Chapter 79: Gathering Spiritual Essence in the Clouds, the Carefree Stele Below the Mountain

Yang Junxiong suddenly leaped up from the ground, then like a tiger or leopard descending the mountain, charged fiercely at a person five meters away.

"Boom!" His fist force pierced through the shoulder, shattering the bone.

The other party let out a miserable shriek, his body sent flying, and the long spear in his hand slipped loose.

"Clang!" Yang Junxiong kicked the spear shaft, the long spear spun a circle in the air, and landed in Yang Junxiong's hand.

Seeing the long spear Yang Junxiong held aloft, the rest scattered one after another, the greed in their eyes vanishing.

A starved camel is still bigger than a horse; Yang Junxiong, this Ranked warrior, even wounded, still possessed considerable combat power.

Moreover, his vital energy cycled without cease, his breath quickly recovering to eighty or ninety percent of its pre-battle state; from the outside, his complexion was rosy, as if there were no serious harm.

"Want to die? Then come on!" Yang Junxiong swept his gaze over the surroundings.

"Go, hurry and go."

"This guy woke up again."

"A Ranked warrior is indeed tough to beat."

"Hmph, putting on an act. He only dares to bully us—didn't he still lose to Zhao Xing?"

Those coveting the treasures on Yang Junxiong scattered one after another.

Although he lost to the Mountain Cat and Zhao Xing, Yang Junxiong was still not someone they could match.

Once the crowd dispersed, Yang Junxiong gave a muffled grunt, and could only stand steady by leaning on his long spear.

He had indeed been injured, and not lightly.

His vital energy rampaged within; that kick from the Mountain Cat had knocked all his internal organs out of place.

"So close, yet so far." Yang Junxiong's face was deathly pale, his gaze exceedingly gloomy.

This was already the third wave of incense; he did not go snatch again, and after a brief rest, he sped down the mountain.

The place he rushed to was precisely the cliff where Zhao Xing was.

Seeing Zhao Xing ride the bamboo horse across the mountain stream, Yang Junxiong's heart burned with fury.

"He really did come here!"

"Stole my bamboo horse, and even discovered this fortuitous encounter."

"But I still have a chance!"

Yang Junxiong silently hid behind a massive boulder and began regulating his breath.

He still clung to a sliver of hope, hoping Zhao Xing would not find the method to gather the spiritual essence, so that after the other gave up, he could try once more.

But no sooner had he sat down than his heart began pounding violently.

This fierce pounding was precisely the "premonition of the heart" that came upon encountering spiritual essence.

Stronger than ever before, surpassing all the spiritual essence he had previously obtained!

"What? He found it?!"

Yang Junxiong's eyes went wide, staring ahead in disbelief.

He saw Zhao Xing riding the bamboo horse, leaping within the mountain stream.

Above the mountain stream hung clouds and mist, and within the mist appeared a faint golden hue.

Zhao Xing shuttled through the cloud layer; as he raised his arm, that faint golden mist was absorbed into his hand.

"So that's how it is. No wonder when I left the Mountain Cat's den, I always felt an intense reluctance, as if I had missed a great fortuitous encounter."

Zhao Xing held his arm aloft, the golden light continuously drawn in, ultimately converging into the "stone cup" in his hand.

"The Fortune Golden Cup—so it has this function too. If I had thrown this cup away, I really would have had no way to gather this portion of spiritual essence."

At this moment, the stone cup once again became radiant, gleaming with golden light.

Yang Junxiong watched this scene, his heart filled with utter unwillingness.

He was the earliest to discover this fortuitous encounter above the mountain stream.

But at the time he was not certain how great a fortuitous encounter he could obtain here.

On the first day during the day, he merely searched casually before leaving.

That evening, after obtaining the first incense, he did not choose the uncertain "superior-grade spiritual essence," but instead chose two portions of middle-grade spiritual essence.

Because he held the first incense, the True Lord of the temple directly told him the locations and methods of acquisition for these two portions of middle-grade spiritual essence.

This stick of first incense also allowed both him and the bamboo horse war soul to enter Ranked.

