What Exactly Went Wrong?

"Earth Veins Synthesis!"

Zhao Xing crouched on the ground, his fingertips reaching into the soil. A strand of vital energy immediately flowed down through the earth, sinking deep underground.

Then came a second strand, a third... a total of nine strands of vital energy entered the ground.

In Zhao Xing's perception, the nine strands of vital energy formed a cage-like structure beneath the earth.

"This is the spell's core, its central point. All the vital energy underground will be gathered and drawn here."

Drawing upon the earth veins' power and synthesizing their vital energy was merely the first step.

With the central point established, he still needed to determine the directions.

Zhao Xing began wandering around the edges of the territory. At every spot, he would crouch down and grab a handful of dirt, looking for all the world as if he were checking where the soil was most fertile.

Both Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze noticed what he was doing.

But Zhao Xing did not cross any boundaries, so they ignored him.

This is the advantage of Earth Veins Synthesis—concealment! Zhao Xing even waved at Wen Nanxing.

Feeling that the man was rather polite, Wen Nanxing nodded in response.

After making a full circuit, Zhao Xing was genuinely a little tired.

Though Earth Veins Synthesis was an elementary spell, its consumption was enormous.

Casting it consumed as much vital energy as dozens of Cloudcalling spells.

"Vital energy is like roots, taking root underground and forming a subterranean network."

"The cage has been laid. Now we'll see how many fish swim into it." Zhao Xing clapped his hands in satisfaction.

Afterward, he ran over to the spring well, leaned against its rim, and closed his eyes to rest.

Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze could not make sense of Zhao Xing's movements, but they did not escape Chen Shijie's discerning eye.

Even so, it took him quite a while to understand.

"This is... Earth Veins Synthesis?"

"Earth Veins Synthesis draws but does not release. You plan to act in secret at night? Good lad! You handle matters quite like I do." Chen Shijie grew increasingly pleased with Zhao Xing. The more he looked at him, the more to his liking he found him.

As someone who had risen from the ranks of Military Sima Nong, he understood this sort of tactic all too well!

Aside from Chen Shijie, only Xue Wenzhong saw through Zhao Xing's intentions.

The other officials did not see it. They were neither as well-rounded as Chen Shijie nor as experienced as Xue Wenzhong.

Naturally, Xue Wenzhong would not reveal it and invite jealousy toward his student. Chen Shijie merely approved inwardly and did not show it again.

He knew he had already paid Zhao Xing enough attention today. Any more would be a little excessive.

Chen Shijie understood the little thoughts of those below him perfectly well.

"Ziyu, I... I can't go on..." Qian Dong collapsed onto the ground, gasping heavily like a fish about to die of thirst.

Chen Ziyu was not doing much better. Sweat poured down his entire body, and he could not wipe it away fast enough.

It was already afternoon. They had been working for several hours, yet there was not the slightest change in the plot before them.

Most of the seeds had not sprouted, while the seedlings had all withered.

At this rate, even the small remainder would not last until tomorrow.

"How about... how about we leave? We can just take the make-up exam next time." Qian Dong truly did not want to waste any more effort.

"I'm not leaving." Chen Ziyu shook his head. "Every time, we say next time, next time we'll work harder... When will we ever get our chance? It might as well be this time."

Qian Dong froze, then gritted his teeth and climbed back to his feet.

More and more people gave up. Unable to endure such hardship, they left the grounds.

But others gritted their teeth and persisted.

Struggling through the scorching heat, everyone finally waited until nightfall.

Xue Wenzhong did not make things too difficult for them. When night came, he sent a gentle breeze through the Planting Area.

Xue Wenzhong's breeze brought refreshing coolness, and Zhao Xing woke from his light sleep.

He was especially sensitive to wind that did not belong to him.

"Night has fallen. Time to get to work."

Zhao Xing stretched, then ran off to inspect the condition of the three plants.

At this point, the twenty Green Vines had entered their growth stage from the seedling stage. Their vines carpeted the yellow earth, and flower buds had already appeared on some branches.

In the two mud pits, the Fragrant Lotuses had grown three lotus leaves and likewise entered their growth stage.

Only the Adamantine Bamboo, due to the nature of bamboo-type plants, still had nothing but a bamboo shoot tip emerging from the ground.

"As expected of a top-grade second order plant. I've already concentrated all the nutrients on it, yet it still looks almost exactly as it did at the start."

Adamantine Bamboo was meant to create a gap in scores. Naturally, it would not be so easy to cultivate.

Zhao Xing was in no hurry. He had not even begun to exert himself yet.

"Night has fallen. Time to work in secret."

A thread of vital energy emerged from Zhao Xing's fingertip and entered the ground.

"Buzz—"

Earth Veins Synthesis was instantly activated!

The great net began to spread, silently extending beyond the range of Zhao Xing's Cloudcalling.

To the north, it crossed more than half of Wen Nanxing's territory. To the south, it enveloped Xiao Ze's territory.

To the west, it encompassed more than a dozen Grade A List contenders.

Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang were at the far western edge, beyond Zhao Xing's reach. After all, he had only just mastered this Earthly Advantage Faction spell.

"It covers nearly half the Planting Area. That should be enough." With Bright Eyes Night Vision, Zhao Xing could see many clerks getting to work after dark, each consuming vital energy and casting spells.

"Come on, everyone. How tall the Adamantine Bamboo grows depends on you."

"Now that night has fallen, it's time to force-ripen this Soul Calming Incense plant I received." Huang Tao looked at a seedling on the ground, preparing to act.

Though he had suffered a setback against Zhao Xing that morning, he had still claimed a plot near the spring well.

The plant Huang Tao had chosen was called Soul Calming Incense, a mid-grade second order plant.

It had only one effect: once it flowered, its fragrance could calm the mind and soothe the soul.

Many people liked to grow a Soul Calming Incense plant at home. When cultivating and gathering vital energy, it could reduce the chances of Going Berserk.

Soul Calming Incense had an exceptionally long flowering season that could last several months. However, it could not withstand intense heat, and making it bloom was difficult, so Huang Tao had not acted during the day and had waited until night.

"If I can grow even one Soul Calming Incense plant during Start of Autumn, that'll be enough to make the Grade A List." Huang Tao was full of confidence.

"Begin! Flourishing Growth!"

Huang Tao began casting his spell on the Soul Calming Incense seedling.

Vital energy entered the soil and rushed directly toward the Soul Calming Incense's roots.

Part of the vital energy abruptly vanished just before reaching the roots, with only a tenth being absorbed.

"At this time of year, Soul Calming Incense seedlings truly are difficult to grow."

Huang Tao did not think much of it. He merely assumed he had chosen something difficult, which was why the results were slow.

After waiting a moment, Huang Tao continued casting.

The Soul Calming Incense seedling grew a tiny bit taller.

"Again!"

At midnight, Huang Tao crouched on the ground in confusion, staring at the Soul Calming Incense plant.

"What... what is going on? I've continuously cast spells on it for three hours, yet the Soul Calming Incense still hasn't even entered the growth stage?"

If it had not even reached the growth stage, then flowering was out of the question.

At first, Huang Tao had not realized it, but after draining his vital energy dry several times and seeing the Soul Calming Incense still grow slowly, he suddenly understood. It was not that he was incompetent—something else was wrong!

"Did I pick a diseased specimen? No, that's impossible. I clearly checked it..." Huang Tao muttered as he tugged at his hair. "What exactly went wrong?"