The four of them walked along the broad road, and every now and then, massive war chariots would rumble past.
"The current situation is very troubleso. It's impossible for you to pry people away from those four Core Seeds. Those guys have been investing for a very long ti, and the sunk costs make it impossible for them to turn around," Gu Bing sighed. "As for the newcors, Chu Xuan beat you to the punch."
Rember the first release website domain na 𝓉𝓌𝓀𝒶𝓃.𝒸ℴ𝓂
"We'll take it one step at a ti," Su Chen wasn't too bothered by this.
This kind of gathering of montum wasn't a one-sided receipt of offerings. Rights and responsibilities have always been relative. It was impossible to only take the benefits without shouldering any responsibilities.
Gu Bing pursed her lips. Su Chen probably still didn't understand the fierceness of the competition.
That was the position of Chief Inquisitor, commanding the terrifying Adjudication Court and also serving as a mber of the Elder Council. Consisting of what could be considered the most powerful batch of people on the planet's surface.
For this position and the interests it represented, there would be people who would stop at nothing, regardless of the cost.
"That is..." Su Chen stopped in his tracks, involuntarily looking towards the massive statue in the distance. It stood tall in the center of the plaza, wielding a sword, looking solemn and resolute.
Under the light source that had currently shifted to a sunset state, the black bronze statue looked as if it was draped in a layer of golden gauze.
"That is our first Chief Inquisitor—Wan Dingchen." Gu Bing also looked over, carrying a certain reverence: "It was precisely him who established the special status of the Adjudication Court."
Yingfeng also possessed the three departnts of Supervision, City Patrol, and Exploration. The various organizations in the lower-tier cities were originally just simplified versions of Yingfeng's.
These three departnts were all governed by the Security Bureau. Added together, they could barely wrestle with the Adjudication Court, and its Bureau Chief was also a mber of the Elder Council.
The Security Bureau had rely been created to guard Yingfeng, whereas the Adjudication Court's primary responsibility was to govern the one hundred and twenty-five lower-tier cities, with their primary leadership circles entirely originating from the Adjudication Court.
And in order to ensure their families continuously enjoyed a certain status, they would send their descendants to the Adjudication Court, forming a cycle.
The massive factions represented within this, as well as the annual transfer of benefits, could be considered terrifying.
"Our Adjudication Court is divided into multiple organizations. The Logistics Departnt, Internal Affairs Departnt, Intelligence Departnt, and such don't need to be ntioned. The most important ones are the Disciplinary Departnt and the Judgnt Departnt..." Gu Bing briefly introduced the structure of the Adjudication Court.
"The Disciplinary Departnt is responsible for handling matters in the lower-tier cities, as well as so matters within Yingfeng City..."
"Within Yingfeng City, we manage things too?" Su Chen keenly caught onto this.
Gu Bing's tone was flat: "Cases of lower-tier cities colluding with both internal and external forces of Yingfeng, corruption, and exploitation are common occurrences. We have the duty to adjudicate the lower-tier cities, so when it involves certain internal matters of Yingfeng, we naturally also possess the authority to make decisions."
Friction with the other three departnts was definitely unavoidable. Su Chen seed to have already seen a storm of blood and rain.
Chatting as they walked, when the group reached the halfway point, Zhang Yunqing led Zhang Hengyu around a corner, heading towards the residence for regular Inner Court mbers, which was an apartnt-like high-rise.
"As a Core Seed, you have an independent villa you can reside in." When Gu Bing brought up so of the treatnt Core Seeds received, Su Chen instantly perked up.
But Gu Bing seed to have thought of sothing, her brows furrowing slightly. "However, you seem to be running parallel dual professions, which makes things a bit troubleso."
"What's the matter?" Su Chen couldn't help but ask.
"Under normal circumstances, one must choose between the physical or ntal aspect. This involves whether you will be equipped with a gravity training room or a Spirit Realm Instrunt..."
