Chapter 72: Cloud Technique Duel, Are There Still Masters?

With the Ghostly Wind spell at the 9th turn, Zhao Xing's confidence doubled.

Originally, he didn't hope to snatch the first few incense sticks, but now, he had a certain degree of confidence.

"The temple gate is about to open, hurry up and restore vital energy."

Zhao Xing hurriedly took out three Yuan Gathering elixirs from his Literary Bamboo Box and swallowed them, then bit into a Tianyuan Pear, and his face immediately became rosy.

After waiting for the vital energy to recover by more than half, he glanced at the sundial.

"It's already the 6th quarter of the Hai hour (9 PM - 11 PM). Only two quarter-hours left, and the temple gate will open."

Zhao Xing scanned the Altar Square and found that Shen Zhui still hadn't arrived.

"I don't know what happened to him, even the competition for incense on the second night was delayed."

"I hope it's a good thing."

He didn't come to compete for the first incense on the first night either, but hid in a mountain cave to consume Vermilion Fruit and break through.

Thinking about it, Zhao Xing walked toward the other side of the square.

"Young Master Zong."

Zong Shichang was discussing with people beside him and was angry at who interrupted his speech. Seeing it was Zhao Xing, his brow relaxed, and he said with a smile: "What's wrong with you? You looked fine just a moment ago, why do you look a bit weak now?"

The Ten Thousand Laws Spiritual Treasure caused Zhao Xing's Ghostly Wind to rise from entry level directly to the 9th turn, but it also consumed a lot of vital energy, mainly his physical and vital souls. After this violent cultivation, the fluctuations were huge, making Zhao Xing look a bit withered at this time.

Zhao Xing ignored Zong Shichang's teasing and went straight to the point: "In a moment, we will enter the temple to compete for the first incense. How about you and I go together?"

Zong Shichang heard this, his face became difficult, and he whispered: "To tell you the truth, I am willing, but this group of people I pulled will only protect me, and might not be able to protect you completely. You let me ask."

Zhao Xing nodded. Zong Shichang was only at Tier 4 of Yuan Gathering. To say that he was the one in charge when fighting, that was too ridiculous.

If Zong Shichang could be in charge directly, Zhao Xing would turn around and leave. This was treating life as a child's play.

Zong Shichang turned back and discussed in a low voice in the crowd.

He had about seventeen or eighteen people gathered around him.

The first echelon, of course, was the three Tier 8 Yuan Gathering masters, hired by his father with money.

Since they were hired, Zong Shichang couldn't order these masters. Most actions required Zong Shichang to listen to the opinions of the masters.

[ottkano￠o]

Zong Shichang also knew his place and would never let a layman guide an expert.

The second echelon had five people, all at Tier 7 of Yuan Gathering. They were relatively young, the young talents of Nanyang County, and could be considered Zong Shichang's own connections. They agreed to act together, but there was no master-servant relationship, just cooperation.

The third echelon was at Tier 5 or 6 of Yuan Gathering, recruited by Zong Shichang with silver notes. This group could listen to Zong Shichang.

Zong Shichang himself was a fun-loving person and had no opinion on Zhao Xing joining.

The more people, the better. He wished everyone in the Altar Square would come to his place to join in the fun!

But he knew the severity and felt that the possibility of Zhao Xing joining was not high. After all, Agricultural Officials themselves didn't have much combat power, and in Zong Shichang's impression, Zhao Xing's rank wasn't high, at least Zong Shichang couldn't tell.

However, when he opened his mouth to say it, a thin, tall middle-aged man carrying four battle blades beside him spoke: "Young Master Zong, I think it's okay to let him join."

"Uh?" Zong Shichang was stunned and looked at "Uncle Cang," the master his father hired.

"Indeed, Old Cang is right." Another middle-aged swordsman with a mole on the corner of his mouth, "Uncle Hu," also spoke: "Young Master, you can also learn from him."

