The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

Zhao Xing crouched down to use the five-element fluctuations of the earth veins to determine the exact time.

As discussed in the last theory exam question, the five elements can correspond with the four seasons.

The fluctuations of the earth veins follow a regular pattern, which can be used to deduce the current time.

Although this is a small world, the fragments of this small world should also have earth veins.

However, the result was somewhat unexpected.

"I can't sense the earth veins."

Zhao Xing shook his head, realizing that using the five-element fluctuations of the earth veins to determine time would not work.

The night concealed the celestial phenomena, and the earth veins were also blocked.

With both the celestial and terrestrial methods ruled out, only one method remained.

"The Self School," Zhao Xing's gaze fell on the distant fields, observing the various plants. He quickly walked toward them.

In front of him was a large expanse of plants, stretching out as far as the eye could see.

How could he use the Self School's method to determine the time?

"By using the 'Yin-Yang Five Elements of the Self Sutra' from the Self School."

The Self School teaches that living beings have an internal clock that mirrors the cosmic cycles.

Simply put, it's a "biological clock" that corresponds to the five organs and five elements, with the body's other organs correlating with the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.

This theory is called the "Mini Five Elements Four Seasons Theory" or "Internal Five Elements Four Seasons Theory." From the name, it's obvious that this theory is not widely accepted and is quite niche.

Zhao Xing hadn't systematically learned any spells from the Self School, and introspection of the five elements was not something that could be achieved by ordinary officials.

One would need to have studied the Yin-Yang Five Elements of the Self Sutra to do that.

In other words, introspecting the five elements was not feasible.

Zhao Xing scanned the plants in front of him and quickly fixed his gaze on one plant.

"This is a Noon Grass, also known as Vitex."

Just as humans have biological clocks, plants also have their own rhythms.

While introspecting the five elements was not an option, observing external objects wasn't as difficult.

Moreover, this plant was specifically designed for officials to use in determining the time.

"What an obscure test question—first you have to recognize this time-determining plant, and then you must be skilled in a detection spell to accurately gauge the time from it."

"This hasn't been included in the past decade of exams; did someone from the Self School contribute this year?"

Zhao Xing surmised that someone influential in the Self School had a hand in this exam.

After all, the Time Grass is not a "native species."

It is an artificially cultivated "derivative species."

"Is the Self School trying to showcase their presence through this temple examination?"

"They've typically followed an elite route, targeting academies and institutes, but now they seem to be eyeing the lower-level officials?"

"But won't this just make them hated by everyone?"

Zhao Xing couldn't help but find the situation ridiculous.

The Self School was rarely able to produce notable officials. Zhao Xing himself only knew a basic entry-level spell, Vigorous Growth, and a mid-level spell, Wild Growth.

These were merely superficial techniques of the Self School and had nothing to do with its core teachings.

Thus, from his perspective, integrating the Time Grass into the temple examination was not a method to gain recognition.

It was a way to earn resentment.

Because this is far too difficult!

Identifying the derivative species known as Time Grass was already a technical challenge.

Using it to align the time? Even harder. It was, in fact, one of the most difficult tasks among the five challenges.

For those who had painstakingly advanced through various rounds to the temple exam, being given such an obscure question felt unreasonable.

"Using Time Grass to determine time... this is just absurd," Zhao Xing couldn't help but mentally curse on behalf of the other candidates.

This question was as obscure as interpreting the "strange glow in the eyes of a dead fish."

It was bound to make many hopeful candidates fail due to the stress.

If failing this round led to disqualification, it would indeed be unfair.

"Luckily, I've studied the Five Element Observation method; otherwise, I would have tripped at this stage."

Zhao Xing quickly located twelve types of Time Grass, transplanted them around him, forming a circle.

He then sat cross-legged in the center of the circle, swiftly determining that it was between the beginning of Mao Hour and the first quarter.

"Judging from this, I entered this small world at the start of Mao Hour."

"And the lightning needs to be summoned at Chen Hour, leaving candidates only one hour to adjust."

"Regardless of whether this is the Self School's doing, it's clear the candidates will take out their frustrations on the sect after this... they're bound to take the blame."

