Chapter 76: Strange Tales and Odd Affairs—Breakthrough Once More!

After robbing Qin Feng twice, Zhao Xing had originally planned to keep wandering around.

But as he walked, the little mountain cat got hungry and wanted to eat the rattan-fragrance berries and white fragrant grass it had eaten last time.

So Zhao Xing found this spot and began planting the two things the mountain cat loved to eat.

Since the straw figures he'd left outside the temple had lost their effect from being too far away, he simply planted some more Diamond Bamboo.

Even if he didn't need them for combat, using them to make Swift-Step straw figures would let him move faster.

He had thought that for a while at least, he wouldn't run into any more "good luck."

Who would have thought, when fortune comes, you can't block it even if you try.

Hiding out here in this mountain backwater to farm, and he still ran into Wen Zhao and Zhang Boran!

The two of them had no idea what they'd been through, and hadn't even noticed that this stretch of bamboo grove had been deliberately planted by someone.

They hadn't even noticed the straw figures lying in ambush on both sides.

"What's that thing on Zhang Boran?" Zhao Xing's gaze fell on the man's chest, bulging in a way that obviously meant good stuff.

What moved Zhao Xing even more was that clay jar.

Its pull was immense, far stronger than an ordinary mid-grade spiritual essence!

"Little cat, stop eating, something fun's here!"

Zhao Xing waved at the mountain cat that was gnawing on fruit.

"Meow~" The mountain cat was a little unwilling; it hadn't eaten its fill yet.

"Hurry up and go, those two have tasty things on them, you'll definitely like them!" Zhao Xing urged.

"Meow!" Hearing about tasty things, the mountain cat's big eyes immediately lit up.

It kicked off with its hind legs, leapt onto the Diamond Bamboo, and after a few bounds, shot out of the bamboo grove.

"Borán, this time you found—" Wen Zhao was about to ask Zhang Boran what good thing he'd found, so good he'd even lost his sword over it.

But before he could finish speaking, he saw Zhang Boran's body suddenly rise into the air, bending into a bow mid-flight.

"Thud!" The sound rang out, and Zhang Boran involuntarily flew backward.

The golden chestnuts in his bosom scattered all over the ground, and the clay jar also dropped to the earth.

Zhang Boran didn't even grunt; he passed out on the spot.

The little mountain cat was a Grade exotic beast, and had devoured goodness knows how many spiritual essences—one charge from it was something even a Grade martial artist couldn't withstand.

Let alone Zhang Boran, who was only Eighth-Tier.

He dropped to the ground in one clean motion.

"What?!" Wen Zhao was stunned; he had no idea what had happened. He instinctively reached for the clay jar, intending to run.

But just then, a small, adorable cat appeared in his field of vision.

"Hiss~" The mountain cat growled softly, arching its back and crouching, locking onto Wen Zhao.

"Old fellow, drop the spiritual essence quick, or great misfortune will befall you!"

A teasing voice came from behind.

Wen Zhao was taken aback—weren't those his lines?

He turned around and saw Zhao Xing walking out of the bamboo grove.

"Y-You, Zhao Xing?!"

Wen Zhao recalled yesterday's scene before Zhao Xing went up to the altar plaza.

Back then, that was exactly what he'd said to Zhao Xing.

He never expected the wheel of fortune to turn.

Now it was Zhao Xing's turn to say it to him.

"What, can't bear to put it down?" Zhao Xing looked at Wen Zhao coolly. "Has all that book-learning addled your brain?"

Wen Zhao glanced at the mountain cat, then at Zhao Xing, took a deep breath, and picked up a thorny branch from the ground.

Then, bent at the waist, he slowly made his way to Zhao Xing.

"Lord Zhao, I deeply offended you yesterday; Wen offers his sincere apologies. Please whip me to vent your anger." Wen Zhao bowed with hands clasped, his voice utterly sincere.

He looked as though he were repenting, making one almost believe he truly acknowledged his fault.

