Chapter 64: Little Minister of Finance, Dare to Seize the Treasure?

The straw figures climbed the mountain on their feet, while Zhao Xing ascended by relying on the straw figures.

He made a rattan chair, to which he attached two bamboo poles on either side.

Then, two swift-traveling straw figures, crafted from green vines, carried the rattan chair forward.

The remaining straw figures were dispersed to the front and rear.

The farthest straw figure was deployed three li away, which marked the limit of Zhao Xing's control.

Although the mountain path was steep, the three-li control limit was a straight-line distance, making it more than sufficient.

Should there be any disturbance, Zhao Xing would be alerted in advance.

"The straw figure technique is truly remarkable," Zhao Xing mused, seated in the chair.

The swift-traveling straw figures navigated the mountain path as if it were flat ground, moving even faster than he could on his own.

"I should further research the swift-traveling straw figures in the future, so that covering a hundred li will only consume one straw figure, saving both time and effort."

Additionally, among the straw figures, there were four special ones, each equipped with two first-tier Donghu beads.

This was the sixth type of straw figure technique Zhao Xing had learned just two days ago: the 'Scout Straw Figure'.

This allowed Zhao Xing to have a second perspective.

While Zhao Xing only had a vague sense of the other straw figures, these four provided clear visual information.

Although the spell level was low, merely at the First Revolution stage, it was sufficient for long-distance vision.

After climbing for just half an hour, Zhao Xing spotted other climbers.

Through the scout straw figures' perspective, he observed four climbers ganging up on two others in a pine forest to his front-left.

"Are they fighting over something?"

Zhao Xing's interest was immediately piqued.

He immediately directed his straw figures to converge towards the front-left.

...

"Qin Feng, my brother and I no longer want this low-grade spiritual treasure, why are you persecuting us so relentlessly?" roared a tall martial artist, wielding a battle saber and clad in soft armor, as he desperately parried the attacks of two assailants.

"Zhou Gang, only now do you think of begging for mercy?" retorted the cold young man, also wielding a saber, whose blade flashed as he pressed his relentless assault. "Hmph, it's too late. Last time during night duty at the city pass, my brother-in-law had merely a few drinks, yet you and Fang Jie insisted on detaining him. Where was your generosity when I pleaded with you then?"

"Nonsense! Your brother-in-law merely had a few drinks? He was attempting to force his way through the checkpoint! The county was rigorously investigating Xuan Tian demon figures at the time, and those were the rules. How can you blame Fang Jie and me?" Zhou Gang retorted furiously.

"Enough talk! I've disliked both of you since my days at the Hucheng Martial Office! Now you're even vying with me for this treasure. Let's settle all old and new scores at once!" Qin Feng launched a series of aggressive strikes, his saber techniques growing increasingly fierce.

The scout straw figure, nearby, observed everything with its rolling eyes.

The sounds of their battle did not escape Zhao Xing's ears either; a gentle breeze conveniently carried the voices to him.

"Hucheng Martial Office? Officials from a neighboring county?" Zhao Xing mused, stroking his chin. Observing them from afar with his Five Elements Observation technique, he instantly determined that their cultivation levels were all around the fifth or sixth stage of Qi Gathering.

Their techniques were quite similar, suggesting they were taught by the same master. However, with four against two, the numerical advantage clearly belonged to the larger group.

It appeared their conflict wasn't solely about the treasure, though that was certainly a factor.

Conflict often arises easily when people are under the same roof; if it happens among family, it's even more likely among mere colleagues.

Outside, they are bound by social norms and constant encounters. But inside Spirit Mountain, with the Oblivion Stele causing them to forget everything upon leaving, conflicts naturally erupt easily.

What's more, there was a treasure right before their eyes.

"Based on my senses, that should be a low-grade spiritual treasure," Zhao Xing murmured, looking towards a section of decaying wood, large enough for two people to embrace, lying in the pine forest.

