Chapter Thirty-One: Subjugation

  Zhou thought for a moment and smiled awkwardly, saying: "I, Zhou, have not eaten human food for many years, I was momentarily out of control, please don't mind!"

  Fang Ming smiled slightly and said: "This is a common human feeling, sir, don't worry too much!"

  Zhou Siwei narrowed his eyes slightly, as if savoring the taste, and soon came back to himself, saying: "Your Excellency's skills are extraordinary, I wonder what brings you here?"

  "It's nothing, sir has also seen it. Although I seem to be the ancestor's spirit, but I am different from the ancestor's spirit. This is a heavenly gift, and I will name it 'Shen Dao'. It can help the ancestor's spirit break free from its shackles, and there are many other divine powers. I am not talented, but I am willing to help sir escape this prison!" Fang Ming said with a faint smile.

  "Is that so!" These words were like a thunderclap on a clear day, and although Zhou Si's face didn't change color, his slightly trembling body had already revealed his inner thoughts.

  Zhou Si fell silent for a moment before speaking: "I don't know the consequences of your method, what will happen? As the master of my family's fate, if I leave, will it affect the Zhou family? What do you hope to gain from doing this?"

  Zhou Si is indeed a seasoned leader, these three questions are all spot on, and the last one is particularly blunt.

  Fang Ming thought carefully before coming and said, "This method of mine is to turn the gentleman into a divine official, rescue him from the mixed incense fire energy, without harming the gentleman, he can move freely, but in the future, it will also need to be replenished."

  "As for purifying the incense and wishes, it will have some impact on the protective energy of your family. However, since your entire clan is within the city, they shouldn't be in any danger. Moreover, I can purify your family's wishes and transform them into divine power, which can also provide protection."

  "As for what you've obtained, I want the entire Zhou clan to believe in the land god. As long as they do, I can provide your family with protection and even ensure that your household has a bountiful harvest and a peaceful home!"

  "This......" These few short sentences contained too much information, Zhou Si couldn't think it through for a moment, Fang Ming also didn't care about it and quietly waited.

  Zhou Qing sank into deep thought for a long time before finally saying: "This matter is of great importance, can the respected god please wait a little while? I want to have a dream conversation with my family's current clan leader to discuss it together!"

  "Tuomeng!" Fang Ming's eyes lit up and he said: "Master, using this method must have consumed a lot of energy, right?"

  "Of course it's not a small matter, and after this time, we can't use this method again for ten years. But this is a major event, so it's still worth it!" Zhou Si stroked his beard, his voice calm and composed.

  "Hehe...... the method of entrusting a dream, my divine way also has it, and the loss is very small. Why don't I take care of it for you?" Fang Ming knew that he had to show some real skills to increase his persuasive power, so he took the initiative to ask for it.

  "That... I'll leave it to the gods!" The cost of using the Dreamwalker's technique was enormous, and Zhou Si saw that Fang Ming had taken the initiative to propose it, so he was happy to go along with it.

  Zhou Jia's current master, Zhou Biqing, was a middle-aged man. After falling asleep, he came to the ancestral temple and saw Zhou Si again, who looked exactly like the eighth generation ancestor's portrait. He was already somewhat surprised in his heart, but there was also a young official around him, which made him slightly suspicious.

  "Hehe... my descendants, do not doubt me, I am indeed your eighth generation ancestor, the current ancestral spirit. This is Qingxi Village's Land God Fang Ming, who has come to discuss important matters with me. I have yet to make a decision and have specifically sought you out for consultation!" Zhou Si was quite astonished by this ability to break through the separation of yin and yang, after all, his own abilities could only manage a few words at most.

  "Land God of Qingxi Village? I've long admired your great name!" Zhou Biqing had been in charge of the Zhou family for many years, so she wouldn't be scared by a dream. Previously, she suspected that there were evil spirits that could enter people's dreams and deceive them to take their vital energy, so she was on guard. This time, hearing the name Land God again gave her another shock.

