To prepare a special meal and practice more can still be justified as cherishing talent. However, using a fourth-tier 'Transmission Painting' to help Zhao Xing pass the assessment is purely selfish.
This was the first time the old Agricultural Affairs Bureau head engaged in such a personal act, and he felt somewhat uneasy, remaining silent throughout the meal. After finishing, he simply told Zhao Xing to leave.
Zhao Xing tacitly refrained from mentioning it, cupping his hands in farewell before heading home.
Thanks to the old Agricultural Affairs Bureau head's assistance, his initial-level spells had grown robustly to their maximum level. By observing the Ten Thousand Things Growth Chart, he effortlessly comprehended a mid-level spell, 【Wild Growth】.
In agricultural spells, there are only distinctions between 'practical' and 'super practical.' This mid-level spell falls into the super practical category.
【Wild Growth: Mid-Level Spell】
【Progress: 0/9999】
【Effect: After casting, it possesses destructive capabilities that exceed the environment's tolerance, affecting the survival of other species.】
The proficiency of mid-level spells still requires a rotation every 1000 points, with the same upper limit, but the difficulty of improvement correspondingly increases.
Why is Wild Growth considered super practical? Because it is a strong counter-spell! In the process of shortening the plant maturation cycle, it crazily absorbs surrounding nutrients, exhibiting a highly destructive trend that surpasses the environment's own tolerance.
Most importantly, it squeezes the living space of other plants, even extracting the life force of other plants to use as nutrients.
The subsequent advancement route for this spell, after its revival version transformation, has an astonishing name—"Only I Have the Law!" It is also praised by Agricultural Affairs Bureau players as an 'internal war divine skill.' My plants live, while yours cannot; it is extremely domineering!
As for the other initial-level spell obtained from the Ten Thousand Things Growth Chart, it is also very practical.
【Earth Vein Synthesis: Initial-Level Spell】
【Progress: 0/9999】
【Effect: Draws upon the power of the earth veins, synthesizing earth vein vital Qi.】
Earth veins are the foundation of the world; every location connects to the spiritual veins deep underground, differing only in strength.
Earth Vein Synthesis is an auxiliary spell that can absorb earth vein vital Qi, making a certain area of land fertile. Based on 【Earth Vein Synthesis】, the ultimate goal is to advance to 【Five Elements Blessed Land】.
This is a spell of the geographical faction, and this series of spells is nicknamed 'Stealing Yuan Technique.' Unlike 【Wild Growth】, it is not easily detectable and has a high degree of concealment.
Many old players enjoy leveling this spell to a high degree, sneaking around the caves and blessed lands of others to secretly cast spells and fatten themselves up. What is stealing vegetables? I directly steal the earth vein vital Qi!
"It's hard to change one's nature... Why is it that all I comprehend are these old player spells?" Everyone comprehends differently from the Ten Thousand Things Growth Chart, just like the random nature of teachings from the Temple of Divinity. Zhao Xing guessed that he must have been an old player in his past life.
By the time he returned home, it was already dark, but it was not too late. Zhao Xing planned to head to his vegetable garden to practice with the two newly acquired spells.
Not long after entering the vegetable garden, his little brother came running over with a lamp, full of enthusiasm.
"Big Brother, Big Brother, what are you doing? Are you making a midnight snack?"
Zhao Xing was somewhat speechless: "Did your mother not give you dinner? It's only just dark, and you want a midnight snack."
"I ate, hehe, but it's not as delicious as what Big Brother makes." Zhao Zheng seemed to think of something and smacked his lips.
Although this big brother liked to beat him up, he had his merits—his cooking was delicious, and he always managed to concoct some tasty dried fruits and preserves.
"Big Brother, I'll hold the lamp for you! When you cook, I'll help you with the fire."
"Go away, go away." Zhao Xing said with some disdain, "I have a box of snacks under my bedside table; go find it yourself and don't bother me here."
"Thank you, Big Brother!!!" The little brother hung the lamp on the nearby fence and dashed off.
