Chapter 23: Autumn Assessment

Starting with small stove exercises, one could still convince oneself of being a talent nurturer. Helping Zhao Xing pass the exam with a set of 'Dao Transmission Paintings' at the Four Stages was purely out of personal interest. It was the first time Old Sinoong did something public for private reasons, and he was somewhat uneasy, eating in silence. After finishing the meal, he let Zhao Xing leave.

Zhao Xing also tacitly didn't mention it, waved goodbye, and went home. With Old Sinoong's assistance this time, his initial stage Magic Arts had already reached full level. While studying the Growth Chart of All Things, he casually comprehended an intermediate Magic Arts called [Wild Barbarian Growth].

The farmer's Magic Arts only have 'practical' and 'super practical' distinctions. This intermediate Magic Arts belongs to the super practical category.

[Wild Barbarian Growth: Intermediate Magic Arts]

[Progress: 0/9999]

[Effect: After casting, it possesses a destructive ability to exceed environmental endurance and affects the survival of other species.]

The proficiency of intermediate Magic Arts remains the same, with a transformation every 1000 points, and the upper limit is also the same, but the difficulty of improvement increases significantly.

Why is Wild Barbarian Growth considered super practical? Because it is a strong counter Magic Arts! During the shortened plant maturation cycle, it will aggressively seize nutrients from the surroundings, with a highly destructive trend, surpassing the environment's own endurance capacity.

Most importantly, it will squeeze the survival space of other plants, even extracting the life force of other plants to use as nutrients.

The subsequent advancement path of this Magic Arts, after the Renaissance version mutation, has a shocking name—'Sole Law!' It is also praised by Sinoong players as the 'Internal Warfare Divine Skill,' where my plants thrive, and yours cannot survive, dominating to the extreme!

As for another initial stage Magic Arts obtained from the Growth Chart of All Things, it is also very practical.

[Earth Vein Synthesis: Initial Stage Magic Arts]

[Progress: 0/9999]

[Effect: Harness the power of the earth veins, synthesizing the earth vein essence.]

Earth veins are the foundation of the world, connecting to the deep spiritual veins of the earth everywhere, just with varying degrees of strength.

Earth Vein Synthesis is an auxiliary Magic Arts that can capture the earth vein essence to make a certain area fertile. Based on [Earth Vein Synthesis], the ultimate goal is to advance to [Five Elements Blessed Land].

This is a Magic Arts of the Earthly Advantage Sect, and this series of Magic Arts has a nickname called 'Stealing Essence Method.' Unlike [Wild Barbarian Growth], it is not easily detectable and has high concealment.

Many old hands like to upgrade this Magic Arts to the highest level, sneak to the side of others' Cave Heaven Blessed Land, and secretly cast the method to nourish themselves.

Stealing vegetables? What does that count for? I directly steal the earth vein essence!

"It's hard to change one's nature... Why do I always comprehend these sneaky Magic Arts?" Everyone comprehends different things from the Growth Chart of All Things, just like the randomness of Temple Transmission Methods. Zhao Xing guessed he must have been a sneaky person in his past life.

Returning home, it was already dark, but it wasn't too late yet. Zhao Xing planned to run to his vegetable garden and practice the two newly acquired Magic Arts.

Not long after entering the garden, his younger brother enthusiastically ran over with a lantern.

"Big Brother, what are you doing? Are you making a midnight snack?"

Zhao Xing was a bit speechless: "Didn't Mom give you dinner? It's just dark, and you're already thinking about a midnight snack."

"I ate, hehe, but it's not as good as what Big Brother makes." Zhao Zheng seemed to remember something and smacked his lips.

Although this big brother liked to scold him, he also had his advantages, like making delicious meals and always managing to find some tasty fruits and honey cakes.

"Big Brother, I'll hold the lantern for you! I'll light the fire when you cook."

"Go, go, go, get out of here." Zhao Xing was a bit annoyed, "There's a box of snacks under my bedside table, go find it yourself and eat, don't bother me here."

