We agreed to farm, but you're planting a divine tree in the eternal night?

"How...how is this possible?" Qian Cheng's chest heaved violently, and he gasped for breath, his face turning as red as a monkey's bottom.

He glanced at the composed Jiang Qiu, then turned back to the fruit on the stage, the focus of everyone's attention. "He not only cultivated a mid-grade wood-shaped flower and fruit, but it also possesses unique characteristics!"

The fact that he was able to produce a mid-grade fruit with special characteristics was likely due to the black-robed stall owner's level 1 spirit seed being of high quality, most likely containing inherent genetic characteristics.

What makes Jiang Qiu think he can cultivate such talent?

The handrail creaked, the fingers clenched so tightly they turned white, and Qian Cheng forced a smile despite being covered in sweat:

"Heh, heh, calm down, calm down. There are advantages and disadvantages among traits. His fruit might just be lucky enough to have some useless traits. It's still uncertain who will win."

Huff! Huff! He took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down, and wiped the sweat from his forehead. His eyes were resolute.

"My fruit was cultivated without consuming any resources, and each plant only produces one fruit, so its superior characteristics are self-evident."

Meanwhile, a debate has already broken out on the field.

"Holy crap, another 9-point fruit from Jiuzhi Garden! Jiang Qiu is truly amazing; this fruit is definitely superior to Qian Cheng's!"

"No, no, no, Jiang Qiu's fruit is 8 points and 9 points respectively, and they are completely different types of spiritual plants, which shows how strong her foundation is. On the other hand, Qian Cheng's first fruit is the worst, only 1 point. It is clear which one is stronger and which one is weaker."

"You can't say that. The rule is to compare the best one. Before we confirm the difference in characteristics between the two 9-point fruits, I don't think Qian Cheng is necessarily inferior to Jiang Qiu. What if his characteristics are quite rare!"

"Could it be that Jiang Qiu's trait is rare?"

"Stop arguing, we'll know once the alchemist opens the furnace."

"Yes, fire is the best test of gold!"

Hearing these words, Qian Cheng felt incredibly heavy-hearted. He unconsciously turned his gaze to Jiang Qiu, hoping to see even the slightest bit of tension on her face. This would ease his own pressure and give him more confidence.

however.

That face remained calm throughout.

"Damn! Damn! Damn!" He spat out three "damn"s in quick succession, spitting everywhere, then *thud*, Qian Cheng slammed his chair down and stormed off, clenching his fists. He walked towards the purchasing store manager, found him, and shouted, "I'm going to report this!"

Upon hearing the word "report," many staff members, as well as nearby spectators and contestants, glanced over and quietly pricked up their ears. The supervisor's expression immediately turned serious: "Contestant, did you discover any problems during the judging process?"

Qian Cheng pointed viciously at the players' seats, gritting his teeth: "Jiang Qiu definitely cheated. I suspect that those two fruits he cultivated weren't even his own. I hope you'll re-examine them!"

"Hmm?" The supervisor frowned. "All the contestants' work has been checked before they went on stage and is basically confirmed to be correct... You are Qian Cheng from Jiuzhi Garden, right? Please trust that our process is fair and impartial."

He glanced briefly at Jiang Qiu in the contestants' seats and Zhao Nan on the stage, then solemnly added:

"Furthermore, the three results that Jiang Qiu chose to showcase were all approved by shop owner Zhao Nan, who personally conducted a second inspection. Are you perhaps questioning the capabilities of Yizhi Garden's up-and-coming alchemist?"

Did that alchemist personally examine it?!

Qian Cheng's pupils contracted, and saliva swirled in his throat: "No...no, I just...feel..."

He seemed to have all his strength drained away in an instant, and the words he was about to say were cut off, but he was still unwilling to give up, and a surge of heat rose to the top of his head.

Mustering his courage, he spoke up: "Since... since Jiang Qiu was inspected a second time, it means you also think there must be something wrong with his three fruits, right? Otherwise, since we also cultivated mid-grade fruits with special characteristics, why didn't you inspect mine?"

"..." The supervisor paused, a hint of disbelief in his eyes. "Why do you think it's because of the presence of a mid-grade fruit with special properties that it underwent a second inspection?"

"Is it...?" Qian Cheng asked in astonishment.

The supervisor shook his head: "While the 9-point fruit you showed is certainly rare and valuable, some of the top three gardens can also cultivate it. We, the purchasing store, can't possibly inspect all of them one by one just because of this."

Clucking, Qian Cheng's fists trembled as he vowed to get to the bottom of it: "What else could it be? Did he produce a top-grade fruit?!"

"I'm sorry, I can't reveal the specific reason for now. You'll find out soon enough," the supervisor's voice gradually faded. "Now, please return to your seats. If you question the fairness of our shop owner's inspection, you can choose to withdraw from the event midway."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qian Cheng shivered, as if a drunk person had jumped into a river in the dead of winter and instantly sobered up: "I...I understand."

Having come this far, and with the prize money within reach, how could I possibly give up halfway?

But there must be something wrong with Jiang Qiu. How could a penniless intern so easily achieve the same results as me?

But at this moment, whispers began to circulate around him, and countless gazes pressed down on Qian Cheng's back. He lowered his head, feeling an unprecedented pressure, and even the way back to his seat became unsteady.

However, shouts arose from the crowd.

Discussions about him came to an abrupt end.

"Look, it's Jiang Qiu's turn again in the third round."

"Could it still be a 9/10 fruit inside?"

"Haha, maybe it'll be a 10!"

"Impossible. According to the shop owner's rating standards, 10 points is actually a mid-grade fruit with good characteristics. But the characteristics are rare, so you have to use it to know. You can't give that score on the spot."

"Oh, that's a pity."

When it was time to open Jiang Qiu's third food container, Qian Cheng couldn't help but stop in his tracks.

Remembering what his supervisor had mentioned, his eyes narrowed like a venomous snake, and he sneered, "Heh, so brazen as to expect special treatment from the purchasing store? You'd better have a top-grade fruit hidden in this box!"

As if responding to his whisper, the clasp snapped open, revealing a soft, emerald-green luster that was not dazzling but as serene as water. Yet, it melted away the green light of his box of mid-grade fruits, a pure and superior suppression.

It also has a rich fruity aroma.

It overpowered the other fruity aromas that were still emanating.

The last smile on Qian Cheng's face froze, like a stone statue unable to breathe, and his irises lost their last glimmer of light.

Tap, tap, tap—one by one, people in the contestants' seats stood up.

"Jade-like flesh, naturally fragrant, a top-grade fruit?"

"Wait, doesn't the surface also naturally show a texture?"

"Yes, that means it has an additional characteristic, a very rare dual characteristic!"

With unmistakable insight, the crowd, as devout as Buddhists witnessing the true Buddha appear in the world, openly expressed their longing and yearning in their eyes.

This reaction caused a sensation among the onlookers. People in layers, even those on the outermost perimeter, all turned their attention to the fruit.

While laymen chattered about its value, the planting staff were gasping for breath, especially Zhang San, Li Si, and their group of interns from the plantation, whose jaws dropped to the floor.

"Is Jiang Qiuzhen an intern like us?"

"Is...right?"