No taboos

Chapter 356 Three "I"s (Combined)

Xu Yuan entered Qihetai Town in a very low-key manner.

The local township office is functioning well.

The clerk of the public office was a Mountain Moving Captain.

They were also sent from the Champa government.

Ah Guang and Xi Ya both worked as assistants in the government office, much like the unemployed servants in the county government.

But in Qihetai Town, he was already a person of considerable status.

Originally, Master Qiao wanted to become the head of the village. After the town hall was established, the town hall would naturally be in charge of all affairs.

There would be no need for village chiefs anymore.

Lord Xu's current status is already that of a high-ranking official, almost like the heavens, in the eyes of this small public office.

This public office was established because of Lord Xu's suggestion.

Therefore, everyone in the government office took extra care in serving Lord Xu.

Xu Yuan called over A-Guang and Xi-Ya-Zi, wanting to chat with his old friend for a while.

The two, however, appeared unusually reserved.

Basically, they answered whatever Lord Xu asked.

I dared not utter a single extra word.

Xu Yuan noticed their discomfort and decided not to press them further, instructing, "The locals are going out for a walk; you don't need to follow."

Xu Yuan went to see the "Yifangting" inn, which had been destroyed but rebuilt.

It's still an inn, but it's changed owners and renamed "Wanquan".

Xu Yuan couldn't help but recall a moonlit night a few months ago, when evil spirits howled outside and Erliang inside was thinking about women.

It feels like it was just last night.

And yet it seems... it has already flowed away with the river of time to a distant place that can only be reminisced about.

When the waiter saw someone standing in front of the door for a long time, he came out and asked, "Does the guest need a room? If you have any difficulties, you can rest for the night in the woodshed in the backyard of our shop, although it is simple."

The young man was also thirteen or fourteen years old, with a youthful face and clear eyes.

Xu Yuan smiled, just like when he first arrived in Qihetai Town.

"Thank you." Xu Yuan turned and left. "But it's not necessary."

Next, Xu Yuan went to Grandma Ying's house.

When she left, she was still worried about this courtyard.

I just had a casual chat with A-Guang and Xi-Ya-Zi, mainly asking them if they often come to clean.

The two of them naturally said they would come often.

Xu Yuan looked around and saw that the courtyard was clean and tidy, so the two of them were not lying.

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

Tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve.

Before Xu Yuan came out this time, he had roughly calculated the time and made an appointment with Aunt Wang. Aunt Wang would also be coming back, and everyone would celebrate the New Year together in the alley.

Xu Yuan first bought all kinds of New Year's goods in the county town, and then returned to Hegong Lane.

Before leaving home to take up his post, Xu Yuan thought he wouldn't be able to come back for the Chinese New Year this year.

Unexpectedly, it happened to be in Ghost Mountain.

I ran into Uncle Mao at the alley entrance.

When the latter saw Xu Yuan carrying all those bags, she couldn't help but smile and went over to help him carry them: "You're back."

"I happened to be in Guiwu Mountain yesterday, so I came back to celebrate the New Year."

"Aunt Wang came back yesterday and already told us. Your stepmother should be waiting for you."

"Aunt Wang is back."

Uncle Mao couldn't help but laugh: "You're back, with a bunch of people following you, hehehe."

The teachers in the Third Sister's Guild were reluctant to let Aunt Wang leave.

But this time, Aunt Wang was very determined to go home for the New Year.

The teachers decided to come to Shanhe County with them.

Uncle Mao picked them up yesterday.

Seeing those masters with their own eyes, each with tears in their eyes, they all said, "So our ancestral grandmother lived right here, only a few hundred miles away! We haven't seen her for decades."

Aunt Wang sent them to stay in the inns in the county town.

Then I breathed a sigh of relief.

During this time, these people stayed around her and served her all day long.

But Aunt Wang has long been used to doing everything herself over the decades.

In Champa, I was practically waited on hand and foot; it was really hard to get used to.

Xu Yuan and Uncle Mao entered the house, and Xu Yuan shouted, "I'm back!"

Lin Wanmo had been feeling uneasy ever since Aunt Wang returned yesterday. Ah Yuan had gone to Ghost Mountain.

