Chapter 152: Sixth Trial, The Final Battle! (Combined Double Chapter)

"You actually got first place?" Zhuang Ziqing gritted his teeth. "Didn't you say there were only two Seven-Turn Scarecrow techniques?!"

"That's right." Zhao Xing shrugged. "You asked about Seven-Turn Scarecrows, and indeed there are only two."

"I'm going to fight you to the death!" Zhuang Ziqing made as if to strangle Zhao Xing.

"Brother Zhuang, forget it, forget it." Cao Shuang hurriedly laughed and held him back.

Cai Jin also said, "Right, even I from the Taicang Court haven't said anything, why are you getting so worked up?"

Han Bing suddenly said, "Brother Zhuang, why don't you ask him how many turns his other scarecrow techniques are?"

Zhuang Ziqing paused and asked, "Right, what about the others?"

"There are also two Nine-Turn ones."

"……"

"Damn it, brothers, beat him up!" Cao Shuang, Zhuang Ziqing, and Cai Jin immediately pounced over.

Zhao Xing's rapid progress shocked all these Grade A-Upper geniuses.

"For the next seven days, I'm also going to the Primordial Dao Field to cultivate!" Zhuang Ziqing said. "I still have two chances unused. This time it's fifty thousand points, I can't let Zhao Xing get it for free!"

"I always thought it was just a rumor that Zhao Xing slept for one shichen a day, but now I believe it." Cai Jin said, "Brother Zhuang, let's go together!"

"Han Bing, stay and watch Zhao Xing, don't let him sneak in extra practice." Cao Shuang said.

"No need for such trouble, the four of us team up and beat him half to death first." Han Bing's face was expressionless.

"Hiss, you Divine Might Army people are really ruthless. I only thought of using the Underground Palace technique to lock him up."

"……"

After the fourth trial rankings were announced, the geniuses all flew off one by one to comprehend scarecrow techniques.

The top-ranked geniuses, including Shi Yong, were all stimulated by Zhao Xing.

Those from the main Taicang Court were howling even louder!

Spring wind blows, war drums pound! Without taking first place, we swear not to return!

If a genius from the Dili Court like Zhao Xing took first place in the main court's selection training, where would they put their faces in the future?!

Brothers, one word: train!

Inside the main hall of the Wanfa Palace.

Lu Bang looked at the fourth trial rankings and couldn't help shaking his head: "This is too outrageous. Not a single person from the Taicang Court took first place. Did they take the resources and run off to practice other techniques?!"

Liu Tianning smiled slightly: "The performance of the Taicang Court's Si Nong isn't bad either. They occupy half of the top ten, and most of the top twenty came from the Taicang Court. Your students Cai Jin and Feng Qi are both very good."

Lu Bang said: "Just being 'not bad' isn't enough! I really regret introducing him to Tian Hou back then. If only he had stayed in the Taicang Court."

Liu Tianning said: "Forcing him to stay wouldn't necessarily mean he'd willingly come practice Benwo Sect techniques. Better to think of ways to attract him."

Lu Bang laughed: "Of course I know this reasoning, but I don't have your skills, Brother Liu. Your scarecrow techniques are unrivaled across the nineteen provinces."

After the scarecrow techniques were improved by Liu Zonghai of Taihe Prefecture, the Liu Chuan Compilation was recognized as the world's number one scarecrow technique.

During the Taizu period, it was widely promoted, but the difficulty was too great. Combined with the lack of wars during the Wendi period, scarecrow techniques gradually fell into disuse. Later, a simpler version had to be adopted, while the Liu Chuan Compilation was retained within the army.

With the decline of scarecrow techniques, only nine relatively simple ones were comprehensively promoted during the Jingdi period.

The Liu family had always wanted to restore the glory of scarecrow techniques, and Liu Tianning was the most outstanding among them.

Lu Bang also greatly admired Liu Tianning.

