"...I estimate that those old seeds are not merely displeased by this exception, they are even more afraid that once the floodgates are opened, more 'exceptions' will follow."
Combining it with this announcement, Su Chen roughly deduced the Chief Inquisitor's tactics: "Chong Jingtian is even more ruthless. directly employing the tactic of taking away the firewood from under the cauldron, causing the positions of those old seeds to also become incredibly precarious."
Normally, this kind of reform would be exceedingly difficult to push through, but this time, using the two of them as bait, he found a breakthrough point.
"Tsk, things are getting more and more interesting..."
His own position as a Core Seed appeared rather unstable, yet he didn't care at all. This kind of challenge system couldn't possibly be conducted under unfair circumstances.
And in a fair fight, he feared no one.
"How is the public opinion in the Inner Court? What are the reactions to this announcement?" Su Chen asked Number Zero, having her summarize it.
"Currently, the voices are very chaotic; people are saying all sorts of things."
Su Chen came to a realization: "They haven't reacted yet."
It seemed this announcement had smashed that group of people quite heavily.
"The higher-ups haven't specifically stated how the challenge system will be implemented either. I estimate there's more to come."
Thinking up to this point, Su Chen mindlessly took a sip of hangover soup. "Or rather, is the Chief Inquisitor still waiting for them to attack, intentionally exposing a flaw?"
That group of old seeds entered the Adjudication Court early and possessed high tiers. There were already exceedingly few people capable of challenging them. Without a fair method, this reform would also end up achieving nothing.
After watching the excitement for a while, Su Chen replied to the messages one by one. Basically, his responses were "Don't know," "Don't understand," and "Not clear."
"There's nothing going on today for the time being. The Gu family will likely only deliver the 'Nether Enigma Essence' by the afternoon."
The Nether Enigma Essence was an auxiliary potion he had negotiated with Gu Bing to use for the development of his second-tier mental profession's latter half.
Purchased by the Gu family, sixty portions would be supplied monthly, along with thirty supplementary portions of "Black Water".
After all, the Adjudication Court's ration was only one portion per day. Back in Nanfeng, he already had to consume two portions of auxiliary potions a day.
And now, his talent had elevated once more. His consumption rate would likely increase again; at the very least, he would need two portions.
"I'll take a trip to the Class Decoding Department first, chat with Elder Sang, and ask if there are any special professions capable of upgrading weapons." After finishing breakfast, Su Chen couldn't help but sigh with emotion:
"There truly are a lot of things to do. From entering the Adjudication Court until now, I haven't even properly begun my training. After connecting emotionally at the Class Decoding Department, there shouldn't be anything else left."
After taking a shower and changing clothes, Su Chen left the villa. He intentionally took a trip to Old Xia's villa, only to find that there was still no one there.
"A divine dragon whose head is visible but whose tail is hidden..." Su Chen opened the virtual screen and sent him a message.
The Adjudication Court had assigned a dedicated driver for him, as well as an exclusive vehicle for Core Seeds, to be used for normal outings.
It was a modified hover car, its exterior covered in dark silver armor, with streams of lustrous white energy flowing across its surface.
"...Heavy armored modified hover car, utilizing refined Silver Star alloy and engraved shields. Capable of withstanding the full-force attack of a third-tier professional..."
The one standing before the car introducing it to him was similarly a mechanical puppet, not a real person, dressed neatly in uniform.
"Not bad... Not bad..." Su Chen nodded in satisfaction. The Adjudication Court truly did an excellent job regarding benefits.
This thing even possessed camouflage technology, capable of disguising itself as a very ordinary-looking hover car.
Sitting in the back seat, Su Chen was surprised to discover that there was actually a mini-fridge.
They entered the city's transit system from the Adjudication Court's hover-lane track.
The Adjudication Court's location was practically right at the heart of Yingfeng. From here, traveling anywhere couldn't be considered far. Furthermore, the hover car was very fast, continuously traveling along high-speed lanes.
He arrived at the Class Decoding Department very quickly. The temporary identification Sang Hanhai provided him was still effective, granting him unimpeded passage all the way.
