Chapter 79: Cloud Gathering Spiritual Essence, Forget Worries Monument at the Mountain Base

Yang Junxiong suddenly leaped up from the ground. Then, like a tiger or leopard descending a mountain, he violently charged towards a person five meters away.

"Bang!" His punch struck the shoulder, shattering bones.

The opponent immediately screamed, his body thrown flying, and the long spear in his hand loosened.

"Clang!" Yang Junxiong kicked the spear's shaft, and the long spear spun in the air before landing in his hand.

Seeing Yang Junxiong holding the long spear, the others dispersed, their covetousness vanishing from their eyes.

A lean camel is still bigger than a horse. Yang Junxiong, a ranked martial artist, possessed considerable combat power even when injured.

Moreover, his vital energy circulated continuously, and his aura quickly recovered to eighty or ninety percent of its pre-battle state. Outwardly, his complexion was rosy, as if he were largely unharmed.

"If you want to die, come here!" Yang Junxiong scanned his surroundings.

"Go, quickly!"

"This person is awake again."

"Ranked martial artists are indeed tough."

"Hmph, what's he pretending? He only dares to bully us; didn't he still lose to Zhao Xing?"

Those who coveted Yang Junxiong's treasures scattered.

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

After the crowd dispersed, Yang Junxiong grunted, able to stand steadily only by leaning on his long spear.

He was indeed injured, and it was a significant injury.

His vital energy surged chaotically within him. The Mountain Cat's kick had displaced his internal organs.

"What a pity, to fall at the last hurdle," Yang Junxiong said, his face pale and his eyes extremely gloomy.

It was already the third incense period. He didn't try to snatch anything else. After a brief rest, he rushed down the mountain.

The place he arrived at was precisely the cliff where Zhao Xing was.

Seeing Zhao Xing riding his bamboo horse across the mountain stream, Yang Junxiong felt immense rage.

"He really came here!"

"He stole my bamboo horse and also discovered this opportunity."

"However, I still have a chance!"

Yang Junxiong quietly hid behind a large rock and began to regulate his breathing.

He still held a glimmer of hope that Zhao Xing wouldn't find a way to collect the spiritual essence, and that after Zhao Xing gave up, he could try again.

But shortly after he sat down, his heart began to pound intensely.

This violent thumping was precisely the "intuitive surge" one felt when encountering spiritual essence.

It was stronger than ever before, surpassing all the spiritual essence he had previously obtained!

"What? He found it?!"

Yang Junxiong's eyes widened, and he stared ahead in disbelief.

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

Above the mountain stream, there were clouds and mist, and a faint golden hue appeared within them.

Zhao Xing moved through the clouds, and as he raised his arm, the faint golden mist was absorbed into his hand.

"So that's it," he thought. "No wonder I felt such a strong reluctance when I left the Mountain Cat's lair, as if I had missed a great opportunity."

Zhao Xing held up his arm, and the golden light continuously absorbed, finally converging into the 'stone cup' in his hand.

"So the Cup of Fortune has this use. If I had lost this cup, I really wouldn't have been able to collect this spiritual essence."

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

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

He was the first to discover this opportunity above the mountain stream.

However, at that time, he wasn't sure how great an opportunity he could gain from it.

On the first day, he just searched casually for a bit and then left.

That night, after being the first to offer incense, he didn't choose the uncertain "high-grade spiritual essence" but instead opted for two portions of medium-grade spiritual essence.

Because he was the first to offer incense, the True Lord of the Divine Temple directly informed him of the location and method of acquisition for these two medium-grade spiritual essences.

This first offering of incense also allowed both him and his bamboo horse battle spirit to become ranked.

After becoming ranked, Yang Junxiong's sixth sense greatly improved. He came here again, sensed the presence of spiritual essence, and confirmed that it was an astonishing high-grade spiritual essence!

Knowing the location, he decided to seek the method to obtain that spiritual essence when he was the first to offer incense on the second night.

Yang Junxiong had indeed guessed correctly; it was a high-grade spiritual essence. If one sought a medium-grade spiritual essence, the first incense offerer would directly know the location and acquisition method! However, even though he was the first, he still needed to pass a test to get the answer.

This also indirectly proved that his conjecture was correct.

However, he was a bit slow. He only barely passed the test just as the first incense was about to burn out.

By the time he arrived at the Mountain Cat's cave, Zhao Xing had already beaten him to it, taming the Mountain Cat. After realizing the Mountain Cat's strength, Yang Junxiong could only wait outside the cave. But by then, Zhao Xing had already taken the most crucial item—the Cup of Fortune!

