Merit-based card draws, quickly become a Heavenly Emperor

Perhaps sensing Fang Zheng's doubts, Li Yuanshan smiled and asked, "Fang Zheng, how much do you know about the underworld?"

Fang Zhengdao said, "I've only read about it in historical records."

It is said that in the past, evil spirits often caused trouble in the world. Emperor Taizu summoned talented people and established the Underworld, incorporated it into the imperial system, and set up the position of Yama, the first-rank Yama, to manage the Underworld and control all ghosts.

From top to bottom, there were also officials of the underworld such as the City God, the Judge, and the Impermanent Ones, to ensure that humans and ghosts did not interfere with each other, and that the cycle of life and death was orderly.

Li Yuanshan stroked his beard and smiled, "Indeed."

Years ago, by sheer chance, I saved the life of a high-ranking official in the underworld.

In gratitude, he promised that after my death, he would try his best to guide me to become a judge in the underworld.

However, I need to accumulate good deeds and virtues during my lifetime, benefit the local community, and accumulate enough merit in secret.

My biggest regret in life is that I failed the imperial examination, failed to become an official, and failed to serve the people.

Although Yin officials are not as powerful as human officials, they are still officials in my Great Qian Dynasty.

Now that it's done, my lifelong wish has been fulfilled.

Fang Zheng looked surprised and exclaimed, "There is such a reason?"

It is said that karma is a cycle, and Lord Li, you have accumulated good deeds and virtues throughout your life, bringing blessings to so many people in Yongqing County. It is only right that your long-cherished wish has been fulfilled.

Li Yuanshan shook his head and said, "Fang Zheng, you don't know this."

The high-ranking official in the underworld warned me that if I followed the path of doing good deeds and becoming an official, I would face calamities in the unseen world.

If you manage to get through it, then you will naturally achieve your goal.

If we can't get through it, all our efforts will be in vain.

Now it seems that my encounter with the red-clad evil spirit Liu Qingyu tonight was also a preordained calamity.

If she kills you and devours your soul, then all else is out of the question.

Fortunately, Fang Zheng, you possess extraordinary skills, which saved my life and allowed me to perform another great act of kindness, ultimately leading to a successful conclusion.

At this point, Li Yuanshan's expression turned serious, and he even bowed to Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng quickly stepped aside, saying, "Master Li, you flatter me."

"If it weren't for your selfless rescue, I and the neighbors would probably all have been harmed by that evil spirit."

Li Yuanshan waved his hand and laughed, "Alright, time is limited. Fangzheng, the reason I summoned you to meet me in my dream is to discuss something important."

Now, I am using the principle of virtuous conduct to register a seventh-rank official in the underworld. According to the regulations, I can promote one ninth-rank official to serve as an attendant.

Although this patrolling official is not as powerful as other human officials of the same rank, he is extremely effective at suppressing evil spirits.

If you obtain this official position, you should be able to suppress evil spirits and delay them until you successfully enter the realm of visualization and generate primordial power.

What do you think?

From a ninth-rank Yin official?

Fang Zheng never expected that Li Yuanshan would give him such a big gift tonight.

As a candidate for the imperial examination, he was qualified to become an official, but that was all he was qualified for.

The vast majority of those who passed the imperial examinations had to start as low-ranking clerks, working hard to accumulate seniority before they had a chance to be promoted to a ninth-rank official.

Only because Fang Zheng was the top student in this year's examination did he have a chance to win an official position.

But now, Li Yuanshan has actually prepared everything for him.

Fang Zheng quickly replied, "Thank you for the recommendation, Lord Li!"

I will do my utmost in my duty of touring.

However, I already entered that state of visualization earlier tonight.

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanshan looked surprised, and his usually unhurried voice rose several octaves.

"Has he mastered the art of visualization overnight?"

No, it shouldn't have been more than two hours?

Fang Zheng, you truly are a prodigy in my spiritual painting cultivation!

Fang Zheng said solemnly, "It is thanks to the divine skills and wonderful methods left by Master Li that I was able to cultivate."

Such a great kindness is something I can never repay.

Li Yuanshan stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "There's no need for such modesty."

Now that you have entered the realm of contemplation, this patrolling duty is no longer something you urgently need.

