Chapter 95: Start of Winter assessment, Yin soul enters a dream, Great Omen!

"The abandoned forging workshop in Anping Town was originally the site of the Heavenly Workshop twelve years ago."

"Because of a big problem when drawing Earth Fire to open the furnace, the Earth Vein fire rioted, causing many people to be burned to death at that time."

"My family also set up a factory here before, but just after the new forging workshop was built and workers were recruited, the incident happened. Later, Nanyang Commandery issued a ban, and it closed not long after. It was considered a losing business."

Zhao Xing sat in Zong Shichang's carriage, looking at the stretches of barren land outside, as well as the dilapidated civilian houses.

They walked around this piece of land for a circle, and it had already been a quarter of an hour. There wasn't even a decent tree, basically all were very low and small trees.

There were weeds, but most were strange-looking thorns; only this type of tenacious plant could survive in the scorched earth.

"Destruction is easy, reconstruction is hard. In the first three years, let alone trees, there wasn't even a blade of grass here." Zong Shichang said, "It's much better now. Chen Shijie still did quite a few things."

"Indeed." Zhao Xing nodded slightly.

Chen Shijie came to Gucheng to take office three years ago.

Before him, this scorched earth in Anping Town had been ignored for nine years.

The previous main official of the Agricultural Official Supervision was someone who was afraid of getting involved in things and never dared to repair this piece of land.

This was because the land had been directly approved by Nanyang Commandery, the destruction was carried out by the Heavenly Craft Workshop of Gucheng, and local prominent families like Zong Shichang’s had participated in the investment.

The issue of rights and responsibilities was never clarified, so it was shelved.

The higher-ups didn't care, and Gu County Magistrate Li Wenzheng didn't want to care either.

The previous main official of the Agricultural Official Supervision didn't dare to care.

So this piece of land and the factory buildings in Anping Town were left to rot for nine years, until Chen Shijie came.

After he found out, he prepared to repair it without saying a word.

Li Wenzheng didn't want to care, and he didn't stop him, but giving help was impossible.

Chen Shijie planned to take the assistant officials of the Agricultural Official Supervision to work.

Every week, he would come down to cast Earthly Benefit faction spells to regulate the Earth Veins and repair the soil.

This was thankless work. At that time, only Xue Wenzhong expressed support immediately. Tang Wanchun, Gao Linong, Pang Yuan, and others all felt it was difficult to handle and opposed it.

Old Chen was also domineering. Difficult to handle? Then don't handle anything!

He stopped all government affairs of the Agricultural Official Supervision. No matter what government affairs Tang Wanchun, Gao Linong, Pang Yuan, and others reported, it was two words: Not approved.

Old Chen's attitude was, since you want to rot, then let's rot to the end. We will all get a 'mediocre official' evaluation these few years.

Anyway, I was punished and sent down, I didn't want to be this civil Agricultural Official in the first place, and I'm not afraid of being demoted again.

There was no way, the assistant officials of the Agricultural Official Supervision could only pinch their noses and work.

Afterward, old Chen ran to the Agricultural Official Supervision to find Gongsun Yang, borrowing manpower and the divine weapons of the workshop. Gongsun Yang didn't want to do it at first, afraid of getting involved.

As a result, Chen Shijie stared at Gongsun Yang every day. When he had nothing to do, he would hail on people's ancestral graves. Whatever the Gongsun family planted would die, and it would either be windy or rainy.

When Gongsun Yang found out, he ran to question Chen Shijie angrily.

What? You say why the weather is so bad for your family's ancestral graves and land?

Didn't this official tell you before that I wanted to borrow tools and manpower to carry out work? You didn't agree yourself.

Sorry, this official only has this much ability, I can't manage the weather in Gucheng. Old man, if you have the ability, go to the commandery city to sue me!

Gongsun Yang was so angry that his beard was pulled out.

There was no way, he could only agree to his request.

After spending a year, Chen Shijie restored this scorched earth to the level of wasteland.

Afterward, Chen Shijie reported his achievements to the commandery government. The higher-ups knew that this person was a dead pig not afraid of boiling water, so they could only pinch their noses and give a commendation.

Although the abandoned factory buildings were still not demolished, this matter allowed Chen Shijie to stand firm in Gucheng, win the hearts of the Agricultural Official Supervision, and convince Gongsun Yang and Li Wenzheng.

Therefore, in the Agricultural Official Supervision, Chen Shijie has always had the final say, and no one dared to oppose him.

"Old Chen's first political achievement is here. He is about to be transferred soon, and he set up this situation to attract the Profound Heaven Sect here, planning to fish for a military achievement... he really has a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder." Zhao Xing looked outside.

The fact that Chen Shijie is about to be transferred in November is not a secret.

