I'm just an ornamental fish in the water.

"Your Majesty."

Jiang Li walked over.

Lady Luoshui glanced at him, looked him up and down for a while, then nodded and smiled, "You didn't lie, you're indeed not injured."

"Thanks to the Empress's blessings, Little Fish has had a smooth journey."

Jiang Li chuckled and said, "I've also learned a lot."

"You've had a tough time following Mu'er around."

"It was Lady Luoshui who said softly."

"elder sister!"

Behind her came Feng Mu's pleading voice.

Lady Luo smiled slightly. Seeing that Jiang Li was smiling and not speaking, she didn't say anything more, but simply pointed to the nine-section staff in Jiang Li's hand.

Jiang Li understood immediately and offered it with both hands.

"You silly child."

Lady Luoshui chuckled and said, "Aren't you going to do it yourself?"

"With your limited cultivation, Little Fish should stay out of such important matters."

Jiang Li smiled demurely and said, "Besides, with Your Highness here, it's naturally better for Xiaoyuer to hide behind Your Highness."

"Or does Your Highness mean you're no longer planning to protect Little Fish?"

Lady Luoshui glared at him, then tapped Jiang Li on the forehead before taking the nine-section staff from his hand.

Only then did Lady Luoshui go to see Zhang Bao in the pit.

The exchange between the Empress and Zhang Bao just now seemed simple and efficient, but in reality, Zhang Bao really used his full strength.

The price for being easily defeated by a full-force attack is that the demonic energy on Zhang Bao's body has begun to collapse unconsciously.

Even the body formed from demonic energy appeared illusory and unreal.

Zhang Bao has reached his limit.

"After all, he was the one who spoke up for the people in the past."

Lady Luoshui sighed softly and murmured, "It's a pity that she has gone astray."

Having said that, Lady Luoshui raised her nine-section staff and pointed it at Zhang Bao from a distance.

"Buzz!"

The Nine-Section Staff once again emitted a crimson-yellow divine light, but this time the divine light was different from the one in Jiang Li's hands.

In Jiang Li's hands, the crimson-yellow divine light, though solid, was still just radiance.

However, in the hands of Lady Luoshui, the crimson-yellow divine light resembled topaz, exuding a very real and warm luster.

As the saying goes, a true expert's skill is immediately apparent.

Jiang Li's display of power just now relied entirely on the blessing of the Nine-Section Staff. If it were him alone, he could crush all the wronged souls to death.

But Lady Luoshui is different.

She merely used the nine-section staff as a tool, a magical implement to manipulate.

The same treasure, when placed in the hands of different people, will naturally unleash different powers.

As the nine-section staff glowed, Zhang Bao's body, constructed from pure demonic energy, began to collapse violently.

Almost instantly, the demonic energy that had been released completely filled the large pit, which was more than ten feet in diameter.

The Goddess of Luoshui, as if fishing, gently lifted her nine-section staff.

"laugh……"

One... no, two souls, glowing with a translucent white light, were drawn out from the crater of demonic energy.

The reason why it is uncertain whether there is one or two souls is because the image of this soul is extremely difficult to describe.

On Zhang Liang's burly body, there were two necks, one of which belonged to Zhang Liang, but the other neck had no head.

"well……"

Lady Luoshui sighed again and loosened her grip on the nine-section staff.

The nine-section staff slowly floated above the soul, flashed with crimson and yellow divine light for a moment, and then collected the soul.

However, after all this was done, the nine-section staff did not disappear; instead, it remained suspended in mid-air.

A hand reached out from the void and grasped the nine-section staff.

With this action, the owner of the hand also appeared.

It was that wise and virtuous teacher who fished Jiang Li out of the Wei River.

However, the Great Teacher's body was somewhat frail and indifferent at this moment, and it was clear at a glance that it was not his true form.

"Jiang Li greets the Great Teacher of Virtue."

Jiang Li bowed respectfully.

"My lord!"

Zhang Wei disregarded etiquette, rushed forward in a few steps, and knelt down without hesitation.

In that era, the act of kneeling and bowing was not as common as it is in later times; it was only performed during major sacrifices and in front of one's parents.

But Zhang Wei still knelt down; in his heart, the great teacher was no different from his father.

"Zhang Wei, it is your duty to protect the people of this region."

The Great Teacher smiled gently at Zhang Wei and said softly, "Do not go astray, and do not hold grudges against the past. Since you have become the city god of this place, you must live up to this divine position."

"Yes, sir!"

Zhang Wei knelt on the ground, head bowed, and respectfully bowed three times and kowtowed nine times.

After the Great Teacher of Virtue finished his greetings, he looked at Lady Luoshui, bowed slightly, and said apologetically, "I am truly ashamed that Your Highness has had to trouble you with your efforts this time."

Lady Luoshui gave a slight curtsy in return and said calmly, "There's no need for any trouble. Since it's my people who have encountered a problem, it's only natural that I should come and take a look."

This usually composed goddess emphasized the words "this palace's people."

The Great Teacher smiled helplessly and said, "Young friend Jiang Li, your contribution this time is quite great. I have already submitted a petition to the Water Official's Palace of the Lower Yuan to request that you be rewarded. I hope Your Majesty will not refuse."

It was clearly about Jiang Li, but in the end it focused on Lady Luo Shui.

Lady Luoshui did not speak, but simply nodded in agreement.

Jiang Li lowered her head and listened quietly, feeling that the two big shots were exchanging witty remarks, and that the core of their exchange seemed to be herself.

The Great Teacher finally looked at Jiang Li and said softly, "The Taiping Jing is my gift to you, young friend. I believe it will be of some benefit to your path of cultivation."

Is it merely for reference?

Jiang Li silently pondered the matter, then respectfully nodded and said, "Jiang Li is ashamed, and thanks you for your great and wise teacher's guidance."

"Now that this matter is settled, I will depart."

"I will send someone to handle all the follow-up matters. Thank you all."

The Great Teacher said no more, and his figure slowly disappeared.

After the thought of the Great Teacher of Virtue had left her mind, Lady Luoshui said, "Mu'er, Li'er, come back to Luoshui with me."

As they spoke, he noticed Ao Bing standing to the side and said with a smile, "This time, we are also grateful for the help of the Dragon King of the Wei River. I believe the Great Teacher has also written a petition for the Dragon King to be rewarded."

"Your Majesty is too kind to me, I haven't been able to help at all."

Ao Bing was overjoyed. Although the Great Teacher of Virtue did not say it explicitly, Lady Luoshui was very direct.

As long as one's name appears on that document, it's a pleasant surprise, and there are so many ways to manipulate things.

Perhaps, the time required for further progress could be reduced by more than half.

"The Dragon King is too modest."

Lady Luoshui smiled, greeted Zhang Wei, and then returned to the Luoshui Divine Palace with Jiang Li and Feng Mu.

For the Empress, traveling upstream along the Wei River, crossing the Yellow River, and reaching the Luo River was merely a matter of moments.

Upon entering the Luoshui Divine Palace, Lady Luoshui led the two directly to the back hall.

"Mu'er, you go out first. I have something to say to Li'er."

Lady Luoshui sat in the main seat and took a sip of tea.

"Sister, can't I listen?"

Feng Mu blinked his big, pitiful eyes, then glared at Jiang Li as if Jiang Li were some kind of homewrecker.

Lady Luoshui glanced at her and said indifferently, "I'll settle your score with you later."

"I'm going to find Chi'er to play!"

Feng Mu immediately ran away.

After the unfortunate child left, Lady Luoshui turned to look at Jiang Li.

"Li'er, you can ask me any questions now."