The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

"I'm sorry." A quarter-hour later, Qin Feng was on his knees, earnestly apologizing, "I spoke out of turn just now. I beg you, esteemed senior, to overlook my offense and spare us."

Qin Feng's defeat was swift. Surrounded and beaten by a dozen Mighty Vajra Straw Puppets, he was quickly overwhelmed and turned into a pig's head.

His knife techniques were ineffective against the Mighty Vajra Straw Puppets, who felt no pain. The Mighty Vajra Straw Puppets' few punches were enough to make him unable to continue.

Before he could even exchange a few blows, he was rendered immobile.

Originally, Qin Feng hoped his three good brothers would help him, but when he looked up stealthily, he saw that his three brothers were hanging from the trees!

Qin Feng had never seen such powerful straw puppets before. He immediately admitted defeat, obediently lying on the ground to beg for mercy.

He knelt without any psychological burden, as everything would be forgotten once they descended the mountain!

"Weren't you very arrogant just now? Looking down on our Shennong Officer?" Zhao Xing asked lightly.

"Senior, I was blind and spoke recklessly. I am truly laughable. Please, esteemed senior, be magnanimous and don't hold my mistakes against me," Qin Feng pleaded repeatedly.

"Indeed, the Shennong Officer position benefits the people and contends with the heavens on their behalf. We all hold it in great respect."

"Senior, he was just confused earlier. Please don't hold it against him."

"That Lingzhi should naturally belong to a virtuous person like you, esteemed senior!"

The other three who were also hanging were subdued by the beating.

They didn't even see Zhao Xing himself and were subdued by a few straw puppets. How could they not submit?

As for addressing Zhao Xing as "senior," they did so without any psychological burden.

The Shennong Officer had little combat power; if he could subdue them with straw puppet techniques, how powerful must he be? Surely, he must be an experienced official who had cultivated for a long time.

"You can be let go, but do you have money?"

"Put all valuable things on the ground, then you can leave."

Zhao Xing couldn't be bothered to engage in further discussion with them. After all, once they descended the mountain, they would remember nothing and there would be no worry about revenge.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Qin Feng immediately got up and emptied all his belongings. There was no silver, but there were several second-grade talismans and a box of second-grade pills.

The other three also had similar items.

Zhao Xing instructed the straw puppets to carry away the items. Seeing Qin Feng start to remove his soft armor, he immediately said, "A few poor souls... I don't need the knife and soft armor. Just get lost."

The standard-issue weapons and armor from the Lake City Military Department had markings on them. They couldn't be sold, and if taken back to melt down for materials, the price would drop significantly and it would be troublesome.

"Thank you, senior! Thank you, senior!" Qin Feng and the others expressed their gratitude profusely and quickly left.

Fang Jie and Zhou Gang saw the turn of events and felt a sudden change in fortune.

Just when they were about to be secretly harmed by these people, unexpectedly, a high-level figure appeared and saved them.

"Zhou Gang, the Lake City Military Department's sentry, thanks you for your help, esteemed senior," Zhou Gang said, cupping his hands towards the surroundings.

"Fang Jie, the Lake City Military Department's sentry, thanks you for your help, esteemed senior," Fang Jie also cupped his hands.

Several Mighty Vajra Straw Puppets surrounded them, and the wind carried the voice, "Don't just say thanks. Hand over everything valuable."

Since Zhao Xing had taken action, he wouldn't let them go empty-handed.

Regardless of whether they were good or bad, righteous or evil, if they passed by Zhao Xing's Shennong Officer, he would make sure to take something.

"This…" Fang Jie and Zhou Gang were taken aback.

"What? Is your little life not worth as much as these material possessions?"

"No, no, senior, you misunderstand." Zhou Gang bitterly smiled and took out a box of pills and talisman papers from his chest. "We sentries are poor, and we don't have much money. These things are probably not enough to repay the life-saving grace of the esteemed senior."

"Ha." Zhao Xing looked at them and found their poverty laughable.