This fellow truly lived up to being a Rites cultivator—he'd even pulled out the old "bearing brambles to apologize" routine.

"An apology?" Zhao Xing mocked. "You're quite the versatile one. Apart from Rites and Fire Rites, I didn't expect your apology to carry three parts of Fire's temper too. Do you think I'll fall for it? How does your 'apology' compare to the Yin Wind beneath the earth in power?"

Wen Zhao's gaze faltered; he hadn't expected his trick to be seen through so easily.

Just as he was about to speak again, Zhao Xing suddenly rushed forward, snatched the thorny bramble branch from his hand, and whipped the old fellow's back viciously.

"Then I'll grant your wish!"

"Slap!" A searing pain shot through his back, and Wen Zhao sucked in a cold breath.

But his technique had been broken, and with the mountain cat watching him now, he had no power to fight back at all—he could only let Zhao Xing flog him.

"Slap slap slap slap slap!"

The bramble branch cut through the air—a rapid five-strike combo—and the pain sent Wen Zhao sprawling to the ground.

"You burned three of my straw figures, so I'll whip you six times!"

"Wh-why not three?" Wen Zhao asked weakly.

"Because I'm the sort who repays every grudge, and I repay double." Zhao Xing had broken through Wen Zhao's 'apology'; he planted one foot on the man's head. "According to the Apology Art you cultivate, you should be saying 'thank you' now, or you'll lose a layer of Rites cultivation."

"Mmm mmm mmm~" Wen Zhao, his face pressed into the dirt, couldn't get the words out no matter how he tried, because his head was being stomped on hard and his mouth was full of mud.

Under the Bright Eyes observation, the golden light on Wen Zhao grew weaker and weaker, while the red light grew stronger and stronger.

This was because he had failed to complete the 'Rites' he cultivated.

The Apology Art had been activated, but it had received no positive feedback—instead, it had turned negative.

"Boom!"

Zhao Xing stomped hard, shattering the golden light on Wen Zhao's body.

The red light devoured Wen Zhao's entire body. He suffered a backlash from the spell, twitched once in the dirt, and passed out.

If his Apology Art had originally been fifth-rank, now only fourth-rank remained.

"I hate you Ritual Cultivators the most — no real production, just an eyesore!" Zhao Xing kicked him in the stomach, sending Wen Zhao flying a good distance.

Poor Wen Zhao — barely recovered, and now beaten up again, entering the wounded state.

Zhao Xing clapped his hands and turned around.

His expression froze slightly.

In just this short while, the little mountain cat had eaten nearly all the golden chestnuts that had fallen on the ground.

"Crunch crunch~" — chewing loudly in its mouth, eating with obvious relish.

"You've got quite the appetite." Zhao Xing was helpless.

"Meow~" The mountain cat lifted a paw and pushed the last one over.

"Oh, you're too kind — as long as you're full, why would you leave one for me?"

"Meow?" The little mountain cat tilted its head, as if asking.

Are you really not going to eat it?

"I'm just kidding, eat eat eat."

Zhao Xing quickly picked up the golden chestnut, blew off the dirt, then peeled the shell and tossed it into his mouth.

The crunchy chestnut provided Zhao Xing with 500 points of vital energy.

He was one step closer to Gathering Yuan eighth-rank.

The effect was still quite decent — boosting his progress by one-twentieth.

But for the mountain cat, it wasn't much of an effect.

Even after eating so many, Zhao Xing hadn't sensed any major change in the mountain cat's aura.

"Pop~"

Zhao Xing picked up the clay jar and broke open the layer of mud sealing on top.

The little mountain cat's nose twitched, and its pupils instantly dilated.

A rich aroma of wine wafted over, and Zhao Xing immediately felt his vital energy become much more active.

"Monkey Wine?" Zhao Xing's eyes lit up — this was a fine thing indeed.

Fruit wine brewed from spiritual essence — this single jar probably cost over a thousand golden chestnuts!

