Upon hearing that it was an official from Grain City, Chen Shijie and Xue Wenzhong could no longer sit still. The other officials also followed them out. However, the outcome left Chen Shijie and Xue Wenzhong greatly disappointed. The one who emerged was not Zhao Xing, but Shen Zhui from the Martial Division.
After descending the mountain, Shen Zhui first came to pay his respects to County Lord Li Wenzheng and the Martial Division's superior, Lord Wang Long. "I pay my respects to County Lord, I pay my respects to Lord Wang."
"Good, good, good! I didn't expect you to have entered the ranks; it is indeed a fortunate event for the Martial Division," Li Wenzheng said with great joy. With the Inspector and many officials watching, it was certainly worth celebrating that Grain City had produced a genius under his governance.
The East Lake Spiritual Mountain was located within the jurisdiction of Grain City, and as the County Lord, he was equivalent to the host. Ascending the Spiritual Mountain to gather spiritual essence was akin to a heavyweight examination. If the officials under his command did not perform better than those from other counties, it would be somewhat embarrassing.
Now that Shen Zhui had entered the ranks, it brought him honor as well. "I pay my respects to Lord Chen." Upon seeing Chen Shijie approach, Shen Zhui cupped his hands in greeting.
"Not bad." Chen Shijie merely responded perfunctorily; his mood had soured somewhat since he had not yet seen Zhao Xing. Xue Wenzhong, noticing this, also appeared somewhat distracted. Could it be that something unexpected had truly happened?
"Elder Xue, let’s wait a bit longer," Chen Shijie patted the back of Xue Wenzhong's hand. "He will definitely be fine."
The events that occurred on the Spiritual Mountain over the past three days would be forgotten by the participating officials, and the outside officials were unaware of the situation inside; they could only wait for notifications. Therefore, it was useless to be anxious now.
Just as Chen Shijie and Xue Wenzhong were about to return to the observation area to wait, suddenly—
"Clop, clop, clop~"
A crisp sound of hooves echoed through the mist. At the Forgetting Worry Monument, Zhao Xing rode a Bamboo Horse, carrying a bamboo box on his back, with a small cat cradled in his arms, flying through the air.
"Zhao Xing? It's Zhao Xing coming out!"
"It's Zhao Xing from Grain City! Why is he riding a horse?!"
"Uninformed, that is a Mechanized Beast Bamboo Horse!"
"Hiss, judging by his posture, he must have gained quite a bit!"
The onlookers were abuzz with discussion. Chen Shijie smiled broadly and laughed heartily. Xue Wenzhong also completely relaxed. The Agricultural Affairs Bureau's Five Elements Observation could quickly discern whether a person was injured and roughly what realm they were in. At this moment, upon looking, they saw that Zhao Xing was not only safe and sound but had also entered the ranks!
"Zhao Xing actually entered the ranks?!" Tang Wanchun exclaimed, "Wasn't he only at Gathered Essence Fourth Level before entering the mountain?!"
"Did I see that wrong?" Pang Yuan was also dumbfounded, "He gained so much?!"
In just three days, he had jumped several levels, nearly dropping their jaws in astonishment! Gao Linong had originally been pleased with the progress of Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang, thinking that this wave was truly a grand display for his two students. But unexpectedly, Zhao Xing had burst onto the scene!
From Gathered Essence Fourth Level to entering the ranks?! His gains were far greater than those of Zong Shichang and Li Chengfeng! Gao Linong felt quite uncomfortable inside. He had just finished boasting, and now he was slapped in the face so quickly!
"What kind of luck did Zhao Sanjia encounter to leap into the ranks?" Zong Shichang was very curious, as he vaguely felt that he had some interaction with Zhao Xing on the mountain. But he could not remember the specifics.
"He actually entered the ranks?" Li Chengfeng looked at Zhao Xing, who was being adored like a star, feeling a mix of emotions. Just a quarter of an hour ago, he had enjoyed similar treatment, but now, in comparison, he was instantly overshadowed.
As for Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and others, they were completely envious and could not muster any thoughts of comparison. The gap was simply too great; previously, they could still compete in their hearts. But when the gap was wide enough, that thought completely vanished, leaving only envy.
"Whoa~" Zhao Xing instinctively pulled on the reins to slow down. When he arrived in front of Chen Shijie and the officials from Grain City, he still wore a frown.
"Zhao—"
"Don't interrupt him; let him organize his thoughts," Li Wenzheng said, and his words seemed to have a magical effect, causing the surrounding people to fall silent, not daring to make a sound.
At this moment, within a fifty-meter radius, apart from Chen Shijie, Xue Wenzhong, and a few other 'administrators,' only Zhao Xing could speak.
"Why am I riding a horse?" Zhao Xing sat on the horse, somewhat confused. He remembered that the old Agricultural Affairs Bureau and Old Chen had given him a bamboo box, but it seemed there was no Bamboo Horse, right? His memories were a bit hazy; Zhao Xing knew he had definitely been influenced by the Forgetting Worry Monument. He tried hard to recall but only vaguely remembered that this Bamboo Horse had been taken.
As for whom he had taken it from? He had forgotten.