"After Brother Liu's scarecrow training class this time, I imagine it will attract a large batch of military Si Nong to cultivate scarecrow techniques."

"So many people have all gone to the Taicang Court's treasured land to comprehend."

"Hm? Even Shi Yong has gone to the Taicang Court's most precious treasured land, the 'Primordial Dao Field,' to comprehend?"

As one of the Si Zheng of the Taicang Court, Lu Bang naturally learned the movements of various treasured lands first. Upon learning that Shi Yong had also gone to the Taicang Court's Primordial Dao Field to comprehend, he immediately grinned.

"Shi Yong has always been first in all kinds of training. During his long time at the branch court, his cultivation in spare time hasn't been diligent; compared to others, it could even be called a bit lazy."

"Even the free chances that Grade A-Upper geniuses possess, the Primordial Dao Field and the Thirty-Six Water Paths, he hasn't used a single time."

"Now four people have actually surpassed him, especially the first place Zhao Xing, who isn't even from the Taicang Court. It seems Shi Yong has also been stimulated."

Liu Tianning nodded: "Zhao Xing's talent for scarecrow techniques is indeed extraordinary. If he can continue practicing, he will certainly achieve something in this path in the future."

Lu Bang raised his eyebrows, not expecting Liu Tianning to rate Zhao Xing so highly: "That's fine too. Let Zhao Xing stimulate these geniuses, so they don't neglect the practice of Benwo Sect techniques."

The fourth trial eliminated half the people.

Of course, this was only elimination from the points reward test; it didn't forbid them from learning.

The remaining people could still enter the Wanfa Palace to study. Those who were in the first and second trials could also come to the third trial to comprehend and earn the basic points of the third trial.

Among them, some Si Nong felt scarecrow techniques had great prospects. Even though there were no more points to gain afterward, they still chose to spend a bit more time cultivating here.

The vast majority, however, left after grabbing their points.

After all, the Tianshi Sect and Dili Sect were mainstream, and other selection training classes also had points to earn, so naturally they were unwilling to waste more time in the scarecrow training class.

As for the fifty people who passed the fourth trial, they all seized the time to cultivate scarecrow techniques.

Striving to have a performance in the fifth trial's 'Multi-Technique Unification.'

"Technique unification should originally be a field to be touched upon only after reaching Seventh Rank, but the Si Nong in the Ten Sun Grotto-Heaven are the best of the best, and quite a few have already begun the step of technique unification." Zhao Xing came to a plaza behind the main hall.

Unlike the single-technique demonstrations in the front hall plaza, the scarecrows appearing here were all embodiments of multiple techniques.

"Flying Sky Sacrificial Explosion Scarecrow."

Zhao Xing's gaze fell before the firecracker forest. A breeze blew past, and firecracker materials rapidly assembled into a scarecrow. Unlike a normal Sacrificial Explosion Scarecrow, this one had an extra pair of cicada-wing-thin wings on its back.

Then this scarecrow turned into a blur of afterimages and leaped violently.

In an instant, it crossed a distance of over ten meters. Two leaps, and it appeared over a hundred meters away.

"Boom!"

In the deep pit, the scarecrow exploded.

The pit had clearly been bombed countless times. Under such tremendous force, it only showed a patch of scorched black, not even stirring up dust.

"A single Self-Detonating Strawman has great power, but getting close to the opponent is extremely difficult precisely because its speed is too slow. Even a mid-grade perfected Self-Detonating Strawman would struggle to quickly close in on an Eighth Rank."

"Generally, Self-Detonating Strawmen are deployed in large numbers to surround and annihilate."

"This way, the cost-effectiveness just isn't high." Zhao Xing muttered to himself.

If killing an Eighth Rank required dozens of Self-Detonating Strawmen, even though a Si Nong could self-produce firecrackers, the cost would simply be too steep.

Many military Si Nong don't avoid learning the Strawman Art because of unwillingness—it's because this combat method is far too expensive.

