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Chapter 567 Seven Treasures for Establishing a Temple (10,000 words)
At the feet of the aggrieved man, streams of bitter spring water gushed forth.

But then suddenly a "tick" sound was heard, and the aggrieved person turned around to look in the direction of the sound—

The aggrieved party was immediately puzzled: Why has my movement become so slow?
Even Mr. Wenqi, who was walking towards him with ease and wielding the paperweight in his hand, seemed as fast as a gust of wind passing through a mountain gorge in his eyes!

The victim has already seen the source of the sound:
That was a bronze water clock.

It is clearly a work of extremely high craftsmanship.

The aggrieved party gradually realized: Oh, it's because my time has slowed down.

His thoughts also became dulled as time slowed down.

Someone was speaking, as if each word was being uttered one by one: "You can't use the Sea of ​​Suffering in this world anymore; that's for my son..."

Mr. Wenqi slammed his paperweight down on the victim's head with a loud thud, as if a mountain had crashed into him.

The victim's head exploded with a loud crack.

It was only then that the victim remembered that he had seen a mountain picture carved on Mr. Wenqi's paperweight.

A thought remained in his mind: What a good talisman!
Then I gradually sank into darkness.

In his final moments, the victim couldn't help but wonder: When did I first meet Mr. Wenqi?

Oh, that was more than a decade ago. Back then, I wasn't a "victim" yet. I had just been promoted to a third-rate position and was feeling quite proud of myself. I thought that in the not-too-distant future, I would definitely be one of the "temple masters".

So he set off for Beidu, wanting to see the world's splendor once more.

When he first converted to Buddhism, he was filled with longing for the romantic scenery of the two capitals and was filled with envy for the powerful and wealthy families of the time.

Now the moment has finally arrived when "he can be replaced".

Then he was hunted down by a second-rate assassin in Beidu.

He almost lost his life!

At that time, a scholar, a craftsman, and a toad saved him.

He also showed himself some evidence that indirectly proved that his whereabouts had been exposed and he had been targeted by a second-rate official of the court because another third-rate member of the sect had deliberately leaked the information.

He and that third-rate guy both started from humble beginnings, working their way up from the lowest ranks of the church to where they are today.

But who will become the "temple master" next?
Wenxiu, Jiangxiu, and Hama plotted together how to advance to the second rank and become the temple master.

I found it strange back then. These people, whom I met by chance, not only saved me, but also thoughtfully helped me plan my future path.

But then they said goodbye and never appeared in his life again.

I only occasionally hear about the deeds of that Wenxiu.

"Wild scholars" are bound to do some willful and reckless things.

Later, after he was promoted to the second rank and became the temple abbot, they never showed up to do anything to take advantage of his kindness, and he gradually forgot about this past event.

But now the victim suddenly realizes: You've planned this far ahead; you must have foreseen this more than a decade ago.

Otherwise, how could Mr. Wenqi, a second-rate person, have killed him with a single blow, even if he had been promoted to second-rate?
The craftsman who repaired the bronze water clock also deliberately restrained himself...

The toad opened its wide mouth from the "resentful fetus's energy" and sucked the victim's soul into its belly.

Mr. Wenqi accepted the paperweight, and Xu Huanyang accepted the bronze water clock.

The two figures walked away into the distance, chatting as they went.

"Was the victim's fate suppressed? Otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy to kill him."

"My son's absolute dominance has made him unable to lift his head!"

"Has the Venerable Han Ancestor entered the Divine Firmament?"

"Ah."

"What a plan!"

……

With a wave of his hand, Xu Yuan sent out the water vessel that had previously held the sorrowful water, which then took in the "Sea of ​​Suffering in the World".

There was no scrambling or fighting among the people who were moving the Lan family.

After all, the aggrieved party ran away, so he bears the main responsibility. The senior still has his pride. Although the "sea of ​​suffering in the world" is a good thing, he is too embarrassed to take it from the younger generation.

Then Xu Yuan stepped onto the fire wheel and entered the large ship, where the victims' decades of suffering were all contained!

The ship itself is a massive work of art.

Even the imperial navy's inland river warships are far inferior to this one!
The ship is equipped with many machines. If a naval battle were to break out, even if Xu Miaozhi's two warships joined forces, they would not be a match for this ship.