Xu Yuanzhen is back. She felt relieved, but said in an annoyed tone, "You're back, so what's with the shouting? Do you expect me to welcome you?"

Xu Yuan put down his belongings and said matter-of-factly, "I'm hungry!"

I'll only be staying at home for two days at most; I have to go back to Champa the day after tomorrow.

This timeframe was within the stepmother's tolerance.

You can order whatever you like these two days.

Sure enough, even though my stepmother had a sharp tongue, she rolled her eyes, put on her apron, and went to cook.

"Fourth Uncle, why don't you stay and eat with us?"

Uncle Mao declined a couple of times, but was still asked to stay.

Lin Wanmo simply instructed Xu Yuan: "Go and call Uncle Shen and Aunt Wang over. It's been a long time since we've all had a meal together."

Xu Yuan went there.

When the two elders were called over, Aunt Wang was still angry with Uncle Shen, her face stern and she couldn't be bothered to pay attention to the old man.

During the meal, Grandpa Shen asked Xu Yuan, "How is things at the Exorcism Bureau?"

“It’s pretty good.” Xu Yuan then recounted his experiences in Champa.

Grandpa Shen listened attentively, but Aunt Wang couldn't help but say sarcastically, "You abandoned the child and didn't care whether he lived or died, so why are you asking all these questions now?"

Grandpa Shen glared at Aunt Wang, then silently filled a bag with cigarettes and started smoking.

After a while, he said, "Before you go back to Champa, come to my place and bring me some things."

“No need,” Xu Yuan quickly waved his hand, “I don’t lack anything in Champa…”

Aunt Wang stopped him, saying, "Take it! Why shouldn't you take it? Are you suggesting we let this old man put it in the box?"

Xu Yuan was both amused and exasperated.

Although the two elders were at odds, Xu Yuan was very satisfied with his stepmother's cooking skills.

After finishing his meal, Xu Yuan asked Aunt Wang, "Which of these tree holes contains the real seed?"

Aunt Wang said, "Release your inner core. The true seed and the inner core will attract each other—the stronger the attraction, the more suitable the true seed is for you."

Xu Yuan nodded and released his Dragon Pearl inner core.

When Grandpa Shen saw Xu Yuan's inner core, his eyelids twitched: "Dragon Transformation Technique..."

Since everyone present was their true selves, Xu Yuan didn't hide anything and nodded, saying, "I killed someone who cultivated the Dragon Transformation Technique and used her dragon pearl to exchange for my original medicinal core."

Grandpa Shen complained, "Why didn't you just say that you were also practicing the Dragon Transformation Technique?"

Aunt Wang retorted, "You don't care whether the child lives or dies, what's the point of telling you all this detail?"

Grandpa Shen snapped, "Shut up, old woman! I'm talking to the kids about serious business! A-Yuan has cultivated the Dragon Transformation Technique. If he can quickly advance to the fifth rank, he can be of help during the Ghost Festival next July!"

Aunt Wang was taken aback, but Lin Wanmo shook his head: "Master doesn't want A-Yuan to get involved."

This time, Xu Yuan did not accept their "protection" again, but he also did not rudely reject the kindness of his stepmother and his deceased father.

He said, "If I am not capable, I will accept the arrangements made by my father and stepmother."

But I'll soon be a fifth-rate alchemist.

Moreover, in other people's eyes, the fact that I come from Hegong Lane is undeniable.

The stepmother remained steadfast in carrying out her master's instructions: "No means no!"

Xu Yuan said, "If my Dragon Transformation Technique reaches the fifth rank before the Ghost Festival next July, then you can let me come back to help."

If I can't do that, I promise I'll never mention it again, okay?

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

Grandpa Shen coughed, interrupting her: "Xiao Mo, A Yuan is not a child anymore."

Lin Wanmo paused.

Xu Yuan is no longer a child, and in just a few months, he has already risen to the fifth rank, and is now in charge of the Exorcism Bureau of the Champa Prefecture!
Grandpa Shen took a puff of his cigarette, slowly exhaled the smoke, and said, "When Ma Tianshou first came to see A Yuan, I was also very hesitant, and even wanted to stop Ma Tianshou."