Ultimately, a ghost official is inferior to a human official. Furthermore, if you were to serve as a ghost official while still alive, your chances of promotion would be significantly limited.

Fangzheng, you are the top candidate in the imperial examination and have the opportunity to become a ninth-rank official.

Here's what we'll do: you should try to get a minor official position in Yongqing County first.

I will reserve this position of the Ghost Gate Patrol for you for a while.

"If you fail to become an official in the mortal realm, then come looking for me again."

After Fang Zheng bowed in gratitude, Li Yuanshan threw out another beam of spiritual light.

"This is the 'Soul-Illuminating Candle Sutra' that I searched for, which is for the red-clothed female ghost to use."

She is exceptionally gifted, born as an eighth-grade [Cursed Ghost]. If she can learn this orthodox ghost cultivation technique, she will have the opportunity to suppress her evil nature.

However, she'll only have the chance to learn this when she's lucid.

Fang Zheng had a sudden thought. He had the Soul-Returning Incense, which could keep Liu Qingyu awake for a short time, and she should be able to learn the "Soul-Illuminating Candle Scripture".

"Many thanks to Mr. Li for his help!"

Li Yuanshan nodded slightly: "The time for the dream has come to an end. I will see you off."

If anything happens, you may light three red incense sticks at my grave.

With that, he flicked his sleeve, plunging Fang Zheng into darkness. When he regained consciousness, he was in the study.

As dawn broke, he pondered silently, and sure enough, a scroll of the "Scripture of the Soul Illuminated by the Ghostly Candle" was engraved in his heart.

He secretly marveled at Li Yuanshan's extraordinary abilities. Just as he lit the Soul-Returning Incense to summon Liu Qingyu, he passed on the technique to her.

Judging from how much she treasured it, this skill must have been of great help to her.

Once the incense for returning to life had burned out, Liu Qingyu had successfully entered the path of enlightenment.

She transformed into a tiny thumb-sized figure, standing happily on the candlestick.

"My benefactor, you have passed on to me a superior cultivation method for the ghost path."

Having mastered this skill, I have suppressed my malignant tendencies somewhat and can maintain a clear mind for about half an hour each day.

Fang Zheng nodded slightly: "How is your combat strength now?"

Liu Qingyu replied, "In my conscious state, I only possess the strength of a ninth-rank [Wandering Ghost]."

If one descends into madness, indiscriminately attacking friend or foe, one can reach the eighth rank of [Cursed Demon].

Fang Zheng reached out and let Liu Qingyu jump into his palm, then asked, "In that case, tell me more about your father."

.........

As the human and the ghost talked, it was already broad daylight.

Unable to withstand the sunlight, Liu Qingyu transformed into a wisp of red smoke and entered Fang Zheng's palm.

Overnight, the entire northern part of the city and even Yongqing County knew about Li Yuanshan's passing, and people from all over the city came to pay their respects.

People came in droves under the old locust tree, their cries echoing through the air.

The two elderly men at the head of the group were dressed in mourning clothes and looked grief-stricken.

These are two renowned scholars from Yongqing County who were on par with Li Yuanshan: Chen Moxuan, the scholar, and Du Kang, the wine connoisseur.

The scholar Chen Moxuan was a ninth-rank official with a dignified appearance, a robust build, and a long black beard.

Du Kang, the wine seller, was a wealthy merchant with gray hair and beard, a thin build, and a sallow complexion.

Seeing this, the other mourners all shook their heads and sighed deeply.

"The Five Friends of Yongqing County, inseparable in their love of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and wine. But now, they are separated by death!"

"Yes, several years ago, the Five Friends of Winter gathered at the Hanxiang Pavilion outside the city. The painter Li Dashan created the painting 'Hanxiang Gathering,' which was superb and lifelike."

The painting was collected by the wine connoisseur Du Kang for a large sum of money, while the philanthropist Li donated all the proceeds from the sale of the painting to help disaster victims, which became a widely praised story.

What a magnificent sight it was back then!

"Unfortunately, not many years later, the chess master and the zither master passed away one after another."

Now the painter has been harmed by evil spirits, and the wine connoisseur is also suffering from a prolonged illness; truly, heaven is jealous of talent!