Chapter 80: Gathering Spirits in the Clouds, Forgetting Worries at the Mountain's Base (Third Update, 15,000 Words!)

Yang Junxiong leapt fiercely from the ground, descending like a tiger or leopard, charging ferociously at a person five meters away.

"Roar!" His punch pierced through the shoulder, shattering bones.

The opponent let out a miserable cry, his body thrown away, releasing the long spear in his hand.

"Clang!" Yang Junxiong kicked the spear, sending it spinning in the air before it landed in his hand.

Seeing Yang Junxiong wielding the long spear, the others scattered, their greed vanishing.

A skinny camel is still bigger than a horse. Even though Yang Junxiong, an entry-level martial artist, was injured, he still possessed formidable combat power.

Moreover, his Yuan Qi [a form of internal energy] circulated continuously, quickly recovering to eighty or ninety percent of his battle strength. Outwardly, he appeared flushed and vigorous, as if nothing had happened.

"If you want to die, come at me!" Yang Junxiong swept his gaze around.

"Let's go, quickly!"

"This guy is awake again."

"Entry-level martial artists are indeed tough."

"Hmph, what's he showing off for? He dared to bully us, but didn't he still lose to Zhao Xing?"

Those eyeing Yang Junxiong's treasures dispersed one after another.

Although he lost to Wildcat and Zhao Xing, Yang Junxiong was not someone they could contend with.

Once the crowd dispersed, Yang Junxiong groaned, leaning on the spear to stand steadily.

He was indeed injured, and not lightly. His internal Yuan Qi was chaotic, and Wildcat's kick had displaced his internal organs.

"What a waste," Yang Junxiong's face was pale, his eyes filled with gloom.

It was already the third wave of incense, and he didn't go to snatch it again. After a brief rest, he rushed down the mountain.

He hurried to the place where Zhao Xing was, at the cliff.

Seeing Zhao Xing riding the Bamboo Horse across the mountain ridge, Yang Junxiong was furious.

"He really came here!"

"He snatched my Bamboo Horse and discovered this opportunity here."

"But I still have a chance!"

Yang Junxiong silently hid behind a huge rock, beginning to adjust his breath.

He still held a sliver of hope, hoping Zhao Xing couldn't find the method to gather the spiritual essence. Then, after Zhao Xing gave up, he could try again.

But he had just sat down when his heart started pounding violently.

This intense throbbing was the 'heart blood tide' triggered by encountering spiritual essence.

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

"What? He found it?!"

Yang Junxiong stared wide-eyed, incredulous as he looked ahead.

He saw Zhao Xing riding the Bamboo Horse, leaping through the mountain ridge.

On the ridge, there was a cloud and mist, and within it appeared a faint golden hue.

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

"So that's how it is. I wondered why I felt a strong reluctance when I left Wildcat's lair, as if I missed a great opportunity."

Zhao Xing raised his arm, continuously absorbing the golden light, which eventually gathered into the 'Stone Cup' in his hand.

"The Qi Transport Golden Cup, so it has this function. If I had lost this cup, I really wouldn't have been able to gather this spiritual essence."

At this moment, the Stone Cup once again shone brightly, the golden light dazzling.

Watching this scene, Yang Junxiong felt an immense unwillingness.

He was the first to discover the opportunity on this mountain ridge.

But at that time, he wasn't sure how much opportunity he could gain from it.

On the first day, he casually searched and then left.

After obtaining the head incense that night, he didn't choose the uncertain 'upper-grade spiritual essence' but opted for two portions of middle-grade spiritual essence.

Because he was the head incense, the temple directly informed him of the locations and methods to obtain these two portions of middle-grade spiritual essence.

This head incense also allowed him and the Bamboo Horse to both enter the entry-level.

After entering the entry-level, Yang Junxiong's sixth sense greatly improved. When he returned here, he sensed the presence of spiritual essence and confirmed it was an astonishing upper-grade spiritual essence!

The location was already known, so on the second night, after obtaining the head incense, he sought the method to obtain the spiritual essence there.

Yang Junxiong was indeed not wrong; it was an upper-grade spiritual essence. If he sought middle-grade spiritual essence, the head incense provider could directly inform him of the location and method to obtain it!

However, although he was the head incense, he still needed to pass a test to get the answer.

This also indirectly proved that his guess was correct.

But he was a bit slow, barely passing the test as the head incense was about to burn out.

