Though the two were surprised, they could only sit down now and did not dare disrupt the examination's order.
Still, they could not help but worry. At this rate, their own students were going to suffer a hidden loss!
Earth Veins Synthesis is highly concealed. Even I only noticed it on the second day. Xiao Ze is probably still in the dark. Tang Wanchun thought. Zhao Xing, what a Zhao Xing. Old Sima Nong was right—his comprehension is truly outstanding.
Of the three types of spells, those of the Earthly Advantage Faction were the hardest to learn.
The Celestial Timing Faction's spells dealt with weather and celestial phenomena, things one could see, hear, and sense.
Earthly Advantage Faction spells involved earth veins, feng shui alignments, formation deployments, and even the use of tools. They were extraordinarily complex.
Leaving aside everything else, earth veins lay deeply buried underground. How difficult was it to make use of them?
Though Earth Veins Synthesis was only an entry-level spell, it was more difficult than many intermediate spells.
One reason the Celestial Timing Faction had become so widespread was that the spells of the other two factions were much harder to grasp.
Even Agriculture Officials like them, who had entered the ranks, had mastered few Earthly Advantage Faction spells, let alone achieved proficiency in them.
What a waste, becoming Xue Wenzhong's subordinate for nothing. Pang Yuan also felt some regret. Xue Wenzhong is already old. What does he need such a fine student for? Better let me teach him. He would have someone to look after him in officialdom later on.
Gao Linong said nothing. He was secretly gloating.
His students, Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang, had not been affected and had performed as they should.
As for the students of the other officials? Naturally, the worse their results, the better.
Even Agriculture Officials who had entered the ranks needed some time to identify what had happened. The clerks below the stage were even more baffled.
Moreover, Earth Veins Synthesis had been triggered without taking effect during the day, causing everyone's spellcasting results to return to normal. The affected clerks were utterly confused.
"Could it be that choosing plants that grow easily at night is considered taking a shortcut, so we're being singled out?" Huang Tao's eyes reddened as he looked at the patch of dead plants before him.
His friend Ma Wu wore a bitter expression. "If that's the case, then don't give us these seeds to choose from! Aren't they just messing with us?"
Huang Tao could not help cursing under his breath. "Damn Chen Shijie! What terrible luck I've had in my past eight lifetimes, being assessed for office under him."
The discussion between the two in the Seedling Area immediately resonated with the other clerks.
Chen Shijie usually liked to play tricks with examination questions. To put it bluntly, he enjoyed making things difficult for people.
"Brother Huang is right. Chen Shijie is always pulling these stunts. He did the same thing during the Lesser Heat Assessment last time."
"He even specially brought dove birds over from West Mountain. Tell me, is that something a person would do?"
"I changed seeds again and again, and after one night, I ended up with nothing at all!"
"That's right, damn West Mountain bastard!"
Once the topic was opened up, the victims immediately found common ground and began laying into Chen Shijie.
The main reason was that this big shot had always acted this way.
Although Xue Wenzhong had set the questions, no one believed that such a good man as Old Sima Nong would use such underhanded tricks to make things difficult for them.
This alteration had definitely been arranged by Chen Shijie! Even if the Heavenly King himself came, it would still be him!
If Chen Shijie had been present, he would certainly have beaten them senseless and shouted that this time, it truly was not him.
But he was destined not to hear these foul-mouthed curses.
Did anyone suspect Zhao Xing?
Some did.
As Huang Tao turned back toward his own Planting Area, he looked at that Golden Bamboo Grove and could not help feeling suspicious.
"Could someone have used an Earthly Advantage Faction spell, causing us all to harvest nothing?"
"Could it be him?"
After one glance, Huang Tao's gaze shifted toward the Seven Star Sword Cloud and Tiger Head Cloud in the north. "Or could it be them?"
"Forget it. There's no use thinking about it."
Huang Tao shook his head.
Even if it was, what could he do? He could not beat them. Was he supposed to talk them to death?
"These clerks are far too pathetic. To speed up the maturation of the Adamantine Bamboo, I already pushed the effect to its full strength at the Yin Hour. Yet even so, no one dared come after me?"
"They've truly lived in peace for too long." Zhao Xing could not help but sigh. The Ministers of Agriculture he had seen in his previous life, aside from players, had all fought for opportunities and dared to compete.
They all possessed a resilient, fearless spirit. Without that spirit, they would not have been able to fight for even a chance to survive amid terrifying natural disasters and turbulent eras.
But this era truly was different. Aside from Ministers of Agriculture in border commanderies and counties, as well as those in the military, the Ministers of Agriculture in the inland regions mostly gave him a rather weak impression.
Of course, Chen Shijie was an exception.
He suited Zhao Xing's tastes quite well.
There's no need to guard against mediocrities below the Grade A List. They can neither compete nor dare to compete. But I still need to watch out for those few who have repeatedly obtained Grade A. Zhao Xing scanned his surroundings and began cutting Adamantine Bamboo branches.
He always prepared for every possibility. That did not conflict with daring to compete.
Since he had dared to use Earth Veins Synthesis, he had also prepared for others to strike back.
Zhao Xing had already prepared the materials and made straw puppets when the Adamantine Bamboo matured.
"Currently, I know four types of straw puppets: Divine Movement, Entanglement, Thorns, and Repeating."
"The Repeating Straw Puppet is Third-Turn. The rest are all First-Turn."
Zhao Xing looked at the dozen or so Repeating Straw Puppets hidden in the bamboo grove. Golden and imposing, they resembled golden warriors.
"Using Adamantine Bamboo materials to practice the production methods for the other straw puppets would be somewhat wasteful. Only the Repeating Straw Puppet barely deserves this material, but there is something even more suitable."
"Willow Transmission Eighty-One Methods, Mighty Straw Puppet!"
"Adamantine Bamboo branches are precisely excellent materials for making it." Seeing that things were peaceful for the moment, Zhao Xing began attempting to make his fifth type of straw puppet.
Willow Transmission Eighty-One Methods was an interpretation of Every Tree and Bush an Enemy. Straw puppet was merely a conventional term; any spell crafted from grass, wood, bamboo, or branches was categorized under Straw Man Art.
However, in Zhao Xing's case, straw puppets made from Adamantine Bamboo were customarily called Vajra Puppets.
By the same logic, there were Divine Movement Vajras, Repeating Vajras, and so on.
He had long memorized the production method, but had never had time to practice it. Now that he had encountered such suitable materials, Zhao Xing naturally would not let the opportunity pass.
Recalling the method of making a Mighty Straw Puppet, he began his first attempt.
You have created a Straw Puppet (Mighty) and comprehended a new puppet technique. Every Tree and Bush an Enemy proficiency +25 Straw Puppet (Mighty) Proficiency: 100/9999 Effect: Indestructible, possessing immense strength.
His first attempt succeeded, and because the materials were superior, the proficiency gained was especially high!
"Straight to 100 points. Even Every Tree and Bush an Enemy, the core spell, gained 25 points as well. As expected, good materials are something else."
When had Zhao Xing ever fought such a wealthy battle in this life? When practicing under Xue Wenzhong, he had only used Yuan Rice Dry Grass or ordinary willow branches.
Who knew whether these things would be taken away after the assessment? Naturally, Zhao Xing would not miss this chance to get them for free.
He ordered the Repeating Straw Puppets to keep watch outside, while he immersed himself in the joy of making Vajra Puppets.
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