Zhao Xing had just robbed Qin Feng twice and was planning to continue wandering around. Unexpectedly, as he walked, the mountain cat became hungry and wanted to eat the vine-scented berries and white fragrant grass it had eaten last time. Thus, Zhao Xing found a place and began to plant the two things that the mountain cat loved to eat.
Since the previous straw man was left outside the Temple of Divinity and had lost its effect due to the distance, he simply planted some Diamond Bamboo again. Even if it wasn't needed for battle, it would be faster to use for making some Divine Movement Straw Men.
He thought that for a while, he wouldn't encounter any more 'good fortune.' Little did he know, when luck came, it was unstoppable. While he was planting in this secluded area, he unexpectedly ran into Wen Zhao and Zhang Boran! The two of them didn’t seem to know what they had gone through, not even realizing that this bamboo forest was specially cultivated. They didn’t even notice the straw men ambushed on both sides.
"What is that on Zhang Boran?" Zhao Xing's gaze fell on the bulging item in his arms, which was clearly something valuable. What excited Zhao Xing even more was that earthen jar. Its allure was far greater than that of an average mid-grade spiritual treasure!
"Little mountain cat, stop eating, something fun is coming!" Zhao Xing waved his hand towards the mountain cat that was gnawing on the fruit.
"Meow~" The mountain cat was somewhat reluctant; it hadn’t eaten its fill yet.
"Hurry up, those two have delicious food on them that you will definitely like!" Zhao Xing urged.
"Meow!" Upon hearing about the food, the mountain cat's big eyes instantly lit up. With a push of its hind legs, it jumped onto the Diamond Bamboo and, after a few leaps, dashed out of the bamboo forest.
"Boran, what did you find this time..." Wen Zhao was about to ask Zhang Boran what good stuff he had found that made him drop his knife. However, before he could finish his sentence, he saw Zhang Boran suddenly leap into the air, bending like a bow.
"Bang!" The sound echoed, and Zhang Boran was involuntarily sent flying backward. The golden chestnuts in his arms scattered all over the ground, and the earthen jar also fell.
Zhang Boran didn’t make a sound and directly fainted. The little mountain cat was a rare beast of the entry level, having devoured who knows how many spiritual treasures; this collision was something even an entry-level martial artist couldn’t withstand. Moreover, Zhang Boran was only at the eighth stage.
He simply lay on the ground.
"What?!" Wen Zhao was stunned; he didn’t even know what had happened. He instinctively went to pick up the earthen jar, planning to flee. However, at that moment, a small, cute cat appeared in his line of sight.
"Hiss~" The mountain cat softly hissed, arching its back and crouching down, locking onto Wen Zhao.
"Old man, quickly put down the spiritual treasure, or you will face dire consequences!" A teasing voice came from behind.
Wen Zhao was taken aback; wasn’t that my line? Turning around, he saw Zhao Xing walking out from the bamboo forest.
"Y-You, Zhao Xing?!"
Wen Zhao recalled how he had spoken to Zhao Xing in front of the Heavenly Altar Square yesterday. At that time, he had said the same thing to Zhao Xing. He never expected that the tides would turn, and now it was Zhao Xing saying it to him.
"What? Still unwilling to let go?" Zhao Xing looked at Wen Zhao indifferently. "Did reading too much make your brain dull?"
Wen Zhao glanced at the mountain cat, then at Zhao Xing, took a deep breath, and picked up a thorny branch from the ground. He then bent over and slowly approached Zhao Xing.
"Zhao Jun, I apologize for my offense yesterday. I sincerely ask you to whip me to relieve the anger in your heart." Wen Zhao bowed deeply, his voice extremely sincere. It was as if he was repenting, making one unable to help but feel that he truly acknowledged his mistake.
This fellow was indeed well-versed in etiquette, even playing the role of a humble supplicant.
"Apology?" Zhao Xing scoffed. "You seem to know quite a bit. Besides etiquette and fire etiquette, I didn’t expect your apology to have some merit. Do you think I would fall for your trick? Your 'apology' is weaker than the winds of the underworld!"
Wen Zhao's eyes froze; he didn’t expect his trick to be seen through so easily. Just as he was about to speak again, Zhao Xing suddenly rushed forward, snatched the thorny branch from his hand, and struck it fiercely against the old man's back.
"I'll grant your wish!"
"Smack!" A fiery pain shot through Wen Zhao's back, and he gasped in cold air. However, his spell was broken, and with the mountain cat watching, he had no power to fight back, only able to endure Zhao Xing's whipping.
"Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!" The thorny branch sliced through the air, delivering a rapid five strikes that caused Wen Zhao to collapse to the ground.
"You burned my three straw men, so I’ll whip you six times!"
"W-Why not just three times?" Wen Zhao weakly asked.
