The matter of Hong Xuan's arena challenge caught Su Chen quite by surprise.
However, there were blood feuds among the four cities, and furthermore, Yuandu had always implicitly competed with Yingfeng for supremacy. It was fully understandable why that fellow would choose such a course of action.
Although Yingfeng housed nurous organizations, the Adjudication Court was rely one among them.
Departnts like the Security Bureau also possessed venues to cultivate new blood, but they could only select candidates locally within Yingfeng or pick up those rejected by the Adjudication Court.
Compared to the one hundred and twenty-five lower-tier cities, the native population of Yingfeng was still far too small. In both quality and quantity, they couldn't possibly match the plethora of talents the Adjudication Court systematically gathered.
To a certain extent, overwhelming the Adjudication Court was equivalent to completely overwhelming Yingfeng.
Su Chen, however, had long known the true intentions of the Yuandu delegation, so he harbored an additional layer of speculation.
"Perhaps they also want an opportunity to prove sothing—proving that he possesses the qualifications to gain recognition?"
He pondered over it. Such an aggressive, "in-your-face" provocation indicated that the negotiations between the Yuandu delegation and Yingfeng regarding the stone slab had utterly stalled, or even outright collapsed.
"Even if negotiations collapsed, resorting to stepping on basic dignity like this... It's not like Old Chong would suddenly agree even if he beat everyone,"
Su Chen murmured. As a direct consequence of the years of bloody war, many of the thods and behaviors adopted during interactions between Yuandu and Yingfeng appeared highly irrational, even abstract.
Under normal circumstances, if one wanted to conduct a transaction for a class, they would simply sit down, present their chips, and thoroughly negotiate. Yet Yuandu insisted on playing underhanded tricks. It seed completely outrageous, but factoring in their years of bitter enmity, it was perhaps not so difficult to comprehend after all.
Secretly shaking his head, Su Chen retreated into the Gravity Room, continuing his exhaustive search for the Essence of Spirituality.
A few more days trickled by without the slightest harvest. Left without any alternative, Su Chen adjusted his schedule, returning to his regular physical training regin while only devoting a fraction of each day to the search.
Ti flowed like water, arriving at early April.
On this particular day, amidst his training in the Gravity Room, Su Chen heard a knock. Retracting his stance, he let out a breath interspersed with fine, crackling arcs of electricity and summoned his panel—
'Azure Thunder Sovereign: 72%'
'Mystic Holy Hand: 80%'
'D-Grade Swift Shadow Body Forging thod — Proficient: 10%'
'D-Grade Return to Ruins ditation thod — Proficient: 80%'
His forging thod had already been swapped for a new one. The Thunder Aura Body Forging thod had hit the Master tier over half a month ago, bestowing him with an ability nad 'Wrathful Aura', which slightly amplified his physical defenses.
After making a minor adjustnt to his state, Su Chen opened the door. Teng Liang stood outside, his gaunt fra clad in a thin jacket that only accentuated his capable and vigorous deanor.
"Senior Brother." Su Chen invited him inside.
The mont Su Chen shut the door, Teng Liang cut straight to the chase. "I've contacted a 5th-tier professional who specializes in imprisonnt and lockdown."
After learning the difficulty of acquiring an Eye of the Thunder God from Gu Bing last ti, he had imdiately reached out to Senior Brother Teng Liang to see if a suitable candidate could be pinpointed.
Senior Brother Teng Liang operated with impressive efficiency. Yet, truly fitting 5th-tier professionals were genuinely hard to co by; it was only now that news arrived.
Hearing this, Su Chen didn't show much excitent. Instead, he simply asked, "And the price?"
Teng Liang answered, "He's one of the Deputy Ministers of the Resource Managent Departnt, and he's not even fifty years old. He holds substantial promise of becoming a 6th-tier professional."
"I reckon that when the ti cos, he might require our assistance in fulfilling certain demands."
Su Chen let out a sigh. "It's never simple, is it."
"Furthermore, he's aware that you are the one looking for him, and he insists on eting you face-to-face before setting out." Teng Liang hesitated for a brief mont before adding, "If your need isn't exceptionally urgent, I strongly suggest not engaging him."
"He will without a doubt squeeze every last drop out of this favor."
Su Chen wasn't surprised that the other party knew it was him. A while ago, he had Gu Bing asking all over Yingfeng; anyone with a modicum of intent could easily trace it back to him with a bit of investigation.
"It actually happens to be quite urgent," Su Chen mused. "If he wants to et, then let's et."
