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Chapter 371: Anyone who has read "The Art of War" is a military strategist.

In this bizarre world, any overbearing law inevitably has huge drawbacks.

For example, the "illegal" things Xu Yuan had encountered before.

Old Chu's tax law is even more so; once it fails, the other party becomes alert and will never accept any more invoices.

As for Old Chu himself, besides "tax law", he only barely managed to cultivate martial arts.

Only the lowest of the low.

In combat at this level, it's practically equivalent to having no ability to protect oneself.

This is also a problem with the "tax law," because it is too domineering. If you try to study any other subject as well, your progress will be extremely slow.

Old Chu missed his move and exclaimed in surprise, "How could this be?" before retreating swiftly without hesitation.

The speed of the ninth-rate martial arts practitioners soared the highest.

...But for Lord Xu, it was still too slow.

If I can't beat a fifth-rate martial artist in terms of physique, how can I not beat a ninth-rate one?
Moreover, Xu Yuan only fought with Xiao Wu and did not disturb the two sixth-rate fighters next to him, so that he could launch a surprise counterattack when they attacked him.

The opportunity had presented itself, and Lord Xu certainly wouldn't let it slip by.

The animal sinew rope silently wrapped around Old Chu's ankle.

Immediately following, a series of ringing bells reached Old Chu's ears, and he felt dizzy, as if his soul was about to be torn apart.

The long thorn had silently reached Old Chu's throat.

Xiao Wu rushed forward without hesitation.

We absolutely cannot let Xu Yuan kill Lao Chu first.

If Old Chu doesn't die, there's still hope of defeating Xu Yuan.

With Old Chu dead, he could only flee and was unable to complete the Crown Princess's mission.

Because Old Chu had one last trick up his sleeve: Xiao Wu, with his powerful physique as a martial arts practitioner, would entangle Xu Yuan and prevent him from escaping, and then Old Chu would scatter dozens of ticket stubs across the sky, and a few of them would inevitably land on Xu Yuan!
Of course, it will also fall on Xiao Wu.

But Xiao Wu felt he could handle it.

That's why when we were setting things up, Xiao Wu told Lao Chu to "be swift and decisive, and not be afraid of hurting me."

These ticket stubs are not easy to make, and like other craft items, each person can only possess a limited number, so this method only has one chance.

Xiao Wu desperately tried to rescue Lao Chu, but suddenly felt a wave of weakness wash over him!

This sudden feeling of weakness inevitably slowed him down a bit.

Xiao Wu quickly recovered, but it was too late.

With a hiss, the long dagger in Xu Yuan's hand pierced through Old Chu's throat.

An invisible, misty black flame burst forth from Old Chu's forehead, instantly turning his soul into nothingness!

Xiao Wu roared and unleashed a flurry of swift, powerful slashes with his twin blades.

Puff puff……

The ground was cut open with two blades, leaving more than a dozen long trenches.

But Xu Yuan had already turned back and left, and the difference was only a hair's breadth.

Xiao Wu was consumed by rage and launched a dozen fierce attacks, but the feeling of weakness within him returned once more.

His arms hung limply at his sides, his two knives stuck in his sides, and he was panting heavily.

What kind of trickery is this?!
Xiao Wu was terrified; he had never encountered anything like this before.

With Lao Chu dead, Xiao Wu's confidence was halved.

Xu Yuan probably didn't know that Lao Chu had hidden a bunch of ticket stubs, preparing to unleash a "scattering of flowers" move.

But Xu Yuan was determined to kill Old Chu first.

Did the right thing.

Without Lao Chu's cooperation, Xiao Wu knew that this mission could not be completed.

This time, Xu Yuan took the initiative to trigger "Ghost Doctor Stealing Life".

Xiao Wu was constantly weakened, while Xu Yuan himself was constantly replenished.