"......This combination of text seems to bear the meaning of 'digestion'..."
"...I am afraid not. Based on my experience, it should be 'manufacturing'..."
"...Elder Sang, you are proficient in the Heath language, but the Bole language is my domain..."
The moment Su Chen entered the laboratory, he saw Jin Yunxuan wearing a helpless, bitter smile. Standing opposite him, Sang Hanhai's expression looked extremely displeased.
"Su Chen?"
Perceiving the commotion, the two turned their heads simultaneously to look over.
"Haha..." Sang Hanhai burst into laughter, "Isn't this our Core Seed? Your distinguished presence graces us; please forgive me for not welcoming you at the door, and I hope for your magnanimous inclusion."
"Elder, please stop teasing me." Su Chen smiled bitterly. Although Sang Hanhai appeared to be joking, he could also sharply perceive that the other party's attitude had undergone such a minuscule shift.
Sang Hanhai spoke with great interest: "I had a lapse in judgment. Had I known earlier, I would have dragged you into the Class Decoding Department first."
"Does the Class Decoding Department also look at professional talents?" Su Chen was surprised.
"We don't. But we could have used it to disgust Chong Jingtian." Sang Hanhai was very frank.
Su Chen: "......"
"Brother Su Chen, you truly are a blockbuster, amazing the world with a single brilliant feat." Jin Yunxuan also leaned over, his attitude even gentler than last time, his face brimming with smiles.
Over the past two days, discussions regarding Su Chen and Chu Xuan were unceasing to the ear.
He had personally interacted with Su Chen to begin with, and thus naturally paid closer attention. Upon learning that the other party had become a Core Seed, after a bout of jealousy, it was immediately followed by a sense of rejoicing.
Fortunately, he hadn't vented his anger upon the other party because of Yang Yan last time. Perhaps there was a tiny bit, but upon learning that he was Xia Hanshi's student back then, he had already released goodwill, so it wasn't a major issue.
If Yang Yan were here, he'd probably relentlessly mock him with a couple of sentences... Su Chen looked at the smiling Jin Yunxuan, yet a deeper realization of his own status dawned upon him.
Core Seed of the Adjudication Court > Xia Hanshi's student.
Even if the two overlapped in a certain sense, the former was clearly valued more by others.
"What brings you to the Class Decoding Department?" Sang Hanhai asked casually. "Don't tell me you genuinely intend to undergo bitter studying regarding class decoding."
"Energy is limited. If you were just an ordinary seed, I wouldn't mind nurturing you. But if Chong Jingtian finds out that a Core Seed is wasting time studying ancient languages with me, he'd probably cleave me in two."
"I indeed harbor some interest regarding ancient languages," Su Chen said, yet his words took a sudden turn: "However, coming here today, I do indeed have a matter I wish to consult with you about."
"Consult?" Sang Hanhai shot him a glance. "You little brat, turning eight corners just to speak a sentence. What is the matter?"
"I have a few weapons on hand. Having used them for a long time, I've grown accustomed to them. I wanted to ask if there are any professions capable of upgrading weapons..." Feeling that his explanation wasn't detailed enough, Su Chen supplemented: "Not the conventional method of melting down materials and reforging..."
"I understand what you mean. It's simply upgrading a tier-1 weapon to a tier-2 weapon, right?" Sang Hanhai spoke casually.
Su Chen blanked. Before coming, he actually felt his request might be somewhat bizarre, which was why he intentionally beat around the bush. But hearing Sang Hanhai's tone, he couldn't help but ask: "There is such a profession?"
Sang Hanhai walked to the side, poured a cup of hot water, and slowly took a sip: "Of course there is. Not to mention someone like you who is already accustomed to specific weapons, there are plenty of professions that inherently complement weapons."
Su Chen came to a realization, thinking of Hu Xiang; he seemed to be some sort of Flame Spear Adept.
"Weapon Nurturer..." Sang Hanhai didn't build suspense, spitting out a name: "It is not a conventional Weapon Forger, thus there is no need to learn the myriad of knowledge regarding materials, casting, quenching, and the like."