Rather than painstakingly research Self-Detonating Strawmen, I might as well just go to the workshop and buy a fourth-grade Yuan-Breaking Crossbow.

When a martial artist closes in, bang bang—two arrows. The workshop has plenty of these great equalizers.

Of course, some people don't see it that way.

Workshop weapons are, after all, external objects, and they require carrying consumables for resupply.

The materials for the Strawman Art come from one's own core expertise—no need to seek them externally.

"If I can merge two arts into one—flying and self-detonating—the cost-effectiveness would be far higher."

"Charge over and hug them. An Eighth Rank perfected martial artist, unless they have an especially strong body-protecting treasure, would be crippled if not killed by a bare explosion."

The Flying Strawman Art is an advanced form of the Divine-Step Strawman.

The Divine-Step Strawman can only walk on the ground, but the Flying Strawman not only runs fast, it can also leap at low altitude.

Eighth Rank martial artists can also briefly take to the air. Flying Strawmen combined with Self-Detonating Strawmen—martial artists can't burrow underground, so once caught, they can only take the blast.

Of course, Flying Self-Detonating Strawmen are somewhat less effective against mages.

"Unless it's a three-art fusion—flying, body-protecting, and self-detonating all in one—using the Body-Protecting Strawman to store the Earth-Burrowing Art."

"A three-art fusion would truly leave them with no escape to the heavens and no path into the earth."

Countless tactical combinations instantly sprang up in Zhao Xing's mind.

Multi-art fusion Strawmen also last longer.

They can be mass-produced with great power, and even in this era, they can truly be put to use.

"Once the fiftieth-grade Pure Yuan Soil forms, I can hide an entire army of Strawmen directly in my Origin Dantian. Killing a Fifth Rank as a Fourth Rank would be effortless."

"Si Nong like Liu Tianning who master the Strawman Art are rare, but once he rises to power, even a titled king would have to bow his head obediently and address him as my lord Liu."

During Wu Di's reign, Liu Tianning wasn't feared by so many people because of the Emperor's favor—he himself was an absolute monster in combat!

The key point is his 'True Self Strawman' is also incredibly overpowered. Only he gets to hit you; if you destroy one of his True Self avatars, it doesn't even tickle him.

Why was Zhao Xing so wary of this person? Later on, Liu Tianning did countless inhuman things. Countless powerful figures wished him dead, and there were even multiple assassination attempts—Zhao Xing had taken part in several himself.

But although Liu Tianning was half-mad, he kept on living just fine. Zhao Xing joined the assassination attempts, failed to kill the man, and died several times himself, tortured beyond belief.

Later, the vengeful Master Zhao grinded for two versions and became incredibly powerful, wanting to go kill Liu Tianning, but still hadn't managed to do it. It wasn't until the imperial court announced Liu Tianning's funeral that he learned the bastard had died of old age in a blessed grotto-heaven.

Having offended so many people, yet still dying of old age in the end—it's practically a miracle.

"I won't follow you, and I'll stay far away from you in the future, but your Strawman Art—I will learn it with everything I've got!" Zhao Xing thought to himself, then headed to another location to observe the Flying Strawman drills.

To merge two arts into one, he naturally had to first master the Flying Strawman.

Time flew by—in the blink of an eye, three days had passed.

At the Heavenly Timing Court, Ge Jinsong was in his Snow Pine Seven Mountain Court, giving a lecture to students who had come from the Pinghuai Court for guidance.

These students were all Grade B of the Pinghuai Court; they only needed to spend 50 points to come ask him for instruction.

"The Heavenly Timing method, when applied to flood control, is usually chosen during the solar terms from 【Beginning of Winter】 to 【Qingming】."

"Choosing other solar terms would fall within the flood season, which would instead amplify the Water-element momentum between heaven and earth."

"However, one must also adapt to local conditions. Suppose the flood has already formed—its heavenly disaster momentum would be impossible to resist. At this point, using the Heavenly Timing method is no longer appropriate. One should first apply a strong remedy from the Earthly Advantage method, either diverting or blocking, to first solve the problem of whether people can survive, before discussing anything else."

