Click. The heavy tal doors were pushed open. The mont Su Chen stepped out, his eyelids twitched.
In the corridor outside the room, Wei Zhenghong naturally stood at the forefront, leaving a large empty space behind him.
However, beyond that empty space, all the way to the reception area outside the challenge zone, the place was completely packed with people.
As he walked out, burning gazes converged on him. So were curious, so reverent, so marveling, and mixed within were quite a few unfriendly glares.
'How did so many people pop up all of a sudden...' Su Chen muttered inwardly. He knew his ranking would probably cause quite a stir.
After all, everyone in the area could see the real-ti updates of the Holy Hall leaderboard, but he never expected these guys to move so fast.
Soone had likely seen him arrive and quickly called over their friends.
He could roughly guess the reason behind this spectacle.
Whether it was the Morning Star selection or the recognition of the Ancient King Stele, there were far too many unknown factors and no unified standards.
Because of all these titles resting on his head, many within the faction were intensely curious about what exactly made him so special.
And the leaderboard ranking, fought for with his own two hands, was the most direct and convincing proof.
"ng Shiyu!" Wei Zhenghong suddenly shouted. ng Shiyu, who had been slowly backing into the crowd to leave, stiffened.
"Your martial uncle is right here. Are you just going to leave without saying hello?"
Wei Zhenghong's voice was flat and unyielding.
The gazes gathered on Su Chen instantly shifted away, landing squarely on ng Shiyu.
Quite a few people exchanged glances with half-smiles, thoroughly enjoying the drama.
For the vast majority of those present, the competition surrounding the Morning Star candidate was simply too far removed from their lives.
Many of them could exhaust all their efforts and only reach the eighth tier. Even the ninth tier was relatively rare, let alone a dual ninth tier.
Even if so possessed enough talent to theoretically reach it, the various class requirents consud too much ti and energy, not to ntion that advancing was far from risk-free.
Before Su Chen arrived at the faction, many people here had indeed harbored suspicion, scrutiny, and even dissatisfaction.
At their core, they felt he was unworthy of the position. Buried deeper was a sense of resentnt; although this status had nothing to do with them, it still felt as if sothing had been snatched away.
But now, right after arriving, Su Chen had gained the Ancient King Stele's approval and even carved his way to the top of the fifth-tier leaderboard as a re fourth-tier.
This ironclad battle record swept away all doubts.
To the middle and lower ranks, Su Chen was a genuine Star Seed. As for the disputes among the higher-ups, they could only watch from the sidelines.
Stared down by the crowd, ng Shiyu's expression turned rather ugly. Still, he forced a smile and addressed Su Chen, "Little Martial Uncle's deanor is truly breathtaking."
Su Chen's gaze fell upon ng Shiyu. Sensing the subtle atmosphere in the room, he realized this person likely had so issues with him. "You flatter ," he replied coolly.
Having received a response, ng Shiyu could not care less about anything else and hurriedly turned to leave.
Wei Zhenghong scoffed coldly and withdrew his gaze. Looking at the crowd gathered before them, he barked, "What are you staring at? Show's over! Scatter!"
His words carried significant weight. The multitude gathered in the challenge center instantly dispersed like startled birds.
"That guy is Qin Tianlin's lackey. The mont he heard you were setting your rank here, he rushed over imdiately. Probably up to no good," Wei Zhenghong explained in a low voice. "If your ranking had been too low, he definitely would have caused a scene."
Deacon Deng, standing nearby, felt his scalp tingle. "Star Seed Wei, I'll excuse myself to get back to work," he whispered.
He was rely a deacon. He had absolutely zero desire to learn about or get tangled up in the disputes of the higher-ups.
Wei Zhenghong waved him off impatiently, while Su Chen nodded thoughtfully.
The two n walked out of the challenge center. The dispersed Holy Hall mbers had not gone far; they were gathered in small groups all around, looking downright thrilled.
They were swiping rapidly on their virtual screens, seemingly notifying friends who were still out of the loop.
Seeing the two exit, they tacitly moved further away, seemingly afraid of provoking Wei Zhenghong's ire.
Only after the duo was far away did soone whisper, "Has anyone gone to challenge this little ancestor's projection yet?"
As soon as the words fell, eyes lit up everywhere. Wang Ye was the fastest, already sprinting back into the challenge center. The rest followed closely behind, all squeezing their way back in.
They were dying to know just how strong this Star Seed was to beco the champion of the fifth tier while only at the fourth tier. The training projection was the perfect way to experience it firsthand.
"I have to say, you're way too fierce, directly tearing your way to the top of the fifth tier!" On the road, Wei Zhenghong could not hold back anymore. "How did you do it? Those Holy Hall students aren't exactly pushovers."
