Gong Yao came over holding the child, "Your Majesty, are you leaving?"

"Yes, I have something to attend to. I’ll come and chat with you next time." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Safe journey, Your Majesty."

Gong Yao stood at the door, watching the two leave, a trace of envy and melancholy passing through her eyes.

The little wolf cub seemed to sense its mother’s low mood, using its two little claws to clutch at her chest and licked her face.

Gong Yao couldn’t help but chuckle, patting its little head, "I know you’re hungry. The kitchen should have finished cooking. Go have your meal."

The little wolf cub caught the words "have a meal" precisely and yelped excitedly twice, eager to jump out of her arms and rushed towards the kitchen.

"You little rascal, wait for me!"

Gong Yao laughed and scolded as she chased after him.

Even though the epic battle that almost overturned the entire Beast World Continent was merely three months ago, it felt like a long time had passed. People’s lives gradually returned to normal — ordinary yet stable and fulfilling.

Everyone cherished this hard-earned peace and happiness.

...

On the other side.

Qiu Yang, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, rushed to greet Shen Tang and Lu Xiao when he saw them, "Master, something terrible has happened, my emperor has disappeared!"

"What?" Shen Tang was momentarily stunned before she could console him and asked with difficulty, "What happened? Tell me in detail."

"His Majesty has been in seclusion for a period and hasn’t appeared. I didn’t think much of it, as Your Majesty often goes into seclusion to cultivate. But this morning, when I went to the ancestral hall to clean the late Emperor’s spirit tablet, I suddenly discovered... the soul lamp of Your Majesty had gone out."

Qiu Yang explained, "The soul lamp is something each Monarch leaves in the ancestral hall when they ascend to the throne. It is nourished with their blood and carries a trace of Divine Soul Power."

"As long as the soul lamp is lit, it means the person is still alive."

"But if the soul lamp is out... it indicates something is wrong, potentially even..."

Qiu Yang simply could not say those words.

"Don’t worry yet."

Shen Tang checked the System and found that Shen Li’s name had turned gray in the character interface.

But the System hadn’t reported any news of his death.

He should still be alive.

Just missing.

Even the System couldn’t locate him.

Could it be...

Shen Tang and the others immediately rushed to the Blood Clan’s forbidden land.

They keenly sensed that the energy aura here had changed from the last time they visited.

Following the abnormal energy fluctuations, Shen Tang once again arrived at the deepest part of the forbidden land, the Blood Pool, and found a formation seemingly condensed from fresh blood appearing at the bottom of the pool.

In the center of the formation, was a vortex!

Both Shen Tang and Lu Xiao looked astonished.

This vortex felt so familiar, just like when the Star Gate had opened before. However, this was a miniature version, with energy fluctuations not even a ten-thousandth of that time, incomparable to the real Star Gate.

With Shen Li’s character, it was impossible for him to disappear without a word. He most likely got sucked into this passage!

He really succeeded, finding the passage left by the Blood Clan ancestors.

He went to the Alien Star!

Shen Tang took a step forward, and Lu Xiao grabbed her hand, "Tangtang, are you really ready?"

He looked down at her, gaze gentle yet worried, "This last battle has shown how much stronger the Alien Star army is than our continent."

"The Beastmen on that unknown continent may be stronger than we think; our strength might only be ordinary over there, and now that you don’t have a superpower, it will be even more dangerous."

"Are you truly prepared for everything?"

Lu Xiao wasn’t trying to stop her; on the contrary, he respected all her decisions and was willing to follow her till death, even if it cost him his life.

But he hoped Shen Tang wouldn’t make decisions out of grief, hatred, or impulse, but rather thinking them through.

"Ah Xiao, I’m ready! That place, I must go!" Shen Tang looked up at him, eyes gentle yet firm.

The Beast World Continent had regained peace—everyone was trying to live life to the fullest; she too should embark on a new journey and do what she truly wanted to do!

On the Empire side, she’d been busy these past few months; everything was arranged, just waiting for today.

She always believed in her choice, never regretting it.

The System couldn’t help but sigh, [Host, you’ve changed a lot compared to before, and grown a lot too.]

Though it seemed Shen Tang had returned to the starting point, just like at the beginning with nothing, her demeanor had changed drastically.

Now she possessed a confidence and pride emanating from within, making one feel she held infinite possibilities. It’s an inner and outer glow, not only because of her appearance, strength, or status, but the brilliance of herself!

The System cheered, [I believe the host can definitely do it! I will always help the host!]

[But your safety is still the most important, does the host want to make a wish to restore your superpower?]

Shen Tang thought for a moment and shook her head, "I want to keep this wish for now and use it when it’s most needed."

Good steel must be used on the blade’s edge. The situation on the other side is still unclear, and I can’t waste a precious wish for nothing.

Lu Xiao looked at her for a long time, holding her in his arms, "Alright, since you’ve made up your mind, I will go with you."

He lowered his head and kissed her forehead softly, "I’ll always be with you."

Shen Tang felt a sweet yet sour warmth in her heart, burying her face in his chest, she whispered, "Thank you, Ah Xiao."

Lu Xiao’s decision equaled abandoning everything.

Shen Tang even considered the worst outcome if she really died on the other side. After all, she was just an experiment, she came with nothing and will leave with nothing, and the Beast Husbands have left one by one; it doesn’t matter if she stays or not.

But Lu Xiao was different. He was a beastman who grew up on this land, with so much he couldn’t part from. He could have stayed, responsibly managing the Empire for her, being a flawless Regent.

Yet, he still resolutely let go of it all to stay by her side.

Lu Xiao gently touched her face with a helpless yet doting smile, "Hmm? Still being so polite with me?"

Shen Tang stood on tiptoe, kissing him on the lips, with slightly teary eyes, "I love you, Ah Xiao."

"I love you too."

Hand in hand, they walked toward the depths of the Blood Pool.

Until their figures completely vanished.

...

Almost the instant they stepped into the vortex, Shen Tang felt intense pain!

The pain didn’t only come from the body; it seemed to burst from the depths of her soul, as if both body and soul were being torn apart, crushed, and then reassembled by a horrifying force!

She was in such pain that she couldn’t make a sound, see anything, or even feel the warmth of the broad hand they had held clasped in hers.

The entire being seemed to fall into nothingness, with only a vague consciousness left adrift.

The passage of time lost its meaning.

She didn’t know how long she lingered in the void, it could have been just a moment, or it could have been a lifetime, long enough to make her question if she had already died.

Until she gradually regained sensation in her body, she finally breathed in the long-awaited air again.

But that air wasn’t as fresh as she recalled.

Instead—

It was heavy, acrid, filled with the stench of decay and death.

——

Tangtang has arrived~