Chapter 11

Everyone sat quietly, recuperating, while many wandered around making trades. There were plenty of good things in these Ten Thousand Great Mountains, and with many people robbing and killing for loot, they began to exchange items they didn't need. Some even offered high prices for specific items!

In the following days, the area outside the mountains became quite lively. The fat man kept pulling Lin Zheng, recounting his experiences over the past few days. Lin Zheng, who had regained his previous memories and a vast amount of knowledge, had unique insights and ways of handling unexpected situations!

For a moment, the discussions among the fat man and others became increasingly heated. Unconsciously, everyone's impression of Lin Zheng began to change. How could someone with so many insights be an unknown waste? Could it be that Lin Zheng had been pretending all along? Thinking of this, everyone looked at Lin Zheng with even more respect!

Little did they know that for the past three years, Lin Zheng had been a complete novice, and his low profile was out of necessity. In their eyes, this sudden change was seen as restraint! But they couldn't understand why anyone would need to be restrained in the Wu Kong Sect. For a moment, everyone lost interest in talking, except for the fat man and Lin Zheng, who continued to discuss various matters. The fat man was excited by Lin Zheng's unique insights, while Lin Zheng had many questions about the current continent. The two became more and more in sync until the portal opened again!

In mid-air, the space began to collapse, and the massive spatial fluctuations told everyone that the test was over, and it was time to leave. The portal array in the air gradually stabilized, and the Grand Elder slowly stepped out, calmly calling everyone to leave.

After the last person left the mountains, the portal slowly closed. In front of the Wu Kong Sect's main hall, a black portal slowly opened, and a group of people walked out to the center of the square. More people continued to emerge from the portal until the Grand Elder finally stepped out, and the portal slowly closed.

The Grand Elder stood on the platform in front of the main hall and said to the tired crowd below, "Very good. Those who have returned only need to hand in their jade tokens and the items they obtained to rest. In three days, there will be the third major test of the sect. The first place will be rewarded with a Golden Scroll, which allows them to choose any required pill from the Alchemy Hall and a weapon from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion. The second place will receive a Silver Scroll, which allows them to choose any required pill from the Alchemy Hall and a high-grade spirit weapon. The third place will receive an Iron Scroll, which allows them to choose a mid-grade spirit weapon. The fourth to tenth places can choose a low-grade spirit weapon. The eleventh to twentieth places will receive a cultivation technique. The thirtieth to hundredth places will receive a fifth-grade pill. All items will be awarded according to rank, and the higher the rank, the better the cultivation technique and pills. You must all give it your all!"

Everyone responded loudly, and Lin Zheng also echoed. The fat man, however, was extremely excited and incoherent, saying, "Damn, this time the sect is really going all out, giving out Golden Scrolls? And we can choose any pill and spirit weapon? Damn, I, the fat man, must strive to be in the top three this time, it's all good stuff!"

Lin Zheng and the fat man handed in their items with the others. The sect's elders would evaluate and eliminate any who were not up to par. The fat man kept muttering, and Lin Zheng couldn't stop him several times. Was the sect really giving out something good this time?

After everyone handed in their items, they didn't disperse but gathered in small groups, their faces flushed and eyes red, as if they were in heat!

Lin Zheng frowned, looking at the fat man who was still daydreaming, and gave him a hard punch in the stomach!

"Ouch, my stomach, who... who did it... where's my Golden Scroll? Who took it?" The fat man turned and glared at Lin Zheng, who felt a chill run down his spine!

"Fat man, wake up. The test hasn't even started yet. Where are you going to find your Golden Scroll?" Lin Zheng said, trying to snap the fat man out of it.

"Oh, oh, it hasn't started yet. Damn, I need to prepare these next few days. First place, I must get first place, ahh... ahh..."

The last few words were almost shouted, and the loud noise echoed across the square. Lin Zheng quietly moved five paces away, afraid of being looked down upon by the others. However, when the others heard the fat man's shout, they all started to howl as well!

For a moment, the square was filled with eerie howls. Lin Zheng shivered and dragged the fat man away. When they returned to their courtyard, the fat man was still dazed, muttering, "Golden Scroll, my Golden Scroll!"

After Lin Zheng tidied up and brought out a cup of water, the fat man finally returned to normal, snatching the cup and drinking it all in one go, then looking at Lin Zheng sheepishly.

Lin Zheng was curious about the fat man's behavior and asked, "Are these rewards that special? I remember previous rewards also included pill scrolls and pills."

