Chapter 75: The Fifth Incense, The True Lord Reveals His Holiness (Fourth Update)

"Indeed, I usually listen while lying on the bed," Zong Shichang said, not feeling embarrassed but rather proud. "Is there anything else to say about this?" Zhao Xing pointed to the two people from the Temple of Heaven: "Everyone who sees it is a spectator of the Ritual. If you return the Ritual, it means approval, and the Magic Arts of the dancers and musicians will improve.

"I guess those two also want to perform the Ritual with us. If you return the Ritual, it gives them face, but if you don't, it's no problem."

"The level and analytical ability of the Ritual spectators increase, and the feedback the dancers and musicians receive from their performance also increases. If they can give something in return, their feedback will be even more, though there is a limit to this."

The people who received the incense were stronger than those in the square, and Liu MuQing and Lu Qian naturally wouldn't let it go. As expected, after coming down, they ran over to perform a Ritual for Zong Shichang's group.

Zhao Xing thought the two performed well and clapped his hands, giving them a compliment. Lu Qian kept staring at Zhao Xing, and when he saw him clap his hands in return, he pouted.

This guy, though annoying, still understands the Ritual. If only he could return the Sparrow Feather Robe to me. The others also gave face, as these two were from a prestigious family and knew Zong Young Master, so they returned the Ritual one after another.

While others returned the Ritual properly, Zong Shichang took out a silver ticket from his pocket and waved it at Lu Qian and Liu MuQing: "Two young ladies, enjoy the show!"

Lu Qian watched Zong Shichang approach, grinding his teeth, wishing he could punch him twice, but ultimately held back, biting his teeth and saying, "Thank you, Zong Shichang!"

"This doesn't sound sincere, so I won't give you the headpiece," Zong Shichang laughed, handing the silver ticket to Lu Qian, while folding another and inserting it into Liu MuQing's hair.

Liu MuQing performed a Ritual: "Thank you, Zong Young Master."

"Miss Liu, no need to be polite," Zong Shichang said, bowing his hands with a much warmer tone.

After the two left, Zhao Xing nudged Zong Shichang with his shoulder: "Are you interested in this Miss Liu?"

Zong Shichang turned his head and said, "Is it that obvious?"

Zhao Xing laughed and walked away: "Your eyes are practically glued to her, don't think others are fools."

Zong Shichang muttered to himself: "Yes, even you can see it, why doesn't Miss Liu understand my feelings..."

Meanwhile, the last incense stick in the Temple of Heaven Square was snatched away. Among them was a man named Gu Feng, holding a bow and arrow, with a silver light flashing, surrounded by four or five people.

After meeting Zhao Xing's gaze, Gu Feng's expression changed slightly. He was the one who attacked Zhao Xing during the day, wanting to seize the spiritual show, but didn't expect Zhao Xing to progress so greatly, surpassing even Cao Qiushui after absorbing three spiritual shows.

Thinking about it, Gu Feng ultimately did not advance, waiting in the back.

The last incense stick was obtained by a mechanic, accompanied by two mechanical beasts resembling tigers, each over two meters tall, with fangs extending two feet, exuding a chilling light, very extraordinary.

Behind the tigers were four small mechanical beasts, looking ancient and strange, like scorpions.

"A third-grade upper-class mechanical beast? And six of them?" Zhao Xing looked on, quite surprised.

The craftsman's mechanical beasts are driven by Method arrays, and mechanical beasts are the most difficult art among them. Unlike the Scarecrow Technique, mechanical beasts can exist permanently, have higher spirituality, and can even perform hidden Magic Arts within their bodies.

However, scarecrows have a time limit and cannot exist permanently, with no spirituality at lower levels.

But the Scarecrow Technique is not picky about materials, even a handful of dry grass can be used, making it convenient and labor-saving.

The materials for mechanical beasts are more expensive, requiring time and effort to study Method arrays.

"This person is called Hu Yang, over twenty years old, and can make third-grade mechanical beasts. He's simply a rare talent."

"Indeed, craftsmen are truly enviable, able to create such powerful mechanical beasts, much stronger than scarecrows," Zong Shichang said.

"I don't envy them at all," Zhao Xing shook his head.

"Brother Zhao, don't be stubborn," Zong Shichang said, squinting his eyes. "Speak with your conscience."

"What did you just say about how great he is?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Over twenty, if I didn't hear wrong, it should be twenty-one," Zong Shichang replied.

"Does he look twenty-one to you?" Zhao Xing asked.

