On a table in the corner sat two spheres—the detection devices.
The person in charge who had brought them here left after they arrived.
"Not bad... Not bad..."
The first to speak was Xia Hanshi, who seed to be in the best mood of the group. However, his gaze wasn’t on Su Chen, but on Zhu Xuan.
"Truly worthy of an Ink Jade Level Talent. So rare in this world. In all of Ying Feng’s history, the number of Ink Jade Level Talents that have appeared can be counted on one hand."
Xia Hanshi was an eccentric old man. On a normal day, it was hard enough to see him smile, let alone praise soone. Yet now, he was heaping complints on Zhu Xuan.
"That Assessnt Judge was a Tier Two Rock Guardian at 100% of his power. To think you could shove him back more than ten ters... Impressive..."
However, the more Xia Hanshi spoke, the uglier Zhu Xuan’s expression beca. He knew perfectly well that everyone could tell who had perford better with a single glance.
The more he was praised, the more impressive Su Chen, who had far surpassed him, appeared.
’Not just defeating him, but crushing his spirit...’ Su Chen thought as he watched the donkey-faced old man’s expression grow darker. ’That must be Wei Yinsuo, Zhu Xuan’s teacher.’
The other Judges also wore rather odd expressions.
"Old Liu..." Chong Jingtian gave a dry cough, unable to watch any longer.
’Old Liu...’ Su Chen’s eyelid twitched. It suddenly dawned on him that Xia Hanshi was the Sixth Judge.
’He recalled that the Judges often referred to each other by their rank, like "Old [Number]." But hearing this particular nickna, which in his past life was slang for soone "scheming" or "treacherous," Su Chen couldn’t help but glance at Xia Hanshi.’
’It actually fits him pretty well...’ he muttered to himself.
"I just got excited seeing an Ink Jade Level Talent," Xia Hanshi explained, though no one believed him. Chong Jingtian pretended not to hear, his gaze sweeping over Su Chen and Zhu Xuan before nodding slightly.
"It has been many years since the Judicial Court has seen talents like you two. Your Talents are high, you are resilient, and you can endure solitude..." The Chief Judge offered a few words of routine praise.
"We owe our thanks to Ying Feng and the Judicial Court for providing us with a safe and stable environnt to grow," Su Chen replied.
Su Chen wasn’t sure if the Chief Judge and Xia Hanshi were on good or bad terms, so he gave a standard, proper response.
"The Fourth Judge had a point earlier. Since he’s a talent, an exception should be made. Soone like Zhu Xuan only cos along once every few years; he deserves better treatnt." Xia Hanshi spoke up abruptly. "I support making Zhu Xuan a Core Seed."
’Here cos the main event...’ Su Chen understood imdiately. From Old Xia’s tone, he could guess that the Judges had likely already discussed whether to make an exception before the assessnt even began.
’Old Xia must have opposed it then, but now my performance has surpassed Zhu Xuan’s. If even Zhu Xuan can beco a Core Seed, then what does that say about ?’
Beside them, Zhu Xuan, who had been keeping his head down, raised it slightly. There was no trace of excitent on his face, because his teacher’s expression remained grim.
Chong Jingtian fell into thought, while the other Judges frowned.
"Third Judge, what do you say?" Xia Hanshi singled out Yuan Poshan.
This Judge glanced at Su Chen with a pained expression before nodding with difficulty. "Indeed, Xia Hanshi has a point."
"Then what about Su Chen?" Wei Yinsuo interrupted, his voice heavy. "If Zhu Xuan is to beco a Core Seed, should Su Chen beco one as well?"
"If Su Chen also becos a Core Seed, the other Red Gold Level Talent seeds will surely get restless."
Xia Hanshi had been deliberately ignoring Su Chen, insisting on first using Zhu Xuan to break the precedent. But Wei Yinsuo was unwilling to see that happen.
Xia Hanshi’s gaze turned icy. "Fourth Judge, don’t push your luck. We all saw how your student perford. If he’s qualified, are you saying Su Chen isn’t?"
Hearing this, Zhu Xuan subconsciously clenched his fists, only to release them again, forcing himself to control his emotions.
’That guy will definitely hold a grudge against and Old Xia now...’ Su Chen knew, but he wasn’t bothered by it. ’If you want to compete, you’re bound to make enemies.’
It was Zhu Xuan’s own fault for not achieving a result so overwhelming that it would shut everyone up.
Wei Yinsuo gritted his teeth. "A montary performance ans nothing. In the end, your student is only Red Gold. Making an exception for him will never convince the others."
"At that point, all the seeds in the Inner Courtyard will be vying for Core Seed positions."
As his gaze drifted to Zhu Xuan, it carried a hint of resentnt. If only Zhu Xuan had been a little more impressive, he wouldn’t have to be wasting his breath like this.
Xia Hanshi was blunt. "Then let them compete! How many Red Gold Talents in the entire history of the Judicial Court have perford like Su Chen did today?"
"The Fourth Judge has a point..." the only female Judge spoke up. "If we’re going to announce an exception, we need a justification that will silence any objections. A Red Gold Level Talent isn’t enough."
Yuan Poshan frowned, a trace of hesitation on his face, but he spoke up nonetheless. "Based on Zhu Xuan’s performance today, it would be difficult to convince anyone if we overlooked Su Chen."
"It’s just a temporary thing. We must look at the long term. The final gap between Red Gold and Ink Jade could be one or even two full Tiers."
More Judges joined the discussion, but the general consensus was against making an exception for a Red Gold Talent, even a Double Red Gold.
"I’ll make my position clear right now..." Xia Hanshi suddenly cut everyone off, his grim, icy gaze sweeping across the room. "If we don’t make an exception today, then no one gets one. If we do make an exception, then both of them get one!"
"Otherwise, don’t bla for being rciless!"
His killing intent was palpable!
The Judges, who had been chattering away just monts before, all fell silent. Even with dissatisfaction in their eyes, none of them wanted to be the one to stick their neck out after Xia Hanshi had made his stance clear.
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