The assessment content for the beginning of autumn was relatively normal, aligning with the seasonal theme, testing both ability and endurance. This was entirely in line with Xue Wenzhong's consistent style; he was a diligent and hardworking person, wholly focused on his tasks.
The officials' reactions were not as intense as when Chen Shijie set the questions last time. Even if they did not achieve good results, they could only blame their own lack of skill.
However, when Zhao Xing entered the Hundred Herbs Garden, he still noticed some unusual aspects.
"The seedling area is unremarkable, with enough quantity for the officials to choose from, but this planting area seems a bit crowded, doesn't it?"
Zhao Xing glanced around the planting area and found it was not very large, only the size of a soccer field. Although the reference personnel did not reach five hundred, there were certainly three to four hundred present.
Since there was no limit on the number of plants that could be planted, the officials would definitely plant more than one.
Especially the strong cultivators, in order to ensure their advantage, would certainly occupy a larger territory.
That left very little space for the others.
"This layout has some issues." Zhao Xing activated his Mingmu, scanning the area more clearly to understand the layout of the planting zone.
"The planting area is square, with twelve springs distributed throughout, and thirty-six piles of grass ash. There are signs next to the grass ash marking the immovable restricted areas."
"In other words, the locations of the twelve springs and the thirty-six piles of grass ash are the best planting areas."
"It is clearly designed to make the officials fight for territory."
Near the springs, using the Cloud Rain Technique would provide a beneficial effect, while the grass ash served as fertilizer to accelerate growth.
Needless to say, this was arranged by Chen Shijie.
Given Xue Wenzhong's character, he would not set such a question, and as the main official, Chen Shijie could not avoid being involved in any question. This Lord Chen from Xishan County had previously served as the military agricultural officer and loved to create competitive questions.
"The layout of the planting area must have been added by him." Zhao Xing licked his lips. After understanding the assessment standards and the examination site, and discerning the examiner's intentions, he immediately began to act.
Before the other officials could catch on, he took the lead and quickly ran to the northeast corner of the planting area.
"Clouds, appear!"
Zhao Xing pointed with his hand, and a dark cloud immediately gathered above the northeast corner.
The clouds rolled and swirled seven times, the Seven Turns of Cloud!
Once stabilized, it enveloped the two springs below and the three piles of grass ash.
In the competition for territory among the agricultural officers, how to seize it? Of course, it was through the Cloud Technique!
The Cloud Technique had exclusivity; occupying this piece of sky meant occupying the territory below.
Dare to plant under someone else's cloud? Not a single blade of grass would survive.
Zhao Xing was accustomed to competition from his previous life, so in this vast examination field, he was the first to see through the examiner's intentions and the first to raise the clouds, claiming the space.
"Not bad, not bad~" Chen Shijie, watching from a distance on a small hill, stroked his beard and chuckled.
This was the second time he had noticed Zhao Xing; last time during the Grain Bird disaster question, it was also Zhao Xing who first found the right response.
When someone guessed his thoughts, Chen Shijie felt a sense of 'this child truly understands me.'
He turned to Xue Wenzhong and asked, "Planting together as neighbors, survival of the fittest, what does Elder Xue think of my modification?"
Xue Wenzhong nodded slightly, "Lord Chen's modification will likely lead to the officials fighting over territory before the planting even begins. It is indeed more interesting than my original setup."
According to Xue Wenzhong's method of assessment, the officials would plant peacefully after finishing, but the process would certainly be very dull. Now, it was entirely different.
Chen Shijie said leisurely, "The world has never been peaceful; only our dynasty is at peace. Preparing for the future and survival of the fittest is the style of the younger generation. I hope Elder Xue will not take offense."
Facing Chen Shijie's explanation, Xue Wenzhong nodded in agreement. The other officials, such as Gao Linong and Tang Wanchun, who were watching together, although they did not agree in their hearts, also echoed the words of their superior.
"Buzz~" "Buzz~" "Buzz~"
Zhao Xing was not the only one moving quickly; soon after entering the venue, other outstanding individuals began to compete for resources.
Clouds rose from the planting area, some large, some small, some black, some white, quickly filling the entire planting area.
However, with only twelve springs and thirty-six piles of grass ash, it was destined that they could not be divided among everyone.
Thus, the disputes began.
"Brother Liang Bai, this place is too crowded for me to perform; could you please make way?"
"Li Chengfeng?" Liang Bai suddenly turned around, seeing a figure not far away, his expression changed. After pondering for a moment, he had no choice but to retreat to maintain his dignity, "Since it is Brother Li's request, I cannot refuse."
After saying that, he shrank his cloud above and moved to another place.
"Boom!" Li Chengfeng raised his hand to the sky, and a dark cloud spanning a hundred meters appeared. After several turns, he occupied three springs and four piles of grass ash in one go. At the same time, lightning snakes appeared at the edges of the cloud, declaring his sovereignty.
Wen Nanxing approached from the north, being the second to raise his cloud, just a step slower than Zhao Xing.
He occupied two springs and four piles of grass ash, his cloud towering like a long sword, with a black hilt and a white blade, and lightning coalescing on the blade, resembling seven stars, quite extraordinary.
"Clouds forming into swords? Wen Nanxing must have perfected the Cloud Technique, reaching a level of mastery."
"Not only has he perfected the Cloud Technique, but that lightning coalescing into stars is likely the same."
"Can't compete, can't compete."
Seeing this, the latecomers were intimidated and could only avoid Wen Nanxing's territory.
In the southwest corner of the planting area, a third cloud rose, with four tiger heads distributed at the corners, occupying three springs and three piles of grass ash.
Alongside this strange cloud, several others rose simultaneously, but as the Tiger Head Cloud expanded, they did not yield and instead crashed into it fiercely.
"Boom!"
The Tiger Head was enveloped in a layer of blue-purple lightning, and after flashing, the clouds attacking it created a massive gap, swaying unsteadily.
Underneath the Tiger Head Cloud, Xiao Ze clasped his hands in all directions, "I concede."
Most of those attacking Xiao Ze were from the last ranking exam; seeing they could not win, they extinguished their thoughts. Xiao Ze managed to withstand the test and claimed a place.
However, not everyone knew when to advance or retreat; it was easy to distinguish the strong from the weak, and there were always some with similar strength who were unwilling to back down, leading to a lack of civility between them.
"Huang Siping, you old and frail winter melon, following Li Chengfeng around, do you think you are also at Gathered Essence Fourth Level? How dare you come to rob me?!"
"Rascal, you dare to insult me?"
"Wang Hao, you barely passed the last small exam, not even making it to the B ranking, and you dare to compete with me? Do you think my Thunder Cloud is weak?!"
"My Thunder is not weak! Watch this!"
In just a quarter of an hour since the exam began, the sky above the planting area erupted into chaos, with shouts of anger echoing. In the air, there were strong winds, lightning, torrential rain, and clouds colliding, creating utter disorder!
Seeing this scene, Chen Shijie laughed heartily, simply moving a few tables and chairs, setting out some plates of fruits, dried meat, and rice wine, inviting the officials to sit down.
"Everyone, please take a seat and enjoy the joy of this beginning of autumn with me!"
(The End of This Chapter)