"Because I am a person who repays grievances, and I do so doubly." Zhao Xing broke Wen Zhao's 'apology' and stepped on his head. "According to your etiquette, you should now say thank you; otherwise, you might lose a layer of etiquette cultivation."
"Mmm mmm mmm~" Wen Zhao, who was pressed into the mud, couldn’t say a word because his head was firmly stomped down, and his mouth was full of dirt.
Under close observation, Wen Zhao's golden light was weakening, while the red light was growing stronger. This was because he had not completed his 'etiquette' cultivation. The method of apology was activated but failed to receive positive feedback, instead turning negative.
"Bang!" Zhao Xing stomped down hard, shattering the golden light on Wen Zhao's body. The red light engulfed Wen Zhao entirely; he was backfired by his own spell, convulsing in the mud before fainting.
If his method of apology was originally at the fifth stage, then it was now reduced to the fourth stage.
"I’m most annoyed by you etiquette practitioners, not engaging in production, truly an eyesore!" Zhao Xing kicked Wen Zhao's abdomen, sending him flying a bit further away.
Poor Wen Zhao, who had just recovered not long ago, was once again beaten into a wounded state. Zhao Xing clapped his hands and turned away, his expression somewhat frozen.
In just that short time, the little mountain cat had eaten most of the golden chestnuts that had fallen to the ground.
"Crunch crunch~" It was munching away, enjoying the taste immensely.
"You really have a good appetite." Zhao Xing sighed helplessly.
"Meow~" The mountain cat raised its paw and pushed the last one over.
"Ah, too polite! You’ve eaten enough, why leave one for me?"
"Meow?" The little mountain cat tilted its head, seemingly asking, "Aren't you going to eat?"
"I’m just joking, eat, eat, eat."
Zhao Xing quickly picked up the golden chestnut, blew off the dirt, then peeled off the shell and tossed it into his mouth. The crunchy chestnut provided Zhao Xing with 500 points of vital Qi, bringing him a step closer to the Gathered Essence Eighth Level.
This effect was quite good, increasing his progress by one-twentieth. However, for the mountain cat, it didn’t have much effect. After eating so much, Zhao Xing didn’t feel any significant change in the mountain cat's aura.
"Pop~"
Zhao Xing picked up the earthen jar and opened the layer of mud sealing it. The little mountain cat's nose twitched, and its pupils instantly widened. A rich aroma of wine wafted out, and Zhao Xing immediately felt his vital Qi become much more active.
"Monkey Wine?" Zhao Xing's eyes lit up; this was a good thing! Brewed from spiritual treasures, this jar would probably cost over a thousand golden chestnuts!
He had just taken a whiff, and his vital Qi increased by 20 points!
Before Zhao Xing could make a move, he saw the mountain cat almost teleport to the jar, diving its little head right into it.
"Hey, hey, little kitty can’t drink wine; it will get drunk."
"Hey, leave some for me..."
This thing had a huge allure for the mountain cat, and in the blink of an eye, it had absorbed half of it. However, upon hearing Zhao Xing speak, it made room, signaling for Zhao Xing to come down and drink together.
Moments later.
"Burp~" Both Zhao Xing and the mountain cat let out a wine burp. The mountain cat shook its head, lying on the ground and licking its paws.
Zhao Xing also sat on the ground, cross-legged, cultivating. Unlike the mountain cat, he couldn’t drink so much; he only had a small portion before he had to stop. However, that small portion was enough for Zhao Xing to break through!
Half an hour later.
Zhao Xing opened his eyes, the redness on his face fading considerably. He looked at his panel.
[Gathered Essence Eighth Level: 7245/10000]
"That’s quite a boost! Not only did I reach the Gathered Essence Eighth Level, but my progress also shot up to seventy percent!" Zhao Xing let out a long breath.
Using the Five Elements to observe, he checked the little mountain cat and found that its aura had also slightly increased.
"You really can eat! If it weren’t for the Agricultural Affairs Bureau, I’m afraid others wouldn’t be able to afford to raise you." Zhao Xing patted the mountain cat's head.
Raising a rare beast, especially one of the entry level, consumed a lot. It was only because Zhao Xing had this confidence that he dared to raise the mountain cat even before reaching the entry level.
After waiting for an hour, the Diamond Bamboo matured. Zhao Xing spent some time creating twenty Great Strength Diamond Men and ten Divine Movement Straw Men, all of which were of upper second-grade quality.
There were also some ordinary straw men made from vine branches for reconnaissance.
"Lift the sedan!"
Zhao Xing waved his hand and continued wandering up the mountain.
...
