Chapter 68: Changes From Promotion
“Mental power utilization is more powerful and diverse, not necessarily in a sharp thorn-like manner, and there is more room.”
“Mystic tool related classes are integrated into one, perhaps because their compatibility is similar?” Su Chen mused inwardly. As he had predicted, the control quantity increased by one, precisely controlling the 【Green Scaled Armor】.
As for the final professional ability, he couldn’t quite figure it out.
He had long known that the professional abilities gained by 【Mystic Arts Scholar】 were different for everyone, depending on what they experienced during the Whispering Trial.
But this explanation still surprised him.
“Steal?”
In his mind, he recalled the four winged beings again.
“Is it really a Strange God?”
Rubbing his hands, Su Chen was eager to try. With a mere thought, his mental power surged and poured out.
The air in front of him crackled, and a wisp of faint red lightning appeared out of nowhere, filling the air with a burnt smell.
Su Chen’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly dispersed it. This ability was even more powerful than he had anticipated. After just a brief moment of charging, it had consumed nearly a tenth of his mental power.
“I probably can only release it once or twice, but the power will definitely be considerable.” Su Chen was secretly amazed and dared not try again rashly. Instead, he prepared to bring the 【Green Scaled Armor】 under his control as well.
After selecting it, his mental power flowed out, gradually permeating the armor that covered his entire body.
Immediately, he felt as if it were an extension of his arm. Peeking inside his clothes, he saw the scales begin to flow, making crisp clanging sounds like metal striking metal. They even gathered in one place, piling up layer upon layer.
The 【Green Scaled Armor】 was essentially just a Second Order item. It was just that it was made with a lot of material. Automatic wear was its limit; such targeted defense could not be achieved by the item itself.
But Su Chen, by virtue of his control, could do it effortlessly. Even in combat, he could adjust and strengthen the defense using 【One Mind, Two Uses【.
“With multiple layers of scales superimposed, the defensive layers are comparable to Third Order,” Su Chen couldn’t help but think, “and it can be further strengthened.”
With that in mind, a green wind current converged, gradually attaching itself to the Green Scaled Armor. Rippling patterns appeared on the surface of the scales, and each scale absorbed wind elements.
The green scales became deeper, and faint green light streams seeped from the gaps. These light streams intertwined on the surface of the armor, flickering on and off.
“Wind Barrier is directly superimposed on the Green Scaled Armor, further enhancing the defensive strength.” Su Chen patted the scale armor. “No wonder everyone pursues Top Tier Professions.”
He once again felt the strength of a Top Tier Profession. As a First Order Mystic Tool Master, it still provided him with a powerful boost.
And his two Second Order Professions both possessed the opportunity for imminent transformation.
“Hoo…” Su Chen exhaled, rubbing his temples. His mental power hadn’t stabilized after the promotion. A series of ability tests had left him somewhat fatigued.
“Now, the Second Order Meditation Potion must also be put on the agenda, along with the Meditation Method. This seems like something Old Sun can’t handle.”
Su Chen sighed and simply went out to eat with Zhang Hengyu.
Zhang Hengyu’s expression was dejected. Seeing Su Chen finally resting again, a visible excitement welled up in his eyes.
It’s too damn competitive, I’ve never seen such competitive people!
…
The next day, Sun Fatty came to deliver the weekly rations of 【Mist Fiend Potion】. Su Chen asked about Pan Yu.
Sun Fatty pondered, “You’re talking about Pan Yu’s situation? It’s indeed still under investigation. Many people suspect his disappearance is related to the Cult of the Strange God. The City Lord has specifically assembled an Investigation Team to see if they can find any leads.”
When he heard Su Chen say that the Investigation Team had already come to see him, Sun Fatty became furious and said sternly, “Are they crazy? Why are they investigating you?”
“If others can’t see clearly, can’t Qin Cheng see clearly?”
“Routine, just routine.” It was Su Chen who comforted Sun Fatty instead.
Sun Fatty grumbled, saying he would definitely settle accounts with Qin Cheng when he got back.
“Those guys should all be quite powerful, otherwise, they wouldn’t have been chosen by the City Lord,” Su Chen said as if chatting casually.
“I’ve heard of Zhou Mingguang. The City Lord values him highly. He is steady and methodical, a Second Order Upper Tier 【Stone Guard】. His profession progress is in the latter half. He might have a chance to become a Third Order Professional,” Sun Tai mused.
“As for Yu Xuan, he is a very low-key person with a good reputation and handles matters fairly. He is well-respected. He is a Second Order Upper Tier 【Frost Envoy】, but his profession progress might not be very high.”
“As for Qin Cheng?” Sun Tai curled his lip. “It’s only because Pan Yu is someone under him, otherwise, the Inspection Department wouldn’t have him.”
“I see,” Su Chen said thoughtfully.
After seeing Sun Fatty off, he opened the Metal Box and couldn’t help but chuckle, “Brother Sun, you are truly my brother.”