Even Lang Xiaoba and Mao Dabing, who were injured nearby, recovered without treatment!
The two blinked, utterly astonished: What's going on?
The "Ghost Doctor Steals Life" destiny could only exert its influence subtly in the past.

However, after his alchemy skills advanced to the fifth rank, Xu Yuan vaguely felt that his life cultivation skills had also become somewhat weak.

The most significant sign is that "Ghost Doctor Steals Life" can now be actively activated to enhance its effects.

This attack had a very strong impact on Xiao Wu.

This was also because Xiao Wu had already been hit twice by a fourth-rate craftsman.

Martial arts practitioners possess extraordinary physical strength, abundant blood and energy, and thick skin and flesh.

Therefore, many martial arts practitioners prefer the "trading injury for injury" fighting style, in which the martial arts practitioner survives in the end, but the opponent dies.

Xiao Wu has always used this tactic.

But today, encountering Lord Xu has caused me to miscalculate.

After exchanging injuries, Lord Xu grew stronger with each fight, while he rapidly weakened.

After catching his breath, Xiao Wu suddenly lifted his massive body up, his whole body bursting with yellow light. He pounced on Xu Yuan in mid-air, slashing down with both swords at the same time!
Boom!
He struck the air with his twin swords, unleashing the secret martial arts technique of "war drums"!
At the same time, sharp energy bursts forth from the blades of the twin swords—this is another martial arts secret technique, "using energy to injure people"!
This is the strongest attack that Xiao Wu can deliver at his current level.

He had already mastered the two martial arts techniques to the point where he could unleash them at will.

However, the "war drumbeats" that he always displayed required a sudden thud, and the "injury with qi" could only be uttered from his mouth, all for the sake of delivering this strongest blow unexpectedly.

Xu Yuan was indeed surprised, but not because he was surprised that Xiao Wu's two martial arts techniques could be used at will and stacked together—Xu Yuan had been on guard against this move all along.

Being prepared is always better than being caught off guard; even if you make a mistake, there's no real loss.

Most martial arts practitioners are simple-minded and foolish, but Xiao Wu thinks he is brave and resourceful and likes to engage in these so-called "schemes".

Just because you read "The Art of War" doesn't mean you'll become a military strategist.

Wisdom is also a gift.

To Xu Yuan's surprise, even after being so severely injured and having his life drained twice by the "Ghost Doctor's Life Stealer," Xiao Wu still had the strength to unleash this strongest attack.

Xu Yuan suddenly unfolded his folding fan.

Snapped!
Xu Yuan vanished into thin air.

Xiao Wu's strongest attack completely missed, but instead, it struck right in front of him, creating a huge crater with a double slash of his twin blades!
This attack destroyed the entire street within a radius of several dozen feet.

The houses on both sides collapsed completely.

The ground shook violently.

Xu Yuan then appeared several dozen feet to Xiao Wu's left.

Xiao Wu was breathing heavily; this attack had exhausted too much of his strength.

As he launched this attack, he was drenched in sweat, but his body remained bright red and steaming.

With each breath, he needs to inhale dozens of times more air than an ordinary person.

As he recovered his strength, he spun around, holding his twin swords vertically in front of him, searching for his opponent's trail.

Xu Yuan stared at Xiao Wu and noticed that the yellow light around him was constantly gathering—

After that attack, the yellow "internal energy" on his body had become so thin that it was almost invisible.

But within a breath or two, the yellow qi of the five internal organs became dense again.

After a moment's thought, Lord Xu understood: the qi of this fellow's five internal organs was the qi of the "spleen".

It belongs to the Earth element in the Five Elements theory.

Heavy and solid means that it has a long-lasting effect.

Lord Xu's eyes darted around, and he rang the bell in his hand again: clang clang...

Xiao Wu had developed some resistance to the bell; he only felt dizzy for a moment before recovering immediately.

But all Xu Yuan wanted was that one fleeting moment.

The animal sinew rope had already wrapped around Xiao Wu's ankle.

With a sudden lift, he was suspended in mid-air!