Zong Shichang was a bit confused: "Uncle Cang, Uncle Hu, are you joking? When I borrowed money just now, you two weren't happy."

He was a bit unsure, thinking these two were being sarcastic, giving money and still bringing people, wondering if Zong Shichang had no sense of proportion.

"Times have changed." Uncle Cang smiled, "Before he absorbed the third spiritual treasure, he could barely count as useful."

"But after absorbing the third spiritual treasure..." The swordsman "Uncle Hu" flashed a different color in his eyes, "I actually felt a strong threat from this kid, the kind of threat between life and death."

Three great masters, two agreed, and the remaining one didn't speak.

Not speaking meant not opposing. Zong Shichang was surprised and immediately turned his head, smiling: "Actually, I saw it long ago. Look, my two hundred silver notes just now were reasonable!"

The three great masters smiled without saying a word.

You saw it?

You saw a hammer! Your behavior was purely prodigal, okay!

"Ahem, I'll go talk to him." Seeing no one echoing, Zong Shichang stopped bragging and turned to Zhao Xing.

"Brother Zhao, I've handled everything. You can compete for incense with us in a moment."

Zhao Xing actually heard everything, but he still gave a thumbs up: "Awesome, it has to be Young Master Zong."

"Hey, it's all a small matter." Zong Shichang felt comfortable all over, and the smile on his face became brighter.

"There's still some time, shall I give you a rundown?"

"Good." Zhao Xing listened attentively; he really didn't know much about these masters.

Zong Shichang stood beside Zhao Xing and pointed to a corner of the Altar Square: "See that chrysanthemum-faced guy holding a feather fan? That person is Wen Zhao, Tier 9 of Yuan Gathering, thirty-six this year, an official of the Ritual Hall in Nanyang County."

"He is a Ritual Cultivator, especially good at 'Harmony Ritual' and 'Fire Ritual'."

"He won the fifth incense stick last night."

Zhao Xing nodded slightly. He also saw that this was a Ritual Cultivator. When entering the Altar Square, it was this person who burned several of his straw men.

"The blade guest beside him is called Zhang Boran, Tier 8 of Yuan Gathering. He is his cousin, uses a Tier 3 high-grade 'Tiger Ring Blade', and is proficient in a mid-grade secret technique 'Tiger Evil Blade'."

"These two, one literary and one martial, cooperate very tacitly."

Zong Shichang's finger moved horizontally and pointed in another direction: "That man wearing a straw raincoat and a gray head is called Cao Qiushui, Tier 9 of Yuan Gathering."

"He is also a small official of the Agricultural Official, a young generation of the Cao family's direct line. He ranks third, and his strength is also third. Not as good as his eldest brother Cao Chunfang, nor his seventh brother Cao Wangdong."

Zhao Xing raised an eyebrow: "The Cao family, are they descendants of the True Person?"

Zong Shichang curled his lips and said: "Indeed, they are descendants of True Person Cao Xi, but this bloodline has passed for over a thousand years, and there is nothing amazing about it. As the saying goes, the badger doesn't produce a Chu person."

Zhao Xing saw he didn't continue, and helplessly echoed: "What does that mean?"

Zong Shichang smiled: "Each generation is worse than the last. The Cao family has only produced one from the 5th rank in the last three hundred years, and it was a scattered rank."

Zhao Xing said: "You can't blame people for not working hard; aristocratic families are really hard to mix in this period."

Zong Shichang nodded: "Indeed, that person is too ruthless, always sucking the blood of aristocratic families..."

Zhao Xing waved his hand: "Don't go too far, it's taboo."

Zong Shichang shut up, looked around, then his eyes lit up, and he pointed to the east side of the square: "She's here."

"Who?"

"Du Jiaojiao. See that one holding the spear? Yes, blocked by the girl holding the willow zither."

Zhao Xing looked over and saw Lu Qian and the girl holding the willow zither standing and chatting, and behind them was a cute girl who was a head shorter.

However, her spear was tall; I fear it was nearly four meters long.