  Zhou, Wu, Zheng and Wang are collectively known as the four major families of Anchang. Their relationships are complex and far-reaching, spanning the entire county. When it comes to news between villages, they are even more informed than the county government. As the head of the Zhou family, he naturally receives news that a famous land god has appeared in Qingxi Village, attracting attention. There is also some other news, although vague, that makes him pay even more attention.

  This time seeing the Dream Penetrating Divine Communication, it was indeed consistent with the rumors. He couldn't help but bow and say: "I have seen the Honorable God!" His demeanor was very respectful.

  Fang Ming waved his hand: "Forget it, I wanted to help your ancestors get out of trouble and also gain the faith of your family. This is a big deal, let's discuss it with your ancestors in detail!"

  "Yes!" Zhou Biqing still hesitated, here? Fang Ming was right next to her! There were many things that couldn't be said, Fang Ming saw her, smiled, and disappeared, his voice came: "I'll come back in half an hour, you can rest assured!"

  "Ancestor, you see..." Although the person was gone, the entire dream was his, but it was just a cover-up! Zhou Biqing hesitated for a moment.

  "It's nothing, what are you afraid of? It's not a bad thing, if something really goes wrong, we'd rather die than bring harm to the family!" Zhou Si was calm, Zhou Biqing smiled and said "I'm just being paranoid...", the two then started talking in hushed tones.

  Of course, there are many secret gestures and various clandestine questions to confirm each other's identities. These are necessary, otherwise, even if people look the same, they may be demon creatures in disguise, and one cannot be too careful.

  Fang Ming did not eavesdrop, he came with sincerity and was beneficial to both parties, there was no need for some small actions that would offend others. After waiting for half an hour, he went in.

  Zhou Biqing had already discussed with his ancestors and saw Fang Ming, bowing deeply, saying: "The conditions of the respected gods, my Zhou family can all accept, but there is still one more thing..."

  "Go on, what's up?" Fang Ming was in a good mood.

  "I've heard that the Honorable God has great divine powers, able to preserve the soul from extinction. As long as the Honorable God agrees, and takes in the souls of my Zhou family, my entire Zhou family will worship day and night without ceasing, and devote ourselves to death for the Honorable God!" Zhou Biqing and Zhou Si immediately knelt down, performing a grand ceremony, catching Fang Ming off guard.

  In this world, people die and become spirits, but only have seven days to exist before their souls disperse. Even those with good fortune can only prolong their lives for a short while longer.

  To live forever, there were only two ways in the past. One was to absorb human energy and become a malevolent spirit; but this is not something that ordinary people can bring themselves to do, and besides, every month there are needs, counties and towns have shelters, and there are Taoist priests who catch ghosts, it's too dangerous.

  Two is to become a ghost cultivator; but this requires one's innate talent, two is the method and resources, it can be encountered but not sought, and also cannot be promoted to the whole clan.

  Until Fang Ming appeared, there was a third way, using divine power to replace consumption, allowing ghosts to last forever.

  If it gets out, it will certainly cause a sensation. Fang Ming has always been careful to keep it secret. After all, Fang Ming is under his command and is bound by rules, so he won't talk nonsense. Even if he accidentally leaks it, the wandering souls around him mostly only have seven days of time, and even if they spread it, others may not believe it.

  But this week Bi Qing, how did he know, and spoke with certainty, extremely sure.

  Fang Ming's mind was suddenly enlightened, and he had the answer. This matter must have been leaked by He Dong, that old thing. After all, yin and yang are separated, and ghosts know the news, but they can't pass it on to the world of the living. Only Fang Ming's dream-entering divine power could achieve this.

  Previously, Fang Ming only met strangers in his dreams and wouldn't leak anything out. The only two exceptions were when He Dong gave He Song instructions on how to operate the machine, and when he allowed He Dong to convey messages to his family as a reward. Although Fang Ming was secretly monitoring from the side, he couldn't guarantee that there wouldn't be any secret language or eye contact that would leak out.

  Anchang's four major families, intertwined with each other, He Dong is also a hereditary historian, the leader of the group officials. If these two do not collude with each other, Fang Ming will be the first to distrust them and must have secretly contacted each other to know the inside story.