"The Pinghuai Court's Thirty-Six Water Channels will evolve the fundamental nature of various flood disasters. Once you've accumulated enough points, you may enter to comprehend. If you lack points, you may also go to the Earthly Advantage Hall observed by the Earthly Advantage Court, to seek out the 【Nine Provinces Water Vein Map】 for comprehension."

"The Heavenly Timing Court will also later open a 【Heavenly Disaster】 training course. Very well, today's lecture has already lasted two hours. Go back and digest what you've learned." Ge Jinsong waved his hand.

"Yes, thank you, Teacher, for your guidance." The several students from the Pinghuai Court took their leave.

Afterward, Ge Jinsong met with several more students who had come seeking guidance.

Soon, the sky began to darken.

"Strange—Shi Yong hasn't appeared for three days now. What has he been up to?"

As the top genius of the Heavenly Timing Court, Shi Yong's courtyard was located together with the farmers, where the heaven and earth origin qi was far denser.

Ge Jinsong had often been able to see Shi Yong sleeping in the courtyard before, but now it had been several days since he'd seen him.

He stopped a passerby to ask: "Do you know what Shi Yong has been doing lately?"

"Reporting to Ge Wu, hic—~" The passerby almost let something slip, but luckily reacted quickly, pretending to burp, cupping his hands in apology, before answering again: "my lord Ge, Shi Yong went to the Grand Granary Court and signed up for the currently popular Strawman training course."

"He has already cleared several stages, and now he's run off to the Primordial Dao Arena for comprehension."

"Oh, you may go." Ge Jinsong expressionlessly uttered 'oh' and let the passerby leave.

He took out his Earth Mirror and began checking the relevant situation of the Strawman training course.

After seeing the ranking results of the fourth stage, his gaze couldn't help but sharpen.

"……"

"……"

Ge Jinsong was unable to speak for a long time.

He finally understood why Shi Yong had been absent for three days!

Given Shi Yong's temperament, he had always been first. From the moment he entered the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven, no matter what it was, he had never lost.

Now being surpassed by four people naturally stung him—especially since among the top four, the first-place Zhao Xing was not a genius of the Grand Granary Court.

"This is actually for the best. Shi Yong has never been particularly diligent. Now that someone has caught up, it may not be a bad form of motivation for him."

"It's just my reputation and Old Cheng's……"

Ge Jinsong recalled the passerby's appearance from earlier and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

He never expected that one slip-up back then would let Zhao Xing rocket upward, rising all the way — it was practically a slap in the face for him and Cheng Qingming.

He figured that during this batch of Military Agricultural Officials' training, this matter would be brought up from time to time. Sigh…

"At least I still gave a Mid-Grade A. Old Cheng gave a Lower-Grade A." Ge Jinsong put away his Earth Mirror and began walking toward Cheng Qingming's courtyard.

He couldn't be the only one feeling sour — Old Cheng had to know about it too.

Inside the Myriad Arts Palace, a cool pavilion.

"Slap!"

o￠o

The Flying Strawman rushed over and gave Zhao Xing, who was resting on the table, a smack on the shoulder.

Zhao Xing seemed to sense it and suddenly leapt to the side.

"Slap!"

A palm print was instantly pressed into the terrace.

Seeing that Zhao Xing had woken up, the Flying Strawman immediately stood still and stopped moving.

Zhao Xing rubbed his cheek.

He had set an alarm for himself — a "Flying Strawman" version.

Before sleeping, he had ordered the strawman to slap him awake after one shichen, and to train his alertness along the way.

"Just one shichen left, that was fast."

Zhao Xing leapt to a high spot, summoned a "Basin Cloud," buried his head in it, and rinsed his cheeks.

Finding it not quite satisfying, he simply pointed again, turning the "Basin Cloud" into a "Swimming Pool Cloud."