When he arrived at Wildcat's cave, Zhao Xing had already arrived first, subdued Wildcat, and after realizing Wildcat's strength, Yang Junxiong could only wait outside the cave.

But by then, Zhao Xing had already taken the most crucial item—the Qi Transport Golden Cup!

Due to Yang Junxiong's head incense influence, Zhao Xing once lost the Stone Cup. But in the end, he picked it up again!

After Yang Junxiong entered the lair, he gained nothing.

So on the third night, Yang Junxiong revealed his trump card, ignoring Gu Feng and Du Jiaojiao, charging straight at Zhao Xing, all for the Stone Cup on Zhao Xing.

But unexpectedly, he still lost.

"If I had decisively seized the opportunity here on the first night... perhaps the outcome would have been different."

Yang Junxiong felt some regret.

But there are no 'ifs.' Fate is fate, and Yang Junxiong understood that this spiritual essence was not meant for him.

"Hoo~"

Zhao Xing gathered the spiritual essence in the cloud layer until the cup was full, and the golden mist had faded to the point of being imperceptible.

The Bamboo Horse leaped back to its original position.

"Meow~~ha~"

Wildcat first let out a cry, then yawned widely.

Old Cat was almost asleep waiting!

"Look, you're in a hurry again. If I don't become stronger, how will I find food for you in the future?"

"Okay, okay, it's my fault. Here, Grandpa, have some candy."

Zhao Xing took out a Tianyuan Pear from the Wenzhu Box.

"Meow~"

Wildcat jumped onto the Bamboo Horse, hugging the Tianyuan Pear and munching away.

Chomp chomp chomp~

The Bamboo Horse walked leisurely forward, while Zhao Xing absorbed the Qi Transport to the fullest.

Previously, in Wildcat's cave, the Qi Transport Golden Cup was only half full.

This time, it was a full cup!

After Zhao Xing absorbed this portion of Qi Transport spiritual essence, his Qi Transport level finally changed.

From Yan Er [Second Grade] to Yan San [Third Grade]!

"It's really rare. My Qi Transport level actually reached Yan San."

Zhao Xing felt a bit emotional.

It's difficult to improve the Qi Transport level. One might have reached the Fifth Grade in cultivation, but the Qi Transport level remains at Yan San.

If it were in the court, it would be slightly better. In the wild, even with cultivation at the Third or Fourth Grade, the Qi Transport level might still be at Yan San.

Especially after the fall of the Qi Transport Dynasty, obtaining it became even harder.

"Clang! Clang!"

Suddenly, the sound of bells echoed through the mountains.

All the participants looked up, showing reluctance.

"It's time to descend the mountain," Zhao Xing glanced at the time, knowing it was the temple reminding the participants to descend.

They only had these three days and nights to compete.

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

"This time, the harvest is quite abundant. I wonder if I'll be surprised when I go out. I guess Old Chen and the others will be surprised too."

Zhao Xing leaped on the horse, disappearing tens of meters away in the blink of an eye.

The participants began to descend the mountain one after another, but Lu Qian was anxiously searching for something.

Finally, he found Zong Shichang at a pavilion.

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

"No, what's wrong?" Zong Shichang asked in confusion, "Did something happen?"

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

"Strange," Zong Shichang muttered, "I wonder what Zhao Top Three did to provoke her."

At the mountain's base, Ditan Square.

At this time, the sky had not yet brightened, but many officials and family heads were already waiting here.

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

Xue Wenzhong was observing the ritual area, his eyes filled with worry.

Chen Shijie noticed and comforted, "Old Xue, don't worry too much. Although that kid is only at Gathering Essence Fourth Grade, he's smart. Even if he doesn't gain much, he should be able to keep himself safe. Have a cup of tea first."

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

Xue Wenzhong could tell that Zhao Xing had a certain arrogance in his bones and wasn't one to follow rules. Even though he advised him to accumulate enough resources before going up the mountain, not seeing him for a day made Xue Wenzhong uneasy.

He was afraid of hearing bad news.

Chen Shijie said calmly, "He won't. I have faith in him. Just wait, maybe this kid will surprise us."

"I don't need surprises. I just want him to return safely."

Since it was the third day, the initial excitement of the Mountain Opening had passed, and fewer ordinary people came.

However, Zhao Ruide still brought his wife and children, waiting in the dark at the mountain's base.

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

Zhao Ruide replied, "Soon. When the bell rings, he will definitely come down before the hour of the dragon."