"It can collect corresponding materials based on a weapon's characteristics, and subsequently expend mental energy to cause it to undergo a metamorphosis."
Speaking up to this point, Sang Hanhai shook his head. "However, the materials consumed for this kind of metamorphosis far exceed those of conventional forging."
"Furthermore, they can only nurture a fixed few weapons, incapable of autonomously forging more armaments. Only some Weapon Forgers, when forging high-tier weapons, will purposely nurture low-tier weapons to discover the optimal material ratio protocols."
"It has few advantages, but plenty of flaws."
Su Chen's eyes lit up. Having an elder around truly is like possessing a treasure! He previously thought this would be a difficult problem, yet with Sang Hanhai, a solution was produced within a few sentences.
Isn't this exactly the profession he needed?
"You want it?" The old man saw through the desire in Su Chen's eyes with a single glance, teasing: "What a pity, your exchange opportunity from last time was already used up."
"You either have to spend money to buy it, or exchange it using a profession. If I recall correctly, Weapon Nurturer should be a C-rank special profession. For individual purchases... since you are a Core Seed, it should only cost five million. However, you will need to sign a non-disclosure agreement."
The corner of Su Chen's mouth twitched. He still hadn't figured out where to get the five million deficit for the 'Mystic Energy Crystal'.
He thought of the series of top-tier professions he had mastered. Taking one out would likely be enough for an exchange.
"The practical utility of a Weapon Nurturer isn't significant. You can adapt to any weapon's handling after spending some time breaking it in." Beside them, Jin Yunxuan reminded: "The materials wasted upgrading low-tier weapons might not be considered much, but arriving at high-tiers, Directors and Chief Inquisitors alike would feel their hearts ache."
"If you continue upgrading, the wastage will be too copious. If you swap weapons, your early-stage investments will have been considerable."
Jin Yunxuan's words made sense. But Su Chen's gaze flickered, looking toward an instrument resting on the desk behind the two of them. A palm-sized Saint Word Stone currently lay atop it, but due to the angle, he couldn't see its contents.
"Is that a new Saint Word Stone?" Skipping past the topic, Su Chen inquired.
Sang Hanhai merely assumed he was preparing to give up. After all, the materials consumed by that profession to upgrade weapons were copious, yet the increase in strength wasn't significant. Barely anyone in the Crafting Department was willing to pay it mind.
"Indeed. It was sent over by Yuan Poshan, and we are currently deciphering it." Sang Hanhai didn't hide it. For an undeciphered Saint Word Stone, let alone looking at it once, even if he looked at it ten times, coupling it with a photographic memory would be completely useless.
Su Chen took two steps forward. And with just these two steps, he clearly saw the symbols flickering unceasingly upon it.
【Discovered special profession — Potion Tester. Can inaugurate after fulfilling the inauguration requirements.】
【Inauguration Requirement 1: Digest over 10,000 portions of auxiliary potions not lower than one's own tier.】
Just a single inauguration requirement?
Su Chen blanked slightly. This truly was the first time he had seen such a profession. Digesting 10,000 portions of potions might sound like a lot, but in reality, it wasn't genuinely difficult.
He had already completed a tenth of it.
【In order to display its supreme reverence toward the Great Exalted, the Potion Tester decided to allow the host to inaugurate directly.】
It finished just like that?
Su Chen raised a brow, though not thoroughly surprised. Bringing this kind of minor profession in would only result in becoming a submissive punching bag. Let alone the Great Exalted, even other professions were enough to give it a hell of a time.
"Hey!"
His vision abruptly darkened as an old face popped up suddenly. Sang Hanhai stared at him suspiciously, "Kid, what are you doing?"
"Don't tell me you are forcefully trying to memorize the symbol transformations on it?"
"No..." Su Chen shook his head, wearing a bizarre expression that looked somewhat like constipation and somewhat like diarrhea. "I feel like... this thing, seems to be summoning me..."
"What did you say?"
Sang Hanhai's single remaining eyeball bulged, his brows furrowing tightly together as he stared suspiciously at Su Chen.