Teng Liang didn't say anything further, nodding in agreent. "Then let's schedule it for this afternoon. I'll pass the ssage to him."
Resolute and swift in action, Teng Liang turned around and left to handle the arrangents.
"At the very least, the Eye of the Thunder God is settled..."
Su Chen felt a sense of helplessness. Giving away owed favors was a headache for later, but he finally had a clear path forward.
As for the Essence of Spirituality, though, he still hadn't made an inch of progress.
During this period, he certainly hadn't abandoned his search efforts, unfortunately to no avail whatsoever.
Searching for this unpredictable item was not sothing he could enlist help for. The Nether Realm was undeniably a terrible place; irrespective of how high a professional's tier was, the risk of dying inside was ever-present.
"I wonder if Yuandu has so in their inventory. But even if they do, knowing them, there's absolutely no way they'd just hand it over to ." While nursing this thought, Su Chen couldn't help but inwardly marvel, "Luckily, the Great Exalted gave face last ti and slashed a requirent of three portions down to just one portion. Otherwise, this would be an absolute nightmare."
Calming his state of mind, Su Chen finally stepped outside. Having remained cooped up inside for a significantly long ti, he couldn't help taking a deep, refreshing breath. The crisp, chilly air surged into his lungs, greatly rejuvenating his entire being.
"Ming Lin... still couldn't sit still in the end," Su Chen mumbled to himself. "I feel as if he's constantly on the sheer cusp of advancing to a 4th-tier professional, yet rigidly holding himself back."
Today was precisely the day Ming Lin had accepted Hong Xuan's direct arena challenge. Two days prior, Ming Lin had specifically inford Su Chen, extending an invitation for him to spectate in person.
"Given the circumstances, it's bound to be incredibly lively. There's virtually a guarantee of jeers and heckling. Since I have business this afternoon anyway, I might as well." Rummaging through his Storage Space, he retrieved a human skin mask he hadn't touched in a very long ti and firmly adhered it to his face.
It was a relic he had brought out from his earlier days in Yingfeng. So highly perceptive professionals could undoubtedly peer right through it at a glance, but within the bounds of the Adjudication Court, absolutely no one would employ excessively abrupt or intrusive thods to pry into the appearances of others.
Following his sense of direction, Su Chen made his way toward the Challenge Hall, a place he hadn't set foot in for a very long period of ti.
Throughout his recent intensive, secluded training period, he would still occasionally glance over external news updates.
Hong Xuan's so-called "arena challenge" was delivered with staggering impoliteness. Taking root firmly atop the challenge arena stage, he essentially refused to step down, maintaining an unyielding 'all challengers welcod' stance.
This brazen, unabashed display made his intent crystal clear to virtually everyone. Driven by inherent pride and unyielding grit, those within the Adjudication Court naturally refused to swallow such an insult. A succession of challengers continuously stepped up to fight.
At first, it was re ordinary seeds, subsequently joined by Feng Ze, Liang Jingcheng, Zhong Ming, and others alike; invariably, every last one t with crushing defeat.
Among the core seeds, rely Ming Lin remained standing. This was a man practically brimming with the foundation to advance to a 4th-tier professional, resolving firmly to wage this battle prior to his very own advancent.
Because the instant he advanced and subsequently stepped onto that arena stage, both combatants would fundantally be classed as 4th-tier.
Hong Xuan had been a 4th-tier professional for far longer than him, which in a sense put him at a disadvantage.
Even before arriving at the location, Su Chen could faintly hear the boiling clamor drifting over.
Upon arriving and taking a look, he was utterly startled.
The plaza was densely packed with people. There were even more people here than during Chu Xuan's first battle as a 3rd-tier professional. They had even set up open-air seating.
"Why are the people from the Security Bureau here as well?"
Su Chen swept his gaze around and spotted quite a number of Supervision Guards, City Patrol Guards, and even Exploration Guards, all huddled together in groups.
Normally, these individuals almost rarely appeared in the sa fra as people from the Adjudication Court.
There were simply too many people; Su Chen couldn't squeeze inside unless he revealed his identity.
He had no choice but to find a shaded spot and watch from afar.
On the massive screens erected around the venue, only Hong Xuan's solitary figure could be seen at the mont. He hovered in mid-air above the arena stage in a cross-legged, seated posture, his eyes slightly closed, seemingly resting.
"Damn it, seeing this guy's effeminate appearance pisses off."
"Sigh, what can you say? He really did defeat several core seeds in rapid succession."