He had only just taken one whiff, and his vital energy had already increased by 20 points!

Before Zhao Xing could even make a move, he saw the mountain cat nearly teleport to the jar's side and plunge its little head straight in.

"Hey hey, little kittens can't drink alcohol — you'll get drunk."

"Damn it, save some for me…"

This stuff was very attractive to the mountain cat — in the blink of an eye it had absorbed half of it.

But upon hearing Zhao Xing speak, it yielded one side, gesturing for Zhao Xing to lie down and drink together.

A moment later.

"Burp~" — both the man and the cat let out a wine burp.

The mountain cat wobbled its head, lying on the ground licking its paw.

Zhao Xing also sat on the ground, crossing his legs to circulate his art.

He wasn't like the mountain cat, able to drink so much — he had only drunk a small portion before having to stop.

But even that small portion was enough for Zhao Xing to break through!

Half an hour later.

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Zhao Xing opened his eyes, the flush on his face fading considerably.

He checked the panel.

【Gathering Yuan eighth-rank: 7245/10000】

"That's strong stuff! Not only did I reach Gathering Yuan eighth-rank directly, the progress is already at seventy percent!"

Zhao Xing let out a long breath.

He used the Five Elements Observation to examine the little mountain cat.

He found that its aura had also increased slightly.

"You really can eat — if you weren't following a Si Nong, other families probably couldn't afford to raise you." Zhao Xing rubbed the mountain cat's head.

Raising a spirit beast, especially a ranked spirit beast, consumed a great deal.

Only Zhao Xing had the confidence to raise a mountain cat before he himself had even been ranked.

After waiting one hour, the Diamond Bamboo matured. Zhao Xing spent the time crafting twenty Great Strength Vajras and ten Swift-Step Grass Men.

All were of second-rank superior quality.

The rest were some scout grass men made from ordinary vines and branches.

"Lift the palanquin!"

Zhao Xing waved his hand and continued wandering the mountain.

…………

On the third day of ascending Spirit Mountain, many talked-about events occurred.

Someone found powerful pure-origin spiritual essence in a mountain cave, directly leaping across three stages to reach Gathering Yuan ninth-rank.

Someone had obtained a plucked orchid, gained insight from its petals, and their movement technique shot straight to Nine-Turns Subtlety, instantly becoming a top-tier expert.

Others encountered superior-grade spiritual marvels but couldn't gather them, as if running into a "ghost pushing them against the wall," wandering back and forth — they had a strong sense of it but couldn't pinpoint the exact location.

There were also rumors that certain areas of East Lake Mountain were guarded by terrifyingly fearsome exotic beasts, regions beyond the reach of clerks, filled with heaven-sent treasures, but those areas would only open three days later.

Some competed for the same spiritual marvel at the same spot, beating each other bloody, even dying for it.

Others, feeling hopeless about the third night's incense competition, went straight down the mountain.

In the evening, everyone gathered at the Heaven Altar Plaza, the safe zone, and began treating the day's experiences as gossip.

And among these favorite topics of conversation, many people mentioned one strange incident.

"Hear about it? A exotic beast appeared on the mountain, absolutely terrifying."

"You mean that cat? Of course I've heard! They say it's a cat raised by the Mountain God."

"There are plenty of exotic beasts in the mountains — what's so strange about a mountain cat?" someone scoffed.

"If that were all, fine. But this mountain cat specifically robs people of their spiritual marvels."

"Many experts were robbed by that cat. They say Wen Zhao and Zhang Boran were among them."

"Huh? Then how strong must that mountain cat be?"

"Although still young, it already has the strength of an entered-grade."

"There's something even stranger — this mountain cat doesn't kill people, but if you get robbed and don't say thank you to it, it won't let you go. Truly bizarre."

"..."

Du Jiao Sect, Liu Muqing, and Lu Qian rested in a corner of the plaza. Hearing such strange rumors, they couldn't help but start chatting too.

