Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

An officer, barely suppressing a laugh, leaned closer and asked.

"Boss, should we... do something? Like intercept them halfway? Or cause some trouble for the Western Paradise?"

Lin Zhu waved his hand, sat back down in his chair, and his face regained that calm smile of complete control.

"No need. We are law enforcement officers who maintain order in the Three Realms. We must be civilized and follow the rules."

It would be unwise for us to meddle in such 'family matters' without proper consideration.

A calculating glint flashed in his eyes.

"Let them do what they want."

The muddier the water, the easier it is to catch the fish. You have to cast a long line to catch a big fish. Let this matter ferment for a while longer…”

Before he could finish speaking, the familiar and authoritative system notification sounded in his mind again, but this time it was filled with an unprecedented urgency and...excitement.
"Ding! Urgent alert! Abnormal energy fluctuations detected in the Chaos Green Lotus Pool, the host's hometown!"

"The Chaos Lotus... has bloomed!"

"What?! The lotus has bloomed?!"

Lin Zhu suddenly stood up from the chair, his face instantly filled with immense surprise, and even his breathing became a little rapid!
Chaos Qinglian!

That was his most treasured possession, and one of his biggest trump cards and secrets!

His natal divine weapon, the God-Slaying Spear, was transformed from a section of the root of a green lotus! And the Chaos Green Lotus itself is an unparalleled divine object that seizes the creation of heaven and earth. Even the lotus seeds that fall after they mature can be transformed into extremely powerful innate spiritual treasures!

He originally thought that, given the growth cycle of the Chaos Green Lotus, it would take at least several eons, or even longer, for it to bloom.

Unexpectedly, the surprise came so suddenly!

"Haha! Hahaha! That's great!"

Lin Zhu couldn't help but burst into laughter, his joy far exceeding that of hearing the news of Xitian's defeat.

He was eager to return home and made a decision immediately.

"Everyone!"

He spoke loudly to the still laughing crowd.

"The banquet is now over! Everyone, please return to your duties and get some rest! I have important business to attend to and need to return to the temple immediately!"

He thought of his gentle and beautiful Daoist companion, Fairy Ni Chang, and the Chaos Green Lotus that had already bloomed, and his heart was filled with passion.

"It's about time to go back and see my wife, and while I'm at it... take good care of this blue lotus flower!"

00000000
Lin Zhu was eager to return home, so he transformed into a streak of light and headed straight for his residence in the Heavenly Court—the Star Palace. On the way, he happened to encounter Venus, who had white hair and beard and a kind face, riding on a cloud. Venus seemed to have something to ask him and waved and called out from afar.

Normally, Lin Zhu might have stopped to exchange a few pleasantries, but at this moment, with the Chaos Green Lotus and his wife at home on his mind, he had no time to pay attention to this old official.

He waved his hand casually, without slowing down, leaving only one sentence.

"Old Bai, we'll talk about it at work! I'm taking the day off!"

Before the words were even finished, the person had already gone far away.

Venus's outstretched hand froze in mid-air. Looking in the direction Lin Zhu had disappeared, he could only stroke his beard in frustration and mutter helplessly.

"This Lin Yushen... is truly... eccentric..."

In the blink of an eye, Lin Zhu had entered the Star Palace. Unlike the other palaces in the Heavenly Court, which were resplendent with gold and jade, this place was more like an elegant garden on earth, with pavilions, towers, streams, and spiritual plants everywhere, making it quiet and serene.

His gaze was instantly drawn to a beautiful figure beneath a huge ancient tree deep in the courtyard, radiating a shimmering starlight.

The Fairy of Rainbow Robes sat quietly on the blue stone under the tree, her light purple palace dress trailing on the ground, her cloud-like hair held up with only a simple jade hairpin.

She tilted her head slightly, gazing at the dazzling and mysterious starry sky of the heavens. Her profile was flawless, and under the reflection of starlight and moonlight, a faint light seemed to flow around her, serene and otherworldly, creating a scene as beautiful as a poem or a painting.

Lin Zhu was momentarily mesmerized by the sight, and quietly approached as if he were a thief.

Only when he came up behind her did he suddenly stretch out his arms and wrap them around her slender waist from behind, gently resting his chin on her fragrant hair.

"ah!"

The fairy in the rainbow dress trembled slightly and let out a soft gasp, but then her tense body relaxed instantly, and a familiar and reassuring aura enveloped her.

She didn't turn around, but simply let herself lean against that warm and firm chest, a gentle and happy smile unconsciously curving her lips.

