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Chapter 401 Cognitive Impairment (Three-in-One)

Luo Gongqiao and Shen Chen had an unspoken understanding. After waiting an extra day, they left Ghost Witch Mountain from different directions.

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

By this time, news from all sides had come together.

Zhu Zhanlei's team, who were used as bait, escaped from Guiwu Mountain yesterday and settled in Qihetai Town.

Gao Wanli, a member of the team, got separated from the others during the retreat and has not been able to return to this day.

In addition, the team's "Harmony Wheel" was damaged.

Among the Fu family members, Fu Songyu and Fu Baizhou are still missing.

Three other younger members of the Fu family have escaped from Ghost Witch Mountain and settled in Jiming Village outside the mountain.

Miao Yu's team was half a day late in withdrawing from Guiwu Mountain. They met up with Zhu Zhanlei's team in Qihetai Town and were waiting for their superior's next orders.

Luo Gongqiao then ordered Miao Yu to temporarily garrison Qihetai Town and be ready to receive any fourth-rate thugs who might come out of the mountains.

Three more days passed, and the fourth-rate men returned.

The two members of the Fu family appeared to be seriously injured.

Even Shen Chen was pale, clutching his chest, coughing up blood every now and then.

Clearly, everyone in Ghost Mountain has already "done their best".

The evil forces were overwhelming! We fought valiantly but were no match for them and were forced to retreat with heavy injuries.

Shen Chen could tell at a glance that although the two members of the Fu family looked battered and bruised, they were actually not seriously injured.

Fu Songyu and Fu Baizhou could also see that Shen Chen was faking it.

After the powerful evil spirit appeared, Fu Songyu and Fu Baizhou fled without hesitation.

That thing is not something a fourth-rate person can handle.

No matter how many fourth-rate companies there are, the result is the same.

Xu Yuan wasn't surprised that all the fourth-rate guys had returned.

This time, the battlefield is not at Copper Coffin Cliff.

Moreover, the Ancient Corpse Empress has become somewhat suspicious of herself and will not be so eager to kill a few more fourth-rate figures.

But Xu Yuan was still waiting to see the show.

Four fourth-rate individuals stormed into Ghost Witch Mountain, only to slink away in disgrace?
This cannot be allowed; there must be an explanation.

But this matter... for example, why did Luo Gongqiao return directly to the Champa pier with "a body full of injuries" as soon as he came out of the mountains?
For example, the three fourth-rate individuals returned to Qihetai Town, but when Luo Gongqiao gave an order for everyone to return quickly, the three fourth-rate individuals did not hesitate to urge Zhu Zhanlei and Miao Yu to set off immediately.

Once back at the canal office at the Champa wharf, everyone gathered the information.

Fu Songyu and Fu Baizhou were furious and said, "The fault for this defeat does not lie with us! It was the evil spirit Ruan Tianye from the mountains who interfered! We were in the open while he was in the dark, how could we possibly defeat him?"

Fourth-rate people all need an "excuse" that can save face.

Upon hearing this, Luo Gongqiao immediately glared at him: "Master Ruan? Do you have any evidence?"

“Of course! When my brothers and I were chasing that villain, and he was about to be unable to escape, we took out Master Ruan Tian’s warrant and asked the evil spirits nearby to help us!” Fu Songyu said, taking out a broken warrant.

"It was with the help of those evil spirits that he was able to escape for a while, and finally waited for the great evil spirit to come to his aid!"

Xu Yuan's original plan was for Tian Jing to use the ticket and be seen by Zhu Zhanlei and others.

However, Fu Songyu and his companion arrived too quickly, so the witnesses became Fu Songyu and Fu Baizhou.

The testimonies of the two fourth-rate individuals clearly carry more weight.

"So that's how it is!" Shen Chen sighed to the sky, "No wonder I've always felt powerless against the world since I entered Ghost Witch Mountain. It turns out it was Lord Ruan Tian who was causing trouble. Everything in that mountain is hostile to us!"

