Leaving none behindâthat covered a massively broad scope.
Su Chen thought subconsciously, but soon tossed it to the back of his mind as he exchanged toasts with Old Bu.
The liquor they drank was meticulously brewed, effective even on high-tier professionals. Even Bu Siqi was swaying unsteadily by the end.
Ling Yue and the others were still somewhat reserved. When speaking with Su Chen, they weren't as casual as Bu Siqi.
Late into the night, the banquet had yet to disperse; instead, a few more people joined.
Chong Jingtian and Shi Yunzhou both arrived. Halfway through, Su Chen used the excuse of needing the restroom to slip away.
Stepping outside, a cool breeze brushed against his face, dissipating some of the flush on his cheeks. Above, the inverted crimson-and-cyan shield illuminating the sky flickered with a faint luminescence.
"Burp..." Before he could take two steps, he let out a belch that dissipated into the night. The heavy stench of alcohol made even him feel a bit disgusted with himself.
Activating his Gluttony Stomach, he rapidly digested the accumulated alcohol. By the time he reached the door to his quarters, he was completely sober.
Opening the door, closing it, and entering the underground gravity chamber, he looked around and couldn't help but sigh, "I won't be staying here for much longer."
Shaking his head to dispel the last trace of dizziness, he rubbed his hands together eagerly. This was his most familiar environment, the place where he felt the strongest sense of securityâthe perfect spot to take inventory of the Eldritch God power in his hands.
Before returning, he had mentioned to Chong Jingtian that he might bring out some eldritch artifacts to study, telling the Tribunal not to be alarmed by it.
Chong Jingtian naturally had no objections. He had already issued an order ensuring no one would disturb him.
Su Chen took out the eldritch artifacts from his storage space one by one, absorbing their energy while keeping count.
It took him nearly half an hour to finish absorbing the power from just these artifacts containing low-tier Eldritch God power.
"Tsk, tsk... This haul is truly a massive harvest," Su Chen muttered, his eyes gleaming as he looked at his interface. He had accumulated around eighty portions of low-tier divine power for each of the five Eldritch Gods.
Among them, Yuandu had contributed nearly half, while Lieyang and Tianqing combined to make up the other half.
'These eighty portions of low-tier Eldritch God power can be fused into twenty portions of mid-tier divine power. That guarantees at least one portion of essence can be extracted for each type,' he thought.
Of course, that was not the end of it. He still had some statues in hand. Lieyang was at least slightly better off than Tianqing, providing him with three statues.
Yuandu provided even moreâfar more than Su Chen had anticipated. There were a total of nine divine statues. For each Eldritch God, Yuandu possessed two statues, except for Black Buddha, of which there was only one.
The reason they had so many was that Yuandu had experienced a period in its history where its ties with the Eldritch Gods were incredibly close. Following a later purge, they retained the most extensive knowledge about the Eldritch Gods, and subsequently preserved the highest number of these high-grade statues.
"And now, they've all fallen right into my lap," Su Chen grinned, extracting their power one by one.
Not every divine statue contained essence. Su Chen had realized this the last time he extracted power from the statues preserved by Yingfeng.
Essence was only present in statues involved in phenomena like the descent of a Divine Child. From these twelve divine statues, Su Chen managed to extract a total of six portions of essence.
Opening his interface, he glanced over the listâFaceless Ghost Essence: 2
Black Buddha Essence: 2
Crimson Essence: 2
Sly Fox Essence: 2
Dark Plague Essence: 1
Counting the ones he could fuse, this haul brought almost every type of essence up to around three portions, with the sole exception of the Dark Plague Essence.
Su Chen looked at his interface with deep satisfaction. Nothing beat the thrill of striking it rich in a single sweep.
Unfortunately, such opportunities were exceedingly rare. This was the entire accumulated wealth of four cities over many years, after all.
"Next, it's time to deal with the classes I haven't assumed yet."
Su Chen was greatly looking forward to this. On one hand, he could use the various essences to lower the difficulty of assuming a class, reduce the time required, and increase the rewards gained upon successful assumption.