"Boom-crack~" Thunder and lightning flashed within the cloud, and the cold water turned hot.

Then he jumped into the cloud and took a bath.

"Splash~"

After a satisfying wash, Zhao Xing dropped down from the cloud.

During the descent, the gang wind blew over him; by the time he landed, his clothes were dry and fresh, and his whole body was in the most comfortable state.

"Keep at it!"

Zhao Xing summoned two strawmen.

They were the Sacrificial-Explosion Strawman and the Flying Strawman.

Among them, the Sacrificial-Explosion Strawman was at Mid-Stage Perfection, while the Flying Strawman was at Eight Revolutions.

"Rustle-rustle~"

The two strawmen rapidly disintegrated, turning into floating materials, but the general human-shaped framework could still be seen — they hadn't fallen apart into a pile of loose sand.

"Flying-Sacrifice, merge!"

Zhao Xing pointed, and the frameworks of the two strawmen slowly overlapped. Plant materials such as firecracker vine, wind-spirit branch, and golden-silk leaf began to be drawn out and interwoven, layer upon layer. Under the shroud of the spell's golden light, a new strawman was reconstructed.

Its build was somewhat larger than a single strawman, and the wings on its back were a blue-gold color — only some lines and textures were visible, while the rest of the wings were so thin they became transparent.

"Go!"

Zhao Xing pointed, and the Flying-Sacrifice Strawman instantly shook its wings, its whole body turning into a gust of wind as it charged toward the training target Zhao Xing had designated.

The target was made from a fourth-tier wooden stake called Jin Yan Wood, with defensive spell formations carved on it — a piece of equipment the craftsmen used to test power.

Whoosh~

The Flying-Sacrifice Strawman crossed a hundred meters and appeared before the target, wrapping its arms around it.

Its entire body instantly turned dark red.

"Boom!"

Fragments flew everywhere.

Swoosh Swoosh Swoosh~

The power of the fragments even crossed a hundred meters, shooting all the way to Zhao Xing's side.

"Clang clang clang clang!"

Zhao Xing retreated behind the Giant Shield Strawman, and all the fragments struck the broad chest of the Giant Shield Strawman.

Beside the Jin Yan stake was a crystal ball, displaying a line of text:

【Identified test type: "Sacrificial-Explosion Strawman"】

【Sacrificial-Explosion comprehensive killing power reaches "Upper Positive Eighth Rank," maximum killing power is Lower Subordinate Seventh Rank, one location.】

【Comprehensive killing power covers a radius of twenty meters, decaying to Lower Ninth Rank after fifty meters.】

After reading the test results beside the wooden stake ahead, Zhao Xing looked at the crystal ball on the left side of the track.

The crystal ball on the left was comparatively simpler.

It displayed only four characters: 【0.35】

This was a speed test based on the speed of one cry — that is, the speed of sound.

One usually had to reach Sixth Rank to break the sound barrier.

Eighth Rank martial artists, in short bursts, were roughly at thirty to forty percent of the speed of sound.

Spell-based professions were about the same standard.

Of course, geniuses were different — especially with certain spells, short-distance travel could be even faster.

For example, Zhao Xing's Divine-Step Guardian was already at Tenth Order, comparable to a high-tier spell.

In short bursts, it could approach the standard of 【the speed of one cry】.

Because high-tier spells, too, were generally only mastered at Sixth Rank.

"The Flying Strawman at Eight Revolutions, merged with the Sacrificial-Explosion Strawman at Perfection — its speed advantage wasn't fully displayed. This is because the overall weight increased, and the Flying Art was suppressed by the Sacrificial-Explosion Art."

"After merging the two arts, the speed of the Flying Detonation Scarecrow is stronger than a single-art Detonation Scarecrow but weaker than a single-art Flying Scarecrow—its speed is only at the Seven Revolutions level." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

"The power of the detonation is also affected; it falls short of a single-art at Perfection, only reaching the Nine Revolutions level."

