Chapter 102: Is Ink Jade Talent Just This?
“Please first select your assessment directions…” The person in charge had someone bring several forms and handed them to the five people.
“Attack assessment, defense assessment, speed assessment… For special categories, please explain in detail…” Su Chen lowered his head and glanced at the form.
Practical assessment did not mean having them fight each other, as that would not be fair.
The five had different ages, different environments, and different resource usage, resulting in uneven strength, making mutual confrontation unable to reveal whether each had worked hard.
To maintain relative fairness, the Court of Justice had its own evaluation methods, conducting different assessments based on everyone’s strengths.
Su Chen pondered briefly. His development was very balanced, so any category would work, but in the end, he checked “attack.”
By the time he looked up, the others’ forms had already been submitted.
“Oh…” The person in charge looked down and was somewhat surprised, “They’re all attack assessments.”
“This will be good to watch.” The group in the back was very expectant, “All attack assessments—who’s better will be clear at a glance.”
After brief preparation below, the person in charge waited for someone to give him a hand signal before shouting:
“Meng Qi!”
Meng Qi, who had his head down, jolted and suddenly looked up: “Here!”
A trace of disdain flashed in Pang Xingwen’s eyes—country bumpkin.
“…Your assessment target is him.” The Judge stepped aside, and a burly strongman walked up behind him to the open ground in front of the Training Ground.
His face was like it was coated in yellow wax, over two meters tall, with bulging muscles and an overwhelming sense of pressure.
“Second Order Upper Tier, Stone Guard.” He said in a muffled voice: “Your task is simple—make me retreat, even just a tiny bit, and it’s a pass.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a yellowish-brown glow appeared on his skin surface, his two feet stomped open, rooting him like a tree, faintly connecting with the Training Ground.
“So solid…” Su Chen watched, sensing the opponent’s life aura, thick and heavy as a mountain, “Profession Development Degree definitely over 50%, maybe even higher…”
“Meng Qi’s First Order profession is only Middle Tier, and he just advanced to Second Order not long ago, yet they sent a Stone Guard developed to the latter half— the difficulty seems raised.” Chu Yunze couldn’t help but furrow his brows.
Su Chen heard clearly and looked at the somewhat uneasy Meng Qi—this guy’s First Order profession was actually only Middle Tier.
In that case, he was inherently a step weaker than the others.
Meng Qi’s throat bobbed—anyone could see he was extremely nervous.
“Hoo…” He slowly exhaled, gritted his teeth and shouted fiercely. Green energy waves suddenly exploded around him, withered vine-like branches spreading from his rear shoulder to his arm, gradually wrapping into a wooden hammer.
“Break for me!”
He roared and charged out fiercely.
Boom!
The wooden hammer smashed into the Judge’s earthy yellow skin, rippling waves across it, with yellow scale-like protrusions emerging beneath the skin.
The keratinized defensive layer made a metallic clashing sound the instant it contacted the wooden hammer.
The green Shockwave exploded centered on the collision point, looking spectacular, but the Judge didn’t budge.
Meng Qi gritted his teeth and shouted again. Branches even spread from his legs, rooting him into the ground as well.
Finally, the Judge’s body swayed slightly and retreated half a step.
“Pass, eligible for Inner Court Ordinary Member.” The Judge in charge of the assessment announced loudly from the side.
“Holy crap, that’s so brutal? And that’s just a pass, only for Ordinary Member?”
In the back, many people were discussing.
Some saw the clues: “Talent is Crimson Gold, but First Order profession is only Middle Tier—too disadvantaged, and his development degree probably isn’t that high either…”
“The Court of Justice already has all this information. The assessment Judge sent must be someone he can theoretically repel. Since he barely managed it, it means he hasn’t worked hard enough.”
“Crimson Gold Level talents are becoming more common now—not working hard means getting eliminated.”
Crimson Gold Level talent is stronger than Brilliant Silver Level, so at the same age, Profession Development progress would definitely be higher, and strength stronger.
