The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

"Only two hundred will remain?"

Everyone felt the increasing difficulty of entering the Four Great Academies.

It must be noted that the reserve forces consisted of more than ten thousand people!

And now, only two hundred would make it into the Four Great Academies?

A one-in-fifty chance!

These reserves had already been screened by the nine stationed armies.

"Difficult, difficult, difficult! But the higher the difficulty, the greater the rewards after passing."

"From five hundred to two hundred, the fourth test will eliminate sixty percent of us."

"I wonder what the content of the fourth test will be."

Even those who had performed well in the previous rounds felt uncertain.

Good results in earlier tests didn't guarantee good results later.

After all, the test contents were different.

"Take it one step at a time. Even Han Bing dropped to more than 80th place in the third round, showing that his lightning techniques are a bit weak," Zhao Xing thought to himself.

Military Shennongs are expected to be well-rounded to deal with different combat situations.

Strength in just one area isn't enough; true strength lies in being strong across all aspects!

After dropping off the more than two hundred eliminated participants, the tower ship continued its journey to the next location.

The deck was quiet as everyone took the time to recover their essence energy.

The Military Shennong Supervisors organized the assessment without providing any elixirs or recovery items, and even prohibited participants from bringing their own. Everyone had to rely solely on their own ability to gather essence from the heavens and earth.

Since Zhao Xing's gathering technique was at a lower tier, he couldn't afford to waste any time chatting. He seized every second to restore his energy.

"Hum~"

As the ship passed through a layer of clouds, the light suddenly became bright, even somewhat dazzling.

Zhao Xing couldn't help but raise his hand to shield his eyes as he opened them.

"Damn, five suns in the sky?!"

"Where are we now?"

"In the Ten Suns Cave Heaven, you can see different heavenly phenomena in different regions. Five suns in the sky, could this be the environment for the fourth test?"

"I can feel the heat even through the ship's protective array. Imagine stepping out there!"

"Coming to the Ten Suns Cave Heaven has really been an eye-opening experience, like a knife carving a butt!"

"....."

The ship slowly hovered in midair but did not descend.

Meanwhile, strange wisps of cloud hovered around the ship, giving the surroundings an unusual feel.

Zhao Xing had a hunch that the fourth test might take place in mid-air.

"Five suns in the sky, and it's almost noon. One sun in the center, four at the four corners. Though they're not fully aligned yet, the heat is almost at its peak."

"We've tested wind, thunder, and clouds already—could it be that the next task is to make it rain under the five suns?"

Zhao Xing had his suspicions, and others seemed to as well.

Soon, smaller floating cloud ships were released from the main ship, hovering nearby.

"As expected, we won't be landing. The test will happen up here."

Standing at the edge of the ship, Zhao Xing surveyed the scene below.

The ship was about a thousand meters above the ground.

The ground below was dry, almost a barren wasteland, with little vegetation.

Additionally, there seemed to be small black dots on the ground. Zhao Xing activated his enhanced sight technique, then thoughtfully withdrew his gaze.

He observed his surroundings once again.

The ship was surrounded by faint, drifting clouds, but with the five suns overhead, the clouds were rapidly evaporating.

However, a few clouds were evaporating much more slowly, seemingly hinting at something.

Despite the ship having been stationary for some time, Zuo Zizhi had yet to come out to announce the rules.

An idea struck Zhao Xing. He reached out beyond the railing of the ship and realized there was no protective barrier stopping him.

Without hesitation, he quickly leaped from the ship, riding the wind.

"Huh? Why did he jump out?" Zhuo Li wondered, watching Zhao Xing's actions. "Is the ship's protective array down?"

"That's Zhao Xing! He jumped off the ship."

"Hmm? Has the protective array been lifted?"

"The test hasn't even been announced yet."

"But no one said we couldn't leave the ship... Damn, I get it now!"

Many people quickly followed suit, jumping off the ship after realizing what Zhao Xing had understood.

Shi Yong, Zhuang Ziqing, Feng Qiu, Guan Junyang, Hua Zhilin, and Han Bing all began to move.

In the ship's cabin, Zuo Zizhi and Lu Bang watched the scene outside and couldn't help but laugh.

"They've caught on."

"Hmph, at least these kids aren't completely foolish."