The number of people in this Anping Town assessment is large, and unlike the Autumn Equinox Mountain Opening, there is no Donghu Army to maintain order, and no commandery city inspection envoy present.

The defensive strength looks relatively weak.

Zhao Xing felt that if he were the leader of the Profound Heaven Sect, he would have to take advantage of this opportunity to make a move.

Chen Shijie guessed that the Profound Heaven Sect might take advantage of this opportunity to make a move.

The Profound Heaven Sect guessed that Chen Shijie would guess they would make a move.

"These possibilities are not hard to guess... it just depends on who dares to do it, and who has made more preparations." Zhao Xing thought silently.

From 'historical experience', the Profound Heaven Sect's planning during the Jingxin years absorbed the experience of previous failures, and the actions were more successful than ever before.

Did the Profound Heaven Sect succeed or fail in Nanyang Commandery? Zhao Xing didn't know, but with his own reminder, old Chen's plan made great changes compared to the original.

As for what the result will be, Zhao Xing is not sure.

However, his mentality is quite good.

"Anyway, there is no life danger. If I am caught on the pirate ship by the Profound Heaven Sect, then I will work hard on the pirate ship. It's not impossible to survive to the recovery era in the sect faction. It's all muddling along anyway. Zhao Xing is not that rigid. However, the path of the Luck Dynasty is still more stable. He still hopes not to be caught."

The Start of Winter assessment of the Agricultural Official Supervision started on the afternoon of November 7th.

The assessment time for clerks of other departments was also unified.

It is called a joint assessment, but it is actually throwing clerks into an area, and the content is completely different.

There is no competition between professions, mainly competition between the same profession.

The assessment content of the Agricultural Official Supervision is to grow at least ten different types of plants on this scorched earth.

The assessment content of the Heavenly Workshop is for clerks to build new furnaces here and restart the Earth Vein fire.

The assessment content of the Weaving Supervision is to weave magic clothes for martial artists, mechanism masters, Agricultural Officials, and masters of ceremonies. It is limited to four types: one is the He Luo magic clothes, two is the Fire-Avoiding magic clothes, three is the Soul-Protecting magic clothes, and four is the True Origin magic clothes.

The assessment content of the Martial Supervision is 'capturing demon people'. Outside the area of this abandoned factory, some 'sect demon people' played by government soldiers will appear, starting from the outer area to sneak attack and destroy this place.

Grading is based on the number of 'demon people' caught.

The assessment content of the Divine Temple is similar to that of martial artists, but the target has changed to the Yin souls who were burned to death in this factory.

"The start and end times of the five professions are different."

"The weaving girls' assessment started earliest, entering at the Mao hour on the 7th. It ends at the Mao hour tomorrow, only twelve hours. The materials for the magic clothes are prepared, and whether they are finished or not after one day, they must leave the field."

"The assessment duration for mechanism masters is two days, starting at the Wu hour on the 7th and ending at the Wu hour on the 9th."

"The Divine Temple and martial artists start the latest, starting at the You hour on the evening of the 7th and ending at the Chen hour on the 10th, lasting two and a half days."

"Agricultural Officials start at the Wei hour on the afternoon of the 7th and end at the Mao hour on the 11th. Lasting three days and four nights."

Zhao Xing came out of the carriage, looked at the entrance of the ruined factory, and was thoughtful: "Old Chen believed my judgment, but didn't fully believe it. This is also good."

Starting at the Wei hour, the Agricultural Official Supervision began to organize the reference clerks to enter the designated boundary.

Zhao Xing carried a bamboo box much larger than the last time and walked into the abandoned factory.

The number of clerks participating in the Agricultural Official Supervision this time is not large, because the Agricultural Official Supervision is not a fat job. As long as it's not for the sake of being appointed, no matter how well you do, you won't get much year-end bonus.

Other departments are different, and the number of participants is still quite large.

"Zhao Xing, come along." Zong Shichang trotted over, fawning. "Where do you plan to plant?"

"Do you believe my eye for things?" Zhao Xing pointed to a piece of land not far from the entrance, "You just plant here, I think this is a good piece of land."

"Really or fake?" Zong Shichang looked, it was just a piece of scorched earth.

"I learned quite a few Earthly Benefit faction spells, don't you believe me?"

"I believe, but where are you going?" Zong Shichang asked.

"Are you stupid from playing?" Zhao Xing said, "Can such a small piece of land accommodate two people planting?"

"Let's go together, I think it's boring for one person..."

"Get lost! Don't come to affect my grades." Zhao Xing said coldly. "Can't you understand human language? I don't want to be with you."

"You..." Zong Shichang was stunned. He didn't understand why Zhao Xing's attitude changed so much, and for a moment, he was stunned in place.

Zhao Xing didn't pay attention to him anymore and walked directly toward a certain area of the ruined factory.