"Little Mountain Cat." Zhao Xing looked down at the small cat in his arms and lifted it up. He could not remember the scene of rampaging together with the Mountain Cat, but he still vaguely remembered the moment of recognizing it as his own; that connection had not been affected.
Tang Wanchun and Gao Linong stared wide-eyed at the Mountain Cat! An extraordinary beast that had entered the ranks—this was stronger than them! It seemed that Zhao Xing had tamed it?!
Li Wenzheng and Chen Shijie exchanged glances, both feeling somewhat surprised. The other officials could only tell that the Mountain Cat had entered the ranks, but they could not gauge its specific strength. However, the two of them could see clearly. One used the Clear Insight Technique, and the other used the Five Elements Observation. Both concluded the same: it was at Ninth Rank Perfection! Comparable to a human Ninth Rank, in terms of combat power, this extraordinary beast could likely overpower the vast majority of human cultivators.
Zhao Xing continued to rummage through his arms. He pulled out a stack of silver notes. "One thousand taels of silver? The note number is from the Nanyang Chamber of Commerce; this should belong to Young Master Zong." Zhao Xing recalled vaguely that there had been a hand that had given him money.
That hand was very young; as for whether it was Zong Shichang? He could not remember either. However, the probability was high; apart from Young Master Zong, who would bring so much silver up the mountain?
"This money is very likely mine!" The onlookers, Zong Shichang, was somewhat surprised upon seeing this, "But why would I give him so much money?"
Zong Yonglong's eyes sparkled; could it be that this person had some connection with his son on the mountain? Or perhaps a grudge?
The other onlookers looked on with envy. This was what it meant to ascend the mountain! Others spent large sums to procure equipment and treasures, only to exhaust everything by the time they descended. He still had money to earn? It was simply infuriating!
"Eh, a Sparrow Feather Dao Robe? Why is there one of these in the bamboo box? It looks like something a woman would wear. Did I rob a dancer?"
"Ahem, Zhao Xing, that's enough." Li Wenzheng could not help but interrupt Zhao Xing's immersive inventory. The Sparrow Feather Dao Robe was clearly a woman's intimate clothing, and he feared that Zhao Xing might pull out something else in front of everyone.
Although it was his ability, it was still rather inappropriate!
Zhao Xing also came to his senses, stuffing the half-taken Dao Robe back into the bamboo box. He felt that there were still many things inside, as this box was much heavier than when he ascended the mountain. However, it was not the right time to check.
"I pay my respects to County Lord, I pay my respects to Lord Chen, I pay my respects to my teacher, and to all the esteemed officials." Zhao Xing cupped his hands in greeting.
"Hahaha, no need for formalities, come with me and let people see the young talents of Grain City." Li Wenzheng amiably pulled Zhao Xing over, eagerly leading him to show off to the officials from the county and neighboring counties.
Not long after Zhao Xing left the Forgetting Worry Monument, several figures emerged from the thick fog. He held a riding spear, his expression melancholic; it was Yang Junxiong. However, after passing the Forgetting Worry Monument, a smile appeared on his face.
"This time ascending the mountain, I have indeed entered the ranks and reached the Ninth Rank; before entering the mountain, I was only at Gathered Essence Ninth Level. This trip was not in vain."
But soon, his smile froze. "Wait, where is my Bamboo Horse?!"
Yang Junxiong looked around, deeply puzzled, "Where is my horse? Why can't I see it?!"
Then his gaze fell upon a familiar figure ahead. It was Zhao Xing riding the Bamboo Horse. "That, that is my Bamboo Horse? Hmm? I can't sense the battle spirit anymore. Could it be his?"
"No, that is definitely my Bamboo Horse! Why did it drop to Third Rank Inferior?!"
"Could it be that he took it?!"
Yang Junxiong's heart was filled with many questions, but having already descended the mountain, no matter what, he could only set them aside. Ascending the mountain was inherently risky; losing a Bamboo Horse was nothing unusual, let alone losing one's life.
"I always feel that this person is closely related to me; I feel a vague sense of reluctance and loss, but unfortunately, I don't know what happened."
Yang Junxiong sighed and took a deep look at Zhao Xing's direction before striding away.
After he left, three graceful figures emerged from the mist. It was Du Jiaojiao, Lu Qian, and Liu Muqing.
"Eh? Qian'er, Qing'er, are you both alright?" Du Jiaojiao looked at her two close friends.
"I'm fine." Liu Muqing said with some joy, "I have already reached Gathered Essence Ninth Level, and my music technique has also improved!"
"I'm fine too." Lu Qian also smiled, "I have reached Gathered Essence Ninth Level, and both of my spells have improved by three turns. What about you, Sister Jiao?"
Du Jiaojiao smiled, "I am at the lower Ninth Rank; unfortunately, my spear technique hasn't made much progress. I want to fully comprehend that move 'Jiao Long Emerges from the Sea,' which is quite regrettable..."
"Ah!" Suddenly, Lu Qian let out a startled cry, her expression flustered as she patted her body. She realized that she was missing something.
"Eh? Qian'er, what's wrong?!"
