Within his sensory range, there were almost no objects or Cultists.
'According to the few Inquisitors who rushed back, the Evil God Cultists who made a move this afternoon were not small in number. Black Buddha, Faceless Ghost, Crimsonâ' Su Chen muttered to himself. 'I wonder how the guy behind the scenes managed to persuade them. Did they ask the Black Buddha Cultists what that last report about Meng Qi was all about?'
Thinking about this, he switched to the Faceless Ghost Cultist state again. At a close distance, there were two faint sensations, which should be the hiding Cultists.
These things were very easy to root out, so Su Chen wasn't prepared to show his face again.
There was also an area further out that gave off a rather strong reaction, surprising Su Chen. 'The Faceless Ghost actually has more things hidden? Once we find the remaining two Cultists, I'll call Senior Brother Teng Liang to go over there together. If we can get some of the Faceless Ghost's power, meeting the direct wipe-out requirement would feel pretty great.'
'What excuse should I make up? I'll just say an informant told me; Senior Brother Teng Liang wouldn't ask too many questions anyway.'
As Su Chen deliberated, he realized he was becoming increasingly familiar with Teng Liang, discovering that this Senior Brother was actually quite easy to get along with. He was ruthless, but he didn't talk much.
Lying on his bed, he tossed and turned but couldn't fall asleep, so he simply decided to go down to the Gravity Room.
"Thirty times?" Su Chen glanced at the setting number on the Gravity Room's console. "This is Senior Brother Teng Liang's training standard? Didn't he perform a Forced Advancement for his 5th-Tier class, making it impossible for him to continue developing?"
"Almost forgot, he can still take on special classes."
With this thought in his heart, Su Chen adjusted the standard to fifteen times, which was the maximum multiple he could currently withstand.
He also placed the Spirit Realm Instrument to the side and began to train.
Over the next few days, since he had no matters to attend to, the Adjudication Court continued its screening process. The two remaining Cultists were dragged out into the light within just three days.
Everyone staying within the Adjudication Court was bound to undergo a screening sooner or later. It was obvious at a glance if someone was missing. Add a meticulous inch-by-inch search on top of that, and the Cultists had nowhere to hide.
The Adjudication Court lifted its state of martial law, and a large number of Inquisitors stationed outside were finally able to return.
Many people still didn't understand what had transpired, completely lost and bewildered.
Yingfeng was buzzing with intense discussions, everyone speculating about what had actually happened inside the Adjudication Court that warranted a lockdown lasting five to six days.
"My goodnessâChief Inquisitor Wei is dead?" As soon as Ming Lin came back, the very first thing he did was find Su Chen's "new home", his face filled with solemnity.
Since his old place hadn't been repaired yet, the Adjudication Court had moved his living quarters. Su Chen couldn't care less, since the layouts of these villas were basically all identical.
Ming Lin hurriedly pressed for details, "What on earth happened? You were the only Core Seed in the Adjudication Court at the time, you definitely know something."
"By the time I rushed over, the Medical Department was practically a pile of rubble. The hell would I know?" Su Chen shook his head.
"It's a truly troubled time," Ming Lin repeatedly sighed. "However, you've gained a lot of face again this time. I heard they found Meng Qi that very same afternoon."
Su Chen sighed, "The guy snuck right up to my door. If Senior Brother Teng Liang hadn't arrived early, I might have been killed too."
"That's true as well." Ming Lin considered it and deeply agreed. His eyes rolled, and he grinned, adding, "Oh, I did hear that right after Wei Yufan returned, he was called over by the Chief Inquisitor and harshly reprimanded."
"Xiao Ying was probably implicated in the matter regarding Chief Inquisitor Wei's death; not even his corpse has been found."
Su Chen didn't express any opinion on that point. Unable to squeeze out any juicy gossip, Ming Lin left in disappointment.
Su Chen straightened himself up a bit and left the Adjudication Court, which had just lifted its martial law, heading straight for the Class Decoding Department.