Lu Bang pointed outside, saying, "This Zhao Xing, his mind works quickly. He was the first to figure it out. His timing is excellent, showing he's already qualified to be a Military Shennong."

Not only was Lu Bang impressed, but the four top officials of the Tian Shi Academy, who were observing from the upper deck, quietly watched as well.

"Zhao Xing's reaction is fast. He's the first to guess the content of the fourth test."

"Indeed, this kid is very sharp. When he realized the ship had been stationary for too long, he immediately began using the Cloud Rain Pearl to gather moisture from the sky."

"Hmph, over a hundred people are still hesitating on the deck, completely clueless. Utter fools!"

While some were performing well, others were lagging behind.

There were still over a hundred people remaining on the deck, standing idly and watching the chaos in the sky.

They were waiting, hesitating, observing whether Zhao Xing's action would be stopped, unsure of the consequences.

"Faced with an unfamiliar, hostile environment, they remain indifferent."

"Five suns in the sky, the clouds are evaporating, and water is extremely scarce. Gathering rain should have been the first instinct of any Military Shennong!"

"We forbade them from bringing recovery elixirs or artifacts, but we allowed them to bring the Cloud Rain Pearls, and yet many of them overlooked this detail."

The four officials from the Tian Shi Academy were highly disappointed with the hesitant participants on the deck.

On the lower level, Zuo Zizhi watched with a dark expression as people stood on the deck. Typically patient, his face now showed anger.

He opened the door and stepped onto the balcony.

With a stern face, he questioned the crowd below.

"Those on the deck, raise your hand if you failed to bring your Cloud Rain Pearl."

His tone was as cold as an interrogation.

Eighteen people below immediately panicked.

With trembling hands, they raised them.

Zuo Zizhi snorted coldly. "You eighteen, you're eliminated!"

"My lord, we thought we wouldn't need to bring them, that they would be provided for the test."

"Yes, my lord, please give us a chance. We just forgot."

Among the eighteen, some begged for mercy, while others offered excuses.

Zuo Zizhi scolded them harshly. "Nonsense! You still dare speak? Before entering the Ten Suns Cave Heaven, each of you was issued a set of standard equipment."

"The Golden Raincoat, the Hundred Flower Hat, the Cloud-Stepping Boots—these are all third-rank upper-tier treasures. And the Cloud Rain Pearl, a fourth-rank lower-tier treasure!"

"Any damage to these treasures can be repaired for free!"

"I ask you, why do you need to pay for all other treasures, but these four are free to replace?!"

"Why were all other treasures prohibited from this test, except for these four?!"

"Because these four items are the tools of your trade!"

"For a Military Shennong, the fourth-rank Cloud Rain Pearl is a lifesaver! That little bit of water could mean the difference between your army surviving long enough for reinforcements or perishing. A single rainstorm could turn defeat into victory… the importance of the Cloud Rain Pearl is paramount among these items!"

"And you forgot to bring the most crucial item? How can you even think of being a Military Shennong?!"

"And you still dare question me? What right do you have?!"

It was clear that Zuo Zizhi was genuinely furious.

With a series of rapid-fire questions, the eighteen individuals were left speechless, lowering their heads in shame.

The others on the deck, though not as directly criticized, were equally nervous.

Though they had brought their Cloud Rain Pearls, they hadn't acted promptly. Judging by Zuo Zizhi's demeanor, it was clear their hesitation hadn't left a good impression either.

As expected, Zuo Zizhi cast a cold glance at the rest of the people on deck and continued, "This test is about making it rain!"

"The ship is currently positioned in the hottest part of the sky, where five suns blaze down. However, there are a few patches of cloud, held in place by the Tian Shi Academy."

"The reason for the ship's prolonged stop was to give you time to observe and collect rainwater."

"But it seems none of you needed that time. You're all such geniuses, so confident that you can summon rain even in extreme conditions. Very well, very well indeed!"

Zuo Zizhi's words dripped with sarcasm, and his scorn was unmistakable.

Those who had delayed quickly scrambled to retrieve their Cloud Rain Pearls and leaped off the deck.

Within moments, the sky outside the ship was filled with figures, leaving the eighteen eliminated participants standing there in a daze.