On the other hand, utilizing the essences involved an element of exciting unpredictability.
'Right now, there are three special classes I have yet to assume: the Might Wielder, the Enduring Strider, and the Siphoner,' he mused.
Su Chen's gaze lost focus as he scanned his interface.
'Among them, the Might Wielder is the most important. Improving my talent will increase the efficiency of my class development, and it'll also help shut some people up over at the Bronze Faction.'
Su Chen knew perfectly well that the only people truly happy and excited for him right now were a small fraction of the populace on Planet Red Lightning.
Outside of Planet Red Lightning, virtually everyone he met would likely want nothing more than to devour him alive. This was an inherent trait brought about by the Morning Star rank.
Even though he was a Remnant Disciple of the Crimson Sun and enjoyed the protection of the Ancient King, there was no escaping this reality.
The only thing he could do was increase his importance in the eyes of the higher-ups. His Black Jade talent was simply too low, making it an easy target for others to attack him with.
"The usual routine. Let's start with the Faceless Ghost Essence," Su Chen muttered without hesitation. Out of the three assumption requirements for the Might Wielder class, erasing the first one would be a loss, but erasing either of the other two was acceptable.
[The Faceless Ghost Essence has eroded the Might Wielder, plunging it into madness. The second assumption requirement for the Might Wielder class has been erased.]
"So it was the requirement regarding the number of body-tempering methods..." Su Chen nodded. Even with the Exalted One doing him a favor...
...he would still have needed to elevate fifteen body-tempering methods to the Master level. That meant he wouldn't have been able to assume the class until he reached at least the fifth tier. With that requirement erased, he was no longer bound by that restriction.
'However...' His eyes flickered slightly. Next came the use of the Sly Fox and Crimson Essences.
'If my guess is right, using the Crimson Essence to lower the difficulty of breaking the body-tempering limit should generate a form of guidance,' Su Chen pondered.
On his way back, he had asked Qing Cang about how to break the limits of a body-tempering method, but Qing Cang didn't have much of a clue either.
"According to the faction's experience, your best bet is to continuously attempt to circulate your body-tempering method in an environment with extreme interference. That might give you a chance."
In other words, it was purely a matter of grinding away time and relying on luck. He hated requirements like that the most, which made this potential guidance incredibly important.
'But if I do that, I'll have to use the Sly Fox Essenceâwhich increases difficulty for better rewardsâon the first class requirement.'
The first assumption requirement for the Might Wielder was that all currently assumed physical classes must be at the pinnacle level. If the difficulty of that were increased further, he had no idea what direction it would take.
"I'll take the gamble. A pinnacle class is already the limit. It's impossible for it to demand something above the pinnacle."
Su Chen ultimately chose to increase the difficulty of the first requirement.
[Under the influence of the Sly Fox Essence, the difficulty of the Might Wielder's first assumption requirement has increased: All currently assumed spiritual and physical classes must be pinnacle classes. Upon completing this requirement and assuming the class, you will receive an extra reward.]
"Hah..." Su Chen couldn't help but grin. As expected, it didn't conjure up some impossible tier above the pinnacle. Instead, the requirement had simply expanded to include his spiritual classes. Fortunately, his foundation was solid enough to meet this demand instantly.
'With that settled, the Crimson Essence can be used on the third requirement...'
[The difficulty of the Might Wielder's third assumption requirement cannot be reduced. A single instance of guidance has been generated.]
'Just as I thought...' Su Chen wasn't surprised in the least. After making these arrangements, he felt thoroughly satisfied.
"This way, as long as I manage to break the limit of the body-tempering method, I can directly assume the Might Wielder class. I just wonder what the extra talent-related reward will be. Another upgrade to my talent?"
Su Chen speculated for a brief moment before shifting his gaze down to the Enduring Strider class.
He had already used a Faceless Ghost Essence on it once, erasing the requirement to heal a severe injury. Currently, the only thing he needed to do was collect the sap of an Immortal Ancient Tree.