Xiao Wu's feet left the ground.

Sure enough, the yellow qi in his internal organs immediately ceased.

They will no longer continue to coalesce.

Xiao Wu roared, trying to forcefully break free of the beast tendon rope just like before.

But Xu Yuan activated "Ghost Doctor Steals Life" once again.

Xiao Wu suddenly felt weak again.

Moreover, at this time his internal organs were severely damaged, and he could no longer display his divine power and break free of the ropes.

Xiao Wu immediately sheathed his twin swords in front of him, wary of Xu Yuan taking the opportunity to attack.

But he noticed that Xu Yuan had momentarily lost focus for some reason, missing this golden opportunity.

Xu Yuan used "Ghost Doctor Stealing Life" three times in a row. The first two times were fine, but the power stolen the third time exceeded the limit that Lord Xu could currently withstand.

Then a burning sensation came from my nostrils, and two streams of blood flowed down my nose.

Xiao Wu is very happy!

Regardless of what kind of trickery he used to weaken himself, his opponent was clearly also affected by the backlash, and he could not use this trickery indefinitely.

Xiao Wu raised his twin swords and slashed at the rope on his feet.

He had given up hope of completing the mission; once the rope was cut, he was ready to retreat.

Moreover, if necessary, he would deliberately expose Hong Huai, who was still hiding to the side.

Brother, go in peace. I will take care of your wife and children.

But as he raised his twin swords and slashed down with all his might, that feeling of weakness struck him once again.

It was stronger than the previous times.

Xiao Wu's arms went limp, and the two knives, once they landed on the animal sinew rope, lost their power and were instead bounced back by the rope.

Xiao Wu gritted his teeth and looked up, but Xu Yuan was fine this time.

However, Lang Xiaoba, Mao Dabing, and the captain under Wan Yun all coughed up two streams of blood from their nostrils at the same time!

"Ghost Doctor Steals Life" can replenish not only oneself, but also one's companions.

After realizing he could no longer eat, Lord Xu immediately transferred all his food to his three subordinates.

Mao Dabing immediately collapsed.

But Lang Xiaoba's eyes lit up!
Although he had a nosebleed, Lang Xiaoba discovered that this inexplicable power flowing into his body was of great help to his "martial arts cultivation" level.

Xu Yuan asked, "Can you still hold on?"

Mao Dabing gritted his teeth and said with all his might, "Fine..."

Lang Xiaoba roared, "My lord, bring it on!"

Xu Yuan immediately understood that Mao Dabing was putting on a brave face, while Lang Xiaoba genuinely longed to continue.

As for the captain... he has already fainted.

Xu Yuan repeatedly activated "Ghost Doctor Steals Life," and thick streams of blood began to gush from Lang Xiaoba's nostrils.

After a few times, Lang Xiaoba's nose swelled up.

But each time, Lang Xiaoba's eyes would redden with excitement: "Again! Again! Again!"

After four more times, Xu Yuan suddenly felt a sense of emptiness in his body.

Lord Xu's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected that Lang Xiaoba could hold on, while he himself was the one who couldn't go on...

The use of fate analysis is too frequent.

The "Ghost Doctor Steals Life" technique is showing signs of dissipation.

Xu Yuan stopped immediately and looked at Xiao Wu, who was completely exhausted.

They were suspended upside down in mid-air by animal sinew ropes.

Without the earth's replenishment, his vital energy had been depleted.

Its body, which had originally swelled to over ten feet tall, shrank back to two sizes smaller.

Xu Yuan shook the bell in his hand, twirled the long thorn in his hand, and the fire wheel under his feet roared and spewed flames continuously, ready to deliver a fatal blow!

Xiao Wu's eyes were glazed and lifeless, but he still gripped the two swords tightly in his hands.

