Chapter 103 The temple exam is over and the list is out!

The reason why Zhao Xing squatted down was that he wanted to use the five elements fluctuations of the earth's veins to determine the specific time.

Just like the last big question in the theoretical exam, the five elements can be matched with the four seasons.

The fluctuation patterns of the five elements of the earth's veins can be used to calculate the time in reverse.

Although it is a small world, the fragments of the small world should also have ground veins.

But the results were somewhat unexpected.

"I can't sense the ground veins."

Zhao Xing shook his head. It seemed that the method of using the five elements fluctuations of the earth's veins to judge the time would not work.

The darkness blocked the sky and isolated the earth's veins.

If neither the right time nor the right place is right, there is only one way left.

"Ego faction." Zhao Xing's gaze fell on the fields in the distance. Looking at the plants, he walked over quickly.

There is a patch of plants in front, stretching endlessly with almost no end in sight.

How to judge the time using the egoist method?
"Use the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Self-Earth Sutra of the Self School to determine the time."

The ego school believes that there is a set of natural order running through the body of a living being.

In layman's terms, it is the "biological clock", which matches the five internal organs with the five elements, and matches the other organs of the body with the heavenly branches and earthly stems.

This set of theories is called the 'Small Five Elements and Four Seasons Theory', also known as the 'Inner Five Elements and Four Seasons Theory'. From the name, we can tell that it is not accepted by the mainstream and is relatively unpopular.

Zhao Xing had never systematically studied the magic of the ego school, not to mention that observing the five elements was not something that an official could do.

This can only be achieved after practicing the "Yin Yang and Five Elements Sutra".

In other words, observing the five elements inwardly will not work.

Zhao Xing searched among the plants in front of him and soon his eyes fixed on one plant.

"This is a midday grass, also known as vitex."

The human body has a biological clock, and plants naturally have one too.

It is impossible to observe the five elements internally, but it is not that difficult to observe external objects.

What's more, this is a time grass specially used for officials to observe.

"What an unpopular question. First you have to recognize the time grass, and then you have to practice the identification spell to accurately judge the time changes through the time grass."

"There has never been such an event in the past ten years. Is it possible that a big shot from my faction is involved this year?"

The reason why Zhao Xing made such a judgment is that the Twelve Hour Grass is not a 'native species'.

Rather, it is a "derivative species" that has been artificially modified.

"Does the Self-Faction want to demonstrate its presence among the officials through this temple examination?"

"They have always taken the elite route, usually attracting elite students from Taoist academies and colleges. Now they are targeting the lower-level clerks?"

"But won't you be scolded to death by the officials of the world if you do this?"

Zhao Xing was speechless.

Because there are very few officials in the ego faction who can achieve anything remarkable. For example, Zhao Xing only knows one basic spell [Thriving Growth] and one intermediate spell [Wild Growth].

These are just the superficial aspects of the ego school and do not touch the core at all.

Therefore, in his opinion, mixing the Twelve Hour Grass into the Temple Examination for Officials was not meant to gain a sense of presence.

But I came here to get scolded.

Because it's too difficult.

Identifying the derivative species of 'Twelve Hour Grass' is a technical job.

From this perspective, calibrating the time is even more difficult, and it can even be said to be the most difficult of the five difficulties.

We have finally made it to the temple exam, and you give me such an unpopular question?
"Using the Twelve Hour Grass method to find the exact time is simply... too crude." Zhao Xing couldn't help but curse on behalf of the other officials.

This question is almost as cold as the analysis of 'There is a strange light in the eyes of a dead fish'.

It will cause many officials who originally had hope to perform poorly.

If you fail this level, it would be really disappointing.

"Fortunately, I have practiced the Five Elements Observation. Otherwise, if I am not careful, I will fail at this level."

Zhao Xing quickly found twelve kinds of hour grass and transplanted them around himself to form a circle.

He then sat cross-legged in the circle and quickly confirmed that he was between the hour and the quarter before the Mao hour.

"Now it seems that when I came in, it should have been the morning of the fifth hour in this small world."

"The thunder will strike at the hour of Chen, giving the officials only an hour to adapt."

"Whether this is the intention of the ego faction or not, the officials will definitely vent their anger towards the ego faction... They will definitely take the blame."

Zhao Xing could foresee that after he finished the exam, there would be a bunch of officials outside the temple shouting and screaming madly.

