Chapter 403: Cognitive Obstacle (Three-in-One)

Luo Gongqiao and Shen Chen, sharing an unspoken understanding, waited an extra day before departing Ghost Wushan from different directions.

Luo Gongqiao, covered in wounds, returned alone to the Zhan Cheng dock.

By this time, reports from all sides had converged.

Zhu Zhanlei's team, serving as bait, escaped Ghost Wushan yesterday and took refuge in Qihe Taizhen.

Gao Wanli of the team became separated from the others during the retreat and has not returned to this day.

Besides that, the team's "He Ming Lu" was damaged.

In the Fu family team, Fu Songyu and Fu Bai Zhou remain missing.

Additionally, three junior members of the Fu family escaped Ghost Wushan and took refuge in the Cockcrow Village outside the mountain.

Finally, Miao Yu's team withdrew from Ghost Wushan half a day later, met up with Zhu Zhanlei's team in Qihe Taizhen, and is currently awaiting the next orders from the superior.

Luo Gongqiao then ordered Miao Yu: temporarily garrison Qihe Taizhen, ready at all times to provide support for the Fourth-Flow cultivators who might emerge from the mountain.

Three more days passed, and the several Fourth-Flow cultivators all returned.

The two from the Fu family appeared to be severely injured.

Even Shen Chen looked pale, clutching his chest and coughing up blood from time to time.

Clearly, everyone had "exerted themselves" to the utmost within Ghost Wushan.

The evil spirits were too powerful! We fought with all our might but could not prevail, and withdrew with grave injuries.

Shen Chen saw at a glance that the two from the Fu family, though appearing covered in wounds on the surface, had not actually suffered any broken bones or damaged tendons.

How could Fu Songyu and Fu Bai Zhou fail to see that Shen Chen was also pretending?

After that powerful evil spirit appeared, Fu Songyu and Fu Bai Zhou fled without hesitation.

That thing was beyond what Fourth-Flow cultivators could handle.

Regardless of how many Fourth-Flow cultivators there were, the result was the same.

With all the Fourth-Flow cultivators back, Xu Yuan was not surprised.

This battlefield was not at Copper Coffin Cliff.

Moreover, the Ancient Corpse Empress had grown somewhat suspicious of him and would not strive so hard to kill a few more Fourth-Flow cultivators.

Yet Xu Yuan still waited, eager to watch the spectacle.

Four Fourth-Flow cultivators charged into Ghost Wushan, only to slink out like this?

That simply would not do; an explanation was required.

But this matter... take Luo Gongqiao, for instance. Why, upon exiting the mountain, did he immediately return to the Zhan Cheng dock with "a body full of wounds"?

Or consider this: all three Fourth-Flow cultivators returned to Qihe Taizhen, yet with a single order from Luo Gongqiao to return swiftly, the three Fourth-Flow cultivators immediately urged Zhu Zhanlei and Miao Yu to set off without hesitation?

Once they returned to the Canal Office at the Zhan Cheng dock and consolidated the information.

Fu Songyu and Fu Bai Zhou, furious, declared: "The defeat in this battle is not our fault! It was the great evil spirit, Lord Ruan Tian, who meddled! We were in the open while He was in the shadows; how could we possibly resist Him?"

The Fourth-Flow cultivators all needed a "pretext" that would allow them to save face.

Upon hearing this, Luo Gongqiao immediately narrowed his eyes: "Lord Ruan Tian? Do you have proof?"

"Of course we do! When we brothers were pursuing that villain, just as he was about to be caught, he produced Lord Ruan Tian's token and summoned nearby evil spirits for aid!" As Fu Songyu spoke, he produced a broken token.

"It was precisely because of the help from those evil spirits that he managed to escape for a while longer, ultimately waiting for the great evil spirit to come to his rescue!"

Xu Yuan's original plan was for Tian Jing to use the token, allowing Zhu Zhanlei and others to witness it.

However, Fu Songyu and the other arrived too quickly, so the witnesses became Fu Songyu and Fu Bai Zhou.

The testimonies of two Fourth-Flow cultivators clearly carried more weight.

