Crimson Gold Talent! A Pearl Lost in the Vast Sea

So, I can gain a unique advantage by learning a large number of training methods. Su Chen considered the feasibility of it.

From what he currently understood, very few people did this.

The abilities produced by training methods were far too unpredictable, while mastering a particular training method to perfection was beneficial to developing one's profession.

Other than for professional requirements, few people would learn additional body-tempering methods.

"When a training method isn't proficient, its efficiency really is low. But I have [Scholar], which can rapidly raise proficiency and minimize the cost."

"Sacrifice a little efficiency in exchange for abilities..." Su Chen felt the trade was well worth it. Besides, switching to other training methods did not mean he could not develop them further.

"Still, this will require a large supply of training methods. That would have been difficult before, but now that I have Old Yuan backing me, it shouldn't be much of a problem."

Glancing at his panel, he saw that the development progress of [Sky-Rending Warrior] had also reached 41%.

By mid-afternoon, a servant came upstairs and knocked on the door. Yuan Chenyang had returned.

In the living room, Old Yuan was rubbing his brow and looked considerably more tired. Bai Fengxi sat beside him.

"Come here, kid." He waved, motioning for Su Chen to sit.

"Why are you only back now?" Su Chen took the teapot from the servant and poured Yuan Chenyang a cup.

Bai Fengxi raised a brow and pointed at the empty cup before her.

Speechless, Su Chen poured her a cup as well.

"That old bastard..." Yuan Chenyang took a sip of tea, then burst into curses before sighing. "Kid, I've let you down."

"Hm?" Su Chen's heart jolted. They can't be making me pay for Zhou Zong's life, can they? He forcibly suppressed his unease and asked, "What happened?"

"You have to go to the Inspection Department." Yuan Chenyang sounded helpless.

"The Inspection... Department?" Su Chen was briefly stunned. "Your department, sir?"

Yuan Chenyang nodded.

"Is that bad news?" Su Chen was somewhat bewildered.

Yuan Chenyang was the Minister of Inspection, and Su Chen was his student. Wouldn't going to the Inspection Department be like a fish taking to water?

"Good-for-nothing!" Yuan Chenyang slammed down his cup, looking as though he hated iron for not becoming steel.

"He probably doesn't know about the quota," Bai Fengxi said quietly.

Only then did Yuan Chenyang realize. He said awkwardly, "Ah, right. The academy has one quota each year for the Ying Feng Tribunal. It's incredibly precious."

"The Tribunal?" Su Chen could not help looking at Bai Fengxi. "Isn't your teacher one of their presiding judges or something?"

That was what Bai Fengxi had vaguely revealed before.

"What do you mean, 'your teacher'? That's your grandteacher." Yuan Chenyang coughed twice.

Su Chen: "..."

Yuan Chenyang continued, "The Tribunal is the cradle of all those in power, the core among the core of Ying Feng's direct line."

"Those who can go there are the finest from every city. Originally, Zhang Hengyu had the best chance this year, but then you appeared out of nowhere and drew the city lord's wariness."

"The city lord's wariness?" Su Chen sensed something. "He's the city lord's son?"

"Mm." Yuan Chenyang gritted his teeth. "Zhang Hongbo is pleasant on the surface but cold-hearted underneath. To eliminate you as a potential threat, he wants to seal away your file."

"Fuck, what an old bastard." Su Chen cursed as well, but then said, "Still, there's nothing that can be done about it. You don't need to feel guilty toward me."

Seeing that Su Chen harbored no resentment, Yuan Chenyang nodded inwardly. He had only told part of the story, deliberately making it seem as if he had no power to change things.

He wanted to see whether Su Chen would be dissatisfied if he appeared unable to fight for it.

They had known each other too briefly, and Su Chen had once been a drifter. Yuan Chenyang did not yet understand his temperament.

Only then did Yuan Chenyang explain, "But it isn't that simple. Even if you wanted to go this year, I wouldn't let you. Your file lists you as a drifter, which puts you at an inherent disadvantage."

"Do the higher-ups discriminate against drifters?" Su Chen frowned.