He had participated in the spiritual essence gathering when he was young, but Zhao Ruide only gathered a lower-grade spiritual essence before descending, yet he knew the rules.

When the time comes, the living will see people, and the dead will see corpses.

"Daughter, don't sleep. Brother will be down soon."

"Oh, Zheng'er, don't make noise. Let sister sleep a bit more..."

Madam Cai had gotten up early and was exhausted, finding a spot in the ritual area to sleep again.

In the ritual area, there was a temporary tent, and inside a larger tent, a middle-aged man with a sturdy build was pacing back and forth.

"Old man, stop pacing. You're making me anxious," a woman got off the bed and walked over, "Chang'er will be fine."

Zong Yonglong sighed, "I can't be at ease until I see Chang'er."

He had been waiting here for three days.

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

So these days, Zong Yonglong hadn't slept well, always fearing bad news.

Fortunately, in the following two days, he hadn't seen Zong Shichang's body appear, but now, as the end approached, he couldn't help but feel anxious again.

"It's about to end."

Two fishermen, carrying their baskets, looked at the fish in the water bucket.

"I wonder which fish will survive and which will soar to the sky."

"Heaven blesses."

Another fisherman, with a yellow tooth, poked at the water bucket, "I hope these fish live well so we can sell them for a good price."

"Keep a close watch, not just on the fish, but also on those on duty."

"Got it, got it."

Qin Feng and three others walked down the mountain path, looking dejected.

This climb was like drawing water with a bamboo basket—empty.

They had obtained spiritual essence several times, but it was snatched away each time. 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, we might have broken through long ago."

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

If they hadn't seen any spiritual essence from start to finish, that would be one thing, but to have it in hand and then snatched away was truly frustrating.

"Brother Qin, what are you talking about?" Seventh Junior Brother turned back, confused, "What Zhao Xing? Who is Zhao Xing?"

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

"You guys..." Qin Feng was about to explain, but after taking two steps forward, he unknowingly passed the Forget Worry Monument.

"What was I saying? Did I just say something?" Qin Feng's eyes were a bit dazed.

"You seemed to be talking about Zhao something, and mentioned Zhou Gang and Fang Jie."

"Did I?" Qin Feng turned back, only to see a rolling mist. "What exactly happened on the mountain?"

After passing the Forget Worry Monument, with each step, their memories of the mountain grew weaker, and everything about the mountain faded away.

By the time they were a hundred meters away from the Forget Worry Monument, they couldn't remember anything, only knowing they walked around the mountain and gained nothing.

Shaking their heads, Qin Feng and the others arrived outside Ditan Square, where a Lake City martial officer was waiting.

Seeing Qin Feng and the others come out, with no change in their cultivation, there was some disappointment in his eyes, but he still offered a few words of encouragement before stepping aside.

Qin Feng and his group left the tent, and as soon as they got 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 Brother Zhou and Brother Fang?"

"It's strange. Yesterday, Brother Zhou and I suddenly descended the mountain for no reason, gaining nothing, but we somehow ended up with a hundred taels of silver notes," Fang Jie said.

"Oh? Does this mountain god even give out silver notes? That's indeed strange," Qin Feng found it odd, with a hint of envy.

A hundred taels, that's quite a windfall.

At the mountain's base, Zong Shichang, along with Uncle Cang, Uncle Tiger, Yuan Bo, and others, emerged from the mist.

There were quite a few people, at least seventeen or eighteen.

"Huh? I've broken through!"

"Hahaha, I'm at Gathering Essence Seventh Grade now!"

"Wow, my secret technique Ten Thousand Heavy Mountains has reached the ninth level?"

Among them, three people exclaimed in joy, while the others looked on with envy.

Those who gained something on the mountain were indeed a lucky few, as most people gained nothing.

"Uncle Cang, you're at the ninth level? No, I've reached Gathering Essence Seventh Grade myself. Hey, where's my money?" Zong Shichang exclaimed, rummaging through the Wenzhu Box, "Two thousand taels of silver notes, just spent like that? Not a penny left?"

Yuan Bo looked around and then at Zong Shichang, "Young Master Zong, you've reached Gathering Essence Seventh Grade, quite an improvement, and you descended the mountain with us, so it seems the agreement is complete."

Zong Shichang nodded, "Yes, it's complete, beyond expectations! Thank you, all three of you."

