"Hmm, in that case, I could gain a unique advantage by studying 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 too uncertain, while mastering a particular training method to perfection was beneficial to developing one's profession.
Aside from professional requirements, few people would go on to learn more Body Forging Methods.
"When a training method isn't proficient, its efficiency really isn't that high. But I have [Scholar], so I can quickly raise my proficiency and minimize the cost."
"Sacrificing a bit of efficiency in exchange for abilities..." Su Chen felt the deal was well worth it. It wasn't as though switching to other training methods meant they couldn't be developed further.
"Still, this will require a large amount of training method resources. That would have been difficult before, but now that I have Old Yuan backing me, it shouldn't be much of a problem."
He glanced at the panel. 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 over here, kid." He waved, signaling Su Chen to sit down.
"Why did you only just get back?" Su Chen took the teapot from the servant and poured Yuan Chenyang a cup of tea.
Bai Fengxi raised her brows slightly 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 immediately began cursing. After that, he sighed mournfully. "Kid, I've let you down."
"Hm?" Su Chen's heart jolted. He isn't going to make me pay for Zhou Zong's life, is he? He forcibly suppressed his unease and asked, "What happened?"
"You have to go to the Inspection Department." Yuan Chenyang said helplessly.
"The Inspection... Department?" Su Chen was slightly stunned. He hesitated before asking, "Your department, sir?"
Yuan Chenyang nodded.
"Is that bad news?" Su Chen was a little confused.
Yuan Chenyang was the head of the Inspection Department. As his student, wouldn't going there be like a fish taking to water?
"You're hopeless!" Yuan Chenyang slammed his cup down heavily, looking as though he hated iron for not becoming steel.
"He probably doesn't know about the quota." Bai Fengxi said softly.
Only then did Yuan Chenyang realize. Embarrassed, he said, "Uh, it's like this. The academy gets one quota every year to go to the Yingfeng Tribunal. It's incredibly precious."
"The Tribunal?" Su Chen could not help looking at Bai Fengxi. "Your teacher seems to be one of their presiding judges or something, right?"
That was what Bai Fengxi had revealed in passing.
"What do you mean, 'your teacher'? That's your grandmaster." 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 Yingfeng's direct lineage."
"Those who can go are the finest talents from every city. Originally, Zhang Hengyu had the greatest chance this year, but your sudden emergence has made the City Lord wary."
"The City Lord is wary of me?" Su Chen sensed something. "Is he the City Lord's son?"
"Yeah." Yuan Chenyang gritted his teeth. "Zhang Hongbo looks kind but has a cold heart. To eliminate you as a hidden danger, 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 bore no resentment, Yuan Chenyang nodded to himself.
He had only told part of the story, deliberately creating the impression that he was powerless.
He wanted to see whether Su Chen would become 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 truly understand his temperament.
Only then did Yuan Chenyang explain, "But this matter isn't that simple. Even if you wanted to go this year, I wouldn't let you. Your file says you're a drifter, which puts you at an innate disadvantage."
"Those above discriminate against drifters too?" Su Chen frowned.
"It's not discrimination. It's some leftover issue from history." Yuan Chenyang was vague. "It's difficult for those above to allow drifters to become City Lords and the like."
"But in exchange for my concession this time, Zhang Hongbo will amend your file next year and erase your drifter status."
Only then did Su Chen understand. Because of his status as a drifter, he had never held much hope for that quota in the first place.
But after Yuan Chenyang's maneuvering, he had reached this deal with Zhang Hongbo. It looked like a concession, but he had actually gained something from it.
"Sorry for the trouble." Su Chen said sincerely.
"Since I've taken you as my student and accepted your things, naturally I should do my best." Yuan Chenyang said casually. "You're already a professional, so there isn't much point in staying at Southwind Academy."
"The Inspection Department is also a decent place to temper yourself."
"Uh..." Su Chen thought for a moment, then 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 entering the Inspection Department either.
Yuan Chenyang snapped, "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 convenient for you."
"Of course, it's also safer." At this point, Yuan Chenyang paused before asking, "Do you have any other requests?"
Su Chen's eyes lit up. He immediately said, "A Body Forging Method, a meditation method, and auxiliary potions or the like. Oh, right, do you know about the [Scholar] profession? Are there any similar professions?"
"Now you're ordering from a menu." Yuan Chenyang glared at him. "Don't you know that biting off more than you can chew is useless? You already have an excellent profession as your foundation. Focus on the physical side."
"I looked over the profession information you gave me. Advancing to the second-tier [Storm Hunter] shouldn't be a problem, and the Inspection Department happens to have the information for that profession stored away."
"I feel like my mental talent is very good." Su Chen insisted.
"You feel?" Yuan Chenyang shot him a glance and snapped, "What the hell is a feeling good for? Come... I'll test you."
As he spoke, he brought over the metal case placed beside him.
Buzz—The case opened, and white mist spilled out. 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 its principles, he placed his hand on it.
A series of hums sounded, and dense golden patterns appeared on the sphere. After two or three breaths, a brilliant silver beam actually pierced through his palm.
"Brilliant Silver, as expected..." Yuan Chenyang's expression eased, and he broke into a grin. "I knew it. Being able to take up [Sky-Rending Warrior] at such a young age, even if it came from years of accumulation, your physical talent couldn't possibly be low."
"Is it very high?" Su Chen could not help asking. In the talent sequence, 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. With enough resources, even Bronze can be ground up to the third tier. Zhang Hengyu is only Brilliant Silver too, and becoming a fifth-tier professional shouldn't be a problem for him."
Su Chen was rather surprised. He actually possessed some sort of physical talent?
Why had the original owner never felt it? He had even been weaker than others.
It was understandable for his mental talent to have increased after transmigrating, but his body could not possibly have grown stronger out of nowhere.
"Could it be..." His heart stirred. "[Scholar]?"
Increasing skill proficiency to improve efficiency was also equivalent to 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 quickly said.
Yuan Chenyang was speechless. "Mental talent is more precious than physical talent. And if your mental talent were truly very high, there would be abnormal signs."
"Besides, mental and physical talents conflict to a certain extent. If one is high, the other will be low."
Though he said that, he did not stop Su Chen.
He could understand. Who did not hope in their heart that they were one in ten thousand?
Su Chen placed his other hand on the silver hemisphere. This time, he felt a cool sensation rush up his arm and into his head.
It was only two or three breaths.
Suddenly, a scarlet-gold beam pierced through his palm, dazzling and magnificent.
"This is... Red Gold?" Su Chen looked up uncertainly.
But Yuan Chenyang stared blankly at the beam, muttering to himself, "There really is a pearl lost in the vast sea, damn it!"
Before you continue