Zhao Xing could already imagine a crowd of disgruntled officials storming out of the temple to vent their frustration.

"Five Element Observation."

Zhao Xing activated the spell, closely examining the "Mao Hour Grass."

It was about a meter tall.

The stalk was straight, about as thick as a thumb, with twelve leaves.

Under the Five Element Observation spell, its internal pathways became visible, with a stream of energy flowing through it.

In a microscopic view, the meter-high stalk was divided into 7,200 segments.

It resembled a ladder, where each rung represented a second.

The "energy" rose through one segment per second.

7,200 segments corresponded precisely to one hour.

Now, wouldn't you say this was absurd?

"Absurd? What did you say?!" Chen Shijie suddenly shot up from his chair, glaring at the attendant who had delivered the test content.

Three days had passed outside the temple.

By this point, all the officials had entered the fragment of the small world for the field test.

As the head of the Shennong Division in Gucheng, Chen Shijie had also received the details of the test.

But upon discovering what the field test entailed, Chen Shijie couldn't help but slam his hand on the table.

"They're testing the candidates on time calibration using Time Grass?" Chen Shijie muttered, "Was it necessary to make it this hard? It's not even a military officer exam!"

Long Xiao stared wide-eyed, "You're the Shennong officer; why are you looking at me? I don't even know what you're talking about."

"I wasn't asking you," Chen Shijie snapped.

"Time Grass is a derivative species," Xue Wenzhong frowned as he listened. "It was cultivated by the Sangluo Academy; I've only seen it once, twenty-six years ago."

Tang Wanchun, Gao Linong, and Pang Yuan all remained silent.

They had only heard of it and weren't very familiar with it.

"What does it mean?" Long Xiao, completely confused, asked, "Is the test a bit difficult?"

"It's more than difficult," Xue Wenzhong shook his head helplessly. "It's very likely that some promising candidates will fail at this stage."

He began to worry about Zhao Xing.

"What's the problem? If it's difficult, it's difficult for everyone, not just Zhao Xing," Long Xiao said as he sat back down.

"General Long doesn't understand," Xue Wenzhong replied, "The field test determines everything. If a candidate fails this stage, all previous achievements will be meaningless."

"This question is so obscure that..."

"I don't understand all your technicalities," Long Xiao laughed, "but I believe if Zhao Xing can't pass, then there won't be many others who can. Won't that cause an uproar?"

"If it's hard for everyone, then what's there to worry about? You've got to have faith in him."

"Well said." Xue Wenzhong nodded in agreement. He realized he had been overly anxious, while Long Xiao saw the situation more clearly.

"Sangluo Academy is the stronghold of the Self School. Why are they suddenly interfering in the officials' exams this year?" Chen Shijie pondered, "Are they trying to invite criticism?"

"It might not even be their idea; they could be manipulated by others."

"After all, the Heaven and Earth Schools are still the dominant forces. Involving the Self School in this process might draw some criticism, but it's better than excluding them entirely."

"Even if they take the blame, it's still better than being ignored. I've heard that Sangluo Academy has struggled to maintain enrollment in recent years, with no successors in sight."

Chen Shijie quickly dismissed these thoughts, focusing instead on one concern.

Would Zhao Xing pass?

Tang Wanchun glanced at the test questions and couldn't help but smile wryly. "Forty-eight raindrops? And they need to last two hours?"

"What's the problem?" Long Xiao asked.

Tang Wanchun explained, "General Long might not realize that with the average skill level of officials, they could summon the forty-eight drops of rain in about fifteen minutes at full power."

"But they don't want you to do that. The task is to make the rain last for two full hours."

"So, the spell needs to be controlled with extreme precision to make it rain slowly over two hours."

Long Xiao scratched his head. "It's like asking me to relieve myself over the course of an hour, drop by drop, when I could normally finish in ten seconds?"

Tang Wanchun's face stiffened. "Ahem, General's analogy is crude but not inaccurate."

Chen Shijie shot Long Xiao a glare. "How did a precision-controlled rainfall spell end up sounding so vulgar in your mouth?"

"Whether in battle or in governance, the amount of rain and its duration serve different purposes. Have you forgotten all your training over the past five years, or did you just never listen when I explained this?"

