Chapter 30: Fifth Scarecrow Method, Mighty Vajra

Although surprised, the two could only sit down, not daring to disrupt the examination order. However, they couldn't help but worry that their students would suffer a hidden disadvantage if things continued this way.

"The Geomantic Quintessence is highly concealed; even I didn't notice it until the second day. Xiao Ze is probably still in the dark," Tang Wanchun mused. "Zhao Xing, what a Zhao Xing. The old Chief Agronomist was right; his comprehension is truly exceptional."

Geomancy spells are the most difficult of the three types of spells to learn. Spells of the Chronomancy school, which deal with celestial timing and phenomena, can at least be seen, heard, and felt. Geomancy spells, however, involve earth veins, Feng Shui alignments, and array deployments, even requiring tools, making them extremely complex.

Not to mention other aspects, earth veins are deeply hidden underground; how difficult must it be to utilize them? Although Geomantic Quintessence is a basic spell, its difficulty surpasses many intermediate spells. One reason for the widespread prevalence of the Chronomancy school is that the spells of the other two schools are much harder to master. Even high-ranking Agronomists like them have mastered few Geomancy spells, let alone become proficient.

"What a pity, to be wasted under Xue Wenzhong's tutelage," Pang Yuan thought with some regret. "Xue Wenzhong is old and frail; what does he need such a good student for? It would be better if I taught him; he'd have someone to look out for him in official circles later."

Gao Linong remained silent, secretly gloating. This was because his students, Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang, were unaffected and performed at their expected level. As for the students of other officials? Naturally, the worse their results, the better.

If even high-ranking Agronomists took a while to discern it, the clerks below were even more confused about the situation. Furthermore, since the Geomantic Quintessence remained latent during the day, allowing everyone's spell effects to return to normal, the minds of the affected clerks were a complete mess.

"Could it be that choosing plants that grow easily at night is considered cheating and leads to special treatment?" Huang Tao's eyes were red as he looked at the withered plants before him. His friend Ma Wu also wore a bitter expression: "If that's the case, they shouldn't have given us these seeds to choose from! Aren't they just playing us for fools?"

Huang Tao couldn't help but curse under his breath, "That damned Chen Shijie! I've had the worst luck to be choosing officials under him."

The two's discussion in the seedling area immediately resonated with the other clerks. This was because Chen Shijie usually enjoyed complicating exam questions, which, simply put, meant he liked to make things difficult for people.

"Brother Huang is right, Chen Shijie is always up to these tricks. He did the same thing during the last Minor Heat assessment.""He even specially brought turtle doves from Xishan. Is that something a person would do?""I tried changing seeds again and again, but after a whole night, I harvested nothing!""Exactly, that damn Xishan fellow!"

Once the topic was broached, the victims immediately found common ground and began to vent their frustrations at Chen Shijie. The main reason was that this particular senior official always acted this way. Although Xue Wenzhong had set the questions, no one believed that such a good person as the old Chief Agronomist would devise such a malicious trick to trouble them. This change must have been arranged by Chen Shijie! Even if the King of Hell came, it would still be him! If Chen Shijie had been present, he would surely have beaten them severely, loudly proclaiming that it truly wasn't him this time. However, he was destined not to hear these curses.

Did anyone suspect Zhao Xing? Yes, some did.

As Huang Tao turned back to his planting area, looking at the golden bamboo grove, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of doubt. "Could someone have cast a Geomancy spell, causing us to harvest nothing?""Could it be him?" Huang Tao glanced, then looked towards the Seven-Star Sword Cloud and Tiger-Head Cloud to the north: "Or perhaps them?""Forget it, overthinking won't help." Huang Tao shook his head. Even if it were true, what could he do? He couldn't fight them, so was he supposed to talk them to death?

"These clerks this year are truly pathetic. To accelerate the maturation of the Adamant Bamboo, I already activated its full ten-tenths effect during the Yin hour, yet no one dared to confront me?" "It truly has been peaceful for too long," Zhao Xing mused with a hint of emotion. In his previous life, all the Agronomists he had met, excluding players, were individuals who could and dared to compete. They all possessed a strong, fearless spirit; without it, they wouldn't have been able to secure a chance at survival amidst terrifying natural disasters and turbulent eras.

However, this era was genuinely different. Apart from the Agronomists in border prefectures and the military, most Agronomists in the inland regions gave him a sense of weakness. Of course, Chen Shijie was an anomaly. He still quite suited Zhao Xing's taste.

"There's no need to guard against the mediocrities below the A-list; they can neither contend nor dare to. But those few who have repeatedly achieved top A-grades still need to be watched," Zhao Xing thought, looking around before starting to cut branches from the Adamant Bamboo. He always prepared for contingencies, which didn't conflict with his willingness to compete. Since he dared to use the Geomantic Quintessence, he was prepared for a counterattack.

Zhao Xing had already prepared the materials and crafted straw figures when the Adamant Bamboo matured. "Currently, I know how to make four types of straw figures: Divine Speed, Entanglement, Thorns, and Replicating." "The Replicating straw figure is a third-turn type, while the others are first-turn." Zhao Xing looked at the dozen or so Replicating straw figures hidden in the bamboo grove, gleaming golden and appearing mighty, like golden warriors.

"Using Adamant Bamboo materials to practice crafting other straw figures is somewhat wasteful. Only the Replicating straw figure is barely worthy of this material, but there's an even more suitable one." "The Eighty-One Willow Transmissions: Herculean Straw Figure!" "Adamant Bamboo branches are excellent materials for making it." Seeing that things were calm for now, Zhao Xing began to attempt crafting a fifth type of straw figure.

The Eighty-One Willow Transmissions are an interpretation of the 'Arming All Flora' technique. "Straw figure" is merely a common term; all spells crafted from plant, wood, or bamboo materials are categorized under straw figure magic. However, in Zhao Xing's practice, straw figures made from Adamant Bamboo were habitually called Adamant Might figures. Similarly, there were Divine Speed Adamant figures, Replicating Adamant figures, and so on. He had long memorized the crafting method, but lacked time to hone it. Now that he had found suitable materials, Zhao Xing naturally wouldn't let the opportunity pass. Recalling the crafting method for the Herculean straw figure in his mind, he began his first attempt.

You have crafted a Straw Figure Puppet (Herculean). You have comprehended a new puppetry method.Arming All Flora proficiency +25Straw Figure Puppet (Herculean)Proficiency: 100/9999Effect: Indestructible, immensely powerful.

His first attempt was successful, and because of the superior materials, the proficiency gained was exceptionally high! "A direct 100 points, and even the overarching 'Arming All Flora' spell gained 25 points. It truly is a good material." When had Zhao Xing ever fought such a "rich" battle in this life? When practicing under Xue Wenzhong, he only used dried Yuan Rice stalks or ordinary willow branches. Who knew if these materials would be taken away after the exam? Zhao Xing naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity for a free gain. Ordering the Replicating straw figures to keep watch outside, Zhao Xing immersed himself in the joy of crafting Adamant Might figures.