The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

Upon hearing that it was a Shennong officer from Gucheng, Chen Shijie and Xue Wenzhong could no longer sit still.

The other officials also followed them out.

However, the result left Chen Shijie and Xue Wenzhong quite disappointed.

It wasn't Zhao Xing who had come out, but Shen Zhui, a genius from the Martial Division.

After Shen Zhui descended the mountain, the first thing he did was pay his respects to County Magistrate Li Wenzheng and the Martial Division's official, Wang Long.

"Greetings, Magistrate Li. Greetings, Lord Wang."

"Good, good, good! I didn't expect you to reach the ranked realm; this is a great boon for the Martial Division," Li Wenzheng said, extremely pleased.

With the Inspection Envoy and many other officials from the prefecture watching, having a talent like Shen Zhui emerge from his jurisdiction was a point of pride for Li Wenzheng.

The East Lake's Ling Mountain was in Gucheng's territory, and Li Wenzheng, as the local magistrate, was essentially the host for the event. The Ling Mountain trial, where officers collected spiritual essence, was like a grand and important examination. If his officers didn't perform as well as those from other counties, it would reflect poorly on him.

Now that Shen Zhui had entered the ranked realm, Li's face glowed with pride.

"Greetings, Lord Chen," Shen Zhui greeted Chen Shijie with a bow as well.

"Not bad," Chen Shijie replied offhandedly, his mood still sour from not having seen Zhao Xing yet.

Xue Wenzhong also looked dejected. Had something really gone wrong?

"Master Xue, let's wait a little longer," Chen Shijie said, patting Xue Wenzhong's hand. "He'll be fine, I'm sure of it."

For the past three days, none of the officials outside knew what was happening inside the Ling Mountain, as the participants would forget everything once they descended. The only thing they could do was wait.

Just as Chen Shijie and Xue Wenzhong were about to return to the viewing area to wait further—

Suddenly—

"Clip-clop, clip-clop~"

The crisp sound of hooves echoed from the clouds and mist.

At the base of the Forget-Worries Stele, Zhao Xing emerged, riding a bamboo horse, a bamboo box strapped to his back, and a small cat nestled in his arms.

"Zhao Xing? Zhao Xing has come out!"

"It's Zhao Xing from Gucheng! And he's riding a horse?!"

"You've got no knowledge! That's not a horse; that's a mechanical bamboo horse, a creation of the craftsmen!"

"Wow, judging by his appearance, he's had quite the haul!"

The onlookers buzzed with excitement.

Chen Shijie's face lit up with a broad grin, and Xue Wenzhong finally relaxed, a smile crossing his face.

The Shennong Division's Five Elements Observation Technique allowed them to quickly gauge a person's condition, their injuries, and their cultivation level.

At a glance, they saw that not only was Zhao Xing unharmed, but he had already entered the ranked realm!

"Zhao Xing has reached the ranked realm?!" Tang Wanchun gasped in disbelief. "Wasn't he just at Essence Gathering Fourth Stage before he entered the mountain?!"

"Did I see that right?" Pan Yuan was similarly stunned. "He's gained so much in such a short time?"

In three days, Zhao Xing had leaped several levels in cultivation, shocking them to the core.

Gao Linong, who had been proud of the progress made by Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang, suddenly found himself feeling rather bitter. He thought his two students had made him look good, but Zhao Xing had completely stolen the spotlight.

From Essence Gathering Fourth Stage to the ranked realm? That kind of progress made Zong Shichang and Li Chengfeng's achievements seem minuscule by comparison.

Gao Linong was in agony. He had just been basking in his students' success, and now this...

"What kind of luck did Zhao Xing stumble upon to advance so far, so quickly?" Zong Shichang was also curious. He had a vague sense that he and Zhao Xing had interacted on the mountain, but he couldn't remember any specifics.

"He... actually reached the ranked realm?" Li Chengfeng, who had been the center of attention just a quarter of an hour earlier, suddenly felt overshadowed.

As for Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze, they were completely envious. The gap between them and Zhao Xing was now so wide that they couldn't even think about competing anymore.

When the difference is so large, any thoughts of comparison fade away, leaving only admiration.

"Whoa~"

Zhao Xing instinctively pulled on the reins, slowing his horse. As he approached Chen Shijie and the other Gucheng officials, a frown creased his brow.

"Zhao..."

"Don't interrupt him. Let him gather his thoughts," Li Wenzheng said, his words seemingly enchanted. The surrounding crowd immediately fell silent, unable to make a sound.

The Ninth Rank Ritual Practitioner had activated a full silence spell, and within a fifty-meter radius, only Chen Shijie, Xue Wenzhong, and Zhao Xing could speak.

"Why am I riding a horse?" Zhao Xing muttered, confused as he sat on the bamboo horse. He recalled being given a bamboo box, but he had no memory of receiving a horse.

