Chapter 28: Where Exactly Did It Go Wrong?

"Earth Vein Synthesis!"

Zhao Xing squatted on the ground, his fingertips inserted into the ground, and a wisp of Qi immediately went down along the soil and disappeared into the depths of the ground.

Immediately after, the second wisp, the third wisp... a total of nine wisps of Qi disappeared into the ground.

In Zhao Xing’s perception, these nine wisps of Qi formed a box-like structure underground.

"This is the spell core, and also the center point. All the underground Qi will be gathered and absorbed here."

Drawing the power of the Earth Vein and synthesizing Earth Vein Qi is just the first step.

The center point is there, and he still needs to determine the direction.

Zhao Xing began to stroll around the edge of the territory. He walked to a place, squatted down, grabbed a handful of mud, and looked like he was checking where the land was fertile.

Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze both noticed his movements.

However, Zhao Xing didn't cross the line, so they didn't care.

"This is the advantage of Earth Vein Synthesis, concealment!" Zhao Xing even waved at Wen Nanxing.

Feeling that this person was quite polite, Wen Nanxing nodded in response.

After walking around, Zhao Xing was really a bit tired.

Although Earth Vein Synthesis is a primary spell, the consumption is huge.

Casting this spell consumes as much Qi as dozens of Moving Clouds.

"Qi is like roots, taking root underground, forming an underground network."

"The cage has been set, it just depends on how many fish come." Zhao Xing patted his hands with satisfaction.

Then he ran to the side of the spring well and started to close his eyes and rest against the well edge.

Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze couldn't see Zhao Xing’s movements, but they didn't escape Master Chen’s sharp eyes.

However, it took him a while to understand.

"This is... Earth Vein Synthesis?"

"Earth Vein Synthesis is drawn but not released. Are you planning to do it secretly at night? Good boy! Acting quite in my style!" Master Chen was more and more satisfied with Zhao Xing in his heart, how he looked, how he suited his taste.

As a former Military Agricultural Officer, he understood this kind of operation too well!

Except for Master Chen, only Xue Wenzhong saw Zhao Xing’s intention.

The other officials didn't see it. They didn't have Master Chen’s comprehensiveness, nor did they have Xue Wenzhong’s rich experience.

Xue Wenzhong naturally wouldn't say it out loud to attract jealousy for his student, and Master Chen just admired it in his heart without revealing it again.

He knew that his attention to Zhao Xing today was enough, and if there was more, it would be a bit too much.

Master Chen knew the little thoughts of the people below very well.

"Ziyu, I, I can't do it anymore..." Qian Dong collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath, like a fish about to die of thirst.

Chen Ziyu was no better, sweating profusely, unable to wipe it all off.

It was already afternoon, and they had been busy for several hours, but there was no movement in the land in front of them.

Most of the seeds didn't sprout, and the seedlings had all withered.

Looking at this, the remaining small part wouldn't be able to persist until tomorrow.

"How about, how about we just leave? We can take the make-up exam next time," Qian Dong said. He really didn't want to waste his effort.

"I’m not leaving." Chen Ziyu shook his head, "Every time I say next time, next time I’ll work hard... When will there be a day to stand out? Might as well be this time."

Qian Dong was stunned, then gritted his teeth and climbed up.

More and more people gave up, unable to bear this kind of hardship, and left the venue.

But there were also people gritting their teeth and persisting.

Supporting bitterly in the scorching heat, everyone finally waited until dark.

And Xue Wenzhong didn't make things too difficult for them, sending a cool breeze to the Cultivation Area at night.

…………

Xue Wenzhong’s cool breeze refreshed Zhao Xing, who woke up from a light sleep.

He was extra sensitive to the wind that didn't belong to him.

"It’s dark, it’s time to work."

Zhao Xing stretched, then ran to check the condition of the three types of plants.

At this time, 20 Green Vines had stepped from the seedling stage into the growth stage, the vines crawling all over the yellow land, and flower buds had appeared on some branches.

In the two mud pits, the Fragrant Lotus had drawn three lotus leaves, also entering the growth stage.

Only the Diamond Bamboo, due to the characteristics of bamboo plants, still only had a bamboo shoot tip emerging.

"As expected of Tier 2 High Grade, I have already concentrated the nutrition on it, but it is still the same as at the beginning."

Diamond Bamboo belongs to the point-rushing target, of course, it is impossible to cultivate it so easily.

Zhao Xing was not in a hurry; he hadn't started to exert force yet.

"It’s dark, let’s work secretly."

Zhao Xing’s fingertips emitted a wisp of Qi, which was inserted into the ground.

"*Hum~*"

Earth Vein Synthesis was activated immediately!

The big net began to spread, and as it quietly left Zhao Xing’s Moving Clouds range.

Going north, it crossed most of Wen Nanxing’s territory, and going south, it wrapped Xiao Ze’s territory.

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Going west, it included more than a dozen Grade A talents.

Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang were at the far west, and Zhao Xing couldn't reach that far. After all, he had just mastered this Earth-Benefit School spell.

"Covering half of the Cultivation Area, it’s almost enough." Zhao Xing used Bright Eyes and Night Vision, and could see many minor officials starting to get busy after dark, one after another starting to consume Qi and cast spells.

"Work hard, everyone. How tall the Diamond Bamboo can grow depends on you all."

"It’s dark, the Soul-Calming Incense I received should also start to ripen." Huang Tao looked at a seedling on the ground, preparing to take action.

He had suffered a loss at Zhao Xing’s place during the day, but he still grabbed a piece of land close to the spring well.

The plant Huang Tao chose was called 'Soul-Calming Incense', Tier 2, Medium Grade.

It only had one effect: after flowering, the fragrance could calm the spirit and stabilize the soul.

Many people like to plant a Soul-Calming Incense at home, which can reduce the probability of Qi deviation when cultivating Qi Gathering.

The flowering period of Soul-Calming Incense is quite long and can last for several months, but it is not heat-resistant, and it is very difficult to flower, so Huang Tao didn't move at all during the day and waited until night.

"Being able to grow Soul-Calming Incense in the Beginning of Autumn solar term, even one plant, is enough to get on the Grade A list." Huang Tao was full of confidence.

"Start! Thriving Growth!"

Huang Tao began to cast the spell on the Soul-Calming Incense seedling.

Qi entered the soil and went straight to the roots of the Soul-Calming Incense.

A part of the Qi suddenly disappeared just before reaching the roots, and only one-tenth was absorbed.

"In this season, Soul-Calming Incense seedlings are indeed difficult to grow."

Huang Tao didn't take it to heart, only thinking that he had chosen a plant with enough difficulty, so the gain was slow now.

Waiting for a while, Huang Tao continued to cast the spell.

The Soul-Calming Incense seedling grew a little bit more.

"Again!"

…………

In the Zi hour of the night, Huang Tao squatted on the ground somewhat blankly, looking at this Soul-Calming Incense.

"This... what’s going on? I have been casting spells on it continuously for three hours, and until now, the Soul-Calming Incense hasn't even entered the growth stage?"

It hadn't even reached the growth stage, let alone flowering.

Huang Tao didn't realize it at first, but until his Qi was drained several times, the Soul-Calming Incense still grew slowly. He suddenly realized that it wasn't that he was bad, but that something had gone wrong elsewhere!

"Could it be that I picked a diseased seed? Impossible, I clearly checked it..." Huang Tao muttered to himself, pulling his hair, "Where exactly did it go wrong?" ===== CHAPTER 29 =====