After moving in with the Sun Family, Luo Xiu didn't continue his previous lifestyle of daily indulgence. He stopped going fishing, even turning down Su Shenyun's invitations to go with him. He spent every day secluded in his room, and no one knew what he was doing.

Time flowed like water. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

「That day.」

Luo Xiu rose early and began sifting through the ancient texts from the Holy Lotus Jade Pendant. The two pieces of the pendant, now joined together, lay quietly on the desk before him. He had been investigating them for days but had made no headway. When combined, they simply formed a larger lotus flower; other than that, there was no change at all.

"Is this simply a totem, or is it a map?" he muttered to himself, feeling thoroughly exasperated as he stared at the complete Holy Lotus Jade Pendant. "If it's a map, where is it a map of? Or perhaps... these lines and patterns are the routes of meridian circulation?"

As he was pondering, his phone suddenly rang. He assumed it was Su Shenyun calling him for a meal, but when he picked it up, he saw it was a call from Lin Xiyue.

"What's up?" Luo Xiu hesitated for a moment before answering.

Since their divorce, he had found himself missing Lin Xiyue more and more, thinking of her almost every night.

"Luo Xiu... are you still in Sea City?"

"Yes, I am."

"Doctor Li said he's gathered all the medicinal herbs. He asked me to let you know."

"Okay, I'll come to the company to get them later."

When Luo Xiu rushed to Shen Luo Company, he didn't see Lin Xiyue. He felt a pang of disappointment before remembering she was at home on bed rest and wouldn't be coming to the company for a while. Her call had just been a notification, not an invitation to meet.

「In the office.」

Li Jiuzhen gestured to a wooden crate and couldn't help but sigh. "My young friend Luo, we have you to thank for obtaining those more valuable herbs in the provincial city. Otherwise, given Shen Luo Company's current finances, we truly couldn't have afforded the rest."

Luo Xiu reached out and opened the crate. After confirming all the herbs he needed were inside, he stored them in the Holy Lotus Jade Pendant.

Li Jiuzhen said, "Actually, Miss Lin also spent a great deal on the remaining herbs. Now, Shen Luo Company's accounts are completely empty. We're also in debt, and many employees haven't been paid."

Luo Xiu smiled faintly. "The alchemy is for her, so it's only right that she contributed."

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something. He took out a business card and handed it to Li Jiuzhen. "Teacher Li, could you please give this business card to President Yao Xinna for me?"

Li Jiuzhen took it and looked at it with some surprise. "This is... the business card of Miss Su from the provincial city's Su Family?"

Luo Xiu nodded. "I've already spoken with Su Hongli. Shen Luo Company will be seeking a partnership with her."

Li Jiuzhen smiled. "I heard that since Duan Chunfeng's death, Miss Su has taken full control. The Su Family is now as powerful as the Duan Family was. If Shen Luo Company can partner with the Su Family, that would be truly..."

"Let President Yao contact her herself," Luo Xiu said with a smile. "I need to leave now."

"What are your plans now, young friend Luo?" Li Jiuzhen asked.

"I need to find a place for alchemy. It will take some time."

Hearing this, Li Jiuzhen's brow furrowed slightly before he shook his head in resignation. "Elder He and I were hoping to observe your alchemy process. It seems that's no longer possible."

Luo Xiu explained, "To be honest, the threshold for alchemy is quite high. You must first reach the Gathering Spirit Realm to be able to manipulate Spiritual Power and create Pill Fire."

A look of longing crossed Li Jiuzhen's face, but he felt utterly helpless.

"However," Luo Xiu continued, "you and Elder He can make medicinal pellets. The threshold for that isn't as high."

"Really?!" Li Jiuzhen's eyes lit up as he looked at Luo Xiu excitedly.

Luo Xiu took a thick, ancient tome from the Holy Lotus Jade Pendant and handed it to him. "This 'Alchemic Classic' is a gift for you and Elder He. When you have time, you can make a copy and send it to him."

