Chapter 61: Fruits Falling from the Sky

The three matured Diamond Bamboo plants were quickly cut down.

Zhao Xing patiently began making Herculean Straw Figures. Ever since he defeated Zong Shichang in the Autumn Equinox assessment, he hadn't neglected his Straw Figure techniques; their practice constituted a significant part of his training. Every day, he spent two to three hours making straw figures in Xue Wenzhong's backyard.

Among them, the Herculean Straw Figures progressed the fastest because Zhao Xing found them incredibly useful. Not just for fighting, but even for tasks like moving bricks or plowing fields, Herculean Straw Figures were his first choice.

Currently, among Zhao Xing's five types of Straw Figure techniques, the Restoration Straw Figures were at the sixth rotation.

The Entangling Straw Figures were at the fifth rotation.

The Swift Straw Figures were at the third rotation.

The Thorny Straw Figures were only at the second rotation.

But the Herculean Straw Figures had already reached the seventh rotation!

"Three Diamond Bamboo plants can yield about 15 Herculean Diamond Figures. But it's been a little over two hours; I might as well plant them again."

"As for green vines, there's enough. Three green vines are sufficient to make forty or fifty Entangling Straw Figures."

Zhao Xing once again took out three Diamond Bamboo saplings from his bamboo scroll box and planted them. He then summoned clouds and rain, casting his 'Vigorous Growth' spell.

The East Lake Mountain's soil fertility was quite abundant. Even after planting once, Zhao Xing estimated that these three Diamond Bamboo saplings would mature in at most four or five hours.

The clouds enveloped the area beneath the cliff, and Zhao Xing began to focus on making straw figures.

You created a Straw Figure Puppet (Herculean), Proficiency +5

Straw Figure Puppet (Herculean)Proficiency: 7201/9999Effect: Indestructible, Infinitely Strong.

...

You created a Straw Figure Puppet (Herculean), Proficiency +8

Straw Figure Puppet (Herculean)Proficiency: 7209/9999Effect: Indestructible, Infinitely Strong.

...

Straw Figure techniques are easy to learn but hard to master. After the Herculean Straw Figures reached the seventh rotation, they no longer provided proficiency for the 'All Plants to Arms' skill. Even when using Diamond Bamboo materials, the Herculean Straw Figures themselves only granted single-digit proficiency. Zhao Xing's understanding of spells had entered a gentle transition period. To achieve mastery of the Herculean Straw Figures in a short time, he had to use more and better materials.

"Go hide on the periphery."

After four Herculean Diamond Figures were made, Zhao Xing had them lie low in the nearby soil, as if ambushing. He then pulled two more green vines, made two fifth-rotation straw figures, and hid them in trees, blending in with the environment. With this protection, Zhao Xing dedicated himself even more to the creation of the straw figure puppets.

Fully engrossed, he lost track of time. Zhao Xing reached behind him but felt nothing. He realized the materials were all used up.

"Hoo~"

Zhao Xing let out a long breath, straightened up, and rubbed his eyes. "It took an hour," he mused, "but the fifteen Herculean Diamond Figures are finally complete."

Slow work yields fine results. These fifteen Herculean Diamond Figures were all exceptional creations, imbued with a remarkable spirit.

Snap~

Zhao Xing picked a handful of green vine berries to stave off hunger and lay on the green vine, gazing at the sky. The Sky Origin Pears should be eaten at a crucial moment; eating them now would be too wasteful.

"I wonder if Zi Yu and Qian Dong entered the mountain," he thought. "I didn't see them this morning. Shen Zhui from the Martial Affairs Office is at the seventh stage of Gathering Essence. He has good connections in the office and even invited others to accompany him, so they should be fine."

In his free time, he unconsciously thought of his friends. Zhao Xing even worried about Zong Shichang for a moment. "I wonder if that young master has left the mountain. Hmm? Why am I thinking of him? Could it be that accepting favors makes you feel indebted?"

