Chapter 28: Where Exactly Did Things Go Wrong?

"Earth Vein Convergence!"

Zhao Xing squatted on the ground, his fingertip piercing into the earth; a wisp of vital essence immediately followed the soil downward, sinking deep into the ground.

Then came the second wisp, the third wisp… a total of nine strands of vital essence sank into the earth.

In Zhao Xing's perception, these nine strands of vital essence formed a cage-like structure underground.

"This is the spell's core, and also the central point. All the underground vital essence will gather and be absorbed here."

Drawing upon the power of the earth veins and converging the earth's vital essence — this was merely the first step.

With the central point established, he still needed to determine the direction.

Zhao Xing began to wander along the edge of his territory; wherever he went, he would squat down and grab a handful of dirt, looking for all the world like he was checking which patch of land was the most fertile.

Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze both noticed his movements.

But Zhao Xing didn't cross the boundary, so they left him be.

"This is the advantage of Earth Vein Convergence — stealth!" Zhao Xing even waved at Wen Nanxing.

Finding the fellow rather polite, Wen Nanxing nodded in response.

After walking a full circle, Zhao Xing was genuinely a bit tired.

Though Earth Vein Convergence was a beginner-level spell, its consumption was enormous.

Casting this spell consumed vital essence equivalent to dozens of castings of Moving Cloud.

"Vital essence acts like roots and stems, taking hold underground and forming a subterranean network."

"The cage is already set; now let's see how many fish swim in." Zhao Xing patted his hands, thoroughly satisfied.

He then ran to the edge of the spring well, leaned against the well rim, and closed his eyes to rest.

Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze couldn't make out what Zhao Xing was doing, but it did not escape Chen Shijie's discerning eye.

Even so, it took him quite a while before he understood.

"This is… Earth Vein Convergence?"

"Earth Vein Convergence drawn but not yet unleashed — you're planning to act in secret once night falls? Good lad! Your methods are very much in my style!" Chen Shijie grew increasingly pleased with Zhao Xing in his heart; the more he looked, the more to his liking.

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

Apart from Chen Shijie, only Xue Wenzhong saw through Zhao Xing's intention.

The other officials didn't notice; they simply didn't have Chen Shijie's all-round ability, nor Xue Wenzhong's rich experience.

Xue Wenzhong naturally wouldn't speak up now and draw jealousy toward his student, and Chen Shijie merely praised him in his heart without showing it any further.

He knew that his attention on Zhao Xing today had already been more than enough; any more, and it would be over the top.

Chen Shijie was perfectly clear about the petty little schemes of those beneath him.

"Ziyu, I-I can't go on…" Qian Dong collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath in great heaves, like a fish about to die of thirst.

Chen Ziyu wasn't in much better shape either; his whole body was drenched in sweat, more than he could wipe away.

It was already afternoon; they had been at it for several hours, yet there was still no movement whatsoever in the plot of land before them.

Most of the seeds had not sprouted at all, and the seedlings that had emerged had all withered and died.

At this rate, the remaining small portion wouldn't last until tomorrow either.

"How about, how about we just leave? We can just take the makeup exam next time." Qian Dong said; he truly didn't want to waste any more effort.

"I'm not leaving." Chen Ziyu shook his head. "Every time it's 'next time, next time I'll work harder'… when will the day of breakthrough ever come? Better to settle it this time."

Qian Dong was taken aback, then gritted his teeth and climbed to his feet.

More and more people gave up, unable to endure such hardship, and left the grounds.

But there were also those who gritted their teeth and persevered.

Enduring through the scorching heat, everyone finally waited until nightfall.

And Xue Wenzhong did not make things too difficult for them; at nightfall, he sent a gentle breeze to the planting area.

………

Xue Wenzhong's breeze brought relief; Zhao Xing awoke from his light sleep.

He was especially sensitive to any wind that did not belong to him.

"It's dark now; time to get to work."