Beside them, Jin Yunxuan blanked for a moment. After a frown, a fleeting amusement flashed past into his eyes.
This kid isn't about to say that he can resonate with this Saint Word Stone as well, right?
"I seem... to also be able to resonate with this Saint Word Stone."
Jin Yunxuan froze; he actually said it.
"You can resonate with it as well?"
Sang Hanhai wasn't excited. His expression turned solemn, "Kid, don't blame me for speaking my words upfront. If you dare to deceive me, flashing whoever's name won't be of any use."
The working personnel beside them all began casting gazes over. Some hadn't heard the conversation clearly and were still somewhat bewildered.
With strings of words like that... Su Chen fell silent for a moment, appearing as if he were trying to sense it more carefully. Subsequently, his expression grew even firmer: "Correct, I can definitely sense it!"
"It feels roughly similar to the resonance of that profession last time, merely much fainter." He left some leeway in his words. Last time, he wanted to obtain [Saint] as quickly as possible, so he settled it in three days. But this time, he didn't plan on finishing it too swiftly.
"Prove it to me." Sang Hanhai pointed toward the Saint Word Stone. He appeared amiable purely because he indeed held a very favorable impression of Su Chen.
However, this didn't mean he wouldn't lose his temper.
Sang Hanhai was somewhat suspicious regarding exactly what was going on with Su Chen. Clamoring for attention to please the crowd?
It didn't exactly seem like it. Could a Heaven-Bestowed Class Decoder truly resonate with all Saint Word Stones?
He felt it was even more impossible. His gaze was fixed intently upon Su Chen, who was walking toward the Saint Word Stone.
Su Chen picked up the Saint Word Stone pretentiously. He had no clue whatsoever what resonating felt like. Furrowing his brows tightly, he put on an expression of constipation.
"Professor Sang, Su Chen might have merely experienced some kind of hallucination. The material of the Saint Word Stones is peculiar; such situations have occurred in the past..." Jin Yunxuan spoke up from the side.
Pity his words hadn't even finished before being interrupted by Sang Hanhai raising his hand, "Say no more."
Jin Yunxuan shrugged. Regardless, he wasn't genuinely trying to cover for Su Chen anyway, merely selling a favor; speaking the words out loud was enough.
A moment later, Su Chen breathed out a long sigh, saying: "It seems to be about digesting something..."
Hm!
Jin Yunxuan's expression changed abruptly, incomparably shocked. Because before Su Chen arrived, he and Sang Hanhai were precisely debating whether it was 'digestion' or 'manufacturing'.
Don't tell me this guy... truly can resonate with this Saint Word Stone, or perhaps even all Saint Word Stones?
Impossible!
Jin Yunxuan subconsciously refused to believe it, feeling an indescribable sense of defeat.
The assessments of the Class Decoding Department were even stricter than the Adjudication Court's, only recruiting one person every two or three years. His professional talent wasn't considered high; merely Brilliant Silver.
Yet, regarding ancient languages and his talent in translating Saint Word Stones, he had already earned the praises of several old professors.
The working personnel beside them exchanged bewildered glances, feeling it to be utterly unimaginable.
He actually genuinely resonated with it!
Sang Hanhai's single remaining eye trembled. His tightly knitted brows gradually relaxed, looking toward Jin Yunxuan, "Little Jin... It appears... I was correct."
Jin Yunxuan forced a smile onto his face, "Your wealth of experience is profound; I still have much to learn."
The information I spoke out... they probably already roughly deciphered it... Seeing the two's reactions, Su Chen's heart already understood.
"Su Chen..." Sang Hanhai pondered before turning to look at Jin Yunxuan, "Little Jin, you may return for now."
Jin Yunxuan's expression shifted. He also wanted to understand more about Su Chen's situation, but Sang Hanhai had already issued the order of eviction. He had no choice but to turn around and leave.
"If anyone dares to leak a single drop of what happened today, they will be punished according to the non-disclosure clause." Sang Hanhai's voice turned chilling as he swept his gaze across all the working personnel present.
Su Chen could clearly see that the bodies of some people even trembled.