After entering Ranked, Yang Junxiong's sixth sense greatly improved; he came to this place again, sensed the existence of spiritual essence, and confirmed it was an astonishing superior-grade spiritual essence!

The location was already known; on the second night, after obtaining the first incense, he sought the method to acquire that spiritual essence.

Yang Junxiong's guess was indeed correct—it was superior-grade spiritual essence. If one seeks middle-grade spiritual essence, the first incense offerer can directly know the location and method of acquisition! However, although he held the first incense, he still needed to pass a trial to obtain the answer.

This also indirectly proved the guess was correct.

But his speed was a bit slow; only when the first incense was about to burn out did he barely pass the trial.

When he arrived at the Mountain Cat's cave, Zhao Xing had already gotten there first and tamed the Mountain Cat. Upon sensing the Mountain Cat's strength, Yang Junxiong could only wait outside the cave. But by this time Zhao Xing had already taken away the most crucial item—the Fortune Golden Cup!

Due to the influence of Yang Junxiong's first incense, Zhao Xing once dropped the stone cup. But in the end he still picked it back up!

After Yang Junxiong entered the den, he found nothing.

Therefore, on the third night, Yang Junxiong revealed his hidden cards, ignoring even Gu Feng and Du Jiao Sect, and went straight for Zhao Xing—all for the stone cup on Zhao Xing's person.

But unexpectedly, he still lost.

"If I had decisively targeted this fortuitous encounter on the very first night... perhaps the outcome would have been different." Yang Junxiong felt some unwillingness in his heart.

But there was no 'if'; such was fate. Yang Junxiong understood in his heart that this spiritual essence was no longer fated for him.

"Whew~"

Zhao Xing gathered spiritual essence within the cloud layer; only after a full cup did that golden mist fade to the point of being barely perceptible.

The bamboo horse leaped and returned to its original position.

"Meow~~ Ha~" The mountain cat first called out once, then opened its mouth and yawned.

The cat master has been waiting so long he's almost fallen asleep!

"Look, you're being impatient again. If I don't get stronger, how am I supposed to find food for you in the future?"

"Fine, fine, fine, it's my fault. Here, master, have some candy."

Zhao Xing took out a Celestial Origin Pear from the bamboo case.

"Swoosh~" The mountain cat leapt onto the bamboo horse, hugging the Celestial Origin Pear and gnawing on it.

Clip-clop, clip-clop~

The bamboo horse ambled forward slowly, while Zhao Xing fully absorbed the Qi Fortune.

The Qi Fortune Golden Cup found earlier in the mountain cat's cave had only been half a cup's worth.

This time, however, it was a full cup to the brim!

After absorbing this share of Qi Fortune spiritual essence, Zhao Xing's Qi Fortune grade finally underwent a change.

From Yan Two to Yan Three!

"Truly rare — the Qi Fortune grade has actually reached Yan Three just like that." Zhao Xing was somewhat emotional.

The Qi Fortune grade is very hard to raise. It's possible one's cultivation has already reached fifth rank, yet the Qi Fortune grade remains at Yan Three.

If one is in court it's a bit better, but if one is in the wild, even with third and fourth ranks cultivation, one might still only have Yan Three level Qi Fortune.

Especially after the fall of the Qi Fortune Dynasty, the ways to obtain it became even harder.

"Clang! Clang!"

Suddenly, the sound of bells echoed through the mountains.

All the clerks raised their heads, showing reluctant expressions.

"Time to go down the mountain." Zhao Xing glanced at the time, knowing this was the divine temple reminding the clerks to descend.

They only had these three days and three nights to compete.

Regardless of whether they had gained anything, once the time was up, they all had to go down the mountain.

"This trip's harvest is quite rich. I wonder if I'll give myself a fright once I get out. I reckon Old Chen and the teacher will both be startled." Zhao Xing urged his horse to leap, and in the blink of an eye shot out over a dozen meters.

The clerks began descending one after another, but Lu Qian was anxiously searching for something.

Finally, he found Zong Shichang at a pavilion.

