News of Zong Shichang's defeat quickly spread through the examination grounds.
Though no one had clearly seen what happened, the celestial phenomena of Guiding Thunder and flying sand and stones could not be hidden.
Besides, he had gone over to Zhao Xing's area perfectly fine, but returned with a limp.
If they had not fought, surely he had not fallen into a well?
"Huang Tao and the other two were defeated when they joined forces. Now Young Master Zong went over and suffered a loss too. Zhao Xing is surely guaranteed a place on the Grade A List."
"Another powerful contender has appeared this year. Sigh, why couldn't it have been me?"
"Zhao Grade A will probably become Zhao Second Rank."
"Maybe next year, we'll have to call him Lord Zhao."
"Once you become an official, your blessings and salary both rise. I'm so jealous."
"..."
Zong Shichang's challenge cemented Zhao Xing's image as someone not to be challenged.
Thus, over the next two days, no one dared tug at Zhao Xing's tiger whiskers.
Before they knew it, everyone had placed Zhao Xing in the same league as Wen Nanxing and Li Chengfeng.
On August ninth, the Start-of-Autumn Examination entered its final day.
Zhao Xing emerged from the Golden Bamboo Grove and quietly waited for the examination to end.
"There should be no suspense over receiving a Grade A evaluation this time."
Because Earth Veins Synthesis had worked far better than expected, after nurturing the Green Vine, Adamantine Bamboo, and Fragrant Lotus, Zhao Xing selected two more plants, both second-tier mid-grade.
Had he possessed enough time, he would even have wanted to try the third-tier Heaven Yuan Pear Tree.
He had enjoyed himself, but the people around him had suffered.
For three consecutive nights, Zhao Xing cast Earth Veins Synthesis, slowing the progress of the surrounding plants.
Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze had only managed to mature a second-tier high-grade plant on the final day.
Zhao Xing glanced at his proficiency.
Earth Veins Synthesis: Beginner Spell Progress: 768/9999 Effect: Draw upon the power of the Earth Veins and synthesize Earth Vein essence.
"On the second and third nights of casting Earth Veins Synthesis, its proficiency rose sharply. This spell is already close to First-Turn." Zhao Xing was quite satisfied.
As time passed, although no one knew what was happening, they cast their spells with greater focus, carefully locking down their essence energy 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 only three days, his Earth Veins Synthesis was about to enter the ranks of First-Turn spells.
"The hour of Xu has arrived. The Start-of-Autumn Examination is over. All clerks, cease casting immediately."
Chen Shijie's voice echoed through the Hundred Herbs Garden.
At once, cries of despair rose throughout the garden.
"What? It's already over?"
"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 an even 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 essence energy surged toward the clouds overhead.
"A cloud domain? Chen Shijie really has some skill. No wonder he came from a Military Sima Nong background." Zhao Xing looked up at the sky and could not help nodding.
Chen Shijie's Cloudcalling had already completely surpassed the scope of a beginner spell. It was more accurately described as a cloud domain.
Beneath his clouds, only Chen Shijie could cast Celestial Timing spells.
That alone would have been one thing; ordinary cloud domains could achieve that much.
But Zhao Xing discovered that Chen Shijie's cloud domain also suppressed other spells.
For example, his Earth Veins Synthesis could no longer be maintained once Chen Shijie spoke and immediately dispersed.
Within the cloud domain, everything was under his control, even essence energy. Even if the clerks cast Nurturing Art now, it could not reach the plants and would instead drift into the sky.
So when he said the examination 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 does have the goods."
Zhao Xing made no further moves 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 Ministry of Agriculture's chief officer, would conduct the inspection. He was accompanied by deputy officers Gao Linong, Tang Wanchun, Pang Yuan, and others, as well as two County Office supervisors and recording clerks.
The inspection would begin in the west, proceed northward, pass through the south and east, then return to the western entrance.
The examinees in the Planting Area waited anxiously.
The first to be inspected was Li Chengfeng.
"Five second-tier high-grade Purple Fire Orchids, raised from seedlings to maturity. Their floral fragrance is rich and mellow, lingering intensely without dispersing. Their medicinal value has reached an excellent level."
"Twelve second-tier mid-grade Jade Nectar Fruit Trees, raised from seedlings to maturity. They flowered and bore fruit, their fruits plump and full. Their flavor is sweet and refreshing, leaving fragrance on the lips and teeth, invigorating the mind with excellent effect."
Chen Shijie nodded at Li Chengfeng, then turned to the others. "I intend to give him a Grade A evaluation. What do you all think?"
The inspection and assessment also required consultation with the other Sub-Ninth Rank Ministers of Agriculture. However, no one objected, because Li Chengfeng was indeed outstanding and deserved a Grade A evaluation.
"This subordinate concurs."
"This subordinate agrees as well."
The decision passed unanimously, and Li Chengfeng received a Grade A evaluation.
The County Office recording clerks immediately entered the result into the records, including Chen Shijie's assessment.
"Thank you for your efforts, my lords." Li Chengfeng cupped his hands in thanks, then departed the examination grounds with ease to wait outside.
For someone like Li Chengfeng, the evaluation was obvious at a glance. There was nothing to dispute, so he was simply awarded Grade A.
Those who had killed their plants were judged by the same principle. Chen Shijie would walk over and say only one thing: "Less than one in ten seedlings survived. Mediocre clerk!"
This assessment would likewise be recorded, because clerks were not merely students. They were also unofficial government personnel.
They might become officials in the future.
Chen Shijie had given them the option of withdrawing. If they withdrew in time and did not waste seedlings, they would at most receive no result and could take a make-up examination.
But those who knew they lacked the ability, yet clung to luck and continued wasting time in the examination grounds, would receive his judgment of "mediocre clerk."
If you lacked self-awareness now, you only wasted a few seedlings. But if you were fortunate enough to govern a region in the future, would the common people not suffer under someone like you?
How many common people depended on their fields for food!
"Wuwu..." The clerk who received such an assessment immediately covered his face, weeping as he fled.
The other officials were unsurprised. They all knew that Lord Chen despised fools, and once he encountered one, he showed no mercy whatsoever.
This minor clerk basically had no hope of becoming a regular official.
Still, such cases were few.
Most clerks chose plants they were confident they could keep alive, so such extreme situations did not occur.
Even under the effects of Earth Veins Synthesis, if you chose an ordinary first-tier low-grade plant, with spells supporting it, at least half should survive.
"Three second-tier low-grade plants. Grade B-middle evaluation."
"One second-tier low-grade plant. Grade C-high evaluation."
"Twelve first-tier low-grade plants and one first-tier mid-grade plant. Grade C-middle evaluation."
"..."
After stopping and moving along the way, they soon inspected more than half the area and arrived at Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and Zhao Xing.
Before you continue