The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

"They were the ones who got beaten by the mountain cat," Zhao Xing said calmly.

"Serves them right!" Zong Shichang clapped and cheered, "I've always disliked that smug face."

"You have a grudge with him?" Zhao Xing asked, somewhat surprised.

Zong Shichang snorted, "My father once considered hiring a scholar of etiquette to accompany me up the mountain and approached him."

"Did it not work out?"

"The deal didn't go through, but it wasn't enough to call it a grudge," Zong Shichang explained. "He gave a price, and at first, he seemed very enthusiastic. But when the deal fell through, he suddenly turned high and mighty, saying the Zong family's money was tainted, and he had no interest in associating with us. Isn't that just slapping our family in the face?"

Zhao Xing chuckled, "That guy is truly lowly. What about your relationship with Li Chengfeng?"

Zong Shichang's expression grew complicated. "It's something that happened before we came to the mountain. Don't ask about it... I once genuinely considered him a friend. Even though we've cut ties, I don't want to speak ill of him behind his back."

Zhao Xing nodded, deciding not to press further.

At that moment, a steady voice rang in their ears: "Brother Zhao, apologies for my tardiness."

Zhao Xing turned to see a familiar figure striding toward them—it was Shen Zhui, the martial officer prodigy whom they hadn't seen for the past two days.

"Not late at all, Brother Shen. There's still half an hour; you're early," Zhao Xing responded.

"I'm still ashamed," Shen Zhui said, looking guilty. "I accidentally stumbled into a Peach Blossom Spring and couldn't find my way out. By the time I emerged, I realized it was already the third day, so I rushed here."

"Oh? Something like that happened?" Zhao Xing's interest was piqued. "It seems Brother Shen had quite the encounter."

Shen Zhui nodded. "When I entered the Peach Blossom Spring, I found two towering giants, each over ten zhang tall, sitting under an enormous willow tree playing chess. They even called me over."

"I know nothing about chess, and the place felt strange, so I wanted to leave. But one of the giants threw a chess piece at me, and I was suddenly transported to a battlefield."

"And what happened?" Zong Shichang asked eagerly, his curiosity piqued. "How did it end?"

Shen Zhui glanced at Zong Shichang. "I found myself on a battlefield, with black and white soldiers fighting. I was forced to join the white side and fight the enemy. Strangely enough, every time I killed a soldier, a sword technique flashed through my mind, and essence energy surged into my body. When the battle ended, I was suddenly back outside the Peach Blossom Spring."

"And I had broken through to the Ranked realm."

"Hiss!" Zong Shichang gasped audibly.

Zhao Xing teased, "What are you hissing for? Do you even understand what he said?"

Zong Shichang replied, "I may not understand it all, but it sounds impressive. Right, Uncle Cang, Uncle Hu? Don't you agree?"

Both nodded repeatedly. Such an encounter would be shocking no matter where it occurred.

Yuan Bo suddenly spoke, "Heaven and earth are the chessboard, and essence energy the chess pieces. Gods play chess, and you became one of the pieces. You happened to stand on the winning side, so your cultivation soared."

"What if he had been on the losing side?" Zong Shichang asked.

"Death," Yuan Bo replied with a single word.

Shen Zhui's face changed slightly, realizing the danger only now.

Zhao Xing patted him on the shoulder. "Whatever the reason, you've gained something from it. There's no need to dwell on the past."

"You're right," Shen Zhui nodded. "I was prepared for anything before coming to the mountain, though I never imagined I'd experience something like this."

He paused for a moment, then looked at Zhao Xing. "Brother Zhao, now that I've entered the Ranked realm, winning the first incense isn't as important to me. Tonight, I'll help you seize the first incense as compensation for missing our previous appointment."

"Hahaha!"

Shen Zhui frowned, turning to Zong Shichang. "What are you laughing at?"

Zong Shichang pointed at Zhao Xing. "If you had come out yesterday, you could've helped him. But now, Zhao Sange doesn't even need your help—he's more than capable of claiming the first incense himself."

"Hmm?" Shen Zhui was stunned. He scrutinized Zhao Xing again and noticed that he had already reached the ninth stage of Essence Gathering.

While this was noteworthy, what truly caught Shen Zhui's attention was Zhao Xing's aura. It felt vast, like an unfathomable ocean, giving him a sense of danger.

Only then did Shen Zhui notice a small cat head poking out from Zhao Xing's chest.

When he met the mountain cat's wide, innocent eyes, Shen Zhui was startled. "A Ranked beast?!"

