Chapter Seventeen: There Are Still Many Clever People in This World!

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Wang Zhenling calculated the time and realized that in the world of Dongchen, it coincided with the last uprising instigated by Chengtiandao, when several provinces and counties were seized, shaking the entire Dacheng realm. Since then, there had been few so-called uprisings or rebellions among cultivators in Dongchen. Nonetheless, after suffering continuous invasions, Dongchen's strength had declined dramatically—far weaker than it had been at the beginning.

Yet Wang Zhenling knew Dongchen had not secured ultimate victory. The transmigrators had not been eradicated. Not only was the Grand Heavenly Lord of Chengtiandao still alive, but he seemed to be living rather comfortably. More importantly, the path of cultivation had gradually spread throughout Dongchen, and now there were more and more cultivators. The pursuit of immortality and truth is humanity’s greatest desire. Once such aspirations take root, it is never easy to stamp them out again.

Wang Zhenling had also discovered records about the so-called “Qi of Heaven and Earth’s Decline” once proclaimed by the Azure Lotus Seed. This referred to a Buddhist teaching: formation, existence, decay, and destruction—none can escape emptiness. The immortals spoke of chaos birthing heaven and earth, heaven and earth birthing all things, and all things having their end. When the world and its myriad beings reach their end, the Qi of Decline arises. It is divided into terminal qi, final qi, killing qi, baleful qi, and calamity qi, each more dire than the last. It is the great enemy of all living beings, and cultivators especially. Once contaminated, it brings the five decays of heaven and man, the collapse of the primordial spirit...

Earlier, Wang Zhenling had nearly contaminated and destroyed the spiritual clarity of the cave dwelling with spirit water tainted by calamity qi. Originally, he had intended to hide there and wait for the trouble to pass, but after the Grand Heavenly Lord’s incident, he began to worry about potential changes back in Dongchen—whether Chengtiandao might trace the matter to the Danling Wang clan and so on—thus he didn’t linger.

He spent several days reading through the records of successive heads of the Juntian Monastery, then crossed back to his own world. Upon returning to Xiaomei Mountain, he found his thatched hut unchanged, seemingly untouched by any disturbance, which brought a measure of relief. He then noticed that the spiritual pool’s water had been almost completely depleted by his recent crossing and realized he needed to find a way to replenish it.

Fortunately, this world was abundant in spiritual energy, and natural spiritual veins were not scarce. However, nearly all the discovered veins already belonged to someone—each was claimed. How, then, was Wang Zhenling to proceed?

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As for methods to extract spiritual energy, Wang Zhenling found them no particular challenge. While he was pondering, two members of the Wang clan came up the mountain, saying, “The clan chief requests your presence. He’s been looking for you for over ten days…”

He followed them back to Jiaode Li, uneasy, suspecting that the trouble he’d stirred up had reached the clan’s ears. To his surprise, upon arrival, the clan chief simply tossed him a letter. Wang Zhenling opened it and was immediately shocked. The letter discreetly hinted at his killing of Chengtiandao’s envoy, but then, with a turn of phrase, informed him that the county constable had summoned him to serve as an official clerk, to take up the post of rural patrolman, replacing the previous one slain by Chengtiandao’s envoy.

“So they’re forcing me into office?” Wang Zhenling gave a bitter smile. He thought to himself, “They say transmigrators are formidable and the natives clueless, but what’s the reality? Zhen Yunzi, the other transmigrator, had his head hung on the city wall, and I, another transmigrator, am being tightly controlled!”

But then, this world was one where Daoist magic manifested visibly and gods roamed the heavens, yet the power of the dynasty even suppressed the gods. So it was no surprise there were so many formidable figures.

“I may see myself as the protagonist, but I never imagined everyone else here would be idiots…” Wang Zhenling sighed inwardly.

But did Wang Zhenling truly resent this turn of events? Not at all. After witnessing Zhen Yunzi’s fate, he understood the power of the authorities. In his current precarious situation, gaining entry into the official system was his best option. Was the rural patrolman’s post too minor? Getting a foot inside the system was what truly mattered; only then would there be opportunities for advancement.

Besides, never underestimate a modest post. The rural patrolman was at least equivalent to the chief of a grassroots police station in his previous life. Even the most brazen internet crusaders would behave themselves in front of such a figure in real life…

Jiaode Li was the communal residence of the Danling Wang clan, located east of Danling County town. The “Li,” when outside the city, resembled a small fortress or earth-walled compound, surrounded by rammed earth walls with only a single entrance and exit. Such defenses had been essential since ancient times, given the many dangers from wild beasts.

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Within the city, the walls of the city itself provided protection, but even there, neighborhoods were divided by their own walls, separating each “Li” into its own space.

Jiaode Li was the Wang family’s own quarter and was vast in scale. Typically, a “Li” was divided left and right by a central road: the poor lived on the left, the wealthy on the right. But as the Wang clan lived together there and prided themselves on Confucian values, they emphasized familial harmony and unity. Thus, there was no such overt division.

The most important thing for a great clan is cohesion, and the Wang family managed this admirably. At the very least, the clan helped lease out and farm Wang Zhenling’s fields and collect the rent, sparing him any trouble. Had it been another family, seeing him young and inattentive, his lands would have long been lost to trickery.

This was all thanks to the clan chief, Wang An, whose fairness and integrity commanded the respect of the entire clan. Even Wang Zhenling himself held a measure of awe for him.

Now, standing with head bowed after reading the letter, Wang Zhenling knew the clan chief had long since read its contents, and he felt deeply uneasy.

The clan chief spoke calmly: “Do you now realize not to act recklessly? This world is full of clever people—no secret stays hidden forever. Whatever you do, always consider the consequences.”

Wang Zhenling agreed meekly, yet inwardly was alarmed. Despite all his efforts to erase evidence, convinced of his perfect cover-up, he had never imagined his actions would be so easily seen through. He resolved never again to underestimate the people of this world—especially the descendants of true noble families, who clearly had talent of every sort at their disposal.

“The post of rural patrolman carries great responsibility. Once you assume office, you must diligently serve and not neglect your duties,” the clan chief, Wang An—once a county assistant—advised after hearing Wang Zhenling’s report.

Wang Zhenling bowed and assented, awaiting further instructions from the clan chief.