After learning about Lin Shanshan's situation from Guan Feng, Luo Xiu couldn't suppress his rage and was burning with urgency, planning to immediately head to the Heaven Azure Empire.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't, absolutely mustn't!"
"My mind is made up, no need for persuasion. If I go to the Heaven Azure Empire, even if I can't return alive, I'll definitely drag the entire Heaven Azure Empire down with me!"
"As a father, if I can't even protect my own daughter... then I don't deserve to stand here and have you call me 'Your Majesty'."
The crowd's numerous attempts to dissuade him were fruitless, leaving them extremely anxious.
Guan Feng had no choice but to seek out Wei Qingkuang and Luo Xian to persuade Luo Xiu, but he still refused to listen.
Lin Tong suddenly proposed, "If that's the case, then I'll go with big brother! Meanwhile, we'll unleash death energy upon the Heaven Azure Imperial Capital to show them what being a Death God means!"
Upon hearing of this matter, Master Ping, Luo Ying, Luo Qianye, and Zhang Yixu Qianqing all immediately found Luo Xiu, expressing their intent to join him in bloodwashing the Heaven Azure Empire!
Just as the group was preparing to set off, Lin Xiyue suddenly returned to Yan Huang Star from the Wushang Realm.
It turned out someone had used the Teleportation Array to report this matter to her in the Wushang Realm. Upon hearing it, she promptly rushed back to Yan Huang Star.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Lin Xiyue grabbed Luo Xiu's hand and pulled him away.
The originally furious Luo Xiu became utterly powerless in front of Lin Xiyue.
Master Ping waved to the crowd, "Forget it, forget it, everyone disperse, go back to what you were busy with, today's trip probably isn't happening."
"..."
...
In a secret chamber at the Heavenly Craft Institute.
Lin Xiyue looked at Luo Xiu, feeling both amused and frustrated, yet also somewhat sympathetic.
After all these years, this guy still hasn't changed a bit, acting just like a child.
"Look at you now, you're like Wu Zetian enduring widowhood—losing Li Zhi (reason)!"
Luo Xiu pointed at his nose in disbelief, "Are you saying I've lost my reason? Lin Xiyue, Shan Shan is our daughter! She's been taken..."
"Enough, that's exactly why I rushed back to discuss this with you."
Lin Xiyue interrupted, "Ao Si hasn't betrayed us; I instructed him to cooperate with Gu Yuelong and also asked him to take Shan Shan to find Luo Hao."
She continued, "Otherwise, how do you think Gu Yuelong managed to enter Shura City through the National Protection Array without anyone noticing?"
Luo Xiu's gaze trembled slightly, and he urgently asked, "Then what do you mean by having Ao Si take Shan Shan to find Luo Hao?"
Lin Xiyue stated frankly, "First, based on what Ao Si conveyed to me about his conversation with Gu Yuelong, I can confirm that Luo Hao's main goal in attacking Yan Huang Star this time is Shan Shan."
"Because he wants Shan Shan's blood to perfectly control that Green Lotus, I decided to turn the enemy's plot against them by sending Shan Shan to poison him."
After pausing, she added, "Perhaps you're wondering how I can poison Luo Hao when I don't even know the art of poison."
Luo Xiu interjected, "So how did you manage to do it?"
Lin Xiyue explained, "It's poison from my own body."
Luo Xiu asked worriedly, "Are you poisoned?"
Lin Xiyue replied, "Nine Yin Power isn't poison to me, but if it enters Luo Hao's body, even if he survives, he'll be a cripple for the rest of his life."
Luo Xiu sighed, "Indeed, the femenine heart is the most venomous. Although, given his skills, he might be able to neutralize the poison."
Lin Xiyue, expressionless, said convincingly, "I'm the only one who can neutralize it, and it requires dual cultivation with me."
Luo Xiu: "..."
Lin Xiyue added, "Moreover, poisoning him isn't the primary intention."
Luo Xiu asked, "Then what are you primarily aiming for?"
Lin Xiyue explained, "At that time, Shan Shan was in grave danger, urgently needing Fortune-Forming Power to assist in using the Phoenix Inner Pill for Nirvana rebirth. You were absent, so I had no choice but to turn to Luo Hao."
"As for Luo Ying and Qian Ye, their Fortune-Forming Power wasn't sufficient, and I couldn't possibly let them sacrifice their lives to provide Shan Shan with enough Fortune-Forming Power."