Lu Qian sneered: "These people must be crazy, spreading such absurd stories. Say thank you and the mountain cat lets you go? Pure nonsense!"

Liu Muqing said: "Perhaps the pressure of Dengshan is too great, and someone's having hallucinations."

Du Jiao Sect was wiping her silver spear nearby and suddenly said: "Maybe someone owns that mountain cat."

Lu Qian asked in surprise: "What does Sister Jiao mean?"

Du Jiao Sect said slowly: "Today when we were gathering spiritual marvels at the halfway point, we sensed the mountain cat's presence from a distance."

"Beside it was a human aura, very close, as if it had been watching us for a while."

"What?" Lu Qian exclaimed, "Something like that happened?"

"Who could tame a mountain cat?" Liu Muqing asked. "Could it be Yang Junxiong?"

"If that's really the case, then it's trouble." Lu Qian frowned. "He'll probably take the first incense again tonight."

"It probably isn't him." Du Jiao Sect pondered. "Doesn't seem like it."

"No matter who it is, if it's really as Sister Jiao says, that person will definitely show up tonight."

At the halfway point of the mountain, Zhao Xing was being carried up by straw effigies, leisurely ascending.

He cast Bright Eyes and looked far — from different directions, people were climbing the mountain.

"Tonight is the last chance, and it'll be the liveliest night of all."

Meow~ The mountain cat pricked up its ears, as if triggered by a keyword.

"Hey, Lord Cat, take it easy." Zhao Xing grabbed its tail — the mountain cat had just tried to dash out and beat someone up again.

That silly cat loved joining the action too — incredible stamina, even harder to walk than a dog!

"Now we need to go up the mountain, can't waste any more time." Zhao Xing explained. "Don't worry, the mountain top is even livelier — you'll have plenty to play with."

The mountain cat obediently curled back into Zhao Xing's arms.

This ascent up the mountain was very peaceful.

No one along the way dared to provoke Zhao Xing.

Because he'd made a name for himself on the second night. Although Zhao Xing hadn't revealed his identity, how could Young Master Zong resist bragging?

In just one day, while building his own fame, he'd also vigorously promoted Zhao Xing.

Even if people forgot after coming down the mountain, Young Master Zong had to put on a show for these two days!

Beyond fame, however.

Zhao Xing's current cultivation was also vastly different from yesterday.

After plundering many clerks' fortuitous encounters, he had already reached Gathering Yuan Ninth Stage!

Relying on the mountain cat to snowball, he'd essentially bulldozed his way through.

For better robbing, Zhao Xing stopped showing himself later on and let Lord Cat do the work.

"Zhao Xing, over here!"

Just as he entered the Heaven Altar Plaza at the summit, he saw Zong Zong Shichang waving at him.

There were also a few familiar faces in the plaza.

Such as Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and Li Chengfeng.

The few hadn't crossed paths these two days, but all had made considerable progress — Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze had reached Gathering Yuan Seventh Stage.

Li Chengfeng had gained something on the first night, and though he hadn't shown himself on the second day, today he was actually already at Gathering Yuan Ninth Stage!

Elemental-method spiritual marvels, lifespan spiritual marvels — most of either type primarily boosted elemental energy, with lifespan being a minor portion. This wasn't strange.

In Zhao Xing's view, the vast majority of lucky ones in the plaza had raised their realm, but they were all "bloated."

If their spells couldn't keep up, having cultivation alone was just an empty shell.

What puzzled Zhao Xing, however, was that Li Chengfeng actually wasn't with Zong Zong Shichang. The two had each gathered their own group, as if some conflict had occurred — their relationship wasn't as close as before.

"Zhao Sanjia."

"Zhao Xing's here."

"Big Brother Zhao is mighty, Huai Willow Court is mighty!"

Upon entering the plaza, many people greeted Zhao Xing — mainly because he'd stolen the spotlight yesterday.

He defeated Cao Qiushui in the contest for the first incense! That person is a True Lord's descendant!

