When Su Chen erged from the basent, Gu Bing hadn't left yet. Having just finished organizing the docunts, she saw him co out and couldn't help but ask, "What happened? You didn't run into any trouble, right?"
Su Chen was still thinking about what thod to use to file a report. Reporting six Core Seeds all at once via an anonymous letter would clearly make him look like an idiot. It would probably be thrown into the trash bin before it even reached the higher-ups.
Finding a real person to file the complaint carried exceptionally high risks, as an investigation would inevitably trace back to him no matter what.
Prolonged ntal mind control could only be used on ordinary 3rd-tier professionals, and such individuals had absolutely no right to speak within the Adjudication Court. Even if he controlled them, their words wouldn't carry any weight.
Hearing Gu Bing's question, he shook his head and said, "It's nothing."
"Then I'll take my leave first." Gu Bing had mostly finished organizing things. She only ca here this ti to report back. Their next steps involved identifying which people would join their faction.
Before leaving, she set a ti and date with Su Chen. Since those people had already pledged their allegiance, he had to et them at least once no matter what.
After seeing Gu Bing off and shutting the door, a flash of inspiration struck Su Chen. "Back in Nanfeng, how did Zhou Xian report again?"
'He found an acquaintance of mine who was suspected to have been captured by Black Buddha and subsequently released, successfully linking them to the Evil God Cultists. Although Old Zhang had the intent of targeting back then, this thod is much stronger than an anonymous letter.'
'Acquaintances of ng Qi... I can't find any. Given the opportunity, I should find a Believer of Black Buddha to make the report. I have to look for them next anyway...' Su Chen thought of a thod to kill two birds with one stone. He opened his wristband and, carefully weighing his words, sent a ssage to Teng Liang.
This Senior Brother of his was Xia Hanshi's very first student. He was originally one of the deputy directors of the Disciplinary Departnt. Later on, he risked his life and forcibly advanced to the Ancient Spirit Giant class.
Consequently, he beca one of the honorary directors of the Disciplinary Departnt. Although he only held the title nominally, he still retained the authority of a deputy director.
It wasn't until the morning of the next day that he finally saw Teng Liang send back a single word: "Okay."
When Su Chen opened his door to take a look, a disciplinary squad was already standing in front of his entrance. All fifteen of them were dressed in heavy inquisitor armor, exuding a solemn and deadly silence.
Within the squad, there were three 3rd-tier professionals. The leading captain was a 4th-tier professional with a long, slanted scar across his face.
"Your Excellency may address as Wu Yang." His expression was solemn. "Before receiving any new transfer orders, we are responsible for protecting your safety."
This was exactly the favor he had asked of Teng Liang: deploying an elite squad. The cited reason was to protect his safety, but his core intent was to take them out to eradicate Believers of Black Buddha.
"Senior Brother is truly benevolent and righteous. To think an actual 4th-tier professional could be serving as a deputy director," Su Chen couldn't help but sigh with emotion. Only after careful inquiry did he find out the truth.
Although Wu Yang was a 4th-tier professional, he was only a 4th-tier lower-class. At nearly fifty years of age, his potential had essentially been exhausted. Giving him the title of an honorary deputy director was fundantally different from soone like Zhao Gang.
"Thank you for your hard work." After chatting with them for a few sentences, they set up camp here before any actual operations comnced, dividing into three shifts to handle security.
This place was already the core area of the Adjudication Court. To actually station personnel here for protection appeared sowhat eye-catching no matter what.
While Su Chen was chatting with them, quite a few passing inquisitors frequently cast glances over, even speculating whether sothing major had happened.
"Su Chen—"
Suddenly, soone called out to him. Su Chen turned his head to scan the area, and his eyelids twitched. The newcor was precisely Chu Xuan, slowly walking over from afar with a friendly and amiable smile on his face.
'He's fine?'
Su Chen subconsciously thought, but then imdiately realized sothing was wrong. He turned his head away and walked straight back into his house, whispering simultaneously, "Block him outside."
"Su Chen—Su Chen—" Seeing him turn around and leave, Chu Xuan couldn't help but speed up his steps.