Xu Yuan praised, "Look at this fourth-rate expert, he can even tell lies with such conviction."

It makes people immediately realize that the fourth-rate are on a completely different level from us!
Thus, the reason for this defeat was quickly determined: Master Ruan!
In the last case where the Crown Princess was murdered, Lord Ruan Tian did not appear at all. In fact, the Crown Princess even had Lord Ruan Tian's warrant and wanted to use the warrant to ask if Lord Ruan Tian had protected the villain who secretly practiced the "Dragon Transformation Technique".

This time, Ruan Tianye became the biggest mastermind behind it all.

Whether there are logical flaws or not is not important; all four of them, being from the fourth tier, hoped for this outcome.

You say the murderer is an evil spirit from Copper Coffin Cliff—does any of the officials in the court know what kind of place Copper Coffin Cliff is?

But Master Ruan is very famous; everyone knows him.

Another reason is that the fourth-rate people all know that as long as the mastermind is identified as "Master Ruan Tian," this matter will have nothing to do with them.

Otherwise, what if the imperial court and the Prince of Xiang's mansion still want them to continue investigating the case of the Crown Princess's murder?
However, if it were Lord Ruan Tian, ​​firstly, the imperial court might not be able to make up its mind to launch a campaign against him, and secondly, even if it were to launch a campaign, it would be a third-rate affair, and they would certainly not be the main force.

So things went even more smoothly than Xu Yuan had expected!
Luo Gongqiao wrote an official document, which was jointly signed by Shen Chen, Fu Songyu, and Fu Baizhou. They used the half-piece of the ticket as evidence, sealed it, and sent it to the imperial court.

In the end, after summarizing this massive operation, it was discovered that only Gao Wanli had died!
Not a single captain from the Mountain and River Division was lost.

The fourth-rate people don't care about Gao Wanli at all.

Xu Yuan then went back and submitted a report to the Southern Bureau stating that "Gao Wanli has temporarily disappeared in Guiwu Mountain."

Ma Tianshou understood the meaning as soon as he saw the official document.

They've disappeared; it's uncertain whether they're dead.

Then we should search for them first, right? Although they've been missing in Ghost Mountain for several days, it's safe to assume they're definitely dead.

Since we need to look for someone first, we can't rush to appoint a new person for the position of deputy law enforcement officer in Champa.

Xu Yuan was somewhat annoyed by having a deputy who was hindering him.

Ma Tianshou naturally granted his confidant's request.

……

A few days later, Old Man Bai personally delivered something to Hegong Lane.

Uncle Mao went to great lengths to personally deliver the goods from Champa.

After Xu Yuan received it and opened it, it was indeed "Dragon's Illness".

So I couldn't help but smile.

Without wasting a moment, he fed it directly to Pilong.

After swallowing the Dragon's Bane, Pilong discovered an unexpected surprise: there was a dragon soul inside!
Fu Hongyu never expected that his hard-won escape from the Puppet Dragon would result in him willingly feeding it!
When Fu Hongyu was alive, he also cultivated the "Dragon Transformation Technique" to the fifth level.

The dragon souls of the Fu family all suffered from problems in their own cultivation, not from being killed by outsiders.

There are very few people who would dare to kill the Fu family, besides Xu Yuan.

Fu Hongyu's dragon soul was a great tonic for Pi Long, and he also had a lot of experience in cultivating the "Dragon Transformation Technique" in his memory.

And some of the Fu family's secrets.

It can be said that this dragon soul is of comparable value to the craftsman's "Dragon's Illness".

One well-planned strategy yields double the results.

The Hualong Fu family's motto is: warm hospitality, with food and takeaway included!
Fu Hongyu's skill level is only fifth-rate. If someone were to normally cultivate the "Dragon Transformation Technique" and consume his dragon soul, they would need to be extremely careful of any unexpected changes.