Zhao Xing quickly pushed the mountain cat's head back into his robes. "No need to worry, Brother Shen. I've already tamed the mountain cat."

Shen Zhui sighed in amazement. "I didn't even notice its presence... I truly spoke out of turn earlier."

It seemed that Zhao Xing's fortune was even more remarkable than his own.

Before coming to the mountain, Zhao Xing had only been at the fourth stage of Essence Gathering.

Now, not only had he reached the ninth stage, but he had also tamed a Ranked beast!

"Why are so many people looking at you with hostility, Brother Zhao? What have you done?" Shen Zhui asked, sensing the hostile glances from their surroundings. The animosity wasn't directed at the mountain cat but at Zhao Xing himself.

He was intrigued by what Zhao Xing had experienced over the past two days.

"Oh, nothing much," Zhao Xing said casually. "The mountain cat just had a friendly interaction with them."

"Are you saying the mountain cat robbed many people of their spiritual essences? How is that 'friendly'?" Shen Zhui seemed to catch on. Zhao Xing's cultivation and techniques had improved greatly.

For even someone at the Ranked realm to feel threatened, how many spiritual essences must he have consumed?

There was no way Zhao Xing could have found that many on his own!

It must have been the mountain cat helping him steal them!

Zhao Xing made up an excuse, "Brother Shen, you don't understand. The mountain cat is wild and difficult to tame. It wanted to take their lives, but I was kind enough to persuade it to only take their spiritual essences and spare their lives."

"As for the spiritual essences it stole, it forced me to consume them. What choice did I have?"

Shen Zhui: "..."

Zong Shichang: "..."

"Meow!" The mountain cat poked its head out again, looking at Zhao Xing in confusion.

Weren't you the one who ordered me to steal? You even fought me for the spiritual essences!

"See, it's being playful again," Zhao Xing casually pushed the cat's head back into his robe.

Shen Zhui glanced at the mountain cat. "With it around, it seems I won't be of much help after all."

Zong Shichang joked, "How could that be? Brother Shen, you're a seven-foot man, surely more capable than a cat?"

Shen Zhui didn't appreciate Zong Shichang's joke, but out of respect for Zhao Xing, he merely frowned and didn't say more.

Zong Shichang, sensing the awkwardness, decided it was better to keep talking with Zhao Xing, who was far more entertaining.

Of course, there was another reason: Zhao Xing had drawn a lot of attention.

Zong Shichang hoped that by talking and laughing with Zhao Xing, Miss Liu might finally take notice of him.

"So, he's the owner of the mountain cat. Incredible," Liu Muqing said, watching Zhao Xing. She couldn't help but be impressed.

The Shennong Division was traditionally at a disadvantage in these competitions, sometimes even considered a liability.

But Zhao Xing's performance had defied all expectations.

Last night, he overpowered Cao Qiushui, helping Zong Shichang secure the fourth incense stick.

And today, he had arrived with a Ranked beast, becoming the center of attention.

"Hmph, that guy just can't stop stealing from others," Lu Qian gritted her teeth in frustration. She had thought she'd have a chance to reclaim her Sparrow Feather Armor tonight.

But her enemy kept growing stronger! Was there no justice in the world?

"Qianqian, you seem quite concerned about him," Du Jiaojiao said softly. "Do you have a grudge against him?"

"No, I just can't stand the way he behaves!" Lu Qian denied it.

"If you don't want to say, I'll just assume the Sparrow Feather Armor was a gift from you to him," Du Jiaojiao teased.

Liu Muqing chimed in with a laugh, "Exactly, just think of it as a gift for your lover."

"After tonight, getting it back will be as hard as reaching the heavens."

"Pfft! Lover? How could you even think that?!" Lu Qian was horrified.

"So, are you going to tell us the story?"

"Fine, I'll tell you!" Lu Qian reluctantly recounted the story of how she had competed with Zhao Xing for the Scarlet Fruit. "Sigh, with the mountain cat guarding him, I fear I'll never get it back. If he takes it down the mountain, how will I ever face anyone again? It's so humiliating."

Liu Muqing giggled, "Your Sparrow Feather Armor is connected to you spiritually. Once you descend, you'll forget what happened on the mountain. You might even think you shared a romantic adventure with him and go looking for him later... Oh dear, that could lead to something wonderful!"

"Ahh! No way!" Lu Qian freaked out at the thought of what Liu Muqing had said.

As time passed, the sky grew darker.

There were fewer people in the Heavenly Altar Square than the previous night, but there were far more experts.

By the end of the hour of the pig (9:00–11:00 PM), almost all the renowned experts had gathered in the square.

