Under normal circumstances, even if it were rely the position of Vice Minister, it would be very difficult for soone who had never been to Yingfeng to hold it. What Sun Tai lacked was not just rit.
This touched upon Yingfeng's core principles for governing its subordinate cities, but since it was the "Chief Inquisitor's" intention, special matters could naturally be handled specially.
Yuan Chenyang's expression softened. People who knew how to repay a debt of gratitude always managed to win the favor of others. He sighed with emotion:
"Regardless of anything else, as Elder Xia's student participating in the Adjudication Court's examination, you possess a uniquely advantageous position. Afterward, perhaps you might even have a chance to aim for the seat of a Core Seed."
"Core Seeds are the true reserves for the Principal Chief Inquisitor." Speaking up to here, Yuan Chenyang couldn't help but shake his head. "It's a pity. Ever since the Vault Light system was popularized twenty years ago, the various cities have beco increasingly stable, and the talents born are also growing more and more nurous."
"Otherwise, if this were twenty years ago, a Double Red Gold would definitely beco one of the Core Seeds."
Vault Light? Was that giant artificial sun only popularized twenty years ago? Su Chen felt sowhat surprised.
"It's all the sa." Su Chen appeared quite indifferent to the matter.
"Haha, of course it's not the sa." Yuan Chenyang couldn't help but laugh loudly: "However, it's for the best that you have this kind of mindset."
Or rather, he reined in his laughter and asked in a low voice, "How did your talent beco Double Red Gold?"
Yuan Chenyang had personally tested his talent before, so naturally, he would have this kind of doubt. Su Chen already had a drafted response: "It's because of the 【Sage】 and the 【Scholar】. My forced advancent in these two professions brought about a slight amplification."
"It's these two professions?" Yuan Chenyang was completely astonished, sighing with even greater emotion: "Professions that can enhance talent are extrely rare. Your luck isn't bad at all."
"However, Nanfeng indeed has Scholar, but this Sage...?"
"Sage ca from Zhang Hengyu. Previously, when Zhang Hongbo transferred away to use as bait, he seed to harbor so guilt in his heart," Su Chen explained.
"Zhang Hengyu—" Yuan Chenyang grinned. "He is indeed completely different from his father. It makes one wonder if he's even Old Zhang's seed."
Su Chen chuckled. After chatting for a while with this teacher he hadn't seen for a long ti, he finally felt at ease finding that the other party genuinely held no grudges.
Not long after, the news of Zhang Hongbo stepping down had gradually spread.
Zhang Hongbo had controlled Nanfeng for over a decade and simultaneously held multiple posts. His prestige had long since struck deep into people's hearts, not to ntion that he also frequently showed his face at Nanfeng Academy.
His graduated students were spread across every industry in Nanfeng. He could be said to be deeply rooted here.
Many high-ranking officials in various departnts were shocked upon learning this news, uncontrollable feelings of utter dread rising within them.
Furthermore, there was the Exploration Departnt serving as his personal army. This was the most elite group of people in Nanfeng City; if handled poorly, major problems could arise.
Changing generals in the middle of a battle was already a massive taboo, especially at such a critical juncture. But because of his younger brother's implication, Zhang Hongbo had no way to continue in his position either.
At the sa ti, Yuan Chenyang didn't genuinely believe that rely holding the City Lord's seal would allow him to command everyone. He even allowed Zhang Hongbo to retain the position of Minister of Exploration in order to pacify the people.
By the next day, as more news gradually spread, everyone finally learned that it was Yuan Chenyang who had taken over the City Lord position, and many people breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as it was one of their own, it was fine. Quite a few people knew the news about the Yingfeng Special Envoys' arrival. They had been afraid it was a great purge coming from Yingfeng, but now it seed to rely be so sort of internal struggle.
By mid-afternoon, the high-ranking officials of the various departnts were gathered by Yuan Chenyang. They conversed secretly for a long ti, only dispersing as the sky grew dim.
No one knew what these people discussed, but the originally sowhat turbulent situation swiftly subsided.
...
"Zhang Hongbo's younger brother was implicated with the Evil God Cults?"
In the Research Departnt, Jiang He pulled out a chair to let her old father sit down. Listening to the matters discussed during today's eting, her small face couldn't help but show astonishnt. "It truly is 'darkest beneath the lamp.' For the scheming and deep-thinking Zhang Hongbo to unexpectedly fall by the hands of his own people."