He was genuinely curious.
"Well..." Su Chen pondered for a mont before answering. "Maybe I'm just good at life-and-death combat."
"Good at life-and-death combat?" Wei Zhenghong could not help but laugh. He was indeed rough around the edges, but since Su Chen did not want to elaborate, he did not press the issue. He rely mumbled, "I wonder what kind of expression Shen Yian will have when he finds out. His holy class should be almost fully forged by now."
Hearing this, Su Chen's heart stirred. 'Has that number one on the Holy Leaderboard already forged his holy class?'
After thinking it over, he asked, "I want to head to the Underworld. Senior Brother Qingcang ntioned that the faction can use anchoring to ensure that every trip to the Underworld spawns you at the exact location you last left."
"Head to the Underworld?" Wei Zhenghong shot him a surprised look. "Why would you want to go to that hellhole? The Underworld is no place for the living."
Su Chen asked, "Aren't Underworld Stones and other special materials related to the Underworld all harvested from there?"
"Yeah." Wei Zhenghong nodded as they walked side by side. "There are indeed people specifically assigned to work in the Underworld."
"However, the personnel have to be rotated out every so often. The tornt of the Underworld is no joke. If you stay there too long, you'll easily go mad. Unless absolutely necessary, it's best not to go."
"I see," Su Chen replied thoughtfully. "But what if a class requirent forcibly mandates a trip to the Underworld?"
"Are you talking about the Whispering Trial?" Wei Zhenghong asked, before shaking his head. "Forget it, forget it. I'm asking too many questions."
"If you want to head to the Underworld, you definitely need to establish a spiritual anchor first. I have a little bro who's a deacon in the Nether Hall. I'll ask him for you."
Wei Zhenghong was a man of action. He imdiately opened his virtual terminal to contact soone. The screen displayed text indicating an outgoing call.
It rang once, twice, five tis, ten tis...
Wei Zhenghong's expression gradually darkened. Only after a long while did the call finally connect, and a rather simple-minded-looking, large face appeared on the screen.
"Little Feng." Wei Zhenghong's tone was unfriendly. "Why did it take you so long to pick up?"
Deacon Feng's eyes darted around evasively as he hastily explained, "I was just busy."
Su Chen suddenly pictured a scene in his mind: this Deacon Feng staring at the popping virtual screen with imnse hesitation, taking a huge amount of resolve before finally deciding to answer.
"Our new Star Seed, Su Chen." Wei Zhenghong did not pursue the matter, instead sweeping his wristband cara over to Su Chen.
"Ah, so it's Star Seed Su," Deacon Feng quickly greeted.
"Pleasure to et you," Su Chen replied.
Wei Zhenghong had already asked bluntly, "He wants to head to the Underworld. Does he still need to anchor his spiritual imprint?"
"Yes, yes!" Deacon Feng nodded profusely, breathing a sigh of relief in his heart. It seed this wasn't so rule-breaking request.
"Where do I need to go to set the anchor?" Su Chen asked.
Deacon Feng was very familiar with the procedure and imdiately replied, "You don't need to co in person. Just grant the authorization to access your spiritual sample."
"However, the spiritual anchoring process will take so ti, and we'll also need to construct an altar at your residence."
'I don't even have to go in person?' Su Chen raised an eyebrow. This was perfect, though it seed he could only enter the Underworld from a fixed location to achieve the desired effect.
Wei Zhenghong forwarded Deacon Feng's contact information to him, and Su Chen quickly granted the man authorization to access his spiritual sample for the Underworld anchoring.
After so more casual chat, the two arrived at the port.
"I won't escort you back. I'm going to see if Shen Yian is finished yet," Wei Zhenghong stated. He seed sowhat impatient as he boarded his flashy Tyrant Cloud ship and hurried off.
'This Star Seed really is...' Su Chen thought about it but could not find the right words to describe him. Still, for now, the man seed to be on his side.
The port manager was already waiting to the side. Originally, two spaceships were checked out under his na, and logically, he should have returned one of them before being allowed to use another.
But as a Star Seed, he naturally had privileges.
The port manager had prepared a third standard-issue aircraft for him without the slightest hesitation.
anwhile, in a room resembling a laboratory, massive amounts of equipnt lined the surroundings. On the left side sat a glass container, housing a bewitching, bright red flower in full bloom.
Staff mbers hurried back and forth, while the person in charge stared nervously at the center of the room.
There, a mass of blood-red flas writhed, accompanied by suppressed, heavy roars.
At a certain mont, his pupils contracted as he shouted, "It's done!"