The greatest danger for a cultivator with each advancement is the unpredictable changes within themselves.

Regarding this strange change, there is an explanation in Taoist practices that everyone can understand: inner demons arise from within.

Whether it's the seven major sects or the many side sects, the so-called cultivation and advancement must be about upgrading and transforming one's own life form.

The moment the standard is raised is the moment when this transformation has fully reached a new state.

In this bizarre world, there is naturally a great risk of unpredictable changes.

Moreover, the higher the level, the greater the risk of unpredictable changes in promotion.

It is said that only one or two out of ten people can successfully rise from fourth-rate to third-rate!
Most fourth-rate people aren't confident about promotion, so they don't dare to take the risk. Being a fourth-rate person your whole life is still being above others, so why take the risk?
Specifically, when it comes to cultivating the "Dragon Transformation Technique," the risks of unpredictable changes mainly come from two aspects.

The first is that after consuming high-quality resources, one's own strength and understanding cannot suppress them.

High-quality resources inevitably contain immense power; if it's something like a dragon soul, then it's a vast amount of thoughts.

Once the bait is refined, whether the body or the soul can no longer suppress it, it will directly transform into something bizarre.

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

Without consuming high-quality resources, progress will be very slow, and one will eventually become "resources" for younger generations.

Once the bait is taken, if it can't be held down, it will directly turn into something eerie.

Even after being arrested, Fu Hongyu did not simply accept his fate.

After Pilong fed him, he sensed that the thing was only of the sixth rank.

So he started acting strangely.

I'm definitely not going to make it, but you won't have it easy either!

Even if I, Fu Hongyu, die, I will drag you down with me through this treacherous transformation!
His dragon soul exploded, and countless thoughts spread out.

You mere sixth-rate bastard, yet you dare to lure me into this young master's trap!

His soul must have undergone a strange transformation, which then infected his body.

But unexpectedly, these many thoughts were suppressed in a short time.

The other party seemed to be handling the situation with ease!

Fu Hongyu still retained a last shred of willpower, watching in utter bewilderment as all his thoughts were slowly absorbed by the other party: This shouldn't be...

Then, that last vestige of will was transformed into pure soul power and absorbed.

From then on, Fu Hongyu left no trace in this world.

Although Pilong is a sixth-rate practitioner in the "Dragon Transformation Method".

But Xu Yuan himself was a genuine fifth-rate person.

Suppressing a fifth-rate dragon soul is naturally a piece of cake.

Not to mention the "unfettered" destiny, which naturally suppresses unpredictable changes.

After refining this dragon soul, Xu Yuan silently sensed it: "Just a little bit more, and the Dragon Transformation Technique will be able to advance to the fifth rank."

With a thought, Xu Yuan began to refine the "Dragon's Illness".

Dragonfire rose from inside the skin dragon's belly.

This artifact needs to be melted down first.

Unexpectedly, although this piece was made by a sixth-rate craftsman, its quality was extremely high.

The sixth-rate dragon fire burned for quite a while, but the artifact showed no signs of melting.

Xu Yuan then replaced it with the fire in his abdomen.

Fire surged from the belly of the fifth-rate craftsman, and the craftsman could no longer withstand it.

Before long, it was burned to ashes, and various other materials were separated from it. Finally, a mass of flesh and blood from a certain evil dragon was extracted.

Xu Yuan also figured it out: the craftsman who refined the "Dragon's Illness" had a superb technique.

He is capable of crafting a fifth-rate artifact.

However, the work of a fifth-rate craftsman is too heavy, and if the user is not skilled enough, they will not be able to hold it down.

Therefore, a clever structure was deliberately used to refine it into a sixth-rate weapon, which was much lighter, but its power was not weakened much.

"This is clearly a case of a senior family member doting on their descendants and deliberately lowering the quality of the craftsmanship."

Then, the fire in its belly continued to burn and refine, absorbing the flesh and blood of the evil dragon.

