Selecting Seeds

When they saw Huang Tao and the other two join forces only to lose to Zhao Xing, the crowd of onlookers immediately dispersed.

Those three had all been on the Grade A List last time.

They had lost even after joining forces, and so decisively at that. Who would still dare try?

Seeing that no one stepped forward, Zhao Xing stopped provoking them and began focusing on the assessment.

"Was that really Big Brother?" Qian Dong and Chen Ziyu, who were claiming land together, exchanged a glance. Neither team spoke.

"Brother has become so strong." Chen Ziyu was somewhat envious. "Huang Tao and those two joined forces, yet he drove them off so easily."

"One person taking two spring wells and three piles of grass ash... Big Brother will probably get Grade A again this time."

"Ziyu, let's not go over there. We might only hold Big Brother back."

"Mm."

"That Grade A Zhao is quite arrogant." To the west of the Planting Area, Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang stood together, watching the battle.

"He does have the right to be arrogant." Zong Shichang stroked his chin, eagerness flickering in his eyes. "Huang Tao and the other two used Cloudcalling spells at the seventh turn, just like him."

"His rising wind spell probably isn't weak either, yet they were defeated so cleanly."

"Either he concealed his strength, or he has abundant combat experience."

"Either way, he is definitely no simple character."

Li Chengfeng looked at the eager Zong Shichang and smiled. "What, Brother Zong? Feeling the itch?"

Zong Shichang nodded. "I do have some thoughts, but the assessment comes first. We'll see afterward."

"Mm. Let's go to the Seedling Area."

To the north of the Planting Area, Wen Nanxing stared intently at the gray-white cloud.

"Why was his Cloudcalling able to swallow Huang Tao's cloud so easily without being affected at all, even growing a little larger instead?"

Wen Nanxing was on the northern side, not far from Zhao Xing. He could be considered a front-row spectator.

He saw more clearly than Li Chengfeng.

"Cloudcalling spells possess a repulsive quality. Absorbing cloud qi and making it one's own is usually only possible through a difference in rank."

"I can also shred Huang Tao's cloud qi, and I can devour it as well. But how can he?"

Zhao Xing's Cloudcalling soon stabilized. It looked like a pool of mud, utterly unremarkable.

He then looked toward Xiao Ze in the south. Tiger Head Cloud shone brilliantly; compared to it, Zhao Xing's cloud was simply plain and ordinary.

"I wonder what technique that was." Xiao Ze pondered for a while as well, but the battle had ended too quickly for him to see anything clearly. He could only give up and head to the Seedling Area to make his selection.

After waiting for a while with no one coming to challenge him, Zhao Xing knew he had established himself. He too headed for the Seedling Area to choose his plants.

He had looked very relaxed when fighting Huang Tao and the other two. In truth... he had been relaxed.

The same spells, the same rank, yet their techniques and experience were on entirely different levels.

He had honed himself for a long time in the Era of Natural Disasters in his previous life. Combat had already become a survival instinct. For greenhouse flowers like Huang Tao and the others to choose him as an opponent was simply showing off before an expert.

Let alone three—this Zhao Xing could fight ten of them!

Up on the viewing platform, Chen Shijie could not help but smile. "Old Sima Nong was indeed right. He truly performed exceptionally. You have trained quite a talent."

Xue Wenzhong said slowly, "Before, he had not entered the second order of Gathering Yuan, so his talent was not apparent. After crossing that threshold, he accumulated strength and then burst forth. I merely contributed a little."

"Elder Xue is too modest." Gao Linong immediately said, "From what I saw during his previous minor assessments, his performance was merely average, never exceeding Grade B. Without your careful instruction, how could he have improved so greatly?"

Huang Tao was under Gao Linong's command. With Huang Tao having been defeated, Gao Linong had lost a little face as well.

Thus, there was a veiled jab at Xue Wenzhong in his words—had he given Zhao Xing special tutoring?

It never occurred to him that every official here, including himself, did the same thing.

As though it was normal when he did it, but a moral failing when others did.

Xue Wenzhong glanced at him and said calmly, "You may put it that way. Such a fine talent deserves even more of my time and personal guidance. Does Lord Gao have any suggestions?"

"..."

He had not expected Xue Wenzhong to answer like that. Was he simply not going to pretend anymore?

Gao Linong's punch had landed nowhere, leaving him somewhat uncomfortable. He could only give a dry laugh and let the matter pass.

The Planting Area was bustling with activity, while the Seedling Area was much more peaceful.

That was because the seedlings here were supplied without limit. There was no need to fight over them.

Besides seedlings planted in the soil, there were also bags of seeds.

"Seeds, saplings, and plants in their growth stage—three stages are available."

"Quality ranges from First Order to Third Order."

"The scoring criteria: first, quantity; second, quality; third, survival status."

Zhao Xing selected carefully, then his gaze fell on a potted plant. Everything else was unlimited, but this one was limited. It had been placed in the most conspicuous location and was even guarded.

"Heaven Yuan Pear Tree. It has a ten-year maturation period, then flowers for one year and bears fruit the next. It produces only three to ten fruits each time."

"The Heaven Yuan Pear it produces strengthens one's foundation and cultivates one's essence. It also tastes exceptionally good. Favored by nobles and officials, it is ranked among the finest Third Order plants."

Zhao Xing stared at it for a moment, thought about it, and ultimately gave up.

After activating Five Elements Observation, he learned that this pear tree was only three years old, far from maturity.

Choosing it would certainly yield the highest value score, but only if he could ripen it.

With only three days, none of the clerks present could accomplish that.

Chen Shijie had placed it here purely for the examinees to look at.

To see which fool would overestimate himself.

"Choosing seeds gives the highest score, but it also takes the most time and effort. Saplings are worth less, while half-mature potted plants are worth the least."

"Of course, quality also matters. Plants from First Order to Third Order are provided here, and quality points certainly take priority over everything else."

After pondering for a moment, Zhao Xing settled on three types of plants.

They were the vine-type Green Vine Sapling, a lower-grade second order plant.

The bamboo-type Adamantine Bamboo Sapling, a top-grade second order plant.

And then the aquatic Fragrant Lotus, a middle-grade second order plant.

Compared to other treasures, plant saplings and seeds were relatively cheap, so it did not matter even if they were damaged.

Zhao Xing did not stand on ceremony and asked the Seedling Area manager for twenty of each in one go.

"Name?"

"Zhao Xing."

"It's recorded. Move them yourself." After registering them, the manager pointed ahead.

A gentle breeze swirled and split into three currents. One went straight into the ground, slowly digging out the saplings along with their soil. One lifted the seed bags, while the last dragged the potted plants.

They then landed before Zhao Xing.

"Rise!"

Zhao Xing used the rising wind spell as well and gave a soft shout. The registered plants, dirt and all, immediately flew to his side and arranged themselves neatly.

"Not bad, not bad." The manager stroked his beard and smiled. "Though supplies are unlimited, do not waste such fine seedlings."

Zhao Xing nodded, carried the plants with invisible force, and walked toward his own Planting Area.

Others did not possess such ability and could only carry their plants over trip by trip.

Zhao Xing held the plants aloft with invisible force and strode forward like a dragon and tiger. Everyone who saw him hurriedly stepped aside or slowly followed behind him. It actually felt as though an emperor were making an inspection tour.

Please vote! Remember to stop by and tap in every day~ Many thanks.