Before Gu Bing could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Su Chen: "This Spirit Realm Instrunt, could it be sothing that amplifies ntal ditation?"
Gu Bing was startled, only then rembering: "Right, you probably wouldn't know. The Spirit Realm Instrunt was only discovered in a certain ruin a few years ago, and was only reproduced half a year ago. Currently, there aren't many allocated."
"There's actually such a good item." Su Chen couldn't help but click his tongue. Truly worthy of being Yingfeng.
"Good items have always been distributed from top to bottom. Currently, only the Chief Inquisitors and you Core Seeds can use it," Gu Bing said, revealing a vexed expression on her face.
"However, the auxiliary training devices equipped for you are all of the highest specifications, but even Core Seeds are only assigned one type. Your situation is special, with your physical talent also being Red Gold, so I don't know how they will arrange it either."
"There's also the issue of potion allocation. The Adjudication Court provides one tube of auxiliary training potions and high-grade nutrient fluids daily, distributed for a month at a ti, but you also have to choose between the physical aspect or the ntal aspect."
"The Adjudication Court is this stingy?" Su Chen couldn't help but curl his lips.
Gu Bing was also very helpless: "The personnel is massive, and the expenses are terrifying. These are all rules, and it's been like this for hundreds of years."
Walking along the way, Gu Bing introduced the various buildings to him—the Intelligence Building, the War Chariot Factory...
......
More than half a day had already passed since the Adjudication Court evaluation concluded. At Chu Xuan's celebratory banquet, an uneasy Pang Xingwen was dragged away by personnel sent by the Pang family.
"How could he be an Ink Jade..." Pang Xingwen thought of so of his petty actions, vaguely feeling regretful.
An ancestor of his Pang family had luckily managed to beco a Chief Inquisitor, and even though they hadn't been very outstanding and their presence wasn't high...
...it had still allowed his Pang family to beco a part of the intricately intertwined factions in Yingfeng.
Even if they had nearly declined midway, they had still managed to rise again.
And Su Chen was a Core Seed.
In the past, the four Core Seeds would have one erge as the Chief Inquisitor, while the other three would beco regular Chief Inquisitors in sequence.
Generally speaking, the top four Chief Inquisitors were all rather domineering. For so, even if they had passed away many years ago, their nas would still resound loudly.
But Su Chen was even more different. His Ink Jade talent destined him to have an even higher ceiling. Once he grew up... he might even beco a domineering Chief Inquisitor like Xia Hanshi.
Thinking up to this point, Pang Xingwen couldn't help but tremble.
"Young Master, we've arrived." The hunched old man beside him said softly.
Pang Xingwen swallowed a mouthful of saliva. Looking at the redwood doors before him as they were gradually pushed open, he walked inside uneasily. Looking down, he watched as a black carpet stretched endlessly into his field of vision.
"Kneel down." The voice was indifferent, yet Pang Xingwen's knees gave out, kneeling onto the carpet with a thud. Not daring to look up, he could only see a pair of pitch-black leather shoes: "Father..."
"Who allowed you to arbitrarily send people to track him?" The voice was tranquil, yet carried a certain bearing.
"Father, I rely wanted to feel out so information..." Pang Xingwen's forehead was covered in cold sweat, hurriedly explaining: "He killed Zhou Xian, cutting off a source of our family's wealth. I rely..."
"Zhou Xian colluded with the Evil God Cults, he deserved to die!"
That voice was chilling. It sounded as if sothing had smashed onto the floor, rolling over with a rumble.
Pang Xingwen's pupils contracted, only to see a pale, bloodless severed head happen to roll right in front of him, its eyes wide open, dying with remaining grievances.
"Pang Qi!" He cried out in shock, his voice trembling: "How did he die!?"
This was exactly the person he had sent to track Su Chen, yet he had disappeared a few days ago, nowhere to be found despite searching for days. To think they would be reunited with him as a dead person.
"Father, he dared to kill soone arbitrarily! He... He..." Pang Xingwen seed to have grasped at a lifesaving straw.
