"I wonder what experts are around?" Zhao Xing asked.
"Cao Qiushui, Wen Zhao, Du Jiaojiao, Hong Sihai, Dong Chuan, Xiang Chenglin..." Zong Shichang listed off a dozen names in one breath, "All of the above are at Gathered Essence Ninth Level, just one step away from entering the ranks."
"If Brother Zhao wants to know their detailed backgrounds and origins, why not chat with me slowly?"
"Alright, let's do that." Zhao Xing did not refuse any longer.
In truth, whether he knew these experts or not was of little concern to him; after all, he only planned to stay at the foot of the mountain to farm on the first day and would not immediately ascend to compete.
"Whoosh~"
A gentle breeze swirled around the bottom of the bamboo box as Zhao Xing shouldered it and set off again.
"Others ride the wind to carry heavy objects, yet you end up covered in dust. Your wind manipulation is quite exquisite," Zong Shichang praised.
"Young Master Zong also has good stamina." Zhao Xing glanced over and noticed that Zong Shichang was not using the wind to support the bamboo box.
"Not at all, my bamboo box has a built-in lightness effect, so I don’t need to exert any effort." Zong Shichang lightly patted the outside of the box, and immediately, swirling breezes appeared at the bottom, sides, and back of the bamboo box.
A faint green light emanated, and Zong Shichang not only didn’t need to carry it, but most of his body leaned against the box, effectively allowing the box to push him along!
"..." Zhao Xing was left speechless.
Having money is truly enjoyable.
The item Young Master Zong was using was undoubtedly a luxury.
Just this bamboo box for holding things was already a high-grade item of the Third Level.
Zhao Xing had a bit of money himself, but he wouldn’t splurge like that.
"Once we pass this mountain monument, we will have truly entered the Spirit Mountain. What are your plans, Brother Zhao?" The two stopped in front of a monument along the mountain path.
"I plan to chop you up and steal your box; you must have quite a few treasures on you," Zhao Xing said casually.
Zong Shichang was taken aback: "Isn’t that unnecessary? I don’t have much of value on me."
Zhao Xing laughed: "Anyway, after passing the Worry-Free Monument, I won’t remember anything when I come down the mountain. If I can take advantage of it, why not? Young Master Zong, you’re so ostentatious, with a box that’s a high-grade treasure of the Third Level. Wouldn’t it be better to let me benefit rather than someone else?"
Zong Shichang realized Zhao Xing was joking, but it was actually a reminder for him to be more low-key. He scratched his head and said, "That’s true. Even though my father has some influence, I wouldn’t remember who bullied me, so how could I take revenge?"
Zong Shichang then turned off the bamboo box's effect, and it instantly became plain and unremarkable, no longer emitting any green light.
However, this meant he had to rely solely on his own strength to carry the box.
"Wind up!"
"Whoosh~"
"Cough cough... Stop it, Young Master Zong, let me help you a bit," Zhao Xing said, quickly urging him to cease as he was choked by the dust.
What kind of wind are you conjuring?
"Sorry." Zong Shichang felt a bit embarrassed, "I’ve never done such delicate work before."
Zhao Xing shrugged and continued onward.
After passing the mountain monument, he could clearly feel the vital Qi had become much denser.
In the first three days of opening the mountain, the vital Qi was at its most concentrated. If the effect of gathering essence outside was 1, then inside the mountain it was 10, and this was just at the foot of the mountain; it might be even more intense higher up.
East Lake Mountain was steep and perilous. Zhao Xing walked around the foot of the mountain for half an hour before finally finding a suitable planting spot.
He chose a place beneath a cliff, next to a small stream.
"Brother Zhao, you’re not going up the mountain, and you’ve been walking around the foot for so long just to farm?" Zong Shichang saw Zhao Xing take things out of the bamboo box and thought he was stopping to eat, only to discover it was several seedlings.
"You’ve followed me for so long; you’re not really planning to just wander around, are you?" Zhao Xing asked in surprise. "Aside from food, didn’t you bring anything else? Are you not planning to participate in climbing the mountain to gather spirit essence?"