  Fang Ming thought it through clearly, but couldn't help but smile wryly. He had underestimated the wisdom of his subordinates and was actually outmaneuvered by them. It seemed that in the future, he would have to be more careful.

  Fang Ming's face was uncertain, and the two members of the Zhou family who were kneeling also had a surge of emotions in their hearts. Ever since they received the news from the He family, Zhou Biqing was both shocked and delighted. After all, he knew the inside story, and when he was alive, he was in charge of the Zhou family, how glorious was that? But after his death, he could only survive for seven days, and then his soul would scatter, between life and death, there was indeed great horror, making him restless day and night, turning over and over.

  After receiving the news, he inquired about it from all sides, but didn't know whether it was true or false. He wanted to find an opportunity to get close to the land god, and unexpectedly had this dream. Even if not for himself, for the sake of the whole clan's good fortune, he must try his best. Judging from the situation, the original 50% chance has greatly increased, with an 80% possibility.

  Fang Ming didn't know that his hesitation had already revealed some secrets, but he wasn't prepared to hide it anymore, so he said: "I indeed have the ability to make ghosts linger in the mortal world, but you should understand that ghosts also need to consume energy, and my power alone can't satisfy your wishes!" He couldn't help but say this, otherwise if he agreed, he would have to support every person who died in the Zhou family from now on, and as long as the Zhou family didn't become extinct, there would only be more and more people to support each year, leading to endless trouble.

  As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Si and Zhou Biqing felt a pang in their hearts.

  At this time, Fang Ming said again: "However, a few people or ten people can be, but also cannot let Ben Zun white nourish, have to look at your world's incense contribution decision!"

  Zhou Biqing's heart ignited with hope, and he knocked his head, saying: "So be it, thank you, noble god! My Zhou family will worship you for generations to come! We will never betray you! If we break this oath, may heaven and earth destroy us!"

  Fang Ming nodded slightly and said: "As for this matter, apart from the He family leaking it to you four families, is there anyone else who knows about it?"

  Zhou Biqing was startled, and her forehead began to sweat slightly. She tried to gloss over it, but seeing Fang Ming's stern gaze and the old ancestor's expression, she quickly kowtowed and said: "There's nothing else, only the four family heads know about it, and it hasn't been leaked outside!"

  "Alright, this matter must be kept strictly confidential and not leaked!" Fang Ming nodded, seeing that it was the truth, and then instructed to send Zhou Biqing out of the dream.

  Withdrawing his divine power, he returned to the ancestral hall with Zhou Si. Zhou Si knelt down and said, "The divine power is astonishing, please lend a hand to help me break free from my restraints!" His mind was made up, his words were firm and decisive.

  Fang Ming nodded and placed his hand on Zhou Si's body, causing Zhou Si's face to change color instantly.

  Only red and white lights flashed, mixed with black air, which was constantly being absorbed into Fang Ming's body from Zhou Si's body, transformed through the divine job symbol, into a white divine power.

  It took a good half an hour to finally dispel the residual aura of resentment on Zhou Si's body, and Zhou Si also transformed into a newly deceased soul, looking limp and very weak.

  Fang Ming looked at Zhou Si, whose body was now mostly transparent but no longer bound by the resentment and hatred that had previously constrained him. He nodded slightly and stretched out his hand, enveloping Zhou Si in a red glow that transformed into a traditional Chinese robe, helping him to solidify his physical form.

  Zhou Si looked at the official uniform on his body, touched his arm, and had a bittersweet expression. Seeing Fang Ming, he bowed down to pay respects, saying: "Zhou Si pays respects to Master!" This was formally acknowledging Fang Ming as his master.

  Fang Ming nodded, "This week's Si has a pure red Benming, considered a personal talent. I appoint you as my historian, effective immediately. Now follow me, there are still three households to visit!"

  "Yes sir!" Zhou Si arrived at the edge of the grand hall, looking at the intangible boundary that had bound him for hundreds of years. He trembled for a long time before finally gritting his teeth and stepping out steadily.

  This step forward is like heaven and earth compared to before!