Long Xiao grinned sheepishly. "I remember! I remember everything you said! I was just trying to lighten the mood since you all looked so serious. No need to give me extra training when we get back. Really, no need..."

Inside the small world fragment.

Zhao Xing was controlling the clouds while watching the Noon Grass closely.

At this moment, the clouds above crackled with constant lightning.

The Si Hour Grass's "energy" had risen to the 7,190th division.

As Zhao Xing monitored the grass, he silently counted down in his head.

"Ten, nine, eight... three, two, one!"

"Rainmaking!"

As Zhao Xing cast a golden light into the clouds.

Pitter-patter~

Raindrops began to fall.

At the same time, the Noon Grass began to emit "energy" from its root, slowly rising up its stalk.

"Right on time, no error at all." Zhao Xing sighed in relief.

Now, all he had to do was maintain the rain until Wei Hour and stop precisely when the time was up.

"Summoning rain for two hours, but controlling it to only produce forty-eight raindrops."

Compared to determining the time, this task wasn't as difficult.

Of course, that was just how Zhao Xing felt.

Most other candidates likely found it incredibly tedious.

But some level of difficulty was normal.

Otherwise, how would they ensure only the best candidates passed?

After one hour, the energy within the Noon Grass dissipated, seeping out from its leaves.

Next, the Wei Hour Grass began to produce energy.

Zhao Xing sat cross-legged, calm and composed.

He had calculated the rain amount at the start, so all he needed to do was maintain a constant output.

"For the average candidate, maintaining this consistency is difficult; short-term control is fine."

"But over a long period, it's inevitable that some would falter."

"The more adaptable candidates would likely 'adjust' their spell periodically."

"To recalibrate the rain amount as needed. But since I haven't made any mistakes, there's no need for that. My control over spells has improved ever since my soul power was enhanced." Zhao Xing thought to himself.

If he hadn't absorbed the Blood Spirit Sovereign's soul power, he might have considered adjusting his spell to pass this round.

However, with his soul power enhanced, his control over spells had also improved significantly.

Now, Zhao Xing was like an emotionless rainmaking machine, delivering the same consistent results from start to finish.

The rainmaking spell, which began at Noon Hour, continued with the exact same effect. According to his calculations, once the Wei Hour ended, exactly forty-eight raindrops would have fallen.

Time passed slowly.

When the energy within the Wei Hour Grass rose to its final division.

Zhao Xing willed it.

The rain, thunder, and clouds all dissipated.

Confidently, he stood up.

"Wei Hour has passed. Candidate Zhao Xing, your field test is a perfect score. Return to the temple in three days for the results."

As this solemn voice echoed, Zhao Xing's vision blurred, and he was transported out of the test space.

In the next moment, he found himself standing outside the Heavenly Heart Plaza.

He was alone.

Since he had entered first, it was only natural that he would be the first to finish. The other fourteen candidates were still undergoing their assessments.

"Please maintain silence and leave quietly."

"Understood."

Zhao Xing cupped his hands respectfully and turned to leave.

The field test scores were determined on the spot since the rain amount and timing could be accurately measured and evaluated. However, the theory exam required human grading, which involved some subjectivity, especially with essay questions, so it took three days for cross-referencing and grading to be completed.

Chen Shijie and the others had been waiting outside.

He's the first one out again?

Gao Linong recalled the time of the White Dew exam and was once again surprised.

But this time, he didn't dare to assume that Zhao Xing had failed.

His face still stung from last year's embarrassment.

"How did it go?" Chen Shijie asked. "Did you pass the field test?"

"I passed," Zhao Xing replied with a smile.

Chen Shijie and Xue Wenzhong both sighed in relief.

They had been worried that Zhao Xing might fail the field test.

After all, the question had been rather obscure.

"What score did you get?" Chen Shijie asked.

"A perfect score," Zhao Xing replied.

"What?!" Gao Linong's eyes widened. "A perfect score?"

Is he serious?!

Tang Wanchun and Pang Yuan were also skeptical. How could anyone score perfectly on a question like that?