Fortunately, by the time Xu Miaozhi and Zhu Zhanmei arrived, the souls of all the believers on the ship had already melted into the sorrowful water.

Even the most powerful warships need people to operate them.

Xu Yuan circled the large ship once, and immediately beamed with joy!

Dozens of boxes of gold and silver were stored in the bottom warehouse!

Xu Yuan roughly estimated that there were over a million taels of silver and about two hundred thousand taels of gold.

In addition, there are two special cabins, one for storing various precious herbs and the other for storing precious "materials".

These are all things that alchemists can use.

The most precious thing is that in the victim's cabin, there are seven iron boxes containing the "seven treasures" he prepared for building a temple!
They are gold dog head, raw silver, gall bladder, fish stone, gold scroll, great medicine, and amber.

Both gold nuggets and raw silver are considered "treasures".

The gall bladder and the fish stone clearly come from some powerful "strange" creature, or perhaps some ancient behemoth.

It contains powerful and unorthodox techniques, and the bitter gall corresponds to the secular divine power that the victim is about to seize.

The golden scroll itself is a powerful auspicious object, and it records the "law" of the aggrieved.

This medicine contains a blend of various bitter-tasting powders, indicating its age!

What surprised Xu Yuan the most was that a drop of blood was encased in that piece of amber.

Xu Yuan felt a sense of familiarity, and the inner core of the Dragon Pearl was stirring restlessly—this was very likely a drop of dragon blood from an unknown source!

With these things, Xu Yuan's ambition secretly surged: Maybe before the Ghost Festival, I can be promoted to the third rank?

The top three... what an enviable level!
Xu Yuan first suppressed his excitement, put away all the seven treasures, and then called Pei Qinghua and others to guard the large ship.

Only now did Xu Yuan have time to examine the "Ten Thousand Souls Scarf".

There was an unexpected surprise!
The brokerage firm even left behind a remnant soul!
It's understandable to think about it. After all, the Puppet Shop is a third-rate business. Although its expertise in soul manipulation is not as good as that of the Puppet Shop, it was still somewhat unwilling to be completely controlled by the victim's mind and body. So it secretly made some preparations and left behind this remnant soul.

The battle between the Three Great Ghosts, Brother Bao, and the Puppet Shop is not over yet.

As soon as the remnant soul of the broker was taken in, the three of them rushed over without hesitation.

The remnant soul of the broker was in a daze and could only rely on its limited instincts to resist.

The puppeteer, having gained a deeper understanding of his "partner," ultimately prevailed and devoured the remnant soul.

And so its ferocity soared!

With a thought, Xu Yuan suppressed Bao Ge and drove away the three great demons.

The puppeteer seized the opportunity immediately, lunged forward again, opened his mouth wide, and swallowed Bao Ge whole.

So many mountains are not needed in the "Ten Thousand Souls Robe".

Moreover, Xu Yuan already disliked Bao Ge; that guy was a lecherous scoundrel.

After Mu Puppet Shop swallowed Bao Ge, it slowly digested him. Xu Yuan also learned about Mu Puppet Shop's "magic" through the "Ten Thousand Souls Cloth".

It carved a puppet, and the puppet could then condense corresponding abilities.

They can even use puppets to replace the real person.

However, this method also has a fatal flaw: the puppeteers cannot be disturbed during the carving process.

Without someone to protect them, it would be almost impossible for the puppeteers to complete the carving smoothly.

However, his method is too domineering; if one cultivates this method, one cannot cultivate other schools of thought simultaneously.

Even an ordinary person with a knife could kill a puppeteer while the puppeteer was carving.

The higher the level of the target, the longer the carving time.

Moreover, when facing a high-level opponent, any carving will inevitably alert them.

For example, during the battle just now, when the puppeteer was carving Xu Yuan, Xu Yuan immediately realized: I can't let him finish carving, otherwise it will be very disadvantageous for me.

Simply put, this method is bizarre and domineering, but it has too many limitations.

However, after the puppetry was incorporated into the Ten Thousand Souls Cloak, these restrictions were no longer a problem in Xu Yuan's hands.

The puppeteers retreated into the darkness, slowly digesting Brother Bao.

The ghost soldiers under Brother Bao's command also became subordinates of the Puppet Shop.

The three-headed demons, however, did not stop there. They were entrenched on the "Bridge to the Underworld," their enormous bodies resembling a cat perched on the stone bridgehead.