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

As it was refined and absorbed, the leather dragon, which was lurking deep beneath the canal, began to grow rapidly.

Blood blisters hung on the scales all over his body.

It looks like a long, eerie bunch of blood grapes!

And each one grows very quickly.

Then these blood blisters burst together, and from them emerged heart, kidney, liver, and so on.

Each organ's surface is covered with tentacles and fangs!
Every organ looked vibrant and full of life!

This led to more proliferation...

Having refined only 30% of the evil dragon's flesh and blood, Xu Yuan sensed that the skin dragon was about to advance to the fifth rank.

This promotion involves the second aspect of the unpredictable risks of the "Dragon Transformation Technique":
Cognitive impairment.

To transform from a human into a dragon, one must, at the deepest level of one's heart, consider oneself a "dragon" rather than a human.

It doesn't sound like it's that difficult.

After all, you've already practiced the "Dragon Transformation Method," so of course you want to become a dragon.

But in reality, the deepest, most fundamental beliefs you hold in your heart cannot be changed simply by wishing to.

As human beings, self-awareness is a fundamental human instinct.

It often manifests itself unintentionally.

For example, if one is promoted to the fifth rank, a part of their body will transform into the form of a dragon.

Its eyes might turn into heterochromatic vertical pupils, its hands into dragon claws, its legs might fused together to form a dragon tail, or its entire body might be covered in dragon scales, and so on. If it transforms into a dragon tail, then every time it gets up, walks, sits, or lies down, it must transform into the consciousness of a dragon.

Just like walking, your first instinct should be: the tail moves, like a dragon moving forward.

But if your first reaction is to take a walk...

This is a cognitive conflict.

This could directly trigger a bizarre change!
For everyone who has practiced the "Dragon Transformation Method," overcoming the "cognitive barrier" is extremely difficult.

If they are from the Fu family, they have a set of experiences summarized over several generations:

Once promoted to the fifth rank, he will now be in seclusion at home.

His entire body was strapped to a specially made bed.

You don't need to do anything.

They are fed and watered.

Give him a few months, or even a few years, to gradually adapt to handling everything with the mindset of a "dragon".

However, Xu Yuan discovered that Pi Long advanced to the fifth rank without any hindrance and without any "cognitive impairment".

Because Piron is, in essence, a dragon!
The difficulty now lies in the fact that, during the process of consuming the flesh and blood of the evil dragon, the body has undergone a certain degree of strange transformation.

Xu Yuan then stopped the fire in his abdomen, ceasing to refine the remaining flesh and blood of the evil dragon.

After the leather dragon has suppressed its own strange changes, then refine the rest. Moreover, the remaining part can be refined in several batches.

Xu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. With the "Dragon Transformation Technique" advancing to the fifth rank, he could go home to help around the Ghost Festival in July.

"Based on our estimation, refining all the remaining flesh and blood of the evil dragon wouldn't be enough to support the Dragon Transformation Technique to reach the fourth rank."

"With six months left, can the Dragon Transformation Technique make further progress?"

Xu Yuan then harbored a wild ambition.

The odds are undoubtedly higher for those who are considered fourth-rate.

……

The Grand Canal Administration Office has been quiet these days.

After the four fourth-rate experts gathered together and launched a massive attack on Ghost Witch Mountain, they returned in defeat, and everyone went quiet.

Even An Chengyuan, who secretly gloated, dared not say anything sarcastic in any situation.

The one who suffered the most was actually Xu Miaozhi.

The precious artifact known as "Dragon's Cure" has been lost.

Xu Miaozhi mentioned it pitifully on several different occasions.

She was obviously feigning helplessness, hoping the imperial court would offer her some compensation.

However, Luo Gongqiao remained silent.

After all, they had lost, and the imperial court's attitude was still unclear.

Luo Gongqiao didn't dare to make any promises to Xu Miaozhi.