"Saw it, the person is like the name, really quite petite... what are you laughing at?"

Zhao Xing hadn't finished speaking when he saw Zong Shichang holding his stomach and stealing joy.

"Is there anything wrong?"

Zong Shichang patted his thigh and said: "Her name is Du Jiaojiao, but she is not petite; she is sitting down!"

"Huh?" Zhao Xing was stunned.

"Don't believe it? I'll let you see." Zong Shichang picked up a stone on the ground and threw it over there. "Hey! Brother Du!"

The stone hit in front of the three girls. Lu Qian, who was talking, frowned. Seeing it was Zong Shichang, she immediately scolded: "Zong Eighteen, you ignorant bastard, what are you doing!"

Zong Shichang waved his hand: "Qianqian, you scold so nicely~ Come, call twice more for Young Master to listen~"

Lu Qian was furious and wanted to rush over: "Do you want to die?!"

At this time, Du Jiaojiao stood up and pulled her: "Qianqian, don't be the same as him."

"Hmph." Lu Qian glared fiercely and sat down angrily.

Zong Shichang turned back: "See it now?"

Zhao Xing nodded: "Saw it, truly amazing."

Du Jiaojiao stood up and was actually eight feet tall!

Roughly estimated, it was at least two meters forty or fifty!

And her build was extremely sturdy. Her face was cute and exquisite; I didn't expect her to be a "Vajra Barbie."

"No wonder she uses such a long spear."

Zong Shichang said: "The Du family spear has a great reputation in Nanyang County. Her father can be called the number one spear master in Nanyang County. This woman also knows at least three mid-grade secret techniques. She won the second incense stick last night. If she hadn't come late, I fear Yang Junxiong might not have been able to win steadily."

Mentioning Yang Junxiong, Zong Shichang's tone also turned cold: "Yang Junxiong, that is the person riding the bamboo horse. He is the culprit who caused the death of Brother Wang."

"Originally, among the Tier 9 Yuan Gathering, there were Hong Sihai, Dong Chuan, and Xiang Chenglin, three people whose strength was quite outstanding, but these three were severely injured by Yang Junxiong yesterday and had to go down the mountain early, ending this mountain climbing journey."

Severely injured three Tier 9 Yuan Gathering masters? Zhao Xing was slightly surprised: "Could it be that this Yang Junxiong has already entered the rank? What is his background?"

Only officials were allowed to climb the mountain for these three days. Officials are generally not ranked.

However, if there is an opportunity after climbing the mountain, a breakthrough is also possible.

"Don't know." Zong Shichang shook his head, "I haven't found out the origin of this person. There are hundreds of counties in Nanyang County, and I don't know where this person popped out from."

"Damn, he defeated so many people, he must have obtained a lot of spiritual treasures. His strength is too strong, and I can't take revenge on the mountain."

Zong Shichang was very angry, and once they went down the mountain, everyone would remember nothing.

Zhao Xing reminded: "Brother Zong, if he was originally Tier 9 of Yuan Gathering and obtained spiritual treasures, then you should stop thinking about revenge first and prioritize saving your life."

"You also have to pray that he isn't targeting you, and that Brother Wang's death was just something he did in passing."

"Forget it, don't mention him."

Zong Shichang opened his Literary Bamboo Box in depression. I don't know if he was angry because he mentioned Yang Junxiong, or if he was dry from talking, he took out iced plum soup and drank two mouthfuls fiercely.

Seeing that Zong Shichang had no interest in talking, Zhao Xing didn't ask any more questions, silently accumulating strength, waiting for the temple gate to open.

In the last quarter-hour before the temple gate opened, the number of people in the Altar Square became fewer and fewer.

Because it was completely dark, officials without "Bright Eyes Night Vision" ability had long since retreated from the Altar Square and stayed far away.

Although there were many fewer people, the atmosphere became increasingly heavy, and the discussion became low. By the time it approached the Zi hour, no one spoke anymore.