Three heads stretched out and barked loudly, as if to complain to the master.

Xu Yuan was having a bit of a headache.

Why are they all copying Dafu and making random "ang ang" noises?
Xu Yuan repeatedly reassured him: "Next time, if there's a good soul, I'll definitely follow the puppet's movements and let you eat first."

The three-headed demons, however, refused to listen and shouted loudly again: "Master, you must keep your word."

Before, Brother Bao wouldn't let me eat it, so it raised a mountain in the Ten Thousand Souls Pad and stood up to me.

This time, Bao Ge was fed to the puppet shop again. Master, you can't be so biased!

Xu Yuan offered another round of reassurance.

A sense of helplessness welled up inside me: You're a fierce ghost, how come you've learned to be clingy and affectionate?!

Even after the Wanhunfa was collected, the bay was still bustling with activity.

The Exorcism Division has already cleaned up the battlefield.

The alchemists are using the fire within their abdomens to cleanse themselves of the contamination.

But Xu Miaozhi and Zhu Zhanmei were busy directing their officers to hunt down the evil spirits in the Sky-Catching Net.

This net yielded a huge harvest!

The evil spirits in the canal within a dozen miles have all been summoned by the brokers and are now all caught in their net.

There's nothing of particularly high quality, which is perfect for the two beauties.

The captains under his command beamed with joy; killing these little evil spirits would bring them all a fortune.

Killing them wasn't difficult, but there were too many evil spirits, so there was still a lot to do.

Xu Yuan smiled and looked around, but he couldn't see Banlan Gong. He guessed that the old man was a little embarrassed and had already gone back on his own.

Xu Yuan then gave Pei Qinghua some instructions, and then rode his fiery wheels back onto "Dreams Come True".

"Sir, let's go back to the city!"

Ma Tianshou has already treated the injured.

The six who died were all driven to despair by the bitter rain, which triggered their inner turmoil, leading them to either attack their comrades or commit suicide.

Two others were killed on the spot for their treachery.

The commander is in a bad mood.

Although everyone in this line of work is mentally prepared.

But it's still hard to accept that so many people died after being caught in a heavy rain, without offering any help.

Fortunately, the victim has finally overcome this ordeal.

Ma Tianshou sighed inwardly, leaving behind a group of high-level alchemists, and nodded to Xu Yuan from afar: "Alright, let's return to the city."

Once the wheels were back in place, "Dream Come True" flicked the reins, and the two handcrafted horses neighed, puffing out red hot air from their nostrils, and pulled the carriage away at breakneck speed.

Before long, Xu Yuan and Ma Tianshou returned to the Champa government office.

By the afternoon, the situation in the eight counties below had been summarized.

A big win!

“Not a single member of the Repentance Cult escaped!” Xu Yuan said. “Thanks to the brothers from the Southern Bureau brought by the Commander, otherwise there would definitely have been some who slipped through the net, and the consequences could have been dire!”

The old man finally smiled again.

Although he knew that Xiao Xu was just trying to comfort him, Ma Tianshou felt very comfortable that such a talented young man, whom he had personally promoted, had this thought in mind.

This was a major operation, involving all eight counties in the prefecture. Therefore, although the operation has been successfully completed, there is still much work to be done before and after.

The officers and soldiers of the Champa headquarters were coming and going, people coming and going.

Suddenly, a few "outcasts" walked in, yawning and sporting large dark circles under their eyes, seemingly oblivious to everyone else.

Aunt Jiang followed behind the young master, her face stern.

This little devil, I can't control him, I really can't control him...

I was playing all night and just got back now.

Fortunately... the Duke's mansion has plenty of tonics.

Robben's secret recipe is also quite effective.

When the young master arrived at Xu Yuan's courtyard, he didn't care whether it was his own room or not. He rushed in and collapsed onto the bed, muttering a complaint: "This little beastly girl, she really has strength in her waist."

Then he chuckled strangely a few times.

"Liu Hu—" he called out, "Make me some soup to nourish myself. If I'm not awake before dinner, don't wake me. Wait until I wake up before I drink it."

"Young Master, just you wait and see," Liu Hu shouted from outside.

Liu Hu felt proud that the young master treated him so informally.

Miao Yu and Zhu Zhanlei also returned together.

Instead, they did not go to the Shanhe Si Yamen (official residence of the Mountain and River Administration).

