Assessment Ends, On-Site Grading

News of Zong Shichang's defeat soon spread through the examination grounds.

Though no one had seen exactly what had happened, the heavenly phenomena of Guiding Thunder and Flying Sand and Rolling Stones could not be concealed.

Besides, he had been perfectly fine when he went over to Zhao Xing's side, yet he came back limping.

If they had not fought, surely he had not fallen into a well?

"Earlier, Huang Tao and the other two joined forces and lost. Now Young Master Zong went over and suffered too. Zhao Xing is surely a lock for the Grade A List."

"Another formidable competitor has emerged this year. Sigh, why couldn't it have been me?"

"Zhao Grade A might become Zhao Second Rank soon enough."

"At this rate, we may have to call him Lord Zhao next year."

"Once you become an official, fortune and salary both rise. I'm so envious."

"..."

Zong Shichang's challenge cemented Zhao Xing's image as someone not to be challenged head-on.

Thus, over the next two days, no one dared stroke Zhao Xing's tiger whiskers again.

Without realizing it, everyone had already placed Zhao Xing in the same tier as Wen Nanxing, Li Chengfeng, and the others.

On August ninth, the Start of Autumn assessment reached its final day.

Zhao Xing emerged from the Golden Bamboo Grove and quietly waited for the assessment to end.

"This Grade A rating should be beyond doubt."

Because the effects of Earth Veins Synthesis had been unexpectedly good, after nurturing the Green Vine, Adamantine Bamboo, and Fragrant Lotus, Zhao Xing had selected two more plants, both Second Order mid-grade.

If time had not been so limited, he would even have wanted to try the Third Order Heaven Yuan Pear Tree.

He was having a fine time, but the people around him suffered.

For three consecutive nights, Zhao Xing cast Earth Veins Synthesis, causing the surrounding plants to progress slowly.

Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze had only managed to mature a single Second Order high-grade plant on the final day.

Zhao Xing checked his proficiency.

Earth Veins Synthesis: Beginner Spell

Progress: 768/9999

Effect: Draw upon the power of the earth veins and synthesize earth-vein essence

"The proficiency of Earth Veins Synthesis surged on the second and third nights of casting it. This spell is nearly First-Turn already." Zhao Xing was quite satisfied.

As time passed, though no one knew what was happening, they cast their spells with greater focus, cautiously locking down their essence and instinctively resisting the effects of Earth Veins Synthesis.

With resistance, his proficiency rose even faster. Zhao Xing could clearly sense how to refine the spell, so after merely three days, his Earth Veins Synthesis was about to enter the ranks of First-Turn spells.

"The Xu Hour has arrived. The Start of Autumn assessment is over. All clerks, cease casting immediately."

Chen Shijie's voice echoed through the Hundred Herbs Garden.

Wails immediately rose throughout the garden.

"What? It's over already?"

"My Heavenly Spirit Flower is about to mature! It only needed one more hour!"

"It's over? I wonder whether I can make the Grade B List."

"I'm so nervous."

As his voice rang out, the clouds over the Planting Area gradually vanished, and the wind and rain ceased.

In their place appeared a larger white cloud that covered the entire Hundred Herbs Garden. It was Chen Shijie's Cloudcalling.

Everyone discovered that they could no longer cast spells such as Cloudcalling, Rainmaking, or Rising Wind. All their essence surged toward the clouds overhead.

"A cloud domain? Chen Shijie really has some skill. No wonder he came from the Military Sima Nong." Zhao Xing looked up at the sky and could not help nodding.

Chen Shijie's Cloudcalling had completely surpassed the scope of a beginner spell. It should be called a cloud domain.

Beneath his clouds, only Chen Shijie could cast Celestial Timing spells.

That alone would have been normal; any ordinary cloud domain could do that.

But Zhao Xing discovered that Chen Shijie's cloud domain also suppressed other spells.

For instance, when Chen Shijie's voice rang out, Zhao Xing's Earth Veins Synthesis could no longer be maintained and collapsed immediately.

Within the cloud domain, everything was under his control, including essence. Even if the clerks cast Nurturing Art now, it could not reach the plants at all and would all drift into the sky.

So when he said the assessment was over, it was truly over. Even if you wanted to cast a spell, you could not!

"No wonder he became chief officer in his thirties. He really has the goods."

Zhao Xing made no move and quietly waited in place for the Ministry of Agriculture personnel to inspect the results.

Xue Wenzhong had set the questions, but Chen Shijie, the chief officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, was responsible for inspection. Accompanying him were deputy officers Gao Linong, Tang Wanchun, Pang Yuan, and the others, along with two County Office supervisors and record clerks.

The inspection began in the west, proceeded north, then south and east, before returning to the western entrance.

The examinees in the Planting Area waited anxiously.

Li Chengfeng was inspected first.

"Five Second Order high-grade Purple Fire Orchids, grown from the seedling stage to maturity. Their floral fragrance is rich and mellow, lingering intensely. Their medicinal value has reached an excellent level."

"Twelve Second Order mid-grade Jade Nectar Fruit Trees, grown from the seedling stage to maturity. They flowered and bore fruit, the fruits full and plump. They leave a fragrant sweetness on the lips and teeth, their taste refreshing and sweet, with excellent effects for clearing the mind and awakening the senses."

Chen Shijie nodded at Li Chengfeng, then turned to the people beside him. "I intend to rate him Grade A. What do you all think?"

Inspection and grading also required the opinions of the other ninth-rank Ministers of Agriculture. However, no one objected, because Li Chengfeng was indeed outstanding and deserving of a Grade A rating.

"This subordinate concurs."

"This subordinate agrees as well."

The decision passed unanimously, and Li Chengfeng received a Grade A rating.

The County Office record clerks immediately entered it into the records, including Chen Shijie's evaluation.

"Hard Work, my lords." Li Chengfeng cupped his hands in thanks, then left the examination grounds with an easy manner and waited at the perimeter.

For someone like Li Chengfeng, the rating was obvious at a glance. There was nothing to dispute, so he was simply given Grade A.

The same went for those whose plants had died. Chen Shijie would walk over and say only one thing: "Not one seedling in ten survived. A mediocre clerk!"

This evaluation would likewise be recorded, because the clerks were not merely students. They were also unofficial officials.

They might become officials in the future.

Chen Shijie had given them the option to withdraw. If they withdrew in time and did not waste seedlings, they would at most receive no result and could retake the assessment.

But those who knew they lacked the ability, yet continued wasting time in the examination grounds while clinging to luck, would receive his evaluation of mediocre clerk.

If you lack self-awareness now, the only thing wasted is a few seedlings. But if you are fortunate enough to govern a region in the future, would not the common people suffer under someone like you?

How many common people depended on the fields for their livelihood!

"Sniffle..." The clerks who received such an evaluation immediately covered their faces, weeping as they fled.

The other officials were unsurprised. They all knew that Lord Chen detested fools and never showed the slightest mercy when he encountered one.

This minor clerk had essentially no hope of becoming a regular official.

Still, such cases were rare.

Most clerks chose plants they were confident they could grow, so such extreme situations would not occur.

Even under the effects of Earth Veins Synthesis, if you chose an ordinary First Order low-grade plant, with spells supporting it, at least half would survive.

"Three Second Order low-grade plants, Grade B mid."

"One Second Order low-grade plant, Grade C high."

"Twelve First Order low-grade plants and one First Order mid-grade plant, Grade C mid."

"..."

They stopped and went on, quickly inspecting more than half the area before reaching Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and Zhao Xing.