The fat man rolled his eyes, his face contorting in disdain. "This time is different. Previous pill scrolls were imprints of these Golden Scrolls. This is vastly different. The Golden Scroll is said to contain a thousand techniques and will show the most suitable ones based on the holder's characteristics. It can directly allow you to comprehend techniques without the need for arduous cultivation. These techniques are said to be passed down from ancient times!"

"What about the Silver and Iron Scrolls?"

"Those are also good, but they contain five hundred and one hundred techniques, respectively."

"Can each person only learn one technique?"

"Of course not. As long as you have the ability, you can learn all the techniques in the scroll. This is much more efficient than cultivating each technique individually."

"Compared to pills and spirit weapons, the scrolls are much more valuable!"

"You... well, the scrolls are definitely better. As long as you have spirit stones, even the most expensive pills and spirit weapons can be refined, except for divine weapons. However, this time, you can choose the pills and spirit weapons, and the sect has been operating for many years, so they definitely have top-grade pills and unknown divine weapons!"

"Ah? Is that why everyone is going crazy?"

"What do you mean, 'is that why everyone is going crazy?' Who doesn't want cultivation techniques and divine techniques? Who doesn't want life-saving pills and handy spirit weapons?" The fat man looked at Lin Zheng with disdain, as if he were a bumpkin!

Lin Zheng scratched his head awkwardly. Divine techniques? He didn't really care. He had more than a thousand techniques in his mind. As for pills, he had countless lost formulas. And as for spirit weapons, any ancient forging technique would make people fight to the death!

Comfortable, Lin Zheng felt comfortable from the inside out. Bumpkin, you're the bumpkin, and your whole family is!

Seeing the fat man start to mutter again, Lin Zheng waved him off, and he returned to his room to rest like a newly rich man!

The fat man, meanwhile, muttered and walked back, his fat body trembling with excitement. It wasn't his fault. In the current primitive continent, there were very few cultivation techniques. Outside the major sects and ancient families, few new techniques were known. This reward was like putting a large cake in front of a beggar who hadn't eaten for three days.

Inside the sect, many people were muttering, "Hey... Golden Scroll... Hey... mine... mine..."

"Hey... your scroll..."

"Hey... my scroll..."

All the disciples who participated in the test were going crazy. After their daze, they all burst with unprecedented fighting spirit. Even those who didn't participate in the test went crazy, seeking out their teachers to ask to join the sect's test. For a moment, the Wu Kong Sect was in chaos.

...

In Lin Zheng's small room, he lay quietly on the bed, organizing his experiences over the past few days. The sudden change in identity made Lin Zheng more determined, no longer in a daze.

Lin Zheng pondered many questions. How did he get here? According to the villagers, he was found at the village entrance. Now, he realized it couldn't be that simple. Fortune Teller... Fortune Teller... Suddenly, Lin Zheng sat up in bed. Could the Fortune Teller be... him... him... Yes, it must be him. Although his appearance had changed, his habits and expressions were the same!

If that was the case, the blacksmith uncle in the village, the aunt who cooked for him, and the children who played with him... they... they...

They were all alive, all alive! Lin Zheng suddenly choked up, tears streaming down his face. Yes, it was everyone, the feeling couldn't be wrong...

Too... too good... they were alive, alive...

At that moment, Lin Zheng seemed to understand something. He stood stubbornly, tears streaming down his face, his fists clenched tightly, his expression indescribably conflicted, as if the great awakening was too much for his face to express, and his facial muscles were squeezed together!

Lin Zheng had an irresistible urge to go down the mountain, but he didn't forget what the Fortune Teller said: he must wait until after the test. He trusted the Fortune Teller completely, as he had never been wrong, never...

Lin Zheng drank several cups of water, suppressing his emotions, and slowly sat down to practice the family's heart method. The spiritual energy began to circulate in his body, and Lin Zheng noticed that it didn't follow the meridian paths but the golden veins. The golden veins included most of the meridians and many muscles, tendons, and bones. Each cycle brought a subtle increase in strength, making his muscles stronger, his bones more solid, and even his spiritual senses slightly enhanced!

After several cycles, Lin Zheng slowly stopped, but the spiritual energy continued to circulate slowly. He believed that over time, the quantitative change would lead to a qualitative change. Moreover, he trusted that the heart method created by his father was not so simple!

Lin Zheng lay back on the bed and began to organize the techniques in his mind. He needed to use the next three days to master a few applicable techniques, but it would take more than three days to cultivate all the techniques in his mind!

But! They were alive! As long as they were alive, it was good!!!

PS: Second update of the day! Tears for favorites and clicks! With motivation, I will burst out! Fellow readers, give me your support!