"So that is how it is!" Shen Chen sighed to the heavens: "No wonder, ever since I entered Ghost Wushan, I have constantly felt a sense of powerlessness in heaven and earth. It turns out Lord Ruan Tian was at work, and everything in that mountain was hostile to us!"

Xu Yuan praised greatly; look at this Fourth-Flow expert, even his lies were told with such conviction.

Anyone hearing it would feel that the level of the Fourth-Flow was simply different from ours!

Thus, the cause of this defeat was quickly determined: Lord Ruan Tian!

Clearly, in the previous case of the murder of the Heir Apparent's Consort, Lord Ruan Tian had not appeared at all; indeed, the Heir Apparent's Consort herself had held a token of Lord Ruan Tian and even intended to use it to ask whether Lord Ruan Tian was shielding that villain who secretly practiced the "Dragon Transformation Method".

Yet this time, Lord Ruan Tian had become the biggest mastermind behind the scenes.

Whether there were flaws in the logic did not matter; all four Fourth-Flow cultivators desired this outcome.

If you claimed the culprit was an evil spirit on Copper Coffin Cliff, who in the court would know what kind of place Copper Coffin Cliff was?

But Lord Ruan Tian was famous; everyone knew the name.

Furthermore, there was another reason: the Fourth-Flow cultivators all understood that as long as the mastermind behind the scenes was identified as "Lord Ruan Tian", the matter would have nothing to do with them.

Otherwise, what if the court and the Xiang Wang Fu still demanded they continue investigating the case of the Heir Apparent's Consort's murder?

But if it was Lord Ruan Tian, first, the court might not be determined to launch a campaign, and second, even if they did, it would be a matter for the Top Three Flows; they would certainly not be the main force.

So the matter went even more smoothly than Xu Yuan had anticipated!

Luo Gongqiao wrote an official document, and Shen Chen, Fu Songyu, and Fu Bai Zhou all signed it together, sealing the half-token as evidence and sending it to the court.

This grand operation, upon final summary, revealed that only Gao Wanli had died!

Not even a single Captain from the Shanhe Office had been lost.

A mere Gao Wanli was of no concern to the Fourth-Flow cultivators.

Xu Yuan thus returned and submitted a report to the Southern Office stating: "Gao Wanli is temporarily missing within Ghost Wushan."

Ma Tianshou understood the document at a glance.

Missing, not confirmed dead.

Then a search must be conducted first? Although being missing for several days within Ghost Wushan basically meant certain death.

Since a search must be conducted first, the position of Deputy Chief Law Officer of Zhan Cheng could not be filled by a new person so hastily.

Xu Yuan was somewhat weary of having a deputy who acted as a constraint.

Ma Tianshou naturally fulfilled the wishes of his trusted confidant.

A few days later, Bai Laoyan personally delivered an item to He Gong Lane.

Uncle Mao Si made the trip himself to bring the Zhan Cheng.

After Xu Yuan received it and opened it, it was indeed the "Dragon Excrement."

Thus, he could not help but reveal a smile.

Then, without wasting a moment, he fed it directly to Pi Long.

After Pi Long swallowed the Dragon Excrement, he discovered an unexpected surprise: there was also a Dragon Soul inside!

Fu Hongyu never expected that after struggling to escape from the leather puppet dragon, he would end up being fed voluntarily!

When Fu Hongyu was alive, he also cultivated the "Dragon Transformation Method" to the Fifth Grade.

The Dragon Souls of the Fu family all resulted from their own cultivation problems, not from being killed by outsiders.

Those who dare to kill people of the Fu family... besides Xu Yuan, one truly cannot find many.

Fu Hongyu's Dragon Soul was a great tonic for Pi Long, and the memories contained vast experience in cultivating the "Dragon Transformation Method."

And a portion of the Fu family's secrets.

One could say this single Dragon Soul was equivalent in value to the craft object "Dragon Excrement."

A single scheme, double the harvest.

The Fu family of Dragon Transformation specializes in: enthusiastic hospitality, eating and taking!

