On a table in the corner sat two round spheres, which were exactly the testing devices.
The person in charge who was beside them brought the people over and then headed down.
"Not bad... Not bad..."
The person who took the lead to speak up was precisely Xia Hanshi, the person in the best mood among this group. However, his gaze did not fall onto Su Chen, but rather onto Chu Xuan.
"Truly worthy of being an Ink Jade-tier talent, a rare sight in this world. Even up to this day, the number of Ink Jade-tier talents that have appeared in my Yingfeng can be counted on one's fingers."
This old man Xia Hanshi had an eccentric personality. Usually, let alone praising someone, it was hard to even see a smile on his face, but right now he was continuously praising Chu Xuan.
"That evaluating Adjudicator was a second-tier Rock Sentinel who has already reached 100%, yet you were able to push him back for over a dozen meters. That's quite extraordinary..."
However, the more Xia Hanshi spoke, the uglier Chu Xuan's face became. He was perfectly clear in his heart that the crowd could distinguish the disparity in their performances at a single glance.
The more formidably he was praised, the more formidable the Su Chen who had vastly surpassed him would be.
To think he would slay someone's heart along with their body... Su Chen watched the donkey-faced old man's face grow darker and darker. He estimated that this guy was Wei Yinshuo, Chu Xuan's teacher.
The expressions of the other Chief Inquisitors were also rather peculiar.
"Number Six..." Chong Jingtian gave a dry cough, somewhat unable to watch on.
Number Six... Su Chen's eyelids twitched. Only then did he suddenly recall that Xia Hanshi was also the Sixth Chief Inquisitor.
In the past, the other party also used "Number Whatever" as a pronoun for the other Chief Inquisitors, but suddenly hearing this term that was slightly familiar and represented "insidious" in his past life, Su Chen couldn't help but look at Xia Hanshi.
Quite fitting... he muttered.
"Just experiencing a momentary delight upon seeing an Ink Jade-tier talent." No one believed Xia Hanshi's explanation. Feigning deafness, Chong Jingtian swept his gaze across both Su Chen and Chu Xuan, nodding slightly:
"It's been many years since talents like you two have appeared in the Adjudication Court. Your talents are high enough, and you are sufficiently tenacious, able to endure loneliness..." This Chief Inquisitor routinely praised them with a few sentences.
"This is also thanks to Yingfeng and the Adjudication Court for providing us with a safe and stable enough environment to grow."
Su Chen wasn't too sure about how good or bad the relationship between this Chief Inquisitor and Xia Hanshi was, so he merely gave a standard response.
"What Number Four said earlier wasn't wrong. Since they are talents, we should make exceptions. People like Chu Xuan only appear once every few years, so they rightfully deserve to receive better treatment." Xia Hanshi abruptly spoke up: "I support Chu Xuan becoming a Core Seed."
Here comes the main event... Su Chen understood in his heart. Hearing Old Xia's tone, he could roughly guess that prior to the evaluation's start, these Chief Inquisitors had probably already discussed the issue of whether to make an exception.
Old Xia must have held an opposing attitude. But right now, his own performance was even above Chu Xuan's. If even Chu Xuan could become a Core Seed, then would there even be a need to speak for himself?
Off to the side, Chu Xuan, who had kept his head lowered this whole time, slowly raised it, but there wasn't a single shred of excitement on his face, because his teacher's expression remained gloomy.
Chong Jingtian deeply pondered, while the other Chief Inquisitors furrowed their brows.
"Number Three, what do you say?" Xia Hanshi signaled at Yuan Poshan.
This Chief Inquisitor looked at Su Chen with heartache, nodding with difficulty: "That's right, Xia Hanshi makes sense."
"Then what about Su Chen?" Wei Yinshuo, however, interrupted, saying in a heavy voice: "If Chu Xuan is to become a Core Seed, then shouldn't Su Chen also become a Core Seed?"
"If Su Chen also becomes a Core Seed, the other Red Gold-tier talent seeds will definitely also be itching for action."
Xia Hanshi had deliberately ignored Su Chen the whole time, clinging to the exception for Chu Xuan first, but Wei Yinshuo was unwilling to see this outcome.