But look at A-Yuan now—even those young people in Beidu who've been hyped up to the skies aren't necessarily better than our A-Yuan!

Lin Wanmo said, "That further proves that Master's arrangement was correct. A-Yuan has a bright future and should not be dragged down by Hegong Lane!"

Grandpa Shen didn't directly refute her. He tapped his pipe and said, "This matter, I, the old man, will decide based on my seniority: let's do as A-Yuan says!"

"No, this won't work..." Lin Wanmo said anxiously.

Grandpa Shen waved his hand: "Girl, you meant well, but you didn't think that if A-Yuan really accepted your arrangement, this matter would probably become a knot in his heart that he could never untie for the rest of his life!"
Moreover... as A-Yuan rises step by step in the future, he will inevitably come into the sights of those people in Beidu.

"If he doesn't completely resolve his family issues, those people in Beidu will hold him back for life, preventing him from rising to a high position."

Lin Wanmo was also bewildered, but rationally she understood that what Grandpa Shen said was right.

But she still felt that "the teacher's command is of paramount importance".

She couldn't help but look at Aunt Wang.

Aunt Wang nodded to her: "During my time in Zhancheng, I've been thinking about how generations of us have guarded this alley and made countless efforts..."

But if we're talking about someone who truly has a chance to completely resolve this matter, it's only Ah Yuan.

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

Xu Yuan's promotion speed even surpassed that of her back then.

Her teacher herself said that she was the most talented person in Hegong Lane in the past hundred years.

But she found it hard to accept disobeying her master's orders.

Lin Wanmo got up without saying a word, went into her room, and closed the door tightly.

Xu Yuan let out a breath; his stepmother was having a hard time accepting this.

Grandpa Shen and Aunt Wang exchanged a glance, a rare moment of unspoken understanding: it seems they need to find an opportunity to call Xu Huanyang back and discuss this matter with him.

Aunt Wang said to Xu Yuan, "Alright, find the true seed and plant it in the inner core."

Xu Yuan nodded and then manipulated the inner core of the Dragon Pearl to sense each of the tree eyes.

Before long, I felt that the inner core of the Dragon Ball and a certain tree eye were uncontrollably drawing closer to each other.

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

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

The surface is covered with intricate pale gold patterns.

It is full of mysterious beauty.

"The higher the level, the more difficult and dangerous the promotion becomes," Aunt Wang said. "When you're promoted to the sixth rank, there will be..."

Aunt Wang remembered that Ah Yuan's promotion to the sixth rank was also due to her protection.

He was on high alert, ready to risk his life.

As a result, not a single evil spirit came to interfere!

So Aunt Wang glossed over that part and continued, "Rising to the fifth rank is even more dangerous. You plant the true essence in your inner elixir, and the changes in the inner elixir will trigger changes in your own life level."

You will gradually experience another level of the world—the turbid realm.

You will feel some special changes in yourself:
For example, you might suddenly feel like you've turned into a ball of fire, or into a monster with many eyes and hands, or become stuck to the space around you, and so on.

Don't panic or be afraid at this time; this is a normal state.

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

Panic and chaos will be disastrous; your consciousness may scatter to every corner of the mortal world and never be able to gather back!
However, this process will not last long.

Generally, you can count to thirty in your mind and that's about it.

You can feel yourself returning to normal.

After this, you need to be careful!
The evil spirits and strange occurrences in the turbid realm will notice you.

They are born with a hatred for all living beings and will never sit idly by while you advance. They will use all sorts of unexpected methods to prevent your advancement and turn you into one of them!
Or they might try every means to kill or devour you!

We're here to protect you, but you must be careful, because this time they will not only invade and attack from the real world, but also from realms I cannot see, such as dreams and the sea of ​​consciousness!

Xu Yuan nodded, remembering everything Aunt Wang said. Then, he opened his mouth and swallowed the Dragon Pearl Inner Core and the True Seed at the same time.

The true seed slowly sank into the inner core of the dragon pearl. Aunt Wang made a gesture to Uncle Shen and Uncle Mao, who nodded solemnly and joined together to protect Xu Yuan.

The three of them stepped back and hid in the shadows in the corner of the room.

Aunt Wang's eyes gleamed with excitement as she recalled the time she was promoted to the sixth rank.

