Chapter 358: Three

Xu Yuan entered Qihetai Town very low-key.

The township office here operates smoothly.

The clerk of the office is a Mountain-Moving Captain.

He was also dispatched from the Zancheng Office.

Ah Guang and Xi Yazi both assist in the office, like the white clerks in the county yamen.

But in Qihetai Town, they are already quite distinguished figures.

Originally, Elder Qiao wanted to be the village head of the town; after the office was established, all affairs of the town naturally fell under the office's authority.

So there was no need for a village head anymore.

My Lord Xu's current status is, for this small office, already an official of sky-high rank.

This office was established precisely because of My Lord Xu's proposal.

Therefore, everyone in the office serves My Lord Xu with extra caution.

Xu Yuan called Ah Guang and Xi Yazi over, wanting to chat briefly with old acquaintances.

The two, however, appeared extremely reserved.

Basically, they answered whatever My Lord Xu asked.

They dared not utter even half an extra word.

Xu Yuan saw they were truly uncomfortable, so he did not press them, and ordered: "Locals, go out for a walk; you two need not follow."

Xu Yuan went to check the "Yifangting" inn; after its destruction, it had been rebuilt.

It is still an inn, but the owner has changed, and it has been renamed "Wanquan."

Xu Yuan could not help but recall the moonlit night several months ago: outside the house, evil spirits shrieked; inside, Erliang was thinking of women.

In a flash, it seemed as if it were only last night.

Yet it also seemed... already carried by the long river of time, flowing to a distant place where only remembrance remains.

Seeing someone standing at the door for a long time, the shop boy came out and asked: "Guest, do you wish to stay? If you have difficulties, our inn's backyard woodshed, though humble, can serve as a place to rest for one night."

This shop boy was also thirteen or fourteen years old, with a youthful face and clear eyes.

Xu Yuan smiled; it was just like when he first arrived at Qihetai Town.

"Thank you," Xu Yuan turned and left: "But it is not needed."

Next, Xu Yuan went to Auntie Ying's home.

When she left, she had always worried about this courtyard.

Just now, when chatting with Ah Guang and Xi Yazi, the main point was to ask whether they often came to clean.

The two naturally said they did.

Xu Yuan looked around; the courtyard inside and out was fairly clean and tidy; the two had not lied.

Afterwards, Xu Yuan returned to the township office, slept one night, and then went back to the county town.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve.

Before coming out this time, Xu Yuan had roughly calculated the time and made an appointment with Auntie Wang; Auntie Wang was also returning, and they would all spend the New Year together in the alley.

Xu Yuan first bought various New Year's goods in the county town, then returned to Hegang Alley.

Before leaving home to take up his post, Xu Yuan had thought he would not be able to return for this year's New Year.

Unexpectedly, it happened just right inside Ghost Wushan.

At the alley entrance, he met Uncle Mao Si.

The latter, seeing Xu Yuan carrying big and small bundles, could not help but smile, went over to help carry the things: "You're back."

"I happened to be in Ghost Wushan yesterday, so I took the opportunity to return for the New Year."

"Auntie Wang returned yesterday and has already told us. Your stepmother should be waiting for you."

"Auntie Wang has already returned, has she?"

Uncle Mao Si could not help laughing: "She's back, and a whole crowd is trailing behind her, hehehe."

The teachers that Third Lady knows were reluctant to let Auntie Wang leave.

But this time, Auntie Wang's attitude was very firm; she insisted on returning home for the New Year.

The teachers simply came along to Shanhe County together.

Uncle Mao Si received them yesterday.

He personally saw those teachers, each with red-rimmed eyes, all saying: "So the Grandmother Ancestor lives right here, only a few hundred li from us, yet we have not met for several decades."

Auntie Wang drove them away to stay at the inns in the county town.

Then she let out a long sigh of relief.

During this period, these people had been surrounding her day and night, serving her.

But Auntie Wang, for these several decades, had long been accustomed to doing everything herself.

In Zancheng, it was almost as if clothes were put on her by others and food was brought to her mouth; it was truly uncomfortable.

Xu Yuan and Uncle Mao Si entered the house; Xu Yuan shouted loudly: "I'm back!"

Since Auntie Wang returned yesterday, Lin Wanmo had felt uneasy in her heart; Ah Yuan went to Ghost Wushan, after all.

Now that Xu Yuan had truly returned, her heart relaxed, yet she said testily: "You're back, so you're back; why shout? Do you expect me to welcome you?"