On the third day of ascending Ling Mountain, many intriguing events occurred. Some found powerful pure elemental spiritual treasures in caves, directly crossing three levels to reach the Gathered Essence Ninth Level. Others obtained a flower and, through its petals, gained insights, instantly becoming top-tier experts with their movement techniques reaching the Nine Turns into Micro.
There were also those who encountered high-grade spiritual treasures but couldn’t harvest them, as if they had run into a 'ghost wall,' going back and forth, clearly sensing something strong but not knowing the exact location.
Rumors spread that certain areas of East Lake Mountain were guarded by incredibly terrifying rare beasts, places that officials could not touch, filled with treasures created by heaven and earth, but would only open three days later.
Some who prayed for spiritual treasures at the same location suffered injuries, even dying in the process. Others, feeling hopeless about the third night’s competition for incense, directly descended the mountain.
In the evening, everyone gathered at the Heavenly Altar Square, a safe area, to share their experiences from the day as topics of conversation. Among these intriguing tales, many mentioned a strange occurrence.
"Have you heard? A rare beast appeared on the mountain, very terrifying."
"Are you talking about that cat? Of course, I’ve heard! It’s said to be the cat raised by the mountain god."
"There are many rare beasts in the mountain; what’s so strange about a mountain cat?" someone scoffed.
"If it were just that, it would be fine, but this mountain cat specifically robs others of their spiritual treasures."
"Many experts have been robbed by that cat; it’s said that Wen Zhao and Zhang Boran were among them."
"Ah? How strong must that mountain cat be?"
"Although still young, it already possesses entry-level strength."
"And there’s something even stranger; this mountain cat doesn’t kill, but if you get robbed and don’t say thank you, it won’t let you go. Truly bizarre."
"…"
Du Jiaojiao, Liu Muqing, and Lu Qian were resting in a corner of the square when they heard such strange rumors and couldn’t help but discuss it.
Lu Qian scoffed, "These people must be crazy, spreading such absurd tales. Just say thank you, and the mountain cat will let you go? It’s simply nonsense!"
Liu Muqing said, "Perhaps the pressure of climbing the mountain is too great, and some are experiencing hallucinations."
Du Jiaojiao, while polishing her silver spear, suddenly said, "Maybe that mountain cat has an owner."
Lu Qian was surprised, "What do you mean, Sister Jiao?"
Du Jiaojiao slowly replied, "Today when we were harvesting spiritual treasures halfway up the mountain, we sensed the presence of the mountain cat from a distance."
"There was also a human aura nearby, very close, as if it had been observing us for a while."
"What?" Lu Qian exclaimed, "There’s such a thing?"
"Who could tame a mountain cat?" Liu Muqing asked. "Could it be Yang Junxiong?"
"If that’s the case, then it would be troublesome." Lu Qian frowned. "I’m afraid he will dominate the first incense again tonight."
"It shouldn’t be him." Du Jiaojiao pondered. "It doesn’t seem like him."
"Whoever it is, if what Sister Jiao said is true, that person will definitely show up tonight."
Halfway up the mountain, Zhao Xing was leisurely ascending with the straw men carrying him. He used his keen eyes to observe, noticing that people were climbing from different directions.
"Tonight is the last chance, and it will be the liveliest night!"
Meow~ The mountain cat perked up its ears, seemingly triggered by the keywords.
"Hey, kitty, calm down for a bit." Zhao Xing grabbed its tail, as the mountain cat was about to rush out to attack someone again.
This silly cat loved to join in on the excitement too much; its stamina was incredible, making it harder to manage than a dog!
"We need to go up the mountain now; we can’t waste any time." Zhao Xing explained. "Don’t worry, it will be even livelier up there, and you’ll have plenty of fun."
The mountain cat obediently lay back in Zhao Xing's arms.
This time, the ascent was very peaceful.
Along the way, no one dared to provoke Zhao Xing.
Because on the second night, he had made a name for himself; although Zhao Xing didn’t announce himself, how could Zong Shichang resist boasting?
In just one day, while making a name for himself, he also greatly promoted Zhao Xing.
Even if he forgot after descending, during these two days, Zong Shichang would still have to act like a big shot!
Aside from fame, Zhao Xing's cultivation was also vastly different from yesterday.
After plundering many officials' opportunities, he had already reached the Gathered Essence Ninth Level!
With the mountain cat rolling the snowball, he had almost pushed through all the way.
To better rob, Zhao Xing didn’t show himself anymore; it was all the mountain cat doing the work.
"Zhao Xing, over here!"
As soon as he entered the Heavenly Altar Square at the mountain top, he saw Zong Shichang waving at him.
There were also several familiar faces in the square, such as Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and Li Chengfeng.
The few of them hadn’t crossed paths in the past two days, but they had made considerable progress; Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze had already reached the Gathered Essence Seventh Level.