He had long made an appointment with Sang Hanhai, and the other party was already waiting for him in the lounge of the laboratory building.
The moment he saw him, Sang Hanhai closed the distance, lowering his voice as he gravely asked, "I've heard that something happened to Wei Yinshuo?"
"Yes." Su Chen pondered for a moment before nodding anyway. "He's most likely dead."
"So it's actually true." Sang Hanhai let out a long sigh. "When others told me, I was slightly in disbelief. That's inside the Adjudication Court, and he was a Chief Inquisitor, no less."
Su Chen remained silent. Sang Hanhai continued in a quiet, solemn tone, "I've never liked him as a person. His utilitarian mindset was far too heavy even when he was young, but he was ultimately one of the pillars of Yingfeng."
"The Evil God Cults are becoming more and more brazen and unscrupulous."
Only after finishing his sighs did Sang Hanhai finally say, "You mentioned before that you wanted to come study here. I'm almost done with the work on my hands, so I can teach you now."
"Uhâ" Su Chen's gaze flickered. That had just been an excuse to hide from Wei Yinshuo. Now that Wei Yinshuo had already exploded, learning my ass!
Seeing his current expression, Sang Hanhai coldly snorted. "I knew it, studying was just a cover. What exactly do you brat want to do? Out with it."
"I was hoping you could give me a thorough analysis on how to choose my 4th-Tier classes, Elder Sang," Su Chen said with a dry chuckle.
Sang Hanhai was rather surprised. "Even if you want to prepare in advance, isn't this a bit too fast? You've already developed both your classes to the intermediate stage?"
"Pretty much," Su Chen replied.
"Your Ink Jade talent is truly poorâ" Sang Hanhai couldn't help but lament, throwing him another glance. "Tell me then, what are your 3rd-Tier classes?"
"For the physical-type, it's the one you recommended to me last time. As for the mental-type, it's the Mystic Weaver," Su Chen said.
"Both are 3rd-Tier superior?" Sang Hanhai stared at him suspiciously. "How come I heard someone say that you hold dual 3rd-Tier supreme classes?"
"Uhâmy teacher forbade me from mentioning it," Su Chen said awkwardly, shifting all the blame onto Xia Hanshi.
"Xia Hanshiâ" Sang Hanhai sneered coldly, though he was still very satisfied with Su Chen's attitude. At the very least, he hadn't stubbornly refused to admit it.
He wasn't surprised that Xia Hanshi had a 3rd-Tier supreme class in his hands.
"Then I'll analyze it based on the two classes you mentionedâ" Sang Hanhai crossed his legs. "The superior class of the Mystic Weaver is the ăMystic Wandereră, which you definitely won't be satisfied with."
"Then you can only try classes with a higher difficulty. The Mystic Weaver excels at manipulating elemental forces using mental abilities." Sang Hanhai pondered for a moment. "In terms of similar compatibility, if it's a 4th-Tier superior class, then it would be the ăLaw Envoyă, which involves both aspects and isn't too difficult."
Su Chen indicated that he had memorized this. Sang Hanhai continued, "The physical-type side is relatively simpler. The advancement class for the ăGale and Swift Thunder Adeptă is the 4th-Tier superior ăCalamity Walkeră."
ăLaw Envoyă, ăCalamity Walkeră. Su Chen decided he would look up these files the moment he returned to the Adjudication Court.
After listening to Sang Hanhai finish speaking, Su Chen asked with an expectant look, "Once I advance to the 4th-Tier, will I be able to look at that stone slab?"
"The stone slab?" Sang Hanhai blanked for a moment, then laughed out loud. "Looking at the pot while eating from the bowl. So you're still obsessing over it."
Su Chen also didn't shy away from admitting it. "You spoke about it so mysteriously back then, it really left my heart itching to know."
Sang Hanhai smiled. He wasn't the least bit surprised by Su Chen's obsession with it.
