Chapter 68: Treasure in Hand, Cease Fire at the Hour of the Dog

Zhao Xing activated Rising Wind, accelerating six straw figures as they charged into the depths of the cave.

At the same time, over a dozen more straw figures squatted along the predetermined retreat route.

"Quick, find it faster."

Zhao Xing's heartbeat quickened, his breathing grew ragged.

Even though he was only controlling straw figures, his blood surged with excitement, as if he were about to find a rare treasure at any moment.

Still, reason held the dominant position: "Treasures stir the heart, but I must hurry. The mountain cat moves with great agility—I have to find it within a quarter of an hour."

"Within a quarter of an hour, I must retreat! No matter how many more treasures there are, I won't linger!"

Zhao Xing repeated this rule over and over in his heart.

Because after the straw figures pushed deeper in, he sensed that there was more than one treasure inside the cave!

After pressing further inside, the cave split into four branching passages, and each one carried that same powerful pull.

"Split up!"

Zhao Xing immediately ordered the straw figures to enter the four passages separately.

Visibility in the cave was dim, and the straw figures stumbled forward blindly—but fortunately straw figures could take a beating. Eventually he simply ordered them down on all fours, crawling along the ground, which actually made them faster.

"Thud!"

Soon the sensation transmitted from the first straw figure made Zhao Xing's heart leap violently.

At the end of one of the passages sat a complete skeleton, nearly identical to the one Zhao Xing had seen the first time.

Wedged between its ribs was a fist-sized purple stone.

The stone radiated arcs of lightning, and the two ribs pinning it had already turned scorched black.

"Swoosh~"

The straw figure ran over to take the purple stone, and its hand immediately began to smoke.

Fortunately this was a Great Strength Vajra straw figure—had it been made of green vine instead, it might not have been able to carry it off.

"Return!" Zhao Xing immediately gave the order to this Great Strength Vajra.

Since it had already traveled the route once, the Great Strength Vajra made its way back very smoothly.

The moment it emerged from the cave mouth, a second straw figure was already waiting.

The Swift-Step straw figure grabbed the Great Strength Vajra and sped it along.

There was no time to inspect it.

Because the second straw figure inside the cave had made a discovery.

At the end of its passage, within a dry spherical cavern, a shaft of heavenly light shone down upon a stone platform.

A thin sheet of yellow paper floated within it.

The second straw figure immediately snatched the yellow paper away.

"Return!"

Zhao Xing felt a surge of excitement.

A second one!

Not long after the second straw figure began its return—

His fortune erupted for a third time.

The other two passages had yielded discoveries at the same instant!

In the third passage, the straw figure found a pool of spring water; the spring's eye spouted vital essence, and the entire pool was wreathed in immortal mist—extraordinary beyond measure.

Four blue lotuses floated upon it: one already in full bloom, the other three still in bud.

The straw figure reached out to pull them, but its hand was quickly coated in a layer of icy frost. Even moving quickly enough, by the time it plucked the lotus seedpod, its right hand had already frozen solid and lost all mobility, so it could only cradle the pod against its chest with its left.

In the fourth passage, the straw figure actually stumbled upon a nest piled high with pelts—and inside, a cup that flickered with light!

"This cup?!"

Zhao Xing's heart skipped a beat—he recognized it instantly as one of the omens he had seen just before entering the mountain!

It was a true eruption of fortune—every single one of the four passages had yielded a treasure!

But the more this happened, the more Zhao Xing's heart hung in suspense.

The passive triggering of fortune followed the rule of decline after three activations.

It was too early to celebrate now—he might not be able to bring them all out!

"Hiss!"

Just then, an enraged roar echoed from the distance.

The mountain cat had reappeared within a three-li radius and was detected by Zhao Xing.

"It's back. Time for me to run."

Zhao Xing immediately slung the Wen Zhu box onto his back and leapt onto the Swift-Step straw figure.

"This mountain cat has already entered the ranked realm as a mere cub—it must have been nurtured by the spirit mountain. A normal mountain cat's bloodline wouldn't be this formidable."

Sensing the mountain cat closing in, Zhao Xing knew the lotus seeds and the golden cup might not make it out.

