When Luo Xiu took out "Dream and Asura," Xia Chan panicked. She had personally witnessed how terrifying that sword was during the incident at the Ye Family. Once Luo Xiu drew his sword, he transformed into a different person, capable only of endless slaughter.

"Luo Xiu, you should leave," she said.

After a brief hesitation, Xia Chan dismissed the idea of forcibly keeping Luo Xiu.

Hearing this, Di Yu grew anxious. "Messenger Lord, he can't unleash that terrifying power anymore! We can't let him leave!"

Xia Chan gave Di Yu a cold look. "That is an order."

Di Yu gritted his teeth and stepped aside. The dozen or so figures blocking the courtyard gate dispersed as if they had never been there.

It wasn't until he stepped out of the Royal Mansion's main gate that Luo Xiu finally breathed a sigh of relief. A moment ago, he had truly intended to draw his sword and make a last stand. But after taking out the sword, he was shocked to discover that he was now unable to draw it.

That was close... If Xia Chan and Di Yu had been just a little more obstinate, I'm afraid I wouldn't have made it out of this Royal Mansion. Still, I managed to escape.

Luo Xiu wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart still pounding with fear. He put the sword back into the Holy Lotus Jade Pendant, then waved his hand to retrieve the Necromantic Seals from the corpses before hastily fleeing.

***

「Meanwhile.」

Inside a secluded courtyard in the Royal Mansion, Di Yu, unable to contain his anger, had no choice but to ask Chen Xuanbao to mediate.

"Archbishop, if the Messenger Lord hadn't interfered, how could Luo Xiu have possibly escaped?! And with his escape, my cover is blown! I've used my identity as the Tianyu King to secure benefits for our religion for years, funding the establishment of research bases. Now that I'm exposed, all those years of hard work will be for naught!"

Chen Xuanbao looked at the furious Di Yu, his expression growing dark and terrifying.

Xia Chan said, "If I hadn't stopped it, this Royal Mansion would have become a second Ye Family, and our losses would have been even greater."

After a moment of thought, Chen Xuanbao said, "What's done is done. Arguing about who was right or wrong is meaningless. For now, before Luo Xiu reveals what happened here, we must transfer the important data to other bases and erase all traces. All relevant personnel must also be dispersed and evacuated from the Capital City."

Hearing this, Di Yu was filled with reluctance, but he was utterly helpless.

Chen Xuanbao looked at him. "It seems you can no longer continue as a Prince. Leave the Capital City with us."

"The Capital City is completely sealed off," Di Yu asked. "How are we to leave?"

"Don't worry, I have my ways." Chen Xuanbao gazed into the distant sky and said slowly, "At this point, we have no choice but to ask the Protectorate Group for assistance. You go and pack. Qing Chan, you stay."

"Yes, Archbishop!"

「A short while later.」

After Di Yu had left, Chen Xuanbao slowly turned around, his eyes filled with fury as he glared at Xia Chan.

"Now what do you have to say for yourself? If you had killed Luo Xiu from the start, none of this would have happened!"

With that, Chen Xuanbao swung his hand for a slap, but it stopped just centimeters from Xia Chan's face. He didn't truly strike her. He didn't dare.

"Forget it!" he snarled. "I see I can't control you, you young lady. I will contact the Ancestor and let him deal with you!"

Unflustered, Xia Chan changed the subject. "The position of Henghai Admiral is now held by Yue Tianyang. The moment he took office, he began to suppress and scatter your former subordinates. So even if we leave the Capital City, we can't return to Henghai."

Chen Xuanbao shook his head with a sneer. "And that is also because of *your* Luo Xiu, *your* Brother Luo! If he hadn't interfered and helped those lackeys from the Audit Bureau, would we be in this situation? A single Luo Xiu has caused our religion such immense losses time and again, rendering years of preparation worthless... We must eliminate him!"

"If there is a next time, I will certainly not be soft on him," Xia Chan said coldly.

Chen Xuanbao snorted disdainfully. "I hope you can live up to your words."

"What's the plan now?" Xia Chan asked.