There are only martial artists who die in battle, not those who surrender!
boom--

The fire wheel suddenly spewed flames backward, and Xu Yuan's speed suddenly increased to an extreme speed as he charged head-on towards Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu squeezed out the last of his strength, ignoring the long spikes aimed at him, and thrust his twin blades at Xu Yuan. Even if they couldn't die together, he would at least severely injure him!
Unexpectedly, Xu Yuan only rushed out a dozen feet before suddenly rising into the air, drawing a circle in the sky with a whoosh, and then returning!
However, at the same moment Xu Yuan launched his "charge", the sword pellet silently pierced into Xiao Wu's back!
Moreover, they found the wound on Xiao Wu's back with great skill.

The wound had originally been sealed by Xiao Wu's internal energy.

Although the sword pellet is also a fifth-rate weapon, it is not easy for it to pierce through the iron skin of a fifth-rate martial artist.

But if you crawl in through a closed wound, it's too easy.

Under normal circumstances, Xiao Wu would never give Xu Yuan this opportunity.

But right now, Xiao Wu is in a daze and can't care about anything.

After the sword pellet entered, it changed from the state of "sword" back to the state of "pellet" and then rampaged around inside Xiao Wu's body!

It completely destroyed the internal organs.

Finally, it tried to rush upwards, attempting to smash through Xiao Wu's skull.

With a thud, it was blocked by the top of his head!
Xu Yuan couldn't help but sigh, the physique of a fifth-rate martial artist is truly formidable!

So he could only control the sword pellet, which emerged from Xiao Wu's right eye.

Xiao Wu's eyeballs were knocked out of their sockets and flew more than ten feet away by the sword pellet.

Then, a stream of blood mixed with bits of flesh spurted out of his eye socket.

The two existing wounds on my body could no longer close.

Countless tiny wounds also emerged from under the skin.

More and more blood gushed out, then flowed up the entire spine from bottom to top, with blood vessels bursting open everywhere, splattering blood everywhere!
The "blood explosion" of a fifth-rate martial artist who has lost his skill is extremely terrifying; the flying blood droplets can penetrate a wooden board that is a finger's width thick.

Xiao Wu was already doomed, but his only remaining left eye stared at Xu Yuan with a puzzled look. From his throat, which had been disintegrated into the shape of flower petals, he uttered his last hoarse voice: "You've already won. Is there any need... to launch a feint attack from the front... and then sneak up on us from behind with a sword pellet?"

Xu Yuan sighed and said, "This is why you martial arts practitioners often fall into people's traps."

"In that situation just now, what if you had a desperate, all-or-nothing move before you died? I couldn't afford to be complacent."

Xiao Wu's eyes glazed over completely. He understood, but he also felt that this person was being overly cautious.

Xu Yuan then added, "But the fact that you didn't resort to a desperate last-ditch effort doesn't prove that I'm being overly pessimistic. On the contrary, it proves that you're... simple-minded and stupid, unable to even think of this..."

Xiao Wu's left eye was wide open. In the last moments of his life, he was severely injured, and thus died with his eyes open in disbelief.

An invisible, misty black flame immediately appeared on Xiao Wu's forehead—Xu Yuan released the Six-Eyed Nethermoth almost simultaneously.

The ghostly soldiers inside rushed out together, including the giant ghost with "three heads, a snake's neck, and eight arms and eight legs" that Xu Yuan had recently captured from Qi Yue.

The black flames buried in the souls of these people were even more vicious than the "Threading Technique," directly dissolving their souls.

It was a true annihilation of both body and soul.

Only the Prince of Xiang's mansion has the strength to cultivate such true "die-hard warriors".

The black flames were extremely damaging to the spirits, and as soon as a few spirit soldiers were released, they fled in fear.

Even the newly recruited powerful demons dared not step forward.

After Xu Yuan collected this thing into the Six-Eyed Nethermoth, it hadn't had time to refine it into a Yin Soldier. As soon as it came out, it suppressed its roar at Xu Yuan and even tried to attack.

