CHAPTER 679: THE ABODE OF MOON GODDESS

Mark’s eyes opened slowly, blinking into the soft golden light that bathed the room.

The ceiling above seemed to ripple like water, an illusion or magic, he couldn’t tell at one glance.

And down below, it was a round velvet bed, which seemed to hover in mid-air.

He sat up, his body still aching even in the minute moment, as if the Golden Demon Cat had done something to him apart from just piercing a hole in his chest.

Before he could even fully take in his surroundings, a voice pulsed in his mind.

*Ding! Master, you have woken up.

Mark groaned, his voice rough. "How long was I out, Ark? And where am I?"

The response from the AI flickered in a cool, crisp tone.

*Ding! Master has been in hibernation for 3 days. You are currently in the Abode of Chang’e.

Mark froze.

"Chang’e?" The name echoed in his mind. The moon goddess, his wife from one of his past lives.

*Ding! After the battle with the Golden Demon Cat Empress, you experienced a severe soul leakage. To preserve your core, I initiated hibernation. Demon King Bael then transported you here for recovery, as the netherworld is not a suitable place for a human to recover the damage to his soul.

Mark rubbed his temple, trying to focus. The memory of the battle was still fresh in his mind.

And when he thought of the battle, a figure came to his mind.

Mark quickly turned to the AI, his voice urgent. "Ark, what about Anan? Is he okay? Was he saved by Bael?"

*Ding! Anan has left, Master.

"What do you mean he left?" Mark felt his heart skip a beat. He deeply furrowed.

*Ding! It’s not my place to give you the message, but I have heard the message he passed on to Demon King Bael. DO you wish to hear it?

"Tell me."

*Ding! Anan wishes to return to his abode to protect his remaining subjects from the onslaught of the Sky Pavilion Sect.

"Damn it..." Mark couldn’t help but grit his teeth in anger. "I sacrificed so much to save him, and I thought I finally got him back, but in the end, everything has gone to waste. I guess he hates me now to death now that I have killed his mother."

*Ding! Not exactly, Master. Before he left, he initiated the contract with Master. I accepted on your behalf.

*Ding! Anan Spencer is bound to a master’s soul by contract. Master may summon him whenever he wishes, but the summoning limitations lie within the same plane of existence.

"Ah, is that so?" Mark was momentarily taken aback by the sudden change of events. He couldn’t help but open his character interface and check the summons tab. He saw the addition of Anan there.

He couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, his body relaxing ever so slightly. Even if he is far away, the idea of Anan being okay and not angry with him had lifted a weight from his chest.

"Fine. It’s better this way. Once I return, I should use the clan to pressurize the Sky Pavilion Sect to leave the Feline Empire alone. Anyway, it’s time to return home."

Mark then swung his legs over the side of the floating bed and touched the floor.

He stood, steadying himself.

Just as he was about to exit the room, something clicked in his mind, and he froze mid-step.

"Oh, Shit. The Eternal Pagoda!"

He had completely forgotten about it for the moment.

With a swift motion, his hand reached into the air and summoned the arm-sized pagoda from his inventory.

Without hesitation, Mark entered the tower, feeling the familiar pull of the Pagoda’s interior.

Inside the Eternal Pagoda:

As soon as he appeared on the first floor, he saw the battle maids greet him like soldiers with guns in their hands.

He gave a brief nod to them and climbed.

Mark ascended directly to the third floor, where his companions are currently waiting for him, according to Ark.

As soon as he entered that storage vault, Lan Xia was the first to spot him. Her face lit up the moment she saw him, and before Mark could react, she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank the gods you’re okay!" she breathed, holding him tight, as though afraid he would disappear if she let go.

Mark stiffened at first, but then he returned the hug, though with less force. A smile appeared on him. "Sorry."

Reva, the hybrid, glanced at Mark and let out a sigh of relief, "I thought for a second there, I was going to get stuck in this damned place forever, just like those women. It was... quite scary, I must admit."

Yuan Feng, ever the silent one, stepped forward, his eyes narrowing in concern. "Commander, you’re really okay?"

Mark offered a small nod.

Ryder, as always, remained silent, standing in the corner with his usual stoic expression.

Mark sighed deeply, looking around at his team. "I apologize once again. But you guys have to stay here for a while," he instructed. "I’ll release you when we get back home."

As his words hung in the air, the group nodded in unison, respecting his command.

Returning to the material world, he exited the room and started walking, more like looking for someone.

As he walked further in the courtyard, he noticed a soft glow up ahead.

In the distance, he saw a small, familiar glowing figure bouncing toward him with a cheerful energy. It was a rabbit, but not just any rabbit; this one radiated divine energy. The creature stopped before him, and Mark’s heart skipped a beat as he recognized it.

The Jade Rabbit, the Saint Realm Divine Beast, stood before him, her luminous fur almost glistening under the ethereal light of the Pagoda.

Her eyes, large and full of life, locked onto Mark, and she bounded over to him with a joyful leap.

"Master Houyi!" The Jade Rabbit exclaimed, her voice lilting and musical, quite in contrast to the stoic and calm rabbit he was familiar with. She nuzzled against him affectionately, her aura warm and inviting. "I’m so glad to see you’re well, Master! We’ve all been worried!"

Mark blinked, taken aback by the greeting. "Houyi?" He frowned. "It’s Lu Zhen."

The Jade Rabbit paused, her ears twitching. She blinked in surprise, clearly startled by his correction, but she quickly nodded. "Ah! My apologies, Master Lu Zhen."

Mark couldn’t help but chuckle, feeling like the rabbit looked quite cute. "It’s fine. Just, please, call me Lu Zhen."

"Of course, Master Lu Zhen," the Jade Rabbit replied, her voice softening with a mix of respect and warmth. "I am happy to see you in good health once more."

"Where is Chang’e?" Mark then asked, his tone more serious now.

The Jade Rabbit’s expression softened, and she gestured for him to follow her. "Come, Master. I will take you to her. She has been waiting for you."

Mark nodded, falling in step behind the Jade Rabbit as she led him through the Moon Palace halls. As they walked, he couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get even more complicated because of their past.