Luo Xiu pondered and said, "And Luo Hao, wanting to exchange Shan Shan's blood under these circumstances, will surely present the Creation Green Lotus to aid Shan Shan's Nirvana rebirth."
Lin Xiyue: "That's why I infused a trace of Nine Yin Power into Shan Shan's body, conveniently poisoning him."
Luo Xiu frowned, "In this scenario, even if successful, Shan Shan and Ao Si will still fall into Luo Hao's hands."
Lin Xiyue gazed into his eyes and said, "So I've been awaiting your return."
"Only Ao Si and I know about this, because there's still a mole within the city, I can't fully trust anyone."
"As for Master Ping and Luo Ying and Wei Qingkuang, while I trust them, there's no need for them to know. If too many people know, word may leak and ultimately reach the enemy spies."
Luo Xiu acknowledged, "That's how it should be."
Lin Xiyue suddenly took out what seemed to be a bronze compass and told Luo Xiu, "This is the 'Hour Clock' Ao Si left me. He said to activate the Array with the Hour Clock, and then you just need to use Space-splitting Divine Thunder within the Array to directly reach him and bring him and Shan Shan back to Yan Huang Star."
Luo Xiu asked, "How do you use the Hour Clock?"
Lin Xiyue walked over and inserted the Hour Clock into a groove in the center of the secret chamber.
"It takes some time to activate the Law, wait a bit."
While observing Lin Xiyue, Luo Xiu asked, "Why are you dressed like this? Black stockings, high heels, and professional attire... just like a domineering female president!"
Lin Xiyue explained, "Going to the Wushang Realm to discuss business with Ma Huayun requires formal attire, since it's about major business concerning Yan Huang Star's economic development for the next few hundred years."
"But you, as the country's ruler and Great Ancestor Emperor, impulsively act without considering consequences during personal crises, lacking even basic reason. How will you protect the Yan Huang masses?"
Luo Xiu scratched his nose and muttered, "I'm not Wu Zetian, why do I need reason?"
"Besides, I'm just a minor role, not the Yan Huang Emperor, so you should say this to Shan Shan."
Lin Xiyue glared at him, "You're still talking back?"
Luo Xiu shrugged, "See, this female president is indeed domineering, even when I'm right, I can't talk back."
Annoyed, Lin Xiyue cast him a sidelong glance, "After all these years, you're still like a child, always worrying people. If you didn't possess such strong abilities, who knows how much you'd suffer among the crowd."
Luo Xiu chuckled, hugging her shoulder, "Isn't there President Lin watching over me?"
"Need something, you're President Lin, otherwise you're Lin Biao, right?"
"How could that be? Am I such a person?"
Lin Xiyue twisted away, disliking it, exclaiming, "Ugh, you smell of sweat, go away!"
But Luo Xiu hugged her tighter, burying his face at her neck to cuddle.
"Speaking of which, how long until the Hour Clock activates the Array?"
Lin Xiyue gently tilted her head, affectionately rubbing her cheek against Luo Xiu's forehead, "I don't know either, never used it before, let's wait a bit more."
Luo Xiu asked, "Will you go with me later?"
"Of course."
"How about changing clothes? With this Earthly professional attire, those unaware might think you're going for business negotiations."
"Let's change when the time comes."
Luo Xiu contemplated, "Why not squeeze in some time to argue with me? You don't know, these days in the Divine Oracle Cave Heaven fighting, I've been feeling stifled."
Instantly, Lin Xiyue's face turned frost cold: "Get lost. You returned without even washing up, what nonsense are you thinking?"
"Heartless, right? But can I at least touch your legs? Haven't played with them in a while."
"Go away, no touching."
"In exchange, I'll let you touch my abs."
"Forget it, I'm not interested... Ah... stop messing around..."
"..."
Moments later.
Luo Xiu suddenly noticed something, asking, "Did you place the Hour Clock incorrectly?"
"Uh... seems like it."
"Looks like our President Lin isn't so clever either."
"Humph, being mean to me? When Shan Shan returns, I'll have her deal with you!"
"You call this mean? You mother and daughter are quite the pair."
"..."
...
Heaven Azure Empire.
Secluded restricted area.
The secret chamber.
Luo Hao stared at the vial of blood Ao Si drew from Lin Shanshan, asking, "Why is there so little of it?"
Ao Si explained, "Since it's a blood exchange, multiple trials are needed for your body to gradually adjust. Extracting all of it at once, if unsuccessful, would ruin everything."
Luo Hao impatiently urged, "Hurry up and test it, stop dawdling!"
"..."