Chapter 12: The Scarecrow's Might

Zhao Xing's actions on the field caught the attention of the three examiners aboard the Fei Boat. Primarily, it was because he belonged to the group with the fastest reaction time, starting to craft scarecrows, and his speed and craftsmanship were quite extraordinary. While the scarecrows of others swayed unsteadily, Zhao Xing's scarecrows could run and jump, lively and agile.

"Hmm? The Liu Chuan Eighty-One Method, could this person be an apprentice under Gao Great or Tang Great?" Chen Shijie asked. Gao Linong and Tang Wanchun exchanged glances, as they couldn't fully grasp the technique at first and certainly hadn't taught it, wondering how someone else could teach what they themselves didn't know.

"He's not one of my apprentices."

"Nor mine."

"Oh? This person's Scarecrow Technique is quite exquisite, yet we don't know whose apprentice he is," Tang Wanchun pondered. "The complete Liu Chuan Eighty-One Method, aside from Chen Great, I estimate only Xue Lao Sinoong might know it."

Chen Shijie nodded slightly. Xue Wen Zhong, being a Sinoong, surpasses others, so it's normal for him to know more. With this reminder, Tang and Gao began to observe Zhao Xing more closely.

Unexpectedly, they soon witnessed Zhao Xing competing for straw, using stones to drive others away, forcing his colleagues to retreat. Gao Linong snorted, "Hmph, this person's nature is quite poor. For a mere straw, he actually attacks his colleagues. Truly intolerable."

Tang Wanchun glanced but remained silent, watching Chen Shijie's reaction. Just moments ago, he had praised this young man, and now Gao's words seemed a bit out of place.

Chen Shijie calmly said, "A Sinoong, competing with heaven and earth for resources, having some sharpness is quite normal. Like Gao Great's apprentice Li Chengfeng, I find him quite commendable."

Gao Linong's eyelid twitched, realizing he had misspoken. Even if he thought so, he shouldn't have said it aloud.

"Chen Shijie comes from the northern wilderness, having endured many natural disasters. Perhaps this young man's actions resonate with him," Gao Linong thought, immediately changing his tone.

"Chen Great's insight is profound. I was too shallow in my view. Moreover, he was the first to reach that straw pile, so he had the right."

What does it mean to be crushed by a superior? This is it. With a slight tap from Chen Shijie, Gao Linong immediately complied, as he was subordinate, while Chen Shijie was the authority.

Zhao Xing was completely unaware of the discussions among the three examiners on the Fei Boat. After using up the third straw pile, he finally left the field. By this time, he had crafted a total of seventy-six scarecrows!

Under pressure, he invested even more, reaching the sixtieth scarecrow. The proficiency of the [Replicating Scarecrow] had already surpassed 1000, reaching the 'One Turn Magic Arts' level. Thus, the subsequent sixteen scarecrows were faster, more agile, and more powerful.

"Almost there," he said. At the edge of the field, seventy-six scarecrows stood in formation, holding bamboo spears, like soldiers ready for battle.

Zhao Xing glanced at the panel. His Yuan Qi had fallen below 50.

"Given the current situation, maintaining the [Walking Cloud] and [Thunder Strike] Magic Arts won't last much longer. The consumption of maintaining these two Magic Arts is far greater than that of the scarecrows."

After all, scarecrows are supported by materials, and once crafted, they don't require further Yuan Qi supply, whereas Walking Cloud and Thunder Strike consume much more.

However, Zhao Xing decided to continue holding on until he couldn't anymore. Scarecrows, after all, are not as effective as Walking Cloud and Thunder Strike, and there would certainly be many errors.

...

The first minute of the minor summer examination, [Walking Cloud] and [Thunder Strike] blocked almost all the 'Valley Birds'.

In the second minute, the scarecrows awaited under the field.

In the third minute, the frequency of Thunder Strike weakened, and Valley Birds began to break through the Cloud Layer to peck at the Yuan rice, but were stopped by the scarecrows.

In the fourth minute, Zhao Xing completely abandoned Thunder Strike, using only Walking Cloud to block the Valley Birds. About one-third managed to break through, and the scarecrows began to drive them away with full force.

In the fifth minute, many Valley Birds were knocked down by the scarecrows, but five scarecrows were also destroyed.

In the sixth minute, the Valley Birds that couldn't eat gradually flew away, but the number of destroyed scarecrows reached twenty-five.

In the seventh minute, the Walking Cloud shrank. In the scorching heat, Zhao Xing's Yuan Qi gradually depleted. He used the scarecrows to lure away the Valley Birds, as the scarecrows were made from Yuan rice stalks, a part the Valley Birds loved to eat, but this also resulted in losing more than half of the scarecrows.

In the eighth minute, the Walking Cloud shrank by another third, with half of the field exposed. Zhao Xing sent all the scarecrows as 'sacrificial offerings', allowing the remaining Valley Birds to feast, while the field below began to suffer damage.

By the ninth minute, a bell rang from the sky, and all the Valley Birds flew away, disappearing into the White Cloud.

"Huff~ Huff~" Zhao Xing was parched and sweating profusely. But he couldn't care less, hurrying to inspect the condition of the field.

"The southern half of the field suffered the most damage, as it was exposed the earliest and used as a sacrificial offering, drawing everything here."

"The remaining fields, however, suffered only minor damage."

Zhao Xing circled around, feeling slightly relieved.

Looking at the scarecrows again, only eight remained, each with some damage. If not for these eight scarecrows reaching the 'One Turn' strength, they might have fallen long ago.

"It's over, I can rest now," Zhao Xing waved his hand, and the remaining eight scarecrows lost their glow, collapsing by the field.

The scorching heat was unbearable, and after a fierce battle lasting a full hour, Zhao Xing felt both physically and mentally exhausted, wishing he could fall asleep immediately.

Around him were the sighs of his fellow apprentices. This examination was much more difficult than usual, and many people's fields suffered severe damage.

Most people lost more than half, and some were even completely stripped bare.

"Months of hard work, gone just like that?"

"Damn Valley Birds, they're so hateful!"

"Sigh, if you don't master your skills, who can you blame? Just wait for the supplementary exam."

"Even with the supplementary exam, the best you can get is a B grade, just barely passing, and it still wastes energy. How should we face the next examination?"

"How can a Ninth Grade official be so easy to attain? The Department of Agriculture is considered good, with only five hundred people competing for three to five spots. But in the East Lake Army, a Ninth Grade officer has three to five thousand people competing for one spot!"

"Don't even mention the military. The craftsmen of the Heavenly Workshop also have nearly a thousand people competing."

"If only I weren't a woman, I've heard the competition in the weaving workshop isn't as fierce."

"Hmph~ You're too unambitious."

"..."

Just then, the sky suddenly filled with dark clouds, and rain began to fall.

"Pitter-patter~" The raindrops started sparse and small but quickly became heavy and dense. The temperature in the air also dropped significantly.

Zhao Xing sat down on the field, letting the rain wash over him.

The rain came quickly and left just as fast. It was clearly controlled by someone.

It provided the apprentices with a moment of rest and recovery, and then the sky suddenly cleared again, the dark clouds turning to white, returning to the normal minor summer weather.

A Fei Boat descended from the clouds to the field, with three people standing at the bow: the Department of Agriculture's chief, Chen Shijie, and the two deputies, Gao Linong and Tang Wanchun.

"They're here to announce the results of the minor summer examination," Zhao Xing perked up and approached the field.

(End of Chapter)