Shennong Dao Master

Chen Shijie looked like he was watching a play, and the other officials had no choice but to accept the invitation to take their seats.

There was no way around it, as he held the official position.

His rank was higher than theirs, his cultivation was stronger, and Chen Shijie was also the youngest official in the Minister of Agriculture Supervision—not only in Gucheng, but in the entire Nanyang County, he was considered young.

One could imagine that this Mr. Chen's future would not just stop at the Ninth Grade rank.

"The modifications by Mr. Chen are truly astonishing. The Minister of Agriculture serves the people and must contend with both heaven and earth. Without a competitive spirit, how could one achieve anything?"

After sitting down, the first to speak was Gao Linong. He had made a mistake during the Minor Heat assessment last time and had always wanted to make up for it. Now, he finally caught an opportunity to express his views, aligning with his superior.

Chen Shijie smiled faintly and nodded in response.

This flattery was too clumsy, almost a recitation of Chen Shijie's words from last time.

Tang Wanchun was much more tactful. Instead of directly praising, he mentioned the clerk that Chen Shijie had previously commended: "I saw that the first clerk to support the cloud layer had understood Chen Shijie's well-intentioned efforts and thus gained the upper hand. But I wonder if he can maintain it."

"Mr. Xue set the questions comprehensively, testing both the abilities and endurance of the clerks. To persist for four days and three nights without eating or drinking in the scorching summer was no easy feat."

Chen Shijie indeed took an interest: "I remember during the last minor assessment, this person performed quite well. Mr. Xue, is he one of your students?"

Xue Wenzhong had initially intended to keep silent, resting with his eyes closed. However, since Zhao Xing was being discussed, he changed his mind: "Indeed. His name is Zhao Xing. I have only provided modest guidance; the primary credit belongs to his exceptional comprehension. Mr. Chen, please pay more attention to his performance. This young man is a rare talent."

Chen Shijie nodded: "Since Mr. Xue has spoken so highly, I must carefully observe his performance."

Xue Wenzhong rarely praised anyone publicly, let alone recommending his subordinate in front of Chen Shijie. Could this mean he had taken an apprentice? This made the other officials somewhat wary.

Getting clerks promoted was not only something the lower-level officials desired; the formal officials also valued it highly. Recommending and training was a great merit!

Someone was about to say something when they saw Chen Shijie's gaze fixed on a certain direction: "Look, someone is heading towards Zhao Xing."

.......

Zhao Xing was the first to perform the Cloud Movement Skill, occupying two wells and three mounds of ash in the northeast.

To his north was Wen Nanxing, and to his south was Xiao Ze. The challengers who had been defeated by these two immediately set their sights on Zhao Xing.

However, judging by Zhao Xing's Cloud Movement, he wasn't someone to be trifled with. His Seventh-Transformation Magic level was among the top ranks in the Minister of Agriculture Supervision.

There were many onlookers, but only three approached.

One of them, a fair-skinned young man, cupped his hands towards Zhao Xing: "Huang Tao from Baihua Garden, Mr. Zhao, could you please move aside?"

Huang Tao intended to be polite before resorting to force. The Seventh-Transformation Cloud Movement on Zhao Xing's head and his previous A-rank results demanded some respect.

Zhao Xing sneered: "This Brother Huang, could I ask you to get lost?"

Huang Tao's face stiffened, then his eyes turned unfriendly: "You occupy two wells and three mounds of ash and still refuse to budge. If that's the case, then forgive my impoliteness!"

The impatient spectators had lost their patience: "Why waste words with him? He got lucky with an A-rank once and became full of himself... Cloud Movement!"

The three simultaneously performed the Cloud Movement Skill. Clouds gathered and dispersed; even Huang Tao executed the Seventh Transformation!

Black clouds surged towards Zhao Xing's location at high speed.

"It's been a long time since I faced a real fight." Zhao Xing licked his lips, eyeing the cloud layer above with a hint of excitement.

In reality, he had been waiting for challengers. Without such a showdown, it would be difficult to establish his position firmly.

"Wind Summoning!"

Zhao Xing pointed his finger, and a great wind blew in from the east.

The wind then split into two streams, blowing in two different directions.

"Whoosh~"

"Whoooo~"

The two gales respectively blew towards the two challengers beside Huang Tao, causing their Cloud Movement to accumulate mid-air and roll back, forming what seemed like a wind wall!

"Hmm? My Cloud Movement can't proceed!"

"Mine neither; it won't get through."

Both challengers were shocked. They hadn't expected Zhao Xing's Wind Summoning Technique to be able to block them.

"Hah!" Undeterred, the two increased their primordial energy.

However, each time their cloud movement surged forward, the wind would blow against it.

The more they tried to push forward, the greater the resistance became. They exerted all their effort but only advanced a tiny bit!

"What's odd about his wind?"

"This wind is strange. It seems to know my weak points and is darting everywhere... Not good!"

One of them, with slightly weaker primordial energy control, had nearly half of his Cloud Movement dispersed.

Once it dispersed, it couldn't be stopped, and he was defeated in the struggle.

Before they could threaten Zhao Xing, one of them had their cloud blown away!

"Cough, cough, cough…" The clerk whose Cloud Movement was dispersed suffered a primordial energy backlash and coughed uncontrollably.

Seeing this, Huang Tao's expression changed, a bad feeling rising in his heart. Since his position faced no obstruction.

It had just started, and yet his companion had already fallen?

But he couldn't afford to think too much. Taking advantage of Zhao Xing being distracted by his companion, he controlled his Cloud Movement to crash fiercely forward.

"Buzz~"

The anticipated huge collision didn't occur; there was no thunder, no rain, not even wind.

Zhao Xing's cloud layer suddenly dented, revealing the thunder within, like a giant black-violet mouth.

"What?" Inside Huang Tao's perception, a part of his cloud layer had lost contact, as if a chunk had been bitten off.

The dark clouds above Zhao Xing's head quickly rushed toward Huang Tao's cloud layer.

"Boom!" The thunder roared loudly!

The cloud layer above Huang Tao's head shrank visibly.

"What? Such a skillful technique… I concede!" Huang Tao felt he had lost complete control over his clouds and shouted immediately.

But Zhao Xing ignored him. The thunders, like knives, precisely cut through, completely defeating Huang Tao's control and devouring his cloud qi.

"Gasp!" Huang Tao felt as if knives were cutting through his mind. The backlash from his spell was much more severe than that of the others, and he instantly collapsed to the ground.

"Brother Huang, Brother Huang..." His companions hurried over to support him.

"I'm, I'm fine..." Huang Tao panted heavily, "Don't try again, move to another place."

"This Zhao Xing is too ruthless." A companion complained. "It's just a spar; how could we let him off?"

"Don't. Being outmatched leaves us with no excuses." Huang Tao looked toward Zhao Xing with deep apprehension in his eyes. "His control over magic feels even superior to Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze. Forcing the issue would only bring humiliation. Let's go!"

Seeing the trio retreat in disarray, Zhao Xing then used the wind to transmit his voice in all directions: "Is there any other colleague who wants to claim my territory? Feel free to try!"