"It's not discrimination. It's a historical issue," Yuan Chenyang said vaguely. "It's difficult for the higher-ups to allow drifters to become city lords or the like."

"But in exchange for my concession this time, Zhang Hongbo will revise your file next year and erase your drifter status."

Only then did Su Chen understand. Because of his drifter status, he had never had much hope for that quota anyway.

But through Yuan Chenyang's maneuvering, he had struck this deal with Zhang Hongbo. It looked like a concession, but he had actually gained something.

"Thank you for going to such trouble," Su Chen said sincerely.

"Since I've taken you as my student and accepted your things, I should naturally do everything I can." Yuan Chenyang said casually, "You're already a professional. There's no real point in remaining at Southwind Academy."

"The Inspection Department is also a decent place to temper yourself."

"Uh..." After some thought, Su Chen asked, "Is the work there busy?"

He did not want to attend classes at South Harvest Academy, and he did not want to work after joining the Inspection Department either.

Yuan Chenyang said irritably, "You're my student. Who there would dare manage you? Just don't leave people with too much leverage against you, and I can make things easier for you."

"Of course, it'll also be safer." At this point, Yuan Chenyang paused before asking, "Any other requests?"

Su Chen's eyes brightened. He immediately said, "A body-tempering method, a meditation method, and supplementary potions. Oh, and do you know about the [Scholar] profession? Are there any similar professions?"

"Now you're ordering off the menu." Yuan Chenyang glared at him. "Don't you know that biting off more than you can chew is bad? You already have an excellent profession as your foundation. Focus on the physical side."

"I've looked over the profession information you gave me. Advancing to the second-tier [Storm Hunter] shouldn't be a problem. The Inspection Department happens to have information on that profession in storage."

"I feel like my mental talent is very good," Su Chen insisted.

"You feel?" Yuan Chenyang shot him a glance and said crossly, "What use is feeling? Come... I'll test you."

As he spoke, he brought over the metal case resting nearby.

Buzz— The case opened, releasing white mist. Inside lay two palm-sized hemispherical objects, one silver and one black.

"Test your body first..." Yuan Chenyang pointed at the black hemisphere on the left.

Su Chen was quite curious. Unsure of how it worked, he placed his hand on it.

A low hum sounded, and dense golden patterns emerged across the sphere. After roughly two or three breaths, a brilliant silver beam actually pierced through his palm.

"So it really is Bright Silver..." Yuan Chenyang's expression eased, and he broke into a grin. "I knew it. To take up [Sky-Rending Warrior] at such a young age, even with years of accumulation, your physical talent couldn't possibly be low."

"Is it very high?" Su Chen could not help asking. In the talent ranking, it seemed to be only second from the bottom.

Yuan Chenyang explained, "It's already quite good. The vast majority of people have no talent at all. Given enough resources, even Bronze can be ground up to the third tier. Zhang Hengyu is only Bright Silver as well, and becoming a fifth-tier professional should not be a problem for him."

Su Chen was rather surprised. He actually had physical talent?

Why had the original owner not felt it? He had even been weaker than most people.

It was understandable if his mental talent had increased after transmigrating, but his body should not have grown stronger out of thin air.

Could it be... His heart stirred. [Scholar]?

Increasing skill proficiency and efficiency was practically the same as increasing talent. This thing before him probably could not distinguish the difference.

"Let me test my mental talent..." Seeing Yuan Chenyang about to put it away, Su Chen spoke up.

Yuan Chenyang was speechless. "Mental talent is even more precious than physical talent. And if your mental talent were truly high, there would be unusual signs."

"Besides, mental and physical talents conflict to a certain extent. When one is high, the other will be low."

Though he said that, he did not stop Su Chen.

He understood. Who did not hope they were one in ten thousand?

Su Chen placed his other hand on the silver hemisphere. This time, he felt a cool sensation shoot up his arm and into his head.

Again, only two or three breaths passed.

Then, suddenly, a crimson-gold beam pierced through his palm, dazzling and magnificent.

"This is... Crimson Gold?" Su Chen looked up uncertainly.

Yet Yuan Chenyang was staring blankly at the beam, muttering under his breath, "There really is a pearl lost in the vast sea, damn it!"