Zhu Zhanlei snatched Xu Yuan's bed and fell asleep immediately: "Brother-in-law, I don't dare go back, I'll just sleep here with you."

Just as Xu Yuan was about to pull the guy up, his snoring started.

Xu Yuan shook his head angrily, then twitched his nose and, sure enough, the guy smelled strongly of perfume.

Xu Yuan angrily ordered his men: "When this guy gets up, burn all the bedding and sheets he used and get me a new set."

Miao Yu was also exhausted.

Neither of them dared to go back, fearing that Zhu Zhanmei would find out.

Little did they know that not only had Zhu Zhanmei not returned, but neither had the captain of the Shanhe Division.

There were very few people in the Shanhe Si's Champa office.

The two warships had wiped out all the evil spirits in the Sky-Catching Net and were now "dividing the spoils."

At this time, the bay was extremely lively.

How much each person should receive should naturally be allocated according to their job responsibilities.

However, with so much material, there simply isn't enough fishy wrapper to preserve it.

Xu Yuan decided to secretly lend a hand by having the river supervisor send a message.

Several trading companies specializing in materials for evil spirits have permanent locations at the canal wharf.

Upon receiving the news, these companies immediately went to the Shuiwan site to collect materials.

Moreover, since it was the river management bureau that made the decision, they didn't dare to take the opportunity to lower the price and gave a very fair price.

Zhu Zhanmei and Xu Miaozhi definitely won't be coming back today; they'll probably have to spend the night in the military camp.

Xu Yuan then sent someone to tell the two girls: "When you have some free time, have the sailors help you sail the big ship back to the dock."

……

Liu Hu moved a small stove into Master Xu's courtyard and placed it outside the room where the young master slept.

A fire was lit, and the ingredients in an earthenware pot were simmered over a low flame, releasing a series of enticing aromas.

As a result, Lord Xu came out and took a look—Liu Hu slapped his forehead, and his face turned deathly pale.

Look at my pig brain!
If the young master needs some nourishment, doesn't our respectable and lovable Lord Xu also need some?
Although Lord Xu is still young, what man would refuse such a thing?

Liu Hu quickly lit another stove and stewed another pot.

Not only that, Liu Hu also sent people to keep an eye on the water bay. After the evil spirits in the river had their materials taken, the remaining ones with suitable ingredients were sent back.

Since Liu Hu couldn't leave, the ingredients sent back were certainly not as good as those personally selected by Liu Hu.

But there are a lot of them after all.

Liu Hu selected some ingredients and started cooking right there in the yard.

While keeping an eye on the two stoves, he prepared dinner for the adults.

When it was time for dinner, a lavish "feast of the uncanny" began on time.

The soup in both clay pots is ready.

When Liu Hu saw the old master Ma Tianshou who had come to the banquet, he shrank back and slipped away again.

How come I remembered Lord Xu, but forgot about Commander!

The commander is quite old, so he's obviously the one who needs this soup the most!

He was originally quite proud of himself, ready to show off his treasure to the adults.

Now... hurry up and leave, lest you leave behind an even greater grudge.

The young master woke up at that moment.

"It smells so good..." He casually came out and, smelling the aroma, immediately claimed a whole pot of soup for himself.

"This belongs to me, and none of you are allowed to take it."

Liu Hu peered through the crack in the door and saw that those qualified to sit down for a meal in this Champa office were:
Xu Yuan, Ma Tianshou, Young Master, Banlan Gong, Aunt Jiang, and Old Master Luo.

This is because two other third-rate individuals failed to return in time.

Liu Hu secretly groaned; he'd forgotten quite a few people...

I feel like I've become stupid lately—no, I need to go back and stew some pig brains to make up for it.

Liu Hu's culinary skills were superb, and everyone was extremely satisfied with this "strange feast."

Banlan Gong left as soon as he finished eating, lest he be bullied by that kid.

Seeing that the "unrelated people" had tactfully left the room, the young master, who had finished a whole pot of soup, coughed and got down to business.

"Xu Yuan, let me tell you, if you want to marry my sister, it's not possible with me!"
You've only passed the first test... no, wait, you've passed the second.

Your ability to resolve the issue with the victim proves your competence.

But there is a third hurdle.

Be serious!

Seeing Xu Yuan's nonchalant expression, even as if he wanted to laugh, the young master immediately straightened his face: "Don't take this lightly! My sister and I have been playing together since we were little!"
I've followed her around since I was little; my sister considers me her brother!

