto global leader, firmly controlling over 80% of the world's territorial expanse.

The handful of nations, led by Huaxia, that had not joined the New International Alliance in declaring war on the "City of Starlight," were not targeted by the "City of Starlight" following the end of this brief Third World War. Instead, the leaders of these countries were summoned to the "City of Starlight" itself. After a lengthy closed-door consultation meeting with Liu Hui, these national leaders returned home and immediately dissolved their entire military apparatus, transferring specialized materials originally intended for warfare—such as nuclear materials, nuclear warheads, and certain chemical weapons—to the "City of Starlight."

By voluntarily dismantling their armies and surrendering their weapons of mass destruction, these nations were spared harsh treatment by the "City of Starlight," allowing them to retain their national independence and integrity. Aside from the absence of a military, their internal affairs remained largely unchanged from before. The fate of these nations stood in stark contrast to that of the defeated New International Alliance states—one, perhaps, in heaven, the other, in the depths below.

With this, the Third World War, which had threatened to annihilate the entire globe, finally concluded. The Earth entered a new era led by the "City of Starlight," national borders began to blur, and the planet started moving inexorably toward global unification.

What these nations did not know was that, had it not been for the timely return of Hu Xian'er, Liu Hui would have utterly destroyed these defeated nations, turning them all into sacrifices for Hu Xian'er.