In the central area, the blood-red flas gradually receded, revealing a heavily panting Lan Hao.
The manager jogged over, his voice laced with excitent. "Lord Lan Hao, you have successfully assud your class."
Lan Hao still seed unable to process it. The excruciating pain produced by the class assumption monts ago had made him wish he could just drop dead on the spot.
Only after a long while did he regain his senses. Soone had already dressed him.
He stared at his own hand, opening and clenching it. A blood-red symbol surfaced on his palm, and the blank look in his eyes was gradually replaced by intense thrill.
"I finally succeeded!" He could not help but clench his fists.
Soone waiting nearby stepped forward. He had silver hair, a stern face, and the bearing of a butler. "Young Master, this class provides an imnse boost to combat power. With this, your ranking should rise significantly," he said in a low voice.
Lan Hao took a deep breath. He naturally understood that the Phoenix's first special class didn't offer much in terms of direct combat.
But this second one was entirely different. Paired with his main class abilities, his frontal combat strength would receive a massive enhancent.
Perhaps he now had a chance to compete with Wan Chen before the latter assud his third special class. He still brooded over his previous defeat.
Opening the Holy Leaderboard and finding his ranking, Lan Hao suddenly froze. "389? I've dropped a spot. Who passed ?"
"Young Master," the butler hesitated for a mont before replying. "It's Lord Su Chen."
"Su Chen?" Lan Hao's heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out, "He really ranked into the fifth tier."
Back on the spaceship, he had seen the combat footage of Lin Yue fighting Su Chen to a standstill with fifth-tier strength. At the ti, he had guessed that Su Chen had an eighty or ninety percent chance of defeating his forr self.
So, it was perfectly normal for Su Chen's ranking to be above his now.
'However, the past is the past...' Lan Hao's mind raced.
Both Lin Yue and Wan Chen had crossed paths with Su Chen indirectly, but he alone had yet to exchange blows with him.
'This is an opportunity. I've assud the class of the Nourishnt Drainer. My strength is completely different from before; maybe I have a chance to defeat him.'
With this thought, he cast Wan Chen to the back of his mind and swiped up, searching for Su Chen's position.
But soon, his expression froze. "299?" he exclaid in shock. "The champion of the fifth tier!"
The butler beside him remained silent. Although it had only happened recently, the instantaneous nature of information within the faction territory ant it had already caused a massive uproar.
"How did he..." Lan Hao was in utter disbelief. If Su Chen were only a few spots higher than him, or about the sa as Wan Chen, he could accept it.
He might even have rubbed his hands together in eagerness to fight. But this ranking completely shattered his expectations.
Just how strong was he?
Lan Hao's expression shifted wildly before he gritted his teeth. "Let's go. To the challenge room!"
He was genuinely curious, and mixed within was an indescribable emotion.
This was his father's residence. Even though it was within the core area of Bronze Heart, it still had a private challenge room built in.
The mont he stepped inside, he shouted impatiently, "Challenge rank 299."
"Target confird. Rank 299, Star Seed Su Chen. Generating training mimicry projection..."
Soon, a mimicry projection was outlined in the center of the room, though it likewise had no facial features.
This was an intentional design to prevent challengers from developing grudges over ti, staring at a specific face while repeatedly failing to win.
The silver-haired butler stood quietly outside the challenge room, watching a virtual screen that displayed everything happening inside.
Lan Hao took a deep breath, his spirit roused. As the countdown echoed in his ears, he thought to himself, 'Bring it on. Let see just how—'
Before his thought could even finish, the countdown reached zero.
And in that re fraction of a second, his pupils violently shrank.
Invisible ripples surged through the void before the projection. A formless torrent of ntal energy erupted, and a spectral face bearing a seventy or eighty percent resemblance to Su Chen materialized, hurtling straight at him.
'A ntal attack?'
His heart chilled as he rapidly mobilized his own ntal energy, attempting to construct a defense. Yet, it was completely futile, shattered into pieces by the sheer force of the impact.
Boom!
His vision spun wildly.
In his daze, Lan Hao saw a radiant figure—cold, solemn, majestic, and overflowing with divinity—looking down upon him.
It was none other than Su Chen!
Before this figure, he felt incredibly small and insignificant. His pathetic little thought of 'wanting to defeat Su Chen to gain psychological comfort' was laid bare for all to see.
He even felt a profound sense of sha, believing that showing such disrespect to Su Chen was a sin worthy of a thousand deaths...
"Combat concluded," a chanical voice rang in his ears. The divine radiance vanished, yanking him back to reality.
Lan Hao gasped for air, only to realize that, at so unknown point, he had already fallen to his knees.
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