"Observe things through the five elements."

Zhao Xing cast a spell and began to observe the 'Mao Hour Grass' in front of him.

It is about one meter high.

The grass stem is straight, as thick as a thumb, and has twelve leaves.

When observing things through the Five Elements, one can see the veins inside and there is an energy flowing.

Under the microscopic state, a one-meter-high grass stalk is divided into 7,200 equal parts.

It's like a ladder, and each step of the ladder represents a number of seconds.

The interval from the rise of 'qi' to the second section is exactly one second.

Seven thousand two hundred equal parts is exactly one hour.

With this way of testing, you decide whether it is good or not!

"Fuck? What did you say?!" Chen Shijie suddenly sat up from his chair and looked at the clerk who came to deliver the questions.

It was already the third day outside the temple.

According to the time, all the officials have entered the small world fragments for on-site assessment.

So as the chief official of Gucheng Sinong, he also got the content of the test questions.

But after learning the topics of the field test, Chen Shijie couldn't help but slam the table.

"Using the Twelve Hour Grass to test the time calibration of the clerks?" Chen Shijie muttered to himself, "Is it necessary to make it so difficult? This is not an assessment for the military minister of agriculture!"

Long Xiao stared: "You are Sinong, why are you looking at me... I don't even know what you are talking about."

"I didn't ask you." Chen Shijie said unhappily.

"The Twelve Hour Grass is a derivative species." Xue Wenzhong frowned as he listened. "The derivative species cultivated by Shangluo Academy, I have only seen it once, twenty-six years ago."

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

They have only heard of it, but have never seen it, so they don't really understand it.

"What does that mean?" Long Xiao, an outsider, was confused. "Are the questions a bit difficult?"

"It's very difficult." Xue Wenzhong shook his head helplessly, "It's easy for some officials who have a chance of passing to fail at this stage."

He began to worry about Zhao Xing.

"What are you afraid of? If it's going to be difficult, it will be difficult for everyone, not just Zhao Xing." Long Xiao sat back down.

"General Long doesn't understand." Xue Wenzhong said, "The actual test determines everything. If you can't even pass this level, it's useless no matter how strong you are in the previous level."

"This question is too unpopular. It may lead to..."

"I don't understand what you're talking about." Long Xiao said with a smile, "But I think if even Zhao Xing can't pass, then few officials in the world can pass, so won't they rebel?"

"No matter how difficult it is, we will all face the same difficulty. What are you afraid of? You must have faith in him."

"That makes sense." Xue Wenzhong nodded. He was so concerned that he was confused and couldn't see things as clearly as Long Xiao.

"Shangluo Academy is where the egoists gather. I don't know why they suddenly got involved in the civil servant assessment this year." Chen Shijie thought to himself, "Isn't this asking for trouble?"

"It may not be their idea. They may have been taken advantage of by others."

"Right now, the Time and Place factions are still the most powerful. The Self faction wants to get involved, and it is better to put them in a position where they will be criticized than to shut them out."

"But getting scolded is better than being ignored. I heard that Shangluo Academy has not been fully staffed in recent years and there is no successor."

Many thoughts flashed through Chen Shijie's mind.

But he quickly shook these thoughts off, he was only worried about one thing now.

The question is whether Zhao Xing can pass the exam?

Tang Wanchun looked at the test question and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Rain number 48? It will take two hours for such a small amount of rain to fall."

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

Tang Wanchun cupped his hands and said, "General, you don't know, forty-eight raindrops, if it is based on the average level of the temple examination officials, it will take about a quarter of an hour to rain down at full power."

"But I don't want you to use your full strength. I want you to play for two full hours."

"That requires the [Rain] spell to be controlled very precisely, so that it can slowly fall over two hours."

"You can't stop in the middle, it has to rain for a long time, and it has to rain just right."

Long Xiao held up his chin and said, "For example, I can urinate in ten breaths, but the examiner wants me to urinate drop by drop for an hour? This is a test of my control over urination..."

Tang Wanchun's face froze: "Ahem, the general's words are rough but true." Chen Shijie glared at him: "What a lame analogy you are using. Why does my Si Nong's rain-making magic have a foul taste in your mouth?"

