Chapter 138: Bidding Mishap
Su Chen knocked on his own chest, producing muffled thumping sounds. The skin’s touch sensation showed no change, nor did the external sensation.
“This is truly magical…” He couldn’t help but marvel, making a rough estimate,
“This way, Third Order definitely can’t break my defense. Even a Top Tier Profession with full development isn’t enough. I wonder if Wu Yang, this Fourth Order Lower Tier Professional, can break the defense…”
“Full sense of security.”
Su Chen was quite satisfied. Just the fusion turning into all-around defense was worth enduring so many days of beatings.
On the Panel, the job appointment requirements for 【Reverse Yuan Practitioner】 were only 46% complete.
As for the Void Star Fragment, today was the Resource Repository’s bidding day. Gu Bing had already taken people to purchase it, so he didn’t need to show up.
Then, he took out the new D-grade Meditation Method—Profound Ice Purifying Soul Meditation Method.
“…Visualize oneself as if in extreme polar ice cold, draw in cold qi to temper essence, repeat nine times, extreme ice rises in the spirit sea…”
Just pondering this, the Gravity Chamber was opened. It was Bai Fengxi who came, her pretty face tense. Seeing Su Chen standing, she was surprised. “Did I come too early?”
She glanced at the time. “Not early.”
“No need to beat me today.” Su Chen shook his head and added, “No need in the future either.”
“Requirements completed?” Bai Fengxi’s face was full of disappointment, her mood seeming even worse.
Su Chen was speechless and noticed something off with her. He asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I was defeated.” She said with some annoyance, her voice heavy. “In the selection match, I was defeated by Liang Jingcheng!”
“This guy seems to have job appointed another Special Profession, with more tricks up his sleeve.”
“I see…” Su Chen wasn’t too surprised. Liang Jingcheng had been in the Core Seed position for so many years; he must have some skills.
Seeing Su Chen’s completely unsurprised attitude, Bai Fengxi was like an eggplant hit by frost. She sighed. “I was too hasty. After all, I’m not you.”
“The way you put it.” Su Chen shook his head. “If you could be like me, that would be too heaven-defying.”
“Ha…” Bai Fengxi laughed out of anger. “You’re really good at comforting people.”
After some banter, Bai Fengxi adjusted. Her disposition wasn’t so easily crushed; it was just that she expected to be a Core Seed but ended up defeated, so there was some gap.
“Those guys are really not simple. Experience, strength, Professional combination—practically perfect…” Bai Fengxi began reviewing, thinking she had been too careless.
“After all, they’ve been in this position for so many years, with dedicated people adjusting their Professional pairings.” Su Chen consoled somewhat. “You’ve only been in the Court of Justice for half a year, yet you want to challenge them.”
“What about you?” Bai Fengxi countered. “We came together.”
“I said, don’t compare with me. I cheated.” Su Chen was helpless. Old Bai was very competitive; after all, she had climbed up from a refugee like him, so she inevitably compared with him.
Bai Fengxi was dejected. “After fighting those Core Seeds, I realized how amazing you are. No wonder you forced Wei Yufan to promote to Fifth Order.”
She had always paid attention to Su Chen’s news, especially after his battle with Chu Xuan, though she hadn’t seen that battle with her own eyes, mostly hearing it passed around.
Many people were saying that among the Core Seeds on the challenge Arena, no one should be Su Chen’s opponent.
Unknowingly, she had looked down on those guys a bit, but after going on the challenge Arena and facing Liang Jingcheng.
She suddenly realized Su Chen’s strength and the pressure he brought to others.
“Whatever, can’t compare with you. Sooner or later, I’ll wrestle with those veteran Core Seeds. I’m going back to train.” Bai Fengxi said and left dashingly. “If there’s another chance to beat you next time, remember to call me.”
“She will become a Core Seed sooner or later.” Su Chen looked at Bai Fengxi’s back and said involuntarily.
Old Bai didn’t lack disposition, her talent was sufficient, and once her foundation was filled, the Core Seed position would inevitably have her spot.
After getting beginner level with the Meditation Method, Su Chen tidied up a bit and headed to the Translation Department. This time for support translation, he extended the Resonance time even longer, nearly two months, before almost finishing the translation.