"This... This is too precious!" Li Jiuzhen's withered old hands trembled.

"Take it," Luo Xiu said with a calm smile. "It's of no use to me anyway."

"Then I shall respectfully comply."

"Teacher Li, until we meet again."

"Until we meet again!"

After Luo Xiu left, Li Jiuzhen went to the chairman's office on the top floor.

Lin Xiyue sat at her desk, staring pensively at the surveillance footage on her computer screen.

"Since you came all this way, why not go down and see him?" Li Jiuzhen asked.

Lin Xiyue shook her head slightly, a small smile on her face. "Just being able to watch him like this is also quite nice."

Li Jiuzhen sighed, feeling that he really couldn't understand the young people of today.

"What did he just say?" she asked.

Li Jiuzhen stroked his beard. "He said he's going to find a place for alchemy and that it will take some time. As for where he's going, this old man has no idea."

***

「Elsewhere.」

Luo Xiu didn't leave Shen Luo Company right away. Instead, he went to the security room to find Guan Changyun.

"What are your plans for the future? Are you going to stay here as a security guard forever?"

Guan Changyun replied, "Disciple has nowhere else to go. Here, I don't have to worry about food or drink, and I can peacefully cultivate the 'Arrogant Thirteen Techniques' you taught me. It's a good life." He smiled. "Besides, the salary President Lin pays is very high."

Luo Xiu stared into Guan Changyun's eyes, wanting to say something, but he swallowed the words. In the end, he simply patted Guan Changyun's shoulder and said earnestly, "Thank you."

"Master, take care. The next time we meet, this disciple will have fully mastered the Arrogant Thirteen Techniques!"

"Take care."

Luo Xiu turned and walked away.

He knew that Guan Changyun was actually staying to protect Lin Xiyue and the company.

***

「The Sun Family.」

After packing his things, Luo Xiu prepared to set off for Henghai Provincial City with Xia Chan. Su Shenyun had long said she wanted to go, so she was naturally coming with them. When Sun Li found out, she also insisted on going, and no one could dissuade her.

Resigned, Luo Xiu had no choice but to bring the three women along.

After arriving in the provincial city, Luo Xiu had the three women head to the port first while he made a trip to the Ye Family to update Elder Ye on Ye Ningxue's current situation. Upon hearing that Ye Ningxue had gone to Ghost Valley Mountain and was being personally guided in her cultivation by the Ghost Valley Heavenly Master, Elder Ye was so excited he nearly fainted. For Luo Xiu to send Ye Ningxue to a place like Ghost Valley Mountain meant he truly saw her as his successor!

After leaving the Ye Family, Luo Xiu went to say hello to Yue Tianyang. He had a few drinks with him before leisurely making his way to the port.

***

Luo Xiu had intended to rent a boat to get to his deserted island, but he never imagined that the wealthy Su Shenyun would outright buy a medium-sized luxury yacht.

The island was about thirty kilometers from the port of Henghai Provincial City. The yacht could make the trip in about forty minutes. The island wasn't very large, roughly the size of ten soccer fields. But for only four people, it was more than spacious enough.

After disembarking, Su Shenyun and Sun Li looked at the expanse of wild forest and shrubs and suddenly began to regret coming.

"I say, Xiu, are we here to live like savages?" Su Shenyun asked. But as she spoke, her beautiful eyes widened in shock. She watched, dumbfounded, as Luo Xiu lifted the medium-sized yacht with both hands and walked steadily toward the trees ahead.

The three women stared, utterly speechless, looking at Luo Xiu as if he were a monster. The sight was simply too shocking—a single man lifting a yacht.

Is this guy... a superman?

A short while later, Luo Xiu gently placed the yacht in the forest not far from the shore. "I can't be bothered to build a house," he said, not even out of breath. "We'll live on the yacht from now on. You all get settled. I'm going to take a look around."

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