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

Xu Yuan sat cross-legged and began to circulate the "Five Cauldrons Cooking Technique".

The true seed will not grow anything in the inner core.

Instead, it made some fundamental improvements to the inner alchemy.

Xu Yuan was no stranger to the "Zhuojian" and had been there several times.

But that was the Okinawan part of the Jung-mae region.

I wonder what's different about Shanhe County.
Gradually, Xu Yuan began to understand the state that Aunt Wang had described.

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

Suddenly, a thick gray fog rose up in front of me, and for some reason, this gray fog acted like a mirror, reflecting my current appearance.

I transformed into a ghost god who was over seven zhang tall, whose entire body radiated a ghostly blue flame, with beautiful features, yet exuding a sinister and evil aura from the inside out!

The clothes he wore and the ornaments he wore were not something that ordinary people were entitled to enjoy.

But for some reason, I don't have hands.

The sleeves hung empty, fluttering even without wind.

Yet, all around him were cold, delicious food, an automatically rotating medicine grinder, herbs writhing like earthworms, and a guillotine stained with blood!

Behind "my" head, there is a sinister blood moon!
Countless blood-red threads spread outwards from the blood moon, crawling outwards like insects.

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

They counted to a full thirty.

This state has not dissipated yet!

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

They counted until they reached "sixty," and then the gray fog in front of them suddenly vanished without a trace.

Vanished into thin air, as if it had never existed in the first place!
At the same time, I suddenly felt that I was no longer a ghost or god.

This shift in perception was also very abrupt.

Suddenly I realized that "I" was not "the ghost or god I".

But I did not return to Xu Yuan.

Now I can see myself.

I am now a "web" with an extremely complex structure.

However, while a typical webpage is two-dimensional, "I" am three-dimensional.

At each point where they intersect, there is an extremely tiny eye.

So small that it's almost like a speck of dust.

These eyes can see each other, so "I" can see "myself".

In my own eyes, I appear incredibly complex.

It's like... two mirrors placed side by side, reflecting countless layers of shadows onto each other.

Moreover, "I" am constantly growing.

This network extends endlessly in all directions, reaching infinitely far and wide.

Then countless eyes appeared...

Xu Yuan immediately suspected that an evil spirit had invaded his consciousness.
But Aunt Wang said that after this state ends, she will realize that she has returned to normal.

Then those evil spirits and strange occurrences will invade.

But I did not recover.

That means they are still in a state of "deep understanding of the world".

Xu Yuan then calmed down.

He couldn't quite understand my current state, so he deliberately avoided reflecting on himself.

He was just counting in his head: "One, two, three, four, five..."

This time, even after counting to "sixty", it was still in the "net" state.

If it were someone else, they would definitely be terrified at this moment.

Even when I am in a state of "spirited self," I lose my composure after counting to thirty.

But Xu Yuan remained very calm.

Xu Yuan knew from the beginning that I was different from ordinary cultivators.

From the moment I ate the June worm, I became different from them.

Along this journey of spiritual practice, many "unusual" things have happened to me.

Therefore, Xu Yuan firmly remembered what Aunt Wang said: "Don't panic, don't be afraid."

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

They counted until they reached one hundred and twenty.

Just like before, "NetMe" suddenly disappeared.

But just like before, he didn't reply to "Xu Yuan".

This time it was... nothingness!
Xu Yuan doesn't know what "I" look like now.

There is no "mirror" to reflect myself, nor are there eyes to see myself.

But Xu Yuan felt that "I" was looking down on him.

It seemed to be looking down on everything.

However, the things below are ethereal and floating, and it's impossible to see what they are.

"One, two, three, four, five..." Xu Yuan counted in his mind, and his understanding of "my" state became clearer and stronger.

High above, yet detached from everything.

This time, they counted all the way to "two hundred and forty" and then everything suddenly disappeared.

Xu Yuan finally felt that "I" was back.

"I" am myself, I am Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan held his mind, for what Aunt Wang had described was the moment when those evil spirits and strange creatures would try to interfere with and invade him through various means and at different levels.

At the same time, Xu Yuan also clearly felt the qualitative improvement that the True Seed brought to his inner core and himself.

