After lamenting for a moment, Su Chen had a change of thought, 'However, it still can't compare to my status panel. Not to mention anything else, just the direct erasure of the Faceless Ghost Essence is heaven-defying enough.'
No matter how powerful this Fortune Bronze Core was, its essence was still about proceeding step by step to complete profession requirements.
But erasing meant truly wiping it away; it didn't affect anything else and defied all logic.
Tsk tsk... Su Chen felt a wave of comfort in his heart, but he also reminded himself to be increasingly vigilant.
This Fortune Bronze Core was already considered abnormal, but compared to the status panel, it was completely pale in comparison, and this was already something only a Bright Moon Tier profession could achieve.
'I've been high-profile enough now; I still need to keep a low profile for a short while.' Su Chen's expression flickered. At Wei Zhenghong's drinking banquet, even though everyone he saw wore a smiling face.
They all harbored an intense curiosity toward him.
A 5th-tier defeating a 6th-tier, and winning against someone with a Divine Dawn Grade Talent no less. He wasn't the only Star Seed in history, but no one had ever accomplished such a feat.
'Human nature cannot be tested,' Su Chen murmured. Experiencing this Fortune Bronze Core made him realize even more deeply that his secrets absolutely could not be leaked in the slightest.
"The requirement of five thousand people has been met. Do you need more?" the Copper Spirit asked again. Su Chen came back to his senses and shook his head, "No need."
Although this profession requirement was similar to the Lan Family's Undying Bird Sequence Stigmata Healer, their requirement was ten thousand people, while his was only half of that.
Even if the Ancient King knew, he probably wouldn't make the connection, and the Ancient King shouldn't be so bored as to check what he had done using the Fortune Bronze Core.
The surrounding surgery room scene had already collapsed, turning into an endless starry expanse.
The Copper Spirit then continued to offer suggestions, "Your Excellency Su Chen, if your profession requirements have all been completed, you can directly acquire the profession here. This is one of the safest places in the entire sect. Even if some accident occurs during the profession acquisition process, I can quickly rescue you."
'Acquire the profession directly here? It seems I can...' Su Chen pondered slightly. This profession was only the third in the Undying Bird Sequence; judging by the first two sequences, there shouldn't be any violent reactions.
With a thought, he chose to acquire the Stigmata Healer profession.
His body underwent changes; a slight numbness and itchiness rose from his fingertips and quietly spread. Wisps of a warm current seeped out from his cells, unhurriedly traveling to every part of his body. Wherever it passed, his muscles swelled slightly, as if pairs of tender little hands were massaging and relaxing him.
The warm current naturally gathered at his chest, condensing into a warm, lustrous ball of light the size of a dove's egg. The halo was as soft as a candle flame, faintly casting a pale golden outline through his flesh and skin.
Fine patterns surfaced upon it, slowly revolving like a living creature, solidifying into a diamond-shaped structure that sank into his flesh and blood. Closely following, a second one formed.
Sure enough, as he had expected, there was no strong discomfort, and it ended very quickly.
[Stigmata Healer Profession acquired successfully. Gained Professional Ability: Stigma: Can form Stigmata within the body. When needed, they can be used to heal bodily injuries.]
[Gained extra reward: Stigmata formation quantity +1]
'A total of two Stigmata...' Su Chen glanced at it. He had already gained a general understanding of the Stigmata Healer's abilities from Lan Hao long ago. Now that it was even more detailed, he quickly thought of various ways to apply it.
The most direct way was forming a synergy with the Blood Burner. Not only could it increase the proportion of flesh and blood he could burn.
But during future combat, he could also utilize the Stigmata to maintain his bodily injuries from expanding excessively and thereby affecting his performance.
'If I had acquired this profession beforehand, facing Qin Tianlin would have been much easier.' Su Chen couldn't help but think. He didn't know exactly to what extent this Stigma could heal, but if augmented by Holy Hand, it would probably be extremely considerable.
The professions he selected were all strongly related to himself. Every time he acquired one, it would more or less bring a certain level of improvement.
Even if an ability didn't seem very powerful on its own, once it formed a synergy with other professional abilities, it would become extraordinary.
'With this, I have no professions waiting to be acquired on my body. The last profession requirement for Eternal Physique guarantees a minimum of 7th-tier. Even though I can use Scarlet Essence to lower its difficulty, I can only lower it to the 6th-tier. There's no point in thinking about it for a short time.'
Su Chen couldn't help but calculate, 'According to my current development efficiency, coupled with the Sacred Cauldron Sect's potions, I estimate I'll be able to push it to 100% very soon.'
'The main task going forward is to select a 6th-tier primary class and try to complete all its requirements before developing to 100%, so I can advance without wasting a single moment of time.'
His gaze then fell upon the Undying Bird once again, 'And there's the fourth in the Undying Bird Sequence. Although this Stigmata Healer is quite complicated to complete, there are no mandatory time requirements. If placed in the outside world, as long as there are enough resources and manpower, it could be acquired very quickly.'
'I wonder if Lan Hao has already acquired the profession.'
