Shennong Dao Master

Although the two were surprised, they had no choice but to sit down, not daring to disturb the order of the examination.

They couldn't help but feel worried: if things continued this way, their students would suffer in silence!

"The Earth Vein Comprehensive Element has high concealment; even I only noticed it the next day. Xiao Ze is probably still in the dark." Tang Wanchun mused. "Zhao Xing, well done, Zhao Xing, the Old Minister of Agriculture didn't exaggerate. Truly exceptional in comprehension."

The Earth Advantage Sect magic was the hardest to learn among the three kinds of spells.

The Heavenly Time Sect magic was nothing more than observing celestial phenomena, which could be seen, heard, and felt.

The Earth Advantage Sect magic involved earth veins, Feng Shui positions, array deployment, and even tools, making it extremely complicated.

Not to mention, the earth veins were buried deep underground, how challenging was it to utilize them?

Even though Earth Vein Comprehensive Element was an initial stage spell, its difficulty exceeded that of many middle-stage spells.

The Heavenly Time Sect's wide success was partly due to the fact that the other two sects' spells were more difficult to master.

Even these ranked Minister of Agriculture Officials had not mastered many Earth Advantage Sect spells, let alone mastered them.

"What a pity, wasted under Xue Wenzhong's command." Pang Yuan also felt regret in his heart. "Xue Wenzhong is old, what does he need such a good student for? Better let me teach him, it would also help in the future officialdom."

Gao Linong said nothing, feeling quite schadenfreude.

Because his students, Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang, were not affected and performed at their expected level.

As for other officials' students? The worse their performance, the better, naturally.

..........

Even the ranked Minister of Agriculture Officials took a moment to figure it out; the clerk officers below were even more bewildered.

Add to that the Earth Vein Comprehensive Element lying dormant during the day, causing everyone's spell effects to return to normal, the affected clerk officers were all muddled.

"Could it be that selecting plants that grow easily at night is considered cheating and receives special treatment?" Huang Tao looked at the dead plants in front of him, eyes red.

His friend Ma Wu also wore a bitter face: "If that's the case, they shouldn't have given us these seeds to choose from! Isn't this plain trickery?"

Huang Tao couldn't help but curse softly: "Damn Chen Shijie! I've had bad luck my whole life, and now I'm selecting officials under his hand."

The two of them squatting in the planting area, their discussion immediately resonated with the other clerk officers.

Because Chen Shijie usually liked to mess with the examination questions, to put it bluntly, he enjoyed making things difficult for people.

"Brother Huang is right, Chen Shijie always pulls these stunts, he did the same in the Minor Heat assessment last time."

"He even specially brought doves from West Hill, you tell me, how can a person do such things?"

"I changed seeds again and again; a whole night passed, and I got nothing!"

"Exactly, damn those West Hill folks!"

Once the topic opened, the victims immediately found common ground, pouring their complaints against Chen Shijie.

The main issue was this leading figure always had this kind of style.

Although it was Xue Wenzhong who set the question, none believed the kindhearted Old Minister of Agriculture would come up with such a malicious trick to make things difficult for them.

This change must have been arranged by Chen Shijie! Even the king would blame him!

If Chen Shijie were present, he would definitely give them a beating, shouting that it was truly not his doing this time.

However, he was destined not to hear these curses.

Did anyone suspect Zhao Xing?

Yes.

When Huang Tao turned back to his planting area, he couldn't help but feel suspicious looking at the golden bamboo forest.

"Could someone have used Earth Advantage Sect magic, causing us to get nothing?"

"Could it be him?"

Huang Tao glanced north at the Seven Star Sword Cloud and Tiger Head Cloud: "Or could it be them?"

"Forget it, thinking too much is useless."

Huang Tao shook his head.

Even if it was, what could he do? He couldn't win a fight, so was he supposed to verbally argue them to death?

......

"These clerk officers are too incompetent; to speed up the maturation of the Vajra Bamboo, I already fully activated the effects during the Yin hour, yet no one dared to come to me?"

"It's really been peaceful for too long." Zhao Xing couldn't help but reflect: in his past life, the Minister of Agriculture officials he'd seen, besides Players, were all competent and fearless.

Each carried a strong, fearless spirit; without this spirit, they couldn't have seized a chance to survive through horrendous natural disasters and chaotic epochs.

But this period was indeed different. Aside from the frontier commanderies and the military Minister of Agriculture officials, most inland officials gave him a weaker impression.

Of course, Chen Shijie was an exception.

He still aligned with Zhao Xing's standards.

"I don't need to guard against the mediocre talents below the top rank: they can't and don't dare to compete. But those who frequently make it to the top require some caution." Zhao Xing looked around and began cutting the branches of the Vajra Bamboo.

He always prepared thoroughly, which did not conflict with the willingness to compete.

Since he dared to use the Earth Vein Comprehensive Element, he was ready to be counterattacked.

As soon as the Vajra Bamboo matured, Zhao Xing had prepared the materials and made puppets.

"Currently, I know four kinds of puppets: Divine Movement, Binding, Thorns, and Repeating."

"Repeating puppets are Third Transition, the others are all One Turn."

Zhao Xing looked at the dozen or so golden Repeating Puppets hidden in the bamboo forest, majestic like golden warriors.

"Using Vajra Bamboo materials to practice making other puppets would be wasteful; only the Repeating Puppets barely match this material, but there's an even better fit."

"Liu's Eighty-One Skills, Powerful Puppets!"

"Vajra Bamboo branches are the best material for making them." Seeing that the moment was temporarily calm, Zhao Xing began trying to make the fifth kind of puppet.

Liu's Eighty-One Skills were the embodiment of the "Grass and Trees are Soldiers" skill, and puppets were just a common name; any spell made from grass, wood, or bamboo materials was classified under Grassman Skill.

However, for Zhao Xing, the puppets made from Vajra Bamboo were habitually called Vigorous Vajra.

The same logic applied to Divine Movement Vajra, Repeating Vajra, and so on.

He had long memorized the method of making them; he just hadn't had the time to practice. Now, with the right materials in hand, Zhao Xing wouldn't let the opportunity slip.

Recalling the method of making Powerful Puppets in his mind, he began his first attempt.

.......

[You made a puppet (Powerful), you have comprehended a new Puppet Skill.]

[Grass and Trees are Soldiers proficiency +25]

[Puppet (Powerful)]

[Proficiency: 100/9999]

[Effect: Indestructible, immensely powerful.]

He succeeded on the first try, and due to the excellent materials, the proficiency increase was exceptionally high!

"A direct increase of 100 points, even the overall Grass and Trees are Soldiers spell received 25 points. Indeed, good materials."

In his past life, Zhao Xing had never fought such a well-provisioned battle. Practicing under Xue Wenzhong was done with Primordial Rice Straw or ordinary willow branches.

Who knew if these things would be taken away after the examination, so Zhao Xing certainly wouldn't miss this free opportunity.

Ordering the Repeating Puppets to stand guard outside, Zhao Xing immersed himself in the joy of making Vigorous Vajra.