Due to Yang Junxiong's influence as the first incense offerer, Zhao Xing had momentarily lost the stone cup. But he eventually picked it up again!

When Yang Junxiong entered the lair, he found nothing.

Therefore, on the third night, Yang Junxiong revealed his trump card, ignoring even Gu Feng and Du Jiaojiao, and went straight for Zhao Xing, precisely for the stone cup on Zhao Xing's person.

But unexpectedly, he still lost.

"If only I had decisively pursued this opportunity on the first night... perhaps the outcome would have been different." Yang Junxiong felt a surge of regret.

But there were no "ifs." It was fate. Yang Junxiong understood in his heart that this spiritual essence was not meant for him.

"Whew."

Zhao Xing collected spiritual essence in the clouds until the cup was full, and the golden mist became too faint to sense.

The bamboo horse leaped and returned to its original position.

"Meow ha!" The Mountain Cat first let out a cry, then opened its mouth and yawned.

The great cat was almost asleep from waiting!

"See, you're impatient. If I don't get stronger, how will I find food for you in the future?"

"Alright, alright, it's my fault. Here, old fellow, have some candy."

Zhao Xing took out a Sky Origin Pear from his bamboo box.

"Whoosh!" The Mountain Cat leaped onto the bamboo horse and began to gnaw on the Sky Origin Pear.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

The bamboo horse slowly moved forward, while Zhao Xing absorbed all the fortune.

The Cup of Fortune found previously in the Mountain Cat's cave contained only half a cup.

This time, it was a full, overflowing cup!

After absorbing this fortune spiritual essence, Zhao Xing's fortune level finally changed.

It transformed from Level 2 to Level 3!

"It's truly rare; my fortune level has actually reached Level 3," Zhao Xing mused with a touch of emotion.

Fortune levels are difficult to raise. One's cultivation might have already reached the fifth rank, yet their fortune level could still be Level 3.

If one were in court, it might be a bit better, but if one were in the wilderness, even cultivation at the third or fourth rank might still only yield Level 3 fortune.

Especially after the fall of the Fortune Dynasty, the means of acquiring it became even more difficult.

"Dong! Dong!"

Suddenly, bell chimes echoed through the mountains.

All the officials looked up, their expressions showing reluctance.

"Time to go down the mountain." Zhao Xing glanced at the time, knowing this was the Divine Temple reminding the officials to descend.

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

Regardless of whether they gained anything, once the time was up, everyone had to descend.

"I've gained a lot this time. I wonder if I'll be surprised myself when I get out. Old Chen and my teacher will probably be shocked too." Zhao Xing spurred his horse, and in a blink of an eye, he galloped more than ten meters away.

Officials began to descend one after another, but Lu Qian was anxiously searching for something.

Finally, in a pavilion, she found Zong Shichang.

"Zong Shichang, have you seen Zhao Xing?" Lu Qian asked.

"No, why?" Zong Shichang asked, puzzled. "Has something happened?"

But Lu Qian stubbornly refused to say anything. After scanning around and not seeing anyone, she left with Du Jiaojiao and Liu Muqing.

"How odd," Zong Shichang muttered. "I wonder how Zhao Sanjia annoyed her."

Down the mountain, at Altar Square.

It was still dark, but many officials and family heads were already waiting there.

Upon hearing the bell chimes from the mountain, they knew that the officials' ascent of Spirit Mountain was about to conclude for the day.

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

Seeing this, Chen Shijie comforted him, "Elder Xue, there's no need to worry too much. Although that young man is only at the fourth stage of Qi Gathering, he's clever. Even if he doesn't gain anything, he'll surely keep himself safe. Please, sit down and have some tea."

Hearing this, Xue Wenzhong sat down. He didn't pick up the teacup, but sighed, "I'm just afraid he's too clever for his own good. What if he didn't listen to my advice and went up the mountain on the first day..."

Xue Wenzhong could see that Zhao Xing truly had an inherent pride and wasn't one to strictly follow rules. Although he had repeatedly advised him to accumulate enough straw figures before ascending the mountain, as long as he didn't see him, Xue Wenzhong wouldn't feel at ease.

He was afraid of hearing bad news.

Chen Shijie said calmly, "No, he won't. I have faith in him. Just wait, Elder. Perhaps this young man will give us a surprise."

"No need for surprises, I just want him to return safely."

As it was the third day, the lively atmosphere of the autumn mountain opening had passed, and fewer ordinary people came.

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

"Father, how much longer until big brother comes out?"

Zhao Ruide said, "Soon. The bells ring at Mao Shi (5-7 AM), and he'll definitely be down before Chen Shi (7-9 AM)."

