Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 279 - 42: Grassman Skill Challenge_2

Chapter 279: Chapter 42: Grassman Skill Challenge_2

....

After Zhao Xing signed up for the grassman training class, Tian Shan immediately became aware of it and contacted Zhao Xing through the Earth Mirror.

"The Grassman Skill is easy to learn but difficult to master. The First and Second Order grassman are easy to learn, but the Third Order grassman skill is challenging."

"This skill consumes time and effort. You took this course, so just aim for the passing score and don’t waste too much energy."

Tian Shan’s words showed the importance of the Grassman Skill, but Zhao Xing had his own plans and would not fully adhere to Tian Shan’s arrangement.

Of course, he still had to respond politely, "Don’t worry, teacher, I know my limits. If I cannot achieve anything, I won’t persist foolishly in this art."

"Hmm, as long as you have it in mind." Tian Shan nodded. Having been with Zhao Xing for many days, he could tell that Zhao Xing was very determined and always on the right path, so he didn’t need to worry too much about him.

It was only because the grassman class was newly introduced that Tian Shan spoke those extra few words when he saw Zhao Xing had signed up.

....

Putting down the Earth Mirror, Zhao Xing stood in front of a closed door at a place in the Taicang Institute, looking around.

Thousands of people signed up, so how would this course be taught and how would the scores be calculated?

Liu Tianning’s approach was to teach and test simultaneously.

"Grassman Skill training class, this is the first stage and also the first lesson."

"To the south of the square, materials are placed for you to choose from among First and Second Order materials."

"To the west of the square, there is a method of teaching the grassman skill, which is one of nine methods promoted by the court."

"To the east of the square, there are demonstrations of completed grassmen for your observation."

"To the north of the square is the trial palace. Anyone who has learned the Grassman Skill can summon their grassman to enter, and if they pass, they can fly to the next location to undergo the next phase of training. Each stage completed will earn corresponding points."

Liu Tianning’s voice echoed throughout the square, broadcasted repeatedly through the Echo Shell.

Zhao Xing looked at the bulletin board and went straight to the southern area where the materials were placed.

Various kinds of materials were either placed on the ground or floating in mid-air.

There were all kinds of flowers, plants, trees, bamboo, and vines.

But they were all First and Second Order materials.

"Whew~"

Zhao Xing used Gang Wind to sweep up a pile of materials.

He looked at them, selected a few types, and put the remaining ones back.

"Grass and Trees are Soldiers, rise!"

Zhao Xing pointed at a bundle of grass and leaf strips in front of him, and golden light shot out from his finger.

These days were not like before; now he didn’t need to weave manually.

A single thought could complete the spell.

"Sizzle~" "Hiss~"

Vines, grass stalks, and leaves seemed to come to life, moving and intertwining on the ground. In just a moment, the materials disappeared, replaced by a gray-black grassman standing in their place.

A Second Order Divine Movement Grassman.

The nearby people were attracted by the scene and immediately looked over.

"How did it happen so fast, completing the spell in a breath’s time?"

"Such strong control! He hardly wasted any materials."

"What kind of grassman is this? It even looks well-crafted."

"Of course, it looks good. The spell conforms to the supreme truths of the world. Weaving the grassman imparts the lines of its form with the Dao’s mysteries. You are not just looking at a grassman; you are observing the Dao."

"I didn’t expect Zhao Xing to be so accomplished in the Grassman Skill. His grassman even has a divine presence, as if it were alive."

"No wonder the grassmen beside me are so ugly, just like their creators."

"Brother, it’s okay to say I’m bad at the Grassman Skill, but calling me ugly is too much."

"..."

Zhao Xing grabbed his Divine Movement Grassman, ignoring the surrounding gazes, and quickly headed to the northern area of the square.

He then ordered the Divine Movement Grassman to walk into the palace.

"Buzz~"

As soon as it entered the palace, a beam of golden light scanned over the Divine Movement Grassman.

Then the ground beneath the grassman’s feet began to rotate.

It seemed like it had become a massive treadmill, and the Divine Movement Grassman had to run to avoid being thrown off.

"Persist for fifteen minutes or reach the other side of the palace, then you will pass."