"Thank you, Big Brother!!!" The younger brother hung the lantern on the side and ran off happily.

After practicing for about two hours, Zhao Xing saw that both Magic Arts had reached the first transformation level, so he didn't continue to push himself.

Tomorrow marks the start of the Autumn Assessment, so it's better to conserve some energy.

The next morning, Zhao Xing got up, washed, and prepared to leave. His adoptive father, Zhao Rui De, was already practicing boxing in the courtyard, moving slowly, which was a form of health-preserving boxing.

"Father, I'm going to work," Zhao Xing greeted.

Zhao Rui De saw Zhao Xing empty-handed and asked, "Why not bring a lantern? The family doesn't lack your bit of usage."

"I can already see at night." Zhao Xing thought for a moment, and under the dark night, his pupils turned yellow-green.

"Oh?" Zhao Rui De glanced at him and nodded slightly, "Then go ahead, help me wake up Zheng'er."

"Okay." Zhao Xing ran to another room and, without any courtesy, kicked the door open.

Since last year, Zhao Zheng had been sleeping separately from Madam Cai, which was something Zhao Xing forced, otherwise, this doting Madam Cai might have continued to sleep with the baby for several more years.

"Who dares to disturb this young master..." Before his eyelids even opened, he was already cursing, but after opening them, he immediately swallowed his words.

"Get up! Put on your clothes." Zhao Xing lifted the thin quilt and picked Zhao Zheng up, who was still hugging a honey cake jar while sleeping.

"Big Brother, what's going on?" Zhao Zheng looked confused but obediently put on his clothes.

"We're going out to practice martial arts."

"Huh?" Zhao Zheng frowned, "The rooster hasn't even crowed yet..."

"Hmm?"

"Yes, Big Brother! I'm dressed!" Zhao Zheng quickly complied. Anyway, Big Brother would leave soon, and resisting would only lead to a beating, but going out to practice martial arts, he could act spoiled with his parents and then go back to sleep.

After waking Zhao Zheng, Zhao Xing left for the Department of Agriculture.

Madam Cai also woke up soon after, hearing the sound of a child crying for food. She quickly got up and ran to the vegetable garden, only to find it flourishing, exclaiming in surprise, "Ah! How did the seedlings from a few days ago already..."

"...The Autumn Assessment will be held in the Hundred Herbs Garden."

"It starts on the sixth day of the eighth month at the hour of the snake and ends on the ninth day of the eighth month at the hour of the dragon."

Before even reaching a kilometer from the Department of Agriculture, Zhao Xing heard a voice swirling in his ears, which was the voice of the Chen Shi Festival.

"The sound travels with the wind, reaching several miles, clear and audible, truly the power of a Ninth Grade Sinoong, indeed extraordinary," Zhao Xing thought.

This is the advanced application of the [Rising Wind] Magic Arts, the control over Yuan Qi far surpasses that of ordinary people.

However, there are even more exaggerated examples, such as County Magistrate Li Wenzheng of Valley City, who once demonstrated the ability of [Golden Voice Jade Resonance, Sound Transmitting Hundreds of Miles] during a 'Recruitment Order' announcement, though that also involved some external assistance.

Zhao Xing listened carefully for a while, rushed into the Department of Agriculture, and almost understood the rules clearly.

Starting from the sixth day of the eighth month at the hour of the snake, ending on the ninth day of the eighth month at the hour of the dragon, it lasts about four days and three nights.

Each participant can freely choose in the 'Seedling Area' of the Hundred Herbs Garden, with no limit on quantity. Then proceed to the [Cultivation Area] for nurturing.

Participants can enter the field at any time during these three days, but once inside, they cannot exit.

On the ninth day of the eighth month at the hour of the dragon, it officially ends, with people sent by the county magistrate to witness, tally the results, and record them.

The evaluation criteria have three points, as of the ninth day of the eighth month at the hour of the dragon: first, the quality of the seeds or seedlings chosen by the participant; second, the number of plants that survived; third, the condition of the plants after survival.

(End of Chapter)