However, his father didn't seem to care in the slightest. Bowing his head, he said: "Go to him and beg for his forgiveness. No matter what thod you use, even if you have to kneel before him, you must secure his pardon. After that, invite him to tomorrow's family banquet. I will personally diate this matter."
"If you can't invite him, then you don't have to co back either."
"Father!" Pang Xingwen couldn't help but look up towards that emotionless middle-aged man, finding it unimaginably bizarre: "But I'm your son, and you're Yingfeng's Deputy Minister of Supervision."
"Even if I accidentally offended him, it shouldn't have reached this extent, right? It's not like Chu Xuan won't be able to stand against him. Who can accurately predict things of the future?"
How could Father cower to such a degree?
"Can you not understand my words?" The middle-aged man lowered his head, overlooking him, his voice almost devoid of any emotion: "If he doesn't co, then you don't have to co back either."
"I..." Pang Xingwen gritted his teeth, ultimately still not daring to continue rebelling, and said dejectedly: "I understand."
The door of the room closed. The middle-aged man suddenly spoke up, "Are you certain it's him?"
"The Divine Oracle has spoken. The one from Nanfeng who is the most special and eye-catching is the target."
"Is there anyone more special, more eye-catching than him?"
Within the room, a voice originating from an unknown source abruptly sounded.
......
"To think there would actually be two Ink Jade-tier talents appearing simultaneously... Jingtian, we must congratulate you."
"The Adjudication Court is truly worthy of being Yingfeng's sky-supporting pillar."
"......"
In the quiet, spacious room, only five people sat facing each other. One of them was exactly Chong Jingtian.
He was in a good mood. Even if he sensed that the praises from the people before him weren't sincere, he didn't mind. Instead, his expression turned sowhat heavy as he said:
"Talent is rely talent, it doesn't necessarily an any accomplishnts will be made. Right now, there is another matter at hand."
"The Adjudication Court has uncovered that the Evil God Cults have been conducting joint operations recently. Those that have already been clearly identified include Black Buddha, Faceless Ghost, and the Crimson Pillar. What they're plotting isn't small..."
Following Chong Jingtian's narration, the expressions of the other four people also turned heavy.
"Additionally, there are people in the city coordinating with them from the inside and outside..."
.........
The Adjudication Court was extrely large, and their speed was also rather slow. It wasn't until night fell that Gu Bing brought him deep inside, stopping before an independent villa.
This place belonged to the residences of the Chief Inquisitors. It was quiet and silent, to the point where even Gu Bing restrained her breathing sounds.
Within the Adjudication Court, the hierarchy is distinct... Su Chen sighed in his heart.
This was both due to the structure having been constant for many years, as well as to motivate the people below to climb upwards.
On the way here, they inevitably ran into so high-ranking Adjudicators, and Gu Bing had to stop and greet them every single ti.
And when introducing his identity to the other party, their expressions would always change sowhat. Even the most indifferent of people would squeeze out a smile for him.
"Potion supplies are a long-term occurrence. Putting aside whether the Court will opt to provide dual-profession potions, a single tube a day might not be enough anyway. If the Court is unwilling to break its rules, my family can offer a little assistance..."
It wasn't until he was about to enter the villa that Gu Bing spoke up hesitantly.
"Oh?" Su Chen paused his steps, turning back to look at Gu Bing. This Senior Sister's eyes darted around evasively as she said in a low voice: "My family's ancestors once produced a Minister of Supervision. While we might have declined sowhat in recent years, we can still provide a bit of assistance."
"I understand." Su Chen nodded slightly, sending Gu Bing off before finally turning back around.
Giving require returns. Su Chen didn't mind trading his identity for so benefits, but he was ultimately a newcor. Yingfeng was intricately intertwined, so he had to figure things out first.
Just as he stepped into the villa, the main doors automatically swung open. The living room was very simple, containing only a grayish-white sofa.