"Zong Eighteen, did you see Zhao Xing?" Lu Qian asked.

"No, what's wrong?" Zong Shichang said puzzledly, "Did something happen?"

But Lu Qian stubbornly refused to say anything. After scanning the area and not seeing the person, she left with Du Jiao Sect and Liu Muqing.

"Weird and strange." Zong Shichang muttered, "I wonder how Zhao Sanjia offended her."

Down the mountain, at the Earth Altar Square.

It was still not yet light, but many officials and family heads were already waiting here.

Upon hearing the bell from the mountain, they knew that today's clerks' ascent of Spirit Mountain was about to end.

Xue Wenzhong gazed from the viewing area, a hint of worry in his eyes.

Chen Shijie, seeing this, comforted him: "Xue Lao, no need to worry too much. Although that boy is only at the fourth stage of Qi Gathering, he's clever. Even if he gains nothing, keeping his life safe shouldn't be a problem. Please sit down and have a cup of tea first."

Xue Wenzhong sat down upon hearing this. He did not reach for the tea cup, sighed, and said: "I'm just afraid he's too clever. What if he didn't listen to advice and went up the mountain on the first day…"

Xue Wenzhong could tell that Zhao Xing truly had a proud streak in his bones and was not one to follow rules. Although he had repeatedly urged him to accumulate enough straw men before going up the mountain, until one day passed without seeing him, Xue Wenzhong's heart would not be at ease for a single day.

He was afraid of hearing any bad news.

Chen Shijie said calmly: "He won't. I have confidence in him. Just wait, old sir. Perhaps this boy can give us a pleasant surprise."

"A pleasant surprise isn't necessary. I just want him to return safely."

Since it was the third day, the bustle of the Autumn Equinox mountain-opening had passed, and ordinary commoners came in fewer numbers.

But Zhao Ruide still brought his wife and children, waiting in the dark at the foot of the mountain.

"Father, how much longer before brother comes out?"

Zhao Ruide said: "Soon. The bell rings at the Mao hour; he will definitely come down before the Chen hour."

He had also participated in gathering spiritual essence in his youth, but Zhao Ruide had only gathered a low-grade spiritual essence before coming down the mountain. Still, he knew the rules.

When the time comes, the living will be seen, the dead will produce their corpses.

"Mother, stop sleeping. Big brother is coming down soon."

"Mm, Zheng'er, don't fuss, let mother sleep a little longer…" Lady Cai had risen very early, and was now unbearably drowsy. She found a stool in the viewing area and fell straight back asleep.

In the viewing area, there was a temporarily erected tent. Inside one of the larger tents, a stout middle-aged man was pacing back and forth.

"Master, stop pacing, you're making my heart flutter." A woman threw off the covers and got out of bed. "Chang'er will surely be fine."

Zong Yonglong sighed: "How can I be at ease without seeing Chang'er?"

He had been keeping watch here for three days already.

Originally Zong Yonglong wouldn't have been this worried, but he hadn't expected that on the very first day, one of the four skilled men he had hired to protect his son had died!

So over these past few days, Zong Yonglong hadn't slept well a single night, always afraid of hearing bad news.

Fortunately, over the next two days he did not see Zong Shichang's corpse appear, but now that the end was near, he couldn't help feeling uneasy again.

"It's about to end." Two fishermen who had arrived early carrying shoulder poles glanced idly at the fish in their buckets. "I wonder which fish will survive, and which will soar to the heavens."

"Heaven bless us." The other fisherman bared a mouthful of yellow teeth, his fingers stirring in the bucket: "Hope these fish live well, so we can sell them for a good price."

"Keep a close watch — not just the fish, but also those officials."

"Got it, got it."

Qin Feng and his three companions walked down the mountain path, listless.

This climb had been a complete waste of effort for them.

He had clearly obtained Lingxiu multiple times, yet each time it was snatched away; not only that, he had even lost some money.

"It's all that damned Zhao Xing's fault!" Qin Feng said bitterly. "If it weren't for him, we might have broken through long ago."

"And that Zhou Gang and Fang Jie — they're detestable too!"

