Luo Xiu had many questions about Ai Hongye and naturally did not want to let Divine Fire just slip back into sleep. However, no matter how long he called out, Divine Fire ignored him. Left with no choice, he could only give up for the time being.

He then asked Lin Tong, "What did Divine Fire mean just now about 'Divine Husk' and going to another world? Is it like Chi Sha ascending to the Upper Realm?"

"Um..." Lin Tong laughed somewhat awkwardly and said, "Brother, I only ever reached the Earth Immortal Realm myself, so I don't understand such high-level matters. But I can be sure of one thing: your Second Senior Sister's situation is different from the Little Queen's ascension to the Upper Realm."

Luo Xiu sighed. "Never mind. I'll just wait until Divine Fire wakes up to ask again."

Even though he urgently wanted answers, his mood had improved considerably. According to Divine Fire, Ai Hongye wasn't dead, so they could meet again. If she wasn't dead, then he naturally had no reason to grieve.

Second Senior Sister, no matter where you are, as long as you're alive... we will meet again one day.

I will find you.

Wait for me!

Afterward, Luo Xiu told Yaya the good news that Ai Hongye was not dead. Upon hearing this, Yaya cried even harder, but this time, they were tears of joy.

「...」

A faint, pleasant fragrance permeated the Holy Lotus Hall, refreshing the spirits of all who entered. Luo Xiu and the two girls walked within, feeling as if they were wandering in a dream, floating as if they were about to become immortals.

At the deepest part of the hall, there were no seats, only an open-air Lotus Pond. Directly above the pond, a blue Array circulated, fading in and out of view, suffused with a mysterious aura. The water in the Lotus Pond was emerald green, as rich and thick as jadeite.

In the very center of the pond, a Green Lotus the size of a washbasin bloomed with vitality. Green light flowed from the lotus, and each petal was etched with fine golden threads. It exuded a mystical aura—simultaneously terrifying and yet sacredly pure, like an immortal standing apart from the world, untainted by a single speck of dust.

Luo Xiu stood quietly by the pond, his gaze and mind completely captivated by the Green Lotus. At that moment, he felt an intimate connection, as if looking at the Green Lotus was like seeing a member of his own family.

He then slowly stepped into the Lotus Pond, walking on the leaves floating on the water's surface, making his way step-by-step toward the Green Lotus. The seemingly fragile lotus leaves beneath his feet steadily bore his weight without the slightest hint of wavering.

The Holy Lotus Jade Pendant, the lotus flower pattern, the Stone Statue of the Azure Emperor, and this Green Lotus... What is the connection between them and me?

Muttering to himself, Luo Xiu arrived before the Green Lotus.

Dou Dou and Yaya exchanged a glance but chose not to follow, remaining alert at the edge of the pond instead. Both girls sensed something terrifying lurking beneath the Lotus Pond.

Luo Xiu slowly extended his hand, and his fingertips lightly touched the petals of the Green Lotus. At the center of the pond, the Green Lotus quivered slightly before responding to his touch like a shy, gentle maiden.

"Chen Shuisheng, get away from that Green Lotus!" Just then, an aged voice called out from behind.

Luo Xiu snapped back to reality. He turned to look and frowned as he saw Xia Chan and Xue Xiao approaching hastily. For a moment, he couldn't understand how Xia Chan had managed to follow him here.

Dou Dou leaped in front of them to block their path. With a flick of her hand, she retrieved the black umbrella from her Storage Magical Treasure, her eyes turning incredibly sharp. "You two have some skill, managing to follow us all the way here. What a couple of pests!"

Yaya then marched up beside Dou Dou, puffed up with anger. With her hands on her hips, she glared at Xia Chan and Xue Xiao. "This young lady won't let you pass!"

Though Yaya was young, the Kun Tribe was innately powerful. Even in her youth, she possessed the strength of a Level Eight Monster Beast, making her comparable to a human cultivator in the Mahayana Realm. She felt no fear facing Xia Chan and Xue Xiao.