Lin Zhu sensed her relaxation, gently turned her around, cupped her beautiful face in his hands, and their eyes met, their endless longing and affection unspoken.

He slowly lowered his head and kissed those delicate red lips.

The fairy in the rainbow dress was slightly taken aback at first, then closed her beautiful eyes, her long eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings as she responded awkwardly and affectionately.

This kiss seemed to transcend time and space, infusing all the worries, concerns, and love during their separation into it, bringing their hearts closer than ever before.

For a long time, the lips are divided.

Lin Zhu held the Fairy of Rainbows tightly in his arms, gently kissing her smooth forehead again, his voice tinged with a hint of hoarseness and gratitude.

"My wife, thanks to your timely reminder about the matter in the underworld, I didn't act impulsively and avoided unnecessary sacrifices for my brothers."

He was referring to the time when the Fairy of Rainbow Robes sensed the unfathomable nature of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and advised him to be cautious. Otherwise, he might have led the entire enforcement team headlong into the abyss, with unimaginable consequences.

The fairy in the rainbow-colored dress nestled in his arms, gently shaking her head, her voice soft and beautiful.

"My lord, you flatter me. I was merely doing my duty. Your safe return is the best outcome."

The two said no more, simply sitting embraced under the ancient tree, gazing up at the eternally brilliant starry sky. A gentle night breeze carried the subtle fragrance of distant magnolia blossoms, and starlight bathed them, as if draping the perfect couple in a dreamlike veil.

That night, there were few words spoken, only silent companionship and heartfelt communication, peaceful and warm.

The next morning, Lin Zhu couldn't wait to arrive at the deepest part of the Star Palace, the secret realm protected by numerous restrictions—the Chaos Green Lotus Pool.

The pool water was crystal clear, filled with a faint, murky atmosphere.

However, when Lin Zhu's gaze fell on the Chaos Green Lotus in the center of the pond, which was originally just a seedling, he was frozen in place as if he had been struck by a spell, his eyes wide open like copper bells!

On the once tender green lotus plant with only a few tender leaves, a lotus seed, roughly the size of a pigeon egg, perfectly round, and possessing an air of primordial chaos, seemed to contain all the colors and laws of the beginning of creation—a lotus seed?!

"This...how is this possible?!" Lin Zhu felt his brain go blank. He walked around the lotus pond several times, rubbed his eyes, and even used his divine sense to repeatedly investigate. Finally, he confirmed—it was true! It was a lotus seed! A genuine Chaos Green Lotus seed!
The problem is... this Chaos Green Lotus is clearly still in its seedling stage! Logically speaking, it should at least need to grow to its complete form and accumulate countless eons before it can flower, bear fruit, and produce lotus seeds!

"Pregnancy before marriage?! No, pregnancy before maturity?!"

Lin Zhu frantically pulled at her hair, pacing back and forth by the lotus pond, her face filled with absurdity and disbelief.

"This doesn't make sense in biology! It doesn't make sense in cultivation! Who did this?! Which bastard dares to defile my Azure Lotus?!"

Countless possibilities flashed through his mind, and he even suspected that some ignorant and powerful figure had secretly infiltrated and tampered with it. But the restrictions on the Star Palace were set up by him personally, and there was also a system secretly monitoring it. How could someone have done this silently?
After racking his brains for a long time, almost scratching his scalp raw, Lin Zhu still couldn't come up with a solution.

He exhaled a long breath, looking at the chaotic lotus seed lying quietly in the lotus pod, a complex expression of helplessness mixed with a touch of doting on his face.

"That's all!"

He waved his hand, as if he were sulking with someone.

"Since you're here, it must be fate! I don't care how you got here, from now on... I'll take care of you!"

As if in response to his decision, the system notification sounded in his mind at the right time, but the content made Lin Zhu's expression freeze instantly.

"Ding! Notification."

The Chaos Lotus has prematurely conceived its seeds for unknown reasons, resulting in a fundamental change in its energy structure. From this day forward, the Chaos Lotus will no longer produce chaotic energy.

"What?! It's no longer producing chaotic energy?!"

Like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, Lin Zhu suddenly jumped up and slapped a piece of artificial mountain made of star gold next to him, cracking the incredibly hard artificial mountain in several places!

The energy of chaos!
That was his greatest reliance for cultivating the "Chaos Creation Technique," tempering his physical body and primordial spirit, and even wielding the God-Slaying Spear! Without the chaotic energy, wouldn't his cultivation speed be greatly reduced?!
This is a huge loss!

He asked urgently.

"System! What's going on? Why can't I generate chaotic energy anymore?"
So what is it producing now? It can't just be wasting energy, can it?!

