The straw puppets climbed the mountain on foot, while Zhao Xing climbed the mountain on straw puppets.
He made a vine chair and secured two bamboo poles to either side of it.
Then, two Swift Steps Straw Puppets made from Green Vine carried the chair forward.
The rest of the straw puppets spread out ahead, behind, and along both sides.
The farthest puppets were sent three li away, which was also the limit of Zhao Xing's control.
Though the mountain path was steep, his three-li control limit was measured in a straight line, so it was more than sufficient.
If there was the slightest disturbance, Zhao Xing would know in advance.
"Straw Man Art really is useful." Sitting in the chair, Zhao Xing could not help but sigh.
The Swift Steps Straw Puppets walked mountain paths as if on level ground, even faster than he could walk himself.
"I'll have to study Swift Steps Straw Puppets more in the future. When the time comes, I can raid a hundred li while consuming just one puppet—saving both time and effort."
There were also four special straw puppets among the group, each fitted with two first-rank East Lake Pearls.
It was the sixth Straw Man Art Zhao Xing had learned just two days ago: Reconnaissance Straw Puppet.
It allowed Zhao Xing to gain a second viewpoint.
He could only vaguely sense the other puppets. Yet through these four puppets, he could see clearly.
The spell's level was not high, merely at the First-Turn level, but it was already enough to see far into the distance.
Less than two quarter-hours into the climb, Zhao Xing discovered other climbers.
Through a Reconnaissance Straw Puppet's viewpoint, he spotted four climbers in a pine forest to his front left, besieging two others.
"Are they fighting over