At the upper end of the decaying wood, a grey spiritual ganoderma grew, its edges tinged with purple. As Zhao Xing observed it, his heart subtly quickened.

After assessing the situation, Zhao Xing finally concluded: "This is my chance!"

"Go, quietly retrieve the ganoderma," he instructed.

Zhao Xing instructed two Entwining Straw Figures to creep forward.

The Great Strength Vajra figures were too conspicuous; even with a layer of straw clothing Zhao Xing had specifically given them, they were still ill-suited for such stealthy operations.

The Entwining Straw Figures were different; their upper limbs could extend up to twenty meters! This meant they could covertly harvest the ganoderma without getting too close.

The two Entwining Straw Figures moved stealthily, hiding and advancing among the pine trees.

The Entwining Straw Figures, crafted from green vines, blended seamlessly with their surroundings, making them difficult to spot without close inspection.

Moreover, both groups were preoccupied with their battle, utterly unaware of anyone approaching.

*Rustle!*

An Entwining Straw Figure then settled into a prone position by a pine tree twenty meters from the decaying wood.

Its vine slowly extended like a spiritual snake, creeping along the ground until it reached beneath the ganoderma.

After coiling around it twice, a gentle tug was enough to pluck the basin-sized ganoderma.

The vine slowly retracted, returning to the Entwining Straw Figure's body.

Just as success seemed certain, the two factions from the Hucheng Martial Office, unexpectedly, had already decided their outcome.

Zhou Gang's battle saber had been knocked away, his arm bleeding profusely, a wound deep enough to expose bone. His companion, Fang Jie, had also been struck in the thigh, rendering him unable to fight.

Qin Feng immediately ceased his attack, looking down at the two men with immense satisfaction.

"Qin Feng, if you've got the nerve, kill us!"

"Kill you? Hmph, I'm not foolish enough to make such a mistake!" Qin Feng sneered, binding them. "I should, in fact, thank you both for finding this ganoderma... hmm?"

Qin Feng's expression suddenly shifted: "Where's my ganoderma?!"

On the decaying wood where it had been, the ganoderma was gone!

"Someone!"

One of Qin Feng's accomplices, sensing something was amiss, looked around. His keen eyes spotted the straw figure turning its head and fleeing.

"Bastard! Who dares to snatch food from a tiger's mouth!" Qin Feng roared, incandescent with rage, completely forgetting about lecturing Fang Jie and Zhou Gang. All four immediately gave chase.

"Truly disappointing, how could they lose so quickly?" Zhao Xing muttered. "Didn't they say they were taught by the same master, making it hard to break each other's techniques? They should have at least held on longer." Zhao Xing had intended to avoid conflict and simply act as a sneaky opportunist, but to his surprise, he was still discovered.

The Entwining Straw Figures couldn't outrun martial artists at the fifth or sixth stage of Qi Gathering. Seeing this, Zhao Xing stopped hiding and revealed himself directly.

"Gentlemen, please consider carefully before deciding whether to pursue."

His voice, carried on a gust of wind, reached them.

*Swish, swish, swish, swish!*

Simultaneously, more than a dozen straw figures emerged from the pine forest, blocking the path of Qin Feng and his three companions.

"Hmm?" Qin Feng was startled and halted his steps.

But upon closer inspection, seeing they were merely straw figures, he grew indignant.

"Damn it! I thought I was surrounded by over a dozen people! It's just the Sìnóng's straw figure technique."

"Brothers, you go chase them! I'll deal with these straw figures!"

Realizing they were only straw figures, the other three no longer hesitated. They immediately pursued the straw figure that had stolen the ganoderma, leaving Qin Feng to face the remaining figures.

"I advise against that," the unfamiliar voice echoed again on the wind.

Qin Feng pointed his battle saber, scoffing, "Still trying to bluff? A mere handful of straw figures think they can intimidate me? A petty Sìnóng actually believes he can snatch treasure from under a martial artist's nose? How laughable!"