"At this point, we can only move the plan forward," Chen Xuanbao replied. "In any case, we must seize the territory of Henghai!"

Xia Chan's fine brows knitted as a sudden realization hit her. "Are you planning another Henghai Campaign?"

Chen Xuanbao turned to leave. "You go back and stay by the Ancestor's side for now. I'm going to Sakura Country. I will launch the campaign when the Moon Tide Siphon begins."

***

After leaving the Royal Mansion, Luo Xiu took Luo Ying, who was under Chi Sha's control, straight to the Chu Family. In the Capital City, Xu Qianqing was his only friend, so he had no choice but to seek temporary refuge there.

Seeing Luo Xiu safe and sound brought immense relief to Xu Qianqing, who had been fraught with worry for days. She couldn't help but hug him and burst into tears.

They held each other for a long while before separating. Xu Qianqing glanced at the quiet Luo Ying standing nearby and suddenly felt a little awkward. At the same time, she was also a bit afraid of her.

"Luo Xiu, what's with her...?"

"It's fine. She's one of us now."

Later, Xu Qianqing led Luo Xiu and Luo Ying to the guest quarters. Gazing at the lavishly decorated room and the large, soft bed, Luo Xiu couldn't help but recall the miserable days in the underground chamber. For a moment, it all felt like a dream.

"Qian Qing, is there anything to eat?"

"It'll be ready in a moment! Go wash up first, you stink."

After a bath, a change of clothes, and a hearty meal, Luo Xiu collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep. By the time he woke, it was already the next morning.

In the vast courtyard, only Luo Ying stood quietly, staring blankly into space.

Luo Xiu stretched and ambled over to her. "Are you still inside her body?"

Luo Ying's lips parted slightly. "Although her resistance is very weak, she is constantly struggling against my control. If I leave her body, she'll run."

Luo Xiu latched onto the key point. "She's struggling and resisting? So that means she's not just a corpse—she still has a consciousness?"

Chi Sha replied, "You'll have to ask your little brother about that. He knows more than I do."

The next moment, Lin Tong's voice sounded in Luo Xiu's mind. "It's just a faint residual soul. Even if it resists, it won't affect the Little Queen's control."

Luo Xiu pressed, "Actually, what I'm asking is, can her soul be fully restored? Or, to put it another way, can she be truly brought back to life? If she were alive, I could find out many things I want to understand."

Lin Tong considered it. "Theoretically, yes. But it would require absorbing a massive number of Wandering Spirits. Luo Ying was very powerful when she was alive, so her soul is also powerful. Restoring such a soul to its original state would require an unimaginably high number of Wandering Spirits. Unless a large-scale war breaks out."

Hearing this, Luo Xiu sighed helplessly. It was unrealistic to go on a killing spree just to use the Soul Capturing Technique to absorb souls for Luo Ying. And a large-scale war was just as unrealistic.

Just then, Chi Sha spoke up. "Also, I've recalled an ancient secret technique."

"What secret technique?"

"They injected you with some drug that sealed your bloodline and turned you into a normal person," Chi Sha explained. "That must have been the Blood Ban Technique. The so-called Blood Ban Technique uses blood of the same origin as a catalyst to completely suppress and seal the victim's bloodline. And it seems the people of the Holy Boi Religion have refined and improved upon the original technique."

Luo Xiu didn't quite understand. "How do I break it?"

"I'm afraid only Luo Ying can break it for you," Chi Sha replied. "The prerequisite is that you must first restore her residual soul to its complete state. In other words, you have to resurrect her before she can help you."

As the man and spirit conversed, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. Xu Qianqing ran through the courtyard gate in a rush.

"Luo Xiu, you're awake!"

"What's the matter? You seem so panicked."

Xu Qianqing's expression was grim. "Someone from the Imperial Palace is here!"

"What?"

"His Majesty wants to see you!" Xu Qianqing said urgently. "He sent people to bring you to the palace! Luo Xiu, hurry and pack your things, don't dawdle! I'll help you escape through the back gate!"

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