"Whether it's marching and fighting or governing a place, the amount of rain and the duration of rain have different effects. We haven't cooperated for only five years. Have you completely forgotten all the previous training? Or did you not listen to my detailed explanation at that time?"

Long Xiao chuckled: "How could that be? I remember everything you said! You look serious, so I'm just joking. How could I not know what the rain does? You don't need to practice with me when you go back, really..."

Inside the small world fragment.

Zhao Xing supported himself on Xingyun and stared at Wushicao.

At this time, thunder flashed continuously in the clouds in the sky.

The 'energy' of Sishi grass has risen to 7,190 points.

Zhao Xing stared at it and counted down silently in his heart.

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

"Buyu!"

As Zhao Xing shot out a golden light to the clouds.

Patter~
Raindrops began to fall.

At the same time, "air" began to rise from the rhizome of the grass stems.

"It's exactly the right rain order." Zhao Xing breathed a sigh of relief.

The next step is to wait for noon to pass and for the rain to stop at 3 p.m.

"There are also rules for rain. It has to rain for two hours, but the rainfall can only be controlled at 48 points."

Compared with the fixed time, this is not difficult.

Of course, that's what Zhao Xing thought.

The other officials probably found it very tiring.

But it is normal to have difficulties.

Otherwise, wouldn't everyone be able to pass the exam?

An hour later, the energy in the noon grass disappeared and seeped out from the leaves.

Immediately afterwards, the air in the grass began to rise.

Zhao Xing sat cross-legged on the ground, his heart calm.

The rainfall number is calculated at the beginning and only needs to be kept constant.

"It's difficult for a normal official to pass this test and stay consistent all the time, but it's okay for a short period of time."

"Over time, there are bound to be some problems."

"A more flexible official would not use this method and would 'correct' the spell effect from time to time."

"Calculate the rainfall and make fine adjustments to the rain-making spell. However, I have not made any mistakes so far. After my soul has been upgraded, my control over spells has been further enhanced." Zhao Xing said secretly.

If he had not robbed the Blood Spirit Master of his soul power, he might have considered modifying the spell to get through this stage.

However, after the life soul was strengthened, the unity and coordination of the seven spirits also increased, and the control over magic naturally became stronger.

Zhao Xing is now a ruthless raining machine, and there has been no change from beginning to end.

The rain-making spell has the same effect now as it did when it started at noon. According to calculations, if the rain stops at noon, it will rain exactly forty-eight points.

Time passed by minute by minute.

When it is Weishi, the 'qi' of the grass rises to the last section.

Zhao Xing's mind moved.

Rain, thunder, and cloud methods are all removed.

Stand up confidently.

"It is past noon, clerk Zhao Xing, your field test has been fully scored. Please come to the temple in three days to wait for the result."

As this majestic voice sounded, Zhao Xing's eyes flashed and he was moved out of the assessment space.

The next moment, he appeared outside Tianxin Square.

At this time, he was the only one outside the square.

Since he was the first to go in, he was naturally the first to come out. The other fourteen people were still undergoing the assessment.

"Don't make any noise and leave on your own."

"Yes."

Zhao Xing bowed and turned to leave.

The results of the field assessment are determined on the spot, because the rainfall, time, etc. have accurate data and standards, so the calculation is naturally easy.

For the theory exam, the papers will be graded by humans. Some essay questions can be given higher or lower scores, which is still influenced by the preferences of the examiners, so it takes three days to complete the cross-review.

Chen Shijie and others were already waiting outside.

Is he the first one to come out again?
Gao Linong recalled the Bailu assessment at that time and couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

But this time he didn't dare to guess blindly that Zhao Xing had failed.

The slap on the face I got last year still hurts.

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

"Passed." Zhao Xing smiled.

Chen Shijie and Xue Wenzhong both breathed a sigh of relief.

They were afraid that Zhao Xing would fail the field assessment.

After all, this question is a bit too unpopular.

It is also possible that Zhao Xing failed.

"How many points did it take?" Chen Shijie asked.

"Full marks." Zhao Xing said.

"What?!" Gao Linong's eyes widened immediately, "Full marks?"

Is that a lie?!

Tang Wanchun and Pang Yuan were also a little unconvinced. How could you get full marks on a question like this?

"It is indeed difficult to tell time by using the twelve Hour Grasses, but I have practiced the Five Elements Observation and recognized the twelve Hour Grasses early on, so I put them together for observation."

