"Impossible, if the fourth recording tablet is destroyed, then Fang Zhengzhi's name will be destroyed along with it!" One of the officials refuted the other candidates' thoughts.
"Then what is going on? Where is the fourth recording tablet? "
"Is there another possibility? That the recording tablet was dug up by Fang Zhengzhi?!" One of the candidates used his imagination to ask the question in his mind.
"Impossible! The recording tablet is 10 meters into the ground. Even a Rebirth State cultivator would not be able to pull it out! "
"Does he have some treasure on him?"
"Given Fang Zhengzhi's background, he should not have any treasure."
"No matter how Fang Zhengzhi did it, we... can't wait here any longer!"
"Yes, as long as we find Fang Zhengzhi, all the answers will be revealed!"
"We have to stop him!"
"But he has already passed the third recording tablet. If we go back the way we came, we might not be able to catch up to him. He might even get first place."
"He can go the other way, but we can go the same way!"
"That's right, if we run another round, we will definitely be able to stop him!"
All of the candidates discussed amongst themselves and came up with a plan. As such, all of the candidates spurred their horses towards the first recording tablet.
Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming's expressions were unreadable as they watched the scene unfold.
Run another round?
Do they have that much time to run another lap?
"Fang Zhengzhi!" Xiang Tianying clenched his fists so tightly that they turned white. He was furious, but there was nothing he could do. If he continued to stay here, he would have no hope at all.
If he chased, he might still have a chance.
Stop!
He could only wait for his death!
"Go!" Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming shouted at the same time. Then, they shot off like an arrow.
"When this guy met me, he hid it from me. Hmmph, he didn't even leave me a note. I came all the way here for nothing. How despicable! "Ping Yang pouted and whipped the reins of the horse. Snow Jade also galloped away.
...
Fang Zhengzhi knew that things would turn out badly. In fact, from the moment he saw Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming, he knew that things would turn out badly. He already knew what was going to happen next.
Dig out the recording tablet?
He had thought about it, but he couldn't do it.
The Heart Protection Mirror could only store a limited number of items. Moreover, in order to store an item in the Heart Protection Mirror, the first requirement was to hold the item in one's hand.
Then …
Could he lift the recording tablet into his hands?
Of course not.
Therefore, he thought of a simpler, faster, and more effective method.
The Eastern Suburbs Hunting Ground was located in a forest, and the roads were complicated. There was only one road in the entire Eastern Suburbs Hunting Ground. That was simply impossible.
As the hunting ground of the Royal Family, under normal circumstances, the Eastern Suburbs Hunting Ground was not open to the public. It would only be opened when the Emperor held a hunting ceremony.
This time, in order to let the participants of the horse race and hunt clearly distinguish the paths, they also specially set up a main road and a side road. Moreover, they also set up some boundary stones at the corresponding intersections to prevent the participants of the horse race and hunt from going the wrong way.
However, in this way … This was a surprise for Fang Zhengzhi.
As such …
After he scanned the surroundings of the fourth recording tablet, he made a small adjustment at a fork in the road.
In order to prevent any accidents, he deliberately walked along the path that he had prepared, waiting for the participants to arrive.
Until he saw Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming.
Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming were not from the capital. They were not familiar with the Eastern Suburbs Hunting Ground. Furthermore, they saw the direction that Fang Zhengzhi was coming from and the boundary stones on the ground.
They did not think too much about it.
He bypassed Fang Zhengzhi and ran forward.
Ping Yang, the Ninth Prince, and the others followed behind Xiang Tianying and Tang Zhongming. All they wanted was to get a good ranking and head in the right direction. A small fork in the road did not arouse their suspicions.
Furthermore, the greeting from Fang Zhengzhi caused Ping Yang to forget about checking the surroundings. All her attention was focused on Fang Zhengzhi.
As such …
Everything would fall into place.
Two people had gone the wrong way. With Ping Yang and the Ninth Prince leading the way, coupled with their disdain for Fang Zhengzhi, a small fork in the road did not arouse any suspicions.
When everyone went the wrong way …
No one would think that they were going the wrong way.
Fang Zhengzhi felt that he had done everything perfectly. Firstly, he did not destroy the recording tablet. Damaging public property was not something that could be blamed on him.
Secondly, he didn't move the recording tablet either. There was no excuse for him to break the rules of the horse race or hunt.
Thirdly, once everyone reached the finish line, he would make his way to the third recording tablet and carve his name. Then, no one would be able to chase him from the fourth recording tablet.
How could anyone discover the secret of the fourth recording tablet?
Everything was under control. What reason did he have not to come in first?
Fang Zhengzhi was in no hurry. He knew that there was one more thing he had to solve. Only then would he be able to come in first.
Under the bright and beautiful weather, riding alone, admiring the lush green forest, enjoying the clear sound of flowing water, and roasting a wild rabbit from time to time, was truly one of life's greatest pleasures.
After Fang Zhengzhi easily inscribed his name on the second recording tablet, he did not continue walking. Instead, he lit a fire by the side of the road and set up a rack to roast a rabbit...
...
At the finish line. When everyone saw Fang Zhengzhi's name appear on the tablet, their expressions were complicated.
"Has he passed the second recording tablet?"
"If he can carve his name on the first recording tablet, he will win!"
"He will never pass the first recording tablet!"
From the start of the competition until now...
No one could have guessed that there would be such an outcome.
Fang Zhengzhi rode on a Mud Striped Horse in front of a bunch of other horses. He was extremely unsightly and unattractive.
But in reality?
Fang Zhengzhi had taken a path that everyone thought was impossible.
Then, on this road, he rode a Mud Striped Horse and carved his name on the three recording tablets. He stood on the same starting line as everyone else.
Furthermore... More importantly, he had taken the initiative.
