Dream Interpretation

Rumor had it that this assessment would be extremely rigorous.

The rumors were true. Those who had come were all renowned, stone-faced Vanguards.

Yet the scene inside the cabin was utterly unexpected. The Law Vanguards had gathered together, drinking and playing finger-guessing games in high spirits. They looked more like a group of elderly vacationers on a senior citizens' tour.

If this Assessment Team had been sent on Old Zhao's orders, did that mean the upcoming assessment would be raised high and set down lightly?

Luo Er and Zhong Wei both stiffened... Neither dared to ask further.

"About time for me to go." Mr. Shu smiled and tipped back his head, draining the fine wine from his cup. He affectionately patted the Grand Arbiter beside him, reeking of alcohol. "Mr. Tang, you can really drink! Next Battle!"

He rose unsteadily and left the cabin with swaying steps, lifting both arms. Luo Er and Zhong Wei hurried forward to support their teacher. Once they had left the noisy, clamorous cabin, the cold rain striking their faces finally sobered them up a little.

"Teacher..."

Luo Er spoke up. She had far too many questions.

"The assessment the day after tomorrow is Dream Interpretation." Mr. Shu's voice suddenly became incomparably clear, utterly unlike that of a drunkard. He said coldly, "Those old fellows on the Assessment Team aren't as simple as you think. Where is Gu Shen? Let's set off first. I'll explain on the way."

The black vintage business car drove through the rainy night.

Zhou Jiren leaned sideways against the back seat. His cheeks still bore the flush of drink. He tugged at the collar around his neck, but no adjustment felt comfortable, so he forcefully loosened it.

From the moment he attended his own impeachment hearing in the Great Capital District until now, he had been wearing a neat, well-fitting Zhongshan suit. The lingering alcohol made him sharp as a blade. Usually, he carried a warmth that made people feel like they were basking in a spring breeze. But when he turned serious and fell silent, Mr. Shu resembled an underground Godfather with "Do Not Disturb" written all over him, intimidating enough to inspire fear at a glance.

"The matter of the Amnesty Decree caused quite a stir. I made you worry."

He closed his eyes and Spread Open his arms, slowly working through the effects of the alcohol before apologizing to his two prized students.

"It's all over now!"

Zhou Jiren laughed heartily. "You really should have seen the impeachment hearing in the Great Capital District. It was fascinating. One person after another stood up to speak for me, and the situation looked excellent. But when it came time for the secret ballot, those same people showed their second faces. The votes overwhelmingly crushed the anti-impeachment side. Since they were hoping I'd fall sooner, why didn't they dare step forward and state their true feelings openly?"

"They didn't dare," Zhong Wei said from the driver's seat.

Though the lion had grown old, it was still a lion.

"Zhao Xilai did me a huge favor. Since no one dared to stand up, he exercised his veto power." Recalling the scene at the impeachment Council, the teacher lowered his voice and imitated him. "'Since no one wishes for Zhou Jiren to be removed from office, the voting results are no longer important.'"

"It's a pity you weren't there to see how marvelous the expressions were on those people who had spoken for me earlier." He could not help laughing, his face full of mockery. "That old fellow Zhao Xilai is no pushover either. He didn't want me impeached because he appreciated me, nor because of our friendship. It was simply because no one was more suitable than me for the position of Grand Arbiter of the Adjudication Court."

Both Zhong Wei and Luo Er understood this reasoning.

Since its establishment, the Adjudication Court had attracted countless geniuses and exceptionally powerful Transcendents... These people had resolved innumerable troubles for the Council and settled an untold number of extraordinary incidents. Yet the person sitting at the very top could not be judged on strength alone.

If the Grand Arbiter united everyone in the Adjudication Court into a single ironclad bloc, then that person's influence would become too great to control. The Council did not wish to see such a thing happen.

The most uncontrollable people gathered together, controlled by one person.

Without question, the Council's position would be gravely threatened.

Thus, the best person to serve as Grand Arbiter of the Adjudication Court was someone extraordinarily capable, yet isolated by many others.

"Zhao Xilai knows that perfectly well. In Eastern Continent, he couldn't find someone like me even if he searched with a lantern..."

Zhou Jiren stretched, a faint smile on his face as he mocked himself. "For the past several decades, I've fought and killed, devoted myself wholeheartedly to the continent and its people. I haven't had many friends left in the Adjudication Court for a long time. I took in a few students, but they're all five-star Labor Models who only know how to bury their heads in work. Remove me and put someone else in charge, and who knows what storms it'll stir up."

