Chapter 119: Promotion Once More! Azure Thunder Lord! Archenemy?
“Reading memories…” Su Chen’s eyes flickered slightly, wanting to perform such a highly advanced task as reading memories.
At least a Mental Professional three ranks higher than the target’s Professional Rank could achieve it.
When he made his move earlier, he had seen that this woman was a Second Order Professional, meaning at least a Fifth Order Mental Side Professional was needed to read her memories, at least Deputy Minister level.
“I wonder if reading memories will detect the Mental Seed I planted in her.”
Su Chen hesitated slightly but decided to annihilate this Mental Seed first.
On the other side of the Interrogation Room, the Temporary Person in Charge was reviewing the information handed over by his Subordinate–
“There is indeed Strange God aura lingering at the scene, similar to the previous situation…”
He wasn’t surprised, but then he heard his Subordinate’s report, “The Court of Justice side has a group of Judges arriving in force.”
His expression changed, he flung the report aside, and angrily said: “Do they want to start a war!?”
………
The impact of Liu Chen’s death greatly exceeded Su Chen’s expectation.
It wasn’t until the afternoon of the second day that Su Chen learned the group of Judges from last night had blocked the Inspection Headquarters building, saying nothing and just sitting there.
The Inspection Department, from Section Chief, Deputy Minister, to Minister stepping forward, had no effect.
It even nearly erupted into armed conflict, only barely resolved when the Second Judge who stayed behind personally went over.
The Inspection Department handed over Liu Chen’s corpse, but the eyewitness was absolutely unwilling to hand over, saying in their words that the Court of Justice had no enforcement rights within Ying Feng.
Handing over the corpse was just consolation for the family; the investigation still depended on them.
Of course, the Court of Justice higher-ups were also furious about this, with several Judges having died in succession, and this time it was even an Inner Court Seed, a Third Order Professional with Crimson Gold Talent.
In the past, it would have caused an uproar long ago.
After several days of stalemate, only when Chong Jingtian personally stepped forward did the Security Department allow the Court of Justice to participate in the exclusive investigation of this matter.
Once the Court of Justice took action, it exploded; in just a few days, they arrested thousands of people, killed quite a few Strange God Followers, and even petty thieves didn’t dare to act.
However, it was later clarified that the main actors were the Liu Family’s Judges, who used this incident to settle private grudges against many adversaries.
In any case, it took a full half month for this storm to gradually subside.
……
“I’ve already said, the ones who acted weren’t Heituo Followers!”
In a certain corner of Ying Feng, several Strange God Followers gathered together; the Heituo Follower faced questioning and gritted his teeth in refutation: “Liu Chen wasn’t one of the people who destroyed the Pang Family that day, why would we target him?”
A Faceless Ghost Follower angrily said: “I’ve said it long ago, targeting someone of such high status would provoke a strong backlash from the Court of Justice. Killing a few Judges, the Inspection Department could still hold firm, but killing an Inner Court Seed, they had to yield and let the Court of Justice vent their anger in Ying Feng.”
The Heituo Follower was so angry he nearly spat blood, “I’ll say it again, it wasn’t our people who acted!”
“The Inspection Department and Court of Justice have dealt with us so many times, could they misidentify?” An eye-reddened Follower said discontentedly.
“I… I…” The Heituo Follower only felt waves of hot blood surging, “The Court of Justice is impenetrable, let alone an Inner Court Seed, even the whereabouts of Ordinary Members are hard for us to pin down.”
“Such a specific location, such decisive killing, how could it be us!”
Although many Followers were infiltrating in Ying Feng, each major institution had ways to detect Strange God Followers, making it hard to plant loyal Followers.
And those mid-to-high-level people weren’t easy to fool; bribing them wasn’t simple either.
The Faceless Ghost Follower interrupted: “Enough, we need to lay low for a while, especially you all. I know you’re still eyeing that Su Chen, but for now, it’s best to do nothing.”
The Heituo Follower felt grief and indignation in his heart, nearly spitting blood.
……
“Phew… the last Body Tempering Method has finally reached Master Level too…” Su Chen exhaled a breath of hot air, his skin faintly glowing with a transparent sheen, pure white and translucent.
【Black Iron Body Tempering Method advanced to Master Level, gaining ability–Black Skin: Skin like hundred-forged steel, slightly increasing defense and elemental resistance.】
All job appointment requirements were completed, so Su Chen immediately chose Profession Promotion.
In an instant, lightning blazed in his pupils, his whole body like struck by raging thunder, gales surging as sharp blades struck the surrounding walls.
It was only because the Gravity Chamber’s construction materials were extremely hard that it could withstand it.
