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

The assessment for the Start of Autumn was quite standard, fitting the theme of the solar term by testing both skill and endurance. This was perfectly in line with Xue Wenzhong’s consistent style, as he was a man of diligent labor and single-minded focus.

The civil officials did not react as strongly as they had to Chen Shijie’s previous exam questions; even if they failed to achieve a good result, they could only blame their own lack of ability.

However, after stepping into the Hundred Herb Garden, Zhao Xing discovered some unusual details.

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

Zhao Xing scanned the planting area and found it wasn't very large, barely the size of a soccer field. Even if the number of participants didn't hit five hundred, there were certainly three or four hundred present. Since there were no limits on the quantity of planting, the officials would certainly not settle for just one plant. Especially the stronger ones; to ensure their advantage, they would inevitably occupy as much territory as possible, leaving very little space for the others.

"The layout is also problematic." Zhao Xing activated his Bright Eyes. After a quick scan, the layout of the planting area became clear.

"The planting area is a square, distributed with twelve spring wells and thirty-six mounds of plant ash. Beside the ash mounds are signs marking them as restricted, immovable areas."

"In other words, the locations of the twelve springs and thirty-six ash mounds are the prime planting spots."

"It’s clearly designed to make the officials fight for territory."

Near the springs, casting Cloud-Walking and Rain-Making spells provided a buff, while the plant ash acted as fertilizer to accelerate growth. Needless to say, this was another of Chen Shijie’s arrangements. Xue Wenzhong’s personality would never have led him to set a test like this, but as the presiding official, nothing could bypass Chen Shijie. This official from Xishan County, who had once served as a Military Agricultural Officer, was fond of setting confrontational tasks.

"He must have added this layout himself." Zhao Xing licked his lips. After clarifying the assessment standards, observing the venue, and deducing the examiner’s intentions, he immediately sprang into action.

Before the other officials had even realized the trick, he struck first, sprinting to the northeast corner of the planting area.

"Cloud-Walking, manifest!"

Zhao Xing pointed a finger, and a dark cloud immediately condensed above the northeast corner. It churned and billowed seven times—a seven-turn Cloud-Walking! Once it stabilized, it shrouded two of the spring wells and three mounds of ash below.

How do agricultural officers fight for territory? Naturally, through Cloud-Walking! The Cloud-Walking spell possessed exclusivity; occupying the sky above meant occupying the land below.

Daring to plant beneath someone else’s cloud? One would be lucky if a single blade of grass survived. Having grown accustomed to competition in his past life, Zhao Xing was the first in this massive examination hall to grasp the examiner’s intent and the first to raise his cloud cover to claim his ground.

"Not bad, not bad." Standing on a small hill in the distance, Chen Shijie stroked his beard and chuckled.

This was the second time he had taken note of Zhao Xing. During the last examination regarding the plague of grain-eating birds, it was also Zhao Xing who had been the first to find the correct method of response. Seeing his test design anticipated by a student gave Chen Shijie the feeling that "this child truly understands my heart."

He asked Xue Wenzhong, "Planting side-by-side, survival of the fittest—Old Xue, what do you think of my modification?"

Xue Wenzhong nodded slightly. "With this change, I fear the officials will be at each other's throats before the planting even begins. It is certainly more entertaining than my original setup."

According to Xue Wenzhong’s method, the officials would have finished planting in a harmonious atmosphere, though the process would have been quite dull; now, it was entirely different.

Chen Shijie said leisurely, "The world is never truly at peace; it is only our dynasty that enjoys such tranquility. Preparedness and survival of the fittest are my style, Old Xue, I hope you do not take offense."

Faced with Chen Shijie’s remarks, Xue Wenzhong nodded in agreement. The accompanying deputy officials, such as Gao Linong and Tang Wanchun, though they disagreed in their hearts, chimed in to flatter their superior.

...

"Hum~" "Hum~" "Hum~"

Zhao Xing was not the only one acting quickly. Once inside, the top-tier candidates immediately began to contend for resources. Clouds of various sizes, black or white, rose from the planting area, soon filling the entire space.

However, there were only twelve wells and thirty-six mounds of ash; it was destined that they couldn't be shared. Thus, the conflict began.

"Brother Liang Bo, this place is too crowded. I cannot perform my arts here. Would you mind moving?"

"Li Chengfeng?" Liang Bo turned abruptly, his expression changing as he saw the figure nearby. After calculating for a moment, he had to concede to maintain his dignity. "Since Brother Li asks, I have no reason to refuse."

With that, he shrank his cloud and moved elsewhere.

"Boom!" Li Chengfeng reached toward the sky, and a dark cloud spanning a hundred meters appeared. After several turns, it covered three wells and four ash mounds in one go. At the same time, streaks of lightning flickered at the edges of the cloud, asserting his sovereignty.

Wen Nanxing walked to the north side; his cloud was the second to rise, only a step behind Zhao Xing. He occupied two wells and four ash mounds. His cloud was shaped like a long sword—the hilt black, the blade white—with lightning condensing into seven stars along the length of the blade, looking incredibly mystical.

"Cloud-Walking turned into a sword? I fear Wen Nanxing has already mastered Cloud-Walking to the point of doing as he pleases."

"Not just mastered it; those lightning stars are likely proof of the same."

"Can't fight him, can't fight him."

Later arrivals, seeing this, were struck with awe and steered clear of Wen Nanxing’s territory.

In the southwest of the planting area, a third cloud rose, featuring four tiger heads distributed at the corners, occupying three wells and three ash mounds. Several other clouds had risen simultaneously nearby, but when the tiger-head cloud expanded, they refused to yield and instead slammed into it fiercely.

"Boom!"

The tiger heads were coated in a layer of blue-purple lightning. After the flash, the clouds that had besieged it developed huge gaps and began to sway unsteadily. Beneath that tiger-head cloud, Xiao Ze cupped his hands in all directions: "I yield to your skill."

Most of those who had besieged Xiao Ze were from the previous top-tier list; seeing they couldn't win, they extinguished their thoughts. Xiao Ze successfully withstood the test and held his ground.

But not everyone knew when to advance or retreat. It was easy to distinguish the strong from the weak, but there were always those of similar strength who refused to yield, and the atmosphere between them was far from friendly.

"Huang Siping, you prematurely aged shorty, just because you hang around Li Chengfeng, you think you’re a fourth-stage Essence Gatherer too? You dare to come and snatch my spot?!"

"You scoundrel, you dare to insult me?"

...

"Wang Hao, in the last minor exam you didn't even make the second-tier list, and you dare to compete with me? Do you not see that my thunderclouds are powerful?!"

"My thunder is no less potent! Take this!"

Within a quarter of an hour of the exam starting, the sky over the planting area became a scene of lively chaos, with angry shouts ringing out incessantly. Violent winds, lightning, heavy rain, and colliding clouds filled the air—what a mess!

Seeing this, Chen Shijie laughed heartily. He simply brought over several tables and chairs, set out plates of melon, fruit, dried meat, and rice wine, and beckoned the other officials to sit.

"Gentlemen, please take your seats and join me in watching this spectacle of the Start of Autumn!"