Infinite Professions

Chapter 315 - 168: Earth Deity

The junior clerk gestured with his hand, and the white horse behind him remained as still as a statue.

Seeing this, Shen Hex said no more, turned to bid farewell to Song Gui, and then mounted the saddle.

The junior clerk took the reins of the white horse and began walking briskly, light and shadows flashing, moving through space at a tremendous speed.

Seated on the saddle, Shen Hex watched everything carefully and committed it to memory.

The white horse moved swiftly, and in just a moment, they arrived at the Prefecture City.

The city was still bustling with people and traffic, but unlike last time, everything was no longer hazy; each figure was clearly visible, and there were many stalls and shops in the marketplace with cries of vendors filling the air.

"Baked cakes, baked cakes!"

"Crisp pears, crisp pears!"

"Swords, fine swords!"

"Ooo...ooo..."

Although these were the cries of vendors, there was a somewhat mournful undertone, causing a slight chill.

"Is this the Ghost Market?"

"According to Song Gui, clerks like him working in the County Government could only afford two or three meals in decades, relying on incense smoke to survive otherwise. But in this Prefecture City, there are baked cakes and crisp pears for sale."

"Although there aren’t many buyers, it does show that the Prefecture City is far more prosperous than the County City."

"This could be due to the level of residents, or perhaps the management by Yin Spirits?"

"Of course, it could also be that Song Gui is simply too stingy, or is deliberately portraying a miserable situation to me..."

Shen Hex rode leisurely through the city, noting everything he saw and heard in his mind.

A short while later, they arrived at the Prefecture Government Office.

"Please, sir!"

Shen Hex dismounted smoothly and familiar with the routine, walked easily into the Prefecture Government Office.

Inside, there was a blurriness, already gathered were many people, his arrival did not appear abrupt.

The people gathered in the courtyard, forming circles and discussing, seeming no different from the candidates at a mortal world examination hall.

Shen Hex glanced at the inner hall of the Prefecture Government Office, resplendent yet profound. He did not see the Yin Spirits who supervised the exam before, let alone the Lord of the Mansion.

Shen Hex withdrew his gaze and stood in a corner, quietly awaiting the results.

Unexpectedly, a voice called out...

"Master Song?"

"Hmm?"

Shen Hex looked up and saw someone approaching— a young scholar with a white face, appearing only in his early twenties, a type that could be described as "dying young in their prime."

Searching in his memory, Shen Hex realized this was one of Song Xiang’s students, and a particularly gifted one, highly regarded by Song Xiang. He was surprised: "Yanming, why are you here?"

"A few days ago, I went on a lake trip with Zhang Da and others, got drunk, fell into the lake, and then found myself here."

Yan Yanming smiled bitterly, then scrutinized Shen Hex with a look of sorrow: "Master Song, you too..."

"Ah, let’s not talk about it!"

Shen Hex shook his head, and Yan Yanming, sensing the cue, didn’t probe further and changed the subject: "I never thought I’d have the luck to take the exam with Master Song. Master Song, regarding the strategies for governing the people..."

Right, he’s fishing for answers!

Shen Hex felt helpless internally, but could not evade, so he answered casually.

And so, a short while later, no one else entered the courtyard, indicating that all who had made the list had arrived.

"The Civil Judge is here!"

Suddenly, a high voice announced, silencing the chatter in the courtyard, as the scholars stood respectfully in formation.

Then a group of people emerged from the inner hall of the Prefecture Government Office, led by a middle-aged man wearing a black gauze hat and dressed in a red robe, followed by several Yin Officials in similar attire but each distinct.

He was none other than the Civil Judge of Jinyang Prefecture!

The Civil and Military Judges, Six Ministries’ officials, as well as Night and Day Traveling Gods and Chained Soldiers and Generals, these are the standard roles in a City God Official Office.

This person was now the Civil Judge of Jinyang Prefecture City.

As the City God Prefect’s assistant and deputy, the Civil and Military Judges wield significant power, being second only to the deity within the City God’s Mansion, and above all spirits, with distinct civil and military duties.

One could see the Civil Judge leading the officials forward, unveiling a yellow board and directly announcing to the scholars.

"This Prefecture Exam, the qualifiers are divided into first and second levels. The first level grants official rank, the second grants clerk position!"

"Lu Wujiu, first on the first list, top scorer of the Prefecture Exam, appointed Standard Seventh Grade Yunshan County City God!"

"Fann Yunsheng, second on the first list, appointed Standard Seventh Grade White Cloud Mountain God!"

"Luu Zhongye, third on the first list, appointed Standard Seventh Grade Qingshui River God!"

"..."

"Dong Jianghai, ninth on the first list, appointed Standard Eighth Grade Yunshan County Day Traveling and Appreciation Envoy!"

"Li Qinghuan, tenth on the first list, appointed Junior Eighth Grade Dongping County Night Patrol Punishment Officer!"

"..."

"Yan Yanming, twenty-fifth on the first list, appointed Junior Ninth Grade Qinghe Village Land God!"

In a moment, the first list was announced, and those who made it displayed happy expressions. Yan Yanming beside Shen Hex was also somewhat excited, even glancing at him discreetly.

Without a name on the first list, Shen Hex wasn’t bothered, waiting quietly for the second list to be announced.

"Song Xiang, first on the second list, appointed Qinghe County Little Huang Village Land God!"

"Zhang Ping, second on the second list, appointed Qinghe County Jinsha River Water Elder!"

"Zhou Mengsheng..."

The second list was announced, with Shen Hex ranked first.

Upon hearing this, a hint of astonishment flashed in Shen Hex’s eyes.

Initially, adhering to a principle of keeping a low profile, his writing on strategies for governing the people was quite standard, neither particularly good nor bad. According to his estimation, even if he made the list, he expected to be at the lower end or barely making it.

But now he was placed first on the second list and granted a "Village Land God" position.

What does this suggest?

It suggests there’s definitely something fishy going on!

Don’t be fooled by the fact that the people on the first list get official positions, and some even directly become a County City God, with Seventh Grade rank, governing a region, thinking that this Prefecture Exam is highly prestigious and offers a path to rapid advancement.

According to Song Gui’s explanations, and Shen Hex’s own deductions, this Prefecture Exam has its internal workings too.

Those who make it onto the first list were either very prestigious in life, already bearing much belief power, or posthumously cultivated and diligent, making the right connections, ultimately being promoted through the Prefecture Exam’s procedures.