Su Chen heard soone cursing angrily beside him, evidently having accumulated an incredibly deep seated resentnt.
"Didn't you see how arrogant and high-and-mighty those people from Yuandu are acting? The Security Bureau guys are also just here to watch the spectacle; who knows how they're mocking us in their hearts."
Hong Xuan's arena challenge had already been ongoing for over a month. Not just within the Adjudication Court, it had stirred up a massive commotion throughout all of Yingfeng, attracting the attention of nurous factions.
"A few days ago, didn't several young folks from the Security Bureau also co to try? And didn't they all end up losing in the end too?"
While the crowd was engaged in discussion, Hong Xuan on the arena stage suddenly made a move. He lowered his legs and opened his eyes.
Ming Lin had stepped onto the stage.
The noisy clamor gradually subsided. Watching through the screens, it was impossible to sense any aura or energy fluctuations from the duo.
"This seems to be my first ti seeing Ming Lin fight," Su Chen suddenly realized.
"Yingfeng Adjudication Court—Ming Lin."
A voice echoed from the screen. Ming Lin stared at his opponent with a solemn expression.
Hong Xuan's expression was placid. "Yuandu Teaching Court—Hong Xuan."
After their brief self-introductions, neither made a move.
Separated by the screen, the audience couldn't perceive their energy fluctuations. Therefore, this stand-off appeared sowhat inexplicable, but everyone's imagination filled in the blanks, their expressions gradually growing agitated and excited.
Perhaps discovering sothing, Ming Lin's expression shifted slightly, and he was the first to act. Frost blood at the edge of his left foot, while his right side lted into crimson magma. The airflow around him ford a violently raging vortex as he charged toward Hong Xuan.
It was exceedingly difficult to observe the fine details of the battle through the screen broadcast. The blindingly radiant energies had already turned the screen completely incandescently white.
"A rare opposing class configuration." Su Chen narrowed his eyes.
Ming Lin's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd tiers were all top-tier classes, and the 4th-tier he sought was similarly top-tier.
Before Su Chen's arrival, Ming Lin had been Wei Yufan's most potent competitor, and the two had a significant amount of friction.
However, starting from the 2nd tier, he had deliberately selected opposing classes from lower tiers.
When selecting classes, there were nurous directions one could take. As long as one was willing to expend the effort, there were plenty of compatible classes. However, diatrically opposed elental classes had always been a massive taboo. Yet, Ming Lin had chosen to do the exact opposite.
The blinding white light on the screen gradually receded, and the expressions of the audience stretching their necks to watch instantly turned into shock and horror.
On the arena stage, Hong Xuan hadn't moved an inch, still standing completely perfectly still in his original spot. A layer of energy barrier completely wreathed his body, effortlessly blocking Ming Lin's attack.
Ming Lin's expression grew exceedingly solemn. His heterochromatic eyes abruptly erupted with brilliant radiance. His left eye turned pitch-black like an abyss, while his right eye burned a blazing white like a scorching sun. Two diatrically distinct beams of light pierced through the air, intertwining to form a spiraling torrent of energy that aggressively crashed forward.
The screen instantly turned blindingly white once more.
"Rumor has it that Ming Lin was discovered in so wilderness settlent and was born with heterochromatic eyes. Later on, those eyes inexplicably synergized with his class, artificially granting him an additional ans of combat."
"Perhaps it's precisely because of these heterochromatic eyes that he deliberately chose opposing classes."
Unable to clearly see the combat scene, Su Chen's gaze unfocused slightly. In the very beginning, he had also assud Ming Lin's heterochromatic eyes were a byproduct of a certain class. Only later did he learn that Ming Lin had been born that way.
"Is it over? He conceded?"
Soone suddenly yelled out loud. The incandescent white light on the screen had just faded away, only to reveal a bitterly smiling Ming Lin. He didn't appear to have sustained any injuries, but he rely sighed and leaped straight off the arena stage.
At so unknown point, Hong Xuan was already standing right in front of where Ming Lin had been, looking down at him with an utterly serene expression.
"Why did he concede so easily? He obviously still had strength to spare." An inquisitor stamped his feet, unable to hold back his frustration. "What on earth is His Excellency Ming Lin thinking?"
"He probably recognized the insurmountable gap in strength. Fighting any further would be aningless," soone beside him sighed.
"But, you still have to at least try..."
An uproar washed over the external plaza, waves of exclamation rising and falling in succession.
...
