Having doubts in his heart, Su Chen imdiately weighed his words: "Chief, you seem extrely urgent. Logically speaking, shouldn't gaining recognition be sothing that isn't rushed?"
With his current status, even if he asked sothing he shouldn't, there wouldn't be any consequences.
"This matter..." Chong Jingtian fell deep in thought. Jiang Shumo and You Shan both remained silent.
"There's no harm in telling you."
A flash of surprise crossed the depths of Jiang Shumo's eyes, and You Shan was also quite astonished.
Su Chen couldn't help but straighten his posture, sensing that the upcoming information would probably be a massive bombshell.
"It's because of the Holy Banquet..." Chong Jingtian's voice was drawn out. He didn't keep him in suspense and stated frankly, "When the number of Evil God Cultists develops to a certain quantity, the power of the Evil Gods they can draw upon gradually strengthens, and they will jointly launch a Holy Banquet."
"The initiation of the Holy Banquet is equivalent to piercing through the barrier to the true body of the Evil God. When that ti cos, the land will be reduced to a playground for the Evil Gods."
Chong Jingtian's words were concise and comprehensive, but Su Chen's heart couldn't help but jolt. He couldn't resist asking, "Could it be that this so-called Holy Banquet is imminent?"
"Correct." Chong Jingtian nodded heavily. "Your teacher and several other Chief Inquisitors having yet to return implies that they are confirming this very matter. At present, we are already seventy percent certain."
Su Chen's expression shifted, and a feeling of 'what the hell is this bullshit' spontaneously arose.
He was still developing! Why was the world suddenly about to end?
Given the power of the true bodies of those Evil Gods, once the Holy Banquet started, how the hell was anyone supposed to fight? They might as well just surrender directly.
He didn't know if his disguise could fool the true body of an Evil God. Subconsciously, Su Chen was already starting to think about an escape route.
Very quickly, he suppressed his thoughts and looked at Chong Jingtian. "Chief, can't this Holy Banquet be stopped?"
"It can..." Chong Jingtian nodded, saying helplessly, "But the problem lies in the fact that this boundless Nether Mist isolates everything. There are many places that we simply cannot keep an eye on."
"Otherwise, it would have been fundantally impossible for us to allow the Evil God Cultists to develop to their current state."
This Nether Mist... Su Chen sighed deeply in his heart. It was a cri not born of battle.
However, he also sensed that there wasn't much despair in Chong Jingtian's words.
He realized: "Besides stopping the Holy Banquet head-on, is there another thod?"
"Borrowing external force." Chong Jingtian raised his head as if he was looking straight through the ceiling, and straight through the vast Nether Mist, to see the boundless starry sky. He spat out two words: "The Royal Court."
"The Royal Court?"
For an instant, a look of confusion appeared in Su Chen's eyes, but very quickly, he realized sothing.
"Speaking of which, you likely find it very difficult to understand." Chong Jingtian seed to be pondering how to explain it. "The so-called Crimson Thunder Planet is actually a planet. It's like this..."
With a wave of his hand, energy converged and ford a sphere in his palm. "Just like this!"
The concept of 'Crimson Thunder Planet' was widely circulated, but just like 'Nanfeng City', many people believed it was rely a way of naming things. Almost no one delved deeply into why it was called that.
Aside from this, there were no other concepts regarding planets at all. And due to the influence of the sprawling Nether Mist, it was even harder to discover that the ground was actually a sphere.
Su Chen couldn't help but nod, quietly waiting for what ca next.
Chong Jingtian was originally waiting for Su Chen to ask more questions. Instead, he found the latter just looking at him, waiting for him to continue, which made him quite surprised.
Upon learning of this matter, practically everyone would ask a bunch of questions covering various aspects.
This was Chong Jingtian's first ti encountering soone who didn't ask questions. He was caught sowhat off guard, but didn't say much and continued explaining:
"...And the region where this sphere is located is incomparably vast. There are many existences similar to our planet. It can be called... the Universe."