The young master and Princess Ruicheng are certainly not siblings. But the young master... has been disciplined by Princess Ruicheng since childhood.

The royal family and the Duke of Cheng's family have had many marriages throughout history, and if you really want to talk about it, they are indeed siblings in a roundabout way.

When he gets into trouble, the Duke's mansion is reluctant to deal with it, but His Highness doesn't care at all; he'll beat him up as soon as he gets caught.

When we were little, it was just kids arguing with each other.

As she grew up... Princess Ruicheng once accidentally discovered that as long as she "disciplined" the unruly young master, her "virtuous reputation" would spread throughout the capital.

Because there was simply no one who could cure him...

At that time, His Highness was holding back a strong desire to compete with Miss Jinxi in every aspect.

So His Highness discovered the "secret".

Although the young master was incompetent, he still knew right from wrong.

Although I always get beaten up, I know my sister is doing it for my own good.

In addition, the strict discipline he received from a young age fostered a strange mentality in the young master, making him increasingly dependent on Princess Ruicheng.

He treated Princess Ruicheng even better than his own sister.

“Okay, tell me what the third test is.” Xu Yuan became more serious.

After all, they helped us a lot.

Even without him, his father could still help him resolve the issue of the victim.

But with the appearance of the young master, everything was given a veneer of "reasonableness".

It wouldn't arouse suspicion from outsiders, nor would it alert Master Ruan.

The latter is especially important.

"Ahem." The young master coughed and said in a serious tone, "This third test is to examine your character. Anyone who wants to marry my sister must be a man of great righteousness and integrity!"

Xu Yuan accurately captured the key word: righteousness.

"Just tell me straight, what do you want me to do for you?"

The young master blushed, but he was thick-skinned anyway.

He then cupped his hands towards the north and said, "As you know, I have been favored by the Emperor and given the position of Transport Commissioner."

But the situation here is more complicated than you might imagine.

"I intend to set up this transshipment terminal at your Champa port. Keep an eye on it for me."

Xu Yuan asked in confusion, "Explain to me exactly how complicated it is."

Xu Yuan actually glanced at Ma Tianshou secretly.

The old man was also bewildered, clearly unaware of the inside story.

"Hehe." The young master chuckled dryly, mentally preparing his words.

Then a voice came from outside the door: "Someone wants to steal money from His Majesty's pocket. The young master wants to do his job well and can't let anyone steal too much. He has to guard against others, so he needs to set up the transshipment terminal in the hands of his own people."

But if it really happens here, Xu Yuan, you'll be under a lot of pressure.

It was the voice of Banlan Gong.

The old man returned, sat down, and sighed: "Young Master, please don't blame me for being nosy. I didn't want to say it either. If I did, I might be blamed by Eunuch Wang when we return to the capital."

But this kid is my beloved disciple's sworn brother, and my disciple is very close to him. If something happens to him, my beloved disciple will probably never forgive me for the rest of his life.

The young master said irritably, "What you're saying makes it sound like I'm plotting to frame him!"

The young master waved his hand in annoyance: "Fine, fine, since you've brought it up, then you can say it, lest you think I'll only say the good things."

The old man wasn't angry at being rebuked. He turned to Xu Yuan and said, "Bian Lü promised His Majesty that he would bring back at least two million taels of gold. That number sounds frightening, but in reality, it's much more than that."

Banlan Gong scratched his messy beard and continued, "This matter needs to be discussed from both sides."

His Majesty, on the other hand, felt that Bian Lü was making empty promises in order to regain imperial favor, and that these promises were impossible to keep.

Therefore, I estimate that His Majesty's expected amount is one million taels.

If this number can be achieved, His Majesty will continue to give Bian Lü important positions in the future.

But Bian Lü said that he had been to Siam and India and knew that gold was everywhere there.

Two million taels is a conservative figure.

Furthermore, Bian Lü dared not gamble on His Majesty's actual expectations, so he would certainly do his utmost to deliver the required amount.

Xu Yuan understood somewhat: "Tell me honestly, is there someone who's after that million taels?"

He was still somewhat incredulous: "That's His Majesty's money, how dare they touch it?"

