Princess Xena’s beautiful face lit up the moment she saw him again. Joy filled her expression. She had rushed here the instant she heard that Aldrian had come to visit, barely taking the time to prepare herself.

Because of that, she was still wearing a casual dress that was quite inappropriate for meeting a guest.

It could not be helped. She simply could not miss the chance to see Aldrian after three years without any news of him.

"Your Majesty, you actually came," the princess said.

King Darius sighed. "Dear, why are you meeting him dressed like that? It is inappropriate." He then looked at Aldrian with an apologetic expression. "My apologies, Your Majesty, for Xena’s behavior. She must have been too excited when she heard you were here."

Aldrian kept smiling.

"No worries. I already consider Her Highness as one of my friends, so she can wear anything she likes when meeting me," he said, which made Princess Xena blush.

Although his words carried no ill intent and only showed that he saw her as a friend, her mind still wandered on its own.

With "wear anything," she suddenly imagined approaching Aldrian wearing nothing but her underwear. With slow and sensual movements, she—

’No!’ she screamed in her mind, forcefully brushing away that naughty thought.

She tried to suppress her embarrassment and put on her best smile. Then she turned to Ling Xiao, feeling a little guilty for ignoring him earlier since her attention had been completely focused on Aldrian.

"Lord Ling," she said.

Ling Xiao gave a small nod in response. Princess Xena then returned her gaze to Aldrian.

"Your Majesty, have your matters in the Central Region of Heaven already been resolved?"

Aldrian nodded with a smile. "Yes, I’m done there, and there will be no more problems with devils in the future. You could say that the devils’ existence in the First Heaven will not last much longer."

Princess Xena clasped her hands and let out a sigh of relief, her happiness clearly showing.

"Thank heavens. What joyous news," she said. Then she suddenly realized something.

"So, Your Majesty, does that mean you are here with Lord Ling...?"

Aldrian nodded. "Yes, I came to pick him up. We will return to the Ancient Blue Gate World."

Princess Xena sighed once more.

"I see..." Her voice made it clear that she was quite sad.

Aldrian also showed an apologetic expression. "My apologies, Your Highness, for making you feel this way. I would like to stay here for some time, but there are still many things I need to take care of in my home world."

Princess Xena nodded with a faint smile. "No, you don’t have to apologize, Your Majesty. I just couldn’t help reacting like that just now. But I understand that you have your own matters, especially since you have just returned from the Central Region of Heaven. Your family must be missing you. The most important thing is for Your Majesty to return home and meet them as soon as possible."

Aldrian smiled. "Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness."

They thought that he had just returned from the Central Region of Heaven, and he had no intention of correcting that misunderstanding.

King Darius, who had been completely pushed aside during their exchange, simply watched the interaction between his daughter and Aldrian. A faint smirk formed on his face as he observed them.

He already knew about his daughter’s interest in Aldrian. Of course, he supported her, even though he was aware that Aldrian already had a harem.

But when it came to Aldrian the Great, that was an entirely different matter. There were surely countless women who would be willing to become even just a concubine. No, perhaps even lower than that. Even if he wanted sex slaves, he believed that countless women would willingly offer themselves.

As long as they became Aldrian’s woman, they would soar to the heavens in a single step.

From what Martis had told him, Aldrian was a man who placed great importance on his relationships with his family and those closest to him. With such a man, anyone who could build a bond filled with genuine affection would certainly gain his full support.

If his daughter could obtain that kind of favor from Aldrian, then it would be the best outcome for both her and their family. She would gain the best man, and their family would gain the strongest backer.

"Dear, you don’t have to be sad. We can visit the Ancient Blue Gate World soon. In fact, I had already planned to go there once His Majesty Aldrian returned from the Central Region of Heaven," King Darius said, which made Aldrian raise his eyebrows while Princess Xena’s expression brightened.

"Is that okay, Your Majesty? For us to visit you in the near future?" King Darius asked.

Aldrian smiled at him. "Of course. Why would I refuse Your Majesty’s visit? Please feel free to come anytime." He paused for a moment before continuing.