Xia Hanshi was currently walking up from the basent, his upper body bare. His skin was withered, as if drained of flesh and blood, yet he emitted an aura akin to a fierce tiger. Pulsating blood vessels were faintly visible.
In Su Chen's perception, his life magnetic field was simply terrifyingly strong.
anwhile, a few won with slender, elegant figures waited off to the side, stepping forward to hand him his clothes.
'Are they all chanical puppets?' Su Chen had even thought Old Xia had a contrasting side, but upon closer inspection, he discovered that these won were all chanical constructs.
There was another person standing to the side. It wasn't Bu Siqi, but rather soone with dark skin who was reticent and taciturn. Seeing Su Chen arrive, he rely looked up and shot a glance at him.
"You're here..." Xia Hanshi finished putting on his clothes. That violent life magnetic field dissipated in an instant, reverting back to the old man with one foot in the grave. "Heaven-Bestowed Class Decoder, you sure have quite the number of secrets."
"I only found out after arriving in Yingfeng. I also couldn't figure it out before..." The mont Xia Hanshi spoke, Su Chen knew that Old Xia had already figured out why his talent had suddenly turned into an Ink Jade.
"You got the Saint?" While Xia Hanshi was asking, he was quite certain.
"Mm, I'll recount it verbally right now." Su Chen imdiately stated the Saint's inauguration requirents, but concealed the fact that 'not killing living beings' would also restrict the professional post-inauguration.
He estimated that it was impossible for Old Xia to have verified things in such minute detail with Old Sang anyway.
Once he finished speaking, even that reticent Teng Liang couldn't help but look over, finding it unimaginably bizarre.
"With inauguration requirents like this, how did you manage to complete it?" Even Xia Hanshi couldn't help but be shocked.
"Forced advancent..." Su Chen explained, "My luck was just okay."
Xia Hanshi cast a deep look at him: "Forced advancent again. Your luck truly is good. Forced advancents don't bring high boosts. Only by combining Scholar, Sage, and Saint did it elevate your Red Gold talent to Ink Jade."
Old Xia didn't delve deeper into this matter, and instead changed the topic: "Building a good relationship with the Class Decoding Departnt is a good choice."
"I was just rather curious about the Class Decoding Departnt..." Before Su Chen could finish explaining, he was interrupted by Xia Hanshi: "No need to say this much. I am not Yuan Chenyang. If you can hook up a line with the Class Decoding Departnt, it will bring many benefits."
"However..." Xia Hanshi shifted his tone: "In this evaluation, you indeed gave a massive surprise. It's been a few years since I was last able to step on their faces."
This ti, his tone carried a trace of emotion. "I didn't expect that a Core Seed would erge from under my wing as well."
"But making an exception this ti caused quite a massive commotion. Those four guys have been staying in those positions for many years. With two challengers suddenly jumping out, I fear they won't just sit and wait for death."
"I understand." Gu Bing had already hinted as much to him when they arrived. Su Chen wasn't surprised either, taking the opportunity to say: "Teacher, even though my ntal talent is Ink Jade-tier, my physical talent is also Red Gold."
"If I can only choose one between the gravity training room and the Spirit Realm Instrunt..."
"Mm..." Xia Hanshi thought for a mont before saying: "I will help you handle it. Also regarding the number of classes you can select, normally speaking, you can only choose one type."
"There's also the potions." Su Chen struck while the iron was hot.
"The potions are a bit troubleso..." Xia Hanshi didn't avoid the issue. "Choosing the number of professions and being equipped with auxiliary training devices are both one-off occurrences. The potions, however, are allocated every month. It's impossible for to go looking for them every single month, and it's also impossible to have the Court make an exception solely for you every ti."
For a one-ti transaction, being a little forceful and handing it over was fine. A long-term supply was much more troubleso.
"Then... what is the situation with Gu Bing's family?" Looking deeply thoughtful, Su Chen changed the topic to inquire.