Because the mountain cat was nearly back, but the straw figures carrying the lotus seeds and the golden cup had only just emerged from the cave.

"I have to abandon one of them, or I'll lose both. Which one does it care about more?"

Zhao Xing activated his Bright Eye technique to observe the mountain cat's path.

He saw that it was charging first toward the straw figure clutching the golden cup.

"Run in the opposite direction with the golden cup!"

Zhao Xing gave the order decisively, using tremendous willpower to forcibly suppress the reluctance in his heart.

The straw figure holding the golden cup suddenly hurled the cup forward.

At the golden cup's landing spot, the straw dummy lying in ambush quickly leapt up, caught it without the slightest hesitation, and immediately hurled it toward the third landing spot.

Running, the Mountain Cat couldn't outpace it, but when the Great Strength Vajra threw it, the speed was far greater.

The Mountain Cat found it very hard to catch up for the moment.

When the golden cup was passed to the last straw dummy's hands, the straight-line distance from Zhao Xing was already three li, and the last straw dummy was already standing before a cliff.

"Throw!"

The straw dummy violently hurled the golden cup forward.

But at that moment, the Mountain Cat let out a roar and completely vanished from sight.

The next instant, a great hole appeared in the Great Strength Vajra's body, as if pierced through by a bolt of lightning.

The golden cup was still thrown out.

The Mountain Cat gave an angry roar and actually leapt off the cliff after it, then, holding the golden cup in its mouth, stepped on the empty air mid-flight and folded back above the cliff.

"You're something else. I don't want it anymore."

Zhao Xing observed this scene and could not help but give a thumbs-up.

This damn cat is still a martial-arts meow.

What it displayed at the end was actually a body-art secret technique!

"But these three treasures now belong to me."

Zhao Xing smiled slightly and pointed a hand toward the sky.

Thick clouds rolled, and thunder roared in.

Icy rain shrouded the cliff, and a cold wind swept past.

Afterwards, Zhao Xing retreated at his ease.

Where is the safest place on Dengshan?

Of course, it's the Altar Square at the main peak of East Lake Mountain.

In order to evade the Mountain Cat's pursuit.

The Swift-Step straw dummy sprinted all the way, carrying Zhao Xing to the mountaintop.

The Altar Square was already close at hand.

"Who's there?"

"Huh? Why have so many straw dummies come up?"

"Hm? What's going on? Why is my heart suddenly pounding like this?"

"Damn, it's spiritual marrow—those straw dummies are hiding spiritual marrow on them!"

"Heavens, what a strong resonance—mid-grade or top-grade spiritual marrow?!"

Around the square, there were Dengshan climbers resting, but at this moment they all stood up one after another, staring in one direction.

When Zhao Xing charged up the mountain, everyone sensed the spiritual marrow he carried.

Countless open and hidden gazes stared over with ill intent.

A streak of flowing light shot out from a great tree outside the Altar Square, heading straight for Zhao Xing.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

Three arrows shot into the Vajra Bamboo's body, the arrowheads piercing three inches through the chest, but failing to punch all the way through.

The arrow attack had just ended.

Another voice sounded by his ear: "Friend, the spiritual marrow on you is fated with me—please stop!"

Zhao Xing couldn't help slowing his steps, but the next instant, he gave a cold snort and broke free of the restraint.

"Little brother, put down the spiritual marrow quickly, or karmic fire will entangle you!"

A mellow voice swept in from the front, and the three Swift-Step straw dummies instantly burst into flames.

"Those who block me die!"

Zhao Xing let out a furious roar, and a gust of cold wind suddenly whipped up from underground; along with the cold wind, that voice seemed to pierce straight into the soul, making every onlooker shiver involuntarily.

Taking advantage of the gap while the crowd was affected, Zhao Xing was flung by the Great Strength Vajra, borrowed the force to leap, and immediately jumped into the Altar Square.

In the center of the square was a sundial, its gnomon pointing precisely at the wu-hour sector.

The dial was engraved with the two characters "Cease Arms," meaning that from this moment on, all combat within the square was forbidden.

"Phew~ the timing was just right." Zhao Xing let out a breath of relief.