"As long as we can confirm the time, the subsequent movement of clouds, thunder and rain will not be that difficult." Zhao Xing said.

"Eat something first." Xue Wenzhong brought a lunch box. First there was a theoretical test, and then a practical test. It was a tiring tug-of-war. Just thinking about it made him tired.

"Thank you, teacher." Zhao Xing was not polite. There was no supplement in the fragments of the small world, and the ground veins were not obvious. He was indeed a little tired.

"Sit down and eat, we can talk while eating." Chen Shijie invited him to sit down. There was a platform outside the temple, and they still had a lot to ask Zhao Xing.

"How did you answer the theoretical questions? How many questions were difficult for you?"

Zhao Xing thought for a moment and said, "Two questions."

"Oh?" Chen Shijie's eyes lit up, and Xue Wenzhong felt relieved.

Gao Linong, Tang Wanchun and Pang Yuan were a little shocked. You only think these two questions are difficult?

"Tell me which two questions they are."

Zhao Xing drank a mouthful of ginseng soup, ate a piece of chicken, and said slowly, "The one about Nanzheng, and the one about Beihai."

Chen Shijie nodded: "The question about Nanzheng involves geographical location and the method of obtaining soil according to the five elements and four seasons. However, it is not uncommon. Either you don't know the answer or you can't answer it completely. There are no traps."

Zhao Xing said: "The actual application of the method of using earth month by month, water moistens the earth, controls the fire, and metal releases its beauty. With the power of the two earth veins guiding the combination, the summer soil of Nanzheng without spring and winter can be obtained."

Tang Wanchun was stunned when he heard this: "Can't we just use water to control the fire?"

Zhao Xing explained: "Nanzheng's summer soil does not have the balanced cold and yin of spring and winter. Its fire is so strong that it is difficult to extinguish the underground fire by relying on the water of its own ground veins. If you don't moisten the soil first and try to extinguish it directly, the water will help the fire, and you will be imprisoned and it will be difficult to achieve success."

"Only when the water of the earth veins moistens the soil, weak but not exhausted, can the metal release its beauty and make the summer fire return to normal. At this time, you can take the soil and use it. Otherwise, nothing will survive."

Tang Wanchun suddenly realized, Pang Yuan seemed to be thinking about something, and Gao Linong felt mixed emotions.

Just in the answer to this question, Zhao Xing surpassed the other three, because none of them had thought so thoroughly in the previous discussions, which would at least result in points being deducted.

As for Zhao Xing's answer, they thought it was impossible for him to be deducted any points.

"What about the one in Beihai?" Gao Linong asked.

"This question tests the knowledge of phenology, official system, the Minister of Agriculture, and the divine weapons of the Tiangong Workshop. There are really many traps in this question." Zhao Xing said modestly, "I may not be able to get full marks."

In fact, Zhao Xing was sure that his answer was very good, but this did not tell what the mentality of the examiner was. If the examiner felt that you were exaggerating somewhere, it would be normal to deduct some points.

Chen Shijie didn't even ask this question. Zhao Xing's knowledge of Zixiao Island, Bingjie Corps' martial arts performances, and other topics far exceeded that of ordinary officials. It was obvious that he had lofty ambitions and would read books on this subject. The point was that he really understood it, not just a little bit.

There was nothing more to ask next, because the last big question was answered correctly. The model essay at that time was written by Zhao Xing himself, and thanks to him, the other fourteen people in Gucheng had an advantage on this question.

"You have to call me Lord Zhao from now on." Looking at Zhao Xing talking eloquently, Tang Wanchun couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He felt like he was beaten to death on the beach by the waves behind him.

"Okay, go back and wait for the news. Come back in three days." Chen Shijie smiled and followed Long Xiao away. He didn't bother to pay attention to anyone except Zhao Xing.

Three days later, Zhao Xing arrived outside the temple. The other fourteen officials from the Sinongjian who were taking the assessment had been waiting there early.

In addition, there are many officials, clerks, onlookers, and vendors setting up stalls... because today is the day when the list of officials who pay taxes will be announced, not only the Ministry of Agriculture, but also the rest of the departments will announce the list today.

　I'm going to a wedding today, so I'll update two chapters first (10,000 words in total). The third chapter will be in the afternoon or evening. Just letting you know in advance.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)