Fu Hongyu's level was Fifth Grade; for a normal practitioner of the "Dragon Transformation Method," after consuming his Dragon Soul, one must be extremely careful of the诡变 (twist).

For every cultivation advancement, the greatest danger is one's own twist.

Regarding this twist, the Daoist cultivation method has an explanation that everyone can understand: inner demons arise from within.

Whether it is the Seven Great Sects or the many minor sects, so-called cultivation advancement must involve upgrading and transforming one's life form.

The instant the level rises is the moment this transformation fully reaches a new state.

In this world filled with twists everywhere, of course, it is accompanied by an enormous risk of twist.

Moreover, the higher the level, the greater the risk of advancement twist.

It is said that advancing from Fourth Grade to Third Grade, only one or two out of ten succeed!

Most Fourth Grade practitioners actually lack confidence, so they dare not advance. Being a Fourth Grade for a lifetime is still being superior to others; why take that risk?

Specifically regarding the cultivation of the "Dragon Transformation Method," the risk of twist mainly comes from two aspects.

The first is that after consuming high-grade resources, one's own strength and cognition cannot suppress it.

High-grade resources inevitably contain immense power; if it is something like a Dragon Soul, that means a vast number of thoughts.

After consuming and refining it, whether the body cannot suppress it or the soul cannot suppress it, one will directly twist into a twist.

Therefore, cultivating the "Dragon Transformation Method" is fraught with danger at every step.

Without consuming high-grade resources, progress will be extremely slow, eventually becoming "resources" for the younger generation.

If consumed, and one cannot suppress it, one will directly become a twist.

After Fu Hongyu was captured, he did not simply accept his fate.

After Pi Long consumed him, he sensed that this thing was only Sixth Grade.

Thus, he began to act strangely.

I certainly cannot survive, but you do not think you will have a good time either!

I, Fu Hongyu, even in death, will drag you into twisting with me!

His Dragon Soul exploded, and countless thoughts spread out.

A mere Sixth Grade dares to consume this Young Master!

His soul must twist, and then infect the body.

However, unexpectedly, these many thoughts were suppressed within a short time.

The opponent appeared to handle it with ease!

Fu Hongyu still retained a last shred of will, looking with utter confusion at all the thoughts he had unleashed being controlled and slowly absorbed by the opponent: This shouldn't be...

Afterwards, this last shred of will was also turned into pure soul power and absorbed.

From then on, Fu Hongyu left not even a trace in this world.

Although Pi Long was Sixth Grade in the "Dragon Transformation Method."

Xu Yuan himself was a genuine Fifth Grade.

Suppressing a Fifth Grade Dragon Soul was naturally effortless.

Not to mention the "No Taboos" fate, which naturally suppresses twists.

After refining this Dragon Soul, Xu Yuan silently sensed: "Just a little bit more, and the 'Dragon Transformation Method' can advance to Fifth Grade."

Thus, Xu Yuan shifted his mind, and Pi Long continued refining the "Dragon Excrement."

Dragon Fire rose within Pi Long's belly.

First, this craft object must be burned and melted.

However, he did not expect that although this craft object was Sixth Grade, its creation level was extremely high.

Sixth Grade Dragon Fire burned for quite a while, yet the craft object showed no sign of melting.

Xu Yuan then switched to his own Stomach Fire.

Fifth Grade Stomach Fire surged forth, and the craft object could no longer hold on.

Before long, it was burned and melted, separating out various other materials, finally extracting a lump of flesh and blood from some evil water dragon.

Xu Yuan also figured it out: the craft cultivator who forged the "Dragon Excrement" possessed superb techniques.

He was capable of forging a fifth-rank artisan object.

But a fifth-rank object was too heavy; if the user's level was insufficient, they could not bear it.

So he deliberately used a clever structure to forge it as a sixth-rank, making it much lighter, though its power did not diminish too much.

"This clearly shows a great senior doting on a family descendant, deliberately suppressing the object's rank."

Afterwards, Fu Zhong Huo continued to burn and refine, digesting and absorbing this mass of flesh and blood from the evil dragon.