"As for the Royal Court, you can understand it as a much more powerful 'Yingfeng' that rules over many planets similar to ours," he explained simply.
That's it?
Su Chen hesitated to speak. When the na 'Royal Court' ca out, he had more or less guessed it. What he wanted was more information.
"As for the specific situation of the Royal Court..." Chong Jingtian shook his head. "I'm not too familiar with it either."
Since the topic had reached this point, he decided to be blunt: "These matters... we only ca to understand them because soone from the Royal Court descended from the sky ten years ago."
"So that's why the four cities ceased their hostilities?" Su Chen realized, but then asked in confusion, "Then why didn't they incorporate Crimson Thunder Planet under their rule?"
"Incorporate under their rule?" Chong Jingtian sighed. "That's like asking us why we don't incorporate those settlents out in the wilderness under our rule."
"There is not much value, and due to the existence of the Nether Mist, the cost of governance is too high."
If Crimson Thunder Planet lacked value, just how incredible must the Royal Court be?
Su Chen raised an eyebrow. Perhaps it wasn't that it lacked value entirely, but rather that it lacked governance value. Those were two different things.
But imdiately after, he realized sothing else and said in astonishnt, "There's... mist outside as well?"
He originally wanted to say 'outer space', but temporarily changed his phrasing.
"Of course there is..." Chong Jingtian didn't know why Su Chen would ask that, but pulled the topic back. "The Royal Court should be able to help us resolve the trouble of the Holy Banquet, but they won't pay a price for no reason."
"So, soone recognized by the Crimson Fla Responding Thunder Great Exalted can get them to intervene?" Su Chen speculated.
"Correct..." Chong Jingtian nodded, but then imdiately clarified: "The reason they would intervene is because a future Morning Star tier professional is worth cultivating, and even more worth paying so price to handle troubles for him."
He was afraid that Su Chen would associate it with sothing bad like a sacrifice.
"So that's how it is..." Su Chen looked thoughtful. Interpreted this way, many things were now explained.
The Evil God Cults wanted to start so sort of Holy Banquet, hence their frequent activities.
Yuandu wanted to let Hong Xuan gain recognition in order to secure the Royal Court's favor.
"However, whether you can gain recognition or not is a matter of doing your best and leaving the rest to fate. You also don't need to feel too much pressure. After all, there's still Hong Xuan." Towards the end, Chong Jingtian began to offer comforting words.
"I understand." Su Chen nodded, but felt quite speechless inwardly.
This guy, Old Chong, wanted him to know the severity of the situation and built it up for a long ti, but then, afraid he'd be under too much pressure, dialed it back.
If he was truly willing to let Hong Xuan gain recognition, there wouldn't have been so many complications.
"You've worked hard today as well, go back and rest first. You don't need to worry about the Essence of Spirituality anymore," Chong Jingtian added, and Su Chen stood up to take his leave.
Watching Su Chen leave, it was only after the door closed that Jiang Shumo spoke up: "Isn't it a bit early to let him know about this now?"
Matters regarding the Royal Court were almost exclusively known only by the Council of Elders and the various departnt heads. There was no point in ordinary people knowing, and it might even cause so chaos.
"It's already a bit late for that," Chong Jingtian shook his head.
Jiang Shumo remained silent. He let out a sigh, then stood up and said, "I'm off to fetch the Eye of the Thunder God."
"Rember, a pure one," Chong Jingtian reminded him.
"He's certainly beco an extrely popular commodity," Jiang Shumo laughed. "When Old Xia returns, he'll likely mock you rcilessly."
"If he could snatch him away from Yuan Chenyang, I am not necessarily incapable of snatching him away either," Chong Jingtian said calmly.
Both Jiang Shumo and You Shan wore expressions of blank shock.
"Just a joke." Chong Jingtian was speechless. Why did these two take it seriously?
………
Outside the venue, the gathered inquisitors still hadn't completely dispersed. They were excitedly discussing the recent battle in high spirits, the crowd bustling and the noise reaching the heavens.
