I Have A Dual World Seal

Lu Zheng certainly had no elders living outside the Lianzhou Prefecture.

However, he didn’t remain on the main road; instead, he turned into a residential area outside the city, and found a small stall not far away to sit down and ordered a bowl of noodles.

After eating the noodles, Lu Zheng was in no hurry and simply sat at the stall, chatting with the stall owner.

Soon, Lu Zheng’s eyes moved as he saw a man in a blue official robe swiftly approaching from outside the city, preparing to enter.

"This esteemed official of the Observatory, Lu Zheng of White Cloud Temple greets you!"

"Hm?"

Li Zhongzhi was about to return to the city to hand over his task when he suddenly heard a transmission in his ear.

"Lu Zheng of White Cloud Temple? Bearing a mundane surname, an Outer Disciple?"

Li Zhongzhi turned around to see a scholar in green robes sitting by a side path, waving and smiling at him.

Li Zhongzhi’s eyes flickered, so he turned onto the side path and approached Lu Zheng. "Li Zhongzhi of the Observatory, greetings to Young Master Lu. May I ask why you have called for me?"

"Lord Li." Lu Zheng stood up and cupped his hands, "Do you know if Lord Huang Ruoxing is in the city?"

"Vice Director Huang?" Li Zhongzhi nodded, "The Lord Deputy Director is indeed in the city. If Young Master is looking for Lord Huang, you might as well enter the city with me."

Li Zhongzhi didn’t doubt Lu Zheng’s identity, and was prepared to take him to see Huang Ruoxing. If he was real, it would be good; if fake, Huang Ruoxing could handle it.

"I do have business with Lord Huang, but it’s inconvenient for me to enter the city," Lu Zheng said. "I called you, Lord Li, hoping you could pass a message to Lord Huang to meet me outside the city."

"Hmm?"

Li Zhongzhi’s expression changed.

Lu Zheng was right outside the city, while Huang Ruoxing was inside, only a few miles apart—a short walk away. Why ask him to deliver a message?

Li Zhongzhi narrowed his eyes, beginning to suspect Lu Zheng’s intentions.

In the next moment, Lu Zheng suddenly reached out and grasped Li Zhongzhi’s wrist, a wisp of Innate Cloud Qi surging into him, instantly restraining him.

Li Zhongzhi’s eyes were fixated; he hadn’t expected this seemingly young scholar to be a great expert, rendering him powerless despite his over a hundred years of Dao practice.

Lu Zheng released his hand, the Innate Cloud Qi receding, and Li Zhongzhi naturally regained his freedom.

"My apologies," Lu Zheng offered, "It’s really inconvenient for me to enter the city. Just tell Lord Huang that Lu Zheng is visiting."

"Alright then."

Li Zhongzhi rubbed his wrist, agreeing with lingering fear, then cupped his hands again at Lu Zheng and turned back.

...

Moments later, Huang Ruoxing arrived as agreed.

"Young Master Lu!"

Huang Ruoxing wasn’t surprised by Lu Zheng’s presence here. After all, the information about the demon’s appearance in Pingdong Dao and possibly in the Demon Cave Secret Realm were both obtained from Lu Zheng.

However, the fact that Lu Zheng was outside the Lianzhou Prefecture and called Huang Ruoxing out instead of entering the city did make Huang Ruoxing a bit curious.

"Lord Huang!"

Lu Zheng cupped his hands and invited Huang Ruoxing to sit down, ordering him a bowl of noodles as well.

"Add some extra offal and braised meat," Lu Zheng called to the stall owner, then said to Huang Ruoxing, "Discussing matters on someone’s premise, we ought to give some business to them."

Huang Ruoxing laughed heartily, seeing Lu Zheng had paid in Copper Coins, he unceremoniously sat down. Once the stall owner served the noodles, he picked up chopsticks and ate a mouthful.

While eating, he asked, "Why doesn’t Young Master Lu go to the State City?"

Lu Zheng took a sip of broth sent by the stall owner, lightly conveyed, "I received word that there might be an undiscovered Grotto Heaven Secret Realm inside Lianzhou Prefecture."

"Pfft!"

Huang Ruoxing spit out the noodles in his mouth, even choking, with a noodle strand coming out of his nose.

"What?"

Huang Ruoxing was utterly shocked, immediately understanding why Lu Zheng didn’t enter the city.

He was worried the demon might be in the city and could eavesdrop on their conversation.

"A Grotto Heaven Secret Realm in Lianzhou Prefecture, how is that possible?" Huang Ruoxing couldn’t believe it.

Lu Zheng nodded, "It’s quite likely."

"Where did Young Master Lu get this news? Where is the Grotto Heaven Secret Realm?" Huang Ruoxing asked.

"From a friend."

Lu Zheng spread his hands, but didn’t mention Wen Jiong’s name since he was a Netherworld Ghost, and it was inconvenient to expose him.

After a pause, Lu Zheng asked, "Is there a Marquis Teng’s Mansion in Lianzhou Prefecture?"

"Marquis Teng’s Mansion?" Huang Ruoxing raised an eyebrow, "The mansion of the Ding Family’s Marquis Tengyi lineage. Could it be that the Grotto Heaven Secret Realm is there?"

"That’s correct." Lu Zheng nodded without keeping things secret, "Under a well in the left side courtyard of Marquis Teng’s Mansion."

"Under the well, in the water?" Huang Ruoxing asked anxiously.

"Unclear, it might be in the water or in the air," Lu Zheng shrugged, "The exact timing of the appearance of an unowned Grotto Heaven is uncertain.

Moreover, whether the Grotto Heaven is currently unowned or occupied by the demon, that I do not know either."

Huang Ruoxing nodded thoughtfully, "For so many years undiscovered, the Grotto Heaven Secret Realm must be very hidden."

Lu Zheng nodded, "Indeed."

Huang Ruoxing sighed, "The news of demons in Pingdong Dao came from you. The possibility of the demon being in the Grotto Heaven Secret Realm also came from you. Now, even the location of the Grotto Heaven Secret Realm, you had to provide it. I am truly ashamed!"

Lu Zheng smiled gently, "As a Da Jing person, it’s my duty."

"Young Master is noble! I am impressed!"

Huang Ruoxing cupped his hands and said, "Now that we know the location of the Grotto Heaven Secret Realm, it will be relatively easier to find it."

"The hands of the Observatory, I have long admired," Lu Zheng said.

Huang Ruoxing, hearing this, replied proudly, "In that case, I should go prepare."

Lu Zheng nodded and said, "Then I shall await good news."

Huang Ruoxing’s eyes moved, inviting, "Why not join us at the scene, and we explore the Grotto Heaven Secret Realm together?"

Lu Zheng shook his head decisively, "I still need to go to the Northern Domain, so I won’t interfere with the Observatory and Anomaly Suppression Bureau’s work."

Huang Ruoxing smiled, "We would indeed be missing a master."

Lu Zheng chuckled, "The Observatory and Anomaly Suppression Bureau have countless experts, what need is there for me to join the commotion?"

Huang Ruoxing shook his head, his voice turning serious, "Recently, there have been more Ghosts appearing in Pingdong Dao, all of them Netherworld Ghosts, looking for the Demon Cave Secret Realm, wanting to snatch two treasures from the demon. We dare not be careless!"

"Hmm, isn’t that a good thing?" Lu Zheng blinked and asked.

Huang Ruoxing also blinked, "The problem is, we don’t want those two treasures to fall into the Netherworld."