He turned over and looked towards the distant mountain ravine. Suddenly, a black speck appeared on the horizon, catching Zhao Xing's attention. Activating his Bright Eyes spell, Zhao Xing gazed into the distance.

Above the mountain ravine, someone was flying on horseback. The figure, holding a long spear and clad in armor, appeared quite valiant.

"Hmm? A bamboo horse leaping across the ravine, galloping through the air," he muttered. "Who is that expert?"

"What is he jumping back and forth for?" Zhao Xing watched, puzzled.

The bamboo horse rider was repeatedly leaping across the ravine; Zhao Xing watched him go back and forth three or four times. In mid-air, the rider stood up on his horse's back, looking around as if searching for something.

"Is he gathering spiritual marvels?"

"I wonder what he found."

Spiritual marvels in the mountains could be a tree, an item, or even a handful of yellow earth or a patch of cloud. Zhao Xing's eyes flickered; he stared at that part of the sky but found nothing unusual.

"It's too far; I can't sense anything." A moment later, he withdrew his gaze and stopped paying attention.

Spiritual marvels are categorized into upper, middle, and lower grades. The higher the grade, the more indistinct the sensation, making them even harder to identify. Being able to defeat the eighth-stage Gathering Essence martial artist hired by Zong Shichang, this person's strength might already be at the ninth stage. It was better to mind his own business.

...

In the blink of an eye, dusk arrived. By now, the three Diamond Bamboo plants Zhao Xing had recently planted were already nearing maturity.

"The destructive power of 'Savage Growth' is still too great," Zhao Xing thought to himself. "Even with the abundant vitality of East Lake Mountain, replanting in the same spot means the second growth is much slower."

"Fortunately, they're almost mature," he continued. "Once they're mature and I've made the straw figures, I'll move to a different spot. Tonight, I'll rest well to recover my vitality and then ascend the mountain tomorrow morning."

He was patiently waiting for the Diamond Bamboo to mature.

Suddenly—

Swish~

The branches of the Diamond Bamboo swayed, and the rustling sound of the bamboo leaves reached his ears, as if something had fallen.

"No way, something fell again?" Zhao Xing became alert, but the next moment he realized the fallen object couldn't be large. At least not a person.

"Perhaps a rock broke off the cliff?"

Zhao Xing approached the Diamond Bamboo and followed the sound with his gaze. There, caught on a branch of the Diamond Bamboo, was a fist-sized, bright red fruit.

Thump~ Thump~

Upon seeing this fruit, Zhao Xing's heart began to beat uncontrollably. An intuitive surge! It was the sensation of encountering spiritual marvels!

"Damn, spiritual marvels falling from the sky?" he exclaimed. "This fruit, it's actually formed from the spiritual essence of the mountain?"

However, before Zhao Xing could get closer—

Swish~

Swish~

Two more sounds. Two Vermillion Fruits fell at Zhao Xing's feet. One of them was only fist-sized, but the other was as large as a baby's head!

...

Looking at the three Vermillion Fruits before him, Zhao Xing couldn't help but feel a bit dumbfounded. From his senses, these three Vermillion Fruits were at least lower-grade spiritual marvels, and the largest one might even be of a middle-grade level.

"Is my Tier 2 Destiny so powerful?" he wondered. "I haven't even entered the mountain, and I can pick up spiritual marvels right at its foot?"

Zhao Xing's heart pounded uncontrollably. The fragrance emanating from the fruits invigorated him just by smelling it; the vital energy he had expended while making straw figures had surprisingly recovered by five percent.

"Thank you, Mother Nature, for your bounty!" Zhao Xing grinned from ear to ear and bent down to pick up the Vermillion Fruits.

However, at that moment, the Calamity-Averting Almanac in his possession suddenly turned a page. At the same time, a gentle female voice came from the other side of the stream.

"Brother, so you were here all along," the voice said. "I've had such a hard time finding you~"