If he had never seen Lingxiu from start to finish, then so be it; but after obtaining it through great hardship, only to have it taken away — he truly couldn't accept it.

"Senior Brother Qin, what are you saying?" Seventh Junior Brother turned back somewhat blankly, looking at Qin Feng. "What Zhao Xing? Who's Zhao Xing?"

"Yeah, what are you saying?" The other two also turned back in confusion.

"You all…" Qin Feng was about to explain, but he took two more steps forward, and before he knew it, he had already passed the stone stele at the foot of the mountain.

"What are you saying? Did I just speak?" Qin Feng's eyes were somewhat blank.

"You seemed to be saying something about Zhao-something just now, and you also mentioned Zhou Gang and Fang Jie."

"Did I?" Qin Feng turned back blankly, but saw only rolling mist. "What exactly happened to us on the mountain?"

After passing the Forget-Worry Stele, with every step the four men's memories of the mountain grew weaker; everything about the mountain was fading.

Once they were a hundred meters past the Forget-Worry Stele, they could no longer remember anything at all, only knowing they had walked a trip on the mountain and come away empty-handed.

Shaking his head, Qin Feng and the other three arrived outside the Earth Altar Plaza, where an official from the Hucheng Martial Office was waiting. Seeing Qin Feng and the others emerge with no change in cultivation, a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes; he offered a few casual words of encouragement, then left them to one side.

Qin Feng and the others left the tent, and had just stepped outside when they saw Fang Jie and Zhou Gang.

"Brother Qin, any gains?" Zhou Gang asked politely.

"Nothing at all." Qin Feng forced a smile. "What about Brother Zhou and Brother Fang?"

"Strange to say, Brother Zhou and I don't know why, but we came down the mountain yesterday, gained nothing, yet had an extra hundred taels of silver notes on us." Fang Jie said.

"Hmm? Does this mountain god actually hand out silver notes? That really is strange." Qin Feng found it odd, and felt a touch of envy as well.

A hundred taels — that counts as striking it rich.

Down the mountain, Zong Shichang emerged from the mist together with Uncle Cang, Uncle Hu, Pang Yuan Bo, and others.

Quite a few people — fully seventeen or eighteen.

"Hmm? I've broken through!"

"Hahaha, I've reached Gathering Yuan seventh stage!"

"Hiss, my secret technique Ten Thousand Mountains has actually reached the ninth layer?"

Three among them cried out in delight; the rest watched on with envy.

After all, those who could gain something on the mountain were a lucky few; the vast majority came away empty-handed.

"Uncle Cang, you're ninth stage? No wait, I'm Gathering Yuan seventh stage myself. Hey, where's my money?" Zong Shichang shouted, rummaging through the bamboo case. "Two thousand taels in silver notes — spent just like that? Not a single coin left?"

Pang Yuan Bo looked around, then looked at Zong Shichang: "Young Master Zong, you've reached Gathering Yuan seventh stage — quite an improvement — and you came down the mountain with us, so it seems the agreement has been fulfilled."

Zong Shichang nodded and said: "Yes, fulfilled — beyond expectations! Many thanks to the three of you."

The old clerk cupped his fists toward the others: "In that case, I'll take my leave first. Uncle Cang, Lu Hu — farewell."

"Farewell."

Seeing this, Uncle Cang and Lu Hu also cupped their fists toward Zong Shichang: "Young Master Zong, we shall return and report as well."

"Good. I, the Zong family, will certainly take the matters of you all to heart." Zong Shichang bowed once more to the two.

"Many thanks."

Zong Shichang coming down the mountain with so many people and such notable progress immediately drew attention.

Soon Gao Linong of the Agricultural Supervisorate, as well as Zong Yonglong, appeared before Zong Shichang.

"Son, you've finally come out!" The middle-aged woman rushed over at once, clutching Zong Shichang's arm and looking him over. "Chang'er, are you hurt? Anywhere feel unwell?"

"Mother, I'm perfectly fine." Zong Shichang gripped his mother's hand.

