"Hmm, so that means I can gain a unique advantage by learning a large number of body-tempering methods." Su Chen contemplated the feasibility.
Based on what he currently understood, very few people did this.
The abilities born from body-tempering methods had too much uncertainty, and mastering a single method to perfection actually benefited class development.
Outside of class requirements, few people bothered learning additional body-tempering methods.
'When a body-tempering method isn't mastered, its efficiency really isn't that great, but I have Scholar, which lets me rapidly increase proficiency and minimize the cost.'
'Sacrifice a little efficiency to gain abilities...' Su Chen considered it a worthwhile trade. Switching to other body-tempering methods didn't mean he couldn't develop them further.
'However, this would require a large stockpile of body-tempering method resources. Before, that would have been difficult, but now with Old Yuan backing me, it shouldn't be a problem.'
He glanced at his panel. Void-Rending Warrior's development had also reached 41%.
By mid-afternoon, a servant came upstairs and knocked on his door. Yuan Chenyang had returned.
In the living room, Old Yuan was rubbing his temples, looking considerably exhausted. Bai Fengxi sat beside him.
"Come here, kid." He waved, motioning for Su Chen to sit down.
"What took you so long?" Su Chen took the teapot from the servant and poured Yuan Chenyang a cup of tea.
Bai Fengxi raised an eyebrow slightly and pointed at the empty cup in front of her.
Su Chen was speechless, but poured her a cup as well.
"That old bastard..." Yuan Chenyang took a sip of tea, then burst into cursing before sighing in lament. "Kid, I've let you down."
"Hm?" Su Chen's heart lurched. 'They're not going to make me pay for Zhou Zong's life, are they?' He forced down the unease rising within him and asked, "What happened?"
"You have to go to the Supervision Department." Yuan Chenyang said helplessly.
"The Supervision... Department?" Su Chen blinked, hesitant. "Your department, sir?"
Yuan Chenyang nodded.
"Is that bad news?" Su Chen was somewhat bewildered.
Yuan Chenyang was the head of the Supervision Department. He was the man's student. Going there should be like a fish returning to water.
"Hopeless!" Yuan Chenyang slammed his cup down, bristling with frustration. "Can't you see the bigger picture?"
"He probably doesn't know about the nomination slot," Bai Fengxi said quietly.
Yuan Chenyang's expression shifted as realization dawned, and he said awkwardly, "Ah, right. Here's the thing — the academy has one nomination slot each year to go to the Adjudication Court in Yingfeng. It's incredibly valuable."
"The Adjudication Court?" Su Chen couldn't help but glance at Bai Fengxi. "Isn't your master one of those Chief Inquisitors or something?"
This was something Bai Fengxi had let slip in passing.
"What do you mean 'your master'? That's your grandmaster," Yuan Chenyang coughed twice.
Su Chen: "..."
Yuan Chenyang continued, "The Adjudication Court is the cradle of everyone in power. It's the most elite of Yingfeng's elite."
"Everyone who gets to go is the best of the best from each city. Originally, this year's top candidate was Zhang Hengyu, but then you appeared out of nowhere and caught the City Lord's attention — in the worst way."
"The City Lord's attention?" Su Chen sensed something. "He's going after me because of his son?"
"Exactly." Yuan Chenyang ground his teeth. "Zhang Hongbo is a man with a kind face and a cold heart. To eliminate the threat you pose, he wants to seal your file."
"Damn, what an old bastard," Su Chen cursed, but then added, "Still, there's not much that can be done about it. You don't need to feel guilty on my account."
Seeing that Su Chen bore no resentment, Yuan Chenyang silently nodded in approval. What he'd told the boy was only part of the story, deliberately crafted to give the impression of helplessness.
He wanted to see whether Su Chen would harbor resentment if it seemed like his teacher could do nothing for him.
Their time together had been too short, and Su Chen was a refugee besides. Yuan Chenyang didn't yet fully understand the boy's character.
Only then did Yuan Chenyang explain further, "However, things aren't that simple. Even if you wanted to go this year, I wouldn't let you. Your records list you as a refugee — that's an inherent disadvantage."
"There's discrimination against refugees even at that level?" Su Chen frowned.
"It's not discrimination, it's... legacy issues," Yuan Chenyang said vaguely. "The higher-ups find it difficult to let a refugee become a City Lord or the like."
