Merit-based card draws, quickly become a Heavenly Emperor

Fang Zheng asked, "Why doesn't the imperial court classify the White Lotus Temple as a heretical sect and eradicate it directly?"

Lü Zhengfeng sighed: "The waters here run very deep."

The White Lotus Temple had been operating in Youzhou for many years and had connections with many officials, but it was not officially classified as a cult.

With someone protecting them, the imperial court cannot touch them.

Be careful when you're investigating; don't confront them directly.

Fang Zheng nodded and didn't ask any more questions about the power struggles among the upper echelons.

The light from the communication altar gradually faded, and Fang Zheng regained his composure, focusing his consciousness into the system panel.

Having just killed those two eighth-rank martial artists from the White Lotus Temple, thirty more strands of gray merit have been added to my merit list.

Fang Zheng mentally calculated that the pity system for the Ghost Gate Tour gacha pool was not far off.

Without hesitation, he immediately put all his gray skills into the gacha pool and did three 10-pulls.

The first two 10-pulls were dim and yielded only black cards, with only a few usable items that could increase the ghost's strength.

The third ten-shot burst followed immediately.

The light screen suddenly trembled, and a colorful gray light rose from the depths of the card pool.

【Soul-Guiding Banner】(Peerless, Rank 9, Gray, Benevolent): Equipment Card, used to guide wild ghosts and form battle formations.

Although the description is simple, this is the first equipment card of unparalleled rarity that Fang Zheng has drawn.

Its condition is comparable to that of "Life and Death," "The Finishing Touch," and "A Clear Mirror Hangs High," so its value is self-evident.

He pressed the button, and a plain white banner, about three feet long, appeared in his hand.

The flagpole was made of heavy, dark wood, cold to the touch, and the banner was covered with fine runes that gleamed faintly in the candlelight.

Fang Zheng grasped the flagpole and quickly understood how to use the banner.

Driven by the cultivation of the Ghost Path, one can guide and control ten wandering ghosts at the ninth rank of perfection to form an array.

Once the formation is complete, it combines offense and defense, and with their combined strength, they can easily deal with ordinary eighth-rank cursed ghosts.

He secretly calculated in his mind that he had just entered the eighth rank, while Liu Qingyu had already reached the great completion of the eighth rank.

The human and the ghost are of one mind and work together. Now, with the addition of this soul-guiding banner, even if they encounter a seventh-rank evil cultivator like Du Kang again, they won't be as embarrassed as last time.

Within the eighth rank, there should be no rivals.

Liu Qingyu peeked out from his palm, her gaze falling on the banner. She paused for a moment, then looked up at Fang Zheng with longing eyes.

Fang Zheng considered it for a while. He mainly cultivated the Spirit Painting Dao, but after losing his Yin Official position, he no longer had any Ghost Dao cultivation. The true power of the Soul-Guiding Banner was greatly reduced in his hands.

Liu Qingyu was originally a ghost cultivator with a higher cultivation level. She also traveled in the underworld and was familiar with the yin energy and the habits of wandering ghosts.

Only in her hands can this banner truly exert its power.

Since they are essentially one entity, if Liu Qingyu becomes stronger, it means Fang Zheng himself has become stronger.

So he handed the flagpole over: "It's yours."

Liu Qingyu beamed with joy, reached out and took the banner, playing with it with great affection.

"My benefactor, I will immediately select ten good ghosts from the underworld and train them well. I will not let you down."

Fang Zheng responded, turned to look out the window, and pondered the next steps.

The inheritance has been secured, and the soul-guiding banner is now safely in hand. The next step is to await the verdict from the state government.

......

The next few days were very fulfilling for Fang Zheng.

With the case of Chu Tiankuo settled, the forces of the Zhu family, Cao family, and other evil factions were eradicated.

As a result, the administration of Yongqing County was cleaned up, and the official duties of supervisors and inspectors were suddenly reduced.

Fang Zheng simply devoted all his energy to cultivation.

He had just received Wu Baopu's "The Art of Painting All Things," and was at the height of his interest.

During the day, contemplate the myriad phenomena of the lotus womb; at night, practice the method of summoning the spirit through painting.

His foundation was already solid, and after the Myriad Manifestations Lotus Embryo was implanted into the ancestral aperture between his eyebrows, the flow of his Yuan Power was more than twice as smooth as before.

In just a few days, he had thoroughly grasped the basics of the technique and was beginning to understand the next step.

The improvement in strength is almost visible to the naked eye; the same amount of Yuan energy can now unleash far greater power than before.

The difference between superior techniques and rudimentary inheritance was fully demonstrated at this moment.

Just as he was immersed in his cultivation, the approval document from the prefecture government arrived.

The final verdict in the case of Chu Tiankuo's murder spread throughout Yongqing County.

Zhu Tianhua, Zhu Hongcai, Cao Jingde, Steward Cao, Du Kang, and Wu Gui were all sentenced to immediate execution.

Those who acted as accomplices to the Zhu and Cao families should be either killed or imprisoned.

For many years, the former county magistrate Zhou Huai-ren held his position without performing his duties, indulging in debauchery and dissipating his career. He was demoted to the ninth rank and his retirement was delayed. It is likely that he will have to work in a grassroots position for the rest of his life until he dies.

Although County Lieutenant Ma Debiao was not involved, he dared not confront the authorities directly and was demoted to the ninth rank for dereliction of duty and transferred to another county.

As for Guan Tieyi, he should have been severely punished according to the law for damaging the remains of his superior, and should have been exiled to the army.

However, Lü Zhengfeng and Lu Qingyun jointly pleaded for him, and Guan Tieyi's old superior in the army also wrote a letter of guarantee, so he was ultimately treated leniently.

He was fined one year's salary, dismissed from his post, and demoted to a minor official.

After the conviction, the most important step is to reward those who have rendered meritorious service.

Lu Qingyun and Lü Zhengfeng, as chief officials, were both promoted.

Lu Qingyun was promoted from the seventh rank to the sixth rank, and next he will be sent to a prefecture for training.

Lü Zhengfeng was promoted from a junior seventh-rank official to a senior seventh-rank official. After completing his term in Yongqing County, he was reassigned.

Fang Zheng, who made the greatest contribution, also received his due reward.

In terms of official rank, he jumped from the ninth rank to the eighth rank.

A candidate who passed the imperial examination was promoted from the ninth rank to the eighth rank in less than half a year without any background or support. This was unprecedented in the officialdom of Youzhou.

When the news spread, many people were talking privately, saying that this young man was incredibly lucky.

But soon, someone else figured out the trick.

Fang Zheng's new official position is the eighth-rank supervisor of Cangwu County.

His rank was promoted, and his official position brought him real power, but the location he was assigned to changed from Yongqing County to Cangwu County.

This is a remote county located on the border of Youzhou, sparsely populated, and without any decent industry; it is a truly barren land.

He rose in rank, but his space to use his abilities was completely cut off.

Upon learning this news, Lü Zhengfeng immediately contacted Fang Zheng through the communication platform.

His voice carried a hint of suppressed dissatisfaction.

"Fang Zheng, once you get there, you'll know that Cangwu County is not a good place."

Remote, barren, with nothing at all.

No population, no tax revenue, no sense of existence.

"Staying in that kind of place, no matter how capable you are, it's difficult to achieve anything that will be noticed by those above."

He paused, then added, "There's a saying in officialdom that such a place is called a 'dead ground for one's career.'"

Those who go there will basically stop advancing in their official careers and will not be promoted again.

If you want to climb any higher, it's as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Fang Zheng looked thoughtful and asked, "Does Lord Lü know who arranged this official position for me?"