Stepping out the door, Su Chen followed behind the Hall Master without a word.
The other party walked ahead, equally disinclined to speak. They remained silent the entire way, drawing quite a few side-glances from people on the road.
Their destination was the Bronze Tower, a place Su Chen had visited before.
The plaza wasn't crowded, but quite a few people had gathered in front of the Ancient King Stele, seemingly trying to see if they could earn its acknowledgment.
It wasn't until they entered the Bronze Tower, enveloped by darkness, that specks of starlight rippled in the void.
This Hall Master Wen, the brother-in-law of Venerable Qin Yun, finally spoke his first words. His voice was completely flat: "Bronze Spirit, retrieve Holy Vocations. Target: Star Seed, Su Chen."
"Retrieving Holy Vocations. Verifying authority..." A gentle voice echoed through the empty darkness.
"Spirit Hall Master Wen Jing, Star Seed Su Chen. Authority verification passed."
"Take your pick." Wen Jing's tone remained impassive. Surprisingly, he turned and walked right out. Clearly, he was merely acting as a key.
'He just left like that?' Su Chen could not help but feel surprised. He had known before coming that this man was Qin Yun's brother-in-law, and had expected at least some complications.
He had braced himself for trouble since he could not bypass this man to retrieve a Holy Vocation, but it turned out the guy was strictly business.
"This is for the best," Su Chen muttered, withdrawing his gaze. Only after Wen Jing left did a virtual screen materialize before him.
"Star Seed Su Chen, there are three Holy Vocation sequences you may choose from. Once confirmed, your choice cannot be altered. Please choose carefully."
Accompanying the Bronze Spirit's voice, lines of text gradually appeared on the virtual screen.
"Dawn's Heavenly Retribution: An explosive offensive Holy Vocation."
"Abyssal Spiritual Decree: A mental attack-type Holy Vocation."
"Enduring Physique: A stamina-enhancing Holy Vocation."
These were the general ability inclinations of the three Holy Vocations. The descriptions were extremely brief and completely failed to reflect their true power, clearly to prevent the leakage of classified information.
"Direct combat, mental attacks, and stamina amplification..." he murmured.
Although only three Holy Vocations were made available, their capabilities did not overlap at all.
The moment he finished reading the three descriptions, Su Chen had already made his decision. His eyes locked onto "Enduring Physique."
"Stamina amplification..." he murmured to himself. Stamina was the foundation of everything. How much elemental power he could squeeze out, and how long he could last in battle—it all depended on his physical endurance.
For him, stamina could also be converted into spiritual energy, which could then be used to empower his Holy Hand abilities. Even with Gluttony active, he still felt his endurance was severely lacking.
'While Holy Vocations are powerful, their focuses essentially fall into the usual major categories,' Su Chen calculated inwardly.
'For me, even with the system panel and the support of the Cunning God's power, my energy is still finite. It's best not to choose a Holy Vocation with overlapping focuses...'
"I select 'Enduring Physique'," Su Chen issued the command. On the virtual screen, all text aside from that specific Holy Vocation gradually faded away.
"Holy Vocation selected: Enduring Physique. Revealing initial class: Endurer."
"Special Class discovered: Endurer. You may advance upon completing the class requirements."
"Class Requirement 1: Possess at least two top-tier physical-oriented classes."
"Class Requirement 2: Push yourself to the absolute limit for at least ninety days, and continue exercising through sheer willpower for an additional hour each time."
"Class Requirement 3: Condition your body to adapt to at least ten different types of extreme exhaustion."
"The difficulty of this class isn't too high..."
Su Chen skimmed through it. It was similar to the Resolute Walker. After all, it was merely an initial class that involved no real danger, focusing purely on physical training.
"Body like a vine, growing endlessly. The Endurer proactively waives Class Requirement 2 to express respect for the Exalted Lord of Crimson Flames and Echoing Thunder."
'It just wiped it out directly?' Su Chen was quite surprised. It had been a long time since he last saw a class waive its own requirements.
With this, he did not even need any other reductions. He could complete this class by simply investing a little time.
'This is actually a good thing. My supply of essences is stretched thin right now. I figure I'll only need one Sly Fox Essence to fully graduate from this class,' he pondered.
As Su Chen was deep in thought, he heard the Bronze Spirit speak again: "Lord Su Chen, please sign the Contract of Silence..."
A silver-white parchment drifted down from the void before him.
"A Contract of Silence..." Su Chen looked down at the document, which was covered in dense, complex symbols. He tentatively reached his hand out to touch it, and a flood of information immediately surged into his mind.
The contents of the contract were straightforward: he was forbidden from leaking any information regarding the Holy Vocation or its class requirements.
It was just like Lan Hao back then, though with a slight difference. When push came to shove, Lan Hao had been able to forcefully spit the information out to save his own life.
Anyone wanting to retrieve a Holy Vocation had to go through this procedure.
Without hesitation, Su Chen used his spiritual energy as a pen and signed his name.
The silver-white parchment instantly disintegrated, splitting into two wisps of light. One wisp sank into his body, while the other faded away into nothingness.
"Bronze Spirit, can I currently only retrieve one class under Enduring Physique?" he asked.
