Chapter Twenty-Five: The Secret Operation

Moreover, the official aura is the most domineering of all, yet it is also exceedingly complex. Ordinary cultivators who attempt to steal this official energy for their own cultivation can only absorb a breath or two of it. They will immediately suffer backlash from the official aura; if not dead, they will be gravely wounded, and then alert the ghosts and spirits of the authorities, who will hunt them down and bring them to justice.

Even if someone is fortunate enough to survive the initial ordeal, avoiding both the backlash and being detected by the patrolling spirits, the chaotic and overpowering official energy within their body would still drive them mad, causing them to lose control and descend into insanity. In Zhu Ling County, there was once a cultivator who sided with the authorities and attempted to steal official energy for his own practice. He triggered the backlash immediately, and before the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, the ghostly enforcers of the county court had already arrived. By then, the man had already succumbed to madness.

Such incidents occur frequently, enough to deter all cultivators from coveting official energy. The fundamental Daoist method of the Jun Tian Temple is the Nine Heavens Primordial Yang Longevity Creation Diagram, carved upon the walls of the Jun Tian Sanctuary. Each mural depicts a layer of heavenly realm, which simultaneously serves as the focus for contemplation and refinement of the spirit.

By visualizing and contemplating the Nine Heavens Primordial Yang Longevity Creation Diagram, the primordial spirit can grow ever stronger. Each diagram represents a realm; once all nine have been contemplated and formed, one steps into the realm of celestial immortality. The first diagram of the Nine Heavens Primordial Yang Longevity Creation depicts the scenery of the Moon Wheel Heaven—the first heaven, closest to the earth.

Through contemplation, one sees a bright moon traversing the sky, its path charted, with a celestial palace nestled among the shadows of osmanthus trees, serene and elegant. The bamboo shadows sweep the steps without stirring dust; the moon wheel passes, leaving no trace. Thus, this heaven is also called the Illusion Heaven.

At this moment, Wang Zhenling is contemplating the Moon Wheel Heaven. For ordinary people, visualizing such a complex realm would not be easy, but Wang Zhenling has seen the nine true diagrams in the Jun Tian Sanctuary with his own eyes and grasped their essence. Moreover, his primordial spirit is already quite powerful, capable of leaving his body with the aid of treasures.

Now, Wang Zhenling swallows a drop of jade marrow, and as he contemplates, the entire Moon Wheel Heaven grows gradually clearer. As the Moon Wheel Heaven becomes more distinct, the Lotus of Transcendence begins to exert a pull, attracting wisps of official energy from the canopy suspended above the village pavilion. These streams of energy are drawn into the Lotus of Transcendence within Wang Zhenling’s sea of consciousness.

Within the vision of the Moon Wheel Heaven, the realm grows ever more solid. It seems his original contemplation was only an outline, but now the official energy gradually fills it in. Wang Zhenling’s primordial spirit manifests, seated in the celestial palace of the Moon Wheel Heaven, breathing deeply as pure white light descends, entering through his nose and mouth.

This power, purified by the Moon Wheel Heaven, is now exceedingly pure. As his primordial spirit absorbs and exhales it, unconsciously, his spirit grows clearer and more defined. This efficiency is perhaps a little lower than in the sanctuary, but the spiritual energy in the Jun Tian Sanctuary is limited—each use diminishes it. Official power, however, remains so long as the county office stands; it flows unceasingly, never exhausted, and may be drawn upon freely.

Thus, Wang Zhenling unhesitatingly absorbs this official energy, cultivating himself and strengthening his primordial spirit. The Out-of-Body realm is also known as the Soul-Refining realm, essentially meaning the soul leaves the body and is forged anew. The Qi-Refining stage cultivates vital essence, transforming it into internal energy to nourish and strengthen the primordial spirit.

Upon reaching the Out-of-Body realm, the spirit leaves the body, the energy transforms into true power and magical force, enabling the use of supernatural arts and Daoist techniques. The Qi-Refining stage is divided into five realms: Qi Accumulation, Qi Extension, Qi Descent, Qi Stabilization, and Qi Consolidation. The Out-of-Body stage consists of the five realms: Spirit Sprout, Spirit Growth, Spirit Concealment, Spirit Meditation, and Spirit Clarity.

Spirit Sprout signifies the budding of the primordial spirit; upon reaching this stage, the spirit takes shape, resembling a living person. Wang Zhenling, however, relies on the power of the luminous pearl and jade marrow to leave his body, and his spirit is not yet fully formed—originally appearing as a vague white mist. Yet after days of diligent cultivation, he has made great progress; his spirit is gradually assuming human form, though still indistinct.

Now, Wang Zhenling’s cultivation is above Qi Consolidation but not yet at Spirit Sprout. Still, he can already wield magical power, though weaker than a true master of the Spirit Sprout stage. Wang Zhenling believes that, given two or three more months, his primordial spirit will fully take shape, and he will truly enter the Spirit Sprout realm.

“This Nine Heavens Primordial Yang Longevity Creation Diagram is truly extraordinary,” Wang Zhenling sighed softly—it even allows one to steal official energy. With this method, he need not seek out spiritual veins; it is as though he is cultivating within one already.

He was about to redouble his efforts, hoping to reach the Spirit Sprout realm as soon as possible. But just then, he received a command from Assistant Magistrate Chen, instructing him to assemble his ghostly enforcers, avoid alarming anyone, and proceed to a certain location for a rendezvous.

Had Wang Zhenling been tasked with mobilizing the gods and soldiers of every shrine, he would not have been so confident—last time it was only due to Lord Hu’s influence. However, since he was told not to make a commotion, the matter was simple. Wang Zhenling only needed to bring along the ten ghostly enforcers from the village pavilion.

Though the task was originally difficult, now Wang Zhenling’s prestige was established—even the village bailiff feared him. Thus, it was easy to gather the ghostly enforcers under the bailiff and the three elders, and secretly lead them away.

They left Guangyang Village, traveling stealthily for dozens of miles to a roadside lodge. The lodge had already been occupied by Assistant Magistrate Chen’s people; lax outside but tight within. From the outside, it looked little different from usual. But inside, dozens of soldiers in fine armor stood ready.

Even Assistant Magistrate Chen and the two gentlemen, Yu and Feng, had changed their robes for armor. Seeing this, Wang Zhenling was startled—what was such a display preparing for?

Assistant Magistrate Chen, seeing Wang Zhenling arrive as ordered, was pleased. He had issued a private command, without any official documentation. Yet Wang Zhenling had come without hesitation, which satisfied him greatly.

He said no more, only, “Bring a suit of armor for Wang, the patrol officer!”

At once, someone brought over a suit of iron armor and helped Wang Zhenling put it on. The armor was heavy, at least forty or fifty pounds, composed of large plates the size of mahjong tiles, strung together with fine oxhide cords.

Looking around, Wang Zhenling saw that everyone was armored, most carrying bows or crossbows, and could not help but feel a secret unease.