"Well..." Su Chen demurred. "It’s not that I don’t want to go, but I’ve just joined the Judicial Court and have too much on my plate. I really can’t get away."
"Brother Su..." Pang Xingwen gritted his teeth and said with a bitter smile, "I was a fool for not recognizing your importance before. Please, don’t hold it against . I’m begging you, you must go. Give a chance to make it up to you!"
The more insistent he was, the more suspicious Su Chen grew. He simply stared at Pang Xingwen without a word.
"Brother Su, I know you’re angry..." Pang Xingwen was furious and wanted to just turn and leave, but then he thought of his father.
He took a deep breath, his voice acquiring a faint, tearful quaver as he pushed his face forward. "Brother Su, if you’re still not satisfied, just slap ."
’He’s definitely up to no good,’ Su Chen thought, certain of it. ’This has nothing to do with resolving a misunderstanding.’
Pang Xingwen was trying to put him in an impossible position. If he actually slapped him, it would escalate things to a point of no return. ’Did his father really send him just for an invitation?’
"That won’t be necessary." Su Chen shook his head and sighed. "Tomorrow night, right? I understand."
’He’d acknowledged the invitation, but whether he’d actually go was another matter entirely.’
A look of delight crossed Pang Xingwen’s face. "Excellent, excellent," he said imdiately. "My father will be waiting for you tomorrow. I won’t disturb you any longer."
He hurried away as if he had just completed so sort of mission.
Su Chen’s brow furrowed. ’The Pang Family... Zhou Xian... no, it can’t be...’
Closing the door, he returned to his bedroom and entered the walk-in closet. His Spiritual Power surged out, ticulously seeping into every crack and crevice to ensure there were no surveillance devices.
Then, his hair gradually receded as he transford into Priest Black Tuo.
He had asked Gu Bing about this before. The Judicial Court did have ways to detect the power of a Deceitful God within a certain range, but it couldn’t detect Believers.
The mont he transford, Su Chen’s eyelid twitched. ’There are presences to the north, south, and west... The fluctuations are similar to a Deceitful Artifact, but not quite the sa. They’re very faint; I can only sense their general direction...’
Ying Feng was a huge city; Su Chen had long expected that mbers of Deceitful God Sects would be active in a place like this.
But he hadn’t expected to sense three distinct fluctuations just within his range, to say nothing of other Deceitful Gods or those farther away.
’And... my perception is actually much weaker. It’s hard to even pinpoint the direction,’ Su Chen mused as he transford back.
This wasn’t what he’d expected. After his promotion to Priest, his perceptual range should have not only expanded but also beco more refined.
Su Chen hesitated, thinking, ’Is it because Ying Feng has sothing that can detect the fluctuations of Deceitful Artifacts, so they’re using so thod to mask their presence... which is why my perception is weaker?’
’If that’s the case, it’ll be difficult to ascertain the Pang Family’s situation.’
’Forget it. I’ll just lay low for now.’ After a mont’s thought, Su Chen decided to stick to his old strategy.
Who could touch him while he was here in the Judicial Court?
’A cautious heart makes for a wide road.’
’Still, I should probably let Old Xia know.’
Su Chen left the walk-in closet. Since the Gravity Chamber and Spirit Realm Instrunt hadn’t been installed yet, he just did a light workout before going to bed. He also told No. Zero what he wanted for breakfast.
The next day, around five or six in the morning, No. Zero left to pick up breakfast from the cafeteria. All the Core Seed had to do was wait at ho.
"This is amazing!"
Su Chen stared at the bowl of white congee before him, from which wisps of steam gently rose. It looked simple, but a single spoonful was savory, fragrant, and smooth.
He bit into the at bun on the side, and the juices burst in his mouth, making his taste buds dance. He could even feel his cells becoming more active.
"The rice was grown in an isolation chamber, never exposed to the fog outside, and was specially prepared by a high-level chef," No. Zero explained. "The at is from a Tier Two Cyan Python Pig, a breed dosticated over many years. Its at is exceptionally delicious and has the ability to increase cellular activity."
’Food that has never been touched by the fog, prepared by a high-level chef...’ Su Chen understood now. A high-level chef could perfectly unlock the food’s properties, creating an unparalleled culinary experience.
It was said that a Special Level chef could even use High Tier ingredients to create dishes with effects similar to Potions.
"Southwind certainly didn’t have luxuries like this..." Su Chen sighed at the extravagance of his new life. ’Good thing I’m the one enjoying it,’ he thought wryly, ’otherwise I’d definitely have a thing or two to say about this level of decadence.’
His mood considerably brightened by the delicious al, Su Chen listened as No. Zero summarized the latest news from within the Judicial Court.
"...Because the Chief Judge made an exception to recruit two Core Seeds yesterday, it has caused quite a stir internally."
"...The prevailing opinion is that if exceptional Talent warrants an exception, why not just cancel the assessnts? They could just sort everyone by Talent—Brass in the Outer Courtyard, Canyin in the Inner Courtyard..."
"...There are also personal attacks against you, with so claiming you falsified your records and that you co from a refugee background..."
"Wait..." Su Chen interrupted his al. "Where are you getting this from?"
"From the Judicial Court’s internal forums. I’ve prepared a summary, but you can also review the posts one by one, Master." No. Zero projected a virtual screen.
"Never mind, the summary is fine." Su Chen waved a hand. No. Zero really did save him a lot of effort.
’The Chief Judge has already spoken, and the exception is a done deal,’ Su Chen mused. ’What’s the point of all this fuss? It’s not like the Chief Judge can take back his word.’
No. Zero suddenly spoke again. "Master, a ssage has arrived from the Internal Affairs Departnt. They are scheduled to install the Gravity Training Chamber and Spirit Realm Instrunt today. Shall I grant them access?"
"Grant it." Su Chen’s eyes lit up. "Old Xia sure is efficient."
After breakfast, Du Yu sent a ssage saying he was on his way to drop off Su Chen’s clothes and so other personal items.
Su Chen had No. Zero issue him a temporary access permit. Not long after, there was a knock at the door.
’That was fast,’ Su Chen thought as he went to open the door. Standing outside, however, was a stranger. He was well-dressed, but the most striking thing about him was his mismatched eyes—one pupil black, the other white.
This feature imdiately confird his identity for Su Chen.
’Ming Lin...’ Su Chen’s eyes shifted slightly. This was the one... the only person among the previous four Core Seeds to possess an Ink Jade Level Talent.
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