For example, the temperature of "internal heat" is comparable to that before the flight.

For example, the power contained in the inner elixir is more than ten times stronger than before.

For example, my understanding of the various principles of alchemy has reached a new level.

If I were to encounter even the most lowly evil spirits at this moment, I would be confident that I could burn them to ashes with a single breath of fire.

Xu Yuan waited, thinking that if there were any evil spirits, he could kill them and perhaps get another good piece of material.

Suddenly, some strange sounds entered my ears.

Xu Yuan didn't need to open his eyes to see; he had already sensed the area of ​​Zhuojian Mountain and He County by following these sounds.

It is much more dilapidated than Champa.

Almost all the buildings in the city collapsed.

Something indescribable, filthy and lurking in the shadows.

A huge crack can be seen in the sky, and the other side of the crack flickers with eerie starlight. But there is nothing in the starry sky that would notice such a small "corner".

Scattered among these ruins are several places with relatively complex colors.

Stylistically, however, it is an architectural style from Jiaozhi (Vietnam) from several years ago.

From one of the spots, a patch of pitch-black viscous liquid slowly flowed out.

Several thin cracks appeared in the mucus.

The edges were covered with sharp teeth.

In the center, however, was a deathly gray eyeball.

Her eyes moved stiffly, as if she saw Xu Yuan, or as if she saw nothing at all—then she closed them again.

The slime receded back into the crevices of the ruins.

It seems to have hidden even deeper into the ruins.

Xu Yuan waited for a long time, but no evil spirit came to "test" him.

……

Inside the house, Grandpa Shen and his two companions lay hidden in the shadows, ready for battle.

Evil spirits always emerge from these shadows.

It's the same as when you were promoted to the sixth rank.

A true seed has been planted within the inner elixir, allowing one to perceive certain essential aspects of this world.

Then Heaven will notice that you are stealing certain "authorities".

The door gods will no longer provide protection.

Only after completing the promotion and ceasing this "perception" can one disappear again and continue to enjoy the protection of the door gods.

For a fleeting moment, all three of them sensed a violent disturbance within the "turbid chamber"!

The three of them immediately tensed up.

Although Shanhe County is a small county, it is very close to Guiwu Mountain.

All three knew that an ancient and terrifying creature lurked in the Tsukima-yama region.

This thing was born from the thousand years of evil and filth of the living world of Jiaozhi.

Lazy yet irritable.

Their strength is immense.

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

Other evil spirits do not have this power.

The three of them were ready for a fierce battle!

Even Lin Wanmo in the next room noticed it.

Her face changed color, and she silently took out one crafted item after another and placed them in front of her.

But the violent disturbance came and went quickly.

In an instant, the turbid space calmed down.

A scene of calm and tranquility.

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

Just like when I was promoted to the sixth rank.

Grandpa Shen emerged from the shadows and looked at Aunt Wang with a puzzled expression.

Aunt Wang held her head high with pride, refusing to explain to you, you old geezer.

Our A-Yuan is just that amazing!
……

Xu Yuan spent several hours cultivating this time, and didn't finish until it was almost dark.

The true seed is fused within the inner core, comprising approximately 30%.

This has already enabled Xu Yuan to successfully advance to the fifth rank.

As for the three states of "me", Xu Yuan also has his own guesses: they correspond to his three destinies.

I still don't understand why that final state corresponds to "no taboos".

But what exactly does that state mean?
Lin Wanmo pretended not to protect Xu Yuan, but the moment Xu Yuan finished his practice, her door opened, and she asked, "Are you hungry?"

Xu Yuan smiled and patted his stomach: "I'm really hungry."

Lin Wanmo then went to cook.

Aunt Wang asked, "Approximately how much was incorporated?"

"Thirty percent," Xu Yuan answered truthfully.

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

"Mitsunari, what's wrong?"

Grandpa Shen was so excited that his beard trembled. He tried to calm himself down by smoking a pipe, but he couldn't get any tobacco into the pipe.

Xu Yuan was completely baffled: "What's wrong with my uncle?"

Aunt Wang was extremely pleased with herself and deliberately said, "This old man is so ignorant, he's scared already? Humph, our A-Yuan should have this level of ability!"

(End of this chapter)