As the saying goes, if things are not secret, one will lose one's body. Zhao Xing knew some of Chen Shijie's plans, but didn't know the whole picture, and he couldn't possibly leak it to Zong Shichang.

Besides, if there are demon people making a move this time, Zong Shichang following him is not a good thing.

The abandoned factory covers a large area; after all, it was a project approved by the commandery city.

Zhao Xing carried the bamboo box and walked through it, as if looking for something.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, he came to a relatively complete house. This was once the living area for the factory workers.

"This is it." Zhao Xing pushed the door and entered.

"Meow~" Seeing the master come over, the mountain cat jumped over lightly.

"Shh~" Zhao Xing signaled the mountain cat not to make a sound, "Stay obediently, don't make a sound."

The little mountain cat nodded its head.

Zhao Xing then looked into the room.

This room was prepared for him by Chen Shijie.

Besides the exotic mountain cat, many things were prepared inside. Many dark red bamboo tubes were piled up in the room, about the thickness of a lower leg.

In the center of the room, there was a table, an oil lamp, a piece of paper, and a set of brush and ink.

On the long platform in front, there was a wooden statue of the Earl of Donghu.

In the southeast corner, there was also a straw man wearing a coir raincoat and a bamboo hat, exactly the protector straw man that followed Zhao Xing out of the city before.

"Nothing missing." Zhao Xing took inventory, then took out the Omen-Avoiding Almanac and hung it behind the door. He also tied the Thousand-Mile Transmission Token to his wrist.

Then he sat at the table, picked up paper and pen, and signed his name on the yellow paper.

This is a land deed.

From the moment he signed his name, Zhao Xing was the owner of this house.

Then he took out the Sandalwood Soul Box from the bamboo box and began to carry the dark red bamboo tubes in the corner, burying them one by one around the fence outside the house.

After doing all this, Zhao Xing patted his hands and rested on the steps.

He is now not just an ordinary candidate, but as one of the people who knows about Chen Shijie's plan, and also an important talent that the Profound Heaven Sect wants to capture, he naturally has extra treatment.

After resting for a while, Zhao Xing planted in the fence courtyard.

The seeds in the bamboo box, besides the ten types for the assessment, Zhao Xing brought three extra types.

"Assessment task, just need to plant ten types of herbal seeds, filling this fence courtyard."

"Plant the assessment task plants first."

Zhao Xing put down the bamboo box and cast a cloud spell, letting the clouds cover the entire courtyard.

Then he plowed the land with wind.

"Whoosh~" Small tornadoes plowed gullies on the soil surface.

"Whoosh~" A gentle wind rolled up the grass seeds from the bamboo box, accurately falling into the gullies.

"Clatter~" Raindrops began to fall from the clouds.

"Grow vigorously!"

"Earth Treasury Returning to Origin!"

"Boundless Earth Palace!"

Zhao Xing cast spells quickly.

Exploring the Earth Vein, using the Earth Vein of the courtyard area, he cast Earth Treasury Returning to Origin and Boundless Earth Palace.

The previous few spells were very smooth.

But when casting the Earth Palace Method, he encountered a problem.

"What's going on, why is it not successful?" Zhao Xing was stunned. His [Boundless Earth Palace] is already mid-grade eighth turn. Although the Earth Vein here is weaker than other places, it still exists. Logically, there is absolutely no possibility of failure.

"Try again." Zhao Xing took off his shoes, stepped on the ground, and as he cast the Boundless Earth Palace, his mind seemed to go deep underground, beginning to explore the Earth Vein.

Soon Zhao Xing discovered the fluctuation of the Earth Vein. It was a dark red Earth Vein. According to the sensing, Zhao Xing estimated that it reached the strength of a third-tier fire vein.

This discovery made Zhao Xing somewhat surprised.

"Third-tier Earth Vein? Did I sense it wrong?"

"How is it possible? This area was once burned by Earth Vein fire. Even after old Chen's repair, logically it only reached the level of a first-tier Earth Vein."

"How come my sensing now is third-tier? No, it might even be close to fourth-tier!"

With doubts in his heart, Zhao Xing continued to cast the spell, and the golden light wrapped around his mind and continued downward.

However, at this moment, a faint but clear intention came from the Earth Vein: "Why is it you?"

"You... old Chen?" The golden light representing Zhao Xing fluctuated beside the Earth Vein, obviously very surprised.

Chen Shijie didn't care about Zhao Xing's address and asked somewhat unexpectedly: "Didn't you say the Earth Palace Method you mastered was only third turn? How could you discover me."

Zhao Xing controlled the golden light to fluctuate and transmitted information through the Earth Vein: "I used up the painting attempts at the end of the month and made some progress. You were too busy, I didn't have time to tell you in detail."

