Chapter 253: Half a Wu Xiu (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

That very night, Xu Yuan consumed the head of the pig-crocodile.

This is not "leaving grain overnight in a dog's den"; this is securing what is already in the bag.

After all, six people including Jia Yi know about this; they are all our own people, so we cannot kill them to silence them.

Then there remains a slight possibility of the news leaking out.

Xu Yuan decided not to worry about so much for now; I just ate it! In the future, whoever finds out and comes to demand it...

There is none!

Whatever, I will strengthen my own power first.

This is indeed the foundation for settling down and making a living in the Filth-Dispelling Office.

If Lady Fu Shuanghui had consumed this dragon head, she could truly have risen to the Fifth Rank!

Although Lady Fu Shuanghui, due to her eagerness to improve her level, had not cultivated many techniques, making her combat power somewhat weak.

But she was still a genuine Fifth Rank.

However, when it came to Xu Yuan, he could not rise.

In terms of the "Dragon Transformation Method," Xu Yuan was even weaker than Lady Fu Shuanghui.

After all, Xu Yuan relied on Lady Fu Shuanghui's dragon pearl, so he could be said to have cultivated the "Dragon Transformation Method" concurrently.

The other parts of his body had actually not yet undergone the refinement of the "Dragon Transformation Method."

This pig-crocodile head was, of course, far inferior to a flood-dragon.

Moreover, so many years had passed, and some of the power within had leaked away.

But it was precisely suitable for Xu Yuan.

If it were a bit stronger, Xu Yuan would find it difficult to refine it in his haste.

After consuming and refining it, half the power merged into the dragon pearl's inner core, while the other half was used to refine the body.

After obtaining the dragon pearl's inner core, when Xu Yuan transformed, the toughness of his body was comparable to that of a Wu Xiu of the same level.

But it was only "comparable."

It was merely barely equal.

Now, however, he truly stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Wu Xiu of the same level!

Xu Yuan felt he could now execute all the "fighting methods" within the "Heaven-Piercing Cannon."

The skills of a Wu Xiu can actually be divided into two sets.

One part consists of various routine techniques.

The main function of these "routines" is actually cultivation.

In essence, it is the same as lifting a stone lock.

The process of practicing routines is constantly strengthening the body.

Profound routines will integrate certain techniques into them; how to use these techniques in battle is the "fighting method."

Every routine technique looks very good when performed.

But when actually fighting, it does not look good.

Ugly forms are true kung fu.

The "Heaven-Piercing Cannon" contains corresponding "fighting methods."

However, in any Wu Xiu inheritance, the "fighting methods" are ever-changing; relying solely on a booklet to ponder them oneself makes it very difficult to fully grasp their essence.

In this aspect, it is best to have a master guide and explain it hand-in-hand.

Now, when Xu Yuan recalled the fighting methods of the "Heaven-Piercing Cannon," although he had no master to explain them, he quickly understood them thoroughly.

This was because he was already Sixth Rank, while the level of the "Heaven-Piercing Cannon" was not high.

Xu Yuan began to look down on the fighting methods of the "Heaven-Piercing Cannon."

"In the future, if there is an opportunity, I must find some more profound fighting methods."

"Once mastered, it is like cultivating Wu Xiu concurrently!"

As for the "Wu Mi," one of the important means of Wu Xiu, the "Dragon Transformation Method" contains several similar ones; Xu Yuan is not in a hurry to cultivate them, but will choose slowly to find one suitable for himself.

This night passed quietly; after dawn, Xu Yuan checked the almanac.

Today is forbidden:

Soul-summoning, pill-refining, debt-collection, and night-traveling.

Today is not a good day for Dan Xiu or Shen Xiu.

Dan Xiu cannot refine pills; other things are not forbidden.

For Shen Xiu, it is even more severe; once the Yin Soldiers are summoned, they will turn into Fu Daxiong things, grabbing and eating even their master without distinguishing friend from foe.

After breakfast, Xu Yuan called for Di Youzhi and asked, "If I want to investigate what private properties Fu Shuanghui has in the city, is there a way?"

Di Youzhi did not question it; the mastermind behind the scenes was Fu Chongjiu.

They always need a place to settle.

"In the City Prefecture Office, various contracts and documents are kept." Di Youzhi thought for a moment: "I will take people to investigate, finding another excuse; we cannot say directly that we are investigating Fu Shuanghui, otherwise, once the news leaks, the Shanhe Office will cause trouble."