"Not entirely." Zong Shichang had already set up a tent and folded the bamboo box a couple of times, transforming it into a reclining chair.
He lay by the stream, holding a jug of fine wine, and began to drink leisurely: "Before entering the mountain, I found four capable hands to help me seek the spirit essence of the mountain."
"When they have something to show for it on the mountain, I’ll just take it and hand it in."
As Zhao Xing planted, he asked, "Will they agree? The spirit essence in the mountains is valuable; it might just be the key to gaining an official position."
Zong Shichang chuckled: "Why do they gather spirit essence? It’s all for promotion and wealth. If I can directly help them achieve that, isn’t it more secure?"
Zhao Xing inquired, "Young Master, would you mind if I paid you thirty taels to punch you?"
The bamboo box that Xue Wenzhong prepared for Zhao Xing contained Golden Bamboo and Green Vine seedlings.
Zhao Xing took out three of each and planted them on the spot.
Then he activated the Earth Vein Gathering Essence, enveloping the soil within a mile radius.
"Clouds of Movement!"
"Rainfall!"
With a pointed finger, a small cloud appeared three meters above the seedlings, perfectly covering a ten-meter square area of soil.
Thanks to the nearby stream, Zhao Xing easily absorbed enough rainfall without consuming much of his own vital Qi.
"Pat pat pat~"
Raindrops merged into the soil.
Zhao Xing cast another spell, using the Cultivation Technique.
"Good work!" Young Master Zong clapped from the side, "Controlling the clouds to such a small size, you truly are Zhao Sanjia. Are you planning to make some scarecrows again?"
While I toil away farming, you’re just watching the show? Zhao Xing retorted without hesitation: "Yes, just like the scarecrows I used to hit you last time."
"..." Zong Shichang felt a chill beneath him, seemingly recalling some unpleasant memories, and his smile shifted to Zhao Xing's face.
Young Master Zong found it amusing and looked into the distance, drinking alone.
As he drank, Zhao Xing surprisingly noticed that this guy had actually fallen asleep?
Are you really here for a leisure trip?
Shaking his head, Zhao Xing continued his work.
Due to the dense vital Qi of East Lake Mountain and having been sealed for over half a year, the soil here was exceptionally fertile.
The Golden Bamboo and Green Vines that Zhao Xing planted quickly entered their growth phase.
"Once they reach the growth phase, it will be easier; their roots will dig deep into the ground, able to withstand mid-level spells for rapid growth."
"Wild Growth!"
Six beams of golden light shot from Zhao Xing's fingertips, entering the bodies of the Golden Bamboo and Green Vines.
This consumed half of his vital Qi, but the effects were very evident.
"Zizi~" The Green Vines began to grow wildly, climbing along the cliff, and in the blink of an eye, they reached a height of one meter and even bloomed flowers.
The Golden Bamboo’s performance was no less impressive, growing taller almost every second, and after a quarter of an hour, it even surpassed the growth speed of the vines.
"Zizi~" In contrast, the surrounding grass all withered, and smaller trees began to shed their leaves.
Even the fish in the small stream started to turn belly up.
The surroundings resembled a late autumn scene.
"Am I dreaming? What’s going on?" Zong Shichang looked around in astonishment. He had clearly set up his tent on the grassy ground, but upon waking, he found himself on withered grass!
The surrounding leaves had also turned yellow, and as the wind blew, they swirled down onto Zong Shichang's head.
"Brother Zong, you overslept; it’s already late autumn," Zhao Xing casually fabricated.
"Do you take me for a three-year-old?" Zong Shichang huffed, "I only slept for about an hour at most."
"Well, you’re quite capable of... hmm?" Zhao Xing's expression suddenly changed as if sensing something, and he quickly looked up.
He saw a shadow in the sky, falling down along the cliff.
"Bang!" The shadow landed on the rocky beach ahead, instantly splattering a spray of crimson.
Zhao Xing's expression shifted; someone had actually fallen down!
(End of Chapter)