If the assessment doesn’t meet the standard, it proves one hasn’t worked hard enough in Profession Development—negligent even—and lacks firm disposition.
Having talent but not using it—what’s the point, no matter how good it is?
“Pang Xingwen!” The Judge shouted again.
Pang Xingwen’s face darkened slightly. There was a method to this order of calling names—based on the Court of Justice’s collected information, it should be from weakest to strongest.
He thought he’d at least be after Su Chen or even Chu Yunze, but he was actually second.
The opponent naturally changed. Su Chen estimated from the life aura that it was stronger than the previous one—still a Stone Guard.
Boom!
Flame waves exploded in the field. The Judge retreated two steps, paused briefly, then another step back.
“Good… eligible for Inner Court Seed!” The person in charge said gravely.
Pang Xingwen’s face was sullen as he looked at Chu Xuan, who had his eyes closed pretending to nap.
“Backroom dealing…” Su Chen observed with mental perception and saw clearly—the assessment Judge’s last step could have been avoided.
Behind him, there were murmurs—some didn’t see the clues, others did but didn’t dare speak.
“Chu Yunze!”
Chu Yunze looked at Su Chen in surprise. His First Order profession was Top Tier—why before Su Chen? Even with dual Second Order mental and physical, his development progress should far exceed the other’s.
Could this guy also have a First Order Top Tier Profession?
Chu Xuan also opened his eyes, brows furrowed.
“Even stronger…” Su Chen stared at the new Judge—still a Stone Guard.
Even with a First Order Top Tier Profession myself, with maxed resources and twelve hours of Training daily, how could the Court of Justice think he might be stronger than me?
Chu Yunze felt annoyed inside. Water currents surged around him, forming a lifelike emerald wave dragon that moved with him, its dragon head smashing toward the assessment Judge!
Boom!
The emerald waves exploded, and the assessment Judge staggered back four or five steps before stopping.
“Excellent, eligible for Inner Court Seed!” The person in charge recorded it.
“Su Chen!” The person in charge shouted—finally his turn.
Chu Yunze stared intently at him, wanting to see exactly where his strength lay.
Chu Xuan seemed to perk up a bit, as if Su Chen finally had the qualification to earn his proper attention.
Bang!
Another strongman walked up. Chu Yunze’s face changed slightly, “Chen Liang—is it him?”
This was an Inner Court Ordinary Member, Brilliant Silver Level talent. As far as he knew, the other had recently fully developed Stone Guard and was preparing to advance to Third Order Profession.
Moreover, he was Wei Yinshuo’s grand-disciple. He glanced at Pang Xingwen with disgust.
“This one looks pretty young.” Su Chen sensed something off and scanned around, indeed spotting Pang Xingwen with a cold smirk, watching the show.
Su Chen sensed this person was much stronger than Chu Yunze’s opponent just now—layers of gray stone skin even emerged on his skin surface.
“What are you waiting for? Forfeiting?”
Seeing Su Chen standing still, Chen Liang shouted repeatedly, seeming very impatient.
The person in charge nearby imperceptibly sighed, appearing somewhat helpless.
Su Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly, quietly glancing at the High Platform—since Old Xia was here…
Crackle!
Electric arcs exploded. Wind and Thunder Emissary ability activated—web-like electric patterns appeared on his skin surface, blue-purple arcs traveling along his veins.
His body intensity suddenly rose several levels. His hair floated, each strand crackling with arcs, mad winds swirling around forming visible vortices that collided with the arcs, creating a thunder pulp storm.
Su Chen lightly tapped his foot, and his whole body shot out—barely visible to the eye.
He clenched his fist, cyan wind currents swirling and gathering, carrying thunder light attached to his right arm.
【Wrath of Wind and Thunder】!
At the same time, telekinetic force surged out, targeting the opponent’s lower body—the contact point between his legs and the ground!
With this strike, the accumulation of four Top Tier Professions—I’d like to see if you can block it!