What would happen if he hid?
Or went around the other paths?
All of the candidates and officials were nervous. They hoped that the group of people would not fall for the trap and that they would not disperse to search for them.
Otherwise, if Fang Zhengzhi found a loophole, There was no turning back.
"As long as they protect the first recording tablet, Fang Zhengzhi will not be able to complete the competition!"
"That's right. As long as they hold Fang Zhengzhi back, the competition can continue."
"But... who would sacrifice themselves to hold Fang Zhengzhi back?"
All of the officials looked at each other, all of them worried.
Compared to the officials' worries... Wen Dabao was the only one who was excited. He was no longer kneeling on the tablet. Instead, he took out three incense sticks and lit them in front of the tablet.
He lit the candles in front of the Appearance Tablet and sat there "sincerely" praying. "Fang Zhengzhi, you must win. If you win, you will be my brother. You will be my brother. You will be my brother …"
...
Fang Zhengzhi tossed the Mud Striped Stallion to the side and allowed it to graze on the grass. He lay on the ground. He spun the green furred rabbit on the rack.
He could imagine that there would be a large number of people lying in ambush around the first recording tablet.
In that case, it made no difference whether he went earlier or later.
However, there was a big difference between going with an empty stomach and going with a full stomach. He was stronger than the enemy.
Fang Zhengzhi knew this very well. As such, he continued to roast the green furred rabbit patiently.
Until a fiery red figure appeared in front of him.
"Fang Zhengzhi. You are roasting a rabbit here?! " Ping Yang knew that Fang Zhengzhi would take a detour. She also knew that Fang Zhengzhi would try to pass the first recording tablet.
However, she never expected that Fang Zhengzhi would stop in the middle of the competition. Furthermore, he was roasting a rabbit by the side of the road.
Was he not afraid of being seen?
"You have a problem with that?" Fang Zhengzhi continued to roast the rabbit.
"Of course I do." Ping Yang pouted. She pouted angrily.
"Then do you want to eat?"
"Yes!"
"What about the Ninth Prince?" Fang Zhengzhi ignored Ping Yang and changed his posture lazily. He did not even raise his head as he continued to speak.
"Official Fang, you are in a good mood. I... will eat some too." The Ninth Prince's voice rang out from afar.
"How did you know that Ninth Brother is here?" Ping Yang was curious. Fang Zhengzhi did not even look in her direction.
"I guessed." Fang Zhengzhi replied casually. Then, he took out a small box and poured all sorts of spices and alcohol onto the green furred rabbit.
Before long, the aroma filled the air.
The Ninth Prince was beside Fang Zhengzhi at this point. He was slightly taken aback. He did not recognize what Fang Zhengzhi was holding in the box.
"Ninth Brother, you are in luck this time. This guy is full of flaws, but he has one good point. His meat is delicious." Ping Yang gulped. She had already forgotten about Fang Zhengzhi's refusal to give her the note. All she could see was the meat.
"It smells delicious," the Ninth Prince, Lin Yun, praised.
...
Time passed quickly.
The Ninth Prince did not mention anything about the competition. Ping Yang did not mention it either. As such, Fang Zhengzhi did not mention it.
Therefore, after Fang Zhengzhi finished the roasted meat, he did not rush to leave. Instead, he chewed on a blade of grass leisurely, squinting his eyes as he basked in the sun.
"Fang Zhengzhi, aren't you going to take a look at the first recording tablet?" Ping Yang could not take it any longer. She asked curiously when she saw Fang Zhengzhi's relaxed expression.
"Do you think I'll be of any use?"
"It's useless, because they've already made a deal. They'll wait for you there and take you down in one go. Then, they'll use the first recording tablet as the starting point and start the horse race again."
"That's right."
"Aren't you curious why I'm here?"
"What's there to be curious about? Because you are Ping Yang."
"Humph, boring!" Ping Yang curled her lips as she vented her frustrations. She then turned to the Ninth Prince and asked, "Why do you think Ninth Brother is here?"
"Because he promised to wait for them at the second recording tablet." Fang Zhengzhi flipped around and waved her off.
"Humph!" Ping Yang snorted. Even though she did not want to admit it, she felt that Fang Zhengzhi knew everything.
The wind blew gently, and the sun slowly rose to the top of their heads. Rays of sunlight shone down, and the air slowly became a little hot. The ground also slowly became a little hot.
Fang Zhengzhi looked at the sky and felt that it was about time.
He had been starving since morning. He had not eaten or drunk anything and was in a state of mental stress. The other candidates should be exhausted by now.
"Let's go." Fang Zhengzhi patted the dust off his shirt and smiled brightly.
"Where are we going?" Ping Yang raised her head and looked at Fang Zhengzhi with her crystal clear eyes.
"To the finish line. Don't you want to be number one?" Fang Zhengzhi replied matter-of-factly.
"Finish line, then..."
"You want to know if I have the fourth recording tablet with me?" Fang Zhengzhi waved her off.
"Yes, hand over the fourth recording tablet and I will spare your life!" When Ping Yang heard Fang Zhengzhi's words, she immediately widened her eyes and gave a ferocious expression.
However, with that pair of eyes that were as clear as water, that slightly pouted little face, and that pink little mouth, it really didn't have any relation to a fiendish demon.
She was rather adorable.
"Hahaha … looks like I won't feel at ease if I don't let you search me for fun. Come search me." Fang Zhengzhi opened his arms wide, implying that he could search him if he had the guts.
"Shameless!" Ping Yang blushed.
The Ninth Prince didn't say anything when he saw this. Clearly, this had nothing to do with whether he was anxious or not. They had already waited for so long. What did it matter if they waited a little longer?
"Do you really want to know?" Fang Zhengzhi asked.
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