'Hmm... I'll have to use the Sly Fox Essence on the first requirement...' Su Chen pondered for a moment before making his decision.
[The difficulty of the first assumption requirement has increased: You must have assumed at least four physical-oriented classes, and all must be at the pinnacle level. Upon completing this requirement and assuming the class, you will receive an extra reward.]
Su Chen nodded in satisfaction. No matter what, he could easily fulfill this sort of class-level requirement.
'There's no need to use the Crimson Essence on the third requirement. It's impossible to completely erase a requirement with it anyway, and whether it weakens the difficulty or generates guidance, it's meaningless to me... The sap of an Immortal Ancient Tree isn't exactly a precious commodity...'
By doing this, he managed to save a portion of Crimson Essence, leaving the Enduring Strider with only the single requirement of obtaining the Immortal Ancient Tree's sap.
"Next up is the Siphoner..." He immediately applied a Faceless Ghost Essence.
[Eroded by the Faceless Ghost Essence, the Siphoner's third assumption requirement has been erased.]
Su Chen's heart skipped a beat, and a surge of excitement swelled within him. "No wonder gambling is so addictive, tsk tsk..."
The third assumption requirement was known to be quite difficult and tedious.
According to Lan Hai, even within his familyâwhich possessed years of experience regarding class assumptions and employed various methodsâthe probability of reviving the Everlasting Withered Flower was only around forty percent.
'With that gone, the only remaining task is collecting the hearts. So, what should I use the Sly Fox Essence on? Let's take another gamble. Maybe I can save another portion of Crimson Essence.'
Su Chen's gaze shifted before finally landing on the first assumption requirement.
[Eroded by the Sly Fox Essence, the difficulty of the Siphoner's first assumption requirement has increased: You must have assumed at least six pinnacle physical-oriented classes. Upon completing this requirement and assuming the class, you will receive an extra reward.]
"I won't be able to finish this until I hit the sixth tier at the very least." Su Chen's face darkened. This requirement was entirely different from the Might Wielder's.
It demanded a specific number. Going from four to six meant he had to be at the sixth tier to meet it.
The sixth tier... That would take far too long. He decisively used a portion of Crimson Essence to lower the difficulty back to its original level.
"All these painstaking operations of mine must have saved me several years of time, at the very least," Su Chen nodded in satisfaction. The three classes in his hands essentially had only one requirement left each.
'Yingfeng won't be of much help with the other two, but I can have them start preparing to collect the hearts,' Su Chen pondered briefly.
There was no rush on that matter. Right now, there was something else he was quite looking forward to.
"Just how difficult is the path of a Holy Class?" Su Chen looked at the Life Burner class on his interface. Last time in Yingfeng, he had managed to score two portions of Black Buddha Essence.
One portion had been extracted directly, while the other had been fused.
He had already consumed one portion on the Life Burner. As for the second portion, he had left it untouched, waiting until he gathered all the requirements.
Without hesitation, he consumed the two newly acquired portions of Black Buddha Essence from his inventory. They transformed into two wisps of black smoke that coiled around the Life Burner class.
The class emblem trembled, and the crimson text was gradually tinted with a touch of gold.
[Amidst madness, the Life Burner envisions the path of evolution. The path to a Holy Class has opened. Please gather at least seven physical enhancement-type special classes, attempt a preliminary fusion with them, and use the Fire of the Morning Star to forge and sublimate them.]
Su Chen raised an eyebrow. That single sentence essentially contained three distinct requirements.
The difficulty of the first wasn't too bad. Seven physical enhancement classes. Setting aside the Life Burner, he already had three: Gluttony, Armored Bone, and Ravager.
If he included the Enduring Strider and the Siphoner, that made five.
Although those last two were requirements for the Phoenix Holy Class, the Phoenix was still just a goal. Whether he could actually obtain it was a different story altogether. If it came down to fusion, he certainly wouldn't just sit around waiting.