"But overall, the effect of merging two arts is still stronger than a single art. However, to truly achieve a perfect fusion, both arts must reach Perfection."

"If I were to perfectly fuse a third art, the difficulty would skyrocket." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

In the entire Reserve Si Nong Bureau, no one could truly achieve a perfect three-art fusion.

After all, a perfect two-art fusion is already comparable to a high-tier art.

A perfect three-art fusion—no less difficult than cultivating a high-tier art to Nine Revolutions!

As for perfect four-art and five-art fusions, those are already skill bordering on the Dao!

Only someone at Liu Tianning's level, and one who has also mastered the True Self Scarecrow Art, could achieve it.

But if one can achieve a five-art fusion, then fusing further arts above it becomes easier instead.

Anyone who can achieve a five-art fusion must already possess a terrifyingly profound understanding of the Dao of the Five Elements. Since Scarecrow Arts cannot escape the scope of the Dao of the Five Elements, fusing further arts above it—using the scarecrow to merge ten thousand arts—will not be as difficult as the current fusion.

Of course, in the entire Qi Fortune Dynasty era, only two or three people could truly be said to have used the scarecrow to merge ten thousand arts.

"The Flying and Detonation Scarecrow Arts are essentially a fusion of Yang Fire and Yang Wind. To achieve a perfect fusion, I still need to cultivate the Flying Scarecrow to Nine Revolutions."

Zhao Xing summoned a pile of materials for Flying Scarecrows and devoted himself to studying the Flying Scarecrow.

At noon on the fourth day, the Flying Scarecrow broke through to Nine Revolutions.

At Xu hour, the Flying Scarecrow reached Perfection.

Afterward, Zhao Xing began to devote himself to studying the fusion of the two arts.

Fifth day, Wei hour.

The two arts achieved perfect fusion.

Even Liu Tianning, who was in the main hall of the Ten Thousand Arts Palace, could not help but look toward Zhao Xing's direction.

"Shua shua shua shua~"

The moment his true body moved, countless True Self Scarecrows around him all looked over.

Zhao Xing's perception was sharp. Based on his stereotype of Liu Tianning as the "Si Nong Killer," his heart skipped a beat.

"Lord Liu, what instructions do you have?"

"It's nothing, don't be nervous." Liu Tianning revealed a faint smile. "I was just taking a look at you in passing."

"You are quite outstanding. After this training session, you may come to the Ten Thousand Arts Palace to find me often—no need to announce yourself. In the future, if anyone in the army gives you trouble, you may also come to the Ten Thousand Arts Palace to find me."

Let me come often?

Zhao Xing looked around—at dozens of True Self Scarecrows smiling at him—and steeled himself: "Many thanks for Lord Liu's favor, my lord. This official will certainly visit often in the future."

"Mm, continue your cultivation." Liu Tianning said, "The Scarecrow Art is vast and profound; it may well be a great Dao in itself."

"Yes." Zhao Xing cupped his hands in a salute. Seeing that Liu Tianning had only taken a liking to his talent, he finally relaxed.

On the evening of the fifth day, Zhao Xing began the fusion of the third art.

But after only a brief attempt, he gave up—because his Flying Detonation Scarecrow had already achieved perfect two-art fusion. If he fused a third art, it would disrupt the perfect balance and cause the effect to decline.

So Zhao Xing turned instead to researching combinations of Flying, Valor, Great Shield, Invisibility, and Illusion Scarecrow Arts.

After repeated attempts, he finally arrived at a direction suited to himself.

"Detonation and Flying are a perfect fusion, but the others are not perfect fusions—fusing a third art will yield better results."

"For example, Valor, Flying, and Invisibility—although after fusion, none of them match the level of a single art, the actual combat effectiveness becomes better after fusion."

The level drops, but actual combat effectiveness improves, because certain Scarecrow Arts are inherently strong in support.

For instance, the Invisibility Scarecrow—fused with any art—can produce excellent results in actual combat.