Within the flesh and blood were wrapped several broken scales, bones, and horns.

As it digested and absorbed, the skin dragon lurking deep beneath the canal water began to show massive overgrowth on its body.

Blood bubbles hung and grew on the scales all over its body.

It looked like a long string of eerie blood grapes!

And every single one grew rapidly.

Then these blood bubbles burst all at once, and from inside them grew hearts, kidneys, livers, and so on.

On the surface of every organ, however, were tentacles and fangs!

Every organ appeared full of vitality!

Bringing even more overgrowth...

Having only digested thirty percent of this evil dragon flesh and blood, Xu Yuan felt the skin dragon was about to advance to the fifth rank.

This advancement involved the second aspect of the诡变 (twisted transformation) risk of the "Dragon Transformation Method":

The Obstacle of Cognition.

To transform from a human into a dragon, one must, from the deepest layer of the heart, believe oneself to be a "dragon" and not a human.

It sounds as if there is no difficulty at all.

After all, since you are cultivating the "Dragon Transformation Method," of course you want to become a dragon.

But in reality, the various underlying cognitions at the deepest layer of the heart cannot be twisted around just because you wish it.

Born as a human, the self-cognition of being human is instinct.

It often manifests unintentionally.

For instance, upon advancing to the fifth rank, part of the body would transform into a dragon's form.

Either the eyes turn into heterochromatic vertical pupils, or the hands become dragon claws, or the legs fuse together to form a dragon tail, or the whole body becomes covered in dragon scales, and so on.

If it transformed into a dragon tail, then every time one rose, walked, sat, or lay down, one would have to twist into the consciousness of a dragon.

For example, when walking, your first reaction would need to be: the tail swims, moving forward like a dragon.

But if your first reaction is to stride forward with two legs.

That would be a cognitive conflict.

It might directly trigger a twisted transformation!

For every person who cultivated the "Dragon Transformation Method," breaking through this "Obstacle of Cognition" was incredibly difficult.

If they were of the Fu family, they had a set of experiences summarized over several generations:

Once advancing to the fifth rank, they would immediately enter seclusion within the family.

Their whole body would be bound to a specially made bed.

They would do nothing.

Food and drink would be fed to them by others.

Using several months, or even years, to let them slowly adapt to handling everything with the heart of a "dragon."

But Xu Yuan discovered that the skin dragon advanced to the fifth rank without any hindrance and would absolutely not have any "Obstacle of Cognition."

Because the skin dragon was already in a dragon's posture!

What was difficult now, instead, was that during the process of baiting with the evil dragon's flesh and blood, the body had already undergone a certain degree of twisted transformation.

Xu Yuan stopped Fu Zhong Huo and ceased refining the remaining evil dragon flesh and blood.

He would wait until the skin dragon suppressed its own twisted transformation before refining the rest, and the remaining portion could also be refined in several batches.

Xu Yuan let out a long sigh of relief; with the "Dragon Transformation Method" advancing to the fifth rank, by the time of the Ghost Festival in mid-July, he could return home to help.

"Estimating it, refining all the remaining evil dragon flesh and blood cannot support the "Dragon Transformation Method" reaching the fourth rank."

"There is still half a year; can the "Dragon Transformation Method" advance further?"

A certain ambition arose in Xu Yuan's heart.

For the fourth rank, the certainty would undoubtedly be greater.

Within the Canal Office, these days were quiet.

After the previous gathering of four fourth-rank experts launched a massive campaign against Ghost Wushan and returned in failure, everyone remained silent.

Even An Chengyuan, who secretly took some pleasure in their misfortune, did not dare to say any cold words in any setting.

The one who suffered the greatest loss was Xu Miao.

The precious artisan object known as "Dragon Plague" was lost.

Xu Miao mentioned it pitifully on several different occasions.

Of course, she was pretending to be pitiful, hoping the court would give her some compensation.

But Luo Gongqiao made no statement.

After all, they had been defeated, and the court's attitude was still unclear.

Luo Gongqiao did not dare to make any promises to Xu Miao.