“After finishing this translation, I can trade it with Ming Lin for that 【Glutton】…”
Today was already wrap-up work. Qin Qiyuan had basically integrated the Profession Information and made a rough rating of the Profession.
“Tentatively B-grade. With two Top Tier Professions as one of the requirements, plus fusing Metal Material, it should have considerable effect on body strengthening.”
Qin Qiyuan pondered. “But the specific Professional Ability and post-job appointment restrictions still need analysis after someone job appoints it.”
“Or, when you job appoint it someday, come over and tell us. With your two body-type Top Tier Professions, you definitely meet it. The rest isn’t too hard, just need to endure.”
Before job appointment, Professional Ability can only be inferred. Old Sang, based on experience, could infer the ability of 【Space Collector】. The previous 【Potion Tester】 was also relatively easy to infer.
But 【Bone Armor User】 was hard to directly infer from clues in the Profession Information.
If not for Su Chen having already job appointed it now, it would be hard to know its ability was fusing external armor to strengthen body defense.
“B-grade…” Su Chen nodded. This also meant he could exchange for a B-grade Profession from the Translation Department. He asked Qin Qiyuan.
Qin Qiyuan chuckled. “Greed bites off more than you can chew. Special Professions like this that help with strength aren’t that common.”
“Moreover, with just these two Professions, it would take you three or four years to handle them.”
Hearing this, Su Chen could only drop it. As usual, they chatted a bit, pulling their relationship closer, then Su Chen turned back.
But just as he exited the lab building, he saw Cheng Lang waiting for him. Su Chen raised an eyebrow and said happily, “Deputy Minister Cheng, long time no see…”
Seeing Su Chen’s enthusiasm, Cheng Lang felt quite annoyed inside.
Last time, Su Chen got three Mystic Energy Crystals for free from him. Though not precious, there was no follow-up.
He had been waiting for this kid to be slain by Chu Xuan, then slink back seeking their help. Instead, Su Chen cleanly crushed Chu Xuan, causing a stir.
Heaven knows how long he was silent when he got that news.
Later, the higher-ups realized that if this trend continued, even without their help, Su Chen had a high chance of becoming Chief Judge.
So they temporarily held off on icing-the-cake moves and paused contact.
They shifted targets to others, but those veteran Core Seeds were all sly foxes, not scattering eagles without seeing rabbits.
As for Chu Xuan without foundation, he died inexplicably after just a couple contacts.
Then Meng Qi came up, and after one contact, he was gone too, leaving them speechless.
This time’s Core Seed selection tournament brought up Feng Ze and Liang Jingcheng, these two old meats. Cheng Lang didn’t even want to deal with them.
Looking around, among those without foundation who could become puppets, only Su Chen was left.
“No way, too busy lately, couldn’t get away. I wanted to meet you a while back.” Cheng Lang sighed, then added, “The three Mystic Energy Crystals from last time, no issues using them, right?”
“No issues, they were great.” Su Chen nodded repeatedly. “I was just thinking of thanking you in person.”
Do I lack that thank you from you?
Cheng Lang was unhappy inside and lowered his voice. “I heard that on the day Meng Qi died, Heituo Followers appeared and entered the Court of Justice to identify.”
“What exactly happened?”
Su Chen frowned, troubled. “Everything that happened that day, the Chief issued a gag order.”
Without a gag order, I still wouldn’t ask. Cheng Lang thought to himself. Actually, he already knew the gist of that day’s events.
But cultivating a betrayer couldn’t start with highly confidential info; it would most likely fail. It had to be this kind of inconsequential street gossip.
Su Chen still looked troubled. Cheng Lang was annoyed inside. He ate the stuff, but won’t even reveal this rotten news.
He sighed helplessly. “Last time, with the Yunhai Jian matter, the Inspection Department internally questioned me a lot. That was a Heituo Follower nest, yet I let it go to you for free.”
“I helped Your Excellency. Hope Your Excellency can help me too—mutual assistance.”
Mentioning this, Su Chen hesitated, seeming very conflicted. After a long time, he nodded with difficulty. “Alright.”
Su Chen lowered his voice. “Indeed, Heituo Followers came, and the whole thing was fishy. Can confirm Meng Qi had big issues.”
“Confirmed Meng Qi had issues?” Cheng Lang’s eyes lit up slightly.
He didn’t know much about Meng Qi’s situation. Just the Adjudication Hall incident that night, passed around and changed, hard to discern truth from falsehood.
