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Chapter 570 True Spirit
Fu Yi's face bears a striking resemblance to Fu Yangwei's.

In fact, he was the one who looked most like his father among all of Fu Yangwei's children.

Sometimes, Fu Yangwei would lament the cruel twist of fate. This eldest son was the one who gave him the strongest sense of bloodline continuity. If he hadn't been born to that woman…

Unfortunately, there is no if.

At this moment, a hint of satisfaction from being praised appeared on his face, which resembled Fu Yangwei's.

But it also seems like he's intentionally suppressing it, not wanting to appear overconfident.

He acted so convincingly that he seemed like an unappreciated illegitimate son from a prominent family, harboring his own resentment and ambition, yet lacking the shrewdness and maturity to support his aspirations.

Fu Yi wanted them to see him that way.

These people's flattery is worthless; they have no real loyalty.

Fu Yi believed that more than one of them would secretly report all their actions to their father.

If he says to his own face, "Among the master's bloodline, the eldest son is the most outstanding," then when he is in front of his father, he will surely say, "Fu Yi is only fit to carry the shoes of the other sons."

Fu Yi understood many things from a very young age.

In prominent families, an illegitimate child born without a mother would not live long if he did not know how to disguise and hide himself.

Fu Yi never believed his father's "hints".

But he still had to appear "useful," otherwise he would be worthless in his father's eyes.

But it can't be too useful, or my father will have to painfully ruin himself.

Fu Yi raised his wine bowl and said, "Today's test of skill has been a resounding success! It is all thanks to the great help of everyone."

Tomorrow we will take the next step and completely destroy this construction site!

We still need your unwavering support!

Rest assured, everyone, I will not forget your contributions after this is accomplished. I will first offer my thanks to you all!

The feigned "young master's heroic spirit" made these desperate criminals, who had lived on the edge of death, secretly laugh.

But they all raised their wine bowls and said, "Thank you for your high regard, young master!"

"From now on, we will follow the lead of the eldest young master!"

"From now on, I will only recognize the eldest son at home."

Taking the opportunity, Fu Yi explained the plan for tomorrow: to venture deeper into Xiaoyu Mountain to capture an even stronger evil spirit and refine its true spirit.

The loyal followers naturally expressed their willingness to serve him faithfully.

This was an order from the master, and they dared not disobey it.

After drinking for another half an hour, the assassins finally dispersed.

After Fu Yi saw these people off, the moment he closed the door, his face turned icy cold: "A bunch of idiots!"

They sell themselves out to curry favor with their fathers, but how much trust can they gain?
"He was destined to be a henchman for life, lacking the talent to stand on his own."

Immediately, Fu Yi looked dejected: "The people my father sent to me have all been screened by him; he won't send any promising talents to me..."

He turned around, walked back, sat down, and stared blankly at the oil lamp, suddenly feeling a chill.

He shivered and looked out the window in confusion: "It's raining? It's already May, why do I still feel cold?"

He walked to the window and looked out through the crack—a faint, invisible, grayish-black "dust" silently drifted out of his nostrils.

This is one of his "true spirits".

Over the years, every time his father sent him out to do something and used the "Condensing True Spirit Technique," he would secretly keep a portion of it, slowly accumulating this "True Spirit."

The "dust" sprinkled on his body formed a "Fu Yi" shell, like a mold.

It looks exactly like him, without the slightest difference.

Apart from the soul, this outer shell can be verified by most of the world's methods of "authentication".

The outer shell stood by the window, while the spirit itself was replaced by a "true spirit," turning into a cloud of "dust" that flowed rapidly from the seven orifices of the outer shell, becoming an invisible and intangible stream of sand that seeped into the cracks in the room's floor.

This "true spirit" contains abilities such as: double-shadowing, transformation between reality and illusion, and mind-reading, each originating from different evil spirits.

These evil spirits are rare and possess unique abilities.

Without his father's errands, Fu Yi would have had no chance of capturing and refining it on his own.

But it was Fu Yi's skill to condense all these abilities into a single true spirit.

Fu Yi's skill level was indeed fifth-rate, but his understanding of the "Condensing Truth Method" surpassed that of a fifth-rate practitioner.

This true spirit was his most secretive method, and he would never reveal or use it unless it was a matter of life and death.

