Shennong Dao Master

"Earth Vein Comprehensive Element!"

Zhao Xing squatted down, his fingertips touching the ground. A wisp of Primordial Energy immediately followed the soil and penetrated deep underground.

Then came the second wisp, the third... a total of nine wisps of Primordial Energy entered the ground.

In Zhao Xing's perception, these nine wisps of Primordial Energy formed a box-like structure underground.

"This is the core of the spell, also the focal point. All underground Primordial Energy will gather here."

Drawing the power of the earth veins, synthesizing their Primordial Energy, this was just the first step.

With the focal point established, Zhao Xing still needed to determine the direction.

Zhao Xing started to wander along the edge of his territory, squatting down at intervals to grab a handful of soil, looking like he was testing the fertility of the land.

Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze both noticed his actions.

However, Zhao Xing didn't cross the boundary, so they ignored him.

"This is the advantage of Earth Vein Comprehensive Element, its concealment!" Zhao Xing even waved at Wen Nanxing.

Finding him rather polite, Wen Nanxing nodded in response,

........

After a round of wandering, Zhao Xing was genuinely tired.

Although Earth Vein Comprehensive Element was just an initial stage spell, it consumed a lot.

Casting this spell consumed as much Primordial Energy as dozens of simpler spells.

"Primordial Energy is like roots, rooting underground to form a network."

"The cage is set; let's see how many fish come." Zhao Xing clapped his hands with satisfaction.

Then he ran to the well, leaned against the edge, and closed his eyes to rest.

Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze couldn't discern Zhao Xing's actions, but it didn't escape Chen Shijie's sharp eyes.

He took a while to understand though.

"This is... Earth Vein Comprehensive Element?"

"Drawing without revealing, are you planning to act secretly at night? Smart kid! Your actions align so well with mine." Chen Shijie grew increasingly fond of Zhao Xing, finding him increasingly agreeable.

As someone with a Military Minister of Agriculture background, he understood this operation very well!

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

The other officials didn't realize; they lacked Chen Shijie's comprehensive skills and Xue Wenzhong's experience.

Of course, Xue Wenzhong wouldn't expose it to avoid causing jealousy among students, and Chen Shijie simply admired silently.

He knew he had focused enough on Zhao Xing for one day; any more would be excessive.

Chen Shijie was very familiar with the little thoughts of the people below.

......

"Ziyu, I... I can't anymore..." Qian Dong collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath like a fish about to die of thirst.

Chen Ziyu wasn't in much better shape, drenched in sweat that couldn't be wiped away.

It was already afternoon, they had been busy for a few hours, but the earth before them showed no movement.

Most of the seeds had not sprouted, and the seedlings were already dead.

From the looks of it, the remaining few wouldn't last till tomorrow.

"How about we leave? We can retake the test next time." Qian Dong suggested, not willing to waste effort anymore.

"I won't leave." Chen Ziyu shook his head. "Always saying next time, next time we'll work harder... when will there ever be a day to emerge? Let's do it this time."

Qian Dong was stunned, then he gritted his teeth and got up.

More and more people were giving up, unable to endure the hardship and leaving the field.

But there were also those persevering through gritted teeth.

In the sweltering heat, everyone held on until nightfall.

Xue Wenzhong didn't make it too difficult on them either; as night fell, he sent a breeze to the planting area.

......

Xue Wenzhong's breeze brought refreshment, waking Zhao Xing from his light sleep.

He was particularly sensitive to winds that weren't his own.

"It's dark, time to get to work."

Zhao Xing stretched and then ran to check the status of the three plants.

At this moment, twenty green vines had already moved from the seedling stage to the growth stage. The vines crept over the yellow soil, with some branches already budding.

In the two mud pits, the Fragrant Lotus had grown three lotus leaves, also entering the growth stage.

Only the Vajra Bamboo, due to the characteristics of bamboo plants, remained a sprouting tip.

"Worthy of a second-order top grade, I have concentrated all the nutrients for it, yet it's still the same as the beginning."

Vajra Bamboo was a marker of excellence; naturally, it wasn't easy to cultivate.

Zhao Xing wasn't in a hurry; he hadn't given his full effort yet.

"It's dark now, time to work stealthily."

A wisp of Primordial Energy emerged from Zhao Xing's fingertip and penetrated the ground.

"Buzz~"

The Earth Vein Comprehensive Element was instantly activated!

The net began to expand, quietly slipping out of Zhao Xing's range.

Northward, it covered most of Wen Nanxing's territory; southward, it enveloped Xiao Ze's territory.

Westward, it included over ten top-rankers among the candidates.

Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang were at the far west, beyond Zhao Xing's reach; after all, he had just mastered this Earth Advantage Sect Magic.

"Covering half of the planting area, that should be enough." Zhao Xing's bright eyes and night vision allowed him to see many officers starting to busy themselves, consuming Primordial Energy to cast spells as night fell.

"Come on, everyone, how tall the Vajra Bamboo grows depends on you."

.......

"It's dark, my Soul Calming Fragrance should also start maturing." Huang Tao looked at a seedling on the ground, ready to act.

He had been put off by Zhao Xing earlier, but he still secured a plot near the well.

Huang Tao chose a plant called 'Soul Calming Fragrance,' a second-order middle grade.

Its effect was simple – once it bloomed, its fragrance could calm the mind and settle the soul.

Many people liked to plant one at home to reduce the risk of mental deviation during Gathering Essence cultivation.

Soul Calming Fragrance's flowering period was quite long, lasting several months. However, it was intolerant of heat and difficult to flower, so Huang Tao did nothing during the day, waiting until night.

"If I can grow Soul Calming Fragrance by the Start of Autumn, even a single plant will be enough to get me into the top ranks." Huang Tao was confident.

"Let's begin! Grow strong!"

Huang Tao began to cast spells on the Soul Calming Fragrance seedling.

Primordial Energy entered the soil, heading straight for the Soul Calming Fragrance's roots.

A portion of the Primordial Energy vanished just before reaching the roots, with only a tenth absorbed.

"In this season, indeed, the Soul Calming Fragrance seedling struggles to grow."

Huang Tao wasn't surprised, thinking he had chosen a challenging plant, thus getting slow results.

He waited for a while before continuing to cast spells.

The Soul Calming Fragrance seedling grew a little more.

"Again!"

......

At midnight, Huang Tao crouched down, looking bewildered at the Soul Calming Fragrance.

"What's going on? I've been casting spells continuously for three hours, and the Soul Calming Fragrance hasn't even entered the growth stage?"

Without reaching the growth stage, blooming was out of the question.

At first, Huang Tao didn't realize, but after exhausting his Primordial Energy several times, the Soul Calming Fragrance still grew slowly, making him realize the issue wasn't his incompetence but something else!

"Did I pick a diseased plant? Impossible, I checked thoroughly..." Huang Tao muttered, tugging at his hair. "Where exactly is the problem?"