The plants selected by Zhao Xing were quite particular. The quality of the Qing Teng, Piao Xiang Lian, and Jin Gang Zhu were respectively at the Gathered Essence Second Level lower, middle, and upper grades.
If the grade was too low, the score would be insufficient; if it was too high, three days would be too short to reach the scoring points. There were also considerations regarding efficacy; three days was too short for the plants, but too long for the candidates.
The assessment process did not allow for food or drink, and required the consumption of vital Qi to cultivate the plants, which was a tremendous test of endurance. The Qing Teng chosen by Zhao Xing, once matured, could bear Qing Teng Fruits, allowing him to satiate his hunger and restore vital Qi.
The Piao Xiang Lian was an aquatic species, with both lotus seeds and lotus roots being edible, and it occupied a spring, providing a significant advantage in cultivation. The first two could ensure Zhao Xing's health over the three days and secure a decent ranking, serving as a safety net, while the upper-grade Jin Gang Zhu was meant to boost his score.
Cultivating an upper-grade Gathered Essence plant would allow him to stand out and compete for the A-list. Additionally, Jin Gang Zhu itself was an excellent material for casting the Grass and Trees as Soldiers spell. If any unwise individuals attempted to sabotage in the latter half, he would have more countermeasures available.
The soil in the planting area had been cultivated, but it was quite dry; to absorb the earth's energy, he would need to dig deeper. Zhao Xing once again employed wind magic, manipulating the wind to connect with the clouds above, forming two small tornadoes, each as tall as a person.
"Whoosh~" The tornadoes moved along the ground, accurately plowing the ravines deeper.
"Hmm?" Wen Nanxing, who had just returned to his territory, was momentarily stunned by this scene. "What exquisite control of magic this person has!"
Among spells of the same level, some individuals executed them with greater finesse. Just as some could manipulate clouds like a pile of cotton, Wen Nanxing could turn clouds into swords, while Xiao Ze could turn clouds into tigers. Not only were their powers stronger, but they also had more ingenious applications.
The mastery of techniques depended entirely on personal comprehension. At this stage, the agricultural clerks were like children just starting school; some memorized by rote, some couldn't even memorize, but some had already integrated their knowledge and could draw inferences from one instance to another.
Without a doubt, Zhao Xing was the latter type. As Wen Nanxing watched, he found himself somewhat entranced!
It wasn't until Zhao Xing retracted the tornado that he regained his senses.
"Next year, when the officials are selected, this person will be my strongest competitor!"
Wen Nanxing focused his mind and began to concentrate on the task at hand.
Zhao Xing was completely unaware that Wen Nanxing had already regarded him as the number one competitor. What others found exquisite in his control was merely basic to him; he felt it was nothing special. It would only be worth mentioning if he could reach the level of 'Clouds in the Palm' or 'Three Feet of Thunder' taught by the old agricultural official.
"Did that damn spring well really need to be dug this deep?"
The Qing Teng seedlings and Jin Gang Zhu seedlings were easy to plant; just bury them and it was done. However, the Piao Xiang Lian was an aquatic species and had to be rooted in water.
When Zhao Xing ran to the spring well, he discovered it was at least 60 meters deep!
Without any tools nearby, how could he draw water? He would have to think of a way himself!
"Chen Shijie, you really are a sly one, making things difficult for people." Seeing this, Zhao Xing could only abandon the idea of directly planting the Piao Xiang Lian seeds in the spring well.
Without tools, how could he draw water?
Of course, he would use the clouds to absorb it.
Zhao Xing lowered the clouds, bringing them closer to the ground. At this point, the cloud vapor could begin to absorb the moisture from the spring well below.
Chen Shijie wanted the clerks to take a detour to draw water.
Zhao Xing found it too slow and once again summoned a tornado, this time much larger.
It connected the clouds above to the spring well below.
Moisture surged continuously upwards, quickly pouring into the clouds.
"What a water-sucking dragon!" Chen Shijie had been watching several clerks occupying the spring water and noticed that Zhao Xing was the first to solve the water-drawing problem, and he did so very efficiently!
"What Elder Xue said was not an exaggeration; he is not just a talented individual, he is simply a treasure! You have taught him well!"
"I haven't taught him this technique at all." Xue Wenzhong was also quite surprised, as he truly had not taught Zhao Xing this technique; at least, he had not taught him the skill of summoning wind.
"Could it be that he merely observed my 'Three Feet of Thunder' and 'Clouds in the Palm' and made connections to derive it himself?" At this moment, Xue Wenzhong's conviction in a certain thought grew stronger.
On the day of the autumn equinox, the heat was even more intense than during the Great Heat.
Under the clear blue sky, how difficult it was to rain?
Many clerks found that after manipulating clouds, when they tried to continue with the Rain Spreading spell, it had no effect at all; spells below the third transformation were greatly affected by extreme weather!
Many clerks sighed in dismay.
"Without water, in such heat, the cultivation spells will be greatly diminished."
"It seems we can only wait until nightfall to plant."
"What’s the point of planting? Tomorrow will be the same; whatever is planted will die!"
"Sigh, lacking strength; if only I could cast Rain Spreading at the third transformation..."
"Damn it, I’m not taking the exam anymore; I’m going home, waiting for a retest."
Within less than an hour of the exam starting, many clerks gave up. One reason was that they couldn't secure a territory, and the other was that even if they did, they couldn't keep the plants alive.
Just these two factors had filtered out a third of the participants, and one by one, people began to withdraw early, abandoning this assessment. After all, there was no punishment; they couldn't be promoted anyway, so why suffer as a mere backdrop for others?
"Drip, drip, drip~"
Rain began to fall in various parts of the planting area.
But everyone controlled it well, ensuring that the moisture did not flow elsewhere, only within the areas where their seedlings were planted. The examiners had long since deemed them dead; if you helped others at this time, you would inevitably be dragged down yourself.
Moreover, those with abilities did not need to help, and those without abilities would find it useless to help.
Zhao Xing conjured a small cloud, only five meters in diameter and two meters high.
He walked to the side of the spring well, where he had dug a small pit to plant the Piao Xiang Lian.
"Whoosh~"
The dark, ink-like small cloud was not so much raining as pouring water!
In no time, the small pit was filled to the brim.
Inside, a layer of grass ash had already been laid down; when the water washed over it, the soil and grass ash mixed, instantly becoming murky and forming sludge.
"Twenty portions of Piao Xiang Lian seeds should be enough."
Zhao Xing took out the seed bag and sowed them at intervals.
Lotus seeds were delicate, so 'wild growth' was not suitable for them at this time; thus, Zhao Xing first used the 'Robust Growth' spell.
Vital Qi flowed continuously, and after half an hour, the Piao Xiang Lian seeds took root and sprouted, breaking through the soil.
"The survival rate is one hundred percent, phew~" Zhao Xing let out a sigh of relief. The seedling and seed stage was the most fragile; one could not afford to be careless for even a moment.
But as long as they passed this period, things would improve significantly afterward.
"First, let me have a drink." Zhao Xing summoned the dark cloud, buried his head into it, and drank deeply.
"In another two hours, once the three types of plants have taken root sufficiently, I can cast wild growth, but I can't rest yet."
Zhao Xing surveyed his surroundings; the once gray and yellow planting area was now filled with greenery.
"If I want to score in the A-list, I must be prepared." Looking at his colleagues around him, Zhao Xing revealed a sly smile: "Sorry, the nutrients in your fields are now mine."
(End of Chapter)