Locking Bamboo Horse, Shattering War Soul, Gaining First Incense!

A strange change suddenly occurred in the square.

The Bamboo Horse shone brightly, then suddenly turned around and, with the force of Mount Tai pressing down, stomped towards the location where Zhao Xing was.

Two people on the field immediately realized the true strength of their Bamboo Horse.

One of them is Hu Yang. As Mechanism Master, he is naturally familiar with it, because the Bamboo Horse is a type of Mechanical Beast, and one of the most classic Mechanical Beast.

Ordinary Bamboo Horse, even those of the Upper Third Tier, rarely develop strong spirituality. However, the Bamboo Horse ridden by Yang Junxiong not only developed spirituality but also became extremely powerful.

Having followed its master across the battlefield for many years, it has transformed into a 'battle spirit'!

Through countless battles, the Bamboo Horse's fighting spirit has also gained a powerful fighting instinct, and its fighting strength is comparable to that of its master!

Yang Junxiong Ranked Realm immortals on the mountain, and the spiritual battle spirit of his Bamboo Horse was also enhanced.

This means that both the person and the horse have Ranked Realm!

The second person to notice something was wrong was Du Jiaojiao. Her Bright Eyes had reached the Nine Turns. When Yang Junxiong left his Bamboo Horse, a phantom image of Yang Junxiong actually appeared on the Bamboo Horse's back.

I sensed two auras of the Ranked Realm!

Yang Junxiong's decision to separate his forces was clearly premeditated.

If the Mountain Cat tries to stop him, the Bamboo Horse will severely injure Zhao Xing; but if he goes to save someone, he can take incense to the temple.

On the last night, he finally stopped hiding and revealed his true hand.

"Boom!"

The Bamboo Horse treads through the air, seemingly possessing the power of a thousand troops.

Zong Shichang and those around him felt as if they could not breathe, as a heavy pressure descended upon them, and his legs trembled.

Fortunately, there was a Divine Temple official beside him who sensed the presence of the battle spirit and instantly led Zong Shichang in a rapid retreat.

But the others seemed to have no time to react, or were pressed to the spot by the Bamboo Horse's imposing presence, remaining motionless.

Just when everyone thought Zhao Xing was in grave danger, a calm and composed voice rang out:

"Don't come back to save me, focus on fighting that big guy."

"Hmm? Under the influence of the battle spirit's evil aura, he can still speak?" Yang Junxiong glanced at Zhao Xing and found Zhao Xing standing tall and unaffected.

"A mere soldier dares to call himself a war spirit?!" Zhao Xing raised a cloud above his head, pointed his five fingers to the sky, and lightning suddenly crackled around his body.

"Sizzle~"

Suddenly, streaks of purple lightning appeared from his fingertips and quickly combined in an arcane pattern to form five nooses.

It was a self-created spell, the Thunderbolt Lasso!

"Go!"

The Thunderbolt Lasso danced, like a nimble lightning serpent, heading straight for the battle spirit.

"Kill!"

The phantom of the war spirit swept across the army with its spear, but the Thunderbolt Lasso was incredibly agile and did not entangle with the war spirit. Instead, it lashed out at the Bamboo Horse.

"Boom!" The Purple Light collided with the red light, and the murderous aura was immediately reduced by three-tenths.

"Boom boom boom boom!"

Five consecutive whippings of the noose were delivered at an extremely fast speed, so fast that no one could react in time.

Bamboo Horse Zhan Hun was quite experienced, but of the five shots he swung, only two actually interfered with the Thunderbolt Lasso.

The other three routes were all bypassed.

This is the wonder of the Nether Thunder Law. Unlike the fierce power of the Thunderclap Palm, Yin Lightning is extremely fast and incredibly agile. When it hit the spear, it didn't dissipate but instead flicked gently and looped around the Bamboo Horse's neck.

"Sizzle~"

Sparks flew where the thunder and the Bamboo Horse Entanglement, instantly slowing the Bamboo Horse's speed and halting its galloping momentum.

"What?!" Yang Junxiong was shocked. He had thought that the Mountain Cat might be able to stop his Bamboo Horse, but he never expected that Zhao Xing, a Gathering Yuan Ninth Level Agricultural Official, would be able to stop him.