Xia Hanshi's gaze instantly turned icy. "Number Four, don't throw away the face I'm giving you. Everyone can see clearly just what kind of performance this student of yours gave. Since he has the qualifications, does Su Chen not have the qualifications?"
Hearing these words, Chu Xuan subconsciously clenched his two hands, but then released them, restraining his emotions.
This guy will definitely harbor hatred towards me and Old Xia... Su Chen understood in his heart, but he wasn't really unwilling either. As long as one wishes to compete, one will inevitably offend people.
He could only blame Chu Xuan himself for not being able to present a crushing battle record to shut everyone else up.
Wei Yinshuo gritted his teeth and said: "A momentary performance doesn't represent anything. That student of yours is ultimately just a Red Gold. Making an exception for him simply cannot convince the others."
"When that time comes, all the seeds in the Inner Court will be vying for a core position."
When his gaze drifted towards Chu Xuan, it couldn't help but carry a hint of resentment. If Chu Xuan had just been a bit more formidable, there wouldn't be a need to waste this much breath.
Xia Hanshi was very unceremonious: "Then let them fight for it. Out of the entire history of the Adjudication Court, just how many Red Gold-tier talents had the kind of performance Su Chen gave today?"
"Number Four holds some sense as well..." The lone female Adjudicator spoke up. "To announce an exception, we have to block the mouths of others. A Red Gold-tier talent still isn't enough."
Yuan Poshan frowned, revealing a hint of hesitation on his face, but still opened his mouth: "Merely using Chu Xuan's performance today while skipping over Su Chen will also be very difficult to convince the others."
"It's only for a moment. One has to cast their gaze longer into the future. The ultimate disparity between Red Gold and Ink Jade might easily be a single, or even two whole tiers."
More Chief Inquisitors joined the discussion, but overall, they still didn't approve of making an exception for a Red Gold, even if it was a Double Red Gold.
"I'm leaving this statement here today..." Xia Hanshi suddenly cut off everyone's chatter. His gloomy, icy gaze swept across his surroundings: "If we're not making an exception today, then nobody gets an exception. If we are making an exception, then everyone gets an exception!"
"Otherwise, don't blame me for being unfeeling!"
A bone-chilling killing intent!
The numerous Chief Inquisitors, who had originally been chattering all at once, actually all shut their mouths at this moment. Even though their gazes carried dissatisfaction, after Xia Hanshi stated his stance, nobody wished to become the bird that stuck its head out.
Tsk... this is Old Xia's might. No wonder his reputation is this terrible yet he can still firmly sit in the position of Chief Inquisitor, Su Chen secretly sighed with emotion.
"What are you going to do?" Chong Jingtian's face was devoid of expression. "Betray the Court?"
Xia Hanshi's voice was heavy and coagulated: "If the Adjudication Court acts unjustly, can it still be called the Adjudication Court? If it can no longer be called the Adjudication Court, then how can I betray the Court?"
Su Chen secretly gave Old Xia a thumbs up.
Chong Jingtian took a deep breath. His gaze swept back and forth between Su Chen and Chu Xuan, eventually freezing on Chu Xuan, as he let out an imperceptible sigh.
Was it Su Chen's fault for being too strong, causing him to fall into a dilemma right now?
The strong were definitely guiltless, so the blame could only fall on Chu Xuan for not being strong enough.
Chu Xuan's breathing grew somewhat heavier once more as he lowered his head.
"Since that's the case, then we won't make an exception for the time being." Chong Jingtian made his decision. In order to maintain stability, this Chief Inquisitor decided not to make any exceptions.
Chu Xuan exhaled a breath of air. He had actually anticipated this long ago, but upon confirming it, he inevitably still felt a bit unwilling.
Wei Yinshuo's face also looked very ugly, yet he heard that the Chief Inquisitor still had words left.
"However..." Exactly as expected, Chong Jingtian shifted his tone. "The two of you may take the preparatory seats. If you display outstanding performances, you can convince the masses to make an exception, and you can also be promoted to Core Seeds."
An exception had been made, yet it wasn't quite an exception. It was as good as making one!