They grouped into small factions.

The newly Ranked archer, Gu Feng, had allied with Zhang Boran and Wen Zhao.

Even Mechanist Hu Yang had found two martial experts to assist him.

Aside from Yang Junxiong, everyone had some form of assistance; no one was fighting alone.

On this last day, no one could confidently say they would seize the first incense.

The competition was simply too fierce. Not only were there Ranked human experts, but there was also a Ranked beast like the mountain cat. Everyone knew that tonight would see an intense battle.

"I didn't expect him to tame a Ranked beast," Gu Feng said coldly, staring in Zhao Xing's direction. "Earlier, he severely injured Zhang Boran and Wen Zhao. This person not only repays every slight but is also ruthless. Even Cao Qiushui fell to him. I'll strike first and cripple him before he can act."

Gu Feng feared the mountain cat. Ranked beasts were much harder to tame, and once tamed, they were stronger than human martial artists. He wasn't confident he could fight it head-on.

But if he could cripple Zhao Xing first, the mountain cat wouldn't dare attack recklessly.

"Hiss!" As if sensing something, the mountain cat poked its head out of Zhao Xing's robes, hissing in Gu Feng's direction.

Not far away, Yang Junxiong, riding his bamboo horse, also glanced over, his gaze lingering on Zhao Xing and the mountain cat.

"Clang!" A deep bell rang from the temple.

The sundial pointed to the midnight "Weiwu" area!

Ten golden light spheres floated out from the temple's gate.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

Shadows flickered as people began to move, leaping into the sky to snatch the incense.

Gu Feng, however, didn't rush to grab the incense. Instead, he made Zhao Xing his first target.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Arrows shot from his bow, aimed directly at Zhao Xing's vital points.

The arrows flew like meteors, and Zhao Xing's skin prickled from the sharpness of their approach.

A Ranked archer's killing power was immense, especially from this range. To Gu Feng, killing an shennong officer should have been a simple task!

But just as Gu Feng released the arrows, he suddenly felt a chill on his forehead, and his silver bow trembled slightly.

"Clang! Clang, clang, clang!"

To his surprise, all of his arrows were deflected!

What shocked him even more was that it wasn't the mountain cat that blocked them but Shen Zhui, who was standing next to Zhao Xing!

At that moment, Shen Zhui held an iron ruler in one hand and a shield in the other.

The shield, originally a "Coiled Palm Hat" he wore on his head, was a specially crafted vine armor. It was a top-tier, third-stage treasure that he could remove and use as a shield in critical moments.

Gu Feng had anticipated the mountain cat might block his attack.

But that plain-looking young man with the iron ruler had blocked the arrows too—and not with the shield, but by cutting the arrows apart with his blade.

"Where did this expert come from? No, my arrow strength has weakened—I've been affected!" Gu Feng thought in alarm.

Arrows fired by an archer were nearly impossible to dodge. Even a martial artist of a higher rank could be hit.

Gu Feng had used his secret technique, the "Heart Piercing Arrow," but it had been blocked—this was abnormal!

There was no time to dwell on it because he felt that chilling wind again, and Shen Zhui was charging toward him.

Gu Feng fired seven more arrows, hoping to stop Shen Zhui.

But this time, both their power and speed were weaker.

The Nine Transformations Yin Wind was disrupting most of Gu Feng's concentration.

As a result, Shen Zhui easily deflected the arrows.

"An archer not hiding in the back and instead standing so close is practically seeking death!" Zhao Xing controlled the Yin Wind, wrapping it layer by layer around Gu Feng.

Gu Feng saw Zhao Xing as a threat, and Zhao Xing felt the same.

It wasn't about holding a grudge; among the Ranked martial artists present, the archer posed the greatest threat to him.

The speed and power of arrows were simply too dangerous. Even an eighth-stage martial artist could be killed by a ninth-stage archer if they were just a little too slow.

So, when the "Weiwu" hour arrived, Zhao Xing immediately targeted Gu Feng, sending Yin Wind surging from beneath his feet.

The Nine Transformations Yin Wind shook Gu Feng's soul, disrupting his sense of direction and his control over his power.

This allowed Shen Zhui to block the arrows before the mountain cat even needed to act.

"Courtesy is essential for peace..."

Wen Zhao's etiquette technique activated as he tried to help Gu Feng.

"Peace your mother!"

Zhao Xing, seeing that Wen Zhao still had the audacity to interfere in a battle between Ranked experts, shouted angrily, sending a surge of Yin Wind into his mind.

"Buzz!"