'However, the requirement says "at least," which implies the more, the better. The more special classes I fuse, the stronger the resulting Holy Class will likely be.'
Su Chen pondered. The first requirement was reasonable enough, but the difficulty skyrocketed with the rest. Attempting a preliminary fusion of seven special classes...
This was an evolution requirement; it couldn't be influenced by Eldritch God power. And then there was the final hurdle: the Fire of the Morning Star. That was a flame that could only be ignited upon advancing to the Morning Star rank. Where on earth was he supposed to get that?
'There must be a way. According to Wan Chen, a Holy Class can only be born initially within someone at the Morning Star rank. But others can also awaken one by following a specific sequence and employing special methods. Utilizing the Fire of the Morning Star is likely an unavoidable part of that process.'
He figured this Holy Class wouldn't be completed anytime soon.
Su Chen weighed his options. He still knew far too little about the relevant information. Some of these details were probably closely guarded secrets even within the Bronze Faction, making them difficult to uncover casually.
"One step at a time..." Su Chen stretched his body. He wasn't particularly worried. The goal was laid out right in front of him; all he had to do was start climbing.
After tidying up briefly, he headed out again, returning to Xia Hanshi's residence. The banquet was still ongoing, and Su Chen pulled Chong Jingtian aside.
"What is it?" Seeing Su Chen seek him out, Chong Jingtian, who was slightly tipsy, ignited blazing white flames across the surface of his skin. Wisps of white steam arose, carrying the pungent scent of alcohol.
"It's nothing major. I just hope the Chief can help me collect the hearts of various species," Su Chen stated.
"How many?" Chong Jingtian asked. "Do they need to be fresh or not? What about the class tier?"
Unusual requests like this usually involved special classes, so Chong Jingtian asked for specifics.
"Fresh or not is fine, as long as the class tier isn't lower than the fourth tier. Before I leave, collect as many as possible." Su Chen paused, then added a warning, "It's best if Qing Cang and his people don't find out about this."
This involved the Siphoner. If Lan Hao learned of it, he would inevitably deduce that Su Chen was connected to the Eldritch God cultists who attacked that day, which would only breed unnecessary trouble.
"That's simple enough. I'll just have our own people handle it." Chong Jingtian looked thoughtful. Qing Cang and his group were short-handed, and given Su Chen's current status, it was impossible for them to constantly monitor the internal movements of Yingfeng.
"I'll leave it in your hands, Chief," Su Chen said.
"It's no trouble at all," Chong Jingtian shook his head, then asked, "When do you plan on leaving? Will you be heading back to South Wind?"
"South Wind?" Su Chen considered it. "I won't be delayed for too long, so I probably won't go back. It's not like I'm never returning. I'll leave behind a few letters in a bitâI'd appreciate it if you could pass them on for me."
"Understood." Chong Jingtian mused for a moment before adding, "This time, I'll have Ming Lin accompany you."
"Ming Lin?" Su Chen's eyes flickered. "Shouldn't he go with the next batch of people?"
Chong Jingtian had previously made a deal with Qing Cang. He had prepared a batch of promising seeds for Qing Cang to take away. Although the situation had changed, the deal hadn't been canceled.
However, that group obviously couldn't leave with them right now. After all, there was no telling what dangers lay ahead on the journey. The people of Red Lightning weren't in a rush; they could wait until Qing Cang returned and sent someone back to fetch them.
"Once you arrive at the Bronze Faction, you'll be in an unfamiliar place where you don't know anyone. You'll have to handle everything yourself. Having someone you can trust by your side will make things much easier."
Chong Jingtian explained.
As the head of the Tribunal, his authority was nowhere near that of the Bronze Ancient King.
But he still understood that while Su Chen's current status was high, once he arrived at the Bronze Faction, it was hard to say how many people or resources he could actually mobilize with a single word.
If someone truly wanted to target him, there were plenty of ways to sabotage him in the dark, leaving Su Chen without the slightest clue as to who the culprit was.