Chapter 547: Possessed by a Ghost?

Ding! You used 10 Merit points to upgrade the Divine Technique: Persuade to do good proficiency, Entry Level → Proficiency!

Ding! You used 100 Merit points to upgrade the Divine Technique: Persuade to do good proficiency, Proficiency → Mastery!

Ding! You used 1,000 Merit points to upgrade the Divine Technique: Persuade to do good proficiency, Mastery → Cultivation!

Wang Ping'an summoned the system panel, and as he stared at the endless strings of dazzling data, his eyes grew ever brighter.

In his previous life he was a very insecure person; only the numbers on his bank card made him feel safe. Though those figures could only cover his basic food and drink, they were at least better than starving.

In this life, he discovered that the countless rows of data on the system panel gave him an endless sense of security, far surpassing the safety the bank‑card numbers ever gave him.

Perhaps.

It was because he knew clearly that as long as the stream of data on the system panel kept growing, he would no longer have to swallow his grievances as in his past life. In this life, he relied on the panel's numbers, on his own self‑preservation power, unlike his former self who never even dared to imagine higher comforts.

Self‑preservation power?

He could only pray to the heavens for a watchful eye, to become like a transparent person unseen by others, or endure his grievances again and again, lest he end up cremated with no body to find, waiting for delayed justice!

Very quickly.

Wang Ping'an found a newly appeared column on the system panel: Divine Technique.

Divine Technique: Persuade to do good!

Wang Ping'an stared at the glittering "+" behind it, hesitated not a moment, and tapped it eagerly. Mechanical, cold voices rang in his mind, and when the Divine Technique: Persuade to do good proficiency upgraded to Cultivation, he reached to tap again, only to see the "+" dim, and he stopped.

Afterwards.

Wang Ping'an snapped back, almost slapping himself, muttering:

"I must have water in my brain; I still don't know what effect the Divine Technique: Persuade to do good has, everything's just my imagination, and I was impatient to raise its proficiency to the Greater Attainment Realm.

If the technique's effect turns out not to be as I imagined, then all those ten‑plus thousand Merit points would have been wasted, right?"

Thinking of that, Wang Ping'an felt endless dread. Though earning Merit was far easier than making money in his past life—just by targeting an unsightly Evil Cultivator he could net tens of thousands of Merit points—unlike his former life where he toiled endlessly and earned less than half the average monthly wage.

But the system panel now brimmed with countless talents, skills, techniques… all waiting to be upgraded, each demanding huge amounts of Merit.

It took great effort to earn ten thousand Merit points; if he spent them all on this one technique and it turned out different from his guess, he might have to write 'Regret' an unknown number of times!

Wang Ping'an looked at the system panel, seeing over eight thousand Merit points left, and at the countless Entry‑Level proficiencies of talents, skills, techniques; he felt an urge to burn all those Merit, upgrading every one of those talents, skills, techniques…

Perhaps.

This, too, explains why he couldn't save money in his previous life!

With a little savings in hand, he wanted to buy this and that, just to show off.

Wang Ping'an, with tremendous willpower, restrained the urge to upgrade every Entry‑Level skill on the panel, his gaze fixed on Zhang Guilian, who was being escorted home by Zhang Chengze and Zhang Chengyong; at that moment he could clearly discern something abnormal about Zhang Guilian.

He doubted whether his eyes were playing tricks, for he actually saw a look of remorse on Zhang Guilian's face, as if she regretted having done something.

To know, during this period he hadn't personally contacted Zhang Guilian, yet from many sources he learned about her and even saw her true visage; a expression of remorse would never appear on her face, for she never understood what remorse was.

"Could it be that the remorse on her face is regret for being careless, allowing my uncle to escape a disaster?"

In Wang Ping'an's mind a speculation surfaced quickly, but before it lingered a few seconds he dismissed it himself, pondering:

"Perhaps the Divine Technique: Persuade to do good my uncle used on her took effect!"

At that thought, Wang Ping'an's eyes lit up instantly, without hesitation, and he promptly used the Divine Technique: Persuade to do good on Zhang Guilian.

The next moment.

A soft pool of moonlight bathed Zhang Guilian!

It looked especially strange!

Wang Ping'an instantly noticed the unusual quality of the moonlight shining on Zhang Guilian and thought to himself,

"No way, the energy I used for this technique isn't spiritual energy but moonlight—no, the energy of the moon?"

"What's happening?"

Compared with Wang Ping'an's surprise, the two brothers Zhang Chengze and Zhang Chengyong, who were escorting Zhang Guilian, were startled by her abnormal condition, exchanged a glance as if recalling something, their faces and eyes filled with terror, their trembling voices stammered:

"She, she, she—"

This novel you to

They had heard countless ghost stories since childhood, many of which resembled what they now saw. Yet after all these years they had never encountered a ghost, but they held no doubt about the strange; they believed ghosts existed, especially since their father had become the Lion Ridge Mountain God.

"Big brother, don't worry. This is Zhang Family Village, Shizi Ling; our father is the Lion Ridge Mountain God. This is his territory— even if a ghost truly existed, it wouldn't dare to run amok on his land!"

Though he said that, Zhang Chengyong's face was full of unmistakable terror. Just now, Qi Wenshan had the audacity to conspire with Zhang Guilian to usurp their father's Lion Ridge Mountain God position. He found it hard to believe his father's authority; who knows if those centuries‑old ghosts, some living for hundreds of years, would fear his father, the Lion Ridge Mountain God.

"If you're not scared, why are your legs shaking?"

Zhang Chengze gave a speechless glance, while Zhang Chengyong's legs trembled like a sieve; suppressing his inner fear, he said earnestly, "Go to the Mountain God Temple and invite our father over!"

"I'm going right now…"

Zhang Chengyong turned to leave, but after only a few steps he suddenly realized, worrying, "Big brother, I'm going, what will you…?"

"Of course I'll stay here!"

Zhang Chengze, looking at the abnormal Zhang Guilian—seeming possessed—took a deep breath, exhaled a heavy gust of foul air as if expelling all his inner fear, and said:

"No matter what, she's our second aunt; even if a ghost truly possessed her, I must keep her…"

(End of Chapter)