Chen Shijie said: "What turn is it now?"

"Eighth turn."

"..."

Seeing Chen Shijie stop talking, Zhao Xing couldn't help but take the initiative to ask: "What's going on with this Earth Vein? Didn't they say this place was burned by Earth Vein fire before, the Earth Vein is not apparent, and it's only first-tier?"

"The past is the past. Half a month ago, I cast a spell to strengthen the Earth Vein here. After a month, it will return to its original strength."

"Then why can't I cast the Earth Palace Method?"

"Look down carefully."

Zhao Xing increased his Qi output and added another Qi strike down, finally seeing clearly below.

Only to see below the Earth Vein, a dark red palace was looming. This palace was very similar in color to the fire vein, and it was covered by a blurry cloud-like power. If you didn't look carefully, you couldn't see it at all.

When that blurry feeling dissipated a little, Zhao Xing suddenly caught a glimpse of a corner.

"Hiss~"

A huge fire-red palace, just that one tile was three or four meters long and wide.

According to the scale of the top floor of the palace, Zhao Xing immediately judged that this fire-red Earth Palace could cover the entire abandoned factory area.

"This is the Fire Prison Earth Palace Method!" Zhao Xing was surprised. "Old Chen, you did this?"

He even recognizes this? Chen Shijie was also stunned, then said lightly: "Not bad, you don't need to waste extra energy to cast the Earth Palace Method."

"Awesome." Zhao Xing shouted 'awesome' in his heart.

But it is also true. When Bai Lu was taking the theoretical assessment, he knew that Chen Shijie was an Earthly Benefit faction Agricultural Official.

Knowing the Earth Palace Method is perfectly normal.

Zhao Xing's Boundless Earth Palace is characterized by its size, but at this look, he knew that his Boundless Earth Palace couldn't compare to Chen Shijie's Fire Prison Earth Palace in terms of 'size'.

"I'll go up first."

"Be careful yourself." Chen Shijie warned again, "If there is any contingency, Long Xiao and I may not be able to pay attention to you."

"Understood." Zhao Xing would naturally shrink well and not add trouble to Chen Shijie.

Evening, the fenced courtyard, covered with grass and vines, and bamboo shoots gradually appearing.

At night, Zhao Xing lit the candle on the table, and it stayed bright all night.

November 7th, nothing happened.

November 8th, Mao hour, the clerks of the Weaving Supervision finished the assessment.

After the ranking came out, the weaving girls could give the magic clothes they made to the other four professions.

Zhao Xing also encountered a weaving girl knocking on the courtyard door.

"Hello..."

"No, thank you." Zhao Xing waved his hand, not even raising his head.

Lin Baiwei, who had just obtained an A-plus, looked at Zhao Xing who was planting with his head down, and the words she wanted to say were held back. She silently hung the magic clothes on the fence and turned to leave.

After a long while, Zhao Xing raised his head and found the things on the fence, and was suddenly confused: "Did she weave her brain broken? I already said I didn't want it, why did she still force it?"

He summoned, ordered the straw man to take it over, and found that the quality was actually quite good. Third-tier top-grade True Origin magic clothes, which can increase the Qi recovery speed after wearing.

It could be rated A in the Weaving Supervision assessment, but in Zhao Xing's eyes, it was useless.

"Inexplicable, I don't know any weaving girl... look at me because I'm handsome?"

Zhao Xing casually threw the magic clothes aside and continued to plow.

November 8th, daytime, there were bursts of killing sounds. Zhao Xing stood on the courtyard wall and looked from afar. It was the personnel of the Martial Supervision fighting with the soldiers playing demon people.

November 9th, the long-bright lamp at night began to shake, and the personnel of the Divine Temple began to carry lamps to catch souls.

Zhao Xing scanned the surroundings with bright eyes and found that these ghosts all had a bit of fire-red, representing the way they died before they were alive.

November 10th, Chen hour, the assessment of the Martial Supervision and the Divine Temple ended, and the surroundings quieted down, leaving only the Agricultural Official profession's assessment continuing.

November 10th, night, Zi hour.

Zhao Xing, who had confirmed that his assessment results could get an A-plus, was taking a nap with his eyes closed beside the table, and the mountain cat was also lying in front of the master, yawning.

Suddenly, the mountain cat shivered! It arched its body fiercely, its eyes glowing green, staring dead at the door.

"Whoosh~"

The long-bright lamp shook violently, then extinguished suddenly, and the surroundings fell into a silence.

It pawed at Zhao Xing, but the latter didn't wake up, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.

"Clatter~"

Hearing the movement, the mountain cat turned its head to look.

Only to see the statue of the Earl of Donghu shake suddenly and open its eyes fiercely.

In the yellow-green pupils of the mountain cat, a phantom walked out of the statue.