Xu Yuan, finding the Yin Soldiers useless, put them away again.

The black flames had already incinerated Xiao Wu's soul.

Xu Yuan looked around and asked Lang Xiaoba, "How are you?"

Lang Xiaoba's nose was swollen high, his clothes were torn at the chest, and his whole body was stained red with his own nosebleed.

He looked quite disheveled, but his spirits were exceptionally high.

His eyes gleamed with sharp light!

It's roughly the kind of state where you need to fight three hundred rounds to release your boundless energy.

"Your subordinate is excellent!" Lang Xiaoba clasped his hands in a salute: "Your subordinate feels that he is about to break through to the eighth level of martial arts! Thank you for your kindness, sir!"

Xu Yuan nodded: "That's good then."

Mao Dabing is also in good condition.

"Ghost Doctor Steals Life" injected a portion of the power of a fifth-rate martial artist into his body, greatly strengthening his physique.

But Mao Dabing was extremely jealous of Lang Xiaoba.

Before Lord Xu arrived, this fellow was merely a nobody.

In the few months since I met the adult, I have unexpectedly inherited a seventh-rate cultivation method.

It seems that Wu Xiu is about to become a low-level martial artist again.

Once he becomes a double seventh-rank official—and is promoted to patrol inspector in the future—I'll have to rank behind this kid.

Mao Dabing thought to himself: Sure enough, it's still faster to get promoted by following the adults.

But as an inspector, I have a group of brothers under my command, and I can't be a close follower of the adults like Lang Xiaoba.

He could only rely on family connections and curry favor with the old lady.

But the old lady is not very old, and it's not good for her to always go up to her... that would displease the adults, and that's what happened to that old Qin.

At this moment, Mao Dabing longed for a family more than ever before.

"It's time for this inspector to get married..."

Find a lady and have her take the old lady's route!

After exchanging a few words of concern with his subordinates, Xu Yuan's expression tightened as he made several hand gestures.

Mao Dabing and Lang Xiaoba immediately nodded, understanding that the adults were putting them in charge of handling the scene.

Xu Yuan left quietly.

I deliberately let the second scoundrel escape.

Since they couldn't seize their souls, they could only secretly track down the last assassin.

Hong Huai fled in panic.

He was covered in cold sweat!
Throughout the entire ordeal, he never found an opportunity to make a move.

At the last moment, Fifth Brother secretly gave him a hand signal, telling him to run!
From now on, he will be the one to take care of Fifth Brother and Old Chu's wife and children.

He never imagined that the three of them working together would lose to a fifth-rate alchemist, and suffer such a crushing defeat.

Even if this Xu Yuan had previously "suspected" dealing with fifth-rate evil spirits.

However, among the seven major sects, apart from those who cultivate life force, those who cultivate martial arts are basically guaranteed to win against opponents of the same level.

The higher the level, the greater the advantage martial arts practitioners actually have.

For example, when facing divine cultivators, Yin soldiers often dare not approach martial cultivators.

Add to that Old Chu's domineering "tax law," and there's no reason for them to lose.

But Xu Yuan, this alchemist, is too strange; he has a bunch of powerful artifacts on him.

He didn't even use the fire in his abdomen much, yet he killed Old Chu and Fifth Brother in succession.

Fifth Brother forbade Hong Huai from making a move—but in reality, Hong Huai never found an opportunity to do so.

He always felt that if he took action, he would only expose himself and get killed, and it wouldn't help the battle at all.

Hong Huai fled in panic, though he was terrified, he had not completely lost his composure.

He wandered around the city repeatedly.

They stopped five times to check if there was a tail behind them.

On one occasion, he even deliberately sneaked into a grand mansion in the north of the city, pretending that it was his place of residence.

But there was nothing behind him.

Hong Huai finally breathed a sigh of relief, confirming that there was no tail.

The Crown Princess's mission is not complete; she must not bring the enemy back.

