【You have created a Straw Man Puppet (Great Strength)】
【Grass and Wood All Soldiers Proficiency +15】
【Straw Man Puppet (Great Strength) Proficiency +60】
【You have created a Straw Man Puppet (Great Strength)】
【Grass and Wood All Soldiers Proficiency +20】
【Straw Man Puppet (Great Strength) Proficiency +80】
The materials were of superior quality, leading to different insights. Compared to the withered grass of Yuan Rice, the power feedback from the Diamond Bamboo was much clearer, allowing Zhao Xing to appreciate the intricacies of the Great Strength Straw Man Technique on a deeper level.
On this foundation, the proficiency of the Great Strength Straw Man Technique surged upward.
After half a day, Zhao Xing had already cultivated it to the Second Transformation level.
【Straw Man Puppet (Great Strength)】
【Proficiency: 2750/9999】
【Effect: Indestructible, immense strength.】
“Hit me with three points of strength.” Zhao Xing crossed his arms in front of his chest and then commanded the Great Strength Diamond to attack.
“Bang!” The golden Great Strength Diamond threw a punch, and Zhao Xing felt as if he had been struck by a giant hammer, sending him flying backward.
The Great Strength Diamond moved forward, ready to deliver a follow-up attack.
“Stop! That’s enough, it’s already too much!” Zhao Xing grimaced and called for a halt.
The Great Strength Diamond immediately froze in place.
Now, Zhao Xing was no longer tired, only feeling a pleasant soreness throughout his body.
How did one develop resistance? It was practiced like this!
If only he were not so weak and could take a hit; otherwise, Zhao Xing would definitely spar with the Great Strength Diamond.
“With just one punch, it’s hard for a body of the Agricultural Affairs Bureau profession to withstand. Even a martial artist with tough skin and flesh would likely need to reach the entry-level to endure it.”
You get what you pay for; using Yuan Rice as the base to perform the Straw Man Technique could at most scare away birds.
The Great Strength Diamond could completely serve as a bodyguard.
However, the Great Strength Diamond lacked any technique; it could only throw simple punches and kicks. Against entry-level martial artists, it could easily be outmaneuvered, but it would likely suffice against these Agricultural Affairs clerks.
“The quantity is about right; let me see who dares to provoke me.”
Zhao Xing walked out of the bamboo forest and approached a nearby field, picking a few green vine fruits from the vines to consume.
The Second Tier Lower Grade green vine had already ripened, covered in thumb-sized, golden fruits.
Though the taste was average, it was filling.
Zhao Xing was not picky about taste; practicality was always his primary consideration.
“Now, only the water plant ‘Fragrant Lotus’ remains, and it’s still not fully matured.” Zhao Xing looked into the muddy pit.
Due to the vital Qi primarily nourishing the Diamond Bamboo, only two Fragrant Lotuses had matured, while the remaining eighteen were still growing.
“I wonder how others’ planting is going. My Earth Vein Comprehensive Yuan only covers this half of the planting area to the east; the west side hasn’t been tended to at all.”
If Huang Tao heard this, he would probably spit blood. Was that really tending?
“The quota for A-class is limited. If I can suppress Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and others to only A-class, then my chances of being appointed will increase.”
“By the third night, I should secretly kill some of their plants; that should be enough. As for the people on the west side, forget it.”
Having made up his mind, Zhao Xing planned to rest for a while and start his actions at night.
However, unexpectedly, an uninvited guest arrived.
“You lot, go to Brother Chengfeng’s side and swap territories with me.” Zong Shichang came from the west, stopping near Zhao Xing’s cloud layer.
“Brother Zong, we have already planted here, and it’s about to mature. This seems inappropriate.” Some were unwilling to change positions.
“It’s not a free swap; you’ll receive payment later at my residence.” Zong Shichang said lightly.
“I’ll swap.” The first person immediately beamed with joy, saying nothing more as he uprooted and left.
“And you? Will you swap?”
Seeing that they were still hesitant, Zong Shichang impatiently said, “If you dig it up yourselves, it won’t be too taxing. If I help you dig, then it will be a complete waste.”
“We’ll swap.” Under pressure and temptation, Zong Shichang quickly completed the swaps.
Such commotion naturally caught Zhao Xing’s attention.
“Zong Shichang? What is he doing here? Is he coming for me?” Zhao Xing observed the scene.
Unlike Li Chengfeng, who had a gentlemanly reputation, Zong Shichang left an impression of being domineering.
To put it nicely, he acted on impulse. To put it bluntly, he was overbearing and disregarded others' feelings.
However, he was not reckless; he was willing to spend money.
Usually, he would pave the way with money first, and if that didn’t work, he would resort to force.
“His father, Zong Heng, is one of the vice presidents of the Nanyang Chamber of Commerce; he doesn’t take ordinary people seriously.” Zhao Xing recalled some rumors about Zong Shichang.
The most famous incident was when Zong Shichang had a grass-fighting match in Nanyang County.
In a fit of anger after losing, he punched someone in the face.
Coincidentally, some officials happened to pass by and immediately tried to arrest Zong Shichang.
In response, Zong Shichang offered thirty taels per punch to the person he hit, who immediately jumped up and chased the officials away.
In the end, Zong Shichang punched that person eighteen times to vent his anger, earning him the nickname ‘Zong Eighteen.’
“Brother Zhao! Can we chat for a moment?”
As expected, once Zong Shichang landed, he immediately walked over to Zhao Xing.
Seeing him standing at the edge of the cloud’s shadow, Zhao Xing found his tone relatively polite, so he approached.
“Ah, Brother Zong, what guidance do you have?”
After Zhao Xing spoke, he noticed Zong Shichang glanced behind him and then inexplicably… became excited?
“Brother Zhao, you also have this intention? I indeed want to spar with you!” Zong Shichang said straightforwardly.
Hey, is this what I meant by guidance? Your thought process is too strange.
But Zhao Xing was too lazy to explain; explaining at this moment would only make him seem timid.
So he directly said, “Let’s set the rules; how do you want to play?”
“Simple!” Zong Shichang found Zhao Xing more agreeable, “You and I will compete without restrictions; any technique can be used. Are you willing?”
“If I injure you, you can choose any spirit pill below Third Level, and I will send it to your residence afterward.”
Are you looking for a sparring partner? Zhao Xing raised an eyebrow; Zong Shichang’s reputation for being domineering was indeed not unfounded. Others were competing for assessments, but he purely wanted to find someone to spar with.
“Not possible.”
“Not possible?” Zong Shichang’s expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“If I win, you must also comply.”
Zong Shichang was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: “Win against me? Hahaha, then it’s settled! Prepare yourself!”
He pointed a finger, and the clouds above turned pitch black, with lightning flashing within the cloud layer.
Quickly completing the steps of forming clouds and summoning thunder.
From his spellcasting posture, Zhao Xing knew that his third step would be to【Summon Lightning】.
Summoning Lightning was a mid-tier spell; Zong Shichang, who liked to compete fiercely, was indeed not without skill.
Zhao Xing frowned and retreated behind the Straw Man.
“Take him down; yes, let’s have twenty of you go together.”