Passing inquisitors couldn't help but feel disappointed. "And here I thought I would see a scene where a smile dispels all old grudges."
"Have you watched too many serial dramas? Just yesterday, Su Chen was sched against and set up. And today, all grudges are suddenly dispelled?" soone beside him shook his head.
Yesterday, after the battle between Su Chen and Chu Xuan, rumors sprang up from out of nowhere claiming that Chu Xuan had ditated on this preditated plot for a long ti, deliberately intending to catch Su Chen off guard.
What they previously called "arch-neses" and "revenge" was simply soone deliberately hyping things up. The rumors were spread with vivid detail, making them sound incredibly real.
"Halt." Wu Yang stepped forward, blocking Chu Xuan. "My apologies, Your Excellency Su Chen isn't seeing anyone for the ti being."
"I'm looking for him to apologize in person. Previously, my eyes were blinded by obsession..." Chu Xuan wore a face full of absolute sincerity.
But Wu Yang didn't care at all and simply refused to let him enter. Left with no other choice, Chu Xuan had to leave under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
'Who exactly is this guy...?'
As Su Chen watched Chu Xuan turn and leave outside the door, a layer of shadow cast itself over his heart.
It was impossible for him to be alone in the sa room as this guy. Putting aside the fact that that eerie 'thing' might have locked its eyes on him...
In case this Chu Xuan suddenly dropped dead right here, it would be like yellow mud falling into his pants—even if it wasn't shit, it would still be considered shit. It was disgusting enough.
'They probably won't let Chu Xuan die so quickly.' Su Chen speculated. Since he went out with ng Qi yesterday, if he died right after, ng Qi would undoubtedly be the first suspect.
The best thod was to let him continue living for a few more days, and then have him die at a mont when suspicion couldn't be placed on ng Qi.
'I can't let him disgust with this. I have to show my face frequently over the next few days and build an alibi for myself.'
That very evening, Su Chen invited the factions Gu Zhengting had contacted over to the Adjudication Court for a al.
They had originally arranged a place outside, but due to Chu Xuan's matter, Su Chen simply invited them to dine inside the Adjudication Court. After all, it was just a eting.
Under the veil of night, a banquet was set up inside the villa. The representatives of the few families gathered together, expressing their deep concern for Su Chen and promising that they would definitely do their best to et his needs.
Both guests and host thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and it wasn't until late into the night that they left.
"The people Gu Zhengting picked are actually quite good. None of them forced to make any promises on the spot." Su Chen rubbed his face, his head feeling dizzy and swollen. "The wine that Wang Yang brought must be exceptionally precious. To think that even as a 3rd-tier, I can still feel a sense of drunkenness."
Early the next morning, Su Chen had Zero prepare the exact sa breakfast for the inquisitors standing guard outside.
'Hmm... these few areas have strong reactions, but it's hard to determine their absolute, exact locations. This is slightly troubleso.' Su Chen looked at the virtual map before him, which had three red circles drawn on it.
They looked like small ranges, but overlaid on the actual ground, each constituted a massive area.
These were the locations he had roughly estimated last night using the abilities of the Priest of Black Buddha. Among them, the central area had the strongest reaction.
'But it's not very appropriate for to go out right now. I'll have to wait until Chu Xuan dies before doing anything...' As Su Chen was pondering over this, he heard bustling noises coming from outside.
"Here he cos again..." Su Chen walked to the window to take a look. It was indeed Chu Xuan, currently shouting things like "apologize" while being blocked outside by Wu Yang.
'This guy has thoroughly made up his mind to plant the bla on ,' Su Chen's expression turned gloomy. By coming once yesterday, he had only made a guess; but by coming again today, the other party's intentions were made abundantly clear.
Ming Lin walked over from afar, his expression odd as he made a detour to enter through the back door.
"What's up with this guy?" As soon as he entered, he asked, "Was he really touched by your chicken soup speech?"
"Who knows? Maybe he was beaten stupid," Su Chen shook his head. Changing the subject, he said sincerely, "Thank you for lending a helping hand."
