Yan Huang Star.
Shura City.
Deep within the Yan Huang Imperial Palace.
On a tree-lined path paved with marble, Luo Xiu carefully pushed a wheelchair forward.
Lin Shanshan sat obediently in the wheelchair, occasionally glancing back at Luo Xiu and playfully sticking out her tongue at him.
The warm sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating dappled light on the father and daughter, as if they were wearing the starry sky.
The passing palace maids and guards smiled at the father and daughter, feeling that this scene was truly heartwarming.
Five days had passed since Lin Shanshan had her bones replaced.
The bone replacement process went very smoothly, without any abnormalities. However, after the procedure, Lin Shanshan would need to rest in the wheelchair for at least half a year.
"Dad."
In the quiet moment, Lin Shanshan softly called out.
"Hmm?"
"Hurry up, we're almost late for the court session, and I have to attend a meeting too."
Luo Xiu shook his head with a smile, feeling a bit helpless.
He thought Lin Shanshan was just like her mother, both workaholics.
Just this morning, Lin Xiyue had left for the Wushang Realm right after Lin Shanshan woke up, leaving this "incomplete family" at home.
But Luo Xiu and Lin Shanshan didn't mind because Lin Xiyue was just too talkative, always ready to lecture them when given a chance.
Especially Luo Xiu, even if Lin Shanshan made a mistake, he would get a talking-to as well.
Life was really unbearable this way!
After Lin Xiyue left, Luo Xiu intended to take Lin Shanshan to the Shanhai Territory for some relaxation. However, he didn't expect that Lin Shanshan refused to go anywhere, insisting on attending the court meeting.
She even mentioned her responsibilities, claiming she couldn't slack off, and even lectured Luo Xiu, full of positive energy!
"Sigh... Alright, my dear Empress, off to court we go!"
Lin Shanshan said, "But my shoe fell off."
Hearing this, Luo Xiu stopped and turned back to pick up the embroidered shoe that had unknowingly fallen off. Then he squatted in front of Lin Shanshan, reaching out to grab her delicate, fair foot.
Looking at the fair foot, Luo Xiu suddenly felt a bit of heartache.
Because there were still stitch marks visible, it would take months for them to disappear.
"Dad."
Lin Shanshan suddenly called sweetly.
Luo Xiu raised his eyes to meet hers, "What is it?"
Lin Shanshan smiled sweetly and said, "I love you."
Luo Xiu smiled and helped her put on the shoe.
Lin Shanshan seriously said, "From now on, I'll spoil you."
Luo Xiu slowly stood up, his gaze full of gentleness, "Okay, you'll spoil me from now on."
Lin Shanshan suddenly said, "That day in Heaven Azure Empire, what I said to Luo Hao... it was true."
Luo Xiu nodded, "I know."
Lin Shanshan's expression dimmed, "The fortune I have now is because of Grandpa Ao, and he died protecting me, so I must avenge him."
Luo Xiu reached out to rub her head and changed the topic, asking, "How's your body feeling now?"
Lin Shanshan clenched her fist and said, "This Great Emperor's Crystal Bone will soon perfectly fit with me. But to continue cultivating the Godslayer Force, I still need some Ancient Cosmos Strange Stone."
Luo Xiu was a bit curious, "What's this Ancient Cosmos Strange Stone exactly?"
Lin Shanshan pondered, "I heard from Grandpa Ao before, it's a kind of substance born at the beginning of the universe, containing powerful energy."
After thinking about it, she added, "Hmm... if we put it in terms we'd understand on Earth, you could think of that energy as a form of radiation."
Luo Xiu laughed, "I see."
Lin Shanshan added, "I can feel that my body has now fully absorbed and integrated this radiation, and due to the Fortune-Forming Power, this radiation has even undergone a positive mutation."
Luo Xiu asked, "And the result of this positive mutation is the 'Godslayer Force' you mentioned?"
Lin Shanshan nodded, continuing, "My original bones couldn't withstand the Godslayer Force, but this Crystal Bone can adapt perfectly to this power."
"Next, I just need to learn how to control this power, then I can continue cultivating the usual way."
Luo Xiu said, "So what's most needed now are the Ancient Cosmos Strange Stones?"
As the father and daughter conversed, Master Ping's lazy voice suddenly reached them from above, "I say, how much longer are you two going to dawdle? The civil and military officials are all waiting for the meeting!"
Luo Xiu looked up at Master Ping, who was lazily napping in the tree, "With the officials waiting for the meeting, what's got you in such a hurry?"
Master Ping suddenly jumped down from the tree, "I'm at least a Prince now."
Luo Xiu was surprised, "Since when did you get a royal title?"
Master Ping shrugged, "Why don't you learn a bit about King Ping?"
Luo Xiu looked at Lin Shanshan, his eyes carrying a questioning look.
Lin Shanshan covered her mouth and giggled, "Alright, you two, hurry up and take me there."
Then Master Ping suddenly tossed a Storage Ring to Lin Shanshan.
Lin Shanshan curiously asked, "What's this?"
Master Ping gave a sly smile, "The Ancient Cosmos Strange Stones you wanted, all in here."
On hearing this, Lin Shanshan's eyes widened, "Uncle, where did you find so many Ancient Cosmos Strange Stones?"
Master Ping proudly smiled, "Last time, when I took Ao Feng and Aoman to raid the Three Thousand Alliance fleet, these stones were what I looted from the Star-Extinguishing Weapons."
Lin Shanshan gave a thumbs up, "It has to be you."
Master Ping said seriously, "This stuff is a rare resource, I initially planned to stash them away. But then I thought... after all, as a Prince, it wouldn't be appropriate."
Luo Xiu laughed, "Just for that level of awareness, I'll arrange ten technicians for you tonight!"
Master Ping's eyes lit up, "Long-legged ones?"
"Long legs? I'll even arrange ones with three legs for you."
Lin Shanshan immediately frowned, "Hey, is it appropriate to talk about this in front of me?"
"..."
Between laughter and banter.
Luo Xiu sent Lin Shanshan to the court hall.
But Luo Xiu didn't stay. After giving some instructions to Guan Feng, he went to the Heavenly Craft Institute alone.
In a laboratory at the Heavenly Craft Institute.
Xia Chan, who had left the Land of Lawlessness last night, was now in a deep sleep, soaked in a transparent crystal tub.
The clothes on her body had been stripped by Zhang Yi, and her white skin was covered with Zhang Yi's Spirit Martial Markings.
"Brother Luo Xiu, how is Shan Shan?"
As soon as Luo Xiu entered the door, Zhang Yi happily came over and clung to his arm playfully.
Luo Xiu reached out to rub her head, "Her Majesty the Empress is quite spirited right now."
"I see, that's good. She lost a dice game to me last time and still owes me a dozen drinks."
Luo Xiu looked to the other side at Xiu Hua and Ma Yanran, asking, "How's her condition?"
Xiu Hua glanced at Xia Chan in the tub and said, "Actually, Miss Xia's condition isn't too bad."
Luo Xiu hurriedly asked, "Is she savable?"
Xiu Hua nodded, saying, "But she has to make a choice herself."
"What choice?"
At this moment, Zhang Yi spoke up, "To put it in a way you can directly understand... roughly, the Shu Poison has already transformed and evolved her body."
"In short, all her cells have been affected by the Shu Poison and have become cancerous cells."
"..."