"...It really broadened my horizons. I never expected a 3rd-tier professional could be this strong. The fight was so dazzling I couldn't even see it clearly."
"With this, let's see if those folks from Yuandu still have the nerve to swagger around the Adjudication Court."
"His Excellency Su Chen has co out!"
Soone spotted him coming out and imdiately approached, their words filled with nothing but fervent passion and admiration.
Su Chen greeted them one by one, but the crowd grew larger and larger. With no other choice, he had to retreat back into the venue, find a secluded spot, put on his Mimicry Mask, and only then go back out.
"...His Excellency Su Chen acts steadily, keeps a low profile, and is modest. He's not like those few Core Seeds who form cliques, engage in open strife and veiled struggles. He possesses the bearing of a Chief Inquisitor."
"I reckon there's an eight or nine out of ten chance he'll beco a Chief Inquisitor in the future."
Chief Inquisitor of the Adjudication Court... Hearing the discussions of others, Su Chen couldn't help but shake his head inwardly.
Knowing about the Royal Court, and knowing about an even vaster universe, how could his sights still be set on the position of Chief Inquisitor of the Adjudication Court?
The Royal Court... The Royal Court...
To tell the truth, Su Chen wasn't massively shocked. Those widespread Ruins, peculiar classes, powerful Evil Gods, and the Nether Realm—all of it unambiguously declared that this world was not simple.
If there were only these four cities, only then would he have felt it was strange.
"The sea of stars..." Su Chen's heart inevitably fluttered. That boundless expanse was inherently alluring, let alone the individual mighty power that could traverse galaxies.
"I'm thinking too much. For now, I still have to keep my feet on the ground and slowly improve myself."
Passing through the crowd, Su Chen cald his state of mind. His primary goal right now should be to advance to the 4th tier, and then get a look at that broken stone slab.
"Although the crisis of the Holy Banquet is right before our eyes, there isn't a lack of benefits. At the very least, I don't have to find this Essence of Spirituality thing myself."
A while ago, searching for the Essence of Spirituality had given him a massive headache, and trying to communicate with those Nether Realm creatures had thoroughly exhausted his ntal efforts.
Today... having learned many things, Su Chen's thoughts ran completely wild until he finally returned to his residence. Only then did it suddenly occur to him to contact Senior Disciple Teng Liang and cancel their afternoon eting.
"If everyone simply acted like Senior Disciple Teng Liang—not asking too much and not saying too much—that would be grand." Su Chen looked at the character '1' on the virtual screen and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Thinking about the future sea of stars, Su Chen felt even more motivated. He imdiately darted into the Gravity Room and began training rigorously.
……
At the sa ti, sowhere within the boundless white mist.
Xia Hanshi and Yuan Poshan were flying cautiously, concealing their auras. However, their gazes were firmly fixed on the massive, faintly discernible Faceless Ghost statue in the distance.
"My goodness, with a statue this huge, could it be entirely filled with Evil God Power inside..." Yuan Poshan's Adam's apple bobbed, his face filled with lingering fear.
"It probably wouldn't go that far." Xia Hanshi's expression was grim. "But a statue this large is definitely not simple."
"What are the Faceless Ghost's believers trying to do? They aren't preparing a blood sacrifice, but instead, they just keep running with this statue," Yuan Poshan said, puzzled.
"I don't know." Xia Hanshi shook his head, his brows tightly furrowed. "Let's follow them for now. They definitely have so sort of sche."
………
By the next day, Tang Chen was stroking his small mustache as he watched Chong Jingtian erge from Wu Chenpei's room. The two seed to be having a very pleasant conversation, as if they had completely forgotten the tense, swords-drawn atmosphere of yesterday.
Wu Chenpei even escorted Chong Jingtian to the main gate and watched him get into his car before returning.
"What did he co here for? Did you agree to let Hong Xuan see the stone slab?" Tang Chen asked as he walked forward.
"You're certainly optimistic." Wu Chenpei let out a laugh. "Chong Jingtian proposed a trade: to exchange the Saint class for Essence of Spirituality."
