Chapter 81: Zhao Xing Descends the Mountain! Where's My Robe? Where's My Bamboo Horse?

Upon hearing that it was someone from Valley City, Chen Shijie and Xue Wenzhong could no longer sit still. The other officials also followed suit and went out. However, the result was greatly disappointing for Chen Shijie and Xue Wenzhong. It wasn't Zhao Xing who came out, but Shen Zhui from the Martial Division.

After Shen Zhui descended the mountain, he first went to pay respects to County Magistrate Li Wenzheng and the senior official of the Martial Division, Wang Long.

"Greetings to the County Magistrate, greetings to Lord Wang."

"Good, good, good. I didn't expect you to have already entered the ranks. This is indeed a blessing for the Martial Division," Li Wenzheng said, very pleased.

The patrol envoy and many officials in the county watched this scene. A genius had emerged from his jurisdiction in Valley City, which was naturally something to be proud of. East Lake Spirit Mountain was within the territory of Valley City, and he, as the county magistrate, was equivalent to the lord of the eastern Dao. Climbing Spirit Mountain to gather spiritual essence was akin to a major examination. If the participants from his jurisdiction didn't perform well, it would be quite embarrassing.

Now that Shen Zhui had entered the ranks, his face also shone with pride.

"Greetings to the great Chen," Shen Zhui said, bowing to Chen Shijie.

"Not bad," Chen Shijie replied casually. He hadn't seen Zhao Xing yet, so he was a bit disappointed.

Xue Wenzhong, seeing the situation, was also somewhat lost in thought. Could something unexpected have happened?

"Old Xue, let's wait a bit longer," Chen Shijie patted Xue Wenzhong's shoulder. "He'll be fine."

Everything that happened on Spirit Mountain over the past three days would be forgotten by the participants, and the officials outside were also unaware of the situation inside. They could only wait for notification. So, there was no use in being anxious now.

Just as Chen Shijie and Xue Wenzhong were planning to return to the observation area to wait, suddenly—

"Clip-clop, clip-clop~" A clear sound of horse hooves came from the clouds and mist.

At the Forget Worry Monument, Zhao Xing rode out on a Bamboo Horse, carrying a bamboo box on his back and holding a small cat in his arms.

"Zhao Xing? It's Zhao Xing who came out!"

"It's Valley City's Zhao Xing. How is he riding a horse?!"

"You don't recognize it? That's the artisan's mechanical beast, Bamboo Horse!"

"Wow, judging by the looks of it, he must have gained quite a lot!"

The people around started discussing animatedly.

Chen Shijie smiled broadly, laughing heartily. Xue Wenzhong also relaxed completely.

Sinoong's [Five Elements Observation] could quickly determine if a person was injured and roughly what their realm was. At this moment, they saw that Zhao Xing was not only safe and sound but had also entered the ranks!

"Zhao Xing, he actually entered the ranks?!" Tang Wanchun exclaimed in surprise. "Wasn't he only at Gathering Essence Stage Four before entering the mountain?!"

"I didn't see wrong, did I?" Pang Yuan was also wide-eyed and dumbfounded. "Did he gain that much?!"

In just three days, he had jumped several stages, which was simply astonishing!

Gao Linong had originally been pleased with the progress of his students Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang, feeling that they had made a splash. But he never expected Zhao Xing to emerge!

From Gathering Essence Stage Four to entering the ranks?! His gains were much greater than those of Zong Shichang and Li Chengfeng!

Gao Linong felt a bit hard to bear. He had just been showing off, and now he was slapped in the face so quickly!

"Did Zhao Top Three stumble upon some incredible luck to leap into the ranks?" Zong Shichang was very curious because he vaguely felt that he had interacted with Zhao Xing on the mountain. But what exactly happened, he couldn't remember.

"He actually entered the ranks?" Li Chengfeng looked at Zhao Xing, who was being praised by everyone, and felt a bit uncomfortable. Just a moment ago, he had enjoyed similar treatment, but now, in comparison, he was overshadowed.

As for Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and others, they were completely envious, unable to muster any competitive spirit. The gap was too great. Before, they could still compare themselves in their hearts. But when the gap was big enough, that thought disappeared entirely, leaving only envy.

"Whoa~" Zhao Xing unconsciously pulled the reins, slowing down. When he reached Chen Shijie and the other Valley City officials, he still furrowed his brows.

"Zhao..."

"Don't interrupt him, let him gather his thoughts," Li Wenzheng's words seemed to have a magical power, and the surrounding people immediately quieted down, unable to make a sound.

This Ninth Grade official, Li Xiu, had directly activated a full-body silence!

At this moment, within a fifty-meter radius, except for 'managers' like Chen Shijie and Xue Wenzhong, only Zhao Xing could speak.

"How am I riding a horse?" Zhao Xing, sitting on the horse, was a bit confused. He remembered that what Old Sinoong and Old Chen gave him was a Wenzhu Box, not a Bamboo Horse, right?