Su Chen put on a look of sincere curiosity. "We're all our own people here, just tell me a little more."
Sang Hanhai thought about it for a moment. "How about this, you follow me to meet someone. He knows even more than I do."
"Who?" Su Chen had a vague guess, but he still asked.
Sang Hanhai spat out a few words, "My senior brother, Pu Zhenghong."
"Is there anything I need to pay attention to when meeting your senior brother?"
As Su Chen followed Sang Hanhai, walking deeper into the Class Decoding Department, the passing staff members became increasingly sparse, leading him to ask this question.
"Not really, my senior brother is famously amiable." Sang Hanhai said, before adding, "There's only one thing: do not mention Xia Hanshi."
"Alright." Su Chen paused, nodding helplessly.
He soon saw that patch of overlapping trees. Passing through the winding path, the mottled sunlight was cast upon the groundâ
Mottled spots that sparkled like shattered gold.
Arriving at the wooden house in the central area, Sang Hanhai knocked on the door. Without waiting for any response, he led Su Chen inside.
Arriving before what seemed to be the door to a study, he said softly, "Senior Brother, I've brought him."
"Come in." An aged voice echoed from within. Sang Hanhai gestured for him to push the door open and enter, though he himself did not follow.
As soon as he entered, Su Chen saw a white-haired, white-bearded old man sitting before a desk.
This should be the last man he hadn't yet met from the picture Sang Hanhai had shown him previously.
To think he would be this oldâSu Chen mumbled inwardly. Chong Jingtian had the appearance of a middle-aged man, while Old Xia seemed a bit older in comparison.
But this Pu Zhenghong practically looked as if he had one foot in the grave.
"Elder Puâ" he called out respectfully. Noticing the Saint Word Stone in Pu Zhenghong's hand, he couldn't help but shoot a glance at it, only to find that it was completely empty.
"Sit." Pu Zhenghong had been continuously engraving something onto it without even raising his head, simply telling Su Chen to take a seat.
"Do you know what the Divine Language is?" Pu Zhenghong asked leisurely.
"Uhâ" Su Chen recalled that Sang Hanhai seemed to have mentioned something about the Divine Language, so he probed tentatively, "The language of the gods; it appears to be the very thing engraved on the Saint Word Stones."
"Correctâbut the Divine Language is arduous." Pu Zhenghong continuously engraved, yet there were still no marks at all on the Saint Word Stone. "Xia Hanshi told you to come."
Su Chen's eyelids twitched. Didn't Sang Hanhai just say not to mention Xia Hanshi?
Pu Zhenghong held the engraving pen, his movements never stopping. "He stubbornly refuses to give up. The previous three were useless even after seeing it; they still couldn't make it back out after entering the ruins."
"Even though you have an Ink Jade talent, wanting to gain the qualifications is still far from being enough."
"Qualifications? What qualifications?" Su Chen keenly asked.
Pu Zhenghong's movements paused, and his white brows twitched. He said with dissatisfaction, "Has he become so lazy now that he isn't even willing to explain anything?"
Su Chen smiled awkwardly.
"What is recorded on the stone slab are the partial class requirements of a Morning Star Tier class." Pu Zhenghong snorted coldly. "At the same time, it's also the class belonging to the previous master of those ruins."
Ah, so that's how it is. Su Chen suddenly understood, then heard Pu Zhenghong continue: "Without gaining its approval, entering the ruins is almost like having nine chances to die and only one chance to live."
"Approval?" Su Chen caught onto the keyword again. That High Priest had also mentioned this. "What does that mean?"
Pu Zhenghong explained, "A class at this tier already possesses a spirituality of its own. Without gaining its approval, it is practically impossible to advance into it."
"Without its approval, you can't advanceâ" Su Chen was rather shocked.
Then what were those class information messages captured by his panel supposed to mean? Did that count as getting approval?
Or was it that the classes on his panel completely bypassed the need for external class spirituality?
