In the ancient wastelands of the Tomb of Civilization.

Luo Xiu opened his eyes once again. Using his sword to support himself, he moved forward, one slow step at a time.

He didn't know how many times he had opened his eyes, nor how many times he had pulled himself up from the ground.

Only the crimson trail he left behind in the broken ruins, like a thick, deliberate stroke of red ink, proved that he had never stopped, nor ever thought of giving up.

Suddenly, a dazzling cyan light materialized in The Void before him, its glow blanketing his body. This familiar yet alien aura sent a soothing sensation washing over him.

"What... is this?"

The cyan light began to twist. It appeared gentle, but it was filled with an unimaginably powerful force that warped the very space around it.

As Luo Xiu stared up at the light, lost in thought, a mysterious power locked onto him, pulling him directly into the distorted space.

...

...

「Henghai Provincial City」

Beneath the Construct Wood, countless people swarmed together, locked in a brutal slaughter. As time wore on, a thick layer of blood and mud coated the ground.

Di Xuanji watched the scene, her heart aching, but she was powerless.

Chu Aoran was overcome with anxiety, but he dared not show it, only urging her discreetly, "Your Majesty, we should retreat quickly. Otherwise, once the gap in the Barrier closes, we won't be able to leave."

Di Xuanji gazed at the Green Lotus in the sky, her eyes filled with reluctance. She had learned from Luo Ying and Luo Qianye that this was Luo Xiu's Life-bound Green Lotus. That very Life-bound Green Lotus was the only cure for the terminal illness that had plagued him since childhood.

But despite trying countless methods and exerting all her strength, she could not get close to it. Each time she drew near, a gentle yet immense energy would repel her.

Lin Xiyue, too, was unwilling to leave. She desired the Life-bound Green Lotus even more than Di Xuanji did.

Just as they all hesitated, wondering whether to abandon the lotus and retreat, the Life-bound Green Lotus suddenly emitted a blinding light.

Seeing this, Luo Ying's beautiful eyes lit up. "I don't know why," she said quickly, "but the Life-bound Green Lotus's energy seems to have weakened. This might be our chance!"

Before she finished speaking, she soared into the sky, attempting to seize the Green Lotus. But just like before, she was repelled by its energy before she could get close.

Luo Qianye flew up swiftly to catch her. "Ying'er, are you all right?"

Luo Ying's face was grim. "It truly is His Majesty's Life-bound Green Lotus. Even weakened, it's impossible to approach."

Just then, Di Xuanji, Lu Nianjiao, and Lin Xiyue shot into the sky together. The result was the same; the three were repelled by the lotus's energy before they could even get close.

"Your Majesty, Medic Immortal, buy me some time! I'll go get it!"

Lin Xiyue's eyes reddened. She steadied herself in The Void and glanced at Di Xuanji and Lu Nianjiao. The two women nodded and flew toward the Green Lotus, pushing their speed to the absolute limit and forcing their way through the energy as they advanced slowly.

Lin Xiyue gritted her teeth. While Di Xuanji and Lu Nianjiao absorbed the pressure, she resolutely flew forward.

From a distance, the three women seemed frozen in the sky, their progress agonizingly slow.

...

「The Upper Realm」

In a resplendent golden palace, Luo Hao watched the scene displayed on a light screen, a trace of disdain in his eyes.

"Hmph. Mere mortals from the Lower Realm dare to covet the Creation Green Lotus?"

Mei Nu approached his side. "Your Majesty, it seems the Azure Emperor will be arriving soon. Do you truly intend to descend to the Lower Realm yourself?"

Luo Hao took a deep breath and removed the luxurious robe he wore, striding toward a spatial entrance before him. With each step, a cerulean light flowed from his body, and faint apparitions of a green lotus swirled around him, filling the great hall with a sacred, profound aura.

With each step, a dazzling and domineering suit of Battle Armor materialized from thin air, enveloping his body perfectly.

Luo Hao clenched his fists. Tian'er, before that... I must have a battle with you. I will defeat you, fair and square! he muttered to himself before stepping resolutely into the spatial entrance and vanishing.

...

「The Lower Realm」

Her face flushed, Lin Xiyue's delicate body trembled uncontrollably as she forced her way through the energy emanating from the Green Lotus, her outstretched hand creeping ever closer. At that moment, she felt as if her entire body was about to be crushed from the inside out.

But just as her fingertips were about to brush against the Green Lotus, a figure clad in battle armor appeared like a specter, his hand snatching the lotus an instant before hers.

Lin Xiyue stiffened, her gaze trembling as she stared at the figure. "Who are you?"

Meanwhile, on the ground, fury flashed in the eyes of Luo Qianye and Luo Ying as they recognized the figure.

It was Luo Hao! Emperor Hao of the Upper Realm!

Luo Qianye's voice was ice. "Luo Hao, what do you think you're doing?"

Luo Hao smiled faintly, ignoring her. With a sudden wave of his hand, a blast of Qi Force erupted in The Void, sending Lin Xiyue, Di Xuanji, and Lu Nianjiao flying. The three women spat blood as they tumbled through the air, crashing heavily to the ground.

Lin Xiyue trembled as she pushed herself up, glaring at Luo Hao in the air. "Give the Green Lotus back!"

Luo Hao's eyes were scornful. "You say that as if it belongs to you."

Luo Ying demanded, "Was this all your plan? What on earth are you trying to do?" Her voice grew sharp. "Back then, your failure to send reinforcements to His Majesty at the Boundless Heavens—was that also intentional?"

Luo Hao's expression turned cold, but he offered no reply.

His silence, however, was an answer in itself.

He swept his gaze over the women on the ground and suddenly laughed. "Tian'er, your luck with women is truly something else."

As he spoke, a swirling cerulean light quietly materialized in The Void a short distance in front of him. From within it, the figure of Luo Xiu appeared out of thin air.

Everyone on the ground was shaken at the sight of Luo Xiu, their eyes wide with disbelief. At the same time, the battle between the Party of the Heavenly Lord and the Emperor Hao Party grew even fiercer.

...

"Brother?" Luo Xiu weakly opened his eyes. His gaze, full of confusion, fell on Luo Hao. "Why am I here?"

Luo Hao smiled faintly. "Because your Life-bound Green Lotus is in my hands. It doesn't matter where you hide; the Life-bound Green Lotus can activate 'Lotus Entanglement' to transfer you here."

Hearing this, a smile touched Luo Xiu's lips. "Thank you. I had no idea how to escape that hellish place."

Luo Hao's smile remained. "However, this Green Lotus no longer belongs to you."

Luo Xiu frowned. "Why?"

Treading upon The Void, Luo Hao walked slowly toward him. "Because your brother is a bad person. He doesn't love you like our sister does. On the contrary, he's jealous of you—jealous of everything about you."

...

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