Zhu Zhanlei has been overjoyed these past few days: "You bitch, you tricked me!"

"Now look what happened! You tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead, hehehe!"

"Brother Xu, let's go! Tonight at Baiyue Pavilion, it's on me."

However, Xu Yuan dared not go. Zhu Zhanmei was still in Zhancheng, and Xu Yuan always felt that if he went to Baiyue Pavilion, she would definitely catch him.

That's an amazing concept!

Moreover, Zhu Zhanlei has been sneaking around the Exorcism Department these past few days, and Xu Yuan is keeping a close eye on Dafu.

Under no circumstances should it be allowed to go out with Zhu Zhanlei.

Three more days passed by in the blink of an eye, and Xu Yuan had secretly consumed all the flesh and blood of the evil dragon.

Pilong's "Dragon Transformation Method" has stabilized at a fifth-rate level.

However, it is still far from reaching the level of a fourth-rate official, which is what Lord Xu aspires to.

Xu Yuan thought to himself, "These ordinary dragon-like evil spirits in the canal, no matter how much bait they consume, will no longer improve their power."

"If we continue to feed on the lowly, like the flesh and blood of the evil dragon, we'll probably need at least eight more pieces."

"If it's fourth-rate... maybe one piece will be enough!"

But where can you find a fourth-rate one? Even if you do find one, a fourth-rate evil spirit belonging to the dragon category—it must be stronger than an ordinary fourth-rate one, and you still can't beat it.

Xu Yuan couldn't think of any good solutions for the time being.

However, after the leather dragon consumed Fu Hongyu's dragon soul, it developed a new kind of trickery:
Lice.

It originates from the word "眚" (nian sheng).

At this level, a fifth-rate individual can condense three lice, each capable of transforming those below the sixth rank into their "Dragon Descendants."

This trick doesn't offer much of an advantage in combat, but its usefulness is immense.

These past few days, Xu Yuan has been keeping a close eye on the Grand Canal government office, looking for someone suitable to become his dragon descendant.

There was a real mole within the canal administration.

However, with all four fourth-rate individuals still around, Xu Yuan dared not make any rash moves. If he were to be seen through... the consequences would be unimaginable.

However, Xu Yuan has already decided on a candidate.

The "Water Horse Assistant" of the Champa Canal Office.

This was a ninth-rank official. If the officials of the Champa Canal Office were ranked, this minor official would only be ranked seventh or eighth.

However, this was an extremely lucrative and lucrative position.

He was in charge of maintaining order on the streets of the entire canal wharf.

Simply put, this Water Horse Manager Zhang Tong, if he didn't like a shop on the dock, he had a way to make that shop never open again.

Xu Yuan had no idea that such a person existed, but recently, the Yuan Sheng ship had been constantly harassed by this Zhang Tong.

Zhang Tong had a team of fifty "water horse servants" under his command, all of whom he recruited himself and were not part of the Grand Canal government's staff.

Several of them would come from accounts that were upgraded daily to freeload.

Uncle Yang tried some methods, but none of them worked, so he secretly reported it to his employer.

“These people are getting more and more greedy. A few days ago, five hundred coins would have been enough to get rid of them, but recently they’re asking for two taels of silver.”

Uncle Yang reported cautiously.

If he couldn't even handle this "minor problem" and had to report it to his employer, Uncle Yang felt very insecure, thinking it was because of his own incompetence.

"You don't need to worry about this. Just give them whatever they want in the next few days."

Uncle Yang bowed his head and replied, "Okay."

Uncle Yang went back to the shop, and before he even reached the door, he heard an arrogant voice yelling at his employee: "The area in front of the shop is so messy and dirty, what's wrong with Yuansheng Shop?"

"Don't open the door today! Clean the area in front of the door!"

"We'll come back to check again tomorrow!"

"Seal off the door..."

Several shop assistants quickly blocked their way: "Sirs, the area in front of the shop is quite clean, there's not much trash..."