In that moment of distraction, "Bang!" Yang Junxiong felt a heavy blow to his chest and was involuntarily sent flying backward.

Mountain Cat Secret Technique: Wind Riding Heavy Stomp!

But the Mountain Cat kicked him Wind Riding Heavy Stomp to propel itself forward. The force of the kick was astonishing!

"You beast!" Yang Junxiong's eyes turned sinister. He stopped paying attention to his Bamboo Horse and focused on dealing with the Mountain Cat.

The breastplate on my chest is already cracked; if I get distracted again, I might get seriously injured by the Mountain Cat.

"This..." Du Jiaojiao stopped.

Although she was a woman, she was chivalrous and righteous. She had known Zong Shichang since childhood, and she couldn't ignore him when he was in danger.

But unexpectedly, the situation changed so quickly.

Yang Junxiong's Bamboo Horse's fighting spirit failed to work!

Five nooses bound the Bamboo Horse, and the murderous aura on the battle spirit weakened considerably.

"War Soul Burning!"

"Treading a Thousand Mountains!"

Seeing that they were trapped, the phantom knight on the Bamboo Horse raised his spear high, the Bamboo Horse raised its front hooves, and then slammed them down, creating a terrifying shockwave.

The warrior and his Bamboo Horse unleash their secret techniques together, as the wild and unruly knight tries to break free of his chains.

"Boom!"

One of the Thunderbolt Chains was actually broken!

"Let's see how many you can break free from!"

Lightning flashed in Zhao Xing's eyes, and he raised his left hand as well.

Three more Thunderbolt Chains have appeared!

They seized so many spiritual treasures, including many Yuan Technique Spiritual Elegance, and the Thunderbolt Lasso had already reached the Eighth-Turn!

"Sizzle!"

Three Thunderbolt Chains swiftly locked the horse's head, pulling the proud Bamboo Horse down with its head held high.

The intermediate-level secret technique of "Treading a Thousand Mountains" was interrupted before it could be fully unleashed.

"Yin Wind rises!"

A Yin Wind blew up from the ground, heading straight for the war spirit on horseback.

Previously, due to the obstruction of evil energy, it was difficult for the Yin Wind to directly reach the battle spirit's main body.

But now that it is trapped by the Thunderbolt Lasso, its malevolent aura has weakened considerably. If it uses Yin Wind again, it can take advantage of the situation and enter.

"Whoosh~"

Although it was just a gust of wind, the fighting spirit on the Bamboo Horse felt as if it had been doused with a bucket of cold water.

The malevolent flames surrounding the battle spirit instantly diminished by more than half, becoming dim and lifeless!

The Dark Wind Method targets the soul. Although it failed to directly cripple the battle spirit, it completely halted its offensive and rendered it powerless.

"Thunderclap Palm!"

Taking advantage of the fact that Bamboo Horse and Zhan Hun were trapped, Zhao Xing cast a third spell.

A purple hand suddenly flew out from the clouds above. When it first flew out, it was only the size of a normal hand, but as it flew into the air, its size increased dramatically.

When it landed on the Bamboo Horse's head, it was four meters long and one meter thick!

Thunderclap Palm slammed down.

It slammed into the head of the War Soul.

"Bang!"

The Bamboo Horse fell, its battle spirit roaring, and slammed heavily onto the square, leaving a large crater.

The Thunderclap Palm of the Seventh-Turn was incredibly powerful, and the Battle Soul was actually shattered in half.

Thunder magic can also damage the soul, especially the fierce Yang thunder, which has amplified its destructive power on such pure Soul Body.

Zhao Xing first used the Thunderbolt Chains to weaken the battle spirit's protective aura, and then used the Yin Wind to weaken the battle spirit's strength. Now, this strike immediately had a miraculous effect.

"No!" Yang Junxiong's eyes were bloodshot as he rushed towards his childhood Bamboo Horse like a madman.

That was the battle spirit he had painstakingly cultivated over ten years of fighting on the battlefield, and now it was about to be destroyed; it was practically taking his life.

"Meow!" The Mountain Cat darted forward and kicked Yang Junxiong away again.

