Chapter 80: Collecting Spirits in the Clouds, Forget Worry Monument at the Foot of the Mountain ( words for the third update!)
Yang Junxiong suddenly jumped up from the ground, and then rushed towards a person five meters away like a tiger or leopard descending from the mountain.

"Bang!" The force of the fist penetrated his shoulder and broke his bones.

The opponent screamed immediately, his body was thrown out, and the spear in his hand loosened.

"Dang!" Yang Junxiong kicked the gun, and the spear turned in the air and fell into Yang Junxiong's hand.

Seeing the spear held by Yang Junxiong, the others dispersed and the greed in their eyes disappeared.

A lean camel is bigger than a horse. Yang Junxiong, an entry-level warrior, still has considerable combat power even though he is injured.

Moreover, his vital energy was circulating continuously, and his breath quickly recovered to 80% to 90% of its pre-war level. From the outside, his face looked ruddy, as if nothing serious had happened to him.

"If you want to die, come here!" Yang Junxiong looked around.

"Go, go quickly."

"This guy is awake again."

"A warrior of the first rank is indeed very durable."

"Humph, why are you pretending? You dare to bully us, but you still lose to Zhao Xing?"

Those who coveted the treasures on Yang Junxiong dispersed.

Although he was defeated by Shanmao and Zhao Xing, Yang Junxiong was no match for them.

After everyone dispersed, Yang Junxiong groaned and was able to stand firmly only by leaning on his spear.

He was injured after all, and it was a serious injury.

The vital energy in his body was running wild, and the mountain cat's kick displaced all his internal organs.

"All our efforts have been in vain." Yang Junxiong's face was pale and his eyes were extremely gloomy.

This was already the third wave of incense. He did not rush to grab it. After a short rest, he ran down the mountain.

The place he rushed to was the cliff where Zhao Xing was.

When Yang Junxiong saw Zhao Xing riding a bamboo horse across the mountain stream, he was extremely angry.

"He really came here!"

"I stole my childhood sweetheart and found this opportunity."

"But I still have a chance!"

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

He still held out a glimmer of hope, hoping that Zhao Xing could not find a way to capture Lingxiu's attention, then he could try again after the other party gave up.

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

This violent beating is exactly the "sudden inspiration" that comes when encountering Lingxiu.

Stronger than ever before, surpassing all the spiritual talents he had obtained before!

"What? He found it?!"

Yang Junxiong widened his eyes and looked ahead in disbelief.

Zhao Xing was seen riding a bamboo horse and jumping in the mountain stream.

There were clouds above the mountain stream, and a faint golden color appeared in the clouds.

Zhao Xing shuttled through the clouds, and as he raised his arms, the faint golden mist was absorbed into his hands.

"I see. That's why I felt so reluctant when I left the mountain cat's den, as if I had missed a great opportunity."

Zhao Xing raised his arm, absorbing the golden light continuously and finally gathering it into the "stone cup" in his hand.

"The Golden Cup of Luck, it turns out that it has this function. If I had thrown away this cup, I really wouldn't have been able to collect this spiritual beauty."

At this time, the stone cup became shiny and golden again.

Yang Junxiong looked at this scene and felt extremely unwilling.

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

But at that time he was not sure how much opportunity he could get from here.

During the day on the first day, I just searched around and left.

After receiving the first incense that night, he did not choose the uncertain 'superior quality Lingxiu', but chose two portions of medium quality Lingxiu.

Since he was the first to pay the incense, the Temple Master directly told him the location and method of obtaining the two mid-grade spiritual treasures.

This first stick of incense also allowed both him and his childhood friend's fighting spirit to enter the realm of the highest grade.

After entering the realm of spiritual power, Yang Junxiong’s sixth sense was greatly enhanced. He came here again, felt the presence of spiritual power, and confirmed that this was an amazing, top-grade spiritual power!

The location was already known, and after receiving the first incense on the second night, he sought the method to obtain that spiritual place.

Yang Junxiong was right. It was a high-grade Lingxiu. If one prayed for a medium-grade Lingxiu, the first person to offer incense would know the location and method of obtaining it directly! However, even though he was the first person to offer incense, he still needed to pass the test to get the answer.

This also indirectly proves that the speculation is correct.

But his speed was a little slow, and he just passed the test when the first incense was about to burn out.

When he arrived at the mountain cat cave, Zhao Xing had already taken the lead and subdued the mountain cat. After realizing the strength of the mountain cat, Yang Junxiong could only wait outside the cave. But at this time, Zhao Xing had already taken away the most critical item - the golden cup of luck!
Due to the influence of Yang Junxiong's first incense, Zhao Xing once threw away the stone cup. But he finally picked it up again!