One of the fat water horse handlers, with a full beard, sneered and threw a handful of peanut shells on the ground: "Who said there's no trash?"

"You—" The shop assistants were furious and some couldn't hold back any longer.

Uncle Yang hurriedly stepped forward and waved to the workers: "Go back, all of you."

"The shopkeeper's!"

"go back!"

The men went back, and Uncle Yang said with a smile, "Gentlemen, please come in for tea."

Several water brigade servants then went inside.

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

They took the money and then said, "We can't open today. After all, I already made my point on the street, and I have my pride too."

"Alright, we'll do as the officer says."

After seeing off these plagues, the shop assistants, while boarding up the doors, grumbled, "Boss, the owner is supposed to be the Chief Justice of Champa, how can we just let him bully us like this?"

Uncle Yang smiled mysteriously.

……

The water brigade workers returned to the canal office and handed over all the money they had collected that day to Zhang Tong in a side courtyard.

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

"Thank you for your generous gift, sir." The group of people took the money with smiles.

The rest belong to Zhang Tong.

"How much money did Yuansheng give us today?"

"A full five taels of silver, hehe." The fat, bearded broom-wearing servant grinned obsequiously.

Zhang agreed: "You want them to just give it to you directly?"

"They gave it to him, but didn't dare utter a word. Sir, in my opinion, Xu Yuan is a pragmatic man. He knows that on our territory, he has to lie low, whether he's a tiger or a dragon."

Zhang Tong nodded: "Alright, you can go out now."

After dismissing his men, Zhang Tong locked all the money on the table in a cabinet, then got up to see the river supervisor.

He Jian was released along with Gao Wanli.

"My lord, Yuansheng is still holding back."

"Still tolerate it? Humph!" The river supervisor sneered, "Twenty taels tomorrow! How much does his shop earn in a day? If they tolerate it again tomorrow, one hundred taels the day after!"

"Yes, I will definitely handle the matter well."

Although the river supervisor has been released, his official position is likely in jeopardy.

He recently made connections with An Chengyuan.

And it was noted that Lord An disliked Xu Yuan quite a bit.

He then wanted to take the shop from Xu Yuan and give it to Lord An first.

In exchange for Lord An's protection, he could keep his official position.

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

His official rank was roughly equivalent to Ma Tianshou's, so naturally he wouldn't value Xu Yuan.

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

Luo Gongqiao and others were reprimanded and punished with three months' salary as a demerit.

After all, they had suffered a defeat, but there was no substantial punishment such as demotion.

Then they all returned to their homes.

Zhu Zhanmei, Xu Miaozhi, and the river corps naturally followed suit and withdrew.

As for the case of Ruan Tianye secretly protecting villains and murdering the Crown Princess, it was not mentioned again in this official document from the court.

It is estimated that there is no consensus in the court, and the debate will continue for some time.

The river supervisor personally went to see An Chengyuan off.

The imperial court's official document this time made no mention of the River Supervisor.

It was clearly Lord An Chengyuan who secretly helped.

Before parting, the river supervisor secretly presented a generous gift and made a veiled promise that Xu Yuan's shop would be transferred to Lord An's steward within a month at most.

The porters extorted another twenty taels of silver from Yuansheng.

The Yuansheng ship is still not open today.

Several neighbors shook their heads in dismay: "This shop is about to change owners."

In the late afternoon, when there was nothing to do at the yamen, Zhang Tong left his post early, took a boat across the river, and entered Champa.

Then head straight to the "Jade Pavilion" in Xieliu Lane.

The "Cold Jade" girl in the brothel kept him company while he drank and made merry.

But in the middle of the night, Zhang Tong suddenly got out of bed for some reason and insisted on going home despite being advised against it.

He has a house in the city, where his wife and children live.

However, the next morning, Zhang Tong was found dead by a well two streets away.

(End of this chapter)