Zhu Zhanlei was overjoyed these past few days: "You stinky woman, you tried to trick me!"

"Now look, you tried to steal a chicken but lost a bag of rice, hehehe!"

"Brother Xu, let's go! Tonight at White Moon Hall, my treat."

But Xu Yuan dared not go; Zhu Zhanmei was still in Champa. Xu Yuan felt that as long as he went to White Moon Hall, she would surely catch him.

Simply a Concept God.

Moreover, Zhu Zhanlei had been skulking around the Purification Bureau these past few days, and Xu Yuan kept Da Fu under very tight watch.

Under no circumstances could he be allowed to go out with Zhu Zhanlei.

Three more days passed unnoticed, and Xu Yuan had secretly consumed all the flesh and blood of the Evil Serpent.

Pi Long's Dragon Transformation Method had stabilized at the Fifth Grade level.

But there was still a huge gap between that and My Lord Xu's ambition of Fourth Grade.

Xu Yuan calculated in his heart: "No matter how much I consume of these ordinary Dragon-kind evil spirits in the canal, there will be no further improvement."

"If I continue consuming Fifth Grade items like the Evil Serpent's flesh and blood, I'm afraid I'll need at least eight more pieces."

"If it were Fourth Grade... perhaps one piece would be enough!"

But where could one find a Fourth Grade one? Even if found, a Dragon-kind Fourth Grade evil spirit would surely be stronger than an ordinary Fourth Grade, and he couldn't defeat it anyway.

Xu Yuan couldn't think of any good method for the moment.

However, after Pi Long consumed Fu Hongyu's Dragon Soul, a new诡术 (deception art) had arisen:

Sheng Lice.

Originating from the Thought Sheng.

At the current Fifth Grade level, three Sheng Lice could be condensed; each one could turn anyone below Sixth Grade into its own "Dragon Descendant."

This deception art offered little increase in combat, but its utility was immense.

It caused Xu Yuan to keep watching the Canal Bureau these past few days, searching for someone suitable to turn into his own Dragon Descendant.

There was now a true mole within the Canal Bureau.

But all four Fourth Grade experts were still present; Xu Yuan dared not act rashly. If he were seen through... the consequences would be unthinkable.

However, Xu Yuan had already confirmed a candidate.

The "Water Horse Magistrate" of the Champa Canal Bureau.

This was a Ninth Rank official. If one were to rank the officials of the Champa Canal Bureau, this small official could only be placed seventh or eighth.

But this was a very lucrative post with immense油水 (youzi).

He was responsible for the order on the streets of the entire canal wharf.

Simply put, this Water Horse Magistrate Zhang Tong, if he took a dislike to a shop on the wharf, had ways to ensure that shop could never open its doors again.

Xu Yuan originally knew nothing of such a person, but recently the Yuan Sheng Hao had been constantly harassed by this Zhang Tong.

Zhang Tong commanded a squad of fifty "Water Horse Servants," all recruited by himself, not occupying any official posts within the Canal Bureau.

Several of them came to Yuan Sheng Hao every day to shake down money.

Uncle Yang had tried some methods, but they were of no use, so he secretly reported it to the Master.

"These people's appetites grow larger and larger. A few days ago, five hundred cash was enough to send them away; recently they have demanded two taels of silver."

Uncle Yang reported cautiously.

Unable to resolve such a "small trouble" and having to report it to the Master, Uncle Yang felt deeply ashamed, believing it was due to his own lack of ability.

"You need not worry about this matter. These past few days, give them whatever they ask for."

Uncle Yang lowered his head and replied, "Yes."

Uncle Yang returned to the shop; before he even reached the door, he heard a loud, arrogant voice scolding his assistants: "The front is so messy, so dirty! How does your Yuan Sheng Hao manage things?"

"You are not allowed to open today! Sweep the front clean!"

"We will come to inspect tomorrow!"

"Seal the door for me..."

Several shop assistants hurriedly blocked them with their bodies: "My Lords, the front is quite clean; there is no trash..."

One obese Water Horse Servant with a full beard sneered and threw a handful of peanut shells onto the ground: "Who said there is no trash?"