Su Chen managed to discern the hidden meaning. In truth, this Chief Inquisitor still wished for Chu Xuan to become a Core Seed.
The reason might not be directed at him, nor at Xia Hanshi, but simply because of the other party's talent.
As those few Chief Inquisitors had said, reaching the later stages, the disparity of a single tier was something that an undeterminable number of Red Golds couldn't smooth over.
It was merely because Chu Xuan had underperformed and couldn't convince the masses.
Xia Hanshi carried some displeasure, but he also knew that this was the furthest it could go. Chong Jingtian had ultimately continued to treat them fairly.
"Chief..." Su Chen spoke up, inquiring: "If I was also an Ink Jade-tier talent, would I be able to convince the masses and earn an exception?"
"Nonsense." Wei Yinshuo sneered coldly, only treating it as Su Chen's unwillingness to accept the situation.
"Sigh..." Xia Hanshi breathed out a sigh. Even though he lowered his eyes and brows, he emitted a terrifying aura, scorching the surrounding air to the point of distortion. "Number Four, does a single question make you care this much?"
Wei Yinshuo stiffened. He let out a cold snort from his mouth, but still stepped backwards.
"No need to get tangled up over it..." Chong Jingtian's attitude was rather genial as he offered comfort: "Talent is merely a method of measurement. As for what exactly the future holds, one still has to rely on oneself. You aren't necessarily fated to be weaker than others."
This wasn't meant to deceive him. Talent was merely a theoretical way of predicting the future.
It was simply that one with a theoretical ceiling at the fifth-tier would always receive more focus than one with a theoretical ceiling at the third-tier.
However, he had seen countless numbers of people who had collapsed halfway on the road, or idled their talents away until it completely resulted in a life of mediocrity.
"Work hard..." he encouraged. "The evaluation hasn't ended yet, you guys can head down first."
"Understood." Deeply pondering, Su Chen nodded his head, shooting his gaze at the talent testing device set off to the side.
On his panel, the word "Inaugurate" dissolved into a stream of light.
【Saint Inauguration complete. Acquired class ability — Saint's Stance: Skill proficiency acquisition rate improved by 50%】
Chu Xuan had already turned his body, and Chong Jingtian had already cast his gaze towards the training ground down below.
However, Yuan Poshan's gaze swept over, only to see Su Chen walking toward the corner off to the side, extending his hand.
"The talent testing device? What does he want to do..." Yuan Poshan hesitated, and then his pupils abruptly contracted.
"Hm?" Catching on to the commotion, Chong Jingtian turned his head in surprise.
Hearing the commotion, Chu Xuan had already turned his head back around. His expression abruptly underwent a drastic change, as he found it unimaginably bizarre: "This... This... This..."
Only to see the testing device in Su Chen's hands radiating a black light, with its edges bearing a faint, unceasingly rippling green color.
This wasn't black, but rather a profoundly deep azure.
"Ink Jade!"
"It's actually an Ink Jade!?"
"Is it physical or mental?"
The numerous Chief Inquisitors abruptly stood up, their eyes filled to the brim with shock and stupefaction.
"How can this be possible!" Wei Yinshuo lost his voice, finding it unimaginably bizarre.
Xia Hanshi reacted the fastest. Having already darted in front of Su Chen, even though he was equally shocked, the corners of his mouth had already pulled open, gradually exposing that iconic ugly smile of his.
The room was so quiet that not a sound could be heard. Su Chen covertly surveyed his surroundings.
If Chong Jingtian could guarantee that no exceptions would be made today, and that Chu Xuan wouldn't become a Core Seed in the future either, then the large bulk of power gathered around him would disperse.
It also involved a Chief Inquisitor like Wei Yinshuo. Since the losses incurred by the other party were greater, then Su Chen didn't actually mind continuing to hide it for a bit longer.
But Chong Jingtian hadn't completely sealed that possibility—Chu Xuan still had hope, which meant the power gathered around the other party would likely not suffer any losses.
Since that was the case, forget about any preparatory whatever, there was no need to waste time.
