Chapter Thirty-Three: Tit for Tat

Because he had begun to master divine powers, this realm was also known as the Human Immortal stage. It was only by relying on the continuous flow of official fortune that Wang Zhenling’s cultivation had progressed so swiftly!

At this moment, since he could not easily draw upon the fortune of the pavilion, Wang Zhenling could only let his spirit leave his body, as usual absorbing the moon’s essence, and waiting for the morning to gather the sun’s essence, refining them together, nurturing both his nature and his life.

This was a plan Wang Zhenling had long prepared; with so many prying eyes in the pavilion and the city god’s ghostly officials watching him, it was safer to come out to the countryside. Even if he could not draw upon official fortune, he could continue his cultivation!

Yet now, although he had already absorbed the moon’s essence, Wang Zhenling was not in a hurry to return to his body. Instead, his half-inch spirit turned, and a red-and-white radiance moved, circling him once before transforming into a fierce tiger and attaching itself to him.

In an instant, Wang Zhenling’s spirit expanded dramatically, his whole being surrounded by a faint glow like fire, casting a reddish hue over the quiet chamber.

“The imperial seal truly is formidable, containing such powerful energy…” Wang Zhenling couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. After all, a patrol officer was merely a minor local official. Yet the power contained in the great seal had already doubled his strength, propelling him truly into the divine awakening stage!

“Now, with the power of official fortune, my spirit is stable. Perhaps I should venture out a bit and see…”

With this thought, Wang Zhenling’s spirit slipped out the window and entered the courtyard.

It was nighttime, and even in the county hall, there were few lights, let alone in this wild pavilion far from the city. But his spirit required no eyes to see, perceiving the world with clarity even in darkness.

These days, it was not Wang Zhenling’s first time letting his spirit wander. Previously, he only dared do so within the pavilion, cautious and never venturing far, only circling his room.

But now, outside and free from so many restrictions, Wang Zhenling intended to truly roam in spirit, exploring afar.

The pavilion was the center of imperial governance in the countryside, the place where royal law and official fortune gathered, patrolled day and night by ghostly guards. Ordinary ghosts, even cultivators, who dared approach the county hall would be suppressed by official fortune or slain by ghostly soldiers.

Even Wang Zhenling cultivated with great care. But now, in this pavilion, there were at most a couple of ghostly guards on nightly patrol.

For Wang Zhenling, the oppressive weight was gone, replaced by a sense of freedom.

Soon, Wang Zhenling left the pavilion and ventured outside.

Pavilions were generally some distance from the village, though they stood beside the official road, they were still in wild, uncultivated lands.

He did not linger near the pavilion, but leapt out, roaming freely through the countryside.

Without the burden of flesh, his spirit felt light and unshackled, as if freed from heavy constraints.

Especially with the protection of the imperial seal, far stronger than the power of a pearl, his spirit could wander without fear of night’s frost or danger.

Looking back, Wang Zhenling could see the pavilion shrouded in a faint white glow, like a vast courtyard or a closed manor.

In this ancient era, spaces were always enclosed by walls, creating separate domains. Large ones like the Great Wall, small ones like courtyard homes—structures built to guard and enclose!

Before his eyes, it was especially clear: whether outside the city in the countryside or within the city itself, each district was surrounded by walls, forming little fortresses.

Within the city, every district and the county hall itself were isolated by walls, forming city within city.

The pavilion was like a fortress amid the wilderness.

His spirit passed through trees and walls without obstruction.

Moonlight poured down, bathing his spirit in comfort.

This was a feeling utterly unlike the cautious, constrained existence within the county hall!

Yet, just then, two eerie green lights flared, and a squad of ghostly soldiers, led by a ghostly official, emerged from the darkness and surrounded Wang Zhenling.

The chief ghostly official smiled at him, “Where are you heading so late at night, Master Wang?”

Then, feigning surprise, he exclaimed, “Oh my, what’s this patrol officer up to? So bold, daring to emulate those unlawful cultivators and let your spirit roam. That’s a flagrant violation!”

This ghostly official was a retainer of the City God, the very one who had tried to apprehend the alleged thief of official fortune at the pavilion.

Yet he had left empty-handed!

Now, catching Wang Zhenling in the act, he grew triumphant.

With this evidence, he could hand Wang Zhenling straight to Chen Buzhi, and surely make Chen Buzhi look bad, weakening his position in future power struggles with the City God!

This was where the City God fell short compared to Magistrate Zhou Lai.

Magistrate Zhou Lai knew well that Chen Buzhi sought achievements and reputation, preparing to inherit his family’s power. He understood that Chen Buzhi cared little for the petty authority of Danling County.

Thus, whatever Chen Buzhi did, the magistrate would at least not hinder him, if not actively support him.

But the City God was different, his ambitions shallow, quarreling with Chen Buzhi over control of the county’s five hundred ghostly soldiers.

Now, he sought every opportunity to pressure Chen Buzhi into submission!

As for Wang Zhenling, he was merely unlucky, used as a pawn in the City God’s contest against Chen Buzhi.

Yet Wang Zhenling was not so easily intimidated. He responded fearlessly with a cold snort, “I am out for a stroll tonight. How dare you obstruct me!”

The ghostly official countered sternly, “Officials must not wander at night without cause—that’s the first rule. Second, a patrol officer spirit-wandering is not the proper path for imperial service!”

Wang Zhenling sneered, “So what? Go ahead and report me.”

At these words, the ghostly official was momentarily speechless.

Report him? And how exactly?

Cultivation was, of course, forbidden among ordinary officials and citizens, a strict taboo.

But among higher ranks, it was hardly something to be fussed over.

Without background or support, such an offense would be serious indeed.

But Wang Zhenling, backed by Chen Buzhi, was shielded by powerful patronage. Unless they caught him blatantly in the act and exposed everything publicly, there was nothing they could really do to him.