Its speed is too fast; the Divine Movement talent makes the Mountain Cat's speed unmatched among the Ninth Grade.

There was no way Yang Junxiong could escape from the Mountain Cat's clutches.

"BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!!"

The thunder continued, and the purple hand seized the opportunity to slap wildly.

In the blink of an eye, Bamboo Horse Ma Zhan Hun had eaten several large sacks.

A deafening thunderclap echoed across the Heavenly Altar Plaza, causing onlookers to instinctively back away.

In reality, many people didn't understand the battle situation because they couldn't see the battle spirits unless they had maxed out their Bright Eyes.

However, Zhao Xing's Thunderbolt Lasso and large hand could be observed.

Mid-level lightning magic, reaching the seventh or eighth level, is incredibly powerful. Even ordinary Thunderclap can startle people, let alone mid-level, fierce lightning magic.

"What kind of lightning magic is this? How can it be so domineering?!"

"I've never seen such lightning magic before, how could it form a hand?"

"Sigh, I didn't lose unjustly."

Seeing this scene, Cao Qiushui felt a deep sense of powerlessness. He had originally thought that his cultivation had greatly improved and that he might have narrowed the gap.

It now appears that the distance has not only not shrunk, but has actually widened.

The strong always get stronger, Zhao Xing's experiences on this Spirit Mountain are far more numerous than his.

"Bang!"

With the final strike, the battle spirit was shattered.

The previous mystical aura vanished instantly.

The luster on the Bamboo Horse disappeared, and it dropped from the Upper Third Tier to the lower-grade third rank.

Hinges lock Bamboo Horse, thunder shatters battle spirits!

After Yang Junxiong's mark was erased, Zhao Xing gently pulled the Bamboo Horse, and it came to stand in front of him, now an ownerless object.

"Pfft!" Yang Junxiong spat out a mouthful of blood.

He had only barely managed to resist the Mountain Cat, but now he was completely flustered and could no longer resist, and was scratched in the chest and abdomen by the Mountain Cat's Thunder Rending Claw.

"Pfft~" The lightning-cracked claws tore through the breastplate and even scratched a bloody mark on Yang Junxiong's chest.

With a thud, the Mountain Cat kicked off with its hind legs, and Yang Junxiong's body fell outside the square, unconscious.

The wind subsided and the thunder died down, leaving the square in complete silence.

Everyone watching this scene was filled with shock.

After winning the First Incense for two consecutive nights, the arrogant knight Yang Junxiong was defeated.

Moreover, even after revealing their hand, they still suffered such a complete defeat.

"I can understand that he can't beat the Mountain Cat, but how can the War Soul Bamboo Horse be defeated by a Ranked Realm Agricultural Official?"

Hu Yang muttered to himself, staring blankly at the Bamboo Horse that had lost its spirit. He knew the power of Mechanical Beast, but the result was hard for him to accept.

Doesn't that mean Zhao Xing could easily defeat these Mechanical Beasts of his?

"This guy..." Lu Qian's eyes flashed with horror, "How exactly did he train? The Four Seasonal Arts Timing, is he proficient in all of them?"

"Sister Jiao, do the three of us still have a chance to be the first to offer First Incense?!"

A glint of excitement flashed in Du Jiaojiao's eyes; she was eager to try.

But then she shook her head.

"Unless Qianqian and Qing'er can enhance the power of [Da Shao] to another level and cooperate with me, perhaps we can put up a fight."

"Even if we take another step up, we can only fight it out?" Liu Muqing shook her head, which meant there was no hope.

However, she still took off into the air with her gun.

Although she knew in her heart that she couldn't win, her martial arts spirit was unstoppable, so how could she be afraid before the battle even began? Du Jiaojiao still wanted to give it a try.

"Mountain Cat, she's trying to steal your toy, kick her!"

"Meow!" Just as Du Jiaojiao took off, she saw a dark shadow fly over and kick off with its hind legs. Caught off guard, Du Jiaojiao only had time to raise her spear in defense.

"Bang!" The silver spear bent and pressed down on Du Jiaojiao's conscience. She was sent flying back to the ground at an even faster speed, her feet aching from the impact.