Among those eliminated was someone who had ranked 15th in the previous round.

But now, they had been mercilessly cut from the competition.

This lesson would likely be etched into their memories forever.

Outside the ship, Zhao Xing held his Cloud Rain Pearl, collecting the remaining clouds.

Since he had been the first to react, his fourth-rank Cloud Rain Pearl was already half full.

But as more people came out to compete for the clouds, the speed at which he collected moisture slowed significantly.

With only a few remaining clouds, and too many people trying to gather rain, the air quickly became dry.

Zhao Xing returned to the ship.

He happened to hear Zuo Zizhi's harsh reprimand.

The reason Zhao Xing had reacted first was simple: it came from years of experience in his past life.

He completely agreed with what Zuo Zizhi said about the importance of the Cloud Rain Pearl in warfare.

"I remember the phrase, 'For nine months, no rain in Mount Qi. But why does it pour today...the heavens favor you all...urgh...'"

"Prime Minister! Prime Minister…"

Zhao Xing chuckled to himself as he imagined the scene.

"Your reaction was really fast," Han Bing commented, standing beside Zhao Xing. "No wonder Chief Shennong Chen values you."

"Huh? You know about that?" Zhao Xing hadn't mentioned his connection with Chen Shijie to Han Bing.

"You've received messages, and you get extra resources—so do I. We're in the same group," Han Bing replied. "It's just that I was selected by another Nine-Section Shennong from the Shenwei Army, Huang Chengzhi."

"Ah, got it." Zhao Xing nodded.

After about a half-hour, Zuo Zizhi instructed everyone to return to the deck.

He then announced the full details of the test.

"Everyone will board the cloud boats and head to the region illuminated by the five suns to summon rain clouds and make it rain. You must sustain rainfall for at least a quarter of an hour."

"The duration, amount of rain, and the area covered will form the basis for your score."

"There are two groups of mechanical puppets on the ground, black and white, with equal strength."

"Contestants can choose to side with either the black or white puppets. Upon entering the designated area, the black and white puppets will immediately engage in battle!"

"The effectiveness of your rain techniques, whether enhancing your own forces or weakening the enemy, will be scored based on the number of puppets enhanced or weakened."

"The top two hundred scores will pass. The rest will be eliminated."

After Zuo Zizhi finished speaking, everyone aboard the ship couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath.

If the first three tests were merely difficult, this fourth one was downright insane!

Under five blazing suns, even making it rain would be a challenge.

And now, they were expected to influence the battlefield, either enhancing their allies or weakening their enemies?

"So those black dots on the ground were mechanical puppets," someone realized. "But we're a thousand meters in the air. Even with enhanced vision techniques, we'll only be able to see faint, blurry figures. How are we supposed to precisely target individuals for enhancement or weakening?"

"Blurry or not, you can still tell black from white," someone replied.

"Easier said than done! Enhanced vision techniques only allow us to see about a thousand meters clearly at best. Rain will obscure our sight even more. Can you be sure you won't make mistakes?"

"Stop worrying. Just focus on making rain first. I only gathered one percent of my water earlier. Even if I exert full control, I'm not sure if I can make it last a quarter of an hour."

"In these conditions, will the rain even reach the ground?"

"Difficult, difficult, difficult! Both cloud and rain techniques will have to be executed perfectly without any leakage."

"..."

No matter how much everyone grumbled about the difficulty, the test had begun.

Groups of twenty boarded the floating cloud boats, with twenty-five boats heading out to different areas.

Each person took their turn summoning rain, and after one finished, the boat would move to a new location.

Everyone started with the same initial conditions.

Zhao Xing's group was one member short, with only nineteen people, as eighteen had already been eliminated.

Zhuo Li, Jiang He, Jiang Hai, and Hua Zhilin were also part of this group.

There was also one person Zhao Xing found familiar.

"First up, He Yu from Zhenhai Army," the judge called out the first name.

"Present." The young man called stiffened nervously.

"Begin," the judge said indifferently.

"Yes."

He Yu stepped to the bow of the ship, looking despondent.

He had barely passed the previous round.

This test should have been his strong suit, but he had been slow in collecting rainwater earlier and didn't have much stored.

So, he wasn't feeling confident at all.