Xu Yuan put down everything he was carrying and said with righteous indignation: "I'm hungry!"

This time, he would stay at home for at most two days; the day after tomorrow he must return to Zancheng.

This timeframe is within his stepmother's tolerance.

These two days, he can order dishes freely.

Indeed, although his stepmother has a knife-like tongue, she rolled her eyes, tied on an apron, and went to cook.

"Fourth Uncle, stay and eat with us too."

Uncle Mao Si declined twice, but was still kept there.

Lin Wanmo simply ordered Xu Yuan: "Go fetch Grandpa Shen and Auntie Wang; it's been ages since we all ate a meal together."

Xu Yuan went.

After fetching the two elders, Auntie Wang was still angry with Grandpa Shen, her face stern as she ignored the old man.

During the meal, Grandpa Shen asked Xu Yuan: "How is it at the Purification Bureau?"

"Quite good." Xu Yuan then recounted his experiences in Zancheng selectively.

Grandpa Shen listened intently, but Auntie Wang couldn't help speaking in a sarcastic tone: "You abandoned the child's life and death, and now what are you doing, asking this and that here?"

Grandpa Shen glared at Auntie Wang and silently filled a pouch of tobacco to smoke.

After a while, he said: "Before returning to Zancheng, come to my place; I'll bring some things for you."

"No need," Xu Yuan hurriedly waved his hand: "I lack nothing in Zancheng..."

Auntie Wang cut in: "Take it! Why refuse? Do you expect that old thing to take it into the coffin?"

Xu Yuan was at a loss for words.

Although the two elders were at odds, the stepmother's cooking was impeccable, and Xu Yuan ate the meal very contentedly.

After the meal, Xu Yuan asked Auntie Wang: "Among these tree eyes, which one hides the True Seed?"

Auntie Wang said: "Release your Inner Dan. The True Seed and the Inner Dan will attract each other—the stronger the attraction, the more suitable this True Seed is for you."

Xu Yuan nodded and released his Dragon Pearl Inner Dan.

When Grandpa Shen saw Xu Yuan's Inner Dan, his eyelids twitched violently: "The Dragon Transformation Method..."

Everyone present was their true self, so Xu Yuan had nothing to hide; he nodded and said: "I killed someone practicing the Dragon Transformation Method and used her Dragon Pearl to swap for my original Gunpowder Inner Dan."

Grandpa Shen complained: "Why didn't you say just now that you also cultivate the Dragon Transformation Method?"

Auntie Wang retorted: "You don't care about the child's life and death; what's the use of telling you such details?"

Grandpa Shen flew into a rage: "Old woman, shut up! I'm talking serious business with the child! If A-Yuan cultivates the Dragon Transformation Method and can reach the Fifth Rank soon enough, he can help next year on the Mid-Year Festival!"

Auntie Wang was stunned, but Lin Wanmo shook her head: "Master does not want A-Yuan involved."

This time, Xu Yuan did not accept their "protection," nor did he rudely reject the stepmother and his deceased father's good intentions.

He spoke: "If I lack the ability, I will accept my father and stepmother's arrangements.

But I am about to become a Fifth Rank Dan Xiu.

Moreover, no matter what, in the eyes of others, my origin in He Gong Lane cannot be changed."

The stepmother still firmly enforced Master's arrangement: "No means no!"

Xu Yuan said: "If before next year's Mid-Year Festival, my Dragon Transformation Method reaches the Fifth Rank, let me return to help.

If I cannot do it, I will never mention this matter again, how about that?"

Lin Wanmo shook her head: "But Master..."

Grandpa Shen coughed, interrupting her: "Little Mo, A-Yuan is no longer a child."

Lin Wanmo paused.

Xu Yuan was not only no longer a child, but in just a few short months, he had already advanced to the Fifth Rank and solely commanded the Purification Bureau's Zancheng Office!

Grandpa Shen took a puff of tobacco, slowly exhaled the smoke, and said: "When Ma Tianshou first came to find A-Yuan, I was also very hesitant, even wanting to stop Ma Tianshou.

But look at A-Yuan now—even those few young people in Beidu who are blown sky-high might not be stronger than our A-Yuan!"

Lin Wanmo said: "That only proves Master's arrangement is correct. A-Yuan has a bright future and should not be dragged down by He Gong Lane!"