"If it’s a Powerful Grassman, the test is to punch a stake, making the impression half a finger deep." Zhao Xing looked at the trial palace’s rules.

Different types of grassmen faced different tests.

The first stage, while not overly difficult, wasn’t simple either.

If someone hadn’t learned the Grassman Skill before, it would take a lot of time to learn now. Zhao Xing could see many beginners around him creating all kinds of bizarre grassmen.

Some grassmen broke apart after a few steps, some had three heads and six arms, and some were just awkward shapes that couldn’t even move because the spell couldn’t flow within them.

There were even weirder ones, with triangular heads, arms attached to their necks, and limbs dragging on the ground—and none of them could even be considered vaguely humanoid.

"The first lesson itself has a lot to learn; getting points is not going to be easy."

The Divine Movement Grassman in the trial palace ran at incredible speeds. If the Grassman Skill wasn’t up to standard, it would be impossible to pass to the next stage.

Of course, if someone learned and passed the first stage, they would earn fifty points.

Since there were points to be earned, around seven to eight thousand people crowded the first stage.

"Divine Might Army Zhao Xing, your Divine Movement Grassman passed. Please proceed to the next location."

A voice reached Zhao Xing’s ears.

"Yes."

Zhao Xing didn’t retrieve his Divine Movement Grassman, instead flying directly to the next location.

The second stage had the same layout.

But the number of people was much fewer.

The course had just started today, and many people were stuck learning at the first stage. Fewer than a thousand had reached the second stage.

"Among the over eight thousand members of the Minister of Agriculture who signed up, fewer than a thousand have passed the first stage. It seems that few people had studied the Grassman Skill before."

"That means just one in seven or eight people studied it."

With so few studying it, even fewer would take the time to delve deeply into it.

Zhao Xing’s passage through the first stage also allowed him to evaluate its difficulty. Any Grassman Skill reaching the Fourth Transformation level would pass, and yet many were still stuck there.

"Reaching the second stage proves that you have studied the Grassman Skill before and devoted some effort to it."

"In the second stage, it is still the nine kinds of Grassman Skills promoted by the court."

"Passing the test here will grant you four hundred points."

Liu Tianning’s voice echoed in his ears.

The second stage was not much different from the first stage, with a place for materials, a place for demonstrations, and a place for teaching.

Again, Zhao Xing created a Divine Movement Grassman and ordered it into the trial palace.

The Divine Movement Grassman faced the same test as in the first stage, with the ground rotating. However, the treadmill’s speed was faster.

Moreover, the ground became uneven, so maintaining speed while staying balanced became significantly more challenging.

Passing this level required at least a Fifth Transition Grassman Skill for confidence in succeeding.

Zhao Xing’s Divine Movement Grassman quickly overcame the test once again.

"Divine Might Army Zhao Xing, you have passed the second stage, earning four hundred points. You needn’t study the second stage’s content further. Please proceed to the next location."

Zhao Xing checked the Earth Mirror. Sure enough, he had received four hundred points from ’Liu Tianning’ of the Minister of Agriculture Supervision. Adding the fifty points from the first stage, he had earned four hundred fifty points in no time.

"Learning spells while earning points, this feels great."

Knowing the next location, Zhao Xing immediately flew there, surfing on the clouds and mist.

The third stage took place in a villa nestled between mountains and water.

This was also where Liu Tianning resided.

"Whew~"

The mist cleared as Zhao Xing landed at the villa’s main entrance.

"Please come in."

As soon as he landed, a figure appeared at the door, inviting Zhao Xing in.

"Thank you, teacher." Zhao Xing thought Liu Tianning personally came to greet him and was a bit surprised. But upon closer inspection, he realized it was not Liu Tianning himself, but a grassman.

However, this grassman was so lifelike, with nose and eyes, wearing clothes, and even had flesh-toned skin. At first glance, Zhao Xing mistook it for a human, feeling slightly odd, only discovering the truth by using his Five Elements Observation.

"Follow me." Liu Tianning’s grassman turned and leaped forward, quickly arriving at the mountain’s base. The way it moved up the mountain was nimble, teleporting and darting along the path like a martial artist using a movement technique.

"Liu Tianning must be a master of the Grassman Skill and surely has some secret techniques. I must learn from him," Zhao Xing thought, quickening his pace.