Just silently staring at the sundial pointer on the square, because it was about to walk out of the "Cease Fire" area.

Some people couldn't bear this heavy atmosphere and chose to quit at the last moment.

The number of people in the square decreased by another third.

⊙

Zhao Xing's pupils emitted green light in the dark night, also staring at the pointer.

"Clang!"

Suddenly, a heavy bell sound came from the temple ahead.

And the sundial pointer also pointed to the Zi hour!

The Zi hour area was engraved with two words: "Only Martial!"

The temple gate opened, and ten golden light clusters floated out from inside the gate.

That was the "incense fire" needed for offering in the temple!

The incense fire floated in the sky above the Altar Square, hanging without falling, like a bright lamp.

"Action!" Uncle Cang beside Zong Shichang shouted immediately.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

Another Tier 8 Yuan Gathering "Uncle Hu" also jumped into the air quickly, trying to snatch the incense fire.

The first wave of incense fire, only masters with sufficient confidence dared to compete for it.

Most of the others, although moved, held back and didn't take action.

Because during the "Only Martial" moment, life and death are at one's own risk!

In the huge Altar Square, only twenty-one people dared to jump into the air to snatch the first incense.

But this didn't mean that the people on the ground had no movements.

Just the next moment after these twenty-one martial artists jumped up.

A voice came from the southeast of the square.

"The use of ritual, harmony is precious!"

The voice was mellow and sounded directly in people's ears. Everyone had a short moment of distraction before their eyes.

It was as if an old master with a crown and belt was earnestly teaching in their ears.

At this moment, the twenty-one martial artists who had just jumped up had no fighting spirit in their hearts. Twenty of them landed, and some even stumbled and couldn't stand steadily after landing.

"Wen Zhao!" Uncle Cang roared unwillingly, and he and another person also couldn't help but land.

Only a silver spear broke through the air, not only unaffected but instead soared upward, grabbing one of the incense sticks. It was Du Jiaojiao.

At the same time, there was also the sound of horse hooves coming from outside the square. A black shadow, riding a bamboo horse, flew across the air, unaffected, and arrived later to arrive first, snatching one incense stick before Du Jiaojiao.

Then the momentum didn't decrease, and it landed in front of the stone steps leading to the temple.

"Yang Junxiong!" Du Jiaojiao's voice was gentle but full of fighting spirit. When she landed, her position was not much different from Yang Junxiong's.

The stone steps could not accommodate many people, so whether it was the first incense or not depended on who went up first.

"Get lost!" Yang Junxiong roared. He also used a spear, but it was fiery red all over. His momentum was amazing, as if even the bamboo horse was covered with a layer of rosy light.

Separated by such a distance, the roar still made the ears of the people in the square ache, but Du Jiaojiao was completely unaware.

"Mid-grade secret technique, Lion's Roar?" Du Jiaojiao blocked Yang Junxiong with her spear, her eyes shining. "Let me get lost, that depends on whether you have the strength!"

These two snatched the incense fire first, but the third person was Zhang Boran beside Wen Zhao, because he jumped later and was not affected.

It was just that after he landed, he didn't dare to move forward.

Because Yang Junxiong and Du Jiaojiao blocked the way ahead, he was only at Tier 8 of Yuan Gathering and didn't dare to crowd over.

Three incense sticks were snatched away, and the fighting in the square broke out in an instant.

Wen Zhao's suppression only lasted for a moment before he let go, because he wanted to let Zhang Boran snatch it.

"Cloud Walking!"

Zhao Xing pointed his finger, and the moment the Zi hour arrived, he immediately tried to support a cloud layer to cover the entire Altar Square.

But before Cloud Walking, he actually cast [Ghostly Wind] first.

Letting the ghostly wind surround himself, forming a barrier, and outside the ghostly wind, he used the Wind Rising spell to form a second barrier.

Through the tempering of the earth vein ghostly wind, the Ten Thousand Laws Spiritual Treasure made his soul tough and hard to be shaken. Therefore, he was minimally affected by Wen Zhao, but Yang Junxiong's Lion's Roar penetrated the wind wall.