"What?" Tang Chen was stunned, unable to hold back, "He sure has a good imagination. Finding that Essence of Spirituality is incomparably difficult. Even we had to rely on... to finally find it."
He spoke vaguely, but his words were full of indignation. "He definitely wants that Su Chen to take on the Spirit Adept class to increase his talent and raise his probability of gaining recognition. You absolutely must not agree to it."
"I agreed to it," Wu Chenpei said.
"You..." Tang Chen couldn't help but freeze.
Wu Chenpei said calmly, "Hong Xuan's goal isn't just recognition, but to beco the sole Chosen One. The Saint class is an unavoidable step. Although the Essence of Spirituality is hard to find, we eventually have a thod."
"As for that Su Chen..." Wu Chenpei shook his head. "Even if he takes on the Spirit Adept class and gets lucky enough to barely gain recognition, it won't be an issue."
Tang Chen carefully thought through the intricacies, then couldn't help but ask in astonishnt, "Did you calculate this as well? Could it be that when you told Chong Jingtian that information, you already knew the other party would use the Saint class for a trade?"
"You think too omnipotent." Wu Chenpei chuckled a couple of tis, but then restrained himself, his face darkening. "I truly didn't expect that Yingfeng would actually possess soone who could defeat Hong Xuan head-on."
Tang Chen realized he had misspoken and quickly skipped past the topic, asking, "How many portions did Chong Jingtian ask for?"
Wu Chenpei summarized simply, "He opened his mouth wide like a lion. After so wrangling, I agreed to give him two portions."
"They got off cheap," Tang Chen said coldly. "If they didn't have the thod, they wouldn't be able to find a single portion in their entire lives. With two portions of Essence of Spirituality, if his luck is relatively good, it should be enough for that Su Chen to barely manage to take on the Spirit Adept class."
"Barely manage to take it on." Wu Chenpei shook his head. "If it's not a Perfect Advancent, his abilities will be greatly discounted. There's no need to pay it any mind."
Tang Chen was still worried: "But now Chong Jingtian will definitely let Su Chen glimpse the stone slab before Hong Xuan. What if he truly gains recognition?"
"Letting Chong Jingtian's hopes ignite isn't a bad thing." Wu Chenpei had his own considerations. "If that Su Chen happens to succeed, they will actually need our agreent even more in order to open the Ruins holding the other half of the stone slab."
"The broken stone slab only has fragnted spirituality; it's incapable of birthing the Chosen One. And if Su Chen fails, Chong Jingtian's hopes will be shattered, and he'll still have no choice but to agree to our terms."
Tang Chen's eyes lit up, deeply convinced. "Your foresight is profound."
Sending the Essence of Spirituality from Yuandu, even if traveling solo and quickly, would consu a considerable amount of ti.
After Hong Xuan was defeated, seeing people from Yuandu in the Adjudication Court beca a rare occurrence.
Under the Adjudication Court's deliberate manipulation, the news spread throughout Yingfeng. Many people felt they had finally vented their frustration and at last stopped cursing the Adjudication Court.
anwhile, the Adjudication Court began dispatching more and more inquisitors, and consequentially, the Security Bureau's movents also beca very frequent. They seed to have temporarily forgotten their past friction.
Su Chen, on the other hand, returned to his usual routine, staying in his residence all day to train, living a secluded life.
Under these circumstances, it wasn't until mid-May that Yingfeng beca lively again.
The new batch of young people from the lower-tier cities arrived in Yingfeng, preparing to face the assessnts of various institutions.
And inside Su Chen's residence, Jiang Shumo was currently bringing out a fist-sized, oval-shaped crystal.
Inside was a constantly contracting nebula-like vortex that occasionally erupted with spiderweb-like lightning patterns, while silver nerve-like veins naturally grew along its edges.
It was precisely the Eye of the Thunder God harvested from a Thunder Beast. It was completely flawless and had not been tainted with the slightest bit of blood.
(End of this chapter)
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