The plants Zhao Xing chose were very particular.
The qualities of the Green Vine, Fragrant Lotus, and Vajra Bamboo were Tier 2 Low, Mid, and High Grade, respectively.
Too low a grade wouldn't work, as it would give too few points; too high wouldn't work either, as three days was too short to reach the scoring threshold.
There was also a specific reason for their utility: three days was too short for the plants but too long for the examinees.
The assessment process provided no food or drink, and required the consumption of Origin Qi to cultivate plants, which was a great test of endurance.
The Green Vine Zhao Xing selected, once mature, would bear Green Vine Fruits, which could fill his stomach, satiate his hunger, and restore his Origin Qi.
The Fragrant Lotus was an aquatic species; both its lotus seeds and lotus roots were edible, and since he occupied the spring well, he had a significant advantage in cultivating it.
The first two ensured Zhao Xing's health for three days and a good ranking, serving as a baseline; the Tier 2 High Grade Vajra Bamboo, on the other hand, was for scoring extra points.
Being able to cultivate a Tier 2 High Grade plant would allow him to stand out and contend for the top rank.
Additionally, the Vajra Bamboo itself was an excellent Material for casting 【All Plants Are Soldiers】. If someone still came to cause trouble in the latter half, he would have more countermeasures.
The soil in the planting area had been tilled, but it was quite dry. To absorb the earth's power, one would have to dig deeper.
Zhao Xing once again cast a Wind Spell. Under his precise control, the wind connected with the clouds above his head, forming two small tornadoes, each a person's height.
"Whoosh~" The tornadoes moved along the ground, precisely plowing the furrows deeper.
"Hmm?" Wen Nanxing, who had just returned to his own territory, was momentarily stunned by this sight. "This person has such exquisite control over his Spell!"
With Spells of the same level, some people cast them with more finesse, just as some people's flowing clouds were like a wad of cotton, but Wen Nanxing could 【Turn Clouds into Swords】, and Xiao Ze could 【Turn Clouds into Tigers】. Not only was the power stronger, but there were also more wondrous uses.
The study of techniques depended entirely on individual Comprehension Ability. At this stage, the Agricultural Scribes were like children just starting school; some memorized things, some couldn't even memorize, but some had already integrated everything and could apply it broadly.
Undoubtedly, Zhao Xing was the latter type. Wen Nanxing watched, and actually became quite engrossed!
It wasn't until Zhao Xing dispelled the tornadoes that he snapped out of it.
"When officials are appointed next year, this person will be my strongest competitor!"
Wen Nanxing composed himself and began to focus on the task at hand.
Zhao Xing had no idea that Wen Nanxing already considered him his primary competitor. What others saw as exquisite Spell control, he considered basic. He didn't think it was anything special at all; it would only be worth mentioning if it reached the level of Old Agricultural Scribe's 'Clouds in the Palm' or 'Three-Foot Heavenly Thunder'.
"Damn it, this spring well is dug so deep?"
Planting Green Vine seedlings and Vajra Bamboo seedlings was easy; just bury them and it was done.
But the Fragrant Lotus was an aquatic species and had to root in water.
Zhao Xing ran to the spring well and saw that it was dug at least 60 meters deep!
There were no tools nearby. Want to get water? You'll have to figure it out yourself!
"Chen Shijie, you really are a sly old fox, finding ways to torment people." Seeing this, Zhao Xing could only abandon the idea of planting the Fragrant Lotus seeds directly in the spring well.
No tools, how to get water?
Of course, by using flowing clouds to absorb it.
Zhao Xing's flowing clouds descended, bringing the cloud layer closer to the ground. At this point, the cloud Qi could begin to absorb the water vapor from the spring well.
Chen Shijie just wanted the clerks to take a roundabout way to get water.
Zhao Xing found it too slow and once again cast a tornado. This time, the tornado was much larger.
Connecting to the cloud layer above and the spring well below.
Water vapor continuously surged upwards, rapidly injecting into the cloud layer.
"What a magnificent water-sucking Dragon!" Chen Shijie had been watching the several clerks occupying the spring water and discovered that it was Zhao Xing again who first solved the water retrieval problem, and very efficiently!
"What Old Xue said was an understatement; he's not just a talented individual, he's a treasure! You've taught him well!"
"I didn't even teach him that move." Xue Wen Zhong was also quite surprised when he saw it, because he really hadn't taught Zhao Xing this move, at least not the technique of 【Summoning Wind】.
"Could it be that he merely observed my 'Three-Foot Heavenly Thunder' and 'Clouds in the Palm' and then inferred and comprehended it himself?" At this moment, Xue Wen Zhong's conviction in a certain idea grew stronger.
On the day of the Beginning of Autumn, the heat was even more intense than during the Great Heat.
With a clear sky, how difficult was it to make it rain?
Many clerks found that after using their flowing clouds, continuing with 【Rainfall】 had no effect whatsoever. Spells below Tier 3 were greatly affected by extreme weather!
Many clerks sighed.
"Without water, in such scorching heat, the cultivation Spells will be greatly compromised."
"It seems we'll just have to wait until dark to plant."
"Plant what? Tomorrow will be the same; whatever you plant will die!"
"Alas, our strength is insufficient. If only I could cast Tier 3 Rainfall..."
"Damn it, I'm not taking the exam. I'm going home, I'll just wait for the make-up exam."
Less than an hour into the exam, many clerks gave up. Firstly, they didn't secure a territory, and secondly, they found that even if they did, they couldn't keep anything alive.
Just these two factors screened out a third of the people. One after another, people withdrew early, giving up on this assessment. Anyway, there was no punishment, and they wouldn't get a permanent position anyway, so why suffer here as someone else's background?
"Pitter-patter~"
Rain began to fall in various parts of the planting area.
But everyone controlled it very well, not allowing the water to flow elsewhere, only within their own seedling areas. The examiners had long calculated this; if you went to help others at this time, you would inevitably be dragged down yourself.
Furthermore, those who had the ability didn't need help, and helping those without ability this time would be useless.
Zhao Xing separated a small cloud, only five meters square and two meters high.
He moved it to the spring well, where he had dug a small pit to plant the Fragrant Lotus.
"Whoosh~"
The small dark cloud, as thick as ink, wasn't raining; it was pouring water!
In a short while, the small pit was filled to the brim.
A layer of grass ash had already been laid inside, and with the rush of water, the soil and grass ash mixed, immediately becoming turbid and forming mud.
"20 Fragrant Lotus seeds should be enough."
Zhao Xing took out the seed bag and sowed them at intervals.
Lotus seeds were fragile and not yet suitable for 'Savage Growth', so Zhao Xing first used the 'Robust Growth' Spell.
Origin Qi flowed continuously, and half an hour later, the Fragrant Lotus seeds took root and sprouted, breaking through the soil.
"100% survival rate, phew~" Zhao Xing breathed a sigh of relief. The seedling and seed stages were the most fragile, and he couldn't afford to be careless for a moment.
But once this period was over, things would be much better.
"First, a drink of water." Zhao Xing summoned the dark cloud, buried his head in it, and drank in large gulps.
"In another two hours, once the three types of plants have rooted sufficiently, I can cast Savage Growth, but I still can't rest yet."
Zhao Xing looked around. The planting area, which had been a dull yellow, was now full of greenery.
"To get an excellent grade, one must be prepared for anything." Looking at his colleagues around him, Zhao Xing showed a sinister smile: "Sorry, the nutrients in your land are mine now."