The assessment content for the Start of Autumn was relatively normal, fitting the theme of the season, testing both ability and endurance. This was completely in line with Xue Wen Zhong's consistent style; he himself was a diligent and hardworking person, solely focused on his tasks.
The reactions of the clerks were not as strong as when Chen Shi Jie set the last exam; even if they didn't achieve good results, they could only blame their own lack of skill.
However, after Zhao Xing entered the Hundred Herbs Garden, he still discovered some unusual aspects.
“The seedling area is unremarkable, with enough quantity for the clerks to choose from, but this planting area is a bit crowded, isn't it?”
Zhao Xing scanned the planting area and found that it was not very large, only about the size of a football field. Considering the participants, even if there weren't five hundred, there were certainly three or four hundred.
Planting was not limited in quantity, so the clerks would definitely plant more than one plant.
Especially the stronger ones, to ensure their advantage, would certainly occupy a larger territory.
That would leave very little space for the others.
“The layout also has some problems.” Zhao Xing activated his Bright Eyes, and after scanning the area, he saw the layout of the planting area more clearly.
“The planting area is square, with twelve springs and thirty-six piles of grass ash. There are signs next to the grass ash, marking a non-movable restricted area.”
“That is to say, the locations of the twelve springs and thirty-six piles of grass ash are the best planting areas.”
“It's clearly designed to make the clerks fight for territory.”
Near the springs, casting Cloud and Rain Spell would have a beneficial effect, and grass ash was fertilizer that could accelerate growth.
Needless to say, this was another arrangement by Chen Shi Jie.
With Xue Wen Zhong's personality, he definitely wouldn't set such a question. As the chief official, no question could bypass Chen Shi Jie. This Lord Chen, who came from Xishan County, had once served as a military agricultural officer and loved setting competitive questions.
“The layout of the planting area must have been added by him.” Zhao Xing licked his lips. After understanding the assessment standards, seeing the assessment venue clearly, and comprehending the examiner's intention, he immediately began to act.
While other clerks had not yet figured out the trick, he took the lead and quickly ran to the northeast corner of the planting area.
“Cloud! Appear!”
Zhao Xing pointed his hand, and a dark cloud immediately condensed above the northeast corner.
The clouds rolled and unfurled, churning a total of 7 times—Cloud Seven Revolutions!
Once completely stable, it enveloped the two springs and three piles of grass ash below.
How do agricultural officers compete for territory? Of course, with Cloud!
The Cloud Spell has an exclusive nature; occupying this part of the sky is equivalent to occupying the territory below.
Dare to plant under someone else's Cloud? Not even a blade of grass would survive.
Zhao Xing was accustomed to competition in his previous life, so in this large examination hall, he was the first to understand the examiner's intention and the first to raise a Cloud, occupying a spot.
“Not bad, not bad~” Chen Shi Jie, watching from a small hill in the distance, stroked his beard and chuckled softly.
He had noticed Zhao Xing for the second time. Last time, during the Grain-Eating Bird disaster assessment, Zhao Xing was also the first to find the correct countermeasure.
With his question being guessed, Chen Shi Jie had a feeling of 'this child truly understands my heart'.
He asked Xue Wen Zhong, “Planting side by side, survival of the fittest. What do you think of my modification, Old Xue?”
Xue Wen Zhong nodded slightly and said, “With this change, Lord Chen, I'm afraid the clerks below will be fighting tooth and nail even before planting begins. It's certainly more engaging than my original setup.”
According to Xue Wen Zhong's original method, the clerks would plant in harmony, but the process would undoubtedly be very dull. Now, it was completely different.
Chen Shi Jie leisurely said, “The world is never peaceful; only our dynasty is. Preparing for the unexpected and survival of the fittest is my style, and I hope Old Xue doesn't mind.”
Facing Chen Shi Jie's explanation, Xue Wen Zhong nodded in agreement. Deputy officials like Gao Li Nong and Tang Wan Chun, who were also observing, echoed their superior's words, even if they didn't fully agree in their hearts.
“Buzz~” “Buzz~” “Buzz~”
Zhao Xing was not the only one who moved quickly. After entering the venue, outstanding individuals quickly began to compete for resources.
Clouds, some large or small, some dark or white, rose from the planting area, quickly filling the entire space.
However, there were only twelve springs and thirty-six piles of grass ash, so they were destined not to be enough for everyone.
Thus, the disputes began.
“Brother Liang Bai, this place is too crowded, and I can't cast my Spell. Would you mind moving aside?”
“Li Cheng Feng?” Liang Bai suddenly turned around and saw a figure not far away, his expression changing. After pondering for a moment, he had no choice but to retreat gracefully: “Since Brother Li asks, there's no reason to refuse.”
With that, he shrunk the Cloud above his head and moved it elsewhere.
“Boom!” Li Cheng Feng reached his hand to the sky, and a dark cloud spanning a hundred meters appeared. After several rotations, it immediately occupied three springs and four piles of grass ash. At the same time, lightning snakes appeared at the edge of the Cloud, declaring his sovereignty.
Wen Nan Xing walked to the north, his Cloud being the second to rise, only a step behind Zhao Xing.
He occupied two springs and four piles of grass ash. His Cloud was shaped like a long sword, with a black hilt and a white blade, and lightning gathered on the blade like seven stars, appearing very mystical.
“Cloud forming a sword? Wen Nan Xing must have already achieved Cloud Perfection, reaching a state of doing as he pleases.”
“Not just Cloud Perfection; the lightning gathering into stars is probably also at that level.”
“Can't compete, can't compete.”
Latercomers, seeing this, were awestruck and could only avoid Wen Nan Xing's territory.
In the southwest of the planting area, the third Cloud rose, with four tiger heads distributed at its four corners, occupying three springs and three piles of grass ash.
Several other Clouds rose simultaneously next to this strange Cloud, but as the tiger-head Cloud expanded, they didn't give way. Instead, they fiercely collided with it.
“Boom!”
The tiger heads were coated in a layer of blue-purple by lightning. After flashing, the Clouds that had attacked it developed huge gaps and swayed precariously.
Below the tiger-head Cloud, Xiao Ze cupped his hands to all directions: “Thank you for yielding.”
Many of those who attacked Xiao Ze were from the previous Rank A. Seeing that they couldn't win, they gave up the idea. Xiao Ze was thus able to withstand the test and secure a spot.
But not everyone knew when to advance and retreat, making it easy to distinguish the strong from the weak. There were always some whose strengths were similar, unwilling to give way, and not so amicable with each other.
“Huang Si Ping, you prematurely aged shorty, hanging around with Li Cheng Feng, do you really think you're at the Fourth Stage of Qi Gathering? How dare you try to snatch from me?!”
“You scoundrel, how dare you insult me?!”
“Wang Hao, you only got a C-minus in the last minor exam, not even making it into Rank B. How dare you contend with me? Do you think my Thunder Cloud is not strong?!”
“My Thunder is not weak either! Watch out for the collision!”
Only a quarter of an hour after the exam began, the sky above the planting area was filled with a lively brawl, with curses echoing continuously. In mid-air, strong winds, lightning, heavy rain, and Clouds crashed chaotically, what a mess!
Chen Shi Jie, seeing this scene, burst into laughter. He simply moved some tables and chairs, and set out several plates of fruits, dried meat, and rice wine, inviting the officials to sit down.
“Gentlemen, please take a seat and join me in enjoying this fun of the Start of Autumn!”
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