Luo Er let out a soft sigh upon hearing that.

"But isn't that what the Adjudication Court is supposed to do?" she said.

"There are too many messy matters in Eastern Continent. I won't tell you about them, lest they upset you." The teacher rubbed his brow. "Zhao Xilai vetoed my impeachment, then personally appointed a strictly disciplined Assessment Team to balance those people's resentment."

"From what I saw on the plane just now... Teacher seemed to get along well with them?" Zhong Wei asked cautiously.

"Bullshit."

Mr. Shu smiled. "The more old and cunning they are, the better they are at keeping their feelings hidden and looking all smiles. If they were truly immovable, that might not be a bad thing. When the time came, we could just lay everything out and let Gu Shen charge ahead with real weapons. Fair and just, reasonable and proper. But out of respect for Zhao Xilai's assistant, we rode the same plane. Six hours there and back, three rounds of drinking, and they didn't say a single useful word. The only thing they revealed was that the assessment would be Dream Interpretation..."

"But what fucking use is knowing it's Dream Interpretation? Who knows what bizarre dreams they'll pull out!" He looked somewhat troubled. "These people are ruthless bastards who have studied Gu Shen's file dozens of times. The Rooftop case was sent to Deep Sea for analysis. Deep Sea concluded that Gu Shen was a Mental Affinity Transcendent, so the Assessment Team decided to test only Gu Shen's mental potential."

Luo Er and Zhong Wei both frowned.

Just as expected!

Things were not as simple as they had imagined.

These people did not play by the rules at all... The results of the past few days of special training had all gone to waste. But judging from Gu Shen's training results, that might not necessarily be a bad thing.

If the Assessment Team really assessed him in areas such as strength and physical fitness, things would only get worse.

Gu Shen might very well produce an assessment result that was "unprecedented in history."

"Among the dead Transcendents, one was an Assault Type who enhanced his body. Deep Sea believes Gu Shen may be hiding a very powerful method involving strength." Mr. Shu smiled. "So the Assessment Team's intention in measuring only his mental potential is to prevent Gu Shen's scores in other areas from being raised."

"That should count as good news. But Little Gu's mental potential..."

Worry Appeared on Zhong Wei's face. After hesitating, he said tactfully, "Teacher, Little Gu may not be as gifted as you imagine."

Mr. Shu raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"I pulled him into the Awakening of Insects Dream Realm." Luo Er got straight to the point. "It took him four hours and thirty-nine minutes to complete the comprehension. That result isn't terrible, but it's nowhere near enough for an S in Mental Affinity."

Mr. Shu smiled and asked, "That score really is quite ordinary. What about the other aspects?"

"Based on the past few days of special training, if I had to give him a rating, Little Gu's physical fitness would probably be D+, while his strength and speed are roughly E." Zhong Wei shook his head and spoke frankly. "His Mental Power is better, around B+. His overall assessment would be C at most."

Mr. Shu still wore that unhurried, indifferent expression, as if none of this had surprised him.

Senior Apprentice Sister Luo said, "I have a theory... Gu Shen might not be a normal three-affinity transcendental, so the standard rating system may not apply to him."

Mr. Shu narrowed his Eyes.

He smiled. "You mean... Gu Shen might be of the Trait Affinity?"

"I can only say... that possibility can't be ruled out." Luo Er struggled for a moment before forcing herself to continue. "That Fire Thief from the Central Continent could steal other people's transcendent powers, couldn't he? The abilities of the Trait Affinity are still largely blank on the transcendent lineage chart and haven't been fully explored. This assessment shouldn't test only mental potential. That isn't fair to Gu Shen."

"We can't fight for that condition. Those Old Fellows on the Assessment Team only conduct assessments; they don't care about fairness."

Zhou Jiren shook his head, his expression grave. "They came from every major district of the Eastern Continent precisely to conduct this assessment in the harshest possible manner... Zhao Xilai's attitude is very strange. He sent Cui Zhongcheng to Da Teng City to supervise, then specifically instructed those Old Fellows not to go easy on him. I don't understand whether he wants Gu Shen to pass the assessment or wants him to fail."

A brief silence fell over the car.

After a long while, Mr. Shu murmured, "Perhaps he simply wants to see whether Gu Shen's abilities can truly reach the legendary S-rank?"