When he was young, he had also participated in collecting spiritual essence, though Zhao Ruide only collected a low-grade spiritual essence before descending. But he knew the rules.

When the time was up, the living would be seen, and the dead would be seen.

"Mom, don't sleep. Big brother will be down soon."

"Mmm, Zheng'er, don't make noise. Let mom sleep a little longer..." Madam Cai had woken up very early and was now incredibly tired. She found a stool in the viewing area and promptly fell asleep again.

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

"Master, please stop pacing; you're making me anxious," a woman said, throwing back the covers and getting off the bed. "Chang'er will be fine."

Zong Yonglong sighed, "How can I rest easy until I see Chang'er?"

He had been waiting there for three days.

Originally, Zong Yonglong wouldn't have been so worried, but unexpectedly, on just the first day, one of the four skilled guards he hired had died!

Therefore, for the past few days, Zong Yonglong hadn't slept well at all, always fearing to hear bad news.

Fortunately, he hadn't seen Zong Shichang's body appear over the next two days, but now that the end was near, he couldn't help but feel uneasy again.

"It's about to end," two fishermen who had arrived early with their carrying poles muttered, indifferently looking at the fish in their buckets. "I wonder which fish will survive and which will soar to the sky."

"Heaven's blessing," another fisherman grinned, showing yellow teeth, and poked his finger in the bucket. "I hope these fish live well so we can sell them for a good price."

"Keep a close eye, not just on the fish, but also on those officials."

"Understood, understood."

Qin Feng and his three companions walked listlessly along the mountain path descending the mountain.

Their ascent this time was a complete waste of effort.

They had clearly obtained spiritual essence multiple times, yet it was all snatched away. Not only that, they also lost some money.

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

"And that Zhou Gang and Fang Jie, they're despicable too!"

If they hadn't seen any spiritual essence from beginning to end, it would have been fine. But to struggle so hard to obtain it only for it to be snatched away was truly infuriating.

"Senior Brother Qin, what are you saying?" The seventh junior brother turned back, looking at Qin Feng with a confused expression. "Zhao Xing? Who's Zhao Xing?"

"Yeah, what are you talking about?" The other two also turned back, puzzled.

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

"What are you talking about? Did I just say something?" Qin Feng's eyes were filled with confusion.

"You seemed to be talking about someone named Zhao just now, and I think you mentioned Zhou Gang and Fang Jie."

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

After passing the Forget-Worry Stele, with each step, the four men's memories of the mountain grew weaker, and everything related to their time on the mountain began to fade.

By the time they were a hundred meters past the Forget-Worry Stele, they couldn't remember anything at all, only knowing that they had made a trip to the mountain and gained nothing.

Shaking their heads, Qin Feng and his companions arrived outside Altar Square, where officials from the Hucheng Martial Arts Division were waiting. Seeing Qin Feng and the others emerge with no significant change in their cultivation, the officials' eyes showed some disappointment. They offered a few perfunctory words of encouragement and then left them aside.

Qin Feng and his group left the tent, and as soon as they stepped outside, they saw Fang Jie and Zhou Gang.

"Brother Qin, did you gain anything?" Zhou Gang asked politely.

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

"It's strange to say," Fang Jie replied, "but Brother Zhou and I somehow descended the mountain yesterday. We didn't get anything, yet we each found a hundred taels of silver notes on us."

"Huh? Does the Mountain God give out silver notes? That really is strange," Qin Feng said, finding it peculiar, but also a little envious.

A hundred taels! That was a windfall.

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

There were quite a few of them, seventeen or eighteen people in total.

"Hmm? I've broken through!"

"Hahaha, I've reached the seventh stage of Qi Gathering!"

"Hiss, my secret skill, Myriad Mountains, has actually reached the ninth level?"

Three of them exclaimed joyfully, while the others looked on with envy.

After all, those who gained something on the mountain were the lucky few; most people gained nothing.

"Uncle Cang, you're at the ninth stage? Wait, I'm at the seventh stage of Qi Gathering too! Hey, where's my money?" Zong Shichang exclaimed, rummaging through his bamboo box. "Two thousand taels of silver notes, just like that? Not a single coin left?"

Elder Yuan looked around, then at Zong Shichang: "Young Master Zong, you've reached the seventh stage of Qi Gathering, a considerable improvement, and you're descending with us. It seems the agreement has been fulfilled."

Zong Shichang nodded, "Yes, it's completed, beyond my expectations! Thank you three."

The old official cupped his hands to the others: "Since that's the case, I'll take my leave. Uncle Cang, Lu Hu, farewell."

"Farewell."

