Chapter 24: Plant Side by Side, Survival of the Fittest

The assessment for Start of Autumn was fairly normal, fitting the seasonal theme, testing both ability and endurance. It was entirely in line with Xue Wenzhong's usual style—he was himself a diligent, hardworking man who devoted himself wholeheartedly to his duties.

The clerks' reactions were not as extreme as last time when Chen Shijie had set the questions; even if they couldn't achieve a good result, they only blamed their own lack of skill.

However, after Zhao Xing entered the Hundred Herbs Garden, he still noticed some unusual points.

"The seedling area is unremarkable, with enough quantity for the clerks to choose from, but this planting area is a bit crowded, isn't it?"

Zhao Xing swept his gaze over the planting area and found that it wasn't very large—only the size of a football field. The participants, even if not a full five hundred, would certainly number three or four hundred.

Since there was no limit on the number of plantings, the clerks would definitely plant more than one specimen.

Especially the strong ones, who would certainly seize larger plots to secure their advantage.

That left very little space for the rest.

"There's also something off about this layout." Zhao Xing activated his Bright Eyes, and after scanning the area, he saw the planting area's layout even more clearly.

"The planting area is square, with twelve springs distributed throughout, and thirty-six piles of grass ash. Beside the grass ash are standing signs marking restricted zones that cannot be moved."

"In other words, the locations of the twelve springs and thirty-six piles of grass ash are the best planting areas."

"It's plainly telling the clerks to fight over territory."

Near the springs, casting Rain-Drifting Clouds grants a buff; the grass ash is fertilizer that accelerates growth.

Needless to say, this was arranged by Chen Shijie again.

Given Xue Wenzhong's personality, he definitely wouldn't have set a question like this. But Chen Shijie, as the chief official, couldn't be bypassed on any question. This lord from Xishan Commandery had once served as a Military Agronomist and loved setting adversarial questions.

"The layout of the planting area was definitely his addition." Zhao Xing licked his lips. Having clearly understood the assessment criteria, seen the assessment grounds, and figured out the examiner's intent, he immediately began to act.

While the other clerks hadn't yet figured out the trick, he struck first, sprinting quickly to the northeast corner of the planting area.

"Drifting Clouds! Manifest!"

Zhao Xing pointed with his hand, and a dark cloud immediately gathered above the northeast corner.

The cloud rolled and churned, tumbling seven times—Seven Revolutions of Drifting Clouds!

Once fully stabilized, it covered the two spring wells and three piles of grass ash below.

How do agronomists fight over territory? Of course, with Drifting Clouds!

The Drifting Clouds spell has an exclusive nature—occupying this patch of sky is equivalent to occupying the ground beneath it.

Dare to plant beneath someone else's Drifting Clouds? Not a single blade of grass would survive.

Zhao Xing was accustomed to confrontation in his past life, so in this vast examination ground, he was actually the first to see through the examiner's intent, and also the first to raise his cloud layer and seize territory.

"Not bad, not bad~" Chen Shijie, watching from a small hill in the distance, stroked his beard and chuckled lightly.

This was already the second time he had taken note of Zhao Xing. Last time, during the Grain-Eating Bird disaster question, Zhao Xing had also been the first to find the right response.

Having his intentions seen through by someone, Chen Shijie felt a sense of "this lad truly understands my heart."

He asked Xue Wenzhong: "Plant side by side, survival of the fittest—what does Xue Lao think of my modifications?"

Xue Wenzhong nodded slightly and said: "With this change of Chen my lord's, I'm afraid before the planting even begins, the clerks below will be fighting tooth and nail. It is indeed more interesting than this old man's setup."

Under Xue Wenzhong's method, after the clerks finished planting, all would be harmonious, but the process would certainly be extremely dull. Now it was completely different.

Chen Shijie said leisurely: "The world has never been at peace; only our dynasty is at peace. Preparing for danger in advance, survival of the fittest—that is this junior's style. I hope Xue Lao won't take offense."

In response to Chen Shijie's words, Xue Wenzhong nodded in agreement. The deputy officials watching alongside, including Gao Linong and Tang Wanchun, though inwardly disagreeing, verbally echoed this superior officer.

"Buzz~" "Buzz~" "Buzz~"

Zhao Xing wasn't the only one quick to act. After entering the grounds, soon other outstanding individuals began contesting for resources.

Cloud after cloud rose from the planting area—some large, some small, some black, some white—and quickly filled the entire planting area.

Yet there were only twelve spring wells and thirty-six piles of grass ash, destined to be insufficient to go around.

Thus, disputes began.

"Brother Liang Bai, this spot is too crowded, I can't spread out—would you mind yielding a little?"

"Li Chengfeng?" Liang Bai turned sharply, saw a figure not far away, and his expression changed. After calculating for a moment, he had no choice but to retreat to preserve face: "Since Brother Li asks, how could I refuse?"

Having said that, he shrank the cloud layer above his head and drifted his clouds elsewhere.

"Boom!" Li Chengfeng reached toward the sky, and a dark cloud spanning a hundred meters appeared. After several revolutions, it seized three spring wells and four piles of grass ash in one breath. At the same time, lightning serpents appeared at the cloud's edge, declaring sovereignty.

Wen Nanxing went to the north side. His cloud was the second to rise, only one step slower than Zhao Xing's.

He occupied two spring wells and four piles of grass ash. His cloud was majestic like a long sword—the hilt black, the blade white—with lightning condensing on the blade like seven stars, extraordinarily wondrous.

"Clouds forming into a sword? Wen Nanxing must have already achieved Perfection in Drifting Clouds, reaching the realm of doing as he wishes."

"Not just Perfection in Drifting Clouds—that lightning condensing into stars is probably the same."

"Can't compete, can't compete."

Later arrivals saw this and were awed into retreat, having no choice but to avoid Wen Nanxing's territory.

In the southwest of the planting area, the third cloud layer rose, with four tiger heads distributed at the four corners, occupying three spring wells and three piles of grass ash.

Several other clouds rose at the same time as this strange cloud, but when the tiger-head cloud expanded, they not only refused to yield but crashed into it viciously.

"Boom!"

The tiger heads were coated with a layer of blue-purple lightning. After flashing, the clouds besieging them developed huge gaps and swayed unsteadily.

Beneath that tiger-head cloud, Xiao Ze cupped his fists toward the four directions: "Thank you for yielding."

Those besieging Xiao Ze were mostly people from last time's Top Rank list. Seeing they couldn't win, they gave up the thought. Xiao Ze thus withstood the test and secured a place.

But not everyone knew when to advance or retreat. It was easy to determine who was superior, yet there were always some of nearly equal strength who refused to yield, and they weren't so polite with each other.

"Huang Siping, you prematurely aged dwarf, hanging around with Li Chengfeng and thinking you're also at the fourth stage of Qi Gathering? How dare you try to steal mine?!"

"Bastard, how dare you insult me!"

"Wang Hao, you only got Lower-C in the last minor exam, didn't even make the B-list—how dare you contend with me? Do you think my Thunder Cloud isn't strong?!"

"My thunder is no less strong! Watch me crash into you!"

Less than a quarter-hour after the exam began, the sky above the planting area had become a lively battlefield, with cursing never ceasing. In midair there were gale-force winds, lightning, torrential rain, and clouds crashing into each other—what utter chaos!

Seeing this, Chen Shijie burst into laughter, simply moved over a few tables, chairs, and benches, set out some plates of melons, fruits, jerky, and rice wine, and invited the officials to sit down.

"Gentlemen, please be seated and watch the delight of the Start of Autumn with me!"