"Then are you hungry? Oh my, look at that little face, so thin — there's food in the tent, I'll go get it for you right now…"

Zong Yonglong frowned: "Enough, no crying. Gao my lord is still here. You go to the tent first… Gao my lord, forgive the spectacle."

Gao Linong smiled: "Lady Zong and Shichang share such deep mother-and-son affection — how could that be called a spectacle?"

Zong Yonglong called his son over: "Let Gao my lord have a look at you."

Gao Linong took Zong Shichang's wrist, then offered congratulations to Zong Yonglong: "Congratulations, President Zong — he has reached Gathering Yuan seventh stage, and his body is healthy, with no hidden injuries."

"Good, good, good." Zong Yonglong finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart and broke into a smile. "This is all thanks to Gao my lord's usual excellent guidance. Zong will certainly pay a visit another day to express his thanks."

Gao Linong also smiled very happily: "This is merely my duty. President Zong is too kind."

Then he cupped his fists in farewell, giving father and son some private space.

"Father, did Wang Dong come down the mountain?" Zong Shichang said. "My gains this time were enormous — I certainly couldn't have done it alone."

The young Master Zong's self-awareness was quite clear.

"Wang Dong is dead." Zong Yonglong said flatly.

"What?!" Zong Shichang was shocked.

"He died on the first day. But don't worry — his family will all be properly taken care of." Zong Yonglong said. "You needn't trouble yourself with this. Rest up a bit, then go to Gao Linong's place and show your face before the lords at the prefecture."

"Oh."

More and more officials came down the mountain; officials from every department of the Gucheng government office were waiting eagerly.

The one smiling the most happily was none other than Gao Linong.

Because his two prized students — Zong Shichang had leapt from Gathering Yuan fourth stage all the way to seventh stage; though his spells hadn't broken through much, this was already a great improvement.

As for Li Chengfeng, it was even more exaggerated — before going up the mountain he was Gathering Yuan fifth stage, yet after coming down he had actually reached Gathering Yuan ninth stage! And his spells had improved greatly as well!

Looking at the other Agricultural Supervisorate students and officials, so far nothing particularly dazzling had been seen.

"Gao my lord, congratulations." Tang Wanchun felt sour inside, because his student Xiao Ze had made no progress at all.

Wen Nanxing, taught by Pang Yuan, had also only broken through from Gathering Yuan fourth stage to fifth stage.

"I don't deserve it, don't deserve the congratulations — that was all their own good fortune; what does it have to do with me?" Gao Linong feigned modesty, but the corners of his mouth were turned up high.

Pleased with himself, he couldn't help growing arrogant and asked deliberately, "The top-grade results from the last assessment should be out by now, hasn't Zhao Xing of the Huai Willow Court come down the mountain?"

"Haven't seen him yet." Pang Yuan replied.

"Could something have happened?"

Chen Shijie couldn't be bothered with this person, but Xue Wenzhong couldn't help snapping, "Shut that stinking mouth of yours!"

"You—" Gao Linong was stunned, about to flare up, when Tang Wanchun beside him stepped in to smooth things over: "Xue Lao, no need to get angry…"

"You shut up too!" Xue Wenzhong stood up, lightning flickering in his beard and hair.

Pang Yuan took a tactical sip of tea, but when he saw Xue Wenzhong's gaze sweep over, his movements instantly stiffened.

This… I didn't say a single thing, did I?

Still, he slowly placed his hand on his knee. Given Xue Wenzhong's age and seniority, if the old man slapped him, he wouldn't even have grounds to argue.

When an honest man loses his temper, it's no ordinary matter. It was their first time seeing Xue Wenzhong enraged—his presence was simply terrifying.

For a moment, every Rank-Nine Agricultural Officer present was as meek as a quail, sitting ramrod-straight, not daring to make a sound.

Just as the atmosphere reached its most oppressive, a sudden burst of exclamations came from outside.

"Someone else is coming out! It's an official from Gucheng!"

"Heavens, who is that person? To have reaped such a huge harvest?!"

Chen Shijie's eyes lit up, and he sprang to his feet and rushed out.