"You—" The shop assistants were furious and could barely hold back.

Uncle Yang hurriedly stepped forward and waved his hand at the assistants: "Go back."

"Shopkeeper!"

"Go back!"

The assistants went back, and Uncle Yang wore a full smile: "My Lords, please come inside for tea."

The Water Horse Servants went in.

After some communication, Uncle Yang gave another five taels of silver.

Having taken the money, they said, "You cannot open today. After all, I have already spoken these words on the street; I must also save face."

"Very well, we will do exactly as My Lords say."

After seeing off this group of plague gods, the shop assistants, while boarding up the doors, said angrily, "Shopkeeper, the Master is after all the Lawkeeper of Champa; why let people bully us like this?"

Uncle Yang smiled with profound mystery.

Those Water Horse Servants returned to the Canal Bureau and handed over all the silver collected that day to Zhang Tong in a side courtyard.

Zhang Tong glanced at it and said, "Each of you take fifty cash."

"Thank you, My Lord, for the reward." The group happily took the money.

The rest belonged to Zhang Tong.

"How much money did Yuan Sheng Hao give today?"

"A full five taels of silver, hehe." The bearded, obese Water Horse Servant smiled ingratiatingly, full of merit.

Zhang Tong was surprised: "You just gave them what they asked for?"

"I gave it to them, not a single peep out of them. My lord, I think Xu Yuan knows the score—he knows that on our turf, even a tiger must lie down, even a dragon must coil up."

Zhang Tong nodded: "Alright, you may go."

After dismissing these subordinates, Zhang Tong locked all the silver on the desk into the cabinet, then rose to visit the River Inspector.

The River Inspector had been released alongside Gao Wanli.

"My lord, Yuan Sheng Hao is still holding out."

"Still holding out? Hmph!" The River Inspector sneered. "Demand twenty taels from them tomorrow! How much can that shop earn in a single day? If they hold out again tomorrow, demand a hundred taels the day after!"

"Yes, I will see this matter through."

Though released, the River Inspector's black official hat was likely lost.

A few days ago, he had cultivated ties with An Chengyuan.

And he noticed that Master An held a strong dislike for Xu Yuan.

He intended to take Yuan Sheng Hao's shop away from Xu Yuan and hand it over to Master An first.

In exchange for Master An's protection, to preserve his official post.

An Chengyuan disliked Xu Yuan, and never believed Xu Yuan posed any threat to him.

His official rank was roughly equal to Ma Tianshou's—he naturally paid no heed to Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan waited another day, and finally, the imperial decree arrived.

It rebuked Luo Gongqiao and the others, and imposed a three-month deduction of their salaries.

After all, they had suffered defeat, but no demotion or other substantive punishment was handed down.

Then they were all recalled.

Zhu Zhanmei, Xu Miao, and the River Camp naturally withdrew as well.

As for Master Ruan Tian's secret protection of criminals and the murder of the World Princess Consort, the imperial edict made no mention of it this time.

Evidently, opinions in the court were divided, and further debate would be needed.

The River Inspector personally saw off An Chengyuan.

The imperial edict made no mention of the River Inspector.

Clearly, Master An had worked behind the scenes.

At their parting, the River Inspector quietly presented a generous gift, and subtly promised that Xu Yuan's shop would be transferred into Master An's steward's name within no more than a month.

The Water Horse Servants once again extorted twenty taels of silver from Yuan Sheng Hao.

Yuan Sheng Hao had not opened its doors today.

Nearby neighbors shook their heads silently: "This shop will change hands."

In the afternoon, when the yamen had nothing left to do, Zhang Tong left early, took a boat across the river, and entered Zhan City.

Then he headed straight to Xie Liu Alley's "Jadeite Pavilion."

The pavilion's "Cold Jade" Miss accompanied him in drinking and merrymaking.

But at midnight, Zhang Tong suddenly rose from bed, disregarding all dissuasion, insisting on returning home.

He owned a residence in the city, where his wife and children lived.

Yet the next morning, Zhang Tong was found dead beside a well two streets away.

(End of Chapter)