After Yang Junxiong entered the nest, he found nothing.

So on the third night, Yang Junxiong revealed his trump card. He even ignored Gu Feng and Du Jiaojiao and went straight to Zhao Xing, just for the stone cup on Zhao Xing's body.

But unexpectedly, I still lost.

"If I had decisively seized this opportunity on the first night... perhaps the outcome would be different." Yang Junxiong felt a little unwilling.

Unfortunately, there is no if, it is fate and time. Yang Junxiong knows in his heart that he will never be able to enjoy this beautiful place.

"Xu~"

Zhao Xing collected spiritual energy from the clouds until a cup was full. At that time, the golden mist had become so faint that it was difficult to sense.

Zhuma leaped up and returned to his original position.

"Meow~~Ha~" The bobcat called out first, then opened its mouth and yawned.

Mr. Cat is almost falling asleep waiting!
"Look, you're anxious again. If I don't become stronger, how can I find food for you in the future?"

"Okay, okay, I was wrong. Come, have some candy."

Zhao Xing took out a Tianyuan pear from the bamboo box.

"Swoosh~" The mountain cat jumped onto the bamboo horse, picked up the Tianyuan pear and started to eat it.

Da Da Da~
Zhuma walked forward slowly, while Zhao Xing absorbed all the luck.

The golden cup of fortune found in the mountain cat cave before was only half a cup.

This time, it was a whole cup full!

After Zhao Xing absorbed this spiritual energy of luck, his luck level finally changed.

From Yan 2 to Yan 3!

"It's really rare that the luck level has reached the third level." Zhao Xing sighed.

It is difficult to improve the luck level. Even if one’s cultivation has reached the fifth level, the luck level may still be the third level.

If he is in the court, it is better. If he is in the opposition, even if he has the third or fourth level of cultivation, his luck is only at the third level.

Especially after the end of the Qiyun Dynasty, it became more difficult to obtain it.

"Cang! Cang!"

Suddenly the sound of bells echoed among the mountains.

All the officials looked up with a reluctant look on their faces.

"It's time to go down the mountain." Zhao Xing glanced at the time and knew that this was the temple reminding the officials to go down the mountain.

They only have three days and three nights to fight.

No matter whether there is any harvest or not, you have to go down the mountain when the time comes.

"I have gained a lot this time. I don't know if I will be shocked when I go out. I guess Old Chen and the teacher will be shocked too." Zhao Xing jumped on his horse and rushed out more than ten meters away in the blink of an eye.

The officials began to go down the mountain one after another, but Lu Qian was anxiously looking for something.

Finally, he found Zong Shichang in a pavilion.

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

"No, what's wrong?" Zong Shichang asked in confusion, "What happened?"

But Lu Qian refused to say anything. After looking around and not seeing anyone, she followed Du Jiaojiao and Liu Muqing away.

"Strange." Zong Shichang muttered, "I don't know how Zhao Sanjia offended her."

At the foot of the mountain, Ditan Square.

It was still dark at this time, but many officials and family leaders were already waiting here.

After hearing the bell on the mountain, they knew that the officials' climb to Lingshan Mountain was about to end today.

Xue Wenzhong was looking out from the viewing area with some worry in his eyes.

Seeing this, Chen Shijie comforted him, "Mr. Xue, don't worry too much. Although the boy is only at the fourth level of Ju Yuan, he is smart. Even if he doesn't gain much, he will be able to save his life. Please sit down and have a cup of tea first."

Xue Wenzhong sat down after hearing this. He did not pick up the teacup. He sighed and said, "I am afraid that he is too smart. If he does not listen to your advice, he will go up the mountain on the first day..."

Xue Wenzhong could see that Zhao Xing was indeed a bit arrogant and not someone who followed the rules. Although he repeatedly reminded him to accumulate enough straw men before going up the mountain, Xue Wenzhong felt uneasy until he saw him.

He was afraid of hearing bad news.

Chen Shijie said calmly: "No, I have confidence in him. Just wait and see. Maybe this kid can give us a surprise."

"There's no need for surprises. I just want him to return safely."

Since it was the third day, the excitement of the Autumn Festival had passed, and ordinary people had come less and less. However, Zhao Ruide still brought his wife and children and waited at the foot of the mountain in the dark.

"Father, how long will it take for my brother to come out?"

Zhao Ruide said, "It's almost time. The bell will ring at Mao time, and we will definitely go down the mountain before Chen time."

He had also participated in collecting spiritual treasures when he was young, but Zhao Ruide only collected a low-quality spiritual treasure and went down the mountain, but he knew the rules.