Wen Zhao felt as if his soul was leaving his body, and he floated in the air.

"Thud!"

He collapsed to the ground.

The square fell deathly silent.

Because at that moment, neither Yang Junxiong nor Du Jiaojiao had made a move to seize the incense. They were watching the confrontation between the archer and the mountain cat.

To them, both the archer and the mountain cat posed significant threats.

The archer, in particular, was even more dangerous than the mountain cat.

If they leaped into the sky now, without any foothold, they would become sitting ducks for the archer.

As for Zhao Xing and the Ranked martial artist next to him, they could be ignored.

Gu Feng targeting Zhao Xing was something they were happy to see.

Whether the mountain cat died or the archer was defeated, the outcome would work in Du Jiaojiao and Yang Junxiong's favor.

But to their surprise, the mountain cat didn't even need to act—Gu Feng was already on the defensive.

"What's going on?" Lu Qian asked in confusion. "They're both Ranked martial artists. How is that man able to block Gu Feng's arrows?"

Du Jiaojiao's eyes glowed faintly with a golden light—she also possessed the Nine Transformations technique. "It's Zhao Xing. Gu Feng is enveloped in layers of Yin Wind."

"What's Yin Wind?" Liu Muqing asked curiously. She knew very little about the Shennong Office's techniques.

"Yin Wind from the depths of the earth—it harms the soul," Du Jiaojiao explained with a hint of caution. "When the physical soul and the heroic soul are affected, the body's movements become erratic, and strength diminishes. In severe cases, the soul itself could be blown apart."

"One layer, three layers, nine layers of Yin Wind?!" Du Jiaojiao's face paled.

The Nine Transformations Yin Wind completely exceeded her expectations. With this technique alone, Zhao Xing could be considered a Ranked expert!

"This man is truly insidious, even his techniques are devious," Lu Qian muttered, recalling her previous encounter with Zhao Xing. Back then, he had buried straw puppets in the ground and tricked her into falling for his trap.

"I understand now why Cao Qiushui lost last night—it must have been because of this Yin Wind technique," Du Jiaojiao sighed. "Winning the first incense tonight will be difficult. Even securing second place is in doubt."

"It's that same technique! It's what got me last night!" Cao Qiushui exclaimed as he watched Gu Feng struggle, his movements and arrows faltering. He immediately recognized the effects of Zhao Xing's Yin Wind.

"What do you mean, the same technique? What technique?" someone nearby asked.

"Yin Wind technique" Cao Qiushui replied with some fear. "If you don't have a soul-defense treasure, this technique is nearly impossible to counter. At the Nine Transformations level, even an eighth-stage expert would be affected."

Not far away, Li Chengfeng turned to an older official nearby.

"Brother Zhang, why don't we take advantage of their fight and team up to seize the incense?"

"Seize the incense?" The official named Zhang shook his head vigorously. "Who would dare try while Zhao Xing is still here? Didn't you see even Cao Qiushui hasn't made a move?"

Li Chengfeng was taken aback. "Is he really that formidable?"

The official pointed to the sky. "Last night, he defeated four eighth-stage shennong officers and then forced Cao Qiushui to admit defeat. It's not that people don't want to fight—it's that they don't dare. I advise you not to act rashly either."

Li Chengfeng's expression grew complicated. He had thought that after his great fortune and reaching the ninth stage of Essence Gathering, he would be able to stand out among the crowd. But now, it seemed Zhao Xing had grown even more powerful, leaving others too intimidated to even try.

As Gu Feng and Shen Zhui disappeared from the Heavenly Altar Square, others began to move.

Yang Junxiong, riding his bamboo horse, leapt into the air, heading toward the golden light spheres.

"Mountain cat, go!"

Zhao Xing patted the mountain cat on the back, and it immediately sprang forward, racing toward Yang Junxiong from another angle.

But just as it closed in, Yang Junxiong suddenly jumped off his bamboo horse, separating from it and accelerating even faster.

At the same time, the bamboo horse reared its head, abruptly changing direction.

"Clip-clop, clip-clop~" The bamboo horse's hooves gleamed, its body igniting with a fiery red glow as it galloped through the air like a heavenly steed!

Flashes of light shimmered beneath its hooves, sending ripples through the air that seemed to overshadow the golden glow of the incense!

"What? Such intense killing intent—could that be a War Spirit Bamboo Horse?!" Mechanist Hu Yang gasped in shock.

On the other side, Du Jiaojiao jumped to her feet, her spear flashing like a dragon as she charged into the sky. "Zhao Xing, Zong Shichang, get out of the way!!"