His memory was a bit hazy. Zhao Xing knew he must have been affected by the Forget Worry Monument. He tried hard to recall, but he only vaguely remembered that this Bamboo Horse was snatched. As for whom he snatched it from? He forgot.

"Little Wildcat." Zhao Xing looked down at the wildcat in his arms, lifting it up. He couldn't remember the scene of fighting alongside the wildcat, but he vaguely remembered the moment of recognition, which hadn't been affected.

Tang Wanchun and Gao Linong stared at the wildcat, their eyes widening in shock!

An exotic beast that had entered the ranks, it was even stronger than them! And it seemed to have been subdued by Zhao Xing?!

Li Wenzheng and Chen Shijie exchanged a glance, both a bit surprised. Other officials could only see that the wildcat had entered the ranks, but they couldn't gauge its exact strength. However, the two of them could see it clearly.

One used [Keen Insight], and the other used [Five Elements Observation]. Both concluded the same: Ninth Grade, full circle! It could rival human cultivators at the upper Ninth Grade. In terms of combat power, this exotic beast could probably easily defeat most human cultivators.

Zhao Xing continued to rummage through his belongings. He pulled out a silver ticket.

"A thousand taels silver ticket? The serial number is from the Nanyang Merchant Guild. This should belong to Young Master Zong, right?" Zhao Xing thought, vaguely recalling a scene where someone handed him money. The hand was very young. Was it Zong Shichang? He couldn't remember.

But the probability was high. Who else would bring so much money up the mountain?

"This money is probably mine!" Zong Shichang, seeing this, was a bit puzzled. "But why would I give him so much money?"

Zong Yonglong's eyes were also full of curiosity. Could it be that on the mountain, this person and his son had some interaction or even a conflict?

The other onlookers were full of envy. This was what going up the mountain should be like. Others spent a lot of money on equipment and treasures, but he even made money? Simply infuriating!

"Oh, Sparrow Feather Robe, why is there such a thing in the Wenzhu Box? It looks like something a woman would wear. Did I snatch it from a dancer?"

"Ahem, Zhao Xing, that's enough," Li Wenzheng couldn't help but interrupt Zhao Xing's introspection. Sparrow Feather Robe was clearly a woman's intimate garment. He was afraid Zhao Xing would pull out something else in front of the crowd.

Although it was his own business, it was quite indecent!

Zhao Xing also snapped out of it, stuffing the half-pulled robe back into the Wenzhu Box. He felt there were still many things inside because the box was much heavier than when he went up the mountain. But now wasn't the time to check.

"Greetings to the County Magistrate, greetings to the great Chen, greetings to my teacher, and to all the great people," Zhao Xing bowed in ritual.

"Hahaha, no need for formalities, no need for formalities. Come with me and let everyone see the young talents of Valley City," Li Wenzheng said, pulling Zhao Xing over eagerly, taking him to show off to the county officials and colleagues from neighboring counties.

Zhao Xing hadn't left the Forget Worry Monument for long.

In the thick fog, a few more people emerged.

Holding a riding gun, with a worried expression, was Yang Junxiong. However, after passing the Forget Worry Monument, a smile appeared on his face.

"This time climbing, I've already entered the ranks and reached the upper Ninth Grade. Before entering the mountain, I was only at Gathering Essence Stage Nine. This trip was not in vain."

But immediately, his smile froze.

"Wait, where's the Bamboo Horse?!"

Yang Junxiong looked around, deeply puzzled: "Where's my horse? Why is it missing?!"

Then his gaze fell on a familiar figure ahead.

It was Zhao Xing, riding the Bamboo Horse.

"That, that's my Bamboo Horse? Hmm? I can't sense the battle spirit anymore. Could it be his?"

"No, that's definitely my Bamboo Horse! Why has it fallen to the third stage inferior grade?"

"Could it be that he snatched it?"

Yang Junxiong was filled with confusion, but since he had already descended the mountain, no matter what, he could only set it aside.

Going up the mountain inherently carried risks. Losing a Bamboo Horse was normal, let alone losing one's life.

"I always feel this person is closely connected to me. There's a vague sense of reluctance and loss in my heart, but unfortunately, I don't know what happened."

Yang Junxiong sighed, taking a deep look at Zhao Xing's direction, then walked away with heavy steps.

After he left.

Three more figures emerged from the thick fog.

It was Du Jiaojiao, Lu Qian, and Liu Muqing.

"Hmm? Qian'er, Qing'er, are you both alright?" Du Jiaojiao looked at her two close friends.

"I'm fine," Liu Muqing said with some delight. "I've already reached Gathering Essence Stage Nine, and my music skills have also improved!"

"I'm fine too," Lu Qian smiled as well. "I've reached Gathering Essence Stage Nine, and my two magic arts have each advanced three turns. Sister Jiao, what about you?"

Du Jiaojiao smiled slightly, "Lower Ninth Grade, but my gun skills haven't improved much. I wanted to master the move 'Dragon Emerges from the Sea,' but unfortunately..."

"Ah!" Suddenly, Lu Qian exclaimed, her expression panicked as she felt around her body. She suddenly realized she was missing something.