"..." Zong Shichang looked at Hu Yang's obvious wrinkles and dark circles, opening his mouth.

"Look at his head, does he still have hair?"

"..." Zhao Xing shrugged, "Do you know why I don't envy them?"

"There's no such thing as divine craftsmanship, it's all about risking your life for it."

Zong Shichang was speechless.

Zhao Xing laughed, his gaze moving away from Hu Yang.

He said he would never study mechanical Method arrays, let alone make mechanical beasts!

Risking life for craftsmanship, this is no joke.

In the realm of mechanical Method arrays, as you progress, many secret Methods require consuming your own life force to refine treasures.

Like the 'Heart Blood Opening Method' of swordsmiths.

In plain terms, it's about trading lifespan to enhance the spirituality and power of mechanical constructs.

Once you have such a secret Method, it's impossible to resist using it. Use a little today, a little tomorrow, accumulating over time... Even with the longevity blessings of the Qi Yun Wang Dynasty, it's not enough!

The above is still considered good, there are some madmen who want to be famous worldwide, directly sacrificing themselves, even if the devil comes, they have to say it's awesome.

Zhao Xing would never study the craftsman's Method arrays, he wouldn't do anything that shortens his lifespan, but he does like using the craftsman's treasures.

The people on the Temple of Heaven Square were waiting for the second wave of incense, while those below were waiting for the battle between Yang Junxiong and Du Jiaojiao to end.

Suddenly, Zhao Xing noticed the speed of the two slowed down, and the light and shadow gradually dimmed.

"Clang!"

With a clear sound, everyone's ears shook, and they all took a few steps back.

The two figures finally separated, revealing their true forms.

The battle between Yang Junxiong and Du Jiaojiao finally had a result.

"Sister Jiao!" Lu Qian and Liu MuQing hurried over.

"I'm fine," Du Jiaojiao said, slightly panting, her hair disheveled.

Yang Junxiong's hair was still neat, his breath even, as if the battle just now was very easy for him.

"She's become stronger again," Zong Shichang sighed, "Half a point of red lips, no one dares to taste, one punch kills a young master, who dares to want her like this."

"Brother Zong, martial artists have good hearing, if you don't watch your mouth, you might be the young master who gets killed," Zhao Xing said lightly.

"Ahem," Zong Shichang changed the topic, "What should we do now? Should we make a move?"

"Let's wait and see," Zhao Xing said, staring ahead.

Yang Junxiong pointed his gun at the approaching Lu Qian and Liu MuQing: "If you continue to entangle, I will find a way to recreate you and your friends."

"You, shameless!"

"No face!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Qian and Liu MuQing's expressions changed.

Du Jiaojiao stopped the two, stared at Yang Junxiong for a moment, and nodded: "This incense is yours."

Yang Junxiong put away his long gun, clamped his legs, turned into a stream of light, and rushed onto the stage, entering the temple.

"I didn't expect Du Jiaojiao to be so loyal," Wenzhao said, shaking his feather fan, "willing to give up the chance for her friends."

"Indeed rare, no one remembers the things on the mountain, but she still does this, pure-hearted, no wonder her gun skills are so powerful," Zhang Boran sighed. "But she probably also felt she couldn't win the incense, so she gave up."

"Stop talking so much, get ready," Wenzhao said.

After Yang Junxiong entered the temple, Du Jiaojiao protected Lu Qian and Liu MuQing as they entered.

With strong martial artists doing this, no one dared to object.

They could only watch as they occupied the first four spots for worship.

Now the first four incense positions were full.

The pressure came to Wenzhao and Zhang Boran.

As soon as Du Jiaojiao's group stepped onto the stage, Zhang Boran immediately began to charge.

Wenzhao chanted: "With the east wind at my feet, my spirit soars to the heavens."

Zhang Boran's speed suddenly increased, his momentum climbing to the ninth level of Gathering Essence!

In an instant, he almost rushed up the stone steps.

However, just when Wenzhao thought Zhang Boran would be the fifth to enter, Zhang Boran suddenly ran back at an even faster speed.

"Cousin, what are you doing?" Wenzhao was stunned.

Zhang Boran, expressionless, raised his hand and punched Wenzhao.

"What? Stop..."

Before Wenzhao could finish, he was punched, teeth flying, and he was knocked out, not knowing if he was alive or dead.

This bizarre scene stopped the eager crowd in their tracks, filled with uncertainty.

What's going on?

Zhao Xing glanced at Yuan Bo beside Zong Shichang.

Just now, this usually low-key Yuan Bo made a move.