The memories were hazy. Zhao Xing knew he must have been affected by the Forget-Worries Stele, but when he tried to recall, he could only vaguely remember that the horse had been taken from someone.

But from whom? He couldn't remember.

"Little Mountain Cat," Zhao Xing muttered as he glanced down at the cat in his arms. He picked it up and stared at it.

Though he couldn't remember the battles they had fought together, he vaguely recalled the moment of bonding. That memory had survived the stele's magic.

Tang Wanchun and Gao Linong, seeing the mountain cat, widened their eyes in shock.

An exotic beast that had reached the ranked realm? One that was likely stronger than them? And Zhao Xing had subdued it?

Li Wenzheng and Chen Shijie exchanged glances, both equally surprised.

While others could only tell that the mountain cat was ranked, they couldn't discern its specific strength.

But with their abilities—Acute Perception and Five Elements Observation—they could see it clearly.

The mountain cat was at the peak of the Ninth Rank! In terms of combat power, it could easily defeat most Ninth Rank human cultivators.

Zhao Xing continued rummaging through his bag.

He pulled out a handful of silver banknotes.

"One thousand taels? The notes are from the Nanyang Merchant Guild. These must be from Zong Dashao," Zhao Xing mumbled, recalling a vague memory of someone handing him money.

The hand was youthful, but whether or not it belonged to Zong Shichang, he couldn't be certain.

Still, it seemed likely. Who else would carry so much silver up the mountain?

"That's probably my money!" Zong Shichang, watching from the sidelines, was stunned. "But why would I give him so much money?"

Zong Yonglong, his father, narrowed his eyes in thought. Had Zong Shichang and Zhao Xing struck up some sort of friendship on the mountain? Or had there been a conflict?

The other onlookers could only stare in envy.

Now this was how to ascend the mountain! Most people spent a fortune on equipment and treasures, only to descend empty-handed.

Yet Zhao Xing had made money on the trip? It was infuriating!

"Hmm, a Sparrow Feather Armor? Why is there a woman's armor in my bamboo box? Did I rob a dancer?"

"Ahem, Zhao Xing, that's enough," Li Wenzheng coughed, quickly interrupting Zhao Xing's inventory check.

The Sparrow Feather Armor was clearly a woman's intimate clothing, and Li Wenzheng feared that if Zhao Xing continued, he might pull out something even more embarrassing.

Zhao Xing snapped out of it and hastily stuffed the armor back into the box. The box felt significantly heavier than when he first brought it up the mountain, but now wasn't the time to go through everything.

"Greetings, Magistrate Li. Greetings, Lord Chen. Greetings, Teacher, and other officials," Zhao Xing said with a bow.

"Hahaha! No need for formalities. Come, let us show off Gucheng's talented young man!" Li Wenzheng, grinning widely, pulled Zhao Xing along, eager to show him off to the prefecture's officials and his fellow county colleagues.

Zhao Xing had barely left the Forget-Worries Stele when a few more figures emerged from the mist.

It was none other than Yang Junxiong, looking as brooding as ever, gripping his riding spear.

However, after passing the stele, a smile spread across his face.

"This trip wasn't for nothing. I've entered the ranked realm, reaching the peak of the Ninth Rank. Before entering the mountain, I was merely at Essence Gathering Ninth Stage. This was a worthwhile journey."

But then, his smile suddenly froze.

"Wait a moment, where's my bamboo horse?"

Yang Junxiong glanced around, perplexed. "Where's my horse? It's gone!"

His gaze settled on a familiar figure ahead.

It was Zhao Xing, riding a bamboo horse.

"Wait, that's my bamboo horse, isn't it? Hmm? I can't sense its war spirit. Could it belong to him now?"

"No, that's definitely my bamboo horse! Why has its grade dropped to Third Rank Lower Grade?"

"Could he have taken it from me?"

A flood of questions surged through Yang Junxiong's mind, but having already descended the mountain, he knew there was nothing he could do.

Ascending the mountain came with risks. Losing a bamboo horse was the least of it—people lost their lives up there.

"I feel like I have some connection with him, a strange mix of regret and sorrow, but I can't remember why."

Yang Junxiong sighed, casting one last look in Zhao Xing's direction before striding away.

After he left, three more graceful figures emerged from the mist.

It was none other than Du Jiaojiao, Lu Qian, and Liu Muqing.

"Hmm? Qian'er, Qing'er, are you two alright?" Du Jiaojiao asked her friends.

"I'm fine," Liu Muqing replied with a smile. "I've reached Essence Gathering Ninth Stage, and my music technique has improved as well!"

"I'm fine too," Lu Qian added with a grin. "I've also reached Essence Gathering Ninth Stage, and my two spells have each advanced by three transformations. How about you, Jiao-jie?"

Du Jiaojiao smiled. "I'm at the lower Ninth Rank. My spear technique hasn't advanced much, though. I was hoping to fully master 'Sea Dragon Emerges,' but no luck..."