“This damn…” Chen Liang had sensed something wrong the moment the first electric arc appeared.
But Su Chen’s speed was so fast he couldn’t even react.
Boom!!!
He only felt intense pain in his chest, his legs like smashed by a giant hammer, and the scenery before him pulled away.
………
“…First Order Top Tier Profession, Training day and night nonstop—this should let those Ying Feng little brats see what true resilient disposition looks like.”
Chong Jingtian looked down at the virtual screen—Su Chen’s basic information.
The First Order Top Tier Profession matter—Xia Hanshi still had to report merit to Yuan Chenyang, so naturally no concealment.
And Su Chen’s nonstop day-and-night Training feats were easy to check.
“This time, you really took in a good seedling…” Chong Jingtian sighed more deeply, looking at Xia Hanshi.
“No choice—poor background means hundredfold effort. If he were Chu Yunze or Pang Xingwen, he probably wouldn’t be much better.” Xia Hanshi’s tone was indifferent.
“Can’t say it that way…” Yuan Poshan shook his head, “That Meng Qi doesn’t have a great background either, but from his strength, he hasn’t been diligent… ultimately can’t endure the loneliness…”
“Courting death!” Xia Hanshi suddenly stood, blazing golden flames surging out.
Yuan Poshan was startled and annoyed—this Xia Hanshi was crazy, interrupting him like that.
“Chen Liang—he counts as an assessment Judge too!?” Xia Hanshi’s tone was icy, “Already about to advance to Third Order!”
Chong Jingtian’s speed was faster, firmly pressing his shoulder and shouting: “This is the Court of Justice!”
Wei Yinshuo had already retreated some distance, saying gravely: “Why doesn’t he count? Su Chen is strong, so naturally use a strong one for assessment!”
Yuan Poshan then noticed the field situation, his expression also displeased.
Though Su Chen was snatched by Xia Hanshi, there was still some favor with Yuan Chenyang.
“Old Four, you…” Yuan Poshan started to speak, his face suddenly changing.
The others also sensed something, all gazes turning uniformly to the field below.
Chen Liang’s burly body had flown out like a cannonball over ten meters, rolling several more circles on the ground before gradually stopping.
Blood trickled from his mouth, chest charred black, body convulsing nonstop—he had lost consciousness.
“He actually…” Yuan Poshan was shocked, looking at Su Chen’s peculiar state and murmuring lowly: “Dual Elements?”
Xia Hanshi’s eyes flickered, saying flatly: “His mental profession is Mystic Arts Scholar, stole thunder element-related ability, seems he’s developed a fusion ability…”
“Fusion ability? I see.” Yuan Poshan realized, then annoyedly glanced at Xia Hanshi.
“Equal talents… parallel professions, ability fusion—indeed rare.” Chong Jingtian couldn’t help saying, deep thought in his eyes.
No one doesn’t want dual professions in parallel, but for many, talent isn’t enough and it just wastes more energy.
As for fusion abilities, records are even scarcer—with harsh requirements on self, profession, and talent to even possibly emerge.
Wei Yinshuo’s face was extremely ugly.
“Ha…” Xia Hanshi smirked, “Away from the front lines too long—now only does shady tricks. As long as the fist is big enough, no tricks matter.”
“I remember that Chu Xuan—physical talent Ink Jade, mental talent just bronze. Might not even be as strong as Su Chen later.”
“Rank gap isn’t something dual profession parallel can erase.” Wei Yinshuo had already calmed.
Xia Hanshi said flatly: “Next up is that Chu Xuan, right? Since he’s so awesome, at least send a Third Order Professional for assessment.”
Chong Jingtian frowned and shook his head: “Third Order is too exaggerated. Send Zhang Fang—like Chen Liang.”
Wei Yinshuo’s face changed slightly, seeming to want to say something, but ultimately didn’t speak.
………
“The guy… flew… flew out?” The person in charge was dumbfounded, watching the emergency personnel rushing over from outside the field.
The others gathered nearby, waiting for their assessments to end, were stunned.