Li Chengfeng had gained something on the first night, and although he hadn’t shown up the next day, today he was already at the Gathered Essence Ninth Level!
Vital Law Spiritual Treasures, Longevity Spiritual Treasures, either one mostly enhanced vital Qi, with longevity being a minority, so it wasn’t surprising.
In Zhao Xing's view, the vast majority of the lucky ones in the square had improved their realms, but they were all 'hollow fat.'
If their spells didn’t keep up, having high cultivation was just a facade.
What puzzled Zhao Xing was that Li Chengfeng wasn’t with Zong Shichang; the two had gathered their own groups, as if some conflict had occurred, and their relationship didn’t seem as close as before.
"Zhao Sanjia."
"It’s Zhao Xing!"
"Zhao big brother is mighty, Huai Liu Courtyard is mighty!"
Upon entering the square, many greeted Zhao Xing, mainly because he had made a big splash yesterday.
He had defeated Cao Qiushui during the competition for the first incense! That was the descendant of a True Lord!
"Good, good, everyone!" In a crowded place, Zhao Xing didn’t continue to act aloof; he jumped down from the chair while holding the mountain cat.
"Hey, where did you pick up this little cat? It’s quite cute." Zong Shichang exclaimed upon seeing the mountain cat, wanting to pet it.
"Young master, be careful!" Uncle Cang and Uncle Hu's faces changed drastically, immediately blocking Zong Shichang.
Elder Yuan also looked serious, as if facing a great enemy.
"Hiss~" Zong Shichang felt as if a fierce beast was staring at him. Looking into the mountain cat's eyes, he instantly broke out in a cold sweat, his legs going weak.
Fortunately, someone was supporting him; otherwise, he might have collapsed directly.
"Zong brother, quickly say thank you to it." Zhao Xing said.
"Ah? Oh, thank you." Although Zong Shichang didn’t know why, he hurriedly complied.
Seeing this, the mountain cat indeed stopped hissing and shrank back into Zhao Xing's arms.
"This, is this the mountain cat? You are the owner of the mountain cat?" Zong Shichang wiped his sweat.
"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded.
"No, what’s the situation with this cat? Why do I have to say thank you to it?" Zong Shichang, upon hearing that Zhao Xing was the mountain cat's owner, was no longer so afraid and recalled the strange rumors he had heard earlier, becoming curious.
Zhao Xing helplessly replied, "It’s a long story. In short, after I fought with it a few times, it developed this habit. You know how cats are; their nature is always strange, and it’s hard for me to correct it."
Zong Shichang nodded in agreement; he loved to tease cats and walk dogs, knowing that cats were quite difficult to please, sometimes not even knowing who the owner was.
After chatting for a while, Zong Shichang, forgetting the earlier warning, became tempted to pet the cat. "Is your mountain cat friendly? I’ll pay any price!"
Zhao Xing shook his head. "Zong brother, a gentleman does not take away what others enjoy."
Mentioning a gentleman seemed to remind Zong Shichang of something, and his expression turned slightly displeased. "What kind of nonsense gentleman? I don’t care for it. Alright, if you won’t sell, you must bring it to my house more often."
"Sure." Zhao Xing casually agreed and scanned the square. "What’s the situation now?"
Zong Shichang understood he was asking for information and immediately replied, "There have been new developments among the entry-level experts. That Gu Feng doesn’t know what opportunity he got, but during the eighth incense stick, he actually leaped from the Gathered Essence Eighth Level to the entry-level realm."
"Besides that, the number of Gathered Essence Ninth Level experts has also increased quite a bit. For instance, Cao Qiushui has gathered seven Gathered Essence Ninth Level experts around him."
"Also, Lu Qian and Liu girl beside Du Jiaojiao have both reached the Gathered Essence Ninth Level."
"I’ve broken through to the Gathered Essence Seventh Level, and Uncle Cang and Uncle Hu have reached the Gathered Essence Ninth Level."
"However, among the first ten incense sticks, there are some who fared poorly; Zhang Boran and Wen Zhao, for some reason, suffered serious injuries."
"Hu Yang's mechanical beast is missing a head, and it seems he didn’t gain anything."
"Elder Yuan said that Yang Junxiong’s aura seems to have no significant changes; it’s unclear how he managed to get the first incense."
Zong Shichang pointed around at the crowd in the square, as if he knew each person well. "Overall, the number of officials has decreased; those who went down have gone down, and those who died have died, but the number of high-level cultivators has increased a bit. Because the first fifty incense sticks all had some effect."
"Tonight is the last night for the officials; they must descend before dawn tomorrow, so no one wants to miss this final opportunity. Tonight’s competition will surely be even more intense... By the way, Zhao Sanjia, why do Zhang Boran and Wen Zhao keep looking at you?"
(End of Chapter)