In the last moment before pain overwhelmed him, his telekinesis rolled up the Spiritual Realm Instrument and sent it into the Storage Space.
Cracks like spiderwebs appeared on Su Chen’s skin surface, but instead of bloody muscle in the wounds, there was thunder pulp glowing blue.
This transformation, from inside to out, nearly overturned everything.
Su Chen let out a muffled grunt; compared to the mental transformation, the physical one was even more painful, with root-like raised veins emerging under the skin, and a damp wood-crushing dull sound from his chest cavity.
His bones felt like they were brutally crushed and then healed.
Su Chen gasped roughly, already lying on the ground, letting his body change.
Previously, he had first advanced to Upper Tier Profession, then from Upper Tier Profession to Top Tier, in two steps, but this time it combined into one, making it even more intense.
【Gale Resilience】, 【Thunder Bone】, 【Black Skin】 the abilities produced by the three Body Tempering Methods also turned into the foundation of the promotion, enhancing his strength from various levels.】
【Wind and Thunder Fury transformed into–Azure Thunder Collapsing Cloud: Charge Azure Thunder, draw Collapsing Cloud power, longer charge time means greater power, note: body has tolerance limit.】
【Raging Thunder Wind Armor transformed into–Indestructible Gang Thunder Armor: Can absorb external attack power, convert it into one’s own source.】
【Wind and Thunder Shadow Concealment transformed into–Azure Thunder Divine Movement: Assisted by Azure Thunder, burst into extreme speed for a short time.】
【Wind and Thunder Emissary has similar compatibility with new Professional Ability, fused into–Azure Thunder Master: Within area range, own abilities greatly enhanced, can suppress targets.】
A long time later, this transformation finally ended, but the lingering pain hadn’t faded, and Su Chen didn’t even want to move a finger.
Only after another long while did this pain gradually recede, replaced by a burgeoning vitality and a sense of power flowing through his body.
He jumped up at once, banging into the Gravity Chamber ceiling with a thud, and clenching his fist produced crackling bone explosions.
As usual, he first glanced at the Panel; this transformation’s intensity was very high, 【Azure Thunder Collapsing Cloud】 can charge up, and it specifically notes backlash risk, showing its intensity.
Indestructible Armor not only defends but absorbs enemy power, Divine Movement bursts extreme speed, all very good.
“But why does it feel like it swallowed my Wind Element?” Deep cyan electric arcs flashed in his hand, Su Chen pondered darkly, “Or rather, fused together?”
“As long as the intensity is there…” Su Chen didn’t care too much, but the new ability 【Azure Thunder Master】 piqued his curiosity.
After a slight try, with just a thought, a boiling power erupted from deep within his body, making the Gravity Chamber’s lights flicker erratically.
Even without fully entering Azure Thunder Master state, Su Chen roughly understood that in this state, he could control thunder elements within the area.
But this domain currently only had a range of about three meters.
“Liu Chen is far inferior to me now…”
He dispelled the ability; the Gravity Chamber would need repairs if damaged. His reference target had shifted from Zhou Xian to Liu Chen.
This guy had Top Tier Professions in First and Second Order, with deep foundation, but in Third Order he played it safe, only Upper Tier Profession.
Even though his Profession was developed to the latter half, Su Chen felt that in a direct confrontation, the other couldn’t be his opponent.
“Not just because of Top Tier Profession’s intensity, but also the Body Tempering Methods’ gradual accumulation.”
Su Chen couldn’t help thinking that back when he was First Order Top-tier Profession, facing ordinary Second Order, he was no match at all.
And now, just promoted to Third Order, most Third Order Professionals probably weren’t his opponents anymore; they had to be top-equipped.
“As for risky cross-rank battles like comparisons, better to avoid them as much as possible; crushing victories are more satisfying.”
After a slight cleanup, he went upstairs for a shower; liquid beads rolled on his skin surface, a light shake and steam filled the air, leaving him dry and clean.
Before sleep, he sent Gu Bing a message to start preparing Third Order Auxiliary Potions; it had been some time since Liu Chen’s death, no one suspected him, and it was time to gather various Third Order resources.
Gu Bing replied with a whole string of question marks, clearly shocked, and quickly agreed.
He couldn’t help thinking: “Third Order Auxiliary Potions, I’d consume five or six million gold per month, truly terrifying; the Gu Family probably can’t sustain it…”
Early next morning, Su Chen woke up full of spirit.
“Get some stuff, I want a big meal!”
Perhaps because the transformation was recent, his appetite was huge; he specially had a full table of food delivered from the Canteen.
But halfway through eating, Ming Lin came to the door.
“Whoa, such a good appetite today.” Ming Lin was quite familiar with him now, walked in, and seeing the full table of food, couldn’t help being surprised.