The strongest before, Chu Yunze, only made his opponent stagger back a few steps.
If Chen Liang had retreated over ten steps, they could understand, but the scene of flying horizontally was beyond their imagination.
“Ha!” Zhang Hengyu in the crowd clenched his fists excitedly—Su Chen’s grind was crystal clear to him. Time to let these Ying Feng second-gen brats see what a true grind king is!
“Su bro, Su bro!”
In the audience seats, Du Yu shouted loudly. The others’ faces also flushed—they were from the same place, so now they felt a bit proud too!
The previously somewhat quiet audience seats suddenly buzzed, discussing among themselves.
“Impossible!” Pang Xingwen couldn’t believe it. He knew Chen Liang’s situation well—preparing to advance to Third Order Professional, with terrifying stone skin.
Thus, the current scene was even more inconceivable to him.
“Even with dual professions, shouldn’t have this intensity—his development progress can’t be near 100%…” Chu Yunze couldn’t help thinking, “At his age, did he Train nonstop from Job Appointment?”
“How can anyone have that kind of perseverance!”
How is he so strong? Chu Xuan’s pupils contracted, face tense, fists clenched—he’d long lost calm, a trace of panic unconsciously rising in his heart.
Facing the same enemy, he probably couldn’t do what Su Chen did—and the trouble was, his assessment was after Su Chen’s.
“Your Excellency?” Su Chen tentatively called to the person in charge, having retracted his peak state and returned to calm.
“Oh oh…” The other snapped back, swallowed, and announced: “Ex… Ex… Excellent, eligible for Inner Court Seed!”
The result obviously exceeded excellent, but the ceiling was here—he could only announce it this way.
He steadied himself and shouted: “Chu Xuan!”
As soon as the name came out, the discussion gradually quieted, gazes with hidden expectation turning to Chu Xuan:
“Double Crimson Gold was already so fierce—Ink Jade Level talent must be even stronger?”
“Yeah, finally we get to see it.”
“Let him see it!” Pang Xingwen couldn’t help shouting.
“Shut up!” Chu Yunze scolded, worriedly watching Chu Xuan slowly walk forward.
The person in charge glanced back and found the prepared assessment member had somehow been swapped.
Someone came to whisper in his ear. He nodded thoughtfully and cleared the way.
Another strongman walked up. Except for the face, these Stone Guard professionals all had similar builds.
“About the same strength as the previous guy.” Su Chen estimated, nodding satisfactorily, looking at Chu Xuan with some expectation.
How strong is pure Ink Jade Level talent?
Chu Xuan stood in the field, hearing the whispers around him and the gazes full of expectation—his forehead veins throbbed, an indescribable irritability rising in his heart.
How could this be?
He hadn’t felt this way in a long time…
“Not starting?” His opponent also asked, voice muffled.
Chu Xuan took a deep breath, his gaze gradually firming.
If you can do it, I might not be unable!
Boom!
Crimson energy waves exploded around Chu Xuan’s body, dense scales crawling over his whole body like snake scales, his aura continuously strengthening.
“Development progress probably over 50% too…” Su Chen secretly estimated, “Physical Profession—must be physical talent…”
“Hah—ah!”
Chu Xuan’s face twisted ferociously, pupils turning snake-like. His foot made a muffled thud, and he shot out like a man-eating mad python.
Bang!
The assessment Judge’s face changed. He crossed his arms, earthy yellow energy flowing over his body.
The crimson giant python crashed into a boulder, myriad lights shattering. The Judge’s feet seemed unmoving, but his whole body gradually shifted back.
“Retreat for me!”
Chu Xuan’s face twisted, squeezing the last bit of power from his body cells.
“Out of bounds!” Someone shouted, tone carrying doubt.
“This… sure is Ink Jade?” Someone in the back crowd hesitantly spoke.
“Right… When this guy arrived, he was surrounded by stars—Chu Yunze, Pang Xingwen all around him, and that group…”
“So he’s hiding strength?” Still, some were unwilling to believe.