Combined, there were just four energy-restoring pills and two first-grade travel-enhancing talismans, which weren't worth much at all.

The valuable items were the weapons and armor, but Zhao Xing couldn't take those.

He didn't feel like squeezing any more from these poor souls and was about to leave.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing the sneer, Fang Jie thought the senior was displeased and immediately said, "We might have another way to repay the esteemed senior."

"Oh?"

Zhao Xing stopped and wanted to hear what the two had to say.

Fang Jie and Zhou Gang exchanged glances and said, "Previously, we passed by a cave. There is a Lingxiu inside. I remember the location and can lead the esteemed senior there."

"This Lingxiu might be difficult to obtain?"

Zhou Gang said, "To be honest, esteemed senior, the cave is a lair of ferocious beasts. We know we can't defeat them, so we left and planned to return after gaining more strength."

Zhao Xing asked, "Do you know what kind of ferocious beast it is?"

Fang Jie said awkwardly, "Our strength is low, and the beast's roar was terrifying, so we didn't go in to investigate."

Zhao Xing was silent. Zhou Gang and Fang Jie were at the Fifth and Sixth Stages of Essence Gathering, respectively. What beast could scare them so much? How fierce must it be?

"At least above the Eighth Stage of Essence Gathering, and possibly even the Ninth Stage."

"But if this scares me and that scares me, then I won't go up the mountain."

"Anyway, with the straw puppets scouting ahead, it's fine to check it out." After some consideration, Zhao Xing made his decision.

"It seems that being a good person has its benefits." Zhao Xing smiled gently. "Saving your lives was just a matter of convenience. If I do find the Lingxiu in that cave, I will certainly not treat you unfairly."

"But let me say this in advance: If you two don't take me there or have other intentions or any concealments, don't blame me for turning good deeds into bad ones."

Zhou Gang and Fang Jie were startled and said, "We absolutely do not dare to deceive."

"Lead the way."

Zhao Xing remained seated in the rattan chair while Zhou Gang and Fang Jie led the straw puppets two miles ahead.

He only trusted partially, and even though Zhou Gang and Fang Jie were solemn, he never fully believed them, let alone approached closely.

After walking for about a quarter-hour, the mountain path became steeper, and the surrounding forest was dense, almost requiring a machete to clear a path.

Just as Zhao Xing was losing patience, Zhou Gang ahead whispered to the straw puppets, "Esteemed senior, it's just ahead."

Fang Jie parted some leaves. Zhao Xing looked through the reconnaissance straw puppets and saw that there was indeed a cave ahead.

"Esteemed senior, our hearts are racing, and we can already sense the Lingxiu. I wonder if the esteemed senior can sense it too?" Zhou Gang asked cautiously.

"Hmm, you're not lying to me." Zhao Xing naturally felt it too. Even though he was further away than Zhou Gang and Fang Jie, his superior strength made his perception more acute.

"Esteemed senior, we don't expect rewards. If we can repay the esteemed senior's life-saving grace, that would be a great fortune," Zhou Gang said.

His implication was that he didn't want to stay here any longer.

Zhao Xing understood: "You don't need to think too much. I always keep my word. Since we have arrived, I have some healing ointment here. You can find a quiet place to treat your injuries first."

Zhou Gang and Fang Jie realized that the mysterious person wasn't letting them go and feared they might leak information. They had to agree. Fortunately, the mysterious person didn't make things difficult for them and sent the healing ointment via straw puppets, which relieved them.

For now, this senior's temperament didn't seem like the kind to turn hostile without warning.

After sending two straw puppets to watch Zhou Gang and Fang Jie, Zhao Xing himself circled to the opposite side of the cave entrance to observe.

"Thump thump~ thump thump~" The closer he got, the faster his heartbeat became. Zhao Xing understood that this must be at least a mid-grade Lingxiu, and might even be stronger than a Pure Elemental Red Fruit!

"First, send a reconnaissance straw puppet over to take a look."