But all was silent outside the window, and then the door suddenly creaked open.

The fleeing quicksand was instantly frozen, unable to move, and awkwardly stuck inside and outside the gap in the floor.

Fu Yi felt a chill run through him: "Which fourth-rate expert or higher has set their sights on me?!"

For most cultivators in this world, the middle-third level is already an existence they can only look up to.

Those at the fourth level or above are considered "highly skilled and capable" in the absolute sense.

Fu Yi was shocked because when he sent away those assassins, he clearly closed the door and bolted it from the inside.

But just a moment ago, it felt as if someone had pulled the bolt from the inside and opened the door.

There was no one else in the room except Fu Yi.

Therefore, the "person" who opened the door could only be Fu Yi himself.

Fu Yi, who had transformed into a true spirit, did indeed see "himself," that is, the true spirit in a mold, walk behind the door and open it!
Another "self" walked in from outside the door!

This feeling is incredibly strange and disjointed: seeing yourself inside the door opening the door for another version of yourself outside!
The "self" that walked in from outside the door acted strangely, with a stiffness in its movements.

After entering, "myself" closed the door and then grinned at "myself" strangely—

It was utterly chaotic. Fu Yi, who had transformed into a true spirit, immediately showed signs of self-awareness disorder!
If left unchecked, he will gradually come to believe that he is merely a "true spirit".

Not Fu Yi himself!
"Stay calm!" Fu Yi shouted inwardly. "My greatest obsession is to take everything from Fu Yangwei!"

This is the key to his anchoring of his own understanding.

With that low shout, his wavering belief was reaffirmed: "I am his eldest son, and it was only right that I should inherit all of this."

"I'm simply taking back what's rightfully mine!"

"I won't let anyone take it from me, not even Fu Yangwei himself!"

A soft chuckle suddenly echoed in the room, followed by a voice saying, "I really underestimated you."

Fu Yi suddenly felt that something had landed on his self-awareness anchor point, and then he could no longer get rid of it.

"Oh no!" he thought to himself.

Then he received an "order".

He was extremely unwilling, but he could not disobey the order. He could only gather the quicksand back from the cracks in the floor and transform it into his own true spirit.

Thus, three "Fu Yi" appeared in the room.

Lord Xu has already quietly left.

There's no need for him to appear at all. The lice have fallen, and Lord Xu doesn't need to ask Fu Yi to know what he wants; he'll know naturally.

Lord Xu doesn't need to tell Fu Yi what he needs to do; Fu Yi must do it.

Xu Yuan hadn't expected Fu Yi to be so "ambitious".

He lay low in the Fu family for decades, waiting for an opportunity to completely inherit everything from Fu Yangwei.

His mind was extremely twisted. The Fu family killed his mother, and Fu Yangwei used him—all of this hatred gave rise to this obsession in his heart.

You look down on me, you refuse to acknowledge me, but I will take everything from Fu Yangwei in the normal "father dies, son succeeds" way!
His obsession was an "unexpected delight" for Xu Yuan.

Lord Xu quickly devised a plan to deal with Fu Yangwei.

Xu Yuan hadn't expected that Fu Yi could actually use the power of the "True Spirit," and that the True Spirit's power included the ability to "transform between reality and illusion."

This ability is somewhat effective against lice.

The world is full of wonders, and abilities are ever-changing.

Xu Yuan certainly wouldn't be so arrogant as to think that the lice could conquer the world.

But I really didn't expect that a fifth-rate person could cause the parasite to fail.

Xu Yuan originally thought it would be at least a fourth-rate.

However, the appearance of the puppet "Fu Yi" carved by the puppet shop caused Fu Yi to lose his sense of self.

Fu Yi had no choice but to activate his cognitive anchor.

Once this anchor point is exposed, and a lice land on it, Fu Yi will find it difficult to escape Lord Xu's control.

However, this can only be considered a minor accident.

Now that Lord Xu has come, even if the parasitic attempt fails, Lord Xu will still kill Fu Yi without mercy.

Fu Yi could no longer stir up any waves.

However, it would be best if we could control Fu Yi.

The puppet workshop was a place where puppets of Fu Yi were carved under the cover of a "Ten Thousand Souls Cloak".