"Yuan Chenyang's luck is truly good. If it weren't for the fact that you, Old Man, aren't familiar with those Special Envoys, otherwise..."
Jiang He couldn't help but feel regret. The status of a City Lord and a Minister was a world of absolute difference.
Just citing one point: the City Lord possessed the authority to converse directly with Yingfeng. No matter how the other Ministers tried, they all had to go through the City Lord's side.
"That kid Su Chen really picked up a massive bargain. A City Lord's disciple—his future prospects are boundless." Jiang He couldn't help thinking. Following Qi Chuan's death, Jiang Rong had kept her maintaining a low profile. During this period, she hadn't even gone to the academy.
"Wrong." Jiang Rong cast a glance at his daughter and couldn't help but shake his head. "Yuan Chenyang being able to beco this City Lord was actually all thanks to Su Chen's blessing."
"Thanks to Su Chen's blessing?" Jiang He was hesitant, failing to understand.
"I don't know whether your eye for people is good or poor." Jiang Rong couldn't help but sigh. "Su Chen has already been taken as a student by the Chief Inquisitor who ca this ti. This is also the reason why the other high-ranking officials laid down their arms and ceased hostilities. They can't fight against Yuan Chenyang anymore."
"The Chief—Inquisitor's—student!?" Jiang He was dumbstruck. "He—how—how could I—this—"
Her expression grew dazed, scenes from back inside that room flashing before her eyes. How long had it been since then...?
"...However." Jiang Rong ignored his stunned daughter, rubbing the armrests of his chair. "I feel that a major incident might occur. You will set off tomorrow morning. First head to Yunlan, then follow the central trade caravan toward Yingfeng. Once you beco a 3rd-tier Mystic Weaver, return and inherit my position."
"Did you hear !"
Receiving no response, Jiang Rong's voice involuntarily grew a pitch higher.
"Alright, alright." Jiang He responded subconsciously, touching her cheek as if feeling a faint, stinging pain.
...
The disturbances of the outside world had already failed to reach this prestigious pupil of the Chief Inquisitor, Su Chen.
Erging from the gravity room, Su Chen let out a sigh of relief. He smoothly picked up a vial of green potion from the table and poured it into his mouth.
This was a 2nd-tier nutrient fluid made from the highly compressed flesh and blood nutrition of Mutants, sufficient to provide a 2nd-tier professional with the nutrients required for several days of activity.
Previously, he had to drink ordinary nutrient fluid, forced to chug down several bottles every day.
"Old Yuan looks reckless, but he actually possesses a lot of finesse..." Su Chen couldn't help but think. The transition from Zhang Hongbo to Yuan Chenyang had been very smooth and smooth-sailing; so far, there hadn't been any accidents.
Entering the washroom, the water flowed down the lines of his robust muscles. Su Chen pondered inwardly, 'That thing has finally stopped moving. It has stayed in a fixed position for over half a day. Looking at the location, it's in the Slums. Regardless, I must eliminate this hidden danger.'
"I'll just go directly to Old Xia. He probably guessed my situation last ti anyway. Using soone else to deliver the ssage will make it seem like I don't trust him. However, I still need to be a bit tactful about how I fra it."
After finishing showering, Su Chen sat down at the table again and personally wrote a letter.
Taking the elevator to the top floor and climbing the stairs to the rooftop, he spotted the hunched old man standing at the edge in a single glance.
"Teacher, whenever you don't have anything to do, do you just stand here?" Su Chen walked up and asked with concern.
"Only the lights of these myriad households can allow to feel a bit more at peace." Xia Hanshi's voice was indifferent, overlooking the lights below. "What's the matter?"
"Teacher, last night, a letter was suddenly slipped through the crack of my door. I'm not sure how to handle it." Su Chen handed over the letter in his hand.
"Oh?" Xia Hanshi's interest was piqued. Without seeing him make any movent, the letter paper in Su Chen's hand vanished.
"Who on earth could write such ugly handwriting?" Xia Hanshi said in disgust.
Su Chen felt speechless inwardly as Old Xia's gaze swept over the lines one by one, his expression gradually turning solemn.
"...Discovered traces of Evil God activity in the Slums Administration Bureau, West City Branch, approximately two thousand ters to the east..."