Xu Yuan nodded: "Go do it immediately."

Yesterday, we raided the residence of Iron-Backed Gai in Little Beizhuang, but still could not find any trace of Fu Chongjiu.

Xu Yuan felt uneasy; this was the first time he had encountered such a cunning opponent.

He always felt this fellow was in the city, in some dark corner, staring at him fiercely.

Besides asking Di Youzhi to investigate Fu Shuanghui's assets, Xu Yuan actually had another idea: if the shadow puppets on the old brothers were peeled off, could the Thread-Pulling Method be used to track down Fu Chongjiu's hiding place?

But today "Soul-summoning" is forbidden.

If the souls of the old brothers are drawn out, they will turn into Fu Daxiong things; it is unknown whether the Thread-Pulling Method can control them.

If control is lost, it would be lifting a stone only to crush one's own foot.

Moreover, keeping pace with the speed of the Thread-Pulling Method is not easy in itself.

Xu Yuan felt this plan should be put on hold for now and discussed tomorrow.

Aunt Wang then found him: "Are you busy with official duties today? If you have leisure, I will tell you about alchemy."

"Great." Xu Yuan agreed immediately.

After Aunt Wang taught Xu Yuan for over an hour, Yu Yunhang reported at the door: "My lord, the Discipline Division requests your presence."

He Youxing had not managed Xu Yuan for a long time.

Xu Yuan was curious: "Why seek me out suddenly again?"

Aunt Wang: "Go quickly; we will speak again later."

"Good." Xu Yuan rose, and after coming out, called Fu Jingyu and Qin Ze to go together to the Quhui Bureau's Zancheng Office.

As for Song Lu, there was no need to call her; as long as Fu Jingyu went, she would certainly follow at his side.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Zancheng Office, indeed a Captain under Shi Bading was "coincidentally" on guard at the door.

When Xu Yuan entered, the Captain approached and whispered quietly: "The Shanhe Bureau is causing trouble again."

Xu Yuan nodded, understanding the situation in his heart.

After entering, He Youxing did not even offer a smile, tossing over a document: "It came from the Shanhe Bureau; go investigate it."

Xu Yuan opened the document: The Shanhe Bureau recently discovered someone within the Fisherman Gang is raising evil spirits!

The Fisherman Gang is a subordinate faction under the Canal Gang.

Unlike the Iron Boat Gang and the Third Lady Association.

Although the Iron Boat Gang also relies on the Grand Canal for a living, their main members are laborers carrying heavy loads.

Whereas the vast majority of boatmen are actually members of the Canal Gang.

Two hundred years ago in the Huangming era, when relying solely on this one Grand Canal, there was the saying of "a million canal workers."

By now, that number is likely already exceeding ten million.

During the days when the river is forbidden, all transport on the Grand Canal must stop.

Fortunately, it is only those three to five days each month.

Consider it a rest.

And to fish in the river, not just anyone is qualified.

If you occasionally fish in an uninhabited place by the river, it matters little if the Fisherman Gang does not catch you.

If you make a living from this, you must regularly pay the Fisherman Gang the "fish tax."

The only benefit is that the Fisherman Gang does not take money without doing work.

The river contains not only fish, but also many anomalies and evil spirits.

If a net is cast and, with bad luck, these things are also hauled up, the Fisherman Gang will help you dispose of them.

But those truly powerful evil spirits, of course, will not be caught by fishing nets.

Therefore, what is hauled up is always insignificant.

Of course, if those powerful evil spirits, wanting to eat people, actively pounce onto the boat... then you can only count it as bad luck.

But such situations are rare on the Grand Canal.

This area falls under the jurisdiction of the Dragon King of the Grand Canal; that one's deterrent power is extremely strong.

Fishing on the Grand Canal is actually the safest.

The Shanhe Bureau recently discovered that a small gang leader within the Fisherman Gang caught an insignificant evil spirit from the river, did not dispose of it immediately, but secretly raised it.

Such evil spirits are mostly shape-shifting fish, shrimp, and the like.

Once raised to a level of significance, they are quietly sold off.

This document sent to the Quhui Bureau is based on that small gang leader's confession: one evil spirit was sold to Zhoujia Market, one hundred and twenty li from the Grand Canal, already exceeding the Shanhe Bureau's jurisdiction.

(End of this chapter)