Once the puppetry technique is activated, the target will definitely become aware of it.

Xu Yuan thought that with the "Ten Thousand Souls Cloak" covering up the flaw, he could hide it.

But to his surprise, Fu Yi still noticed.

This is, of course, due to some kind of power condensed within the "True Spirit".

However, it also made Xu Yuan secretly realize that the heroes of the world should not be underestimated.

If Fu Yi, a mere fifth-rate individual, possesses such abilities, who can say for sure that when he encounters other opponents in the future, they might also have hidden methods to pierce through this concealment and perceive the danger posed by the puppetry method?
Inside the room, the replica formed from the true spirit's mold shattered.

Fu Yi has returned to his true self.

The puppet Fu Yi quickly shrank to the size of a fist and fell to the ground with a thud.

The puppet show has lost its magic.

Fu Yi picked up the wood carving, sat back down at the table, and with a clench of his fist, the carving shattered into pieces.

But Fu Yi's expression turned strange.

He did not resist the orders given to him by his "master" in secret.

In fact, the master's orders were in perfect harmony with his obsession.

He felt that as long as he obeyed his master's orders, he would have a better chance of realizing his dream!
As for Xu Yuan, it was from Fu Yi that he learned for sure about the Fu family's control over the third-rate techniques of the "Dragon Transformation Method".

The Hualong family would not easily bestow upon someone a third-rate cultivation technique.

Even if Xu Yuan really killed Fu Gaohu, he still couldn't obtain a third-rate technique through soul interrogation.

It is a well-known fact that:

All members of the Dragon Transformation Clan, once they acquire a third-rate cultivation technique, will have a restriction placed on their souls, and any related memories will be immediately erased upon death.

To acquire a third-rate martial arts technique, one not only needs to reach a certain level and be promoted immediately, but also needs to make a great contribution. However, Xu Yuan has an opportunity: Fu Yangwei's level is high enough, and as long as he can make a great contribution in Lucheng, he can acquire the third-rate "Dragon Transformation Technique".

But there is a secret involved, concerning the core inheritance of the Hualong family.

Even within the Hualong family, the family members wouldn't know until they were promoted from fourth-rate to third-rate.

But Fu Yi was no ordinary member of the Fu family.

He was excluded from the core members of the family, but he was a scheming double agent who had been in the Fu family for decades, so he eventually found out the secret.

The third-rate techniques of the "Dragon Transformation Method" are not in the hands of the Dragon Transformation Clan.

It was personally taught by the Dragon King of the Grand Canal!
Whether the merits made by the descendants of the Dragon Clan are sufficient—the judge is also the Dragon King of the Canal.

For example, after Fu Yangwei made a contribution, he didn't need to return to his family. He only needed to find the nearest "Dragon King Temple," burn a petition to the Grand Canal Dragon King, and if he gained the Grand Canal Dragon King's approval, he would be granted a third-rate martial arts technique on the spot.

The restriction on the souls of all third-rate cultivators of the "Dragon Transformation Technique" was also placed by the Grand Canal Dragon King.

Over the years, Fu Yi has subtly probed and secretly investigated, corroborating and integrating fragmented information to uncover the truth.

Xu Yuan nodded secretly as well:

It may differ from the truth, but... that makes sense.

Most of the rumors circulating outside are actually fabricated by the Hualong Family.

No matter how powerful the Dragon Transformation Clan is, how can they place a restriction on a third-rate soul?
The family wouldn't dare do that.

But if it were the Dragon King of the Grand Canal, who would dare to disobey?!

Behind every canal administration office, there was a "Dragon King Temple".

The local river supervisor is also the "temple keeper" of this Dragon King Temple.

However, the river supervisor at the Zhancheng wharf was one of Xu Yuan's "own people," so Xu Yuan knew very well that this "temple keeper" was only responsible for spending a portion of the revenue from the local canal wharf to purchase various items and send them to the Dragon King Temple.

Apart from that, he only attends events at the Dragon King Temple during certain major festivals.

The Dragon King Temple was basically independent of the Grand Canal Administration. The person who was truly responsible for the daily operation of the Dragon King Temple was called the "Temple Master".

Even for the Grand Canal Administration, the Dragon King Temple and its temple keeper were extremely mysterious.