Reading to the end, the corners of Xia Hanshi's mouth twitched. "Signature: A Righteous Person."
"Last ti, it was also this 'Righteous Person' who sent that piece of news to that little fatty, right?" Xia Hanshi stated airily.
"It should be," Su Chen lowered his head.
"Tell , should I trust him?" Xia Hanshi countered.
Su Chen said hesitantly, "He should be trustworthy, right?"
Xia Hanshi cast a displeased glance at him, his brows furrowed deeply. "Since he harbors justice in his heart, why does he hide and act so evasively?"
Su Chen sighed, "Perhaps he has unspoken difficulties. In any case, it's just making a trip. What if, like last ti, there's an unexpected discovery...?"
"With the coordinates being so specific, does he truly have no connection to the Evil Gods?" Xia Hanshi gazed into the distance. "I'm not just referring to Black Buddha—"
"I feel like he probably doesn't," Su Chen replied.
Writing this letter was not Su Chen purposely trying to be mysterious.
Even if the two of them were completely aware of what was going on in their hearts, there was still a layer separating them. As long as Xia Hanshi didn't intend to interrogate him directly, he could act as if he didn't know.
And based on his preliminary understanding of Old Xia, with himself acting halfway open and honest, and given that the goal was still to kill Evil God Cultists, the other party probably wouldn't get to the bottom of the matter.
"Hehe—" Xia Hanshi remained silent for a long ti, abruptly revealing an ugly smile as raven-like croaking laughter squeezed from his throat.
"Elder Xia?"
At this mont, Yang Yan rushed over. Seeing Xia Hanshi's ugly smile, a strange feeling welled up within him.
The last ti he saw Elder Xia laugh... he didn't even seem to have seen it before.
Did Su Chen really win Elder Xia's favor to such an extent?
"What is it?" Xia Hanshi's expression darkened again.
Yang Yan's heart trembled, and he hurriedly said, "It's like this: the other cities have already replied to the dispatches. They will dispatch people over as soon as possible, but it will still require waiting a few days."
Old Xia ultimately went through with borrowing manpower. After all, those people escaped last ti, and they still couldn't be found now.
"There is no need." Xia Hanshi shook his head. The paper in his hand disintegrated into dust. "Notify Yuan Chenyang, Zhang Hongbo, and Gu Bing to co with ."
"Where are we going?" Yang Yan couldn't help asking. Then, realizing his mistake, he hurriedly added, "I will gather the personnel right away."
"Please, you must be extrely careful," Su Chen chid in. What he actually wanted to say was: 'This ti, please go all out, don't let them escape again. I really don't dare directly lock onto them a third ti.'
"I know." Xia Hanshi slanted a glance at him. Last ti he was caught unprepared; who would have expected a Statue of Black Buddha to suddenly pop out of nowhere?
But this ti, he would go all out!
...
"...Just wait one more day..."
Within the Slums, in a certain remote location exceedingly close to the city walls. Drifting fog even perated the area, and one could scarcely even see any refugee shacks nearby.
The Priest sat cross-legged on the ground, his face deathly pale. The Statue of Black Buddha floated behind his back.
Only when looking from behind could one realize that a massive gash was split open across his spine, from which the statue was draining drops of black blood.
Beneath the Statue of Black Buddha, liquid-like black runic lines extended outward, plunging straight into the earth beneath.
"A asly little Nanfeng City has actually driven to such a state! After the Holy Lord descends, you will all beco food for his belly! Xia Hanshi, you old fogey, I will not spare you!"
A venomous malice surged onto the Priest's face, but it swiftly morphed into worry: "However, the Holy Lord personally issued an edict to search for a delicious soul, yet there are still absolutely no clues to this day."
"The possibility of it being Yuan Chenyang, as Zhou Xian said, is extrely low. If this 'delicious soul' has already left Nanfeng... I'm afraid I too will have to return to the embrace of the Holy Lord."
"It is of no consequence if I return to the Holy Lord's embrace, but failing to fulfill the Holy Lord's desires is my true sin. I hope that person is still in Nanfeng City!"
"Priest!" An unkempt and disheveled Zhou Xian bolted inside, his face bearing an irrepressible excitent. "I found it! I found it!"
"I found that delicious soul!"
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