Chapter 136: Going By The Book, Su Chen’s Background?
“Tsk, tsk…”
Seeing Su Chen’s disinterested look, Ming Lin instead revealed an intrigued expression, “Looks like even Yuan Du’s teachings can’t catch your eye.”
When he first got to know Su Chen, he really thought Su Chen was the quiet type, uninterested in things like combat or competition.
Later, as he gained more understanding of Su Chen, and after the battle with Chu Xuan.
Ming Lin gradually figured it out: Su Chen wasn’t uninterested; he simply didn’t consider them opponents at all—it was complete disregard.
“Stop overthinking…” Su Chen said speechlessly, then asked, “Have you heard of things like Forging Life Ore Vein and Void Star?”
“Never heard of them.” Ming Lin shook his head, his eyes flickering slightly: “I don’t have the spare time to care about that stuff. Did you dig up another good profession?”
“I heard you went to the Translation Department again today.”
“Your news travels fast.” Seeing he didn’t know, Su Chen immediately lost interest in talking.
“What good profession? Tell me, I’ll give you some advice.” Ming Lin grinned.
Besides main professions that advance by rank, special professions also have great utility, able to synergize with main professions to greatly enhance combat strength.
Some special professions seem impressive on the surface, but have many pitfalls after job appointment; some seem unremarkable but shine brilliantly when paired with other professions.
Others are genuinely powerful, but have very high job appointment difficulty and take a long time, completely unsuitable for them to waste talent on at their youngest age.
This requires someone extremely experienced and knowledgeable about a vast number of professions to help screen the most suitable ones.
Such people only exist in the Translation Department, and only at the old professor level—Ming Lin could hardly win their favor.
And this guy Su Chen was too good at pleasing old men. After Sang Hanhai came last time, he realized Su Chen must have gained a lot in the Translation Department.
“There aren’t that many good professions.” Su Chen shook his head, chuckling: “But what profession are you planning to trade for mine?”
“I actually do have a good one.” Ming Lin lowered his voice, “This is a profession not even recorded in the Translation Department. I got it a long time ago from some gathering place.”
There really is something good?
Su Chen was surprised. There were many professions not recorded in the Translation Department; he’d even heard that Ying Feng had people privately decipher Holy Word Stones to collect powerful professions as family heritage.
Seeing Su Chen interested, Ming Lin said: “Let me tell you about it—it’s called 【Glutton】. It allows pre-consuming large amounts of nutrient substance to quickly digest during combat, restoring stamina and repairing injuries.”
Su Chen’s eyes lit up—this profession was great. Paired with 【Reverse Yuan Practitioner】, it could even convert stamina to mental power, making it even more useful for him.
“Not bad, very versatile.” Su Chen nodded.
“So, don’t hold out on me.” Ming Lin couldn’t help saying, “You definitely have stock. I heard that day when the Heituo Priest ambushed you, you ran faster than a Fourth Order Professional.”
Besides main professions, special professions are also a key component of combat strength, though powerful special professions have high requirements and can’t be appointed at low ranks.
“Do you want a low-rank Top Tier Profession?” Su Chen asked.
Ming Lin refused: “No, no—I’m not a local from Ying Feng and have no family needing heritage buildup. High-rank ones are useful to me; I don’t need low-rank Top Tier.”
“Got it, then you’ll have to wait… The professions from the Translation Department will take some time to get to me.” Su Chen thought—Bone Armor User would be a good trade profession, but he couldn’t offer it now; the Translation Department hadn’t deciphered it yet.
But no rush—the two special professions he had couldn’t be appointed in a short time anyway, and he lacked more energy.
“Alright…” Seeing even offering 【Glutton】 didn’t loosen Su Chen’s mouth, Ming Lin was disappointed and could only remind him: “This matter, best not tell others—it’s my secret. I don’t want people blocking my door.”
Su Chen naturally agreed.
Trusting Su Chen’s credibility, Ming Lin was at ease. They chatted more; Su Chen invited him to stay for drinks, but Ming Lin waved it off repeatedly and left with a greenish glow on his face.
“Hmm… these two professions…” Su Chen’s gaze drifted as he opened his panel, looking at the job appointment requirements above.
He needed to plan carefully, completing the requirements with minimal time and energy.