Su Chen hadn't invested too much energy into this undercover agent he had developed.
Right now, he estimated he needed to prepare to make contact with Lan Hao again. As for the professions needed for the Blood Burner's metamorphosis, it wouldn't be too late to prepare them when he reached the 6th-tier.
There was no meaning in continuing to stack them at the 5th-tier.
The acquisition of specialized classes and the advancement of the primary class needed to have a balance.
Bidding farewell to the Copper Spirit, Su Chen walked out of the Fortune Bronze Core. Upon reaching the door, he once again bowed to the withered old man on one side: "Senior Brother, I am leaving."
Hmm... The withered old man didn't even lift his eyelids, merely letting out a sound from his nose.
An old man like this, who had one foot in the grave, no longer feared anything. Su Chen maintained immense respect for people like him.
'There should be quite a few guys in the sect similar to this Senior Brother Ku, right?' Su Chen couldn't help but think as the crimson copper doors receded to both sides.
A 9th-tier Class User theoretically had a lifespan of six hundred years. Excluding the two hundred years used for climbing in the early stages, their peak period was roughly two hundred years. After four hundred years of age, their bodily functions would gradually decline.
If their bodies possessed hidden ailments, severe injuries, and the like, it would also shorten their natural lifespans.
Generally speaking, once their bodily functions began to decline, they would begin their retirement, making it rare to see them on ordinary days.
But if the sect truly encountered any issues, this would be one of its most terrifying foundations.
Su Chen now had a deeper understanding of why the Four Great Sects used the Peak Star Tournament to ease the situation, 'It's not just because of the Bronze Ancient King. If guys like this were let loose, who knows how much destruction they would cause.' Su Chen clicked his tongue inwardly. A 9th-tier Class User without any ties, full of blood feuds, and unafraid of death—just thinking about it was terrifying.
The crimson copper doors behind him closed, yet Su Chen's footsteps halted.
Looking up, a figure was waiting for him not far away, hands clasped behind his back, his eyes flashing with a sharp gleam.
"Senior Brother Qing Cang." He was somewhat surprised; the newcomer was exactly Qing Cang, who seemed to have been waiting here for him all along.
Qing Cang stared at him fixedly, the sharp gleam in his eyes nearly overflowing, staring so intently that it made Su Chen's heart tremble, prompting him to call out again, "Senior Brother?"
Qing Cang seemed to finally snap out of it. The sharp gleam in his eyes withdrew as he nodded and said, "I went to your floating island, but ended up not finding you. I then went to Wei Zhenghong's floating island and found you weren't there either."
"I checked the records and only then realized you had actually come to the Fortune Bronze Core. You truly refuse to give yourself even a moment of rest." His words inevitably carried a hint of emotion.
"I've long yearned for the Fortune Bronze Core. Having gotten the chance, I specifically came to take a look," Su Chen explained.
Qing Cang didn't mind either, instead asking, "How was the experience?"
Su Chen revealed a look of amazement. "It truly is worthy of being the place everyone in our Bronze Sect yearns for."
"Haha." Qing Cang gave a hearty laugh. He was naturally not surprised by Su Chen's reaction; everyone experiencing the Fortune Bronze Core for the first time would have a similar reaction, and Su Chen's was already considered rather calm.
"Senior Brother, you were looking for me with such urgency; is there an emergency?" Su Chen couldn't help but ask.
Qing Cang nodded, his expression becoming much more solemn: "Master wishes to see you."
The Ancient King wants to see me?
Su Chen's heart skipped a beat. For a moment, numerous speculations surfaced in his mind. It seemed he had indeed caused a huge commotion this time, to have actually alarmed the Ancient King.
His initial ranking when he first came to the sect hadn't alarmed the Ancient King, nor had the previous abnormal movement of the Ancient King Monument prompted a summons from the Ancient King, yet this time was extraordinary.
Is he going to ask me why my strength is improving so quickly? Su Chen couldn't help but feel somewhat nervous inwardly.
He held a certain degree of awe toward the Bronze Ancient King. Having come into contact a few times, this big shot's abilities could only be described as unfathomable.
"For Master to want to see me so urgently, what is the matter?" Su Chen probed tentatively.
Qing Cang frowned slightly: "I don't know the specifics either, but I do have some guesses, though I can't be sure... and it's not convenient to tell you."
Qing Cang spoke so mysteriously that Su Chen was unable to make head or tail of it, feeling a creeping dread in his heart, but he couldn't very well press the matter further.
This kid... Qing Cang looked at Su Chen's appearance with a bit of amusement; he certainly pondered quite a lot.
"You'll know once we get there," Qing Cang said. His figure flashed, pressing onto Su Chen's shoulder.
Without seeing him make any movement, Su Chen only felt the surrounding scenery rapidly circulating. He had already been wrapped in a violent gale; cyan-white air currents entangled him like a giant python. A piercing shriek faintly echoed by his ears as they suddenly shot toward the firmament.
Having received the Ancient King's order, Qing Cang naturally didn't care about the rule prohibiting flight on the Bronze Core.
