The news of Zong Shichang's defeat spread quickly in the examination hall.
Although no one could clearly see what happened, the thunder and lightning, along with the flying sand and rocks, could not be hidden.
Moreover, this scoundrel was perfectly fine when he went to Zhao Xing's place but came back limping.
Unless they had a fight, how could he end up falling into a well?
"Earlier, Huang Tao and his two companions were defeated when they teamed up, and now Mr. Zong went over and suffered a loss too. This Zhao Xing surely looks like he'll make it to the top list."
"Another strong contender this year, why is it never me?"
"Zhao Jia Shang might just become Zhao Erjia."
"Perhaps next year, we'll be calling him Mr. Zhao."
"One day as an official, bringing prosperity and fortune, truly enviable."
"..."
Zong Shichang's challenge established the impression that Zhao Xing was 'invincible.'
Hence, in the following two days, no one dared to provoke Zhao Xing anymore.
Unknowingly, everyone already placed Zhao Xing in the same class as Wen Nanxing and Li Chengfeng.
On August 9th, the final day of the Start of Autumn assessment arrived.
Zhao Xing walked out from the Golden Bamboo Grove, quietly waiting for the assessment to end.
"This time, getting a top rating should be beyond doubt."
Due to the unexpectedly good effect of the Earth Vein Comprehensive Element, after cultivating the 'Green Vine,' 'Vajra Bamboo,' and 'Fragrant Lotus,' Zhao Xing chose two more plants, all of which were Second Order Middle Grade.
If he had more time, he even wanted to try the Third Order Tianyuan Pear Tree.
While he was having a great time, those around him were suffering.
For three consecutive nights, Zhao Xing kept using the Earth Vein Comprehensive Element, causing the growth progress of the surrounding plants to slow down.
As a result, Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze barely managed to mature a single Second Order Top Grade plant on the last day.
Zhao Xing glanced at his proficiency.
[Earth Vein Comprehensive Element: Initial Stage Spell]
[Progress: 768/9999]
[Effect: Draws the power of the earth veins, integrating the Primordial Energy of the earth veins]
"On the second and third nights of using the Earth Vein Comprehensive Element, the proficiency increased significantly. This spell is almost at the first turn." Zhao Xing was quite satisfied.
As time passed, although people didn't know what was happening, they cast their spells more attentively, cautiously locking their Primordial Energy to instinctively counteract the effects of the Earth Vein Comprehensive Element.
With resistance, the proficiency increased faster. Zhao Xing could clearly sense how to manage the spell, so in just three days, his Earth Vein Comprehensive Element was about to enter the first turn spell category.
"The hour of Xu has arrived, the Start of Autumn assessment is over. All clerks, please stop casting spells."
Chen Shijie's voice echoed through the Hundred Herbs Garden.
Instantly, sighs of lamentation filled the garden.
"What? It's over already?"
"My Heavenly Spirit Flower is about to mature, just one more hour!"
"It's over? I wonder if I can make it to the second list."
"Nervous."
As the voices rose, the clouds over the planting area gradually dissipated, the wind ceased, and the rain stopped.
They were replaced by a larger white cloud that covered the entire Hundred Herbs Garden, which was brought forth by Chen Shijie's cloud manipulation.
Everyone realized they could no longer cast cloud, rain, or wind spells, as all the Primordial Energy flowed towards the cloud in the sky.
"Is this the Cloud Qi Domain? Chen Shijie does have some skills, deserving of his background as a military agriculture officer." Zhao Xing looked up at the sky and nodded.
Chen Shijie's cloud manipulation had completely transcended the range of Initial Stage spells, and it should be considered a [Cloud Qi Domain].
Under his clouds, only Chen Shijie could use the Heavenly Time Techniques.
If it were just that, it would be acceptable, as a normal Cloud Qi Domain can achieve this.
But Zhao Xing noticed that Chen Shijie's Cloud Qi Domain also suppressed other spells.
For instance, his Earth Vein Comprehensive Element. Once Chen Shijie's voice sounded, the Earth Vein Comprehensive Element could no longer be maintained and dissipated directly.
Under the Cloud Qi Domain, everything was under his control. Even the Primordial Energy was controlled the same way. At this moment, even if the clerks cast cultivation spells, they couldn't direct them to the plants; everything would flow towards the sky.
So, when he announced the end of the assessment, it truly meant the end; you couldn't cast spells even if you wanted to!
"No wonder he could become a chief at just over thirty years old; he indeed has some capabilities."
Zhao Xing didn't make any moves and waited quietly in place for the Minister of Agriculture Supervision to come and inspect the results.
Xue Wenzhong was the examiner, but the evaluator was Chen Shijie, the chief of the Ministry of Agriculture Supervision, accompanied by Gao Linong, Tang Wanchun, Pang Yuan, and two supervisors and record clerks from the county government.
The inspection order started from the west and moved north, then passed through the south and east, finally returning to the west gate.
The examinees in the planting area waited nervously.
The first one to be inspected was Li Chengfeng.
"Five Second Order Top Grade Purple Fire Orchids, matured from the seedling stage, with a rich and mellow fragrance that remains for long, achieving high medicinal value."
"Twelve Second Order Middle Grade Jade Liquid Fruit Trees, matured from the seedling stage, blooming and bearing plump fruits, whose taste is refreshing and sweet, invigorating the mind, achieving superior effects."
Chen Shijie nodded at Li Chengfeng and then said to the others, "I propose a top rating for him. What do you think?"
Inspection evaluations also required the opinion of the other Secondary Ninth Rank agriculture officers, but no one objected because Li Chengfeng was indeed excellent and deserved the top rating.
"I second that."
"I agree as well."
It was unanimously approved, and Li Chengfeng received a top rating.
The record clerks from the county government immediately noted this, including Chen Shijie's comments.
"Thank you for your efforts, sirs." Li Chengfeng cupped his hands in thanks, then gracefully left the examination hall to wait outside.
For someone like Li Chengfeng, the evaluation was straightforward. Without any controversy, he directly received a top rating.
For those who failed to cultivate anything, Chen Shijie would simply glance and state, "Not one in ten seedlings survived, incompetent!"
This assessment would also be recorded because the clerks were not purely students; they were still off-staff officials.
In the future, they might have the opportunity to become full-fledged officials.
Chen Shijie had given them the option to withdraw. If they chose to withdraw in time, without wasting the seedlings, they would merely receive no results and could retake the test.
But for those who, knowing their lack of ability, still clung to a trace of hope and continued to waste time in the examination hall, they would receive his assessment of 'incompetent officer.'
If you lacked self-awareness now and wasted mere seedlings, what would happen if you were lucky enough to govern a region in the future? Wouldn't the people suffer because of you?
Many people relied on the fields to eat!
"Wuu wuu~" Those receiving this evaluation covered their faces and wept as they ran away.
The other officials were not surprised; they all knew Mr. Chen despised incompetence and would not hold back when he encountered it.
Such a clerk would have little hope of becoming a full-fledged official.
But this phenomenon was rare.
Most clerks chose plants they were confident they could nurture rather than taking extreme risks.
Even with the influence of the Earth Vein Comprehensive Element, if you chose an ordinary First Order Lower Grade, with spell support, at least half could survive.
"Three Second Order Lower Grade plants, rated as Second List Middle."
"One Second Order Lower Grade plant, rated as Third List Top."
"Twelve First Order Lower Grade plants, one First Order Middle Grade plant, rated as Third List Middle."
"..."
With a pace of stopping and inspecting frequently, they quickly moved through most of the examinees and reached the area of Wen Nanxing, Xiao Ze, and Zhao Xing.