“First figure out what Forging Life Ore Vein and Void Star are.” Su Chen sent a message to Gu Bing, asking the Tie Family to send someone over—he had questions.
The Tie Family started with mining, so they should know.
After Gu Bing replied, just over two hours later, she arrived with a middle-aged man. His face was grayish-brown with a faint metallic sheen—likely from some profession.
“Your Excellency Su Chen…” The middle-aged man was very nervous; after greeting, he didn’t know what to say.
“Tie Feng, one of the Tie Family’s main persons in charge.” Gu Bing introduced.
“Please sit…” Su Chen gestured, had Zero pour two cups of tea, skipped small talk, and got to the point: “I asked you to come to ask if you know about Forging Life Ore Vein and Void Star.”
“I know.” Tie Feng was concise.
“Tell me about Forging Life Ore Vein first.” Su Chen said.
“Forging Life Ore… is a kind of active metal. Refined Forging Life Ore is often used as auxiliary materials for high-level weapons.” Tie Feng started haltingly but grew smoother:
“Generally produced in cities like Silver Frost and Crimson Fire, bordering the Copper Heart Mountains.”
Su Chen nodded thoughtfully, “Does this ore vein have a core?”
“Core…” Tie Feng’s expression changed slightly, “Yes, but only super-large ore veins produce them. It’s mutant metal, nearly with life characteristics. Weapons forged from it can even self-repair.”
“Very precious?”
“Very precious!” Tie Feng nodded emphatically, “If purchasing, one costs about fifty million gold.”
“That expensive…” Su Chen tsked lightly—it exceeded even his upper tier profession promotion to Top Tier requirements.
But that was the advantage of special professions: useful almost constantly after job appointment. Main professions show more effect at higher ranks.
He couldn’t sell professions again—his appointed Third Order Top Tier Profession definitely wouldn’t be sold, as it would expose weaknesses.
That left only Mystic Tool Master and Mystic Mind Master; he hesitated—these two were quite powerful, especially Mystic Tool Master.
“You can exchange…” Gu Bing reminded softly.
“Exchange?” Su Chen looked over.
“Yes.” Gu Bing nodded: “Didn’t you capture a Heituo Priest? That’s no small merit. Since it comes from a lower tier city, the Court of Justice should have it internally—exchanging for that core should be no issue.”
“Right, almost forgot.” Su Chen realized—the man was caught by Chief Judge You, but such figures had no need for merits anymore and had said to credit it to him.
With one requirement solved, Su Chen was in a good mood and continued: “What about Void Star?”
“Void Star is the core of a meteor from outer space.” Tie Feng explained.
“Meteor core…” Su Chen was somewhat surprised, “Does the Court of Justice have it?”
“Ying Feng has it, but the Court of Justice doesn’t.” Tie Feng explained: “One was found four years ago, now stored in the Resource Repository, slowly divided—about one Void Star Fragment every three or four months.”
“It’s very versatile—for forging weapons, mixing potions, even substituting certain profession materials. Each release isn’t a frenzy, but plenty bid on it.”
Not easy to get… Su Chen only thought these four words, slightly puzzled: “What does bidding mean?”
“It’s a Resource Repository allocation method.” Tie Feng explained, “Most regular resources are rationed to institutions per rules, but some extremely rare materials everyone wants—the Repository offends no one by putting them up for bidding.”
“Oh…” Su Chen got it and instructed Tie Feng to keep attention on when the next Void Star Fragment would be released.
Night had fallen; Su Chen wanted to keep them for dinner, but Tie Feng declined repeatedly, and even Gu Bing, who wanted to stay, had to see him off first.
“The merit exchange place is in the Adjudication Department…” Su Chen checked the time and went to the basement, planning to check tomorrow morning.
“…These requirements, best to bundle them together—no need to carve out specific time…” Su Chen kept pondering this.
Early next morning, he headed to the Adjudication Department, which handled duty assignments and could nearly mobilize all Court of Justice members—great power.
Early as it was, many gathered inside: some back from lower tier cities to report, others heading out on missions.
“They actually assigned us a city suspected of Cult of the Strange God activity…” Several judges came out grimacing, “Why not give us smuggling gigs with some kickbacks…”
“Your Excellency Su Chen…” Spotting him, they quickly stood straight.
