Seeing that Huang Tao and the other three teamed up but still lost to Zhao Xing, the onlookers immediately dispersed.
These three were top-ranked talents last time.
Even combining their forces, they lost so decisively. Trying again?
Seeing no one stepping forward, Zhao Xing also stopped provoking and began to focus on the assessment.
...
"Was that really older brother?" Qian Dong and Chen Ziyu, who were resting together, glanced at each other silently.
"Brother has become so strong." Chen Ziyu looked a bit envious, "Huang Tao and the other three were easily driven away despite teaming up."
"Occupying two wells and three piles of ash alone, this time, brother is likely to be at the top again."
"Ziyu, let's not go over there to avoid dragging brother down."
"Alright."
.....
"This Zhao Jia Shang is quite arrogant." On the west side of the planting area, Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang were observing the battle together.
"He indeed has the arrogance to back it up." Zong Shichang rubbed his chin, his eyes showing a bit of eagerness, "Huang Tao and the other three's Cloud Movement Skill is also at the Seventh Transition like his."
"His Wind Summoning Technique shouldn't be too bad either, yet they were defeated so decisively."
"Either he's hiding his power, or he's extremely experienced in combat."
"No matter which, he's definitely not simple."
Li Chengfeng watched the eager Zong Shichang and smiled, "What, are you itching for a fight, Mr. Zong?"
Zong Shichang nodded, "I do have some thoughts, but assessment is more important, let's see later."
"Alright, let's go to the seedling area."
........
On the north side of the planting area, Wen Nanxing stared at the grayish-white cloud.
"Why could his cloud movement skill easily devour Huang Tao's cloud without any impact but even grew larger?"
Wen Nanxing, being close to Zhao Xing, had a front-row seat.
He saw more clearly than Li Chengfeng.
"The Cloud Movement Skill has repellent qualities, absorbing cloud qi as one's own is usually achieved through rank suppression."
"I can also shred Huang Tao's cloud qi and devour it, why could he?"
Zhao Xing's cloud movements quickly stabilized, appearing like a patch of soil, with no distinctive features.
He glanced at Xiao Ze in the south, whose tiger head cloud shone brilliantly, making the comparison even more lackluster.
"I wonder what method he used." Xiao Ze pondered for a while, but the fight ended too fast for him to see clearly, so he gave up and went to the seedling area to select.
........
After waiting for a while with no one coming forward to challenge him, Zhao Xing knew he had steadied his position and thus headed to the seedling area to choose plants.
Defeating Huang Tao and the other three seemed very easy for him, but in fact... it was easy.
The same skills, the same rank, but the methods and experience were entirely different levels.
In his past life during the Age of Calamity, he had trained for a long time. Combat had become a survival instinct. For these greenhouse flowers like Huang Tao to face him, it was like showing off their proficiency at the master's gate.
Three opponents? Zhao Xing could handle ten of them!
......
On the viewing platform, Chen Shijie couldn't help but laugh, "Old Minister of Agriculture was right, he indeed performed extraordinarily. You have nurtured a talent."
Xue Wenzhong spoke slowly, "Earlier, he had not yet entered the Second Rank of Gathering Essence, his talent was not apparent. After entering, he accumulated strength to unleash. I merely provided minimal guidance."
"Mr. Xue is being modest." Gao Linong immediately said, "I saw his performance in the previous minor test, which was only average, at best reaching grade B. Without your careful guidance, how could he have progressed this much?"
Huang Tao was under Gao Linong's wing, being defeated made him lose face.
So his words had a hint of mocking Xue Wenzhong—did you give Zhao Xing special treatment?
He failed to consider that every official here, including himself, did the same.
It was as if their actions were normal, but others' were unethical.
Xue Wenzhong glanced at him and said indifferently, "If you say so. With such talent, I intend to spend more time guiding him specifically. Does Mr. Gao have any suggestions?"
"..."
Unexpectedly, Xue Wenzhong responded that way. Are you directly admitting it?
Gao Linong's punch hit the air, feeling a bit upset, he could only chuckle awkwardly and let it go.
.......
The planting area was bustling, while the seedling area was more peaceful.
Because the seedling supply here was unlimited, there was no need to scramble.
Besides seedlings planted in the soil, there were seed bags.
"Seeds, seedlings, and maturing plants, three growth stages to choose from."
"Quality ranges from First Order to Third Rank."
"Scoring criteria, first look at quantity, second look at quality, third look at survival state."
Zhao Xing carefully selected, then his eyes fell on a potted plant. Everything else was unlimited, except this was a limited edition, placed prominently with a guard.
"Tianyuan pear tree, ten years to mature, flowers one year and fruits the next. Each time bears only 3 to 10 fruits."
"The Tianyuan pears produced have the effect of Strengthening the Foundation and Nourishing the Origin, and they taste quite good. Highly favored by high officials and nobility, ranked as Third-tier top-grade."
Zhao Xing stared at it for a while, thought, and then gave up.
Because using his Five Elements Observation, he knew this pear tree was only three years old, far from maturity.
Choosing it, of course, had the highest value score, but it also required the ability to accelerate its maturity.
With only three days, no official present could achieve that.
Chen Shijie placing it here was purely to show the candidates.
To see which fool overestimates themselves.
"Choosing seeds gives the highest score, but it's also time-consuming and laborious, choosing seedlings is next, and choosing semi-mature potted plants is the last."
"But it also depends on the quality, the provided plants ranging from First Order to Third Rank, scoring in quality is prioritized over others."
Zhao Xing pondered for a moment, then locked onto three plants.
Respectively, the vine type 'Green Vine Seedling,' Second Order Lower Grade.
The bamboo type 'Vajra Bamboo Seedling,' Second Order Top Grade.
Then the aquatic type 'Fragrant Lotus,' Second Order Middle Grade.
Compared to other treasures, plant seedlings and seeds were relatively cheap, so even if damaged, it wasn't an issue.
Zhao Xing didn't hold back, approached the seedling area manager, and requested 20 portions in one go.
"Name?"
"Zhao Xing."
"Recorded, move them yourself." The manager recorded and pointed:
A gentle wind swirled, dividing into three strands. One ill wind directly into the ground, gently lifting the seedlings with soil, another carried the seed bag, and another supported the potted plant.
They then landed in front of Zhao Xing.
"Rise!"
Zhao Xing used the Wind Summoning Technique, softly called out, and the recorded plants, with mud and soil, instantly flew to Zhao Xing's side, neatly arranged.
"Not bad at all." The manager stroked his beard with a smile, "Although the supply is unlimited, do not waste these good seedlings."
Nodding, Zhao Xing carried these plants to his planting area.
Others without his ability had to transport them in multiple trips.
Zhao Xing, holding the plants effortlessly, walked with the steps of a dragon and tiger, causing others to step aside or follow him slowly. It almost felt like a royal procession.