"Hum~"

The moment he summoned clouds, his anxiety got the better of him, causing his technique to falter.

He Yu's clouds trembled as they formed, quickly shrinking under the five suns' intense heat.

Before he could do anything else, the clouds dissipated completely. He had failed before even beginning.

"Pfft~" Hua Zhilin stifled a laugh.

"?" Zhao Xing gave a puzzled look at the person next to him.

He wasn't surprised by He Yu's failure, but the soft, feminine laugh from this male figure, accompanied by a hand covering the mouth—what was going on here?

"How amusing. He was so eager that he couldn't even control his clouds. You all better not make the same mistake," Hua Zhilin said, raising an eyebrow.

"... What the hell!" Zhao Xing felt a chill run down his spine. That eyebrow lift made his skin crawl. Instinctively, he stepped back, hiding behind the others.

Zhuo Li, Jiang He, and Jiang Hai all frowned, especially since Zhao Xing had now moved behind them.

Even the judge couldn't help but glance at Hua Zhilin.

"Silence from the rest of you!"

Hua Zhilin pursed his lips, remaining quiet.

Good heavens... That gesture made Zhao Xing's skin crawl again. Only his strong mental fortitude prevented him from throwing a punch.

"Make it rain!" He Yu shouted in frustration. His trembling clouds spun, and after much effort, they finally squeezed out some rain.

But because of the extreme conditions and his anxiety, He Yu failed again—he didn't even manage to get the base score.

"Three failures, you're eliminated. Return to the boat," the judge said coldly.

"Yes." He Yu shook his head as he returned to the boat. He had failed twice at summoning clouds and now once more. With no fourth chance, he was out.

He had fallen at the fourth hurdle.

The cloud boat moved to a new area.

"Next up, Jiang Hai," the judge called.

Jiang Hai took a deep breath and stepped to the bow of the boat.

His clouds were shaped like swords, and his cloud technique was a martial cloud technique, which gave it stability.

Though his clouds still trembled under the five suns, they held steady long enough to produce a brief shower.

Zhao Xing noticed that Jiang Hai's raindrops were also shaped like swords.

Jiang Hai sided with the black puppets, but judging by his expression, he wasn't satisfied with the result.

The judge soon announced his score: "Sword cloud rain, duration: two quarter-hours. Rain amount: forty-five. Sided with black, killed 1,009, lost 823."

"Final score: 276."

Jiang Hai sighed softly. Under such harsh conditions, this was his limit.

As for the puppets on the ground, he found them impossible to control precisely.

His result reflected this: while he killed over a thousand, his side also lost more than eight hundred.

As for summoning rain, that gave the base score, calculated based on the time and amount of rainfall.

Sword rain's effect on the battlefield provided additional points. Positive values added to the score, while negative values subtracted from it.

Thus, Jiang Hai's final score was a base of 90 points, plus 186 additional points, for a total of 276.

"If you're not confident, don't aim for bonus points," someone muttered. "If you kill 800 but lose 1,000, you'll end up with a negative score."

"Next up, Yu Zhou," the judge called as the cloud boat moved to a new spot.

"Lightning cloud rain, duration: two quarter-hours. Rain amount: thirty-six. Sided with white, killed 546, lost 541. Total score: 77."

"Sigh."

"Next, Jiang Tao. Total score: 155."

"Next, Jiang He... Total score: 263."

…

"Next, Liu Ping… Total score: 0!"

"Next, Zhuo Li… Total score: 425."

Time passed, and some unfortunate contestants managed to get a base score, only to gamble for extra points and end up with a negative score after losing more units than they killed.

But soon, someone from the group posted a high score.

Zhuo Li's performance broke Jiang Hai's record, earning him a score of 425.

Amidst envious stares, Zhuo Li returned from the bow, casting a glance at Zhao Xing, his gaze holding a hint of provocation, as if to ask: "Shenwei Army boy, how many points can you score?"

Zhao Xing felt Zhuo Li's gaze but merely smiled in return.

This guy's brain must be damaged. Zhao Xing's performance in the cloud test was clear, and he had been the first to collect rainwater. Did Zhuo Li really think he would lose?

Soon, the cloud boat reached a new area.

The judge called Zhao Xing's name.

"Next up, Zhao Xing."