The system's voice remained calm and even.

"The energy conversion mode of the Chaos Green Lotus has been changed. The main output is now..."

Merit-giving water.

Each serving of the "Meritorious Water" contains energy equivalent to approximately ten thousand points of merit and vows.

"Merit Water? One portion costs ten thousand merits?"

Lin Zhu was taken aback at first, then the anger that was about to erupt deflated like a punctured balloon. He blinked, slowly sat down again, and began to ponder while stroking his chin.

"Merit Water...that name sounds familiar..."

He carefully recalled the information transmitted by the system, and his eyes gradually brightened.

"Similar to the Merit Pool water in the Western Paradise, but purer, it contains unclaimed merit, is harmless to humans and animals, and has an extremely high absorption and conversion rate... It can be used to rapidly improve one's own cultivation, help others break through bottlenecks... and even repair damage to the Dao foundation?"

He recalled that Guanyin Bodhisattva had seemingly used a similar object to not only quickly recover from her injuries but also subtly improve her cultivation.

"So it seems... we didn't lose out?"

Lin Zhu's mind began to shift. The chaotic energy was good, but it was difficult to obtain and its violent nature made it hard to control.

This "merit water" sounds much "mild" and has a wider range of applications. Whether for personal use, training subordinates, or even... fishing, it seems like a good choice.

"Besides, System, what about all that chaotic energy I've accumulated in the pool over the years? It can't possibly swallow it up too, can it?"

Lin Zhu suddenly remembered this and quickly asked.

That was his savings accumulated over many years!

"Host need not worry. The original chaotic energy has been completely transformed into merit-based divine water with the assistance of this system. Due to energy sublimation during the transformation process, the final amount of merit-based divine water obtained is..."

Four portions.

Four portions?
So that's the equivalent of 40,000 merits?

Lin Zhu stroked his chin, somewhat satisfied.

He casually took out a commonly used purple-gold gourd, and with a wave of his hand towards the lotus pond, four drops of divine water, which were pure gold in color, seemed to have countless tiny runes of will power flowing inside, and exuded a peaceful and vast aura, automatically flew into the gourd.

After dealing with Qinglian's matter, Lin Zhu felt much more relaxed.

He stepped out of the secret realm and into the courtyard, where he saw Fairy Ni Chang carefully pruning the branches and leaves of several spiritual plants with jade scissors in hand.

She has been a Grand Luo Golden Immortal for some time now, and her aura is harmonious, indicating that her foundation is solid.

Lin Zhu walked over, shook the gourd in his hand, and asked.

"My lady, I see that your cultivation has reached the peak of the early stage. Would you like this Merit Water to help you break through to the middle stage?"

The fairy stopped what she was doing, turned around, smiled gently at him, and shook her head slightly.

"I appreciate your kindness, my husband. But you should keep this treasure for when you need it. I am content with what I have now, there is no need to rush."

She knew that Lin Zhu was at the center of a vortex, surrounded by powerful enemies, and needed resources to improve his strength.

Just then, a fiery red figure flashed by; it was none other than the divine bird Bifang.

Its sharp eyes immediately fixed on the gourd in Lin Zhu's hand, and it opened and closed its beak, making a sound of surprise.

"Hey? Boss, what you're holding... could this be the legendary Divine Water of Merit?! This is a treasure that even the Buddha of the Western Paradise would covet and fight over! It's said that even the Jade Emperor would be tempted if he knew about it! You'd better keep it safe and don't show it to anyone easily!"

Lin Zhu ignored Bi Fang, who was jumping up and down anxiously, craning his neck to ask for a few drops of the merit water. He pulled out the gourd stopper and tilted his head back to gulp down a large mouthful.

The merit-giving water did not become a liquid upon entering his mouth; instead, it transformed into a warm and vast current that reached the very source of his soul, instantly permeating his limbs and bones, making him feel so comfortable that he almost groaned out loud.

But he didn't swallow it all. Instead, he leaned down and, under the slightly surprised gaze of the Fairy of Rainbow Garments, kissed her lips again, gently transferring the purest merit and vows in his mouth, along with his own heartfelt wishes, to her.

"Well……"

The fairy in the rainbow trembled slightly as she felt a power far purer and gentler than the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, as if it contained the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, surge into her body. It blended seamlessly with her own magical power, and with almost no resistance, it began to push through the bottleneck in her cultivation that had been stagnant for so long!
She quickly composed herself and guided this vast and peaceful power to break through the pass.

A purple aura enveloped her, with Daoist principles flowing around her, and her aura began to rise and condense at a visible speed! (End of Chapter)