The reason it was half a beat slow was mainly due to the spell characteristics; condensing the cloud layer also takes time.

Almost the moment the first batch of martial artists landed, and Du Jiaojiao and Yang Junxiong snatched the incense, Zhao Xing's cloud layer was supported on the square.

He had to occupy the initiative, otherwise, the subsequent Lightning Attraction and Ice Rain would have no way to be cast, and he might not be able to snatch the incense fire.

"Cloud Walking!"

Not only Zhao Xing had the same idea; eight other people in the Altar Square cast it one after another, trying to occupy the advantage of the weather.

Those who dared to take action in the first batch of time periods were all absolutely confident in their spells.

The square was only so big, and it was impossible to accommodate so many clouds.

So the first collision occurred immediately.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

The clouds collided, thunder sounded, and for a time, the Altar Square was illuminated brightly.

Even Wen Zhao was secretly clicking his tongue: "The Ritual of Weather is chaotic to this extent. It seems there is more than one powerful character like Cao Qiushui among the Agricultural Officials this time."

"Boom!"

On the west side of the square, Cao Qiushui, wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat, had his clouds rolling like an endless river, forcibly pushing away the surrounding clouds.

Soon, three people in the square area on his side were defeated.

"Brother Cao's Flowing Cloud spell has reached the 5th turn; I admit defeat."

"Many thanks to Brother Cao for showing mercy."

"Hmph, skill is not as good as others, nothing to say."

"Thank you all for letting me!" Cao Qiushui smiled and cupped his hands toward the three people.

Just as he wanted to continue expanding the range of Cloud Walking to cover the entire square, he discovered that on the other half of the square, I don't know when, only one remained.

It was Zhao Xing who had already solved the other four competitors. He didn't rely on Cloud Walking to suppress the other four people.

He purely drove a wisp of ghostly wind to sneak attack these four people.

The soul fire was blown to the point of crumbling, so how could they control the Cloud Walking spell?

Immediately, they were cut and swallowed by Zhao Xing's cloud layer, turning into nutrients.

Therefore, Zhao Xing's initial-grade cloud technique was no less powerful than Cao Qiushui's mid-grade cloud technique.

"What's going on, why is my Cloud Walking out of control?"

"Who is it, who is plotting against me?!"

"Damn it!"

In four places in the square, cursing sounds rang out.

"Zhao Sanjia, how are you..." Zong Shichang looked at the cloud layer above his head in disbelief.

He didn't even know that Zhao Xing was so powerful that he could support a cloud layer in front of many masters in the first time, and defeated four other Agricultural Officials.

"What amazing control. How can his Cloud Walking technique swallow other people's cloud energy?" Uncle Cang and Uncle Hu landed and didn't jump again, choosing an opportunity to move. After seeing Zhao Xing's move, they were very surprised.

Because they didn't expect Zhao Xing to be of much use, at least in the first wave of competing for incense, they didn't hope he could have any achievements.

"It's this move again. During the assessment earlier, his cloud layer could swallow Huang Tao's cloud layer and turn it into his own use..." Zong Shichang was a bit excited.

Ignoring the surprise of others, Zhao Xing quickly controlled the cloud layer to absorb the cloud energy of the defeated, ready to go. Taking advantage of Cao Qiushui's showing off, he bumped into him.

"Boom!"

Thunder sounded again, and the cloud layer above Zhao Xing's head was scattered by one-fifth.

But it was quickly absorbed, showing amazing control.

Cao Qiushui's cloud layer, although occupying an advantage in the collision, had its rolling momentum blocked.

Although it was a passive collision, this was completely beyond everyone's expectations, because Cao Qiushui cast a mid-grade 4th-turn spell, while Zhao Xing only had an initial-grade Cloud Walking.

"Hmm? Are there still masters?" Cao Qiushui looked toward a certain direction in surprise.