“Eat some?” Su Chen gestured for him to sit; Ming Lin occasionally came to find him, and their relationship was decent.
“Nah.” Ming Lin waved it off, “I don’t have your appetite.”
“What’s up, haven’t caught the culprit yet?” Su Chen stuffed a big piece of roasted meat, crispy skin tender meat; once in his stomach, his powerful digestion turned it into heat flow, integrating into his body, nourishing the newly transformed cells.
Core Seeds don’t just eat for nothing; sometimes they have to handle things, with management abilities and thinking patterns shown in specific events.
“Don’t mention it, the Liu Family people are too shameless, using Liu Chen’s death, the whole family grew at least thirty percent…” Ming Lin said discontentedly: “Still catching the killer? The Liu Family probably wishes Liu Chen could come back to life and die again.”
“Quite a few Strange God Followers and peripheral members were caught, but same old problem, peripheral members don’t know much, and Followers won’t talk…”
“You didn’t come just to complain, right.” Su Chen didn’t mind; the whole thing started from Liu Chen’s death, but now Liu Chen’s death wasn’t so important.
Many things are like that; once started, the direction of development is uncontrollable even by the instigator.
“Not that, it’s to invite you to watch a good show.” Ming Lin smiled meaningfully, “Chu Xuan succeeded.”
“Succeeded at what?” Su Chen was stunned, somewhat confused.
Seeing the message didn’t get the expected reaction, Ming Lin narrowed his eyes suspiciously, wondering if Su Chen was pretending, and continued: “Chu Xuan has advanced to Third Order Professional, and it’s a Top Tier Profession, he succeeded.”
“Oh, that.” Su Chen realized; he’d been busy with his own affairs and almost forgot, couldn’t help saying: “He’s pretty impressive, advanced to Third Order so quickly; during the assessment back then, his development was probably in the latter half already.”
Seeing Su Chen’s reaction still flat, Ming Lin muttered inwardly, was this guy pretending too well, or really unconcerned?
Almost everyone in the Court of Justice knew that Chu Xuan had gathered a bunch of forces before joining, planning to shine in the assessment, but ended up overshadowed by Su Chen.
Now the people around him had mostly scattered, and he’d been holding it in, wanting to defeat Su Chen at Third Order and regain his glory.
This entanglement of grievances was a hot topic among Court of Justice people, but the person involved seemed not to care much.
“So, news just spread, and someone challenged him.” Ming Lin continued: “The challenge is today, about to start soon; I didn’t see you at the scene, so I came to invite you.”
What he didn’t say was that people were already saying Su Chen didn’t go to the scene because he was afraid.
Ming Lin had interacted with Su Chen a lot and didn’t think so, figuring he probably just didn’t know.
“The challenger is Xiong Tao, a Fourth Order Professional, pretty strong, should be worth watching.” Ming Lin couldn’t help sighing, “Stop eating, let’s go check it out.”
“Mm…” Su Chen thought for a moment, nodded and said: “Alright, let’s go see.”
After washing his hands, Su Chen followed Ming Lin to the Challenge Hall.
Not yet arrived, Su Chen heard the clamor of voices; even the entrance was packed, with four large screens specially added around for Judges who couldn’t get in to watch.
“So many people today?” Su Chen couldn’t help being surprised; he remembered, except for the first Core Seed challenge, other challenges didn’t have this many people.
“We’ve been fighting back and forth for one or two months, novelty worn off; Chu Xuan is new, Ink Jade Level Talent, and Third Order Top Tier Profession.” Ming Lin smiled ambiguously, “Plus entangled with you, full of story.”
“Story?” Su Chen was confused, how was it related to him.
“Yeah.” Ming Lin teased: “Ink Jade Talent should have been the center of attention, but suppressed by you; to beat you, he went all out, then advanced to Third Order Top Tier Profession for revenge.”
“Sounds exciting, right?”
Su Chen: “…”
Ming Lin pointed around, “This is just the entrance; plus us two, all six Core Seeds are here today.”
“Not just to watch the fun, right.” Su Chen said thoughtfully.
Ming Lin nodded: “Mainly to see Chu Xuan’s performance; since he’s advanced to Third Order, he’ll enter the Challenge Ranking System. To become Chief Seed, must defeat him, so naturally come to observe.”
Know yourself and your enemy, win every battle.
“Excuse us…” Ming Lin pushed inside; the people he shoved aside were initially displeased, but upon turning and seeing it was them, their expressions immediately softened.
“Su Chen…” Someone whispered, eyes quite excited, “Chu Xuan’s arch-nemesis…”
Arch-nemesis and all… these people are really bored, Su Chen thought speechlessly.