Zhao Xing stretched, then ran off to check on the status of the three types of plants.

At this point, the 20 Green Vines had already advanced from the seedling stage to the growth stage; the vines had covered the yellow earth, and flower buds had already appeared on some of the branches.

In the two mud pits, the Fragrant Lotus had already put out three lotus leaves and likewise entered the growth stage.

Only the Diamond Bamboo, due to the nature of bamboo-type plants, still had nothing more than a bamboo shoot tip poking out.

"Worthy of a second-grade superior item — I've already concentrated all the nutrients on it, yet it still looks no different from the start."

Diamond Bamboo was a score-pulling item; naturally, it couldn't be cultivated so easily.

Zhao Xing was in no hurry; he hadn't even started to exert his full effort yet.

"It's dark now; time to sneakily get to work."

A wisp of vital essence emerged from Zhao Xing's fingertip and plunged into the earth.

"Hum~"

Earth Vein Convergence was instantly activated!

The great net began to spread, quietly extending beyond the range of Zhao Xing's Moving Cloud.

To the north, it crossed over most of Wen Nanxing's territory; to the south, it enveloped Xiao Ze's territory.

_ttkan_c〇

To the west, it encompassed over a dozen candidates of the First-Class List caliber.

Li Chengfeng and Zong Zong Shichang were at the far western edge; Zhao Xing had no way to reach that far — after all, this Dili Sect spell was something he had only just mastered.

"It's covered nearly half the planting area — that should be enough." Zhao Xing's bright eyes could see clearly at night; many clerks had started bustling about after dark, expending their vital energy and casting spells.

"Keep at it, everyone! How tall the Vajra Bamboo grows depends on you all."

"It's dark now — the Soul-Calming Incense I drew should start being forced to maturity." Huang Tao looked at a seedling on the ground, preparing to act.

He'd eaten humble pie at Zhao Xing's place that morning, but he'd still snatched a plot near the spring well.

The plant Huang Tao had chosen was called 'Soul-Calming Incense,' a second-grade mid-quality specimen.

It had only one effect: once it bloomed, its fragrance could soothe the spirit and steady the soul.

Many people liked to grow a Soul-Calming Incense at home; when gathering essence to cultivate, it could reduce the chance of qi deviation.

Soul-Calming Incense had a very long flowering period — it could last several months — but it didn't tolerate intense heat, and getting it to bloom was extremely difficult. So during the day Huang Tao hadn't made a move at all, waiting all the way until night.

"Being able to grow a Soul-Calming Incense during the Beginning of Autumn solar term — even a single one — would be enough to make the top list." Huang Tao was brimming with confidence.

"Let's begin! Grow strong!"

Huang Tao began casting a spell on the Soul-Calming Incense seedling.

Vital energy entered the soil, rushing straight toward the Soul-Calming Incense's roots.

A portion of the vital energy vanished abruptly just before reaching the roots; only one-tenth was absorbed.

"At this season, getting a Soul-Calming Incense seedling to grow really is tough."

Huang Tao didn't mind, assuming only that he'd chosen a challenge difficult enough that the payoff was slow.

After waiting a moment, Huang Tao continued casting.

The Soul-Calming Incense seedling grew a little taller again.

"Once more!"

…………

At midnight, Huang Tao squatted on the ground in a daze, staring at the Soul-Calming Incense.

"What… what's going on? I've been casting on it continuously for three hours, and the Soul-Calming Incense still hasn't even entered its growth period?"

If it hadn't even reached the growth period, there was no talk of blooming.

At first Huang Tao hadn't realized it, but after draining his vital energy several times over and still seeing the Soul-Calming Incense grow sluggishly, he suddenly realized it wasn't that he was incompetent — something else was wrong!

"Did I pick a diseased seedling? That's impossible — I clearly checked it…" Huang Tao muttered, tugging at his hair. "Where exactly is the problem?"