Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 97 - 79: Gathering Spiritual Beauty in the Clouds, Forget Sorrow Stele Below the Mountain (Three updates of fifteen thousand words!)_3

Chapter 97: Chapter 79: Gathering Spiritual Beauty in the Clouds, Forget Sorrow Stele Below the Mountain (Three updates of fifteen thousand words!)_3

"Yes, what are you talking about?" The other two turned around, puzzled.

"You guys..." Qin Feng was about to explain, but he took two more steps forward, inadvertently passing the stone stele at the foot of the mountain.

"What are you talking about, did I just speak?" Qin Feng appeared somewhat confused.

"You seemed to mention something about Zhao, and possibly mentioned Zhou Gang and Fang Jie."

"Really?" Qin Feng looked back, perplexed, only to see a rolling mist. "We’re on the mountain, what exactly happened?"

After passing the Forget Sorrow Stele, with each step, the four of them found their memories of the mountain becoming increasingly vague, forgetting everything about it.

By the time they were a hundred meters away from the Forget Sorrow Stele, they couldn’t remember anything, only knowing that they had traversed the mountain without any gains.

Shaking his head, Qin Feng and the others arrived outside Earth Altar Square, where the Lake City Martial Arts Bureau officials were waiting. Seeing Qin Feng and his companions emerge unchanged, the officials appeared disappointed, offering a few perfunctory words of encouragement before leaving them aside.

Qin Feng and his companions exited the tent, only to see Fang Jie and Zhou Gang outside.

"Brother Qin, any gains?" Zhou Gang asked politely.

"Nothing." Qin Feng forced a smile, "What about you, Brother Zhou and Brother Fang?"

"Oddly, Brother Zhou and I descended the mountain yesterday for some unknown reason, and though empty-handed, we each found a hundred taels silver note on us." Fang Jie said.

"Hmm? Does this Mountain God even give silver notes? What a strange occurrence." Qin Feng found it peculiar, yet somewhat envious.

A hundred taels, truly a windfall.

...

Down the mountain, Zong Shichang, Uncle Cang, Uncle Hu, Yuan Bo, and others emerged from the mist.

Quite a crowd, around seventeen or eighteen people.

"Hmm? I achieved a breakthrough!"

"Ha ha ha, I am now at Gathering Essence Seventh Rank!"

"Gasp, my secret technique Ten Thousand Mountains has reached the ninth layer?"

Three of them exclaimed in joy, while the others watched enviously.

A fortunate few managed to gain something from the mountain, but most remained empty-handed.

"Uncle Cang, you’ve reached the Ninth Rank? Wait, I am now at Gathering Essence Seventh Rank as well, hey, where’s my money?" Zong Shichang exclaimed as he rummaged through the bamboo box, "Two thousand taels silver note, spent just like that? Not a single penny left?"

Yuan Bo looked around, then at Zong Shichang: "Young Master Zong, you have reached Gathering Essence Seventh Rank, quite an improvement, and descended the mountain with us, it seems the agreement has been fulfilled."

Zong Shichang nodded: "Yes, it is completed, beyond expectations! Thank you, three of you."

The old official saluted the others: "In that case, I shall take my leave, Uncle Cang, Uncle Lu, farewell."

"Farewell."

Uncle Cang and Uncle Hu also saluted Zong Shichang: "Young Master Zong, we must return and report back as well."

"Alright, my Zong family will definitely keep your tasks in mind." Zong Shichang bade them goodbye as well.

"Thank you."

Zong Shichang descended the mountain, drawing immediate attention with his large and progressed party.

Shortly after, Minister of Agriculture Supervision Gao Linong and Zong Yonglong appeared before Zong Shichang.

"Son, you finally came out!" A middle-aged woman rushed over, examining Zong Shichang closely, "Chang’er, are you hurt? Feeling unwell anywhere?"

"Mother, I am fine." Zong Shichang held his mother’s hand.

"Are you hungry? Oh how thin you look, there’s food in the tent, I’ll fetch it for you..."

Zong Yonglong frowned: "Enough, stop crying, Mr. Gao is here, you go to the tent first... Mr. Gao, sorry for the scene."

Gao Linong smiled: "Lady Zong and young master Shichang share a deep bond, it is no shame."

Zong Yonglong called his son over: "Let Mr. Gao have a look."

Gao Linong held Zong Shichang’s wrist, then congratulated Zong Yonglong: "Congratulations, Mr. Zong, he has reached Gathering Essence Seventh Rank and is in good health, with no hidden injuries."

"Good, good, good." Zong Yonglong finally breathed a sigh of relief, smiling, "All thanks to Mr. Gao’s guidance, I must visit to thank you properly."

Gao Linong also smiled contentedly: "It is my duty, Mr. Zong, no need for thanks."

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

"Father, has Wang Dong descended?" Zong Shichang asked, "I gained so much this time, certainly not just by my own effort."

Young Master Zong was self-aware.

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

"What?!?" Zong Shichang was shocked.

"He died the first day, but rest assured, his family will be well taken care of." Zong Yonglong said, "You need not worry about this, rest for now, then go visit Gao Linong, make an appearance before the officials in the county."

"Okay."

...

More and more officers descended the mountain, with Gucheng Official Office members eagerly awaiting.

Smiling the most was Gao Linong.

His two favored disciples, Zong Shichang, jumped from Gathering Essence Fourth Rank to Gathering Essence Seventh Rank, though his spell skills did not advance much, it was still a significant improvement.

As for Li Chengfeng, even more impressively, he advanced from Gathering Essence Fifth Rank to Gathering Essence Ninth Rank! And his spell skills also greatly improved!

In contrast, the other Minister of Agriculture disciples showed nothing particularly remarkable so far.

"Mr. Gao, congratulations." Tang Wanchun felt uneasy, as his student Xiao Ze had made no progress.

Pang Yuan’s student, Wen Nanxing, only advanced from Gathering Essence Fourth Rank to Gathering Essence Seventh Rank.

"Not necessary, not necessary, it’s their own fortune, it has nothing to do with me." Gao Linong feigned modesty, but his smile was wide.

Feeling proud, he couldn’t help being a bit arrogant, and asked deliberately: "The top scorers from the last assessment should be coming out, has Zhao Xing from Huai Liu Courtyard descended yet?"

"Not seen him yet." Pang Yuan replied.

"Could it be something went wrong?"

Chen Shijie didn’t bother to respond, but Xue Wenzhong couldn’t help rebuking: "Shut that filthy mouth of yours!"

"You..." Gao Linong was stunned, about to explode, but Tang Wanchun stepped in: "Mr. Xue, no need for anger..."

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

Pang Yuan sipped tea tactically, but when he saw Xue Wenzhong’s gaze sweeping over, his movements froze.

This... I didn’t say anything?

But he still slowly lowered his hand to his knee; given Xue Wenzhong’s age and status, even a slap from him would leave no grounds for complaint.

When an honest man gets angry, it is extraordinary; it was their first time seeing Xue Wenzhong so furious, his presence was overwhelming.

For a while, all the Secondary Ninth-Rank Ministers of Agriculture present sat like quails, straight and silent.

Just when the tension peaked, a sudden exclamation came from outside.

"Another one is out! It’s an official from Gucheng!"

"My God, who is that? Such significant gains!"

Chen Shijie’s eyes lit up, he sprang to his feet and rushed out.

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