"Gu Bing's family?" Xia Hanshi blanked for a mont, looking toward the man beside him. "Teng Liang."
The silent man beside him imdiately spoke: "The Gu family manages the business of mutant flesh and blood within the city. One hundred and twenty years ago, they produced a Minister of City Patrol."
"In the last twenty years, the person with the best status was her second uncle, a certain Section Chief in the Exploration Departnt. But he died outside half a year ago, their business was seized, and a few families are preparing to carve them up."
"That little girl acted rather quickly. The problem isn't big, you can back them up." Hearing this, Xia Hanshi nodded.
"Understood." Su Chen nodded.
Xia Hanshi, however, warned: "Won are just for playing around with. Don't invest any real emotions. Unceasingly climbing the path of a professional is the road you ought to be walking."
"Uh..." Su Chen was helpless. "It's just that I'm more familiar with her."
"As long as you understand your limits." Xia Hanshi didn't reprimand him excessively. With a wave of his hand, Teng Liang beside him led the chanical puppets out of the room.
"Sit." Xia Hanshi pointed to the sofa.
anwhile in Su Chen's mind, a few rumors he had heard suddenly surfaced, causing his heart to unconsciously feel uneasy.
Xia Hanshi cut straight to the point. "You should have already heard that before you, I had three other Red Gold-tier seeds, but they all snapped."
"re rumors. This student never believed them." Su Chen wasn't speaking empty words. Right now, he truly didn't believe that Xia Hanshi would kill three of his own students.
Xia Hanshi sneered coldly. "The people spreading the rumors are quite careful with their wording. They only dare to use the word 'snapped', not 'died'."
"Those Senior Brothers of yours indeed didn't die, they're rely trapped in a certain place."
"Do you need to go rescue them?" Su Chen proactively inquired.
"No..." Xia Hanshi shook his head, his gaze flickering uncertainly.
Unable to pin down Xia Hanshi's thoughts, Su Chen could only say: "Since they are my Senior Brothers, I've inherited a karmic tie from them. If I have the ability, I'd like to try."
Xia Hanshi cast a deep look at him. "I know your mind runs deep, brat, but don't misunderstand. I'm telling you this much because I'm afraid you might overthink things."
I only overthink things because you told , Su Chen muttered in his heart.
Xia Hanshi also perceived that the atmosphere was wrong. His original intention was to explain things so Su Chen would feel at ease.
But if he continued speaking, Su Chen would probably think even more. Consequently, he bluntly said: "Before reaching the fourth-tier, there's no need to think about this matter."
The two of them skipped over this topic with tacit understanding. Xia Hanshi called Teng Liang back in again, "Take this kid to the place he'll be staying at. It should have been emptied out by now."
"Yes."
Teng Liang didn't speak much, rely gesturing towards Su Chen before leading the way out.
"Senior Brother Teng?"
On the way, Su Chen tentatively addressed him as such, truly uncertain whether this guy was Xia Hanshi's student or not.
Teng Liang didn't refute the address, giving an imperceptible nod.
It seems he's a silent nutcracker. Seeing that he had no intention of conversing, Su Chen simply shut his mouth, following him to a villa.
"This is the place you'll be staying at." Teng Liang pointed at it. Without even offering a parting greeting, he turned his head and left.
Su Chen found it baffling. Retracting his gaze from the other party's back, he walked straight into the villa before him.
"Master..."
The mont he opened the door, an exquisitely beautiful woman resembling a porcelain doll awaited him, dressed in a maid outfit.
"Tsk..." Su Chen leaned in close to her face, while the other party continued to maintain a standard smile.
"A chanical puppet..." Su Chen tentatively pinched her cheek. It was very bouncy and elastic, feeling quite similar to real skin, but no item prompt popped up.
"It's not considered a tiered item. Is it because the composition of this kind of plaything is too complex?"
Su Chen was rather curious, circling her and sizing her up from top to bottom. In his past life, he had never seen this kind of thing before.
