Luo Xiu picked up the Spirit-Communicating Staff from the rubble, blew off the dust, and weighed it in his hands for a moment. "It has a nice feel to it. I wonder what metal it's forged from."

Lin Tong's voice held a hint of pride. "This is Soul Gathering Iron, a metal unique to the Spirit Realm. It's indestructible."

"Besides, Big Brother, this Spirit-Communicating Staff is a Divine Artifact. It's a pity it's broken in half and the gemstone is missing. I have no idea where the other half is."

Luo Xiu asked, "Didn't you just say Soul Gathering Iron is indestructible? How did it break?"

"Uh… about that…" Lin Tong was momentarily at a loss for words. This Big Brother of mine can be such a contrarian sometimes.

"This Spirit-Communicating Staff was destroyed when the Spirit Realm collapsed. In the face of a terrifying power strong enough to annihilate an entire world, nothing is truly indestructible."

Luo Xiu stored the broken staff in his Holy Lotus Jade Pendant, then turned and walked out of the hall. "Why did the Spirit Realm collapse?" he asked.

"Well…" As Lin Tong recalled the past, a sense of dread washed over him. "For those almighty experts, destroying a minor world is as easy as a normal person crushing an anthill. And the terrifying part is, their decision to destroy you has nothing to do with you. It could be on a whim, or simply because they don't like the look of you. I remember it was a woman known as the Pink Emperor. She was the one who annihilated the Spirit Realm."

Listening to Lin Tong's tale, Luo Xiu sighed softly. He truly didn't know how to comfort the man.

Lin Tong asked in a joking tone, "Big Brother, if you reach the pinnacle one day, will you have my back?"

"If that day ever comes, I will," Luo Xiu replied.

Lin Tong exclaimed, "Just for that, Big Brother, I, Lin Tong, will follow you until the day I die!"

Luo Xiu laughed. "I may be a lecher, but I have no interest in men."

"Hahahaha…"

Luo Xiu changed the subject. "Speaking of which, if this Spirit-Communicating Staff were fully restored, what could it do?"

Lin Tong said proudly, "First of all, it's a Divine Artifact in its own right and can be used directly as a weapon. As for its ability, it can summon Evil Spirits from the Spirit Realm. It also has another, extremely terrifying ability—it can resurrect the dead!"

Luo Xiu was taken aback. "Resurrect the dead?"

"Yes."

Luo Xiu mused, "Then if I die, can't I also be resurrected with this staff?"

Lin Tong chuckled. "Of course, but it's not a true resurrection. It resurrects Wandering Spirits. Although the effect is temporary, they can unleash the peak power they possessed in life."

"Truly worthy of being a Divine Artifact," Luo Xiu praised.

"Of course." Lin Tong grew even prouder. "Who knows, maybe the Pink Emperor destroyed our Spirit Realm because she feared this very staff."

Luo Xiu smiled. "Perhaps."

Lin Tong continued, "Big Brother, you have no cultivation right now. If you find the other half of the Spirit-Communicating Staff and restore it, you'll be able to wield it with my help. It will surely become a great asset to you."

Luo Xiu sounded somewhat helpless. "But finding the other half is like looking for a needle in a haystack."

"Sigh, that's true."

Suddenly recalling something, Luo Xiu said, "But we might actually be able to find it, or at least some clues."

With that, he quickened his pace and walked out of the hall.

A short while later, Luo Xiu arrived in the large outer courtyard. At this moment, every member of the Qian Family was kneeling in the courtyard, hands on their heads.

Luo Xiu went straight to Hu Qing and said in a low voice, "Chief Attendant Hu, if it's convenient, I'd like to ask the Family Head of the Qian Family a few questions."

Hu Qing gave an easy smile. "What's the issue? Mr. Chen, please, feel free." With that, he gestured to the front. "Elder Master Qian, someone is here to talk with you!"

「In the hall.」

Elder Master Qian gazed at the shattered stone statue, his heart aching with sorrow.

Luo Xiu stood beside him, also looking at the broken statue. "Elder Master Qian, may I ask where you acquired this stone statue?"

Elder Master Qian sighed heavily. "I got it from an antique dealer. According to him, this statue came from the Land of Lawlessness in Africa. It was treasured by successive Kings of Law and was displayed at the Law Monarch Palace Ruins."

Hearing this, Luo Xiu frowned. Africa, the Land of Lawlessness, the King of Law… Could this be related to the King of Law's Tomb that Lu Nianjiao mentioned on the phone?

"The statue changed hands several times before finally making its way to Hua Country, where I purchased it for a hefty sum," the old man continued. "Do you know something about this, sir?"

Luo Xiu adjusted his glasses and smiled. "Not really. We intellectuals just have a natural curiosity about these kinds of antiques, so I had to ask."

After leaving the Qian Family, Luo Xiu went straight back to the Imperial Palace to find Di Xuanji. By then, she had finished her work. Upon his return, she dragged him to the man-made lake deep within the palace. Though the lake wasn't large, it was exquisitely and beautifully constructed.

"I was going to take you to the seaside to watch the moon after we finished the lamb hotpot, but I got too busy. Now, we can only enjoy it from the lakeside."

Di Xuanji walked barefoot along the shore, playfully kicking up sprays of water that sparkled under the moonlight—a dazzling sight.

Luo Xiu followed behind her, holding her high heels, and suddenly said, "I plan to return to Sea City tomorrow, and then head to Africa."

Hearing this, Di Xuanji stopped, her heart filled with reluctance. "So soon?"

"My time is running out."

Di Xuanji suddenly spun around, circled behind Luo Xiu, and pressed down on his shoulders to make him crouch. Then she leaped onto his back, clinging tightly to his neck. "No way. No matter how urgent it is, it can wait a couple of days. You're staying with me for two more days."

"Alright, two more days it is." Luo Xiu chuckled helplessly, standing up and walking forward with her on his back.

"Hey, Little Mule… what do you think we should name the child?" Di Xuanji asked suddenly.

Luo Xiu nearly stumbled. "Are you serious?" he asked, exasperated.

"Of course I am. I'm the only heir left in the Di Family, so it's up to me to continue the family line."

Luo Xiu said, "But no matter what, the child has my blood. How could it have anything to do with the Di Family?"

"You don't have to worry about that. Our Di Family's Bright Dragon Emperor Heart Art has a special ability that allows the child to fully inherit the Di Family's Bloodline."

"Is that so."

Di Xuanji looked up at the night sky. "It seems rather late. Why don't we head back now and continue our 'exchange'?" She then added, "Besides, your Yang Energy will help my cultivation of the Bright Dragon Emperor Heart Art. I'm about to have a breakthrough, so I need to seize this opportunity."

Luo Xiu wore a strange expression. "So *that's* the real reason you wanted me to stay for two more days, isn't it?"

"…"

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