To be able to carry out auxiliary work here, the working personnel were thoroughly handpicked to begin with; they weren't people with flamboyant personalities.
At the same time, they had also signed non-disclosure agreements. Handsome rewards inevitably accompanied exorbitant penalties for breach of contract.
Without saying a single word, Sang Hanhai brought Su Chen into the lounge. His expression was complicated, shifting several times, before finally failing to hold back: "It's actually true."
"The essence of a Heaven-Bestowed Class Decoder isn't resonating with a profession, but rather resonating with the Saint Word Stone itself, merely that the resonance intensity of other people isn't strong enough..."
Without needing Su Chen to utter a single word, he had already found an explanation himself.
"Is that so..." Su Chen appeared somewhat dazed, unable to resist saying: "Why don't we find a few more Saint Word Stones and run some tests?"
"There are none." Sang Hanhai waved his hand.
"None?" Seeing his attempt to sponge off failure, Su Chen's voice even rose in pitch.
Sang Hanhai explained: "To our Class Decoding Department, the only valuable thing upon the Saint Word Stones is the recorded profession. Once the profession is deciphered and confirmed without issues..."
"The Saint Word Stone loses its value to us. Other places require the material itself; those that ought to be handed over have all been handed over."
"Furthermore, if there are none from the past, there will be more in the future. There will be opportunities to verify it."
Sang Hanhai didn't mind this point, yet Su Chen realized that the value of the Saint Word Stones was even higher than his estimations.
"Then if I help you decipher this profession, can I exchange it for Weapon Nurturer?" Su Chen inquired.
"You're still hung up on that." Sang Hanhai appeared to be distracted, "We'll talk after we evaluate its rank..."
Su Chen was left speechless in his heart. The profession is what I care about!
"Do not tell anyone about this matter." Sang Hanhai suddenly recovered his wits, stating in a deep voice: "Including Xia Hanshi."
"Understood." Su Chen nodded solemnly, trying hard to look as if he were listening earnestly.
"You may return for now."
Contrary to expectations, Sang Hanhai actually issued the order of eviction.
"Uh, then I'll come back tomorrow?" Su Chen inquired tentatively.
"Mm." Sang Hanhai nodded. Only then did Su Chen slowly retrace his steps and leave. Just as he reached the door of the lounge, he hesitantly turned around,
"I've heard others say that Saint Word Stones are important mediums for communicating with Evil Gods. Does our Yingfeng have other uses for them?"
Sang Hanhai seemed somewhat dazed. A moment later, he finally reacted, "Do you know how the various lower-tier cities manage to pierce through the mist to communicate with Yingfeng remotely?"
He didn't wait for Su Chen to ask before stating the answer: "What it consumes is precisely Saint Word Stones. Of course, the procedure is relatively complicated. It is enough for you to understand."
"And this is merely one of the functions of the Saint Word Stones."
"Then it truly is important..." On the surface, Su Chen came to a realization, but inwardly, he sighed. Then this thing is a rigid necessity; Sang Hanhai hadn't deceived him.
Just from what he knew alone, Nanfeng had to contact Yingfeng more than ten times every month. Otherwise, being separated by such a vast distance, if they were suddenly wiped out, Yingfeng wouldn't even know.
He estimated that he wouldn't be seeing any of those previous Saint Word Stones anymore.
Seeing Su Chen depart, Sang Hanhai sat down dispiritedly. A long while later, he rose again, hurriedly leaving the laboratory and heading deeper into the Class Decoding Department.
Weaving left and right, he arrived at a small grove deep within the Class Decoding Department. Concealed amidst the interlacing foliage, a small building actually stood erect within.
"Senior Brother..." He knocked and entered, arriving in the study.
An elder with snow-white hair and a white beard was sitting before a desk. In his left hand, he held a small jade screwdriver; in his other hand, he supported a palm-sized stone.
The flickering radiance radiating from it was akin to a Saint Word Stone, yet there was not a single character or symbol atop it.
"Hanhai ah..." The elder put down the stone in his hand, sighing: "This language of gods... truly is far too difficult."
(End of this chapter)