'This is way too fast.' Su Chen's heart trembled. In merely the blink of an eye, the Bronze Core had turned into a tiny dot before his eyes, while the Starfire grew closer and larger. However, the temperature didn't rise; he only felt a kind of warmth. And the closer they got, the more intense and comfortable this warmth became.
'This Starfire truly is miraculous.' Su Chen subconsciously thought. Before his thoughts could even settle, he was already standing before the Ancient King Palace.
His figure swayed as the wind currents gathered beside him, transforming into Qing Cang's figure.
'So this is the Ancient King Palace?' Su Chen looked up in awe. The bronze great hall before him was like a mountain, as if built for a giant. Thick chains sank from the edge into the Starfire below, stretching beyond the horizon.
"Let's go," Qing Cang's expression was solemn as he led the way.
Su Chen hesitated briefly before following him in.
Some kind of pattern was carved onto the bronze hall door, constantly flowing and changing. Although it only opened a crack, it was enough for the two of them to pass through.
The hall was bright. Entering their line of sight was the giant sitting cross-legged in the center. The threads of light trailing down from the bronze stars suspended on the dome wove into a canopy.
Passing through the bronze giant's fingers and shoulder blades, patterns resembling liquid gold flowed across his seated body.
The giant's entire body was cast from bronze, yet his cross-legged posture revealed a living creature's relaxation, with green spectral light flowing within his pupils.
He actually looked exactly the same as his projection. Su Chen couldn't help but be astonished inwardly. What kind of profession was the Bronze Ancient King exactly? A mechanical type?
Did he reconstruct his entire body into this special structure, or was it that acquiring the profession would simply turn him into this?
Beside the Bronze Ancient King stood five metal statues of varying colors, lacking any facial features. The moment he entered, one of the metal statues faintly let out a trembling hum, its surface igniting with red flames, seemingly jumping for joy.
'Is that the Great Exalted?' Su Chen looked over.
Walking in front, Qing Cang couldn't help but be somewhat surprised. Chu Lingyuan and Qin Yun had come so many times yet had never seen a spiritual trembling hum. The compatibility truly is high.
However, this trembling hum only lasted for a moment before subsiding.
"Spirit Attunement..." the Bronze Ancient King suddenly spoke. "Those who can elicit such a situation are few and far between even among Star Seeds."
So this is Spirit Attunement?
Qing Cang came to a realization. He wasn't in the Morning Star Tier, nor had he been selected, so he didn't understand this and had only heard of it.
And what is Spirit Attunement? Su Chen wore a blank expression.
"So-called Spirit Attunement means possessing extreme compatibility with the spirituality, to the point where it might even provide certain simple assistance to help the Chosen One grow," the Bronze Ancient King explained.
So that was how it was. Only then did Su Chen understand. Morning Star Tier spirituality could indeed provide help, and it wasn't unique to him, though it was still uncommon among Star Seeds.
Su Chen hesitated briefly before saying, "Thank you, Master, for resolving my doubts."
Logically speaking, he should have addressed him as Senior Uncle.
However, he had called him Master so many times in front of Qing Cang that not addressing him as such to his face would seem unreasonable.
Hearing this respectful "Master," Qing Cang's emotions couldn't help but become somewhat complex. Originally, this title of Master should have fallen upon him.
"Mm." The Bronze Ancient King nodded slightly, his substantive gaze landing on Su Chen, making him feel as if the pressure on his shoulders had grown heavier.
Following that, a muffled, heavy voice transmitted over: "You are even more outstanding than I expected."
Hearing this, Su Chen remained silent for a moment before merely saying, "It is entirely reliant on Master's might."
This was empty talk. There were many things about his body that couldn't be clearly explained, and it was no longer something that a Star-Amber Grade Talent, being a Star Seed, or the so-called Spirit Attunement from just now could simply encompass.
Qing Cang might have already known a long time ago, and now, many people in the sect also knew, so the Bronze Ancient King naturally knew as well.
"Following the current trend, perhaps you have a chance to advance to the Morning Star Tier before the age of one hundred," the Bronze Ancient King said leisurely.
Qing Cang's heart couldn't help but tremble slightly. Advance to the Morning Star Tier before the age of one hundred?
'One hundred years old?' Su Chen pondered secretly. Given his current scale of life, it felt a bit long no matter how he looked at it.
"However..." The Bronze Ancient King's tone shifted, causing Su Chen's heart to tremble: "I am somewhat curious. Just what did you do to make the Stele Spirit so angry?"
The Stele Spirit is angry? Qing Cang was stunned. The Ancient King Monument?
The previous abnormal movement of the Ancient King Monument did indeed seem to be caused by Su Chen, but it was due to anger?
He was quite amazed. To actually make the Ancient King Monument angry? What had Su Chen done?
He's asking about the Ancient King Monument? Su Chen let out a sigh of relief inwardly, feeling somewhat surprised. He had thought the Ancient King would ask how many specialized classes he had acquired, why his strength was so formidable, how his talent had leaped so quickly, and the like.