[You created a Grassman Puppet (Powerful)]
[Proficiency in Grass and Trees are Soldiers: +15]
[Proficiency in Grassman Puppet (Powerful): +60]
.......
[You created a Grassman Puppet (Powerful)]
[Proficiency in Grass and Trees are Soldiers: +20]
[Proficiency in Grassman Puppet (Powerful): +80]
......
The high-quality materials brought different insights. Compared to Primordial Rice Straw, the feedback from the power contained in Vajra Bamboo was clearer, allowing Zhao Xing to experience more intricately the details of the Powerful Grassman Skill.
Based on this, the proficiency in the Powerful Grassman Skill's spell surged quickly.
Half a day's time passed, Zhao Xing had already practiced it to the second turn level.
[Grassman Puppet (Powerful)]
[Proficiency: 2750/9999]
[Effect: Indestructible, immense strength.]
"Hit me, with three parts of your strength." Zhao Xing crossed his hands in front of his chest and then ordered the second-turn Vigorous Vajra.
"Boom!" The golden Vigorous Vajra punched out, and Zhao Xing felt like he was hit by a giant hammer, his whole body flying backward.
Vigorous Vajra swiftly moved forward to deliver another strike.
"Stop! That's enough, it's already too abnormal!"
Zhao Xing cried out in pain, stopping the action.
Vigorous Vajra immediately stood still.
This left Zhao Xing not tired but feeling sore all over.
How did this resistance come about? It was trained like this!
It's just that he was still very weak and couldn't withstand much beating, otherwise, Zhao Xing would have sparred with Vigorous Vajra more.
"Just with that one punch, it's very hard for the physical body of a Minister of Agriculture to withstand. Going all out, even a thick-skinned martial artist would need to have reached a tangible grade to endure it."
You get what you pay for, using Primordial Rice as a base for the Grassman Skill could at best scare off birds.
Vigorous Vajra could serve entirely as a bodyguard.
However, Vigorous Vajra had no skills to speak of, only knowing basic punches and kicks. Facing a martial artist of tangible grade, it could be easily outmaneuvered, but against these minor clerks of the Minister of Agriculture, it should suffice.
"The quantity is about right too, let's see who dares to mess with me." Zhao Xing walked out of the bamboo grove, came to the field beside it, and picked several Green Vine Fruits from the vines to consume.
The second-order lower-grade Green Vine had matured, full of golden thumb-sized fruits.
Although the taste was mediocre, they were filling.
Zhao Xing wasn't picky with tastes, practicality was always his primary concern.
"Now, only the aquatic plant 'Fragrant Lotus' remains, which is more than half-immature." Zhao Xing looked into the mud pit.
Due to the primordial energy mainly supplying the Vajra Bamboo, only two Fragrant Lotus plants had matured, with eighteen remaining in growth.
"I wonder how others are doing with their planting. My Earth Vein Comprehensive Element only took care of the eastern half of the planting area, leaving the western side untouched."
If Huang Tao heard this, he would probably spit blood. Is this what you call 'taking care'?
"There are limited spots for the best grade. If I can suppress Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and others to only get good grades, this would increase my chances of getting the official position."
"On the third night, I'll secretly ruin some of their plants, that should be enough, ignoring the west side's people."
Having decided, Zhao Xing planned to rest for a bit and start his actions at night.
Unexpectedly, an uninvited guest arrived.
"You guys, go to Brother Chengfeng's place and swap territories with me." Zong Shichang from the west, stopped in the shadow of Zhao Xing's clouds to the west.
"Mr. Zong, we have already planted here, and they are about to mature. This might be inappropriate." Someone was unwilling to change locations.
"It's not free, later visit my residence to collect the money." Zong Shichang said blandly.
"I'll swap." The first one immediately beamed with joy and walked away without a word.
"What about you? Swap or not?"
Seeing them still hesitating, Zong Shichang impatiently added, "If you dig it up yourself, it won't hurt. If I help you dig, all your efforts will be in vain."
"We will swap." Under the threat and inducement, Zong Shichang soon completed the exchange.
This movement naturally drew Zhao Xing's attention.
"Zong Shichang? Why did he swap to this side? Could he be coming for me?" Zhao Xing observed this scene.
Unlike the upright reputation of Li Chengfeng, Zong Shichang gave an impression of arrogance.
To put it nicely, he acted freely. To put it bluntly, he was domineering and inconsiderate of others.
But he did not act recklessly and was willing to spend money.
Usually, he would first use money, and if that didn't work, then he would resort to force.
"His father, Zong Heng, is one of the vice presidents of the Nanyang Chamber of Commerce, so he generally looks down on most people." Zhao Xing recalled some rumors about Zong Shichang.
Most famously, once, Zong Shichang had a Doucao match (a local recreational game) with someone in Nanyang County.
In the match, Mr. Zong got angered by a loss and directly punched the opponent in the face.
Coincidentally, a government officer passed by and was about to arrest Zong Shichang.
But Zong Shichang offered the attacked person thirty taels per punch, and the person immediately jumped up from the ground, chasing the officer away.
In the end, Zong Shichang vented his anger by punching that person eighteen times, thus earning the nickname 'Zong Shiba'.
"Mr. Zhao, can we have a chat?"
Sure enough, as soon as Zong Shichang settled down, he came straight to Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing saw him standing at the edge of the cloud's shadow, speaking politely, so he walked over.
"Oh, it's Mr. Zong. What can I do for you?"
Zhao Xing spoke, noticing that Zong Shichang glanced behind him and then inexplicably... got excited?
"So, Mr. Zhao thinks the same too? I indeed want to spar with you!" Zong Shichang said bluntly.
Hey, hey, is that what I meant by 'instruction'? Your thinking process is too strange.
But Zhao Xing was too lazy to explain. Explaining now would be cowardly, wouldn't it?
So he straightforwardly said, "Set the rules; how do you want to play?"
"Straightforward!" Zong Shichang liked Zhao Xing more, "Let's compete with no restrictions, any spell can be used, would you agree?"
"If I injure you, you can choose any spirit pill below the third rank, and I will send someone to deliver it to your residence afterward."
Are you looking for a sparring partner? Zhao Xing raised an eyebrow. Zong Shichang's reputation for being domineering wasn't a lie. Others competed for assessment; he purely looked for a duel.
"No."
"No?" Zong Shichang's face turned cold, his eyes slightly narrowed.
"If I win, you still have to give me those things."
Zong Shichang was stunned at first, then laughed, "Beat me? Hahaha, then it's decided! Take this!"
He pointed, and the floating clouds above his head immediately turned pitch black, with lightning flashing within the clouds.
Quickly completing the steps of summoning clouds and creating thunder.
Seeing his spell's starting gesture, Zhao Xing knew his next step was to [Summon Thunder].
Summon Thunder was an advanced spell; Zong Shichang liked competition and fighting, and he indeed had some skills.
Zhao Xing frowned and retreated behind the Grassman.
"Knock him down, yes, all twenty of you attack together."