Thus Zhao Xing no longer obsessed over the art's level, but instead pursued "actual combat effectiveness" when fusing the Scarecrow Arts he had learned.

Immersed in contemplation, time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, the fifth trial arrived.

The fifth trial followed the same format as the first.

Fifty people competed for materials in the Art Demonstration Plaza, cast Scarecrow Arts, and then entered the palace for judgment.

In the fifth trial.

Zhao Xing cast only a single scarecrow before stopping.

Because from Liu Tianning's attitude, he could tell that his perfect two-art fusion would certainly rank at the top.

If that were the case, there was no need to waste more time on the fifth trial—he could proceed directly to prepare for the sixth and final trial.

When the rankings were announced, Zhao Xing still occupied first place, and Cai Jin remained second.

But Shi Yong rose to third, while the original third, Feng Qi, dropped to fourth.

Zhuang Ziqing rose to fifth, Guan Junyang to sixth, Li Feng to seventh—unchanged from last time—and Cao Shuang rose to eighth.

The remaining rankings saw relatively little change; the top twenty were still mostly geniuses from the Taicang Academy.

Only the four geniuses who had comprehended high-tier arts—Shi Yong, Zhuang Ziqing, Cao Shuang, and Guan Junyang—saw their rankings improve.

Those with sufficiently strong comprehension of the Dao, who devoted themselves to studying Scarecrow Arts, would naturally see great improvement in a short time—only these four geniuses.

When the others' comprehension of the "Dao" differed little, and they were equally diligent, it was hard to pull ahead of the rest.

After the fifth trial, only twenty people remained.

Ranks twenty-one to fifty were finalized, each receiving three thousand merit points.

Over the next seven days, everyone prepared for the final practical combat.

"First place: reward of fifty thousand merit points."

"Second place: reward of thirty thousand merit points."

"Third place: reward of ten thousand merit points."

"Fourth to tenth place, reward: eight thousand points."

"Eleventh to twentieth place, reward: five thousand points."

"Just a little more effort, get into the top ten, and you'll have eight thousand points in hand. If you can push to third, that's ten thousand points!"

"Spells are spells, real combat is real combat. If paired properly, there's no reason you can't beat those ahead."

"I've always been researching high-combat-power scarecrows, and the final test judges combat power!"

Among the remaining twenty, some were brimming with confidence.

Because the fifth round tested dual-spell fusion, some of those ranked ahead had fused scarecrow spells with no real attack power — Invisibility, Illusion Form, Giant Shield, Flying.

If you really want to see a fight? It has to be Detonation, Valor, Mystic Weapon, Guardian — those.

But these geniuses, upon seeing Zhao Xing and the scarecrow beside him, couldn't help sighing — in the scarecrow spell training class, they could only look up at Zhao Xing's back.

"Dual-spell fusion, and a perfect one at that. With just one scarecrow, he firmly holds first place." Guan Junyang sighed. "Before, I had to look up to Shi Yong; now in this class I have to look up to Zhao Xing again. When the hell will I ever grab a first place and feel proud?"

Since not many people remained, during the fifth round test everyone had the energy to observe the others' spellcasting.

Zhao Xing had only one scarecrow yet firmly held first place — it wasn't hard for people to guess this was a perfect dual-spell fusion.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been ranked first by Liu Tianning.

"Perfect dual-spell fusion, Wind and Fire combined — no, it's not that simple either." After reading the Earth Mirror rankings, Shi Yong couldn't help turning his gaze to the scarecrow beside Zhao Xing.

Swish~ Shi Yong flew off once again. This time he began searching everywhere within the Myriad Arts Palace for a breakthrough opportunity.

"I've never seen Shi Yong this busy before."

"He always seemed pretty relaxed before."

"Looks like this time, he's really treating Zhao Xing as a rival."

In the main hall of the Myriad Arts Palace, Lu Bang watched the scene on the plaza with a smiling face.