The young master seemed to have heard a huge joke and chuckled, "What do they have to be afraid of? Ever since Emperor Shizong's time, it's considered good if even 10% of the silver from the imperial estates across the land goes into the palace's treasury every year."

Needless to say, the rest...

Banlan Gong continued, "The following matters need to be discussed from two perspectives. Along the line from India to the Northern Capital, all the officials, big and small, who dared to reach out, had a certain prime minister in the imperial court standing behind them."

They have plenty of ways to make His Majesty's money disappear along the way.

Even if the imperial court sends people to investigate, His Majesty cannot come personally, and the investigators sent are their own people. The investigation yields no results; they simply stall, and in the end, nothing is resolved.

"From the young master's perspective, he definitely wants to do this job perfectly—even if it's not perfect, it has to be done properly, otherwise the young master will be the one to take the blame."

The young master sighed and said, "You're right."

He began to complain: "I didn't ask for this job myself. His Majesty forced it on me. His Majesty is also short of money. He wants to use our family's influence to suppress those shady characters below and make them think twice before taking too much."

There's no need to say more; His Majesty certainly trusts the meritorious nobles more in this matter.

If you choose a civil official, they're already in cahoots...

Even those around His Majesty are not acceptable.

This dynasty has no figures like Eunuch Wang, Commander Lu, or Eunuch Liu.

Although the Imperial City Guard is infamous, it is actually an extension of His Majesty's authority.

After considering all the options, the Duke's Mansion was still the most suitable.

The young master said, "The goods are transported from India and will be sealed and loaded onto ships in Siam."

I will personally go to Siam to secure the first hurdle: loading the ship onto the Siamese ship!
Then, what I am most worried about is the waterway from Siam through Jiaozhi to Zhengzhou.

The canal had not yet reached India, so the goods had to be transported from India first and then loaded onto ships in Siam to travel through the canal.

"This stretch of road is the most dangerous. If something happens, those people will have the most excuses. So we need to set up a transshipment dock at the point where we are about to enter Zhengzhou from Jiaozhi, and open and inspect the boxes there to prevent them from being switched along the way."

Once a problem is discovered, it should be investigated promptly.

The young master had finished his soup and felt a bit thirsty, so he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then frowned and complained, "Don't you have any better tea? I've never had such awful tea before."

"Do you still want my help?" Xu Yuan retorted.

The young master chuckled: "I'll send you a boatload of tea later."

He's incredibly generous; while others might give a pound or two, he'd give a whole boatload.

The young master continued, "The reason this dock is located here is that the canals in Siam are too narrow for large ships to navigate, so the cargo from several small boats is combined into one large ship."

But this will inevitably make your area their primary target.

Xu Yuan asked, "If the transshipment terminal is located in Champa, there is still a long waterway from Champa to Beidu. How can we ensure safety along the way?"

Young Master: "It's not far from Zhengzhou from here. Once we enter Zhengzhou, I'm confident that at least 90% of the goods on the ship can be transported back."

Over the years, the Duke of Cheng's mansion has had its retainers spread throughout the entire Ming Dynasty.

In particular, the Duke's mansion had people in key positions in the local garrisons and military headquarters.

Although it's still impossible to prevent people from taking bribes, it's now possible to ensure that the amount is sufficient to satisfy the emperor.

The young master said, "Regarding Siam and Jiaozhi, after thinking it over, only you, brother-in-law, can put my mind at ease."

Xu Yuan chuckled to himself. Just moments ago, they were talking about the "third test," and now they're calling for their brother-in-law.

Ma Tianshou repeatedly gave Xu Yuan meaningful glances.

Xu Yuan pretended not to see it and lowered his head to think.

Banlan Gong spoke again: "You'd better think this through. There's more than one million taels of gold in here. The amount may far exceed our imagination!"
Moreover, you're not facing one or two high-ranking officials; you're facing an entire group.

Even your greatest backer in the court, Lord Wei Shiqi, is a member of this group.

Ma Tianshou couldn't care less about anything else and said in a deep voice, "A-Yuan, think it over!"

The young master gritted his teeth and said, "Brother-in-law, as long as you help me, our Duke's mansion can petition His Majesty to grant you and my sister a marriage!"

Xu Yuan raised his head and said, "Young Master, may I consider this for a few days?"

The young master looked disappointed, but Aunt Jiang stopped him from speaking and said, "It's fine, but please decide as soon as possible, Lord Xu. If you are unwilling, our Duke's Mansion will have to think of another way."