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

"Mom, don't sleep anymore, big brother will be coming down soon."

"Well, Zheng'er, stop making noise. Let mother sleep for a while..." Mrs. Cai got up very early and was very sleepy. She found a stool in the viewing area and fell asleep again.

There was a makeshift tent in the viewing area. Inside one of the larger tents, a fat middle-aged man was pacing back and forth.

"Master, please stop shaking. It makes me nervous." A woman came down from the bed, lifting the quilt. "Chang'er will be fine."

Zong Yonglong sighed: "How can I feel at ease if I don't see Chang'er?"

He has been guarding here for three days.

Originally, Zong Yonglong was not so worried, but he did not expect that on the first day, one of the four good fighters he hired to protect died!
So in the past few days, Zong Yonglong has not slept well, always afraid of hearing bad news.

Fortunately, he did not see Zong Shichang's body in the next two days, but now that it was nearing the end, he couldn't help feeling uneasy again.

"It's almost over." Two fishermen who came early with their loads on their shoulders looked at the fish in the buckets nonchalantly. "I don't know which fish will survive and which will fly into the sky."

"God bless us." Another fisherman bared his yellow teeth and fiddled with his fingers in the bucket. "I hope these fish can live well so that we can sell them at a good price."

"Keep a close eye on not only the fish but also the servants."

"I know, I know."

Qin Feng and his three companions were walking down the mountain road, looking listless.

This time, their climb was a complete failure.

He had obtained Lingxiu many times, but each time it was taken away. Not only that, he also lost some money.

"It's all that damn Zhao Xing's fault!" Qin Feng said bitterly, "If it weren't for him, maybe we would have already made a breakthrough."

"And Zhou Gang and Fang Jie, how hateful!"

If I had never seen Lingxiu from beginning to end, it would be fine, but I was unwilling to accept that after going through so much trouble to get her, she was snatched away by someone else.

"Brother Qin, what are you talking about?" The seventh junior brother turned around in confusion and looked at Qin Feng, "What Zhao Xing? Who is Zhao Xing?"

"Yeah, what are you talking about?" The other two also looked back in confusion.

"You..." Qin Feng was about to explain, but he took two steps forward and unknowingly, he had passed the stone tablet at the foot of the mountain.

"What are you talking about? Did I say anything just now?" Qin Feng's eyes were a little confused.

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

"Is there?" Qin Feng looked back blankly, but saw only a rolling fog. "We are on the mountain, what happened?"

After passing the Forget-Sorrow Monument, with every step they took, the four people's memories of the mountain became weaker and weaker, and everything about the mountain was fading away.

After I was a hundred meters away from the Forget-Sorrow Monument, I couldn't remember anything at all. I only knew that I walked around the mountain and got nothing.

Shaking his head, Qin Feng and the other three came to the outside of the Ditan Square. A superior from the Hucheng Wusi was waiting. Seeing that Qin Feng and the other three had not seen any change in their cultivation, he looked a little disappointed, and encouraged them casually for a few words before leaving them alone.

Qin Feng and his companions left the tent and saw Fang Jie and Zhou Gang as soon as they got outside.

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

"Nothing." Qin Feng forced a smile, "Where are Brother Zhou and Brother Fang?"

"It's strange, but for some reason, Brother Zhou and I went down the mountain yesterday and got nothing, but we had an extra 100 taels of silver notes on us." Fang Jie said.

"Hmm? Could it be that the mountain god returned the silver note? That's really strange." Qin Feng felt it was strange but also a little envious.

One hundred taels, that's considered a windfall.

At the foot of the mountain, Zong Shichang, Uncle Cang, Uncle Hu, Yuan Bo and others walked out of the fog together.

There were quite a few of them, about seventeen or eighteen.

"Huh? I made a breakthrough!"

"Hahaha, I'm already at the seventh level of Ju Yuan!"

"Hiss, my secret skill Wan Chong Shan has actually reached the ninth level?"

Three of them shouted out in joy, while the rest looked on with envy.

After all, only a few lucky people can gain something in the mountains, while most people get nothing.

"Uncle Cang, you're at the ninth level? No, I'm at the seventh level myself. Hey, where's my money?" Zong Shichang yelled, rummaging through the bamboo box. "Two thousand taels of silver notes, just spent like that? Not a penny left?"

Yuan Bo looked around and then at Zong Shichang: "Master Zong, you have already reached the seventh level of Ju Yuan, which is a great improvement. You are going down the mountain with us, so it seems that the agreement has been fulfilled."

Zong Shichang nodded and said, "Yes, it's done. It's beyond our expectations! Thank you very much, all of you."