"Helping hand?" Ming Lin froze, then let out a laugh. "Are you talking about the recent rumors? It's just a minor matter. Wei Yufan actually dared to sche against , so naturally, I have to ruthlessly make him lose face."
"You're quite ruthless yourself. To even call in personnel for protection inside the Adjudication Court, aren't you just explicitly provoking Wei Yufan?"
Quite a few people believed that Su Chen had called in personnel for protection deliberately to disgust Wei Yufan—
You sir are so formidable that I have to be careful even inside the Adjudication Court's interior.
"Regardless, it still helped vent so frustration. Today, let's not return until we're drunk." Su Chen pulled out the few bottles of wine Wang Yang had left behind last night.
"Drinking?" Ming Lin wore a look of utter amazent. This was the first ti Su Chen had ever actively sought soone out to drink.
Naturally, he wouldn't refuse, imdiately beginning to drink freely.
It was only morning, yet the two of them drank straight until evening. Normally, Ming Lin could be considered a gentle and refined person. It was unknown whether he had truly drunk too much or was just acting, but he actually sternly berated the current state of internal strife within Yingfeng.
Using the phrase "If I were the Chief" repeatedly, he passionately expressed his grand visions. Toward the end, he even covertly tried to pry into what Su Chen's top-tier classes were, but Su Chen feigned total ignorance.
Finally, displaying sowhat helpless resignation, Ming Lin said, "That old fox Wei Yufan really is a piece of work. He leaked news to the outside that he is about to advance to a 5th-tier class."
"Advancing to the 5th tier?" Su Chen had just drained the wine in his cup.
Ming Lin's face was flushed red. Nodding, he said, "This way, in the short term, he will have an excuse to refuse challenges. And the challenge arena currently has no way to suppress 5th-tier professionals. Once he successfully advances, it's equivalent to temporarily detaching himself from the challenge ranking system."
"He's doing this deliberately to prevent you from getting the Chief Seed position."
"However, he had originally prepared to advance to a certain top-tier class and had been preparing for two years. Now, advancing rashly like this, it's estimated he can only select an upper-tier class."
"He truly has quite a few tricks." Su Chen didn't pay it much mind, rely continuing to exchange cups with Ming Lin.
The two of them continuously drank heavily for several days. By the end, when Ming Lin ca to attend their appointnt, his face had turned green.
"I'm not drinking today, not drinking anymore..." Ming Lin waved his hands repeatedly. It wasn't that he couldn't drink anymore, but that he was sick and tired of drinking, having no idea what Su Chen actually wanted to do.
"Alright then," Su Chen wore a look of disappointnt, pouring wine for himself alone.
Finally, Ming Lin couldn't hold back anymore. "Junior Brother, if you have sothing to say, just say it. If I can help, I'll help; if I can't, then there's nothing I can do."
Su Chen rely replied that there was nothing to help with. Ming Lin couldn't just stand by and watch him drink alone, so he had no choice but to accompany him once more.
By noon, however, news arrived that took them both completely by surprise.
"ng Qi challenged Feng Ze and pulled him down? He beca a Core Seed?" Zero's sudden news report left Ming Lin extrely shocked.
He opened his own wristband and received a detailed report from his subordinates. His expression grew increasingly astounded. "ng Qi... he actually also took up the Bloody Butcher class."
He sighed repeatedly, "The allure of the Core Seed position is truly high. I've t him a few tis and he's always been cowering and timid normally. I didn't expect him to possess such courage as well."
"Yeah," Su Chen poured wine, his eyes flickering. Since ng Qi had beco a Core Seed, then Chu Xuan would probably die very soon.
Su Chen didn't know what state Chu Xuan was in right now, but it probably wouldn't last much longer. After drinking heavily continuously for several days, he was also feeling exhausted.
By mid-afternoon, another piece of news disrupted their drinking plans—Chong Jingtian was simultaneously summoning the current six Core Seeds.
"Hah, the Chief Inquisitor is summoning us; we can't drink anymore." Ming Lin sprang up from the sofa, looking deeply relieved, having firmly decided he absolutely wouldn't co tomorrow.