The old man cupped his hands to the others, "Since it's like this, I'll take my leave first. Uncle Cang, Lu Hu, farewell."

"Farewell."

Uncle Cang and Lu Hu, seeing the situation, also cupped their hands to Zong Shichang, "Young Master Zong, we'll return to report as well."

"Alright, all of you have done well for my Zong family."

Zong Shichang bid farewell to the two again.

"Thank you."

Zong Shichang descended the mountain, attracting attention with his progress and the number of people.

Soon, Gao Linong from the Department of Agriculture, along with Zong Yonglong, appeared before Zong Shichang.

"Son, you're finally out!" The middle-aged woman rushed over, holding Zong Shichang's arm, "Chang'er, are you hurt? Where are you uncomfortable?"

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

"Are you hungry? Oh, look at your thin face. There's food in the tent, I'll get it for you..."

Zong Yonglong frowned, "Enough, stop crying. Gao Great Man is still here. Go to the tent first... Gao Great Man, sorry for the trouble."

Gao Linong smiled, "Madam Zong and Shi Chang have a deep bond, how could it be a bother?"

Zong Yonglong called his son over, "Let Gao Great Man take a look."

Gao Linong took Zong Shichang's wrist, then bowed to Zong Yonglong, "Congratulations, Zong Chairman, he's reached Gathering Essence Seventh Grade, and his body is healthy, with no hidden injuries."

"Good, good, good," Zong Yonglong finally relaxed, smiling, "This is all thanks to Gao Great Man's guidance. I must visit to express my gratitude."

Gao Linong also smiled happily, "This is within my duties, Zong Chairman is too kind."

He then bowed and left, giving the father and son some privacy.

"Father, can Wang Dong descend the mountain?" Zong Shichang asked, "I gained a lot this time, but I couldn't have done it alone."

Young Master Zong was quite clear about his self-awareness.

"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 be taken care of," Zong Yonglong said, "You don't need to worry about this. Rest well, then go to Gao Linong's place to show your face to the important people in the county."

"Oh."

More and more participants descended the mountain, with officials from various departments of Valley City eagerly waiting.

The happiest was Gao Linong.

Because his two favored students, Zong Shichang, jumped from Gathering Essence Fourth Grade to Gathering Essence Seventh Grade, and although his Magic Arts didn't break through, it was still a great improvement.

As for Li Chengfeng, it was even more astonishing. Before going up the mountain, he was at Gathering Essence Fifth Tier, and after descending, he reached Gathering Essence Ninth Grade! Moreover, his Magic Arts also improved greatly!

In contrast, the other Sinoong's disciples and participants hadn't shown anything particularly impressive so far.

"Gao Great Man, congratulations," Tang Wanchun felt a bit bitter because his student, Xiao Ze, made no progress.

Pang Yuan's student, Wen Nanxing, only broke through from Gathering Essence Fourth Grade to Gathering Essence Seventh Grade.

"It's nothing, nothing to congratulate. It's all their own fortune, what does it have to do with me?" Gao Linong feigned modesty, but his mouth was grinning wide.

He was quite pleased with himself, and couldn't help but ask, "The last assessment's Jia list should be out soon, I wonder if Zhao Xing from Huailiu Courtyard has descended the mountain?"

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

"Could something unexpected have happened?" Chen Shijie was too lazy to deal with this person, but Xue Wenzhong couldn't help but sneer, "You better shut that stinky mouth of yours!"

"You..." Gao Linong was startled, about to retort, but Tang Wanchun stepped in to mediate, "Old Xue, no need to get angry..."

"You shut up too!" Xue Wenzhong stood up, his hair and beard bristling with electricity.

Pang Yuan, sipping tea, saw Xue Wenzhong's gaze sweep over, and his hand trembled.

This... I didn't say anything?

But he still slowly placed his hand on his knee. With Xue Wenzhong's age and experience, if he slapped him, he wouldn't have any way to argue.

An old man's anger is not to be trifled with, and this was the first time they saw Xue Wenzhong so furious, his aura was simply intimidating.

For a moment, all the Ninth Grade Sinoong present were as obedient as quails, sitting upright, not daring to make a sound.

Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, suddenly there was a commotion outside.

"Someone else is coming out! It's a participant from Valley City!"

"Oh my, who is that? They've gained so much?!"

Chen Shijie's eyes lit up, and he stood up abruptly, rushing out.

(End of Chapter)