"I used the Time Grass to determine the time. It was indeed difficult, but I had studied the Five Element Observation technique and was able to identify the twelve types of Time Grass early on. I arranged them around me for observation," Zhao Xing explained.

"Once I confirmed the time, the subsequent tasks of cloud summoning, thunder summoning, and rainmaking weren't as challenging," Zhao Xing added.

"Have something to eat first," Xue Wenzhong offered him a meal box. After all, Zhao Xing had gone through both the theory and field tests, a draining marathon of mental and physical endurance.

"Thank you, teacher." Zhao Xing didn't refuse. In the small world fragment, without the presence of earth veins, he was indeed feeling fatigued.

"Sit and eat. We'll chat while you eat." Chen Shijie gestured for him to sit. They had set up a canopy outside the temple, and there were still many things they wanted to ask Zhao Xing.

"How did you find the theory exam? Which questions gave you the most difficulty?"

Zhao Xing thought for a moment. "Two questions."

"Oh?" Chen Shijie's eyes lit up, and Xue Wenzhong smiled with satisfaction.

Gao Linong, Tang Wanchun, and Pang Yuan were stunned. Only two questions gave him trouble?

"Tell us which two," Chen Shijie asked.

After taking a sip of soup and eating a piece of chicken, Zhao Xing leisurely replied, "The question about Nanzheng, and the one about Beihai."

Chen Shijie nodded. "The Nanzheng question involved the geographic location and the Five Elements Four Seasons Earth Extraction Method, but it wasn't too obscure. You either know it, or you don't. No real traps there."

Zhao Xing explained, "For the earth extraction method, you have to moisten the soil, suppress the fire, and then use metal to release the essence. By guiding the two earth veins together, the summer earth of Nanzheng, which lacks spring and winter, can be extracted."

Tang Wanchun was surprised. "You can't just use water to suppress the fire?"

Zhao Xing elaborated, "The summer earth of Nanzheng lacks the balance provided by the colder seasons, so the fire is too strong. Using the water from the earth veins alone would only make the fire stronger, not extinguish it. If you don't moisten the soil first, the fire will thrive, and the task will fail."

"You need to first use the water to moisten the earth, weakening the fire but not extinguishing it, allowing the metal essence to release. This will normalize the summer fire, making the earth usable. Otherwise, nothing will grow."

Tang Wanchun finally understood, while Pang Yuan seemed lost in thought. Gao Linong, on the other hand, was feeling conflicted.

Just from this explanation, it was clear that Zhao Xing had surpassed the three of them. Their own discussion of the question had missed these crucial points, meaning they were bound to lose marks.

But Zhao Xing's answer left no room for deductions.

"And the Beihai question?" Gao Linong asked.

"That one tested knowledge of climate patterns, administrative structure, and the divine weapons used by the Shennong Division and the Crafting Guild. It had a lot of traps," Zhao Xing said modestly. "I might not get full marks on that one."

In truth, Zhao Xing was confident in his answer, but examiners could deduct points for perceived embellishments or other subjective reasons.

Chen Shijie hadn't even bothered to ask about that question. Given Zhao Xing's extensive knowledge of topics like the Zixiao Island and the Military World Battle Training, it was obvious that he was well-read in these areas. The fact that he understood them so well showed that his ambitions were far beyond that of an average official.

There wasn't much else to ask about after that. The final essay question had been predicted accurately, and Zhao Xing himself had written the model answer that had been shared with others. Thanks to him, the other fourteen candidates from Gucheng would also have an advantage in that section.

"Looks like I'll have to start calling him Lord Zhao soon," Tang Wanchun thought to himself, watching Zhao Xing speak confidently. He felt as though he was being overtaken by the younger generation.

"Alright, you can go home and wait for the results. Come back in three days." Chen Shijie smiled and walked away with Long Xiao. Apart from Zhao Xing, he wasn't particularly interested in anyone else.

Three days later, Zhao Xing returned to the temple, where the other fourteen candidates from the Shennong Division were already waiting.

In addition to the candidates, there were numerous officials, attendants, curious townsfolk, and even street vendors. Today was the day the official selection list would be posted, and not only the Shennong Division, but all other divisions would have their results announced as well.