Meng Qi’s matter was taboo in the entire Court of Justice, after all involving several Chief Judges’ faces.
“How did he fool Chong Jingtian and the others?” Cheng Lang pressed.
“That, I don’t know.” Su Chen shook his head.
Though no answer, he pried out something at least. Cheng Lang felt much better inside, his smile kinder:
“We’re all Ying Feng’s people; we should help each other. If you need anything in the future, just say.”
The two exchanged smiles, eyes full of candor for Ying Feng.
“Similar behaviors, the Security Department must have done countless times.” Su Chen sat in the back seat of the Hover Car, speculating. The struggle between Security Department and Court of Justice went way back.
This time, taking the inner court reform opportunity, they made some small moves, but probably just idle plays. Best if they worked; if not, wait for the next chance.
Then he thought, “Hmm, wonder how Gu Bing’s side is going. Hope we get it.”
………
The Resource Repository was Ying Feng’s resource distribution center, directly under the Resource Reserve Management Department. Over ninety percent of resources converged here, then allocated by category.
Located in Ying Feng’s core area, vast grounds. Main roads had super heavy Hover Containers traveling, surfaces marked with different Cities and resource types.
Under dispatch guidance, they diverted to corresponding areas. Unloading zones had massive gantry cranes; electromagnetic suckers lifted standard Containers from transport bellies, precisely stacked on guided vehicles for storage.
On the central high-rise top floor, Gu Bing and Tie Feng exited the Elevator.
“Is the money we prepared enough?”
Gu Bing glanced at the corridor. Many people coming and going: Crafting Department, Potion Department, Inspection Department all had people.
Tie Feng replied, “I studied recent years’ records. Void Star Fragment prices are very stable.”
“Price should be around 150 million, but we’re here representing Your Excellency Su Chen. Others will give some face; price won’t be pulled that high.”
“The 130 million prepared should be enough.”
Gu Bing nodded and followed the crowd into the bidding hall. Quite a few people; they found seats.
“That’s Gu Bing. Does Su Chen need something too?”
In the corner, someone’s gaze caught Gu Bing, a hard-to-describe glint in his narrow eyes. Beside him, He Kang furrowed his signature furrowed brows and said lowly:
“Xiao Ying, don’t stir trouble. Don’t forget Old Wei’s warning. He now needs ‘Jade Hidden Flowing Light’ to stabilize his Profession.”
“Relax, am I the type to stir trouble?” Xiao Ying chuckled.
He Kang wasn’t reassured at all and was about to speak when he saw Xiao Ying stand and greet someone nearby. “Uncle Zhou, Inspection Department is you this time?”
“Yeah…” The greeted man wasn’t tall, with a circle of stubble on his chin, looking very capable. He gave a wry smile:
“Good stuff is limited; fighting with others easily sparks tempers. No one wants to come; only me.”
Zhou Honglang, Inspection Department’s Logistics Director. He Kang knew him and greeted.
“You two how come? Need something?” Zhou Honglang sat nearby and asked.
“Yeah.” Xiao Ying nodded, smiling. “Uncle Zhou, let’s cooperate later and try to get what we want.”
“Sure.” Zhou Honglang chuckled in response.
Everyone was familiar with the bidding process. After the Resource Repository person in charge appeared and exchanged pleasantries, the big screen showed the first item.
Translucent ink-green all over, interior like sealed flowing aurora.
“Jade flesh from Golden Wall City, only this much produced in months.” He briefly introduced. “Effects everyone knows. Starting Bid 15 million.”
“20 million…” Immediately someone bid, from Potion Department, clearly planning deep research to see if they could make potent Potions.
“30 million…” Crafting Department people also bid, perhaps with ideas.
The two sides just eyed each other, gunpowder in the air.
“Why no one from Court of Justice?” Gu Bing sat below, looking left and right.
“Most of these come from Lower Tier Cities; Court of Justice already harvested a round.” Tie Feng clearly knew the inside story.
Gu Bing was stunned, then understood.
Items were bid away one by one, new ones put up: weapons from Crafting Department, forged from special Metal Materials.
Also Potions from Potion Department, blended from rare herbs. Each bid to high prices.
Not just Ying Feng’s official institutions; many family buyers and private purchasers too.
