After the incident with the Demon Monk Ci Xin, Duan Zheng (?oàn Chính)’s reputation grew steadily; everyone admired and loved him more. The fanatic believers realized their mistake, publicly bowed, and apologized to Duan Zheng (?oàn Chính). They brought gifts to express their gratitude because he did not use his City Lord authority to punish them. His family also changed their opinion of him, always respecting his future decisions.
His fame, no longer confined to one city, spread across a vast region. He was called the 'Impartial Iron Face' official (Thi?t di?n v? t?), one who suffered hardship for the weak, setting a bright example for all City Lords to follow, never favoring those with wealth, power, and status. He became a magnet, drawing talented people from everywhere to his city.
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Once, Duan Zheng (?oàn Chính) passed by a very large, elaborate funeral with music and firecrackers. But the ghost of the mother ?? stood nearby, weeping:
"You gave me nothing to eat when I was alive, but now you offer chicken, pork, and duck offerings like this? What is going on!"
Duan Zheng (?oàn Chính) was furious. He entered the funeral, smashed things, overturned the table, and loudly scolded the unfilial children, repeating everything the mother's ghost had said. The children were startled, worried, and terrified; no one dared to speak. All the relatives who had just arrived from distant places were bewildered.
The neighbors were silent at first, but when Duan Zheng (?oàn Chính) finished, they chimed in, pointing and talking endlessly. The distant relatives sighed, shook their heads, and left, making the once bustling funeral empty; everyone went home. A few distant relatives who had traveled far were so angry that they slapped the faces of the children to vent their frustration.
Duan Zheng (?oàn Chính) did not leave; he forced the children to kneel before their mother's coffin in repentance until the ghost of the mother smiled ?? before he departed.
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From then on, the rumor that the City Lord possessed the Yin-Yang Eye (?m d??ng nh?n) spread everywhere. They also rumored that the City Lord was the Judge of the Underworld (Phán quan ??a ph?), handling worldly affairs by day and ghost affairs by night.
As the rumor spread, the City Lord's miraculous power grew; people feared him more, always assuming he used ghosts to monitor them. Thus, the city was always peaceful; doors were left unlocked at night, and lost property was not picked up from the streets—signs of a period of great peace and prosperity (thái bình th?nh th?).
Since the incident with Abbot Ci Xin, Duan Zheng (?oàn Chính)’s personality almost completely changed. Previously, he was always an appeaser (d? hòa vi quy); now, he was more fiery, especially in protecting the vulnerable. As a fair City Lord who protected his people, he was deeply loved. The small city grew, becoming a large one, the biggest economic center in the region ??.
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Destiny is Created by Me (M?nh Do Ta T?o): Duan Zheng's Manual ??
When he grew old, Duan Zheng (?oàn Chính) left behind a book as a manual to teach his descendants.
"Before, I always thought 'Everything is due to destiny (m?nh), half of it is not due to man; Destiny is already set, it cannot be changed.' But I have spent half my life's efforts searching for my own path, my own way, and my own Dao. Now that I am old and content with this life, I write this book so that my descendants may also find contentment as I have. This book will be named 'Destiny is Created by Me' (M?nh do ta t?o).
Ha, Ha, I'm sure you think I am arrogant and presumptuous, daring to defy the Heavenly Dao (Thiên ??o) and alter its will, right? No, I am a Divine Cultivator (Th?n Tu)—an excellent collector of Yang Merit (D??ng ??c) and Yin Merit (?m ??c) over the past 50 years; my blessings are countless. I am not a person with a rich imagination who sits and ponders or guesses, but one who sees with my eyes, hears with my ears, and whose hands have actively experimented.
- Seek and Discover (H?y ?i Tìm và Khám Phá) ??
The first thing I want to advise you is: seek, discover, open the door, and move forward. For those who knock, the door will open; those who seek will find. Do not sit there and weep for your fate or your unlucky destiny. I remember that fateful time when the City Lord of Doanh Thanh needed someone to welcome an Immortal Elf Scholar (H?c gi? Tiên Elf) ??. Everyone refused because an Immortal Elf was famously difficult to please and serve. But I accepted. I was moved to beg to be His disciple, and though I was refused many times, I was finally accepted as a student, becoming a Divine Cultivator as I am today. And I discovered that behind the Immortal's cold face was a warm heart full of love ??.