The three tubes of Mist Fiend Potion that were originally allocated had inexplicably become four tubes.
This item didn’t have a regular market in Nanfeng. Not to mention the black market, even if it was secretly circulated within the Inspection Department, it would cost five to six thousand gold. Giving him an extra one like this would definitely make Sun Fatty’s heart ache.
…
By evening, a week after the Joint Investigation Team had last visited, Su Chen didn’t expect Yu Xuan to come looking for him again.
“Surprised?”
Yu Xuan knocked on the door, smiling at Su Chen, and walked in uninvited.
Su Chen narrowed his eyes and closed the door.
“Tsk tsk, this place is not bad,” Yu Xuan said, looking around the room with emotion. “Counting the time, from a refugee eating relief meals to the Deputy Section Chief of the Inspection Department’s Patrol Section, it seems like it hasn’t been many months.”
“A life like this, you wouldn’t have even dared to imagine before.”
Su Chen watched the other party, who appeared to have everything under control, his expression unchanged.
The other party had come openly, not afraid of any surveillance personnel that might be outside.
“I didn’t expect the Faceless Ghost to extend its reach here…” Yu Xuan’s expression gradually turned grim, his voice becoming colder. “Hand over what you took, or the identity you’ve worked so hard to accumulate will be turned to ashes.”
Faceless Ghost?
They didn’t mistake me for a Heituo Follower? Do they know I’m disguised?
Judging by Yu Xuan’s tone, Heituo and the Faceless Ghost seem to be on the same level, both Strange Gods. Are the Cult of the Strange God fighting amongst themselves?
Su Chen was inwardly surprised, remaining silent, wanting to see what else the other party would say.
“Your ambitions are not small, why do you have to interfere in our affairs?” Yu Xuan sneered when he saw his silence. “To send you to Yuan Chenyang’s side, you actually used us as a stepping stone for your promotion.”
“You look down on us a bit too much.”
Su Chen thought it over and finally uttered a perfunctory response: “What do you want?”
“Hand over the power of Our Lord you devoured, and the Space Crystals you took. And then help us with a small favor,” Yu Xuan said in a deep voice.
They really had me cornered. Su Chen wasn’t too surprised by the first two requests.
“What favor?” he pressed.
“Corrupt Yuan Chenyang.” His tone was cold. “Zhou Xian has no more value. You must give us a Chess Piece as compensation.”
“That’s too difficult,” Su Chen shook his head.
“That’s your problem. If you don’t agree, then it’s a fight to the death. Your identity as a Strange God Follower won’t be preserved, and I’ll still profit from exchanging pieces with you.”
Yu Xuan gave a sinister smile, his voice eerily chilling. “To infiltrate, you should only be a low-level follower, retaining a considerable degree of independent thought.”
“Think about your current life and consider carefully.”
Yu Xuan didn’t ask for an immediate answer. He patted Su Chen’s shoulder and left directly, as if he were in his own home.
“Truly…” Su Chen glanced at his left shoulder and couldn’t help but say softly, “Daoist friends on the Hunting Path, I just need a few more.”
The night was pitch black. Su Chen, familiar with the way, slipped out through the window, took out his telescope, and the blurred silhouette drifted far away with the wind.
Su Chen had left a trace of mental imprint on Yu Xuan, a fine application of mental power after his promotion.
He could vaguely sense the target’s location, although only within a range of three to four hundred meters, it made tracking more flexible.
“It’s heading towards the outer city again. Could he be going to report?” Su Chen speculated inwardly. He followed from afar, only to find that Yu Xuan didn’t go home. Instead, he took secluded paths and finally arrived near a factory.
“Factory district…” Su Chen glanced around. This area was vast, and the lights were still on.
“Is he here to report? To whom? Zhou Xian? Or others from the Cult of the Strange God?” A string of questions flashed through Su Chen’s mind. A rash attack was definitely not an option.
Old method: call for backup!
Su Chen stealthily contacted Sun Fatty, claiming he had received new intelligence.
Old Sun was very excited. However, Su Chen cautiously insisted that Du Jingming must lead the team.
Du Jingming was one of the Deputy Ministers of the Inspection Department, Du Yu’s father, and also a Third Order Professional.
However, he was a flawed Third Order. He was old and could no longer fulfill all the requirements for promotion. He could only risk a Forced Job Appointment, barely succeeding.
The failure rate for Forced Job Appointment was very high. Even if successful, one couldn’t awaken professional abilities, and profession progress would stagnate, with no further path. But ultimately, he was a Third Order Professional.
Sun Fatty became much more serious on the phone, repeatedly confirming the situation.
Su Chen’s explanation was vague, not mentioning that Zhou Xian might be there, only saying it was information from an old refugee friend.
After waiting for two to three hours, Su Chen saw patrol airships descending in the distance. Compared to last time, there were clearly more people.