Inside the Challenge Hall, the mbers of the Adjudication Court all wore dejected expressions, exchanging dismayed glances in a terrifyingly dead silence.
In the highest spectating seats, An Ming had his hands lazily clasped behind his head, his tone laced with amusent, "Exactly as expected."
"Out of six core seeds, four have already been defeated. That Wei Yufan is already a 5th-tier professional, so he can't fight here. That ans there's only one last guy left. I think his na is Su Chen, right? I wonder how long he's going to cower in his shell."
Soone beside him shook their head. "I heard that Su Chen is quite exceptional—a dual professional. Wei Yufan was forced by his pressure into hurriedly advancing to the 5th tier specifically to avoid fighting him."
An Ming remained entirely unfazed. "Isn't that perfect? Defeating the final guy will be equivalent to defeating Wei Yufan on top of it."
"I just hope he brings his ass out sooner so we don't have to waste ti."
"Haven't you always been unconvinced by Hong Xuan? Why don't you go up there and give it a try?" a burly-figured fellow beside An Ming mocked.
An Ming's face darkened slightly, but he spoke placidly, "This challenge arena feature is actually quite interesting. I heard the Holy Envoy is already actively negotiating with Yingfeng, preparing to buy the technology and bring it back."
"I'll try my hand after we return. If I go up there right now, the Holy Envoy would probably skin alive."
"Hehe..." The guy next to him let out a chuckle.
Wei Yufan and his group were located just a short distance away. An Ming hadn't made any attempt whatsoever to lower his voice or conceal his condescension, causing Wei Yufan and the others' faces to turn exceedingly ugly.
...
"Ming Lin also lost."
Inside the top-floor VIP box, Chong Jingtian stared at the arena stage below with an intensely gloomy expression.
After Ming Lin stepped down, Hong Xuan returned to his usual state. Hovering cross-legged in the void, eyes slightly shut, quietly waiting for his next opponent.
"Where is that brat?" he asked.
Although he didn't specify a na, Jiang Shumo, who was standing beside him, knew exactly who Chong Jingtian was referring to and replied helplessly,
"Other than attending Wei Yinshuo's condolences, he hasn't stepped a single foot outside his door since he returned from the Class Decoding Departnt."
Chong Jingtian's cheeks twitched. "He sure is patient enough to endure loneliness. If you don't whip him, he's too lazy to even move an inch."
"It's not guaranteed that he would win," Jiang Shumo shook his head, sighing. "The reason he completely crushed Chu Xuan last ti was due to his dual top-tier classes, utilizing mind control to snatch the absolute initiative."
"However, this Hong Xuan is also practicing dual classes. Su Chen's usual thods simply won't work on him. Judging from the chaotic scuffles over the past several days, I can tell he possesses more than one special auxiliary class."
Chong Jingtian's face twisted into an ugly grimace. "Wu Chenpei is trying to prove that in all of Yingfeng, there is absolutely no one who can compare to Hong Xuan."
"Does he truly think that just by proving this, I will let him look at the stone slab?"
Jiang Shumo shook his head nearly imperceptibly. Regardless of whether they allowed Yuandu to see it or not, getting continuously suppressed and stomped on like this was incredibly frustrating and embarrassing to watch.
Pressure was already mounting from the Council of Elders, and the civilian public opinion was not small either. Rumors were already floating around that the Adjudication Court, fed with so many massive resources, was solely populated by useless rice buckets.
"He may not necessarily be able to gain recognition," You Shan noted, her gaze retracting from the departing Ming Lin, her heart involuntarily aching for him.
"May not necessarily?" Chong Jingtian sneered. "I can guarantee that if we truly let him see it, nine tis out of ten, he will gain its spiritual recognition. By gaining its fragnted recognition, he would be fully capable of entering the ruins and making contact with the other half of the stone slab, giving him an overwhelmingly high probability of becoming the Chosen One."
"A Morning Star class is not a rootless piece of duckweed. Just by the na alone—Crimson Fla Responding Thunder Great Exalted—it's absolutely impossible for professionals who build their foundation upon elents like ice or water to ever gain its recognition."
At this point, Chong Jingtian fell dead silent for a mont before letting out a remarkably long sigh. "The gap in information we have is far too massive."
The requirents for high-tier classes were already bizarre and wonderfully diverse; a Morning Star class didn't even bear thinking about. If one didn't start making preparations several tiers in advance, then by the ti the opportunity finally presented itself, it would invariably be far too late.
(End of this chapter)
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