The old official bowed to the others and said, "In that case, I will go ahead. Uncle Cang, Lu Hu, goodbye."

"Farewell."

Seeing this, Uncle Cang and Lu Hu also bowed to Zong Shichang and said, "Master Zong, we will also go back to report."

"Okay, my clan will definitely take care of your affairs." Zong Shichang bid farewell to the two again.

"Thank you."

Zong Shichang came down the mountain with a large group of people and made considerable progress, which immediately attracted attention.

Soon, Gao Linong from the Ministry of Agriculture and Zong Yonglong appeared in front of Zong Shichang.

"Son, you finally came out!" The middle-aged woman rushed over immediately, holding Zong Shichang's arm and looking left and right, "Chang'er, are you injured? Where do you feel uncomfortable?"

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

"Are you hungry? You look so thin. There is food in the tent. I'll bring it to you right away..."

Zong Yonglong frowned and said, "Okay, don't cry, Master Gao is still here, go to the tent first... Master Gao, I'm sorry to have embarrassed you."

Gao Linong smiled and said, "Madam Zong and Shichang have a deep mother-son relationship, how can I make fun of them?"

Zong Yonglong called his son over and said, "Let Master Gao take a look."

Gao Linong held Zong Shichang's wrist, and then congratulated Zong Yonglong: "Congratulations, President Zong, he has reached the seventh level of Ju Yuan, and he is in good health without any hidden injuries."

"Okay, okay." Zong Yonglong finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "This is all thanks to Master Gao's good teaching. I will definitely come to thank you someday."

Gao Linong also smiled happily: "This is part of my job, President Zong, you are too polite."

He then bowed and said goodbye, giving the father and son some private space.

"Father, can Wang Dong go down the mountain?" Zong Shichang said, "I have gained a lot this time. I can't do it alone."

Young Master Zong has a very clear self-awareness.

"Wang Dong is dead." Zong Yonglong said lightly.

"What?!" Zong Shichang was shocked.

"He died on the first day, but don't worry, his family will make arrangements." Zong Yonglong said, "You don't need to worry about this matter, you can take a rest and then go to Gao Linong and show yourself in front of the elders in the county."

"Oh."

More and more officials came down the mountain, and officials from all departments of the Gucheng government were looking forward to their arrival.

The one who laughed the happiest was Gao Linong.

Thanks to his two favorite students, Zong Shichang jumped from the fourth level of Ju Yuan to the seventh level of Ju Yuan. Although there was no breakthrough in his magic, it was already a great improvement.

As for Li Chengfeng, his performance was even more exaggerated. He was at the fifth level of Ju Yuan before going up the mountain, but after coming down the mountain, he actually reached the ninth level of Ju Yuan! Moreover, his magic skills also improved greatly!
On the other hand, among the other students and clerks of the Ministry of Agriculture, nothing has been particularly impressive so far.

"Mr. Gao, congratulations." Tang Wanchun felt unhappy because his student Xiao Ze had not made any progress.

Wen Nanxing of the Pang Yuan Sect only broke through from the fourth level of Ju Yuan to the seventh level of Ju Yuan.

"No, no congratulations. It's their own blessing. What does it have to do with me?" Gao Linong pretended to be modest, but the corners of his mouth were raised.

He was so proud that he couldn't help being a little arrogant, so he deliberately asked, "The top graders in the last assessment should all be out, right? I wonder if Zhao Xing from Huailiu Court has come down the mountain?"

"I haven't seen it yet." Pang Yuan replied.

"Did there be an accident?"

Chen Shijie was too lazy to pay attention to this person, but Xue Wenzhong couldn't help but scold him, "Just shut your stinky mouth!"

"You..." Gao Linong was stunned and was about to explode, but Tang Wanchun beside him came out to smooth things over: "Mr. Xue, why are you so angry..."

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

Pang Yuan was drinking tea tactically, but when he saw Xue Wenzhong's eyes glancing over at him, his movements suddenly froze.

This... I didn't say anything?

However, he still slowly placed his hands on his knees. Given Xue Wenzhong's age and experience, he would not be able to argue if he was slapped in the face.

When an honest man gets angry, it is extraordinary. It was the first time they saw Xue Wenzhong get angry, and his power was simply astonishing.

For a moment, all the Ninth-Rank Ministers of Agriculture present were as obedient as quails, sitting upright and not daring to say a word.

Just when the atmosphere became depressing to the extreme, there was a sudden cry from outside.

"Another person has come out! It's an official from Gucheng!"

"Oh my god, who is that person? How could he have such a big harvest?!"

Chen Shijie's eyes lit up, he stood up suddenly and rushed out.

(End of this chapter)