"But by conceding this time, I got Zhang Hongbo to agree to amend your file next year and erase your refugee status."
Su Chen finally understood. Because of his refugee identity, that nomination slot had been a long shot to begin with.
But Yuan Chenyang had maneuvered skillfully, striking a deal with Zhang Hongbo. What looked like a concession had actually yielded a strategic gain.
"I appreciate you going to all that trouble," Su Chen said sincerely.
"Since I've taken you on as my student and accepted your gifts, I'll naturally do what I can." Yuan Chenyang waved it off casually. "You're already a professional. There's not much point in you staying at Nanfeng Academy."
"The Supervision Department is a solid training ground, too."
"Uh..." Su Chen thought for a moment, then asked, "Is it busy over there?"
At Nanfeng Academy, he hadn't wanted to attend classes. At the Supervision Department, he didn't want to do grunt work either.
"You're my student. Who over there would dare boss you around?" Yuan Chenyang said irritably. "Just don't give anyone a major excuse to cause trouble, and I can make things easy for you."
"And it's safer, too." At this, Yuan Chenyang paused briefly before continuing, "Any other requests?"
Su Chen's eyes lit up, and he immediately rattled off, "A body-tempering method, a meditation method, and supplementary elixirs or something. Oh, and do you know about the Scholar class? Are there any similar classes?"
"Oh, here comes the wish list." Yuan Chenyang glared at him. "Don't you know the saying 'bite off more than you can chew'? You've got a solid class foundation — focus on the physical side."
"I reviewed the class information you gave me. Advancing to the 2nd-tier Gale Hunter shouldn't be a problem. The Supervision Department just happens to have that class data in storage."
"I feel like my mental talent is really good," Su Chen insisted.
"You feel?" Yuan Chenyang gave him a sideways look. "Feelings are worthless. Come on, let me test you."
With that, he picked up the metal case sitting beside him.
A hum resonated as the case opened. White mist billowed out, revealing two hemisphere-shaped objects about the size of a palm — one silver, one black.
"Physical first." Yuan Chenyang pointed at the black hemisphere on the left.
Su Chen was genuinely curious and had no idea how it worked. He placed his hand on it.
A low hum filled the air, and dense golden patterns bloomed across the sphere's surface. After roughly two or three breaths, a brilliant silver beam of light pierced straight through his palm.
"Brilliant Silver, as expected." Yuan Chenyang's expression softened, and he broke into a grin. "I knew it. To have achieved the Void-Rending Warrior class at such a young age, even with years of accumulation, your physical talent couldn't possibly be low."
"Is that high?" Su Chen couldn't help but ask. In the talent hierarchy, it seemed to be only the second from the bottom.
Yuan Chenyang explained, "It's already quite good. The vast majority of people have no talent whatsoever. With sufficient resources, even a Bronze-grade can grind their way to the 3rd tier. Zhang Hengyu is also Brilliant Silver. Reaching the 5th tier as a professional shouldn't be a problem for you."
Su Chen was quite surprised. He actually had physical talent?
His predecessor hadn't noticed anything of the sort — in fact, he'd been weaker than most.
He could understand his mental talent growing after transmigrating, but physical talent couldn't just appear out of thin air.
'Could it be...' A thought stirred in his mind. 'Scholar?'
If increasing skill proficiency boosted efficiency, wasn't that essentially the same as increasing talent? This testing device probably couldn't distinguish the difference.
"Let me test my mental talent..." Su Chen spoke up just as Yuan Chenyang was about to put the device away.
"Mental talent is even rarer and more precious than physical talent. And if your mental talent were truly exceptional, there would have been obvious signs," Yuan Chenyang said flatly.
"Besides, mental and physical talent are somewhat in conflict — when one is high, the other tends to be low."
Despite his words, he didn't stop Su Chen.
He could understand the feeling. Who didn't secretly hope they were one in a million?
Su Chen placed his other hand on the silver hemisphere. This time, he felt a cool sensation travel up his arm and surge into his crown.
Two or three breaths passed.
Suddenly, a beam of red-gold light burst through his palm — radiant and magnificent.
"Is this... Red Gold?" Su Chen looked up uncertainly.
But Yuan Chenyang was staring at the beam with a stunned expression, muttering under his breath, "Well I'll be damned — there really are pearls lost in the ocean!"