As they descended the high platform, Su Chen and Zhu Xuan walked side by side, both silent. Neither spoke a word, and neither looked at the other.
When they returned to the training ground, the two went their separate ways. Chu Yunze and the others, who had been waiting for a long ti, quickly surrounded Zhu Xuan.
Pang Xingwen, the most impatient of the group, imdiately started pestering him. "How did it go? Did the Chief make an exception? Did you beco a Core Seed?"
Zhu Xuan’s expression grew even darker, giving everyone a bad feeling.
When he didn’t respond, Pang Xingwen’s tone grew more urgent. "Hey, say sothing! Are you trying to kill us with suspense?"
"Did you make it or not? Is it a ’not yet’ or a ’never happening’? Just give us a straight answer!"
"Shut up!" Chu Yunze finally lost his patience. He shoved Pang Xingwen aside and turned to console Zhu Xuan. "There’ll be other chances. You have an Ink Jade Level Talent. Sooner or later, you’ll get the status you deserve."
"It must be because of that Su Chen, right? He put the Chief in a tough spot, so he couldn’t make an exception." Pang Xingwen sidled over again. Now that he thought he had his answer, his urgency faded, and he didn’t even look disappointed.
"The Chief already agreed to make an exception," Zhu Xuan finally said. The sound of his own voice—hoarse and grim—startled even him.
"He agreed!?" Pang Xingwen’s face lit up with excitent. "Old Chu, you were right! The assessnt is just a montary setback. The Chief is the one with real foresight."
The others also breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Chu Yunze hesitated. "Then what about Su Chen?"
Judging by Zhu Xuan’s attitude, sothing must have happened on the high platform, sothing that made him unhappy even after being made a Core Seed by exception.
"He’s also a Core Seed." Zhu Xuan pushed through the crowd with a cold expression and walked to the side, clearly unwilling to say more.
"What?" Pang Xingwen froze. "He beca a Core Seed, too?"
Chu Yunze, on the other hand, wasn’t too surprised. "Su Chen’s performance was outstanding. It was either make an exception for both of them or for neither. I actually expected the latter. I didn’t think the Chief would be so decisive."
"Hah..." Pang Xingwen couldn’t help but sneer. "He sure got lucky. If it weren’t for Zhu Xuan being in this class, he never could have piggybacked his way in. No matter how well he perford, he never would have beco a Core Seed on his own."
The group exchanged glances. Even though they’d achieved their goal, sohow, the excitent wasn’t there.
...
Su Chen found Zhang Hengyu, who had already finished his assessnt. He was sitting on the ground, panting heavily.
He had also chosen the attack assessnt. The Assessnt Judge had just turned to leave, not a single mark on his muscular torso.
When he saw Su Chen approach, he couldn’t help but give a wry smile. "Man, that was tough. I was *this* close to being sent to the Outer Courtyard. Good thing I trained with you for those two months, otherwise I’m not sure I would’ve made it."
"My father told before I ca that it was basically a done deal. I never expected it to be this much harder."
Of course, this also gave him a much better appreciation for Su Chen’s terrifying power. He had to give it his all just to squeeze into the Inner Courtyard as a regular mber.
anwhile, Su Chen had beco an Inner Court Seed with ease.
Su Chen glanced around. The basic assessnts weren’t over yet. On the small, temporary arenas set up across the training ground, so candidates were desperately attacking the mountain-like Assessnt Judges.
Others stood in place being attacked, while still others weaved and dodged within a tiny designated space, trying to avoid being caught.
The assessnts for so of the more specialized professions were even more diverse. Su Chen saw one person whose body was nearly transparent, while soone next to him tid him with a stopwatch.
Among those who had already stepped down from the small arenas, so were beaming, while others looked crestfallen.
The Inner Courtyard had limited spots, and not everyone could get in. So with Silver Talents, who hadn’t put in the effort beforehand, could only be sent packing to the Outer Courtyard.
And yet, so with Brass Talents managed to squeeze into the Inner Courtyard by virtue of their hard-earned high profession developnt level.
These regular assessnts offered three attempts, so so candidates would try again and again.
"Aaargh! I refuse to accept this!"
Soone roared, spitting up blood. He had apparently used so kind of high-risk ability, but it had no effect. The Assessnt Judge across from him remained completely unmoved, and the candidate could only retreat in disgrace.
Old Bai hadn’t participated in this kind of assessnt. Her situation was special; she was made an Inner Court Seed directly.
"My sister’s here." Zhang Hengyu stood up and headed toward the edge of the training ground.
Du Yu and so other familiar faces were also gathered there, waiting at the edge of the grounds. When they saw Su Chen walk over, they erupted in loud cheers.
"Ink Jade! That’s how you deal with an Ink Jade!" Du Yu clenched his fist. His words were aggressive, but he kept his voice down. "That guy was acting so high and mighty when he walked in. As if he was all that."
Zhang Yunqing was there in her Judge’s uniform, her hair tossed back. She cut a dashing figure as she watched Su Chen with a complicated expression.
She, too, had witnessed Su Chen’s incredible display of power, and her shock at that mont was beyond words.
She estimated that, as things stood, she was no longer a match for Su Chen. The thought made her feel a little numb.
"Su Chen," she called out. "Ming Lin would like to et with you."
"The Ink Jade Level Core Seed?" Su Chen looked at her. He knew who that was.
As students of Second Judge Zhang Hongbo, Zhang Yunqing and her brother naturally belonged to that camp.
"He thinks very highly of you..." Zhang Yunqing began, but she hadn’t even finished her sentence when she saw Su Chen shake his head.
"This isn’t about asking you to be his subordinate," she explained hastily. "The factions within the Judicial Court are incredibly complex. Even if you want to remain independent, others might not let you."
"For example, you’ve likely offended Zhu Xuan today."
"I know." Su Chen shook his head but didn’t elaborate. "We can talk about this later."
Zhang Yunqing was confused and wanted to press the matter, but Su Chen remained silent. Whether it was just her imagination or sothing else, she suddenly sensed an indescribable authority emanating from him.
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