- Repent and Amend (?n N?n và S?a L?i) ??
The second thing I want you to remember is: you must repent whenever you make a mistake, amend your errors when you have the chance, and offer sincere apologies. This is what all religions preach and teach. We are human; making mistakes is normal. Have you never committed a fault? Certainly not. I know you will ask what good this does; I used to think the same. It does not help you take a single step to heaven, the Immortal Realm, or the Buddhist Paradise, but it will help you repay your debts, reducing a huge negative number to zero, or close to it. Try being in debt, and you will know how terrifying ?? it is; many commit suicide because of it.
- The Secret of the Merit Market (Bí M?t V? Ch? C?ng ??c) ??
The third thing, I want to reveal to you a secret about the path of Divine Cultivation (Th?n Tu), this cultivation of merit (c?ng ??c). People often say, 'Does doing good deeds bring food and blessings?' but I assure you, it brings abundance and more than enough. Because my Master, the Prophet (Tiên Tri) Noe ??, showed me a Merit Market (Ch? C?ng ??c) ??. I have heard about this market for a long time, only for the dead but Divine Cultivation (Th?n Tu) road is a special road that can access the market even while still alive. where everything is sold—from lifespan, health, spiritual root (linh c?n), and talent, to wealth, titles, and high office; all are available. Are you not surprised that I originated from a horse groomer ??, yet as I write this letter, I am a Minor King (ti?u v??ng) managing five cities?
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- Wisely Establish Yang Merit (L?p D??ng C?ng ??c Kh?n Ngoan) ??
The fourth point is about establishing Yang Merit (D??ng c?ng ??c). My Master taught that while having much Yang Merit is good, having too much is not. It is like a person who is too rich, too famous—they will be envied and slandered. Therefore, share this Yang Merit with many others. When doing good deeds, do not do it alone. Invite many people to participate—some contributing labor, some contributing effort, some contributing money. Do it regularly, and bring your descendants along so they can learn and imitate. Only then will our family lineage endure for a long time ???????????.
- Accumulate Abundant Yin Merit (Tích ?m ??c Th?t Nhi?u) ??
The fifth, and final, point is: accumulate a lot of Yin Merit (?m ??c). People often mistakenly believe that Yin Merit is only gained by helping Devils/Ghosts (Ma Qu?) ??. But there is a way you can do it without needing the 'Yin-Yang Eye' (?m D??ng nh?n) ??????? like me: help the poor, the hungry, and the suffering. They will be unable to repay you in this life, but their parents and ancestors, those who have passed away, seeing their descendants rescued, will repay you with Yin Merit.
I have many more things to tell you, but this is enough for now. I hope this lineage lasts for 800 years; that would be happiness enough for me. ?"
Celestial Record (Thiên Th? Ghi Nh?n) ??
Date Log (Nh?t ky ngày): [Current Date]
Event (S? ki?n): The case of Abbot Ci Xin (T? Tam Tr? trì) was brought to light, leading to his escape and eventual death at the hands of the demonesses (Ma n?). Wang Chen (Vong Tr?n) had a near-death experience and was saved by the demonesses.
Impact (Tác ??ng): Duan Zheng (?oàn Chính) matured and became an honest official. Wang Chen (Vong Tr?n) learned compassion and completely changed his view of the demonesses.
- Merit Update
The Celestial Record has collected and analyzed the notable Merit currents (C?ng ??c). Noe possesses the ability to use the "Eye of Merit" (C?ng ??c chi nh?n) to view others’ and his own Merit.
- Character File Update (C?p Nh?t H? S? Nhan V?t)
The Celestial Record has collected new data and updated the character files.
- Analysis of Demon and Ghost Power (Phan tích s?c m?nh c?a Ma và Qu?)
- Demonesses (Ma n?) ??: The Red Demonesses and the newborn ghosts ?? in the graveyard had previously reached Level B - Red after accumulating resentment. Their power was now used for salvation.
- Malevolent Energy (Ma khí): Ma khí was absorbed by Wang Chen (Vong Tr?n), enhancing his power due to his Purest Yin Body (Thu?n ?m chi th?) constitution.
- Corpse Transformation (Thi Bi?n): The process by which a corpse turns into a Zombie or a type of sentient undead, which Wang Chen (Vong Tr?n) prevented.