Seeing this, Uncle Cang and Lu Hu also cupped their hands to Zong Shichang: "Young Master Zong, we shall also return to report our duties."

"Good, my Zong family will surely take care of your matters." Zong Shichang bid farewell to the two again.

"Thank you."

Zong Shichang's descent, with many people and considerable progress, immediately attracted attention.

Soon, Gao Linong of the Agricultural Bureau, and Zong Yonglong, appeared before Zong Shichang.

"My son, you're finally out!" The middle-aged woman immediately rushed over, hugging Zong Shichang's arm and examining him from left to right. "Chang'er, are you hurt? Is anything bothering you?"

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

"Are you hungry? Oh, your face looks so thin. There's food in the tent; Mother will go fetch it for you now..."

Zong Yonglong frowned, "Enough, no more weeping. Master Gao is still here. You go to the tent first... Master Gao, please forgive her."

Gao Linong smiled, "Madam Zong and Shichang share a deep maternal bond; how could that be a laughing matter?"

Zong Yonglong called his son over: "Let Master Gao take a look."

Gao Linong held Zong Shichang's wrist, then congratulated Zong Yonglong: "Congratulations, Chairman Zong. He has already reached the seventh stage of Qi Gathering, and he is healthy with no hidden injuries."

"Excellent, excellent," Zong Yonglong finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "This is all thanks to Master Gao's excellent guidance. I will certainly call upon you another day to express my gratitude."

Gao Linong also smiled happily, "This is merely my duty, Chairman Zong, you are too kind."

He then cupped his hands and bid farewell, giving the father and son some private space.

"Father, has Wang Dong descended the mountain?" Zong Shichang asked. "I gained a great deal this time; I certainly couldn't have done it alone."

Young Master Zong's self-awareness was quite clear.

"Wang Dong is dead," Zong Yonglong said calmly.

"What?!" Zong Shichang was shocked.

"He died on the first day, but don't worry, his family will be properly taken care of," Zong Yonglong said. "You don't need to concern yourself with this. Just rest a bit, then go to Gao Linong's place and make an appearance before the county officials."

"Oh."

More and more officials descended the mountain, and officials from various departments of the Gucheng government were eagerly awaiting.

The happiest smile belonged to Gao Linong.

Because his two prize students, Zong Shichang, had leaped from the fourth stage of Qi Gathering to the seventh stage. Although there was no breakthrough in his spells, this was already significant progress.

As for Li Chengfeng, it was even more exaggerated: he was at the fifth stage of Qi Gathering before ascending the mountain, but after descending, he had reached the ninth stage! Moreover, his spells had greatly improved!

In contrast, among the other disciples and officials of the Agricultural Bureau, nothing particularly astonishing had been seen so far.

"Master Gao, congratulations." Tang Wanchun felt a sour taste in his mouth, as his student, Xiao Ze, had made no progress whatsoever.

Wen Nanxing, Pang Yuanjiao's disciple, had only broken through from the fourth stage of Qi Gathering to the fifth.

"Oh, it's nothing, nothing to congratulate. That's all their own fortune; what does it have to do with me?" Gao Linong feigned modesty, but the corners of his mouth were turned up high.

Feeling proud, he couldn't help but become a little arrogant and deliberately asked, "Those who ranked 'A-plus' in the last assessment should be out by now, right? I wonder if Zhao Xing from Huailiu Academy has descended the mountain yet?"

"Not yet," Pang Yuan replied.

"Could something have happened?"

Chen Shijie couldn't be bothered with this man, but Xue Wenzhong couldn't help but scold him, "You, shut your stinking mouth!"

"You..." Gao Linong was startled and about to flare up, but Tang Wanchun, standing nearby, stepped in to smooth things over: "Elder Xue, why get so angry..."

"You shut up too!" Xue Wenzhong stood up, his beard and hair flickering with faint electric light.

Pang Yuan strategically sipped his tea, but seeing Xue Wenzhong's gaze sweep over him, his movements instantly stiffened.

This... but I didn't say anything, did I?

Nevertheless, he slowly placed his hands on his knees. Given Xue Wenzhong's age and seniority, if he were to slap him, Pang Yuan would have no recourse.

When an honest man lost his temper, it was extraordinary. It was their first time witnessing Xue Wenzhong's wrath, and his imposing aura was truly astounding.

For a moment, all the ninth-rank officials from the Agricultural Bureau present were as docile as quails, sitting ramrod straight and not daring to utter another sound.

Just as the atmosphere reached its most oppressive, a sudden exclamation came from outside.

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

"Heavens, who is that person? To have gained so much?!"

Chen Shijie's eyes lit up. He abruptly stood up and rushed out.