For example, at the Dragon King Temple in Champa, the temple keeper would provide the river supervisor with a purchasing list every month.

Besides the incense, candles, and yellow paper that are commonly used in temples, there are also some strange things.

And it's different every month.

For example, last month's purchase list included "400 catties of damp gunpowder", "three hanging ropes", and "six cavities from starving people", etc.

These are already difficult to handle, but the list from the month before last included something even more difficult to deal with, such as "a 40-year-old woman's menstrual blood weighing ten kilograms"...

In fact, before meeting Xu Yuan, the thing that troubled the river supervisor the most every month was this purchasing list.

Before taking office, the River Supervisor received personal instructions from his superior, who explained some of the "rules" for being an official in the Grand Canal government.

One of the rules is: Respect the temple officials but keep your distance.

However, the river supervisor quickly discovered that even if you tried to get close to him, he wouldn't pay any attention to you.

The river supervisor has been at the Champa wharf for three years, and has only seen this temple master three times.

All of these take place during the "Grand Celebration" ritual held annually to celebrate the birthday of the Dragon King of the Grand Canal.

The monthly purchases and deliveries were handled by the temple boys under the temple master.

Even when the newly appointed River Supervisor came to pay his respects, the Temple Master did not come out to receive him.

With a thought, Xu Yuan found the image of the temple master of the Champa Dragon King Temple in the memories of the River Supervisor.

Surprisingly young, he looked to be no more than twenty years old.

His complexion was an unnatural dark red.

His hands are always tucked into his wide sleeves, and he never shows them, even when he is presiding over the rituals for the Dragon King's birthday.

At least the river supervisor had never seen his hands.

Besides that, what's most impressive about this temple keeper is:
His eyes were deathly white, with no pupils.

Moreover, his eyelids are thick and heavy, so it's not noticeable when his eyes are open, but when his eyes are closed, it looks as if they are covered with a layer of scales.

Xu Yuan had a strange feeling in his heart, so the river supervisor in the canal government office got up and went to the office's records room without any trouble.

They unearthed some ancient records.

Although the Dragon King Temple is a separate entity within the Grand Canal Administration, some basic records still exist.

But the river supervisor searched back a long time before finally finding the temple keeper's record of taking office in records from fifty years ago.

The current temple master's surname is Li, and his given name is Ji.

In other words, this temple priest Li Ji looks to be in his early twenties, but he has actually been the temple priest of the Dragon King Temple in Champa for fifty years!
If Fu Yangwei performs meritorious service, he will go to the Dragon King Temple in Lucheng to report to the Dragon King of the Grand Canal.

The temples in Lucheng are probably similar to those in Champa.

Xu Yuan couldn't help but wonder: Was it the Grand Canal Dragon King who taught him the "Dragon Transformation Technique," or... the Temple Master?
Does the Dragon King of the Grand Canal have so much free time to concern himself with all the dragon-transforming families in the world?
In that instant, Lord Xu even felt a surge of wickedness and wanted to capture the temple magistrate to judge the soul.

But the idea was quickly abandoned.

The temple keeper is too mysterious.

They are likely closely connected to the Dragon King of the Grand Canal, and harming them could bring terrible consequences.

“However…” Xu Yuan’s mind raced: “Fu Yi is already a fifth-rate cultivator. If he advances to the fourth-rate and makes a great contribution, wouldn’t he be able to go to the Dragon King Temple himself and obtain the third-rate ‘Dragon Transformation Technique’?”

Fu Yi has just been promoted to the fifth rank, and is still far from the fourth rank.

But Lord Xu's leather dragon is only fourth-rate.

……

In the Lucheng Canal Government Office, Fu Yangwei, a burly man with a slightly hunched back and the bearing of a dragon, sat at his desk, looking at the second report that had just been delivered, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

This eldest son has always been hardworking.

Having only been in Champa for a few days, he had already made two moves, causing unrest at the construction sites he had handed over.

The first condensation of the true medicine triggered a zombie disaster among the laborers.

The second condensation of the true spirit nurtured a powerful evil spirit in the canal, which has not yet been eradicated, causing the construction site to come to a complete standstill.