"My Dao Robe! My Sparrow Feather Dao Robe is missing!" Lu Qian's expression was frantic.
"What?" Du Jiaojiao and Liu Muqing's faces also changed. They both knew of the existence of the Sparrow Feather Dao Robe and that it was Lu Qian's intimate clothing. Now that it was lost, did it not mean that Lu Qian had been...
Suddenly, Lu Qian raised her head sharply; she sensed the presence of the Dao Robe, a faint magical connection formed from prolonged use of the treasure. Just like how Yang Junxiong could sense the Bamboo Horse's presence.
Her gaze fell upon the young man riding the Bamboo Horse ahead. "My Dao Robe is in that person's hands; could it be...?" Lu Qian bit her lip, tears glistening in her eyes.
"Ah-choo~" Zhao Xing suddenly sneezed.
For some reason, he felt as if someone was thinking of him.
"An enemy? That shouldn't be; I can't remember the events on the mountain." Zhao Xing muttered to himself.
He now followed along to the observation platform set up around the Earth Altar Square. Ascending the Spiritual Mountain to gather spiritual essence was not only an opportunity for officials to reverse their fates but also counted as part of their formal assessment results.
Moreover, this time would undoubtedly be a significant bonus, akin to winning a major competition. As for how it would be judged? Naturally, it would be announced by the Temple of Divinity's priests.
The Yin God of the Spiritual Mountain fell under the jurisdiction of the county-level temple of Nanyang County, and the temple in Grain City had no authority to know. The Yin God on the mountain would inform the priests of the Nanyang County temple about the officials' performances, detailing who received how many spiritual essences and at what rank, thus determining their rankings.
Between counties and among various government institutions, each would assess independently. This meant that as long as Zhao Xing stood out among the Agricultural Affairs Bureau officials in Grain City, he could achieve a top-tier rating.
Now, it was just a matter of waiting for the results to be announced.
As Zhao Xing entered the observation platform to wait, he noticed someone watching him. Among them was a young man holding a long spear; his Adam's apple protruded, and his neck and chest were quite robust.
Upon seeing this person, Zhao Xing realized he was a soldier and had likely cultivated sound wave techniques. He just didn't know why he was staring at him with such a melancholic gaze.
On the other side, it was even more excessive. It seemed to be officials from the county city; one held a guqin, another leaned on a spear, and in the middle was a beautifully dressed young woman, looking at him with a complex expression.
Her expression held anticipation, tenderness, resentment, and confusion.
Strange, too strange! What exactly happened on the mountain?
Lu Qian looked at Zhao Xing, her mindset completely different now. She thought, "Sister Jiao ascended the mountain at Gathered Essence Ninth Level, and her spear technique is deeply rooted in her father's true teachings."
"Qin'er and I, one plays music and the other dances; together we can perform 'Six Songs,' which can enhance Sister Jiao's combat power by another third."
"She entered the ranks on the mountain, and Qin'er and I have also reached Gathered Essence Ninth Level. Together, the three of us rarely have any rivals."
"What kind of person could steal my intimate Sparrow Feather Dao Robe under such circumstances?"
"Even if I were to separate from them, since my Dao Robe was stolen, how could they not act against me? But I have not lost my virtue..."
Lu Qian looked at Zhao Xing, her mindset gradually shifting.
"If it wasn't theft, then it must be... I developed feelings for him on the mountain, so I willingly gave him this Sparrow Feather Dao Robe."
"Um, according to Zong Shiba, he was only at Gathered Essence Fourth Level before entering the mountain, and now he has actually entered the ranks."
"A genius like this, with decent looks, Zong Shiba also said he is quite interesting; perhaps I truly am..."
As she thought about it, Lu Qian's gaze toward Zhao Xing became somewhat different.
Zhao Xing could not bear it; who was this girl? Why did it seem like her gaze was about to melt him?
"Ah, she is a dancer, her charm is innate and unconsciously displayed. Eh? The Sparrow Feather Dao Robe in my box, could it be that I stole it from her?"
Zhao Xing suddenly realized this point. As for why he didn't think in other directions, such as a token of love... Zhao Xing could be certain that he absolutely had no such thoughts.
He was determined not to marry or have children, to prevent his Fortune from entering his body and benefiting a wife and children, thus diluting the chances of reaching the revival era.
How could he possibly be distracted by such matters?
"It must have been taken." Zhao Xing was very clear about his self-awareness. "This item meets my standards for robbery; a Third Rank Superior Dao Robe, with a Fourth Rank feather on it, very valuable."
"I wonder what background this girl has; she shouldn't have noticed, right?"
"It doesn't matter; if she dares to seek revenge later, I will just rob again."
Zhao Xing turned around, no longer looking at Lu Qian.
"You have already entered the ranks; it is a certainty, but the process is just that. The big shots in the county are all present; showing your face will do you no harm," Xue Wenzhong reminded Zhao Xing, seeing him looking around, "Make sure to sit tight and not lose your composure."
"Okay, teacher." Zhao Xing nodded, then stopped looking around. He wanted to know just how great his gains were this time. So he focused his mind and checked his panel and records.
(End of Chapter)