In the deepest part of the base, there was an even deeper underground space.

Xia Chan, led by Shan Xiao, stepped onto a walkway carved into the rock walls, inspecting everything as she went. Along the way, she saw countless bronze antiques piled up like mountains. Bronze trees, bronze altars, serpent-bodied bronze statues, and other such ancient artifacts, which would be considered priceless in the modern world, were as common as dirt here.

"So this is the birthplace of the Three-star Civilization of Ancient Shu," Xia Chan couldn't help but exclaim.

Shan Xiao said, "Just wait until you see the Three-star Clock, Miss. You'll probably think all this is nothing."

Xia Chan just smiled faintly, not paying much mind to his words, as she had already seen photos of the Three-star Clock.

Before long, the three of them reached the deepest part of the underground space. A river lay before them, hundreds of meters wide and stretching endlessly into the unknown darkness. The water was as black as ink, unmoving and still as death. This was the Ancient Shu Black River.

Above the river's surface stood a colossal bronze object with a diameter estimated to be two hundred meters. Within it, one could see gears of all sizes. The largest were tens of meters in diameter, while the smallest were no bigger than a fingertip. Innumerable bronze gears were combined and arranged to form an incredibly precise device, like the inner workings of a mechanical watch magnified tens of thousands of times. The sight was enough to shake one's very soul.

That was the Three-star Clock.

Although Xia Chan had already seen photographs, seeing it with her own eyes was still a staggering experience. She couldn't help but admire the wisdom and power of this mysterious and ancient prehistoric civilization.

Shan Xiao gazed at the bronze colossus emerging from the river. "The Three-star Civilization of Ancient Shu was a minor epoch, existing for only a short time among the many eras, but their technology developed to heights beyond our imagination.

"According to ancient texts, this Three-star Clock was a device they used to traverse the prison of spacetime and migrate across the universe. They believed the universe itself was a cage that confined all living beings."

Xia Chan nodded gently and lamented, "Compared to these ancient predecessors buried in the dust of history, we might just be frogs in a well."

Shan Xiao deeply agreed. "However, what you see is only a part of the Three-star Clock.

"Its main body lies beneath this Black River."

Xia Chan took a thick stack of blueprints from her Storage Magical Treasure and handed them to Shan Xiao. "Repair it as quickly as possible.

"No one can say for certain when the next Moon Tide Siphon will arrive, so we must finish the repairs before it gets here."

Shan Xiao took the blueprints. "Of course."

Afterward, Shan Xiao led Xia Chan further down the walkway to visit the Ancient Shu Demon Army Base downstream of the Black River. Countless humanoid figures wrapped in white membranes floated on the water's surface. The sight was as dense as an ant's nest, stretching as far as the eye could see and making one's scalp tingle. The white membranes were faintly transparent, and up close, Xia Chan could see the hearts beating inside.

After observing for a moment, Xia Chan spoke. "These Shu Demons seem to be larger than the batch that appeared in Henghai ten years ago."

Shan Xiao replied, "That's thanks to our research team. The current Shu Demons are not only larger but also stronger. A single one possesses the power of a Martial Master."

Xia Chan said slowly, "Ultimately, this is the masterpiece of our Ancient Shu ancestors."

"Yes," Shan Xiao nodded. "The epochal wars of their time were likely even more brutal than we can imagine, which is why they created such powerful monsters.

"But the truly powerful thing here is this Black River.

"The Three-star Clock requires the Water of the Black River to operate, and these monsters can only survive in this river. The radioactive elements in the water are the very nutrients that sustain them."

Xia Chan was about to speak when her expression suddenly changed. She covered her mouth, turned to the side, and began to dry heave.

"Miss, what's wrong?" Shan Xiao asked with urgent concern.

He thought she might have a phobia of dense patterns and was retching at the sight of the river teeming with Shu Demons. But in the next instant, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Miss, are you... pregnant?"

Hearing this, Xue Xiao immediately shot Shan Xiao a look, signaling him to shut up. In truth, Xue Xiao had noticed Xia Chan's pregnancy long ago but had always feigned ignorance. Now that Shan Xiao had blurted it out, there was no point in pretending anymore.

Shan Xiao chuckled awkwardly, stroking his beard. "Well, that's wonderful news. I just wonder which of the church's exceptionally talented geniuses could be worthy of the great young lady of our Holy Boi Religion."

Xue Xiao glared at Shan Xiao again, suddenly feeling the urge to go over and tear his mouth off. He had a good guess as to whose child Xia Chan was carrying.

Xia Chan wiped her mouth with a tissue. "Elder Shan Xiao, please find me a quiet place. I need to rest for a bit."

Shan Xiao then led Xia Chan to the base's residential area.

Inside her room, Xia Chan sat in a chair, looking down at her belly with an incredibly conflicted heart.

