RBF

That outlet made it up. S3 hadn't been filmed yet, there only had been announcement (in 2023) that IQIYI plans to produce it.

It's still filming (though about to wrap up by the end of September). Most likely will air somewhere in 2026.

It's a miracle how their forums don't blow up under the amount of fandom drama constantly going on :)

Here is a douban discussion on this rumor, in case you are curious: https://www.douban.com/group/topic/336102769/?_spm_id=NDgwNzM1Nzk&_i=7115110sJ3CO8Z

The source of this casting rumor doesn't seem very reliable - just some account on Douban that had already spread quite a few fake rumors about Luo Yunxi, as well as fake rumor about Wan Qian joining Cheng Yi's drama.

ABO Desire isn't being aired in China, only overseas. It's produced by Taiwanese\American production companies, so the censorship rules of mainland China don't apply to it.

I also hope it will land at least on Viki, like many other Mango dramas. Anything, but mango subs 😣

It's rumored to air somewhere in autumn, probably late October or early November.
Will be airing on MangoTV. As for other (Western) streaming platforms - no announcements been made yet.

It's not a romance novel, but there are some romance subplots (overwhelmingly of a tragic\messed up kind).

It looks modestly-budgeted so far, maybe on the lower side of the S-level, or the higher side of the A. And I don't mean it in any negative way; it doesn't seem cheap, and as long as the script is decent, it still might turn out great.
Just set your expectation about costumes and sets accordingly, and don't expect anything extravagant from it.

Here is the ongoing English translation: https://qianjiemei.wordpress.com/

Yes, it's Shadow Punisher.

Not as a main plot. As for the various characters' subplots - who knows.

They might have cut out some as it got shortened from 40 episodes to 30.

"Shadow Punisher tells the story of Li Si (played by Luo Yunxi), known as the “Prince of Qingyang,” who infiltrates the Divine Constable Bureau to uncover the truth behind the Fourth Prince’s death. There, he crosses paths with Meng Rui (played by Fang Yilun), a highly skilled warrior with a tragic past, Bai Zhenzhu (Shen Yujie), the top female forensic expert in the land, and Xuan Yuan Shan (He Hongshan), the powerful female head of the bureau. Together, they unravel a series of eerie and mysterious cases that blend Chinese aesthetic with gothic suspense: from demon brides in palanquins and cursed puzzle boxes to immortal corpses in jade towers—six mind-bending cases are set to unfold, promising a groundbreaking experience in the historical suspense genre."

"Compared to Luo Yunxi’s past roles—like the gentle Runyu or the unhinged Tantai Jin—Li Si places a greater emphasis on the gray areas of human nature, weaving together political schemes and moral dilemmas. The character is constantly caught between loyalty and vengeance, truth and lies, creating a layered emotional arc with strong real-world resonance. For Luo Yunxi, it's one of his most demanding roles yet."

A bit more info about the drama and character setup: https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1834807543522141241
A couple of translated excrepts are under the spoiler below.

No release date at the moment, it hasn't passed censorship review yet.

A "xianxia" where the "deities" turn out to be aliens, and the "ascension"of human cultivators - alien abduction.

More likely someone just fishing for clicks. That "producer" on xhs doesn't seem like a real producer at all - no producer would post a specific actor's name, unless the contract is already signed and the filming is about to begin.
Iirc, that drama was rumored for Wu Lei for a while, but then the project got scrapped because of the Youku's new episode limit.
The novel itself is said to be pretty long-winded, but with a fun twist (see spoiler below).

He’s currently moving away from idol dramas, and his upcoming projects—Whispers of Fate, The Truth Within, and Shadow Punisher—are all non-idol dramas.

Out of his already aired works, Lightchaser Rescue is the closest thing to a “serious drama.” It’s still a bit idol-ish, but not overwhelmingly so.