Or could it be within the remaining unrevealed class requirements, gaining approval was actually one of the requirements itself?
Truly outrageous, Su Chen muttered in his heart. Then, he asked again, "But can a broken stone slab represent that Morning Star Tier class?"
"Naturally, it cannot. The important thing isn't the stone slab, but the informationâ" Pu Zhenghong shook his head, emphasizing, "Spirituality is omnipresent. Being able to comprehend the class information upon it means you have obtained its approval."
Su Chen was bewildered. He took another glance at his panel and couldn't help but ask, "Then what are the requirements to gain approval? Talent?"
"Talent is merely the threshold requirement." Pu Zhenghong shook his head, his carving motions stopping. "Who knows how one gains its approval? It could be luck, or perhaps it's destiny."
"That mysterious." Su Chen hadn't expected the concept of destiny to be brought into the mix.
After some thought, Su Chen asked, "Then where do you see me standing? Do I have a chance of gaining its approval?"
Upon hearing this question, Pu Zhenghong raised his head to look at Su Chen for the very first time.
The two men stared at each other. They looked at each other like this for a long time. Su Chen didn't feel embarrassed anyway, his skin was thick enough. Pu Zhenghong put down the tool in his hand and said mildly, "With an Ink Jade talent, you do indeed have a reason for that confidence, but it's still not enough."
"You don't even meet the threshold," he added.
Those wordsâSu Chen understood deep down; the first advancement requirement for the Great Exalted class was a Profound Purple talent.
Based on the Adjudication Court's classifications, above Ink Jade was Crimson, and above Crimson was Profound Purple.
But then he recalled the words of the Black Buddha High Priest that had been parasiting within Wei Yinshuo's body. He said the people from Yuandu had come for the sole purpose of gaining the Great Exalted's approval. Could it be they had someone with a Profound Purple talent?
"Morning Star Tier classes already possess the characteristic of uniqueness. As long as the advanced professional isn't dead, no one else can take on that class for a second time." Pu Zhenghong continued, "Being approved by the class only gives you a chance to advance. Only by becoming the chosen one is it absolutely foolproof. However, trying to be chosenâ"
He left his sentence trailing, shaking his head. "Harder than scaling the heavens."
"Approval, chosen one? So complicatedâ" Su Chen had truly not expected this, not to mention the concept of uniqueness.
"It's actually not that complicated. Put simply, it just depends on whether it finds you pleasing to the eye. Supposedly, the chosen one can also obtain the class's favor, which is completely different from someone who's merely approved."
Pu Zhenghong went back to studying the Saint Word Stone in his hand. "Rest assured, you will definitely be allowed to look at it once you reach the 4th-Tier. Though, it will likely still be useless even after you look."
You're projecting your anger a little, aren't you. Su Chen felt a slight stir in his heart and asked, "Can the identity of the chosen one be replaced?"
"Sure, kill them, and the position opens up." Pu Zhenghong replied casually, then continued, "You possess an extremely rare talent towards Saint Word Stones. Little Sang probably thought that with it, you could directly interpret the information on the stone slab."
"In truth, the key isn't the information upon it, but whether its spirituality actually approves of you."
"However, this talent of yours might also have an effect on the Divine Language," Pu Zhenghong said with a smiling face.
Su Chen kept a wooden face as he listened to Pu Zhenghong lecture on a long, winding theory regarding the Divine Language. It was practically like listening to an alien languageâgoing in one ear and straight out the other. He didn't understand a single sentence.
In the end, unable to bear listening any longer, he used the excuse of going to the bathroom to make his escape.
"A pityâ" Pu Zhenghong sighed. Su Chen clearly had zero interest in the Divine Language, so he couldn't force the issue.
"With an Ink Jade talent, there is a chance of becoming an 8th-Tier professional. But as for gaining approvalâ" His eyes flashed faintly, and he shook his head. "There is little to no hope."