Grandpa Shen did not directly refute her; he tapped the tobacco bowl in his hand and said: "On this matter, I, an old man, will decide based on seniority: we will do as A-Yuan says!"

"No..." Lin Wanmo grew anxious.

Grandpa Shen waved his hand: "Girl, you have good intentions, but you haven't thought that if A-Yuan truly accepts your arrangements, this matter will likely become a knot in his heart that he can never untie for a lifetime!

Moreover... as A-Yuan rises step by step in the future, he will inevitably come into the sight of those people in Beidu.

Unless the family matters are thoroughly resolved, those people in Beidu will suppress him for a lifetime, preventing him from rising to high positions."

Lin Wanmo was also bewildered; rationally, she understood Grandpa Shen was right.

But in her heart, she still felt "Master's orders are greater than heaven."

She couldn't help but look at Auntie Wang.

Auntie Wang nodded at her: "During my time in Zancheng, I have also been thinking: we, over several generations, have guarded this lane and made countless efforts...

But if we speak of someone who truly has hope to thoroughly resolve this matter, it is indeed only A-Yuan."

Lin Wanmo bit her lip hard, unable to utter a word of rebuttal.

Xu Yuan's speed of advancement even surpassed hers back then.

And Master personally stated that she was the most talented person in He Gong Lane in the past hundred years.

But asking her to violate Master's orders was something she found hard to accept at the moment.

Lin Wanmo said nothing, rose, entered her room, and slammed the door shut tightly.

Xu Yuan exhaled; the stepmother was having trouble accepting it at the moment.

Grandpa Shen and Auntie Wang exchanged a glance, their hearts unusually in sync: it seemed they needed to find an opportunity to call Xu Huanyang back and discuss this matter with him.

Auntie Wang said to Xu Yuan: "Alright, find the True Seed and plant it in the Inner Dan."

Xu Yuan nodded, then controlled his Dragon Pearl Inner Dan to sense each of those tree eyes one by one.

Before long, he felt the Dragon Pearl Inner Dan and one particular tree eye unconsciously drawing closer to each other.

Xu Yuan took out three hairpins and gently cut open that tree eye.

A brown, almond-shaped seed slid out from inside.

Its surface was covered with intricate pale golden patterns.

Filled with mysterious beauty.

"The higher the level, the harder and more dangerous the advancement," said Aunt Wang: "When ascending to the Sixth Stream, there will be..."

Aunt Wang remembered that she had guarded Xu Yuan himself during his ascent to the Sixth Stream.

She had stood ready, prepared to risk her life.

Yet not a single malevolent entity came to interfere!

So Aunt Wang glossed over that part and continued: "Ascending to the Fifth Stream is even more dangerous. When you plant the True Seed within your Inner Pearl, the Inner Pearl's transformation triggers a change in your own life's tier."

You will gradually sense another layer of the world—the Turbid Realm.

You will experience certain unusual changes within yourself:

For instance, suddenly feeling you have become a mass of fire, or turning into a monster with multiple eyes and limbs, or merging with the surrounding space, and so on.

At this moment, do not panic, do not fear—this is a normal state.

This is your body and soul perceiving the essence of the world in their own way.

If you panic or lose composure, your consciousness may scatter across the Yang World and never coalesce again!

But this state will not last long.

Generally, if you silently count to thirty in your mind, it will be over.

You will feel yourself return to normal.

After that, you must be cautious!

The malevolent entities and anomalies within the Turbid Realm will notice you.

They inherently despise all living beings and will not allow your ascent; they will stop you in ways you cannot anticipate, turning you into one of them!

Or they will seek every means to kill and devour you!

We will guard you, but you must be vigilant—because this time, they will not only invade and ambush you from the real world, but also penetrate from dreamscapes, the mind sea, and other layers I cannot see!"

Xu Yuan nodded, memorizing every word Aunt Wang said, then opened his mouth and swallowed both the Dragon Pearl Inner Pearl and the True Seed at once.

The True Seed slowly sank into the Dragon Pearl Inner Pearl.

Aunt Wang gave a signal to Uncle Shen and Mao Sishu; they nodded, their expressions grave, and together they guarded Xu Yuan.

The three stepped back, vanishing into the shadows in the corner of the room.

Aunt Wang's eyes gleamed brightly as she recalled the last time he ascended to the Sixth Stream.

She couldn't help but wonder inwardly: Will this be the same as last time?