"Please retrieve the next one after completing your induction into this class," the Bronze Spirit replied.
"Hmm..." Su Chen thought for a moment. "Then how do I ultimately forge them into the Holy Vocation?"
"Please complete all prerequisite classes before proceeding with the forging process."
The Bronze Spirit did not disclose any extra information just because of his status as a Star Seed.
Su Chen understood clearly. The method of forging a Holy Vocation for someone below the Morning Star rank was undoubtedly a top-secret matter.
'This Bronze Spirit is probably no simple artificial intelligence, given that it oversees so many core secrets,' he deduced.
His objective complete, Su Chen did not linger. He turned around and exited the Bronze Tower.
He glanced left and right but saw no sign of Hall Master Wen; the man must have already left.
'Strictly business is fine by me,' Su Chen thought. He didn't feel slighted in the least; in fact, he preferred it this way.
"I'll head back and work on these two classes. My essences might be gone, but I have more than enough divine power." Su Chen glanced at his interface, his spirits lifting.
He made his way straight to the docking port and boarded a flying ship. However, upon arriving at the outskirts of his floating island, he was met with a surprise.
An oddly shaped flying vessel had appeared at the dock. It was a pale gold color and looked quite luxurious.
The flying ships he usually took were all standard-issue, but this one was clearly a custom model.
'A visitor already?' Su Chen muttered internally.
Without permission, visitors could only park at the floating island's port. If he had issued a specific rejection command, the party wouldn't even be able to dock.
"Rushing around non-stop the moment you arrive at the sect, and even heading to the Spirit Hall to retrieve a class right away. Little Martial Uncle, you truly are steadfast and hardworking. Martial Uncle Qing Cang was right—your mental fortitude is astounding."
Just as he stepped out of his ship, a hearty voice reached his ears.
He looked up to see a tall, commanding figure. The man stood over two meters tall, his eyes brimming with a sharp, piercing light. A domineering aura washed over Su Chen the moment he laid eyes on him.
'Wei Zhenghong...' A name surfaced in Su Chen's mind. It was the guy ranked second on the Holy Roll, and also the student of Chu Lingyuan, another Venerable of the Bronze Sect.
"Brother Wei..." Su Chen pondered for a moment before settling on this form of address.
"No wonder Martial Uncle Qing Cang gets along so well with you. I can see you two share quite a few similarities," Wei Zhenghong teased.
"Uh... really?" Su Chen replied noncommittally, wondering why this guy had shown up.
This man was already a Tier 7 professional and was rumored to be on the verge of forging his Holy Vocation. His class composition was flawlessly optimized, giving him terrifyingly ferocious combat strength.
Even though Old Chong was also at Tier 7, he probably wouldn't last a single exchange against this guy.
"Aren't you going to invite me in for a seat?" Wei Zhenghong asked.
"I just moved in and haven't set anything up yet. It's incredibly bare," Su Chen replied with a wry smile. "But since you insist, Brother Wei, please come in..."
Wei Zhenghong walked alongside him, displaying a certain unwarranted familiarity—or rather, a relaxed composure—as he examined their surroundings.
"Are you settling in alright?" Wei Zhenghong asked suddenly.
"It's fine. Not much different from my time on Crimson Thunder Planet," Su Chen replied after a moment of thought. It was all just training, taking on classes, and advancing anyway.
"Oh?" Wei Zhenghong cast a surprised glance at him, then chuckled. "Little Martial Uncle, your words put me to shame. When I first arrived at the sect, I was completely dazzled by everything."
This Wei Zhenghong wasn't the descendant of some sect bigwig. He had been handpicked from the many inhabited planets under the Bronze Sect's jurisdiction.
His background was somewhat similar to Su Chen's, yet also completely different.
"I'm just putting up a brave front," Su Chen laughed. "Inside, I'm actually panicking."
"People truly are built differently." Wei Zhenghong stared at him, suddenly sighing in awe over some unspoken thought. "As expected of the terrifying mental fortitude that can withstand the corruption of a Cunning God's power."
Praised out of nowhere, Su Chen couldn't quite figure out the man's angle. 'Is this guy really just here to flatter me?' he wondered.
"Before you popped up, Little Martial Uncle, that guy Qin Tianlin always treated the two of us as his targets," Wei Zhenghong added.
"Oh?" Su Chen's interest was piqued. "Brother Wei, you should drop the 'Little Martial Uncle' title. I'm not used to hearing it. Just call me Su Chen."
"Then I'll call you Brother Su," Wei Zhenghong smoothly adapted. Following Su Chen into a small pavilion next to the main building, they took their seats and gazed out at the distant inhabited planets.
"Care for a drink?" Wei Zhenghong pulled a metal hip flask out of thin air.
"No thanks," Su Chen declined.
Wei Zhenghong didn't mind. He took a swig and said, "The sect doesn't feed idlers. There's competition everywhere, and the position of Star Seed is particularly coveted. Putting strength aside, Morning Star realm experts can live for nearly a thousand years, while Tier 9 professionals cap out at barely six hundred. The difference is astronomical."