"Wind Riding Heavy Stomp" is a mid-level Seventh-Turn secret technique. The Mountain Cat itself is a variant species, and even as a cub, its power is astonishing after the Ranked Realm.

"Meow!" The Mountain Cat crept forward, bowing its head in a menacing manner.

It seems to be saying that anyone who dares to take to the air and try to steal my toys will be attacked.

When the Mountain Cat gets fierce, it looks rather goofy, but the people in the square are terrified of it.

Two Ranked Realm experts were actually kicked down by the Mountain Cat.

What kind of breed is this?!

"We can't beat them. The Mountain Cat is too fast. Yang Junxiong can't defend against it, and neither can I." After trying once, Du Jiaojiao was quite philosophical about it. "It's not a matter of skill, but rather the innate advantage of the beast."

Even Du Jiaojiao gave up, so naturally no one in the square dared to compete.

Everyone stepped back, waiting for Zhao Xing, the newly crowned strongest, to speak.

Zhao Xing remained silent, and the others dared not ask either.

The winner takes all. Now he can claim as many incense sticks as he wants, and everyone else can only wait with him for as long as he wants.

Not only rivals, but even "our own people," Uncle Hu, Uncle Cang, and Yuan Bo, were intimidated and dared not approach to disturb them.

Young Master Zong couldn't contain himself any longer and asked, "Zhao Sanjia, what are your plans for the ten incense sticks? If you don't take them, no one else will dare to."

Zhao Xing pondered for a moment and said, "Shen Zhui take first and second place. As for the rest, Young Master Zong, you can take them as you see fit."

We have to go down the mountain as soon as it gets light, so burning a few more incense sticks won't do any good.

Zong Shichang had run out of silver notes, and it wasn't appropriate for me to exchange them for anything else. There was no need to be so mercenary; we still had some kind of relationship.

"Okay, then I'll speak for you?"

"Um."

Zong Shichang got a chance to show off, and immediately put on a great show.

He stood with his hands behind his back, striking what he considered a dashing pose, then ran to the area beneath the incense burner and conjured Rising Wind, spreading the sound far and wide.

"Regarding the incense offerings, Brother Zhao and I will take eight sticks. The remaining two sticks can be taken by whoever is capable!"

After saying this, Zong Shichang Rising Wind and swept the eight incense sticks in mid-air into his arms.

The others dared not speak out against their anger.

The others didn't dare say anything, but Du Jiaojiao was unhappy. Lu Qian shouted at Zong Shichang, "Zong Shiba, it wasn't you who achieved these results, so what are you pretending to be?!"

Unexpectedly, Zong Shichang ran over and said with a grin, "How could I forget you? Here are three incense sticks. I brought them down for you so you wouldn't have to jump."

Seeing this, Lu Qian immediately said sarcastically, "Oh, you're so kind as to think of me and Sister Jiaojiao? You probably didn't take it for Qing'er, did you?"

Zong Shichang blushed as his face turned red after being exposed, and he secretly glanced at Liu Muqing.

Du Jiaojiao glared at Lu Qian, then cupped her hands to Zong Shichang: "Thank you for your help, Brother Zong. I wonder what Zhao Xing's opinion is on the order of entering the temple?"

Zong Shichang said, "He is naturally the First Incense. The second incense stick is for Shen Zhui, oh, that is, the martial artist who chased Gu Feng earlier."

"And then?" Lu Qian asked.

"I'll arrange it naturally."

"So how do you want to arrange them?"

"I want Miss Liu to go in third."

"Ha, Zong Shichang, you really are a lecherous man! And you still say it's not for Qing'er!"

"..."

While Zong Shichang was talking there, Shen Zhui also returned to the square.

His Iron Ruler and his body were stained with blood, though it wasn't his own.

"Is Brother Shen alright?"

Shen Zhui untied the bow from his back. "I have fulfilled my mission and avenged that arrow that struck you."

Archers cherish their bows as their lifeblood. Now that Gu Feng's longbow has been obtained by Shen Zhui, even if he hasn't lost half his life, his demise is not far off.

"What a fine bow! Brother Shen is truly mighty."

This person is acceptable. Zhao Xing only said that he was ambushed and injured by Gu Feng during the day, and that he would ask him to delay Gu Feng later.