"What a pity." Su Chen outwardly sighed, but inwardly couldn't help but think that this summons also included ng Qi. He wondered if Chong Jingtian would be able to spot any clues.
After tidying up slightly, the two of them left the house together. Ming Lin couldn't help but feel puzzled, "I wonder what the Chief suddenly called us together for."
"Who knows, maybe he's going to pass down the throne," Su Chen spoke utter nonsense.
To this utter nonsense, Ming Lin actually asked seriously: "Then who do you think he'll pass it to?"
Speechless inside, Su Chen continued his nonsense: "Whoever he passes it to is fine, as long as it isn't Wei Yufan."
anwhile, within an expansive area inside a certain building at the core of the Adjudication Court, a group of people had gathered.
"How has Old Pu been doing lately?" Chong Jingtian looked toward Sang Hanhai, who was currently picking up spatial crystals one by one to inspect them.
"My senior brother is still the exact sa way as before. He's been constantly researching Divine Language. You might not even be able to see him once every ten days or half a month." Sang Hanhai's hands didn't stop moving, pinching an irregularly dim spatial crystal, "Energy is unstable, discard—"
A staff mber standing at the side carefully took it and placed it inside a small box.
"Divine Language..." Chong Jingtian seed to recall sothing and sighed. "Let's hope he can produce so results."
"Whether Divine Language actually exists or not is still uncertain." Sang Hanhai shook his head, then changed the subject. "The spatial crystals are prepared, and you can create the spatial rifts. However, among the few Core Seeds of the Adjudication Court, it seems none of them are 2nd-tier ntal-type top-class professionals, right?"
"Attempting this rashly could cause problems. Don't bla for not warning you beforehand."
"There won't be any problems." Chong Jingtian squeezed his hand, and a piece of tallic material materialized within it. "Such a highly useful class is worth a try."
"You actually succeeded." Sang Hanhai was surprised.
"The space is too small; it's only two or three cubic ters," Chong Jingtian shook his head. "There are too many aspects that require precise control. The resonance ti between the spatial crystal and the spatial rift is too difficult to manage."
"Yeah—" Sang Hanhai deeply agreed. "After all, it belongs to the spatial category. Even for an auxiliary class like this, the difficulty is outrageously high."
Suddenly, Sang Hanhai pointed upward, sowhat hesitantly asking: "Should we report this class to the Royal Court—"
Chong Jingtian's eyes flickered, but before he could respond, Wei Yufan was the first to arrive.
"Chief." He called out respectfully, and Chong Jingtian replied with a faint nod.
"Elder Sang, you're here as well," Wei Yufan looked toward Sang Hanhai.
"It's you..." Sang Hanhai cast a glance at him, saying casually, "You carry the deanor of your father."
"My father frequently ntions you as well." Striking while the iron was hot, Wei Yufan was just about to exchange a few more pleasantries when he saw that Sang Hanhai had already turned back around to adjust his equipnt.
His expression grew awkward, and he had no choice but to fall into silence.
"People from the Class Decoding Departnt are here too."
Outside the door, Ming Lin had already spotted a hovercar with the insignia of the Class Decoding Departnt on its shell.
"Decode-A0823." Sweeping a glance over the license plate number, he looked quite amazed. "To think it's actually Elder Sang's car."
"Sang Hanhai?" Su Chen looked over in surprise. This guy actually even morized license plate numbers?
"It's Elder Sang," Ming Lin corrected, lowering his voice. "You have to show a bit more respect. If the people from the Class Decoding Departnt hear you, an argunt will inevitably break out."
"He's that formidable?" Su Chen wore an odd expression.
"You didn't know?" Ming Lin found it even stranger. "When you first entered the Adjudication Court, didn't you run to the Class Decoding Departnt all day long?"
This wasn't a secret; anyone who cared to investigate could find out.
"Oh, I understand." Realization dawned on Ming Lin. "You probably thought Elder Sang was rely a professor."
"Isn't he?" Su Chen countered with a question.
(End of this chapter)
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