"it is good."

……

After the banquet, half a pot of soup that Liu Hu had cooked was left, which was secretly taken away by Grandpa Luo.

After seeing everyone off, Xu Yuan returned to his room alone and closed the door.

I was torn between two options.

It's supposed to be 15th of July in two months.

We shouldn't create unnecessary complications at this time.

Once the transshipment terminal is established in Champa, there will likely be no peace until the end of the Indian War.

But the young master had just helped him, and Princess Ruicheng also had his favor to consider…

Xu Yuan couldn't explicitly tell the Duke's Mansion his refusal, as they probably wouldn't understand.

Xu Yuan thought about it for a long time, but still couldn't make a decision.

Although it would offend the Duke's mansion, Xu Yuan rationally felt that he should refuse.

Xu Yuan went to the yard to fetch water, washed up quickly, and went to bed. Since there was still time, he could consider and weigh things further.

Back in his room, Xu Yuan didn't go to sleep immediately, but instead began to ponder a different problem:
Can it be promoted to third-rate?
There has been no movement from the cultivator.

This lineage wasn't passed down even in the alley. The initial basic knowledge came from my father's early "casual chats" where he instilled some knowledge in me.

Later, he met Bai Huahun and learned some cultivation methods.

After that, you'll have to figure it out on your own.

But after receiving the "Seven Treasures for Establishing a Temple" from the aggrieved party, Xu Yuan felt that his alchemy and the "Dragon Transformation Method" had a chance to be promoted to the third rank!
The hurdle to advancing to the third rank in alchemy is "refining oneself".

Aunt Wang has already told Xu Yuan about this.

However, it is not the kind of "refining myself" like Aunt Wang's, but rather a "refining and merging" of the inner elixir with oneself, a fundamental reflection and summary of one's own alchemy.

Simply put, it means finding your own path in alchemy, how it differs from other alchemists, and what makes you "unique".

Once this is clear, alchemists can see the path to the upper-class and advance to the lower-class.

Xu Yuan is still reflecting on this and hasn't figured it out yet.

According to Aunt Wang's experience, this kind of reasoning is not about creating some mysterious or metaphysical "theory".

Instead, we need to find that specific "point".

It refers to certain specific aspects in actual operation.

You don't need to innovate on theories.

The path of the Seven Great Gates has already been paved; you just need to follow it.

In this era, the moment you innovate, evil spirits laugh.

With the addition of a drop of dragon blood from the amber, Xu Yuan's confidence in mastering the "Dragon Transformation Technique" greatly increased.

Moreover, both the gall bladder and the fish stone came from the giant beast.

When a giant beast reaches a certain size, it can also be called a "dragon".

These can all be used as bait to cultivate the "Dragon Transformation Technique".

However, the difficulty of the "Dragon Transformation Method" is that there are no subsequent techniques.

Top-tier martial arts techniques are strictly controlled, and it's not easy to obtain them.

There's also a "technical" issue involved.

After clarifying their own unique path to the top three ranks, the alchemist's "refining oneself" requires further "refining and integrating" the inner core with themselves.

In this process, one modifies the inner alchemy and oneself to conform as closely as possible to one's own "Dao".

But once Xu Yuan's Dragon Pearl inner core is combined... it's very likely that the deception will be exposed.

Xu Yuan was somewhat troubled.

The young master's problem remains unresolved, and this new layer of worry has added to the burden.

Lord Xu can't sleep.

Outside the Champa government, in the shadows beneath a wall, stood a shadowy figure.

"What's wrong with everyone tonight? Aren't they sleeping?"

Xu Huanyang looked helpless: "This brat won't sleep, how am I supposed to dream about him..."

In the darkness, his hand, with its sharp, slender fingers, revealed a slit leading to the "Lingxiao" (a celestial abode) through its manipulation.

The toad poked its head out from the "resentful aura": "Nobody's asleep? Besides your son, who else isn't asleep?"

Young Master and Aunt Jiang didn't sleep either.

The young master asked Aunt Jiang for advice: "Why won't you let me speak? I wanted to persuade him. If he helps me this time, I'll support him when we go to Beidu in the future."

"Don't let my sister's favor fool you; when it comes to power, she's no match for me. He probably understands that."

Aunt Jiang shook her head and asked, "Have you ever wondered why Banlan Gong was in Champa?"