However, Xia Chan ignored the two little girls. Her eyes were fixed on the Green Lotus in the pond, burning with desire.

Obtaining that Green Lotus was one of her mission objectives. Although she didn't know why Chu Yiguan wanted it, she understood it was vital to the Holy Boi Religion's grand undertaking of cleansing the world.

"Chen Shuisheng, my apologies... but I need that Green Lotus. I have to take it back with me."

"What do you have to apologize for?" Luo Xiu replied with a faint smile. "Have you ever heard the words of Zhou Dunyi? 'One may admire a lotus from a distance, but not defile it up close.'"

Xia Chan's lips curved slightly. "Unfortunately, unlike Zhou Dunyi, I have no fondness for lotuses. I simply need it."

Luo Xiu asked, "Just like I need your life?"

To Luo Xiu, this Green Lotus was like family. Although he didn't understand why he felt such a connection, he would never let anyone pluck it. At the very least, he would not let Xia Chan, the young lady of the Holy Boi Religion, take it.

Xia Chan lowered her gaze, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly. "I don't want to hurt you. I only want the Green Lotus."

Yaya scoffed, her voice a cloyingly sweet, childlike tone. "How laughable! As if you could hurt him. There are three of us and only two of you. So what gives you the right to be so arrogant? This young lady isn't afraid of you!"

"That's right!" Dou Dou nodded. "If you want to pluck the lotus, Dou Dou won't let you!"

Xue Xiao's lips curled into a smirk. "It seems that if we want to pluck this Green Lotus today, we'll have to do this the hard way." His tone suddenly sank. "Yingxiao! If not now, then when will you reveal yourself?!"

The moment he finished speaking, the black umbrella in Dou Dou's hand began to tremble violently. It forcefully broke free from her grasp and shot toward Luo Xiu, aimed straight for his heart!

"What?!" Dou Dou's face fell. "Chen Shuisheng, watch out!" she cried out.

In the Lotus Pond, Luo Xiu immediately channeled the Thunder Law into his palm and firmly caught the black umbrella flying toward him. But in the next instant, a bizarre black shadow extended from the umbrella. It wrapped around his body like tentacles, rendering him immobile.

With a soft sound, the shadow burrowed into Luo Xiu's chest.

Luo Xiu's body went rigid. His pupils contracted violently, and his gaze slowly lowered to the shadow that had pierced his chest, a look of disbelief on his face. This strange shadow had somehow bypassed his physical body's defenses.

Suddenly, the shadow in front of him condensed into the form of a tall, graceful woman. Her hand was plunged into his chest, her fingers wrapped around his heart!

Luo Xiu looked up and recognized her at once. It was Yingxiao, whom he had seen once before.

Back when he first entered Kun's Tomb, Yingxiao had fought with Dou Dou on the beach. After that, Xia Chan had trapped everyone with that summoning order, and Luo Xiu hadn't seen Yingxiao since. At first, he had been curious where she had gone and had remained wary of a potential sneak attack. Only now did he realize the truth... Yingxiao had been hiding in Dou Dou's black umbrella all along, right by his side!

She must have used some secret technique to hide inside the umbrella when Xia Chan activated her summoning order. No wonder Xia Chan had been able to follow them so easily. Yingxiao must have been signaling her somehow!

"Chen Shuisheng!" Dou Dou screamed and started to step into the Lotus Pond to save him.

"Don't move!" Yingxiao commanded, her expression cold and arrogant. "I can crush his heart in an instant."

Dou Dou froze, only now seeing that Yingxiao's hand was buried in Luo Xiu's chest. Her eyes, burning with rage, fixed on Yingxiao as she gritted her teeth. "How despicable, hiding in my umbrella! If you dare hurt Chen Shuisheng, Dou Dou will never forgive you!"

"Senior Tian Jiao is welcome to try me," Yingxiao said with a faint smile, then turned to Xia Chan. "Miss, you may come and pluck the Green Lotus now."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.