The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

The voice was soft and enchanting. Zhao Xing's hand, which had been reaching out, involuntarily paused as he turned his head to look at the source of the sound.

At one end of the stream, a young woman suddenly appeared.

She had a beautiful face and clear eyes; she wore white clothes, with a sash at her waist fluttering, giving off an otherworldly aura.

Her red lips slightly parted as she called out to him, "Brother," with a sweet voice. She raised her pure white arm and waved it, her smile innocent.

It was as if she had finally met her beloved after a long separation, running eagerly towards him.

"Calling me?"

Zhao Xing paused for a moment but continued to pick up the red fruit.

Seeing this, a hint of strange color flashed in the girl's eyes, and her steps quickened.

At the same time, the silver bells on her wrist jingled, producing a crisp and pleasant sound.

"Have you already forgotten me, Brother? It's Qian'er." The girl floated across the stream, stopping with her head bowed, appearing somewhat shy.

Zhao Xing quietly watched her and lightly gave an order.

"Brother, last time we had a good time, you promised you would come to find me and bring the best treasures for me. Now I've come," Lu Qian slowly approached, her seductive aura becoming more pronounced.

She pointed at the red fruit in Zhao Xing's hand, her red lips slightly parting. "Is this what you want to give me?"

"This?" Zhao Xing raised the red fruit in his hand, his expression like that of a fool, taking a couple of steps forward.

"Yes," Lu Qian smiled even more happily.

"You're dreaming."

"??"

Lu Qian's smile froze, and she immediately sensed something was wrong.

This person was not affected by her charm!

Not only that, but she also felt a hint of danger!

"Not good!"

Lu Qian immediately retreated.

She tiptoed, taking small quick steps back, like a graceful dancer.

Her clothes fluttered, and colorful ribbons extended from her sleeves, swirling up and down, making her movements incredibly nimble.

But she was still a step too late.

From the earth covered in autumn leaves, a golden hand emerged and grasped her ankle!

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh~"

Immediately, figures began to rise from all directions around her, quickly surrounding her.

"What is this... a straw puppet?"

Lu Qian was a bit stunned. Her dance sleeves suddenly straightened, like a large blade, slashing towards the Mighty Vajra Straw Puppet holding her ankle.

"Clang!"

The sound of metal clashing came, and the dance sleeve was deflected back, with only a shallow white mark appearing on the Mighty Vajra Straw Puppet's arm.

"What? It can't be cut?" Lu Qian was shocked.

This was a second-grade high-quality silver silk sleeve sword. It couldn't even cut through a straw puppet?

"Knock it down," Zhao Xing lightly ordered.

"Wait!" Lu Qian's face was filled with shock. As she tried to say something, a Mighty Vajra Straw Puppet charged at her.

"Bang!"

Lu Qian was punched in the face, her right eye instantly swelling.

"Ah—"

She was knocked back, and her pained scream was cut off.

The reason was that another Mighty Vajra Straw Puppet jumped up and gave her left eye an elbow strike.

"Bang!"

The fairy in white was instantly knocked to the ground, lying flat in the dirt with a pair of panda eyes.

"Hang her up."

Zhao Xing waved his hand, directing the entangling straw puppets to hang the unconscious Lu Qian from a tree.

She received the same treatment as Zong Shichang, suspended in a split between two trees.

"Splosh~"

A basin of water was poured over Lu Qian, waking her from her fainting state.

"Y-You, let me go!"

Lu Qian, drenched and her enchanting figure faintly visible, showed a delicate look on her face. She bit her lower lip, looking pitiful. "W-What do you want? Don't come closer!"

Zhao Xing actually stopped, saying lightly, "Stop pretending."

"W-What are you saying?" Lu Qian's expression was somewhat unnatural.

"You're wearing a third-grade high-quality Sparrow Feather Armor. If I really came to take off your clothes, you'd be immediately deceived by your own charm. Do you think I don't know?" Zhao Xing looked at her with a faint smile.

Lu Qian's face changed. She knew she was done for.

Her undergarment had been seen through, and this person was much stronger than she had imagined.

Her charm technique had no effect on him at all!

What she didn't know was that Zhao Xing had survived the Tenth Level of the Heart's Trial. Her illusion techniques were nothing compared to the elite trials of the Dream Academy.

"Since you have seen through me, please spare me a way out. I don't want the red fruit anymore." Lu Qian dropped her seductive act and said solemnly.

"What do you mean you don't want it? This wasn't yours to begin with. You came to snatch it from me."

Lu Qian argued, "I discovered the red fruit first when I was on top. I was about to pick it, and then it fell down. According to the rules, I discovered it first."

Zhao Xing remained unmoved. "That reason is not enough for me to let you go."

"What do you want?"

"Simple, pay for your life. I want your Sparrow Feather Armor."

"You..." Lu Qian was immediately both embarrassed and angry.

The Sparrow Feather Armor was not just a treasure but her personal undergarment. She couldn't accept that a stranger was taking it away.

Zhao Xing, however, didn't give her much time to think: "Due to the rules, I cannot kill you directly. If you want to keep your dignity, take it off yourself. Otherwise, I will help you."

"Fine, I'll take it off myself! You better keep your word!" Lu Qian gritted her teeth, accepting her fate.

If she was left bound here, she could be in life-threatening danger.

Zhao Xing reminded her, "Don't have any other thoughts, or I can't guarantee the control over the counterattack."

With that, he waved his hand, and the entangling straw puppets released Lu Qian.

Lu Qian, having been beaten and aching all over, knew she couldn't resist and could only submit. This outcome was already quite good.

So she made no more trouble, turned her back, and reached into her collar. After some fumbling, she took out a colorful undergarment.

"Here you go." Lu Qian turned around and handed the Sparrow Feather Armor over, still harboring some hope that Zhao Xing might be affected by seeing the armor.

However, the latter remained indifferent and unaffected, shattering Lu Qian's last bit of hope.

"Good item."

The high-grade Sparrow Feather Armor was made from the feathers of the rare beast, the Peacock. This one used feathers from the Roc.

Among them was a feather from a fourth-grade rare beast, with eye patterns that were somewhat mesmerizing.

Zhao Xing stared at the armor, his eyes somewhat dazed. He quickly used the Bright Eyes technique to block the mental connection.

The girl in front of him should be a Sixth-Level Essence Gathering Illusionist. Illusionists were typically officials of the music division, a practice from the Zhou Dynasty, used for sacrificial ceremonies and grand official events.

"Now that you have obtained the armor, please allow me to take my leave," Lu Qian said stiffly, clearly in a bad mood.

She had underestimated him and was somewhat impatient. Seeing Zhao Xing only at the Fourth Level of Essence Gathering, without using his dancing skills or the Sparrow Feather Armor, her charm technique could have been stronger.

"Wait a moment."

"What, you..." Lu Qian was both shocked and angry, about to resist when a Mighty Vajra Straw Puppet slapped her unconscious, leaving her lying on the ground.

"I said I would let you go, but I didn't say when."

Zhao Xing wasn't sure if Lu Qian had any accomplices. His Vajra (Diamond) Bamboo was still some time away from maturing, so he naturally had to wait until after he left to release her.