Suddenly, a knock came at the door.

"Come in."

Xue Xiao entered the room and hesitated for a moment before asking, "It's Luo Xiu's, isn't it?"

With her head still lowered, Xia Chan softly hummed in affirmation.

Xue Xiao said, "If the Old Ancestor finds out, he will definitely not allow you to keep this child. And even if you do, its fate... might be to become an experimental subject, especially since it's Luo Xiu's child."

Upon hearing this, Xia Chan's brows furrowed. She almost subconsciously placed a hand on her stomach, her gaze turning wary as she looked at Xue Xiao. Perhaps even she hadn't realized it was an instinctual act of protection—a mother's protection for her child.

Xue Xiao sighed in resignation. "It's better to suffer a short pain now than a long one later. It might be best to terminate the pregnancy to avoid future suffering for both mother and child."

But Xia Chan said, "I hope you can help me keep this a secret. I will handle it myself."

Xue Xiao looked at Xia Chan, his heart aching for her, before turning to leave.

"Miss, you should get some rest."

...

「Green Lotus Palace.」

Luo Xiu walked to the spot directly beneath the Array on the secret chamber's ceiling. With a flash of radiant light, he appeared in the Lotus Pond. He then stepped onto a lotus leaf and walked out of the pond.

Luo Ying followed him obediently. "By the way, Young Master, your Holy Lotus Jade Pendant can connect to the Holy Lotus Great Formation. Then you can absorb the entire Green Lotus Palace and take it with you.

"Although this is just one of your residences, you left quite a few things here, including all your old battle armor."

At these words, Luo Xiu was delighted. What a fool I'd be not to take such a grand palace with me!

"Speaking of which, where is my battle armor?"

He remembered the stone statue he'd seen in the Green Lotus Dojo and felt a surge of anticipation. Judging from the statue alone, the battle armor looked incredible. Now *that's* what a real man should wear!

"This... Young Master, you always used to be forgetful, so I'm not sure where you put it. Ying'er will have to look for it.

"Just wait a moment, Young Master. Ying'er will go change. These clothes are so uncomfortable. Then I'll help you find the battle armor."

Shortly thereafter, Luo Xiu found himself staring as Luo Ying returned, gracefully approaching in a flowing white dress. The ethereal nymph before him, brimming with a lively, fairy-like charm, was like a celestial maiden stepping out of a painting. She looked like a completely different person compared to the modernly-dressed beauty from before. Luo Ying had likely wanted to show her best side to Luo Xiu, even applying light makeup to add a touch of charm to her celestial beauty.

Luo Xiu admired the charming nymph before him, and for a moment, the potency of the Sky Yin Pill began to act up again. Although he knew she would agree to any request he made, he felt too embarrassed to ask.

This was likely a classic case of having the heart of a lecher but not the guts.

The mighty Azure Emperor... what a coward.

"Young Master, what's wrong?"

"Uh... nothing." Luo Xiu snapped back to his senses, looking away to change the subject. "I wonder where Dou Dou and Yaya went."

Luo Ying smiled. "You can ask the Array."

Luo Xiu raised an eyebrow. "Ask the Array?"

"It's the Holy Lotus Great Formation that protects the entire Green Lotus Palace. The Formation Spirit is named Xiao Qing, a name you chose for her yourself back in the day."

Then, Luo Ying spoke to the air. "Xiao Qing, where did the two little girls go?"

A sweet voice came from the Void, "They have left the Green Lotus Palace and are beyond my sensory range. However, after they vanished, I detected a breach in the Barrier that seals the Tomb of Civilization."

Luo Xiu listened to Xiao Qing's sweet voice, intrigued by the novelty. This Green Lotus Palace even comes with a smart assistant? he marveled silently.

At that moment, Luo Ying turned to him. "Young Master, Dou Dou and the others must have gone to the Tomb of Civilization."

Luo Xiu asked, "Is that place dangerous?"

Luo Ying shook her head blankly. "Ying'er doesn't know. You were the one who wouldn't let me go with you back then, saying it was too dangerous."

Detecting a hint of complaint in her voice, Luo Xiu said, "Anyway, let's go down and find them." With that, he took the Holy Lotus Jade Pendant from his neck and asked, "How do I put the Green Lotus Palace into this?"

Luo Ying explained, "You just need to connect with your Divine Sense, and then..."

A moment later, Luo Xiu did as she said. He immediately felt a sharp pain in his mind, as if a needle had viciously pricked him, causing his entire Spiritual Ocean to tremble. The next moment, darkness flooded his vision and a strong sense of weightlessness washed over him as his body began to fall uncontrollably.

Then he heard Luo Ying's exclamation beside him. "Young Master, how did you fail?!

"The Green Lotus Palace has vanished!"

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