"What's your na?" Su Chen asked. "What can you do?"
"Master may call Number Zero." Her voice was gentle, and even her eyes were very lively.
"I can clean for Master, cook and wash clothes, dress you, connect to the Adjudication Court's public network as well as Master's private network to assist in handling miscellaneous tasks, and I can also relieve stress for Master."
Relieve stress? Aweso...
"Introduce the rooms to first," Su Chen commanded.
"Yes, Master." Number Zero imdiately began, providing an extrely detailed introduction covering the living room, bedroom, bathroom, toilet, and kitchen.
"...This is the location where the gravity room will be installed. Master has currently not made a selection yet, so there is nothing here."
Su Chen looked at the completely empty basent, while situated right next to it was the potion storage room.
Number Zero opened up the storage room, and a trace of chilliness seeped out. "A constant temperature of eight degrees is maintained here... This is the optimal temperature for preserving potions."
Su Chen walked closer to look. The potion display cabinets on both sides were already filled with a type of potion that resembled black ink-oil.
"This is 'Black Water', manufactured using the glands of Ink Lions. It is used by physical professionals in the latter half of the second-tier. This is high-compression second-tier nutrient fluid, this is..."
"Glazed Blood..." Su Chen stared at the fifteen tubes of pink potion below, his eyes blooming with brilliance.
"This is a specialty originating from Nanfeng City, which is your hotown. It provides special auxiliary effects for the professional developnt of the third-tier and below." Number Zero introduced to him: "Regular Inner Court mbers receive three portions monthly, Inner Court Seeds receive five portions monthly, and Core Seeds receive fifteen portions monthly."
"Tsk..." Su Chen picked up a single tube, gently shaking it, and the liquid within the glass tube rippled. Under the lights, it looked exceptionally magnificent. He grinned and chuckled lightly: "A Core Seed is indeed different."
Su Chen's mood truly felt comfortable. Even if the gravity room and that Spirit Realm whatever Instrunt weren't installed and in place yet, he was still prepared to train fiercely.
However, before he could begin, the door chid softly.
Su Chen subconsciously looked toward the main doors. It was already so late.
"Big Brother Su Chen..."
Upon opening the door, Pang Xingwen's face was piled with smiles as he called out warmly, "We didn't get to have a proper chat at the banquet last ti."
He continued speaking unprompted, "I know there might be so misunderstandings between us, but I'll be completely honest with you. Regarding certain matters, my hand was forced entirely against my will."
Su Chen remained expressionless, while he lowered his voice and said, "It's all because of that Chu Xuan. He's narrow-minded and felt extrely aggrieved by your refusal to be recruited."
Pang Xingwen completely disregarded any scruples when it ca to framing Chu Xuan. Regardless, it was impossible for Su Chen to confront Chu Xuan about this, and even if he did, he wouldn't necessarily believe it anyway.
This person speaks without any sha; the mont his master asks him to step on soone, he steps on them. He glared at venomously during the day, yet cos over to apologize at night.
His face-changing trick is quite fast, Su Chen analyzed covertly.
Pang Xingwen spoke for a while, secretly observing Su Chen's expression. Seeing no reaction from him, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of anger in his heart.
"Big Brother Su Chen, it's like this..." Since Su Chen wouldn't talk, he could only bite the bullet and keep speaking, "My father heard that there were so misunderstandings between us and specifically set up a banquet at our ho. He wishes to invite you to make a trip over tomorrow night."
"My father will personally apologize to you."
His father, naturally, hadn't promised to personally apologize, but as long as he could just get Su Chen to co over, his mission would be complete.
"Your father?" Su Chen finally opened his mouth.
"He is the Deputy Minister of Supervision..." Pang Xingwen explained, heavily emphasizing those words.
Su Chen's gaze shifted slightly. This guy cos to the door to apologize yet brings no gifts, and is even inviting him to his house.
Could it be a Hongn Banquet?
(End of this chapter)
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