Xu Yuan sat cross-legged and activated the Five Cauldrons Cooking Scripture.

The True Seed does not grow anything inside the Inner Pearl.

Instead, it elevates the Inner Pearl at a fundamental level.

Xu Yuan was no stranger to the Turbid Realm—he had entered it several times already.

But those were parts of the Turbid Realm within the City.

What might be different here in Shanhe County?

Gradually, Xu Yuan felt the state Aunt Wang had described.

Xu Yuan suddenly felt that "I" was no longer "I"!

A thick gray mist suddenly surged before him, yet for some reason, this mist acted like a mirror, reflecting "I" as he now appeared.

"I" had become a ghostly deity over seven zhang tall, radiating ghostly blue flames, with refined features yet emanating an inward-outward yin-soft evil aura!

The clothing and ornaments he wore were not fit for any ordinary person to possess.

But for some reason, he had no hands.

His sleeves hung empty, fluttering without wind.

Yet around him hovered cold delicacies, self-rolling medicine mortars, herbs writhing like earthworms, and cleavers caked in blood!

Behind "I" hung a sinister crimson moon!

From the crimson moon, countless blood threads spread outward, crawling like insects.

Xu Yuan silently counted in his mind: one, two, three, four, five...

He counted all the way to thirty.

The state had not yet dissipated!

Xu Yuan remained calm and composed, continuing to count: "Thirty-one, thirty-two..."

He counted all the way to "sixty," when the gray mist before him suddenly vanished without a trace.

It vanished into thin air, as if it had never existed!

At the same time, "I" suddenly felt that "I" was no longer in the form of a ghostly deity.

This shift in perception was also abrupt.

Suddenly, "I" realized that "I" was no longer the "ghostly deity I."

But "I" had not returned to Xu Yuan either.

Now "I" could see myself.

"I" was now a structure of extreme complexity—a "web."

But ordinary webs are flat; "I" was three-dimensional.

At every intersecting node grew an extremely tiny eye.

So small they were nearly like dust.

These eyes could see one another, so "I" could see "myself."

Within "my" own eyes, "I" appeared infinitely complex.

It was as if... two mirrors faced each other, reflecting countless layers of images.

Moreover, "I" am constantly growing.

This net extends infinitely in all directions, into boundless realms.

And countless eyes sprang forth...

Xu Yuan immediately suspected: had some malevolent force invaded my consciousness?

But Aunt Wang said that after this state ends, one becomes aware of having returned to normal.

Only then do the malevolent forces and strangeness come creeping in.

But I have not returned to normal.

That means I am still in that state of "profound cognition of the world."

Xu Yuan then settled his mind.

He could not comprehend his current state, so he deliberately avoided thinking about the self.

He simply counted inwardly: "One, two, three, four, five..."

This time he counted all the way to "sixty," and still remained in the "net" state.

If anyone else were in this situation, they would surely be terrified.

Even during the "Ghost-God Self" state, counting to thirty had already shattered their spirit.

But Xu Yuan remained utterly calm.

Xu Yuan had known from the start that he was different from ordinary cultivators.

Ever since swallowing the June Bug, I have been different from them.

Along this path of cultivation, too many "irrational" things have happened to me.

So Xu Yuan firmly remembered Aunt Wang's words: "Don't panic. Don't fear."

He continued counting downward: "Sixty-one, sixty-two, sixty-three..."

He counted all the way to one hundred and twenty.

Just as before, the "Net Self" suddenly vanished.

But just as before, he did not return to "Xu Yuan."

This time it was... nothingness!

Xu Yuan did not know what "I" looked like now.

There was no "mirror" to reflect himself, nor eyes to see himself.

But Xu Yuan felt that "I" was looking down from above.

As if gazing upon all things.

Yet below, all was illusory and drifting, indistinct and unseen.

"One, two, three, four, five..." Xu Yuan counted inwardly, and now his awareness of this state of "I" grew clearer and stronger.

High above, yet distant from all.

This time he counted all the way to "two hundred and forty," when everything abruptly vanished.

Xu Yuan finally felt that "I" had returned.

"I" am myself; I am Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan held fast to his spirit, and now came the moment Aunt Wang had warned of: the malevolent forces and strangeness would assail him from all layers and through all means.

At the same time, Xu Yuan clearly felt the qualitative enhancement the True Seed had brought to his dantian and himself.

For example, the temperature of the "abdominal fire" far surpassed anything before.