"We're sitting in the hot seat! Who knows how many people below are eyeing them." At this, he sighed. "I'm not as good as you, nor am I a match for Shen Yi'an."
"He was born within the sect and enjoyed the backing of his clan. I, on the other hand, was drafted from below and had to struggle bitterly. After becoming a chosen candidate, my master's favor, the flattery of others, and the massive shift in status made me waste a good chunk of time in complacency..."
"That wouldn't have been a big deal, but soon enough, Qin Tianlin was born. Ever since that kid's birth, Qin Yun has been scheming."
Hearing this, Su Chen finally understood. Even before his arrival, Qin Yun had never stopped scheming for the Morning Star rank; it was just that his target back then hadn't been Su Chen.
It seemed this Wei Zhenghong felt they were kindred spirits sharing the same plight, which was why he had come.
Wei Zhenghong's voice turned frosty. "At my most vulnerable moment, Qin Yun gathered all the Hall Masters and Chief Seats, meticulously listing out my five great sins. He practically drove me to my death."
"If the Ancient King hadn't intervened at the very end to give me one more chance, you wouldn't be seeing me here today."
"Ever since then, I haven't dared to rest for even a single second."
At this point, Wei Zhenghong's expression grew somewhat complicated. Before Su Chen's arrival, he had assumed that this guy straight out of a barren wasteland wouldn't be able to hold out for long, even with the Ancient King's protection.
Yet the reality... The moment he arrived, he triggered the acknowledgment of the Ancient King Stele, instantly dismantling more than half of Qin Yun's schemes.
He then immediately headed straight to the Spirit Hall to select his class, his goals abundantly clear.
He had originally come here to see if Su Chen exhibited the same bewildered, overwhelmed shadow of someone suddenly thrust into high status that he once had.
But as it stood, the young man conducted himself with measured restraint, showing not a hint of the complacency that came from being placed on a pedestal.
"To be able to learn from your painful mistakes and push forward, Brother Wei, you are truly a man of outstanding character," Su Chen praised after listening to the tale.
Wei Zhenghong chuckled openly. "I won't beat around the bush. Competition within the sect is fierce, but between the three of us Star Seeds, there's actually no conflict."
"I wanted to clear the air firsthand, to prevent someone from secretly sowing discord and creating rifts between us for no reason."
Su Chen was slightly surprised, but after thinking it over, it made perfect sense.
The highly talented individuals all lusted after the Star Seed positions. However, the Star Seeds themselves had no reason to usurp each other's spots, making them natural allies.
Given their status, they could mobilize vast amounts of resources. In a sense, an alliance between them would actually be incredibly formidable.
Su Chen sighed inwardly, but he quickly picked up on the implication. "Does Brother Wei mean that Qin Yun will still make moves in the shadows?"
"Exactly..." Wei Zhenghong nodded, his eyes brimming with a frigid chill. "Based on what I know of him, he will absolutely not let this go easily. He'll just hide much deeper, waiting to pop out and take a bite out of you when you least expect it."
Su Chen nodded thoughtfully.
Wei Zhenghong guzzled down another massive mouthful of wine and grinned. "If you ever need help with anything in the future, you can come find me."
"Thank you, Brother Wei," Su Chen replied earnestly. After this heart-to-heart talk, the relationship between the two had noticeably warmed.
Changing the subject, he asked, "I heard you're preparing to forge your Holy Vocation?"
"Just about." Wei Zhenghong answered vaguely, somewhat surprised that Su Chen would ask about this.
"To forge a Holy Vocation, do you need to ignite the Fire of the Morning Star?" Su Chen asked, then quickly clarified, "I just chose my Holy Vocation, so if there's anything I need to prepare in advance, I want to make arrangements early."
"You're thinking way too far ahead," Wei Zhenghong said, caught between laughter and tears.
"I'm just curious, aren't I?" Su Chen chuckled. "If forging a Holy Vocation lets you experience the Fire of the Morning Star in advance, doesn't that help with advancing to the Morning Star realm?"
"It doesn't help one bit." Wei Zhenghong shook his head. He looked to be around the same age as Su Chen, but in reality, he was twice his age.
He wasn't entirely surprised by the young man's curiosity.
He explained, "Strictly speaking, the Fire of the Morning Star used to forge a Holy Vocation isn't actually a flame. It can only be called a spark. Its help is severely limited."
"A spark?" Su Chen feigned surprise. "There are sparks too? How do you ignite them?"
Wei Zhenghong thought for a moment before answering, "That's the troublesome part. I think you have to go to the Nether Realm to find some kind of Spirit Flame, and then supplement it with kindling to barely ignite a spark."
"The Nether Realm?" Su Chen was astonished. It was the Nether Realm again.
"You're thinking about this way too early," Wei Zhenghong repeated. He took out a bottle of wine and sloshed more into his hip flask, then turned back to Su Chen. "Are you sure you don't want a sip?"
"No thanks. I'm planning to head to the Challenge Center in a bit," Su Chen waved his hands repeatedly.
"To set your ranking?" A sharp light flashed in Wei Zhenghong's eyes. He promptly stowed his hip flask and laughed cheerfully. "Let's go, I'll come with you."