Unexpectedly, the other party went to great lengths and even snatched Gu Feng's bow.

If a bow is stolen from a warrior, he will either die or be rendered useless.

Shen Zhui slung the bow back over his shoulder. "How did the incense-fighting go? Has it started yet?"

Zhao Xing smiled and said, "It's all over now. We're just waiting for Brother Shen to enter the temple."

"Huh? It's over?"

Somewhat taken aback, Shen Zhui accepted the incense stick that Zhao Xing handed him.

"Brother Shen, please come into the temple to offer the First Incense."

Shen Zhui his head. "No, I've already broken my promise, and I haven't really been of any help. You should be the first to offer First Incense."

Back then at Chen Shijie's residence, Zhao Xing was willing to share half of the two pears, and Shen Zhui had always remembered that. He already felt indebted to Zhao Xing, so he was unwilling to offer incense as the first to First Incense.

"Alright, I'll go in first, Brother Shen second."

Zhao Xing, Mountain Cat, and Shen Zhui, a man and a beast, all Ranked Realm of entering the temple. After the order of entry into the temple was determined, no one dared to object.

After descending from the Heavenly Altar, the first eight people entered the temple in order.

They are Zhao Xing, Shen Zhui, Liu Muqing, Du Jiaojiao, Lu Qian Zong Shichang, Uncle Cang, and Uncle Hu.

The other two incense sticks were taken by Hu Yang and Cao Qiushui.

As for the later ones, they can only honestly try to grab the second wave of incense.

Inside the temple.

"Zhao Xing, an official in Agricultural Official, begs the True Lord to manifest his divine power."

Whew~

Smoke swirled, and the surroundings grew dark, as if a giant's Yin Spirit had appeared before Zhao Xing.

"You have requested me to manifest my divine power; what do you desire?"

Zhao Xing cupped his hands and said, "I beg the True Lord to bestow upon me a portion of High-Grade Spiritual Elegance."

"You were the first to First Incense, so you are entitled to this opportunity. I will escort you there. Whether you can seize it is up to you."

"Thank you, True Lord."

Another cloud of smoke swept by, engulfing the Mountain Cat, Bamboo Horse, and other objects. Zhao Xing felt that he was no longer in the same place.

Upon closer inspection, they found themselves on the edge of a cliff.

"Meow~" the Mountain Cat meowed, its eyes filled with confusion. How did it suddenly appear here?

"Is there High-Grade Spiritual Elegance here?" Zhao Xing was also somewhat puzzled, as he did not have any Heart's Blood Surge inspiration.

Looking around, a sense of familiarity arose spontaneously.

"Isn't this a place Yang Junxiong visited before?"

At that time, Zhao Xing was farming at the foot of the mountain and had seen Yang Junxiong riding Bamboo Horse and leaping in the mountain stream.

Zhao Xing found himself in the same spot.

"Could it be that Yang Junxiong is looking for that High-Grade Spiritual Elegance?"

The First Incense offered is meant to High-Grade Spiritual Elegance; it doesn't mean it's simply handed to you, or you're told the location or how to retrieve it.

Zhao Xing was able to find the Luck Golden Cup because he discovered the location first and had already found the High-Grade Spiritual Elegance, but he was unable to obtain it.

The Fifth Incense inquired about the method of obtaining it, and the prerequisite was passing the test.

"Yang Junxiong searched for two nights, did he still fail?"

"It seems obtaining this High-Grade Spiritual Elegance will be quite difficult," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

In a few more hours, they will all have to go down the mountain.

He did not have another chance to offer incense and ask for guidance.

"Yang Junxiong leaped and bounded through the mountain streams using this Bamboo Horse." Zhao Xing flipped over, Bamboo Horse, and said, "I'll give it a try too."

Bamboo Horse can help people leap into the air. Although they cannot fly for long periods, they can still bounce quite far.

Although its rank has dropped, its auxiliary functions are still there; it's just that it has lost its battle spirit.

"Giddy up!" Zhao Xing Wind Beneath the Feet his legs together, and the Bamboo Horse suddenly sped off towards the cliff. With each leap, the Bamboo Horse soared into the air.