Su Chen nodded slightly, entered the Adjudication Department—low murmurs flooded his ears; the hall was several times larger than the Profession Analysis Office, with heavy traffic.
Su Chen found staff, who took him to the second floor to wait for dedicated service.
This was mostly where Senior Judges took missions; everyone’s expressions were grave—some reporting back wrapped in special bandages.
Soon, the door opened; a broad, fat man with a kind smile entered.
“Kept you waiting.” He approached, smiling: “I’m the acting Deputy Director of the Adjudication Department, Xue Fei.”
It’s him… Su Chen naturally remembered; during Teng Liang’s interrogation in the Adjudication Department, this guy had thrown plenty of snide remarks.
Not just acting Deputy Director, but also Honorary Director, Fifth Order Professional.
“Didn’t expect Deputy Director Xue himself.” Su Chen said surprised.
“Core Seed, and for you—no need to understate.” Xue Fei chuckled: “Whatever you need, just say.”
“Nothing, just bored and looking around.” Su Chen shook his head, “I’m leaving now.”
“Bored.” Xue Fei’s smile widened, “What’s the rush? Come tour the Adjudication Department with me?”
“Won’t delay your work—bye, no need to see me out.” Su Chen left directly.
Xue Fei insisted on seeing him to the gate, watched him leave, smile fading as he snorted coldly and turned back.
“Running into this guy.” Su Chen shook his head inwardly—hostile to Teng Liang, likely no good attitude toward him either; exposing needs would stir trouble even if none existed.
“Go straight to higher up… avoid issues.” Su Chen turned toward the Court of Justice depths.
Chong Jingtian wasn’t in; he found Jiang Shumo.
“Exchange for Forging Life Ore Vein Core? Let me check…”
Jiang Shumo sat at his office desk, swiping a virtual screen, soon finding it, quite surprised: “This thing’s pretty rare—we only have one, and it costs 120,000 contribution points.”
“Capturing the Heituo Priest nets 100,000 contribution points; you’re short 20,000, but you have merit from reporting Divine Blood—close enough.” Jiang Shumo said casually, “I’ll have Adjudication Department send it over.”
For mid-to-low levels, contribution system is strict—insufficient points mean no exchange.
But for Chief Judges, wiping it out is done.
“Adjudication Department side shouldn’t have issues, right.” Su Chen hinted.
“You mean Xue Fei…” Jiang Shumo chuckled, “You’re too cautious. Xue Fei has conflict with Teng Liang, but won’t target you deliberately.”
“Even if you went straight to him, he’d give what he should.”
Su Chen smiled without speaking—better safe on the “won’ts.”
Just rising to leave, Jiang Shumo suddenly said: “Right, do you know your origins?”
Su Chen’s heart jumped, puzzled: “What origins?”
“Your origins as a refugee…” Jiang Shumo said offhandedly, eyes fixed on Su Chen’s face: “Got curious these days and checked—turns out you’re from Ya Shan City.”
“Ya Shan City?” Su Chen was blank.
“A destroyed city.” Jiang Shumo said casually, “Don’t remember? It’s where you were born.”
“Don’t remember.” Su Chen shook his head—no origins in his predecessor’s memories, and he didn’t care.
“Mm, not a big deal—go on.” Jiang Shumo waved.
“Thanks for the trouble.” Su Chen greeted and left the office.
……
“Beep, beep…”
In the Adjudication Department, Xue Fei’s bracelet vibrated with a temp message; he pulled up the virtual screen—direct order from the Chief Judge.
“…Forging Life Ore Vein Core, so that’s it…” Xue Fei glanced, face darkening slightly.
“Director Xue, what’s up?” Wei Yufan across from him asked.
“Nothing.” Xue Fei extinguished the virtual screen, chuckling: “Earlier something funny—Teng Liang’s little junior brother Su Chen came to Adjudication Department, wouldn’t say why, saw me and left.”
“Turns out he wanted to exchange something—probably afraid I’d obstruct. These kids nowadays…” He shook his head.
“Su Chen?” Hearing the name, Wei Yufan frowned, asked: “What did he want to exchange?”
“Forging Life Ore Vein Core…” Xue Fei said at once, “Valuable stuff—our Court of Justice only has one in stock.”
“Is that so…” Wei Yufan said meaningfully: “What if I exchange for it first?”
