Lu Zheng nodded, not surprised.

After all, the demons and monsters fueling this water disaster mainly targeted the Great Jing Court, or rather, the Great Jing Imperial Family. Naturally, the Imperial Family had to contribute both people and effort and couldn't leave all the pressure to the major sects.

So, at the convergence of the Three Rivers, the heads of the Observatory and the Anomaly Suppression Bureau came. For the powerful Divine Monarch Xuan Ruo, the Imperial Family personally took action to encircle and kill him.

However, even so, they still didn't manage to kill him, which Lu Zheng did not expect.

"Divine Monarch Xuan Ruo has been famous for a thousand years, older than Great Jing. His water poison skills are among the best today. It's not easy to kill such a person. However, this time it's already quite good; his injuries are heavier than last time he was chased back," Chu Jin said.

Lu Zheng nodded, indicating his understanding.

Even though Divine Monarch Xuan Ruo isn't as powerful as Si Lingxi, Jade Dragon King, Zen Master Dejie, or Dongyangzi, he is still elite in today's world. The death of such figures is a major event. If they could be easily encircled and killed, the top figures of this world would live in fear.

"However, in this water disaster, we did manage to kill two," Chu Jin's eyes shone. "Although not as formidable as Divine Monarch Xuan Ruo, they were also famed Great Demons."

"Oh?"

"One was the Southern Border Evil Flood Dragon Blood River Great Saint, and the other was the Northern Domain Water Leopard King. Another old ghost from the Netherworld tried coming out for a bite and was exterminated, losing most of his Divine Soul; he likely won't dare enter the mortal world for the rest of his life.

Those were the ones we caught by the tail. There are others who disappeared without a trace after brief probing, making it hard to track," Chu Jin said. "However, after this event, if they want to come to Great Jing again, they'll think twice, and even if they do, they won't dare act too brazenly. This will greatly reduce the harm done to Great Jing."

...

After seeing off Chu Jin, Lu Zheng picked up the porcelain bottle, opened the stopper, and took a sniff. It was indeed a good medicine, its Spiritual Qi even more potent than the last elixir refined by Liu Qingyan, proving the court's generosity.

However, he himself had no use for them. Liu Qingyan, Shen Ying, and especially Lin Wan, could make use of these to occasionally boost their cultivation.

Thinking of this, Lu Zheng put away the elixir and then traveled to the modern era.

"What are you reading?"

"Heaven Covering." Si Lingxi put down the physical book in her hand and said blandly, "The author is quite talented, with a rich imagination. Although many theories are superficial, if they build a foundation in Great Jing, they could achieve considerable success."

Lu Zheng, "..."

"Hehe... is that so... Are you saying that most authors of Xianxia novels have high cultivation potential?"

Si Lingxi shook her head. "It's not that exaggerated; only a handful do, and they need their own insights, feasible theories. Those who just build on others' ideas or write daily trivia have no talent."

Lu Zheng nodded seriously, agreeing, "Makes sense."

"You carry the scent of medicinal herbs. Qingyan hasn't been practicing alchemy recently, did the Anomaly Suppression Bureau come looking for you?" Si Lingxi turned to ask.

Lu Zheng couldn't help but give a thumbs up. "You guessed it right, it was Chu Jin. The court set up a trap, ambushed Divine Monarch Xuan Ruo, and severely injured him. It's said he won't be able to leave the Great Abyss Marsh for a hundred years."

Si Lingxi nodded, unsurprised. "Cruel but not cunning, fierce but not grand. Though strong in Dao practice, his vision is lacking. He couldn't even contend with Lianlian Mountain Sect; how could he be a match for Great Jing? If he doesn't wake up, he might die by someone's hand before his life comes to an end."

Pausing, Si Lingxi thought again, "Did you say he was seriously injured this time?"

Lu Zheng shrugged, "That's what Chu Jin said, not sure if it's true."

"If it is true, it might attract other enemies to attack," Si Lingxi suggested with a smile curling at the corners of her lips, "If he can't get through this life-threatening disaster, he'll have no future."

Lu Zheng's eyes flashed with disbelief, "Did he also offend you?"

Seeing Si Lingxi's reaction, Lu Zheng couldn't help but express a bit of admiration for Divine Monarch Xuan Ruo.

Si Lingxi gave a mocking laugh, "He once came to ask for my Phoenix Divine Fire, wanting my help to refine his Primordial Spirit Poison Pearl. After I refused, he spoke wildly, spewing vulgarities, eventually getting beaten back to the Great Abyss Marsh, evaporating ten percent of its poisonous water."

"He really is... bold..."

"However, he does have the qualifications to be proud. That Primordial Spirit Poison Pearl is fiercely toxic; even with my Phoenix Divine Fire to burn it away, it's tough. Coupled with the Water Control Technique, it'd be hard for me to kill him," Si Lingxi also acknowledged Divine Monarch Xuan Ruo. "Though the Great Jing Court severely harmed him this time, those who attacked weren't likely unscathed either."

"So who pursued him for tens of thousands of miles back then?" Lu Zheng couldn't help but ask.

"It was the host of that generation of the Celestial Dragon Temple, Monk Hua Hai's master, who died long ago," Si Lingxi said calmly.

Not to mention Monk Hua Hai's master, even Monk Hua Hai himself is dead.

Even Si Lingxi had to admit, among humans, geniuses abound. Some have cultivated for five to six hundred years and can already rival her, and the most formidable even surpass her.

Of course, the further one progresses in cultivation, the slower the progress becomes. Many get stuck at the last step and can't cross it, making the power difference smaller and smaller.

That was true for her, for Wansong Daoist, for Zen Master Dejie, and Dongyangzi too.

In comparison, Si Lingxi, with her Phoenix Bloodline, was actually the closest to ascending to the Upper Realm; she could endure time and cross the barrier.

However, Wansong Daoist was lucky to meet Lu Zheng, greatly raising his hopes.

The Jade Dragon King almost had no chance of ascending.

Zen Master Dejie and Dongyangzi had similar odds, small hopes, hinges on one's mental state, and fortune played a major role as well. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

As for Divine Monarch Xuan Ruo... even dying of old age is a luxury!

"Terrifying!"

Lu Zheng finally felt what the top forces in this world were like. Though formidable, they weren't untouchable.

With the Mind Jade Seal, a treasure clearly beyond this world's limits, Lu Zheng was confident he'd surpass them in the foreseeable future.

Keep in mind, even though Lu Zheng hadn't received a large sum recently, during the more than month-long water disaster in Great Jing, exorcising demons along the way brought in a constant trickle of Light of Fortune. Coupled with several somewhat larger sums previously, Lu Zheng's fortune reserves remained ample, enough to support the dual cultivation between him and Si Lingxi, rapidly advancing together.

At this rate, surpassing these top figures was just a matter of time, and then...

"Jade Seal, Jade Seal! After ascending, can I still travel to and from Blue Star freely? Your quality should support such operations, right?"

"It better not be a one-way ticket to the Immortal Realm!"

"Come on, give me a response; this concerns my future happiness!"

Jade Seal, "..."