For example, the power contained within his Golden Core had increased more than tenfold.

For example, his understanding of alchemical principles had reached a new height.

Now, if he encountered a Fifth-Rank malevolent force, he was confident he could spit out a single flame and reduce it to ash.

Xu Yuan waited. If any malevolent force truly came, and he slew it, perhaps he would gain another good material.

Suddenly, strange sounds entered his ears.

Xu Yuan did not need to open his eyes—he already sensed, through these sounds, the region of He County in Zhuo Jian Mountain.

Compared to Zhan City, this place was more ruined.

Almost every building within the city had collapsed.

Some indescribable things, filthy beyond measure, lurked within patches of shadow.

Above the sky, vast fissures could be seen; beyond them, strange starlight flickered, yet the starry void held nothing that would notice such a tiny "corner."

Amid these ruins, several patches of relatively complex color lay scattered.

Judging by their style, they were buildings from Southern Jiaozhi of years past.

From one of them, a thick black sludge slowly oozed forth.

Within the sludge, several fine fissures split open.

The edges were lined with sharp teeth.

At the center was a dead-gray eyeball.

The eyeball turned stiffly, as if seeing Xu Yuan—or as if seeing nothing at all—and then closed again.

The sludge retracted back into the crevices of the ruins.

As if burrowing deeper into the ruins.

Xu Yuan waited a long time, but no malevolent force came to "test" him.

Inside the room, Master Shen and the other two hid within the shadows, poised and ready.

Malevolent forces always emerge from these shadows.

Just like when advancing to the Sixth Flow.

A True Seed was planted in the Inner Elixir to perceive certain essences of this world.

Then Heaven would notice, detecting the theft of certain "Authorities."

The Door Gods would no longer offer protection.

Only after completing the advancement and ceasing this "perception" could one become hidden again, continuing to enjoy the Door Gods' protection.

For a single instant, all three sensed a violent disturbance within the "Turbid Realm"!

The three's expressions instantly grew tense.

Although Shanhé County is a small county town, it lies very close to Ghost Wushan.

All three knew that within the Shanhé County portion of the Turbid Realm lurked an ancient and terrifying thing.

This thing was born from the thousand-year-old evil turbidity of the Yang World in Southern Jiaozhi.

Lazy yet irritable.

Its power was incomparably immense.

Such a violent disturbance could only have been triggered by that thing.

No other evil spirits possessed such power.

The three had already prepared for a fierce battle!

Even Lin Wanmo in the adjacent room had sensed it.

Her small face changed color, and she silently took out one crafted item after another, placing them before her eyes.

Yet that violent disturbance came swiftly and departed just as quickly.

In an instant, the Turbid Realm calmed down.

Everything became as light as a cloud and as gentle as the breeze.

Lin Wanmo was full of doubts; outside, only Aunt Wang among the three quietly nodded.

Indeed, it was just like when advancing to the Sixth Flow.

Grandpa Shen stepped out from the shadows, looking at Aunt Wang with confusion and puzzlement.

Aunt Wang proudly held her head high, refusing to explain to you, old thing.

Our A-Yuan is simply that extraordinary!

Xu Yuan's cultivation this time took several hours, not finishing until the sky was nearly dark.

The True Seed within the Inner Elixir had fused by about thirty percent.

This had already allowed Xu Yuan to successfully advance to the Fifth Flow.

As for the three states of "Self," Xu Yuan also had his own speculation: they corresponded respectively to his three Destinies.

He still did not quite understand; the final state should correspond to "No Taboos."

But that state... what exactly did it mean?

Lin Wanmo pretended not to guard Xu Yuan, but the instant he concluded his practice, her door opened, and she asked, "Are you hungry?"

Xu Yuan smiled and patted his stomach: "I actually am hungry."

Lin Wanmo went to cook.

Aunt Wang asked, "How much has fused?"

"Thirty percent," Xu Yuan answered truthfully.

Grandpa Shen's body shuddered: "How much?"

"Thirty percent, what's wrong?"

Grandpa Shen's beard trembled with excitement; he shook and fumbled, trying to fill his pipe to calm down, scooping tobacco from the pouch several times but failing to get any tobacco into the bowl.

Xu Yuan watched, utterly bewildered: "What is wrong with my Grandpa?"

Aunt Wang was extremely proud and deliberately said, "This old thing has no experience; is he scared by this? Hmph, our A-Yuan should naturally be at this level!"

(End of this chapter)