The young master was taken aback; he really hadn't thought of that.

Most people would think twice if they saw a second-rate person appear in Jiaozhi.

Only the young master wouldn't do that.

"I do not know."

Aunt Jiang: "I didn't know either, so after I saw Banlan Gong, I used the 'Harmony Wheel' to ask my family."

The family sent someone to inquire with Eunuch Wang..."

The young master then chuckled and asked, "How much silver did it cost?"

"Twenty thousand taels for a piece of information from him." Aunt Jiang then told him about the six criminals and said, "So forcing him won't work. This time we've probably wasted our time."

With only two months left until the Ghost Festival (July 15th of the lunar calendar), he certainly didn't want any unforeseen complications.

The young master slumped into his chair in despair: "What am I going to do? From Siam to Jiaozhi, who can I trust?"

He didn't blame Xu Yuan, nor did he feel that he had "worked in vain," since he had always helped his future brother-in-law.

He also lacked the willpower to persevere, and after Aunt Jiang said that, he gave up his plan to persuade Xu Yuan.

He's just used to it; when he encounters difficulties and doesn't know what to do, he just passes the buck to someone else.

From childhood to adulthood, the people around me have always helped me solve problems.

He believed that Aunt Jiang could help him solve this problem as well.

But this time, Aunt Jiang also looked serious, unable to think of a suitable candidate for a moment.

The Duke of Cheng's mansion was a towering tree in the Ming Dynasty.

They had many followers, and the Duke of Cheng's mansion was capable of arranging suitable places for them.

Neither Siam nor Cochinchina were "good places to go".

So there aren't many people from the Duke's mansion here...

Banlan Gong was not asleep either; he stood by his beloved disciple's bedside.

Little Thread Girl is already fast asleep.

Little Thread Girl has been eating well lately, and her little face has become a bit chubby. Her long eyelashes sometimes flutter in her sleep, making her look very cute.

Banlan Gong looked at his disciple and sighed softly. He knew his disciple couldn't hear him, but he still muttered to himself, "I did try to persuade your adopted brother."

I was carrying a huge responsibility, so I explained the whole situation to him in great detail. When Eunuch Wang finds out, he'll probably blame me.

If he still refuses to listen and rushes in... then I, his master, won't be able to save him. My dear disciple, please don't blame me..."

He wiped the fine sweat from his disciple's forehead, shook his head, and turned to leave.

He walked along complaining, "God, why didn't I meet the Thread Girl before that brat?"
Alas, the sky is almost gone, and I'm getting senile...

……

Xu Huanyang waited until late at night until Xu Yuan finally fell asleep.

He then flicked his finger, and "Lingxiao" seemed to have its stage curtain secretly lifted, revealing a corner of it.

Dozens of hairs on Xu Huanyang's head twisted together, transforming into jet-black tentacles that reached inside.

Xu Yuan had just fallen asleep when, in a daze, he saw his elderly father once again.

"father--"

Xu Huanyang quickly replied, "Promise the young master, in exchange, I'll borrow that jade mace from his family."

“Okay, I’ve got it. Father, this thing is…”

Xu Huanyang nodded before he could finish speaking: "Don't say anymore."

Xu Yuan immediately shut up, then asked in confusion, "Father, did you foresee all of this?"

Xu Huanyang's eyes were a little strange. How could I have predicted that you and Princess Ruicheng would have a marriage?
How could anyone have predicted that the Duke of Cheng's mansion would be involved?

There are too many random factors involved.

However, it is still generally within a controllable range.

Because of these "unexpected events," the chances of success will be even higher.

Xu Yuan wanted to ask more, but Xu Huanyang had already turned around and disappeared, leaving only a fog in the dream.

……

The next day, the young master had already ordered his men to pack their things, preparing to bid farewell to Xu Yuan.

It's a pity I can't play with that little beast girl with her tiny waist that can make water splash for a few more days.

Unexpectedly, Xu Yuan arrived first: "Young Master, I agree."

"What?" The young master thought he had misheard. Xu Yuan said again, "Set up the transshipment terminal in Champa, and I will keep an eye on it for you."

"That's wonderful!" the young master exclaimed with delight. "I knew it! The person my sister has her eye on must be a man of honor!"

He patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I'll keep your two lovers in Champa a secret and promise not to tell my sister."

(End of this chapter)