Chapter 28: Where Exactly Is the Problem?

"Earth Vein Convergence!" Zhao Xing knelt on the ground, his fingertips touching the earth. A strand of Yuan Qi [a form of energy in cultivation] immediately followed the soil and sank deep into the ground. Then came the second strand, the third... a total of nine strands of Yuan Qi submerged into the earth.

In Zhao Xing's perception, these nine strands of Yuan Qi formed a box-like structure underground. "This is the core of the Magic Arts, the central point. All the Yuan Qi from the earth will converge and be absorbed here."

Harnessing the power of the earth veins and integrating the Yuan Qi, this was merely the first step. With the central point established, he still needed to determine the direction.

Zhao Xing began to wander leisurely around the perimeter, stopping occasionally to squat down and grab a handful of soil, as if assessing the fertility of the land. Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze both noticed his actions. However, Zhao Xing didn't cross any boundaries, so they didn't interfere.

"This is the advantage of Earth Vein Convergence, concealment!" Zhao Xing even waved his hand at Wen Nanxing. Finding this person rather ceremonious, Wen Nanxing nodded in response.

After making a round, Zhao Xing was genuinely a bit tired. Although Earth Vein Convergence was a beginner's Magic Art, it consumed a great amount of energy. Deploying this Magic Art required more Yuan Qi than performing several dozen Cloud Steps [a movement technique].

"Yuan Qi is like a root, anchoring itself underground, forming a subterranean network."

"The net is set, now let's see how many fish come," Zhao Xing clapped his hands in satisfaction. He then ran to the edge of a spring, leaned against the well, and closed his eyes to rest.

Wen Nanxing and Xiao Ze couldn't discern Zhao Xing's actions, but they didn't escape Chen Shijie's discerning eyes. It took him a while, but he finally understood.

"Is this... Earth Vein Convergence?"

"Earth Vein Convergence, drawing without revealing. Are you planning to act secretly at night? Clever boy! Your actions have a touch of my style," Chen Shijie thought, increasingly satisfied with Zhao Xing, finding him more and more agreeable.

As a former military strategist, he understood such operations well! Besides Chen Shijie, only Xue Wenzhong saw through Zhao Xing's intentions. The other officials didn't notice, lacking Chen Shijie's comprehensive insight and Xue Wenzhong's rich experience.

Xue Wenzhong naturally wouldn't speak out to avoid jealousy among students, and Chen Shijie merely praised him in his heart without further expression. He knew he had already paid enough attention to Zhao Xing today; any more would be excessive. The little schemes of the people below, Chen Shijie was well aware.

"Ziyu, I... I can't go on..." Qian Winter collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath like a fish about to die of thirst.

Chen Ziyu wasn't much better off, drenched in sweat, unable to wipe it all away. It was already afternoon, and after several hours of hard work, the land before them showed no signs of activity. Most of the seeds hadn't sprouted, and the seedlings were already withering. At this rate, the remaining few wouldn't last until tomorrow.

"Should we... should we just leave? We can retake the exam next time," Qian Winter suggested, unwilling to waste more effort.

"I'm not leaving," Chen Ziyu shook his head. "Every time we say next time, next time we'll try harder... When will we ever see the light of day? Better to seize this opportunity."

Qian Winter hesitated, then gritted his teeth and got up. More and more people gave up, unable to endure the hardship, leaving the field. But some persisted, gritting their teeth.

Enduring the scorching heat, they finally waited until nightfall. Xue Wenzhong didn't make it too difficult for them, sending a gentle breeze to the planting area at night.

...

Xue Wenzhong's gentle breeze woke Zhao Xing from his light sleep. He was particularly sensitive to wind that didn't belong to him.

"It's dark now, time to get to work," Zhao Xing stretched lazily, then went to check on the status of the three plants.

At this time, the twenty vines had already transitioned from the seedling stage to the growth stage, with tendrils sprawling across the yellow soil, some even budding flowers. In the two mud pits, the Fragrant Lotus had sprouted three lotus leaves, also entering the growth stage. Only the Diamond Bamboo, due to the characteristics of bamboo plants, still had just a single shoot poking out.

"As expected of a second-tier superior product, I've already concentrated all my nurturing on it, yet it hasn't shown much difference from the start," Zhao Xing wasn't in a hurry; he hadn't started exerting his full effort yet.

"It's dark now, time to work secretly," Zhao Xing directed a strand of Yuan Qi into the ground.

"Whoosh~" The Earth Vein Convergence was instantly activated! The great net began to expand, quietly extending beyond Zhao Xing's Cloud Step range.

To the north, it extended over more than half of Wen Nanxing's plot, while to the south, it enveloped Xiao Ze's plot. To the west, it included over a dozen First List [a ranking system] candidates. Li Chengfeng and Zong Shichang were at the far west, beyond Zhao Xing's reach, as this Earthly Advantage Sect Magic Art was something he had just grasped.

"Covering half of the planting area should be enough," Zhao Xing's night vision allowed him to see many candidates starting to work after dark, consuming Yuan Qi and deploying Magic Arts.

"Come on, guys, let's see how tall the Diamond Bamboo can grow," Zhao Xing encouraged.

"It's dark now, the Soul-Calming Incense I have should also start ripening," Huang Tao looked at a seedling on the ground, ready to take action.

Having suffered a setback at Zhao Xing's place in the morning, he still managed to secure a plot near the spring. Huang Tao chose a plant called 'Soul-Calming Incense,' a second-tier middle-grade plant. Its effect was singular: after blooming, its fragrance could calm the mind and stabilize the soul. Many people liked to plant a Soul-Calming Incense at home, as it could reduce the chances of going astray during Essence Gathering cultivation.

The flowering period of Soul-Calming Incense was quite long, lasting several months, but it couldn't withstand the heat and was difficult to bloom, so Huang Tao hadn't acted during the day, waiting until evening.

"Being able to plant Soul-Calming Incense in the autumn air, even just one plant, is enough to make the First List," Huang Tao thought with satisfaction.

"Let's begin! Grow strong!" Huang Tao started applying techniques to the Soul-Calming Incense seedling. Yuan Qi entered the soil, heading straight for the roots of the Soul-Calming Incense.

Part of the Yuan Qi disappeared inexplicably just before reaching the roots, with only a portion absorbed.

"In this season, it's indeed difficult for the Soul-Calming Incense seedling to grow," Huang Tao didn't mind, thinking he had chosen a sufficiently challenging task, so the current slow results were expected.

After waiting a moment, Huang Tao continued applying techniques. The Soul-Calming Incense seedling grew a little taller.

"Again!"

...

Late at night, Huang Tao sat dazed on the ground, staring at the Soul-Calming Incense.

"What... what's going on? I've been applying techniques for three hours, and yet the Soul-Calming Incense hasn't even entered the growth stage?"

Not even reaching the growth stage, let alone blooming. Initially, Huang Tao didn't realize, but after several rounds of exhausting his Yuan Qi, the Soul-Calming Incense still grew slowly. He suddenly realized the problem wasn't with him, but elsewhere!

"Could it be I picked a diseased seed? Impossible, I checked..." Huang Tao muttered to himself, scratching his head, "Where exactly is the problem?"

(End of Chapter)