"Or how about this. Next month will be my wedding with my soon-to-be third wife. I invite Your Majesty and your family to attend. I will provide you with the means to travel instantly to the Ancient Blue Gate World so you can be present at the ceremony."

King Darius and Princess Xena widened their eyes in surprise. They arrived at the same thought.

Aldrian would marry again, and it would be his third?

But hadn’t he said that he already had three wives? Then why was it still the third?

’I see. That means the other two must have already officially become his wives through proper weddings, while the last one still holds the status of a fiancée. Yet she is already considered his wife by him,’ King Darius thought.

Princess Xena reached the same conclusion. Her heart could not help but stir at the realization. For him to already consider a woman who had not yet officially married him as his wife showed how much he loved his women and how he gave them equal respect.

She could not help but feel jealous of his women for receiving that much of his affection.

"How is it, Your Majesty?" Aldrian asked.

King Darius did not dwell on it for long and nodded.

"If Your Majesty is offering such an invitation, then I can only thank you on behalf of my family. We will certainly attend your wedding next month. How could we miss such a joyous occasion? It will also be a good opportunity for me to see the current Ancient Blue Gate World and build connections with the powers there."

Aldrian smiled and nodded.

"Good. Then I will leave this avatar here." After saying that, Aldrian created an avatar beside him.

A bright golden energy gathered and shaped itself into a figure identical to him, which left King Darius and Princess Xena in surprise. Ling Xiao understood that this was a kind of perfect avatar clone technique, almost similar to those used by gods, from the aura he sensed at the moment of its creation.

"If you are done preparing for your departure, simply notify my avatar, and I will bring you to the Ancient Blue Gate World at that moment," Aldrian continued.

King Darius and Princess Xena carefully observed the avatar. They were astonished that they could not distinguish the real body from the avatar at all.

Still, King Darius nodded. "Alright, Your Majesty."

Aldrian nodded with a smile. "Then please excuse us. We will take our leave now. I will await your arrival." He then looked at Princess Xena. "Your Highness," he said as a sign of farewell.

Princess Xena gave a small nod before Aldrian and Ling Xiao’s bodies disappeared.

After they vanished, King Darius let out a sigh.

"What an amazing person," he commented, then turned to his daughter with a smile. "You will be facing quite a tough competition, my dear. You should strengthen your resolve if you wish to gain his affection."

Princess Xena blushed and stomped her foot.

"What are you talking about, Father?" she said before quickly rushing out of the room.

"Ahahaha." King Darius burst into laughter. He simply could not resist teasing his daughter, ever since he learned of her interest in Aldrian.

---------------------------

Aldrian and Ling Xiao appeared in Aldrian’s palace, and the first people they met were his parents. Aldrey and Irene welcomed Ling Xiao warmly, which made him feel both overwhelmed and honored.

Seeing how humble they were, despite their crucial role and status in the Great Emperor’s life, made Ling Xiao revere them even more.

They were the Great Emperor’s parents in this life. They were one of the greatest reasons that the Great Emperor could be born into this world and in this era. They were worthy of the highest reverence, just like when one stood before a god.

After introducing Ling Xiao to his parents, Aldrian brought him to meet the other members of his family. His wives also greeted Ling Xiao warmly.

Ling Xiao nodded inwardly when he saw them. He thought that the three beauties were truly worthy of being the Great Emperor’s wives. Beyond their beauty, he could sense that they were far more extraordinary than what the eyes could perceive.

When he sensed Sylphia’s aura, he suddenly recalled a similar presence from the Ninth Heaven. It was the sacred aura of the Heavenly Tree of the World.

When he sensed Baek Jimin’s aura, he could not help but think of a certain woman revered by countless demon cultivators. The woman who made even the Heavenly Demon reveal a different side of himself.

As for Angelica...

’Her holy aura is peculiar, yet familiar. It is like... it is like the aura of the heavens itself?’ he thought.

After introducing Ling Xiao to his wives, Aldrian brought him to meet Ao Tianhai.

The moment Ling Xiao saw him, he was shocked.

"You... are you Lord Ao, the ancestor of storm dragons? The one known as the Dragon God of Destruction?" His voice was filled with astonishment.