The divine image in his eyes disappeared, appearing behind Zhang Boran.

Zhang's limbs were completely attached to Zhang Boran, controlling him like a puppet.

"The possession ritual usually involves one's own body, but Yuan Bo can invite the spirit onto someone else? That's something," Zhao Xing thought, planning to make a move, but after seeing Zhang Boran's situation, he stopped.

"Young Master, you can go in now," Yuan Bo suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat sinister.

Zong Shichang looked at Zhao Xing, giving up the opportunity for the fifth incense: "Zhao Top Three, you go first, you won't be wronged."

Zhao Xing glanced at Yuan Bo, who had no reaction.

"Alright," Zhao Xing said, not being polite, immediately surrounding himself with Yin Wind, floating like a ghost towards the stage.

Behind him, Gu Feng fiddled with his silver bow but ultimately didn't dare to make a move.

Some people saw Yuan Bo's peculiarity, and making a move now might not secure the fifth incense.

Standing between the two mechanical beasts, Hu Yang also remained unmoved.

He hadn't planned to fight for the top five, and the difference between the fifth and the rest was small, no need to compete further.

So after Zhao Xing entered, Zong Shichang, Uncle Cang, and Uncle Tiger all entered without any issues.

Following closely were the archer Gu Feng and the mechanic Hu Yang.

Zhang Boran, on the other hand, was the last to enter.

After Yuan Bo released the control, he woke up, not knowing what had happened, but with the last spot in front of him, he couldn't care about his cousin still in a daze and entered the temple directly.

After Zhao Xing entered the temple, he didn't see the four people ahead.

On the altar, three sacrificial Rituals were offered, and a divine image holding a ruler gazed into the distance.

Zhao Xing's mind moved, and the incense in his hand began to burn. After bowing three times, he inserted the incense into the burner.

He chanted: "Sinoong member Zhao Xing, seeking the True Lord's revelation."

As the incense burned, though it was a thin stick, smoke suddenly swirled, filling the entire Great Hall.

Looking up again, the surroundings became shrouded in mist, and the light dimmed.

The divine image on the stage had disappeared, replaced by a living giant.

It emitted a faint golden light, standing three zhang tall.

This was the manifestation of the spirit.

"You invited this god to reveal its holiness, what do you seek?"

Zhao Xing bowed and said, "I seek the True Lord to teach me how to obtain the Golden Cup guarded by the Wildcat Spirit."

He didn't elaborate, as the spirit monitored everything on the mountain and naturally knew what he was talking about.

Judging by the effect of the fifth incense, if the Golden Cup were a Middle Grade spiritual show, the True Lord would directly tell him the answer after revealing its holiness.

But the Wildcat Spirit's guard was clearly not a Middle Grade spiritual show, but a superior one.

So he still had to pass the spirit's test.

"The Golden Cup is a superior spiritual show. If you wish to seek this Method, you must pass the test."

"Once the incense burns out, if you cannot pass the test, it will be a wasted opportunity."

"If you seek a Middle Grade spiritual show, this god can directly inform you of a location, without effort."

"Have you thought it through?"

Zhao Xing, without hesitation, bowed and said, "I choose to accept the test, True Lord, please instruct."

The Three Zhang Spirit said: "One day, a man who planted fruit trees came to East Lake Mountain, offering incense and praying for no wind these days, as his pear orchard was in bloom."

"The second incense was offered by a boatman, praying for more wind on the river, as his boat needed wind to sail."

"The third incense was from a traveler, who was going far and prayed to this god for no wind or rain."

"The fourth incense was from a farmer, who said the fields were dry and needed rain for planting, praying for a great rain today."

After speaking, the Three Zhang Spirit stared at Zhao Xing: "I granted the wishes of the four people, how should this be resolved?"

Zhao Xing, as a Sinoong member, was familiar with matters of wind and rain, so this was a test of his wisdom.

However, these four people had conflicting wishes: one wanted no wind, another wanted wind; one wanted rain, another didn't.

If he couldn't answer satisfactorily before the incense burned out, it would be a wasted opportunity.

However, Zhao Xing didn't think for long. Almost as soon as the spirit finished speaking, he gave an answer.

"I have a Method that might solve the True Lord's dilemma."

The Three Zhang Spirit reminded: "There is still time, you can think it over before answering."

Zhao Xing smiled slightly, confidently saying: "Rain at night, clear by day, wind along the river, not entering the pear orchard."

The Three Zhang Spirit nodded with a smile: "Good."

Whoosh~

The thick smoke dispersed.