Xu Yuan remained calm and followed at a distance, keeping "Watching Fate" active at all times, so he wasn't worried about losing them.

Xu Yuan remained unmoved by Hong Huai's deliberate misdirection, because he already had a suspicion in his mind.

There is a greater than 90% chance that these people are the Crown Princess's subordinates.

In Champa, it's impossible for anyone else to have such a powerful general.

All Xu Yuan needed was confirmation.

Hong Huai circled around outside the city again, passing through two villages, before returning to the canal wharf.

However, Hong Huai did not see the Crown Princess.

He returned alone, like a stray dog; Xiao Wu and Lao Chu were nowhere to be seen.

Therefore, upon entering the Grand Canal Office, they were stopped by another personal maid of the Crown Princess, "Rui Rui".

"Did you mess it up?"

Hong Huai sighed deeply: "I have failed..."

He was about to say that he felt ashamed before the Crown Princess when Rui Rui interrupted him sharply: "Answer directly!"

Don't mention the Crown Princess!
Hong Huai gritted his teeth: "Yes. Fifth Brother and Old Chu are both dead, their souls scattered to the winds."

Rui Rui's expression softened slightly.

If the soul is scattered, the news will not leak out.

"Did you find anything?" Rui Rui asked again.

"No."

"No, or you still haven't figured it out?"

"We couldn't figure it out."

Hong Huai felt that Fifth Brother and Old Chu had not forced Xu Yuan to use his full strength.

Therefore, there is still no clear conclusion as to whether Xu Yuan actually secretly practiced the "Dragon Transformation Technique".

"Useless!" Rui Rui couldn't help but curse.

Hong Huai lowered his head, feeling indignant but unable to refute.

"Go down."

Hong Huai left in distress.

Xu Yuan secretly stroked his chin. This Crown Princess is not easy to deal with.

The matter was handled with extreme caution; when Hong Huai returned from his failed mission, he didn't see her at all.

This allows one to excuse themselves by saying that someone close to them acted without their knowledge and that they were unaware of it.

Rui Rui and Hong Huai took the blame.

Xu Yuan left quietly, but instead of returning to the city, he headed straight for Ghost Witch Mountain.

Riding on the fiery wheels, they sped along and arrived at the foot of Ghost Witch Mountain at dusk. They put on their mud masks and went straight into the mountain.

The next morning, Xu Yuan found Old Man Bai.

Old Bai hurriedly left the village and brought Tian Jing back in the afternoon.

Tian Jing's current strange appearance actually makes him somewhat afraid to face Lord Xu.

However, Xu Yuan did not want Bai Laoyan to relay the matter of the "Dragon Transformation Technique".

The more people who know, the greater the chance of a leak.

Lord Xu specifically called his name, so he had no choice but to come despite his reluctance.

Xu Yuan was quite surprised to see Tian Jing outside the village: he really had a connection with Gui Xumu.

However... this unexpectedly aligns with what I'm about to do.

Xu Yuan glanced coldly at Tian Jing—Tian Jing was actually somewhat afraid of him, and her heart skipped a beat as she quickly explained, "I'm doing this for business, to avoid turning into this weird state. Those things on the street are always wary of me..."

Xu Yuan only asked, "Can you handle it?"

"Rest assured, my lord, I will not change my heart."

Xu Yuan nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

“Someone may have come to the mountains to investigate things these past few days…” Xu Yuan briefly explained the matter of the “Dragon Transformation Technique” in a low voice.

"I will pass on the 'Dragon Transformation Technique' to you. You must cultivate it immediately, and then disguise yourself..." Xu Yuan explained to Tian Jing in such detail.

Tian Jing's eyes flickered, and she slowly smiled.

If it weren't for the fusion with the Ghost Beard Wood, the hastily cultivated "Dragon Transformation Technique" might not have been able to deceive the visitors.

But every root of the ghost beard tree is as flexible and powerful as a python!
The chances of success have greatly increased.

(End of this chapter)