"Hmm? Qian'er, what's wrong?!"

"Where's my robe? My Sparrow Feather Robe is missing!" Lu Qian said in a panic.

"What?!" Du Jiaojiao and Liu Muqing's expressions changed as well. They both knew about the existence of the Sparrow Feather Robe and that Lu Qian wore it as an intimate garment. Now it was missing, which could only mean...

Suddenly, Lu Qian looked up sharply. She sensed the presence of the robe, a faint magical connection formed from long-term use with a treasured item. Just like how Yang Junxiong could sense the presence of the Bamboo Horse.

Her gaze fell on the young man riding the Bamboo Horse ahead.

"My robe is in that person's hands. Could it be..." Lu Qian bit her lip, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Achoo!" Zhao Xing suddenly sneezed. For some reason, he felt like someone was thinking about him.

"An enemy? It can't be. I can't even remember what happened on the mountain," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

He now followed along to the Ditan Square, surrounded by the observation platform.

Climbing Spirit Mountain and gathering spiritual essence was not only an opportunity for participants to change their fate but also counted as part of the official assessment results. Moreover, this time it would be a major bonus, like winning a key competition.

As for how it would be judged? Naturally, it would be announced by the Temple Sacrificial Division.

The Temple of Spirit Mountain's Yin God belonged to the county-level temple jurisdiction of Nanyang County, and Valley City's temple had no authority to know.

The Yin God on the mountain would report the participants' performance to the Nanyang County Temple Sacrificial Division, detailing who gained how much spiritual essence and what grade, all clearly recorded for ranking.

Between counties and within county jurisdictions, each government agency would have its own discussions. This meant that as long as Zhao Xing stood out among the Valley City Department of Agriculture participants, he could earn a top-grade evaluation.

Now it was just a matter of waiting for the results to be announced.

As Zhao Xing entered the observation platform to wait, he noticed someone watching him.

Among them was a young man holding a long gun, with a prominent Adam's apple and a robust neck and chest.

Zhao Xing took one look and knew this person was a fellow traveler and had likely cultivated sound wave martial arts. But why was he staring at him with such a gloomy expression?

On the other side, it was even more excessive.

It seemed to be officials from the county city, one holding a zither, another holding a gun, and in the middle was a flamboyant young woman in colorful clothes, looking at him with a complex gaze.

Her expression held expectation, tenderness, as well as melancholy and doubt.

Strange, very strange indeed!

What exactly happened on the mountain?

Lu Qian looked at Zhao Xing, and her mindset had completely changed.

She thought: "Sister Jiao, when she went up the mountain, was at Gathering Essence Stage Nine, and her gun skills were deeply inherited from her father."

"Qin'er and I, one with music, one with dance, together we can perform 'Six Songs,' and even enhance Sister Jiao's combat power by threefold."

"She entered the ranks on the mountain, and Qin'er and I also reached Gathering Essence Stage Nine. The three of us together, there are few opponents."

"Who could possibly snatch my Sparrow Feather Robe in such circumstances?"

"Even if we were separated, since they snatched my robe, how could they resist not attacking me? But I wasn't violated..."

Lu Qian looked at Zhao Xing, her mindset gradually changing.

"Since it wasn't snatched, then perhaps... I developed feelings for him on the mountain and gave him the Sparrow Feather Robe."

"Oh, according to Zong Eighteen, he was only at Gathering Essence Stage Four before entering the mountain, and now he's already entered the ranks."

"Such a genius, with a decent appearance, and Zong Eighteen even said he's interesting. Perhaps I really..."

Thinking and thinking, Lu Qian's gaze at Zhao Xing became somewhat inappropriate.

Zhao Xing felt a bit overwhelmed. Who was this woman?

Why did she look at him with such a gaze that seemed to pull at his heartstrings?!

"Oh, she's a dancer, naturally charming, unconsciously displaying it. Huh? The Sparrow Feather Robe in my box, could it be hers?"

Zhao Xing suddenly realized this.

As for why he didn't think in other directions, like romantic feelings... Zhao Xing was certain he had no such thoughts.

He was determined not to marry or have children, to prevent his fortune from being shared with a wife and children, hindering his goal of enduring until the revival of the Su Dynasty.

How could he possibly be distracted by such matters?

"It must have been snatched," Zhao Xing was very clear about his self-awareness. "This item also fits my standard for plunder, a third-stage superior-grade robe, with a fourth-stage feather on it, very valuable."

"I don't know what this woman's background is, but she probably hasn't realized it yet."

"No matter, if she dares to seek revenge later, I'll just snatch it again."

Zhao Xing turned away, no longer looking at Lu Qian.

"You've already entered the ranks, Jia is a certainty. But the process is just that, the great figures in the county are all here, showing your face won't hurt," Xue Wenzhong said, seeing Zhao Xing looking around, couldn't help but chuckle. "Sit tight, don't lose your composure."

"Yes, teacher," Zhao Xing nodded, no longer looking around. He wanted to know how great his gains were this time. So he focused, checking the board and records.

(End of Chapter)