Chapter 25: Cutting and Swallowing, Crushing Opponents

Master Chen had a look of watching a show. The other officials were helpless and could only accept the invitation to sit down.

There was no way; who made him the main official?

His official position was larger than theirs, and his cultivation was also stronger. Moreover, Master Chen was the youngest official in the Agricultural Office—not just in Gucheng, but in the entire Nanyang Commandery, he was considered young.

It was conceivable that this Master Chen’s future would not stop at the ninth rank.

"Master Chen’s change is truly breathtaking. Agricultural Officers serve the people and must compete with heaven and earth. If they don't have the heart to compete, how can they accomplish things?"

After sitting down, the first to speak was Gao Linong. He had said the wrong thing in the Minor Heat assessment last time and had been trying to make up for it. Now he finally caught the opportunity to express his views and the superior’s views were the same.

Master Chen smiled faintly and nodded in response.

This flattery was too stiff, almost repeating what Master Chen had said last time.

Tang Wanchun was much smarter. He didn't praise directly but instead mentioned the minor official who had been praised by Master Chen earlier: "I see that the minor official who supported the cloud layer first is exactly the one who understood Master Chen’s painstaking efforts, so he took the lead. I just don't know if he can persist."

"Master Xue set the questions comprehensively, testing both the ability of the minor officials below and their endurance. It is not simple to persist for four days and three nights without eating or drinking in the scorching weather."

Master Chen was indeed interested: "I remember that in the last minor examination, this person also performed quite well. Old Xue, is he taught by you?"

Xue Wenzhong originally didn't want to speak and had been closing his eyes to rest after sitting down, but since they were talking about Zhao Xing, he changed his mind: "Not bad, his name is Zhao Xing. I only did my best to teach him. It is mainly because he himself has good comprehension. Master Chen can take care of him more; this child is a rare talent."

Master Chen nodded: "Since Old Xue said so, I really have to take a good look at his performance."

Xue Wenzhong rarely praised people in public, let alone recommending a minor official under his command in front of Master Chen. Could it be that he had taken a disciple? This made the other officials feel somewhat vigilant.

Entering officialdom and becoming a regular official is not only what minor officials crave, but these official officials also value it quite a bit. Recommending and educating is a great merit!

Someone was about to say something, but heard Master Chen staring at a certain place: "Look, someone is running toward Zhao Xing."

Zhao Xing took the lead in Moving Clouds and occupied two spring wells and three piles of grass ash in the northeast.

To his north was Wen Nanxing, and to his south was Xiao Ze. The challengers who were defeated by these two immediately set their sights on Zhao Xing.

However, looking at Zhao Xing’s Moving Clouds, it was not so easy to provoke. The level of the 7th turn spell was also ranked high in the Agricultural Office.

There were quite a few onlookers, but only three came over.

Among them, a fair-skinned young man bowed to Zhao Xing: "Huang Tao from the Hundred Flowers Garden, Brother Zhao, can you please move your position?"

Huang Tao intended to be polite first and then use force. The 7th turn Moving Clouds above the other party’s head and the previous Grade A results still had to be respected.

Zhao Xing sneered: "This Brother Huang, can I please ask you to roll away?"

Huang Tao’s face stiffened, and then his eyes were unkind: "You occupy two spring wells and three piles of grass ash alone, and you still refuse to give way. Since that’s the case, then I’m sorry!"

The people next to him couldn't wait any longer: "Why talk nonsense with him? He was lucky to get a Grade A last time, and he’s arrogant without bounds... Moving Clouds!"

The three of them cast the Moving Clouds spell together. The clouds rolled and unfurled, and including Huang Tao, they were all at the 7th turn!

The pitch-black cloud layer spread out and rushed toward Zhao Xing’s position at high speed.

"It’s been a long time since I’ve confronted anyone." Zhao Xing licked his lips, staring at the cloud layer above, actually feeling a bit excited.

In fact, he had been waiting for challengers for a long time. It would happen sooner or later; otherwise, it would be impossible to stand firm at all.

"Rising Wind! Appear!"

Zhao Xing pointed, and a strong wind came from the east.

Then the wind force split into two and blew toward two places.

"*Hoo-woo~*"

"*Woo-woo-woo~*"

Two strong winds blew toward the two challengers next to Huang Tao. Their Moving Clouds actually piled up in mid-air and rolled back, as if there were a wind wall there!

"Hmm? My Moving Clouds, can't move!"

"Mine too, can't get past."

The two challengers looked surprised. They didn't expect that Zhao Xing’s Rising Wind spell could actually block them.

"Drink!" The two who didn't believe in evil increased their Qi.

However, their Moving Clouds rolled a few times, and the wind blew a few times.

The more they wanted to move forward, the greater the resistance. They used all their strength, but actually only moved forward a tiny bit!

"His Rising Wind is so strange!"

"This wind is evil, as if it knows my weakness, and it drilled in and scurried around... Not good!"

One of them, whose Qi control was slightly weaker, had his Moving Clouds dissipate by half.

Once this dissipated, it couldn't be stopped, and he was defeated in the wrestling.

The three of them hadn't even threatened Zhao Xing, and one of them had his clouds blown away by the wind!

"*Cough cough cough cough...*" Suffering from the backlash of Qi, the minor official whose Moving Clouds were blown away coughed incessantly.

Huang Tao’s face changed when he saw this, and a bad feeling rose in his heart. Because his position hadn't suffered any obstruction.

It had only just begun, how could his companion fall down?

But at this time, he couldn't care so much. Taking advantage of Zhao Xing’s distraction to deal with his companion, he manipulated the Moving Clouds and crashed over fiercely.

"*Hum~*"

The big collision he expected didn't happen. There was no thunder, no rain, and no wind.

Only Zhao Xing’s cloud layer suddenly dented violently, revealing the flashing thunder inside, as if it were a purple-black giant mouth.

"This?" In Huang Tao’s perception, a part of his cloud layer directly lost its sense, as if it had been bitten off alive.

Immediately after, the dark cloud above Zhao Xing’s head flew toward it at high speed.

"Boom!" Thunder roared!

The Moving Clouds above Huang Tao’s head shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"What? This, what a subtle technique... I admit defeat!" Huang Tao felt that he had completely lost control of the cloud, and immediately shouted.

But Zhao Xing ignored him at all. The thunder was like a knife, accurately cutting, completely defeating Huang Tao’s control, and swallowing this group of cloud Qi.

"*Pfft~*" Huang Tao felt as if a knife was cutting in his mind. His spell backlash was much heavier than the others, and he fell straight down instantly.

"Brother Huang, Brother Huang..." His companions immediately ran over to support him.

"I, I’m fine..." Huang Tao gasped for breath, "Don't try again, change to another place."

"This Zhao Xing is too ruthless." His companion complained. "But it’s just a sparring match, how can we let him go?"

"Don't, my skills are inferior to others, I have nothing to say." Huang Tao looked in Zhao Xing’s direction, a deep dread flashing in his eyes. "His control over spells gave me a feeling that even exceeded Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze. Forcibly competing is just asking for humiliation. Let’s go!"

Zhao Xing saw the three of them run away in a gray manner, then borrowed the wind to transmit sound, spreading in all directions: "Which other colleague wants to come and grab my Zhao Xing’s territory? Just try it!" ===== CHAPTER 26 =====