“Hiding my ass—this concerns treatment after entering the Court of Justice. Hiding strength now would be braindead.”
“But this doesn’t match my imagination—the previous guy’s moves were smooth as flowing water, this one looks laborious, and barely pushed him out.”
“No wonder that night Su Chen left so decisively—he has the capital to be proud…”
Among them were some who attended Chu Xuan’s banquet, now somewhat disappointed.
“Ink Jade Level talent is just this?” Du Yu looked disappointed, “Thought it was amazing—still a ways from my Su bro.”
The others in the audience seats exchanged looks, all disappointed—I took off my pants, and this is it? Not even as good as the previous guy.
With that, the discussion focus shifted back to the guy named Su Chen.
“What is he doing!?” Pang Xingwen gnashed his teeth, “Blast the guy flying!”
“Shut up!” Chu Yunze’s gaze was fierce. Pang Xingwen flinched inwardly but couldn’t help saying: “I’m not anxious—he needs to show an unparalleled posture!”
Chu Yunze took a deep breath: “Talent isn’t instant strength—needs time to convert. Early on, the gap isn’t obvious. Su Chen can catch up or surpass with effort…”
“As Professional Rank rises, development difficulty increases—talent truly shows its value then. A momentary loss isn’t much.”
“Isn’t much?” Pang Xingwen was stunned, then cursed: “Bullshit—if he can’t become Core Seed…”
He didn’t finish before Chu Yunze’s murderous gaze forced it back.
Chu Xuan panted heavily, cheeks twitching faintly, teeth nearly grinding to bits.
The surrounding discussions were clear, flooding his ears.
Doubt, ridicule, mockery.
Such discussions hadn’t appeared since he revealed his talent.
Without Su Chen, his record would be shocking enough, but with the pearl before, his ace-in-the-hole appearance fell short.
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help looking up at Su Chen, only to find the other had already looked away, as if losing interest.
“You…” Blood surged, Chu Xuan’s pupils filled with bloodshot. Exhaustion plus emotional surge even made him faintly dizzy.
But the last shred of reason restrained him from doing anything extreme.
“Just this…” Su Chen muttered to himself, having expected some stunning performance.
But on second thought, he explained to himself: “Talent is ultimately just talent—increases development efficiency, plus Job Appointment requirements, so important but not to the ‘talent-only’ extreme.”
His understanding of the Court of Justice’s strength assessment deepened another layer.
He faintly felt someone staring and looked up to see Chu Xuan had returned to his spot, silently saying nothing.
“Excellent! Eligible for Inner Court Seed!” The person in charge announced loudly, couldn’t help glancing at the two faint plow marks in the field.
In the past, it would have caused a stir, but unfortunately…
“Crimson Gold Level assessments ended. Other assessments can begin.” He said again.
Inspector Guards began driving away those gathered nearby.
Their assessments weren’t worth crowd attention—return to their areas, follow guidance, select assessment methods, proceed routinely.
The five who finished had varied expressions. Meng Qi’s cowering gaze occasionally turned to Su Chen.
Pang Xingwen’s expression was sullen, Chu Yunze’s face also bad.
“Chu Xuan, Su Chen—both of you, please come with me. The Chief wants to see you…” The person in charge received notice and called out.
Su Chen’s heart stirred slightly. Chu Xuan also composed himself and followed the person in charge to the High Platform.
Chu Yunze breathed a sigh of relief—still a chance, still a chance…
The two walked side by side in silence, took the hover lift, and entered the High Platform.
As soon as Su Chen entered, he instinctively scanned around, faintly feeling the atmosphere off.
Chong Jingtian with a calm face—he recognized him from photos, the Chief Judge.
Xia Hanshi with a sinister smile, seeming very pleased.
Yuan Poshan, whom he’d met once, had a bad expression, looking pained.
As for the others, varied expressions, gazes with hidden scrutiny.
Only one had the ugliest expression, pulling a donkey face.