"Shi Yong's talent is quite good," Liu Tianning commented. "But on the scarecrow spell alone, he's still a bit behind Zhao Xing."

"I think he's going to be busy for nothing this time, unless Zhao Xing's real combat ability is too poor in the final test."

"Zhao Xing has no experience as a Military Agricultural Officer, but Shi Yong has already been through a hundred battles before."

"On the scarecrow spell, that's the only point where he can win."

"The rest, none of it is worth mentioning in the same breath as Zhao Xing."

Lu Bang couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this: "My student is still in second place, and Brother Liu isn't giving me any face at all."

"But when it comes to real combat, Zhao Xing may not necessarily be weak either."

"What Brother Liu doesn't know is that this kid, during his first mandatory training, received praise from the Martial Department's 'Fang Wu.' He once said that if leading troops into battle, Zhao Xing would be the first choice, Shi Yong the second."

"Although that was martial arts training, it also shows Zhao Xing's real combat experience won't be too weak."

"Oh?" A hint of curiosity appeared on Liu Tianning's face. "Then I'll have to watch carefully."

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

In the blink of an eye, the final test of the scarecrow training class had arrived.

"The sixth round is also the final test."

"The test rules are one-on-one duels, one match decides the winner."

"You will draw lots at random to match opponents."

"The winners of the first round are the top ten; the losers receive the five-thousand-point reward for eleventh to twentieth place."

"The duel location is right here on the Spell-Demonstration Plaza."

As soon as he finished speaking, twenty command tallies flew toward the plaza.

The tallies were wrapped in Jin Guang, hiding their specific contents.

"Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh~"

Everyone immediately cast Wind spells to pull a tally into their hands.

Once held, those who drew tallies with the same number immediately felt a connection.

"Holy crap, luck this bad? I actually drew Zhuang Ziqing!"

"Your luck is bad? I freaking drew Cai Jin!"

"Heh, Fang Yi, sorry about this, bro! I'll send you on your way!"

"Hmph, who wins and who loses isn't certain yet!"

……

The drawing ended — some were happy, some were worried.

Zhao Xing looked at his tally; the number was one. The moment he grasped it, he immediately sensed the other person holding tally number one.

"Isn't this fate bringing enemies together?" Seeing his opponent, Zhao Xing couldn't help laughing. "This kid is fated to have karma with me."

Because his opponent was none other than Li Feng.

"Zhao Xing?" Li Feng also saw Zhao Xing, and his expression changed. During the fourth round, he had still harbored hope, thinking he could surpass Zhao Xing.

After the fifth round, he knew winning against Zhao Xing would be very difficult.

"If my Mystic Weapon scarecrow has five thousand combat power, then his Valor scarecrow has at least ten thousand!"

"Please don't draw this jinx."

During the drawing, Li Feng prayed silently — what he feared came true. He just had to draw him, and moreover, fight the first match.

"Those who drew number one, please stand at the east and west of the plaza; everyone else, exit."

Swish swish swish — only Zhao Xing and Li Feng remained on the plaza, and the protective formation barrier immediately activated.

"Damn, this guy really is my jinx!" Li Feng cried out inwardly. He decided he had to stay away from Zhao Xing in the future. "Fight!"

The duel began. Zhao Xing and Li Feng cast spells simultaneously.

At the tenth breath, Li Feng secretly glanced over and found Zhao Xing had also not yet summoned his scarecrow. His heart eased slightly.

But then his face changed, and his whole body flew up into the air.

"It's an Invisible Brave Scarecrow! He really is treacherous!"

The scarecrow before Li Feng had just taken shape, but he no longer had time to give the order, because the Invisible Brave Scarecrow Zhao Xing had condensed knocked Li Feng out cold.

"Battle over. Zhao Xing wins."

"

Today was effectively four chapters, repaying one!

Seems like I still owe eight chapters?

Now I'm scurrying off to sleep, continuing tomorrow!

Goodnight, bros!