Zhao Xing came back to his senses, finding himself no longer inside the Temple, but under a tree.

Ahead was the cave where the Wildcat Spirit resided.

In his hand was also a wind chime.

"Thank you, True Lord, for the Method," Zhao Xing bowed towards the mountain.

The personal fate was set, avoiding unnecessary disputes after leaving the temple, so after offering incense, one would be transported directly to the desired location.

Zhao Xing, holding the wind chime, walked straight into the mountain cave.

He hadn't been inside for long.

"Meow~" A growl echoed, and a black shadow attacked like lightning.

But just as it was about to reach Zhao Xing, it suddenly stopped.

"Ring~" The wind chime in Zhao Xing's hand shook, emitting a clear sound.

"Meow?" The Wildcat stopped, looking curiously at the wind chime in Zhao Xing's hand.

At this moment, Zhao Xing also saw the true form of the Wildcat.

Its head was small, only as big as a regular house cat.

Its furry little head had two pointed ears, its gray tail swayed lightly, and its big eyes shone with curiosity.

It seemed puzzled as to why Zhao Xing had the wind chime from the Mountain God Temple.

"Good kitty, follow me from now on," Zhao Xing squatted down, beckoning the Wildcat with the hand holding the wind chime.

The Wildcat hesitated, but the light emanating from the wind chime made it want to get closer.

The wind chime from the Mountain God Temple was imbued with the True Lord's aura, used to tame the Wildcat.

The Wildcat was the spirit raised by that god to guard the four types of spiritual shows.

This was why the Wildcat, even in its juvenile stage, could enter the ranks.

The mountain's spiritual shows, the Wildcat didn't know how many it had consumed.

However, that god also gave the Wildcat the right to choose.

If it didn't want to recognize a new master, Zhao Xing could only obtain the Qi Yun Golden Cup.

If it recognized a master, it could be taken along with the Wildcat.

"Remember the last time I gave you the vine-scented berries and white fragrant grass? From now on, you can eat as much as you want if you follow me," Zhao Xing said softly.

"Meow~" After some hesitation, the Wildcat approached, nudging Zhao Xing's palm with its little head.

"Ring~" The wind chime emitted its final clear sound, then turned into golden light, dispersing into the wind, merging into Zhao Xing and the Wildcat's bodies.

A bond was established between the person and the cat.

[Wildcat (Juvenile)]

[Bloodline: Spiritual Show Variant (Transformed by consuming various mountain spiritual shows)]

[Grade: Ninth Grade Mid-Stage]

[Innate Abilities: Godspeed, Nine Lives]

[Secret Techniques: Thunderclap Sky Split Claw (Mid-Stage Eight Turns), Wind Guard Heavy Step (Mid-Stage Seven Turns)]

The exotic beast is not included in the Qi Yun Wang Dynasty's system, so the Wildcat's grade does not follow the Ninth Grade Thirty Levels set by the Great Zhou Great Ancestor, but is calculated according to the ancient cultivation system's 'Early, Mid, Late, Full' four small stages.

In the Qi Yun system, humans are measured by the Ninth Grade Thirty Levels, with significant differences.

Looking at the data about the Wildcat on the panel, Zhao Xing smiled, picking up the Wildcat and placing it on his shoulder: "Little one, you won't regret this choice."

"Meow~" the Wildcat responded.

Zhao Xing clapped his hands and walked into the cave.

Having been here once with the scarecrow, he was familiar with the cave.

Arriving again at the giant white bone frame, Zhao Xing vaguely guessed what had happened.

Another exotic beast had fought with the Wildcat's mother, both ending in mutual destruction, leaving only this juvenile to survive.

"Where did you put that golden cup?" Zhao Xing asked as he approached the four paths.

"Meow~" The Wildcat extended its claw, pointing to one of the paths.

"Hidden in the Ice Lotus Pool? You're really clever, guarding it, huh?" Zhao Xing laughed, pointing to the path: "Go, fetch it."

"Meow~" Zhao Xing felt a weight on his shoulder, then the Wildcat darted into the path like lightning.

In a breath, the Wildcat returned, holding a cup larger than its head in its mouth.

"Meow?" The Wildcat jumped onto Zhao Xing's shoulder, nudging him.

"Yes, this is it," Zhao Xing took the golden cup, examining it in his hand.

The cup felt soft, like jade, with mysterious patterns on its body, seemingly containing the mysteries of heaven and earth.

As Zhao Xing looked, the originally empty cup suddenly filled with a golden stream, turning dense like liquid in an instant.

(End of Chapter)