After fiddling for about two hours, Zhao Xing saw that both spells had reached the first rotation level, so he decided not to continue. The early autumn assessment would start tomorrow, and he needed to conserve some energy.
Early the next morning, Zhao Xing got up, washed up, and prepared to head out. His adoptive father, Zhao Ruide, was already practicing martial arts in the yard, moving slowly, practicing health-preserving boxing.
"Adoptive Father, I'm going to work." Zhao Xing greeted.
Seeing Zhao Xing empty-handed, Zhao Ruide asked, "Why aren't you taking a lamp? The house doesn't lack for your little bit of utility."
"I can see at night now." With a thought, Zhao Xing's pupils instantly turned yellow-green in the darkness.
"Oh?" Zhao Ruide glanced over and nodded slightly, "Then before you leave, help me wake Zheng'er up."
"Alright." Zhao Xing ran to another room and, without hesitation, kicked the door open.
Since last year, Zhao Zheng had been sleeping separately from Madam Cai, which Zhao Xing had forced; otherwise, Madam Cai would probably have to continue co-sleeping with the little darling for a few more years.
"Who the hell dares to disturb me..." Before his eyes even opened, he was already cursing, but once he opened them, he immediately swallowed his words.
"Get up! Put on your clothes." Zhao Xing yanked the thin blanket off and lifted Zhao Zheng, who was surprisingly still holding a jar of preserves while sleeping.
"Big Brother, Big Brother, what’s wrong?" Zhao Zheng looked confused but obediently got dressed.
"Going out to practice martial arts."
"Huh?" Zhao Zheng frowned, "The rooster hasn't even crowed yet..."
"Mm?"
"Yes, Big Brother! I'm dressed!" Zhao Zheng quickly complied. After all, Big Brother was leaving soon; resisting would surely lead to a beating, but going out to practice martial arts meant he could later act cute with his parents and sneak in a nap.
After waking Zhao Zheng, Zhao Xing left for the Agricultural Affairs Bureau.
Madam Cai soon woke up as well, having heard the child cry out in hunger.
She hurried to the vegetable garden, only to find it flourishing, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Ah! How come the seedlings I counted days ago have already..."
"…The early autumn assessment will be held in the Hundred Herbs Garden."
"Starting from the sixth day of the eighth month at the hour of the snake, ending on the ninth day of the eighth month at the hour of the dog."
As he approached the Agricultural Affairs Bureau, he heard a voice swirling around his ears; it was Chen Shijie’s voice.
"Sound transmitted by the wind can travel for miles, and the clarity of the voice is indeed remarkable; the strength of a ninth-rank Agricultural Affairs Bureau official is truly extraordinary," Zhao Xing thought to himself.
This was an advanced application of the 【Wind Rising】 spell, and the control over vital Qi was far beyond what a small official could compare.
However, there were even more exaggerated examples, such as the esteemed Li Wenzheng from Grain City, who once demonstrated the ability of 【Golden Sound and Jade Resonance, Sound Transmitted for Hundreds of Miles】 during the issuance of the 'Recruitment Order,' though that was also aided by some external force.
Zhao Xing listened carefully for a while and arrived at the Agricultural Affairs Bureau, nearly understanding the rules.
From the sixth day of the eighth month at the hour of the snake to the ninth day of the eighth month at the hour of the dog, it would last about four days and three nights.
Each official could freely select from the 'Seedling Area' in the Hundred Herbs Garden, with no limit on quantity. They would then proceed to the 【Planting Area】 for cultivation.
Officials could enter at any time during these three days, but once inside, they could not exit.
At the precise hour of the dog on the ninth day of the eighth month, those sent by the county office would witness, tally the results, and record them for archiving.
There are three evaluation criteria: by the hour of the dog on the ninth day, first, the quality of the seeds or seedlings selected by the official; second, the number of plants that survived; and third, the condition of the surviving plants.
(End of Chapter)