Suddenly, Lu Qian let out a startled cry, frantically patting herself down.

"What's wrong, Qian'er?!" Du Jiaojiao asked, alarmed.

"My armor! My Sparrow Feather Armor is gone!" Lu Qian cried, panic in her voice.

"What?!" Both Du Jiaojiao and Liu Muqing's faces darkened.

They knew how important the Sparrow Feather Armor was to Lu Qian, and that it was her intimate, personal garment.

If it was missing, that could only mean one thing…

Lu Qian abruptly looked up, her senses locking onto a familiar connection with the armor. The bond she had formed with the treasured item over time allowed her to sense its location.

Her gaze landed on the boy riding the bamboo horse ahead.

"My armor is with him... could it be..." Lu Qian bit her lip, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Achoo!"

Zhao Xing suddenly sneezed.

For some reason, he had the distinct feeling that someone was thinking about him.

"An enemy? That doesn't seem right... no one remembers anything from the mountain," Zhao Xing muttered to himself.

Following the officials, Zhao Xing made his way toward the viewing platform by the Earth Altar Square.

Climbing the Ling Mountain and collecting spiritual essence wasn't just an opportunity for officers to change their fate. It also counted as part of their official assessment and could significantly impact their rankings.

But how was it evaluated?

The shrine priests would make the announcement.

The Ling Mountain shrine gods were under the jurisdiction of the Nanyang Prefecture Shrine. Gucheng's shrine had no authority in this matter.

The gods on the mountain would inform the Nanyang Prefecture Shrine priests of the officers' performance, including how much essence they gathered and the quality, determining their rankings.

Each county and each government institution would be judged independently, meaning Zhao Xing only needed to outperform his fellow officers from Gucheng's Shennong Division to earn a top rating.

Now, all that was left was to wait for the results.

As Zhao Xing reached the viewing platform and waited, he noticed that a few people were staring at him.

One was a young man holding a long spear, looking melancholic. His neck and chest were muscular, clearly marking him as a soldier who had likely trained in sonic martial arts.

But why was he looking at Zhao Xing with such a melancholic gaze?

On the other side, things were even stranger.

There were three figures from the officers of the prefecture city: one holding a qin, another leaning on a spear, and in the middle, a colorful-dressed young lady gazing at Zhao Xing with a complicated expression.

Her eyes held a mix of anticipation, affection, sadness, and confusion.

How odd. What had happened on that mountain?

Lu Qian, looking at Zhao Xing, felt her mindset shift.

She thought to herself: "Jiao-jie entered the mountain already at Essence Gathering Ninth Stage, and her spear technique is something she inherited from her father."

"Qing'er and I, one skilled in music, the other in dance—together, we can perform 'Six Songs,' and with Jiao-jie, we make an almost unbeatable team."

"If someone managed to steal my armor, and not just steal it, but refrain from harming me, that means they had the power to subdue me. But I wasn't violated..."

Lu Qian's eyes lingered on Zhao Xing, her thoughts swirling.

"Whoever managed to take my armor, in such a situation, must be someone I fell for. Perhaps I gave him my Sparrow Feather Armor willingly in a moment of love."

"Hmm... Zong Dashao said he was only at Essence Gathering Fourth Stage before entering the mountain, and now he's in the ranked realm."

"Such a genius, with decent looks... and Zong Dashao said he's a fun person. Maybe I really did..."

As Lu Qian continued to watch Zhao Xing, her thoughts spiraled into a strange place.

Zhao Xing, noticing her gaze, felt increasingly uncomfortable. Who was this girl?

Why was she looking at him with such... intensity?

"Ah, right! She's a dancer, so her natural charm must be working subconsciously. Wait... that Sparrow Feather Armor in my box—could it be hers?"

Zhao Xing suddenly realized this.

But as for other explanations, such as it being a love token, Zhao Xing was certain that wasn't the case.

He had resolved never to marry or have children, to avoid his good fortune being diluted and passed on to a wife or child, preventing him from reaching his goal of surviving into the revival era.

There was no way he'd be distracted by such things.

"It must have been stolen," Zhao Xing concluded confidently. "That armor fits the profile for something I'd steal—Third Rank Upper Grade, with a Fourth Rank feather. Very valuable."

"I wonder who this girl is. She probably hasn't realized yet."

"Well, no matter. If she dares seek revenge later, I'll just rob her again."

Zhao Xing turned away, no longer meeting Lu Qian's gaze.

"You've entered the ranked realm, so achieving the top rating is guaranteed, but you need to stay composed. There are important people from the prefecture here; showing your face will only help you," Xue Wenzhong advised, noticing Zhao Xing glancing around. "Make sure you stay seated and don't lose your composure."

"Yes, Teacher," Zhao Xing nodded, settling down and waiting for the results. He was eager to know just how much he