A day later, Li Chang'an and Shui Bing'er left Northern Domain City. Before long, news swept through the empire—the Northern King had been suspended from duty!
"How did you even pull that off?" Shui Bing'er had been pestering him about it ever since they stepped out of the spatial tunnel. For someone as powerful and respected as the Northern King to be removed in just one day sounded impossible. Yet Li Chang'an had done it as if it were nothing.
"I simply… accidentally leaked the city's defense map from the Northern King's residence to Emperor Xue Ye," Li Chang'an said with a mysterious smile, offering no further explanation.
Suspicion, after all, was every monarch's weakness—Li Chang'an merely amplified it. Once a highly confidential map like the Northern City's defense layout appeared outside the military, it was enough to make the Emperor doubt the Northern King's loyalty and competence. And since Xue Ye was personally in the city at the time, he immediately issued an order—the Northern King was to be suspended and investigated.
"Thank you, Emperor Xue Ye," Li Chang'an chuckled inwardly. "My best accomplice yet."
Though Shui Bing'er didn't quite follow all the details, she was clever enough to piece things together after a moment. Her eyes softened, though tinged with unease.
"You're terrifying, you know that?"
"Hehe, don't worry about it. The problem's solved, so I should be heading back. I'll come find you next time—maybe try your cooking again." Li Chang'an patted her slender shoulder and turned to leave.
Li Chang'an knew the rhythm well. What you can't have often feels the sweetest. And besides, he'd already enjoyed his share of small advantages last night.
"Hey…" Shui Bing'er murmured as he walked away, her hand half-raised before she dropped it again. She bit her lip. "Fine. Next time you come, I'll cook for you."
---
[Ding! Mission released: Travel to Sea God Island. Bring your companions and harvest every resource possible. Prepare for the Abyssal Invasion in six months]
The familiar system prompt echoed in Li Chang'an's mind the moment he returned to Star Dou Forest.
"Sea God Island… harvest resources?" he muttered. But the rest of the message caught his full attention—the Abyss would invade in half a year.
So that was it. No wonder the mission had come so suddenly.
Still, the system's ability to predict the exact timing of the invasion was… unnerving.
As for the risk of being captured by divine forces on Sea God Island—Li Chang'an wasn't worried. Before Tang San ascended to godhood, the divine realm kept to its rules. At worst, they'd try to make him the next Sea God.
---
By the Lake of Life, two elegant figures were already regaining their human forms.
One had flowing pink hair—Ah Rou—and the other, a shimmering blue-silver mane—Ah Yin.
Though their temperaments differed, both radiated a gentle maturity that only time—and tragedy—could forge.
Ah Rou and Ah Yin… two once-legendary wives reborn.
"Benefactor, you've returned," Ah Yin greeted him softly. Her memories had been erased, so all she knew was gratitude. Ah Rou, by contrast, was calmer—after all, she was technically his mother-in-law.
"I'm glad to see both of you restored," Li Chang'an said with a polite bow. "I'm leaving for a distant place for about half a year. I'd like to invite the two of you to join me—it will help you regain your full strength."
The women exchanged glances, then nodded. There was little for them to do here anyway, and traveling with Li Chang'an might help them recover faster.
After leaving Xiao Wu and her mother by the lake for a short while, Li Chang'an went to bid farewell to Gu Yuena. Half an hour later, the group of four—Li Chang'an, Xiao Wu, Ah Rou, and Ah Yin—took to the skies, heading toward Spirit City.
On the way, he summoned Ning Rongrong, Meng Yiran, and Zhu Zhuqing, then later gathered Hu Liena, Ye Lingling, and Mu Xi as well.
Only after ensuring everyone was assembled did he finally go to the Papal Palace.
---
"Sea God Island… a divine inheritance?" Bibi Dong repeated, frowning as she considered his words. "Whether that legend is true or not, I can't say. But if you're certain there's a divine legacy there, then go."
Of course, she had no idea he planned to "shear the wool" off Sea God Island's resources. She trusted his judgment completely—so long as it didn't involve other women.
"But before you go," she added softly, "you'll stay with me a little longer. And I recall that our Spirit Hall treasury still has a submersible soul tool. As for the Heaven Dou Empire's Vast Sea Cosmic Shield, we don't possess it—but we do have some artifacts with similar functions. None are quite as powerful, though."
Li Chang'an's eyes lit up at the mention of the submarine. With that, travel would be far safer. He patted his lower back and muttered under his breath, "Hang in there, old friend—we've got another long trip ahead."
---
Over the next week, he accomplished plenty.
Besides keeping the Pope thoroughly "occupied," he also visited Ye Xuan, delivering a batch of Soul Power and soul Ring Fruits so she could strengthen the Heavenly Battle Formation before the invasion.
To do so, he spent all his remaining points—and an entire night's worth of effort from his already overworked waist.
He then made a quick trip to Heaven Dou City, comforting both Xue'er and Liu Erlong—each in their own way. Fortunately, having memorized spatial coordinates, he could now teleport between locations freely.
When all was ready, his final expedition roster was set:
Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Ye Lingling, Mu Xi, Hu Liena, Ah Rou, Ah Yin, Meng Yiran, and Li Chang'an himself—a total of ten people.
And knowing Li Chang'an, there was always the possibility he'd "smuggle in" a few more along the way.
---
Ten days of preparation later, the team departed Spirit City, heading for the coastal metropolis of Heaven Dou City.
There, they purchased several maritime maps and rested for a day before reaching the docks. From his storage device, Li Chang'an summoned their mode of transport—a Spirit Hall submarine.
It was a marvel of craftsmanship, about fifty meters long, its surface smooth and crystalline like carved jade. The hull shimmered faintly white, with a dragon's head prow and fish-tail stern, flanked by four fin-like wings on each side.
The vessel was fully sealed, with a retractable top hatch revealing fifteen seats inside, each equipped with control handles and paddles. Beyond that, the submarine included a kitchen, washroom, and sleeping quarters—everything they could possibly need.
Once submerged, a concealment barrier activated, rendering them nearly invisible beneath the waves. Though not as flawless as the legendary Vast Sea Cosmic Shield, it was more than enough for Li Chang'an. His sheer power could deter most sea beasts under the ten-thousand-year level.
For ten days they traveled smoothly, taking turns to rest, cook, and admire the dreamlike beauty of the deep sea. Even Ah Rou and Ah Yin, both mature and composed, found themselves laughing more freely.
Then, as dawn broke on the eleventh day, the fog ahead began to clear—
and a distant island bathed in golden light came into view.
Sea God Island.