"Good, good, greetings to you all." Once they reached a crowded place, Zhao Xing could not keep up his lofty airs any longer. He hopped off the sedan chair with the mountain cat in his arms.

"Oh, where did you pick up this little cat? It's awfully cute." Zong Shichang spotted the mountain cat and immediately wanted to pet it.

"Young master, be careful!" Uncle Cang and Uncle Hu's faces changed drastically, and they immediately held Zong Shichang back.

Pang Pang Yuan Bo's face also looked grave, as if facing a formidable enemy.

"Hiss~" Zong Shichang felt pinned by a fierce beast's gaze. Looking into the mountain cat's eyes, he instantly broke out in cold sweat and his legs went weak.

Fortunately someone was supporting him, otherwise he would likely have collapsed on the spot.

"Brother Zong, hurry and say thank you to it." Zhao Xing said.

"Huh? Oh, oh, thank you." Zong Shichang did not know why, but he hurriedly did as told.

Seeing this, the mountain cat indeed stopped hissing and curled back into Zhao Xing's arms.

"Th-this is a mountain cat? You're the mountain cat's master?" Zong Shichang wiped the sweat from his face.

"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded.

"No, what's the deal with your cat? Why do I have to say thank you to it?" Now that he heard Zhao Xing was the mountain cat's master, Zong Shichang was no longer so afraid. Recalling the strange rumors he had heard before, he immediately grew curious.

Zhao Xing said helplessly, "It's a long story. In short, after I took it into a few fights, it picked up this little habit. You know how cats always have their strange quirks—it's hard for me to correct it."

Zong Shichang deeply agreed. He loved teasing cats and walking dogs, and he knew cats were quite difficult to serve—sometimes you couldn't even tell who was really the master.

After chatting for a while, the young master Zong forgot the pain as soon as his appetite returned, and got the itch to pet the cat: "Will you sell me this mountain cat? Name any price, I'll pay it!"

Zhao Xing shook his head: "Brother Zong, a gentleman does not take what others love."

At the mention of "gentleman," Zong Shichang seemed to think of something, and his face showed a touch of displeasure: "What damn gentleman? I don't give a damn. Fine, if you won't sell, then bring it around to my place more often from now on."

"No problem." Zhao Xing agreed casually, then swept his gaze across the plaza: "What's the situation now?"

Knowing he was asking for intelligence, Zong Shichang immediately said: "There's been a new development among those who reached entry into the ranked realm. That Gu Feng got some kind of opportunity—despite only being in the eighth incense, he leapt from Gathering Yuan eighth tier all the way to the entry into the ranked realm."

"Besides that, the number of Gathering Yuan ninth tier has grown quite a bit. For instance, seven Gathering Yuan ninth tier have gathered around Cao Qiushui."

"Also, Lu Qian and Miss Liu next to Du Jiao Sect have both risen to Gathering Yuan ninth tier."

"I've broken through to Gathering Yuan seventh tier. Uncle Cang and Uncle Hu have reached Gathering Yuan ninth tier."

"But among the top ten incense, some have done poorly. Zhang Boran and Wen Zhao suffered heavy impact for some unknown reason."

"Hu Yang's mechanical beast lost one of its heads—seems like he gained nothing."

"Pang Pang Yuan Bo says that Yang Junxiong's aura doesn't seem to have changed much. No one knows how he managed to hold onto the first incense."

Zong Shichang pointed at the people in the plaza as if he knew every single one of them inside out: "Overall, the number of clerks has decreased—some went down the mountain, some died, some were injured—but the number of those at higher realms has grown somewhat. Because everyone in the top fifty incense has achieved something."

"Tonight is the clerks' last night here. Before the chen hour tomorrow, they all have to go down the mountain, so no one wants to miss this final chance. Tonight's fighting will definitely be even fiercer... By the way, Zhao Sanjia, why do that Zhang Boran and Wen Zhao keep staring at you?"