"It's actually an Ink Jade!?" Yuan Poshan couldn't help but bellow angrily: "That traitorous disciple Yuan Chenyang, just how exactly does he get things done!"
"To think he actually failed to report such a massive matter to me!?"
This Chief Inquisitor clutched at his heart. The losses were too massive, simply too massive!
He could accept losing a Red Gold, or even a Double Red Gold. The deed had already been done anyway, and Yuan Chenyang had obtained a City Lord position.
But an Ink Jade was something completely different! And Su Chen's performance had even been so outstanding.
He wished he could regret it, but glancing at the small and skinny Xia Hanshi, he had no choice but to force it back down, indignantly saying: "Number Six, oh Number Six, you sure hid this deeply. Throwing an Ink Jade-tier talent away in Yingfeng for so long without caring for it!"
"An Ink Jade?"
After Chong Jingtian recovered from his shock, a satisfied smile spread over his face, looking increasingly genial: "What an impish brat. Not bad, not bad! Truly not bad!"
For him to drop three strings of "not bad" consecutively, it was more than enough to prove that this Chief Inquisitor was in an excellent mood.
However, he very quickly followed it up with: "To be able to discover two Ink Jade-tier talents this time is Yingfeng's fortune. If that is the case, then making exceptions for you two to become Core Seeds won't draw anyone's objections."
This was obviously meant to look after Chu Xuan's feelings. But this chosen child of heaven, who was supposed to be brightly releasing his brilliance, even if he wanted to squeeze out a smile to respond to the Chief Inquisitor's care right now, would find it very difficult to accomplish.
A multitude of stars revolving around the moon, the Chief's focused regard, and an exception to become a Core Seed.
Those were all the scenes he had originally expected. Before Su Chen delivered that strike during the evaluation, things were still developing according to his expectations.
But after that strike, everything had changed.
Even if he had already become a Core Seed right now, in a certain sense, he was still borrowing Su Chen's light.
Wei Yinshuo felt the exact same way, but his self-restraint and composure were evidently much better than Chu Xuan's. Regardless of what happened, his target had been achieved.
Amidst a harmonious atmosphere, someone else arrived on the high platform, holding another talent testing device.
"The two of you, test it again." Chong Jingtian's expression remained as genial as before. "Just to avoid any deviations."
This is a lack of trust in me. He didn't make Chu Xuan test again in the very beginning. Su Chen caught onto his thoughts.
Chong Jingtian looked completely genial, but Su Chen had abruptly exposed it after all, and the talent testing device inside the room wasn't personally arranged by him either, so it was perfectly normal to have some suspicions.
More critically, a discrepancy had appeared in the Adjudication Court's data. He was also contemplating whether he had been hiding it all along or if he had managed to improve it later on.
Even though Xia Hanshi's face didn't look too good, he didn't say anything either.
However, no accidents occurred. Whether it was Chu Xuan or Su Chen, both produced two pillars of ink-colored light.
Chong Jingtian couldn't help but nod, saying with gratification: "Chu Xuan's physical talent is Ink Jade, and Su Chen's mental talent is Ink Jade. Good, good..."
"Su Chen's physical talent is also Red Gold." Xia Hanshi reminded.
Chong Jingtian froze momentarily before realizing it. Nodding in agreement, he said: "Yes, his prospects are all the more expansive."
Since their heights were the same, then they would compete with width, and this time Chu Xuan had fallen a solid step behind.
Simultaneously, the other Chief Inquisitors, who originally hadn't really possessed any interest in him, all revealed warm smiles. They even dragged out several forced smiles towards Xia Hanshi.
"Su Chen, you and I share a bit of karmic ties. In the future..." Barely a few words came out of Yuan Poshan's mouth before he was shoved away by Xia Hanshi, whose face looked bad.
"Head on down first. After the evaluation concludes, we will publicly announce this matter." Chong Jingtian waved his hand.
Su Chen and Chu Xuan finally took their leave.
Watching the two depart, Chong Jingtian couldn't help but comment: "To think there would be a rare day when three Ink Jade-tier talents reside within my Adjudication Court simultaneously."
"The stagnant pool of water that is the Inner Court has finally seen its first ripples."
(End of this chapter)