Banlan Gong made a move and killed the evil spirit in the river. However, as soon as Banlan Gong left, the evil spirit that had been killed reappeared.

Xu Yuan then invited Banlan Gong to come again. Banlan Gong made a second move, but as soon as he left, the evil spirit reappeared.

However, a second-rate company cannot stay on the construction site forever.

Upon seeing this, Fu Yangwei smiled.

Killing the evil spirit is useless. Once the evil spirit is killed, its true spirit will escape and enter the body of the next host, becoming another powerful evil spirit.

"Don't underestimate him just because he's second-rate. If he didn't understand the Condensing True Essence Technique, he wouldn't have been able to come up with a complete solution."

Fu Yangwei got up and walked outside.

"Everyone's attention is on Fu Yi."

"It's time to do something that truly means something to me."

Fu Yangwei has been in the fourth rank for quite some time. Although the family has strict rules, only those with sufficient cultivation and great merit will be granted access to the third rank.

But with so many people in the family, how could it possibly be kept a secret?
He had previously rendered great service, but after reporting to the Dragon King of the Grand Canal, he was not granted the third-rate dragon transformation technique. He then understood:

This merit will be useful to the Dragon King of the Grand Canal.

If it only benefits the family, no matter how great the contribution, the Dragon King of the Grand Canal will not bestow credit.

The matter of rebuilding the transshipment terminal in Champa is only related to the family, and the Dragon King of the Canal will not care.

Therefore, Fu Yi's trip to the Champa dock was just a pretext.

Fu Yangwei, dressed in plain clothes, quietly left Lucheng through the back door of the yamen.

A day later, he appeared outside Miaopo Village.

Lord Xu immediately learned of Fu Yangwei's whereabouts.

Fu Yangwei never expected that someone in Lucheng had been watching his every move.

Even with such a commotion at the Champa docks, these people still just stared intently at him.

The brothers that Yu Yunhang valued were indeed quite capable.

They took turns keeping watch, and as soon as they saw Fu Yangwei leave Lucheng, they followed him.

Moreover, knowing their own low skill level, they dared not get too close, keeping a distance of two miles from Fu Yangwei.

It all depends on the ancestral skills of the Exorcism Bureau, which trace the clues on the ground.

Xu Yuan was also surprised. What was Fu Yangwei doing in Miaopo Village? But there was no doubt that he was going to the township office and Aunt Wang.

Xu Yuan set off immediately and arrived at Miaopo Village as quickly as possible.

On the way, Xu Yuan realized something: what Fu Yangwei wanted most right now was to be promoted to a third-rate position.

He went to Miaopo Village to make a name for himself, to make a great contribution.

Lord Xu met the brothers outside the village. The leader was a mountain-moving captain named Ji Si Na.

He was of above-average appearance and had a capable and efficient demeanor.

He was also a cultivator specializing in alchemy.

"My lord." Upon seeing Xu Yuan, Ji Si Na said urgently, "Fu Yangwei has gone to the township office."

Xu Yuan's face darkened, fearing that he was too late and wouldn't be able to explain himself to his fourth uncle.

"You all stay here," Xu Yuan said, and immediately headed towards the township office.

If Aunt Wang's flesh and blood jungle were to open, it could be seen from miles away.

However, after Xu Yuan spat out a breath of "Dragon Spits Mirage" to cover his figure, he had already approached within half a mile, and the township office was deathly silent.

Xu Yuan frowned.

Aunt Wang raises a large flock of ducks and geese, which run around freely and quack loudly all day long.

Xu Yuan thought about it for a moment, but did not rush in.

The spell he used to conceal his whereabouts was "Dragon Spitting a Clam", but Fu Yangwei also practiced the Dragon Transformation Technique, so his whereabouts might be exposed.

In the river next to the government office, undercurrents surged, and Pi Long quietly peeked out from the water.

Wang Laoshi was pinned down by seven long bone spikes.

He was pinned to the wall.

Blood pooled at the base of the wall.

Fu Yangwei moved a chair and sat down in front of her, saying coldly and cruelly, "Where exactly is that River-Suppressing Beast that was forged back then hidden?"
You can fool the Imperial Guards, but you can't fool me.

If you still refuse to confess, I will have no choice but to kill you and perform the soul-searching ritual.

(End of this chapter)