Chapter 136: [Origin Reverser] Stone Slab? |
"Furthermore, it must absolutely be under the condition where the tier and level of your main dual classes are completely identical before its abilities can be unleashed. This is equivalent to saying that during advancement, you must expend significantly more resources and time."
"The ability gained in exchange sounds formidable, but it is definitively not worth expending such a massive price!" Sang Hanhai repeatedly shook his head. "Moreover, this isn't merely an acquisition requirement; you must maintain this balance even after successfully acquiring it!"
"Su Chen, don't actively seek out suffering for yourself." Seeing Su Chen's eyes shining with radiant light, Sang Hanhai's brows couldn't help but twitch.
'If Chong Jingtian finds out that I basically scammed away his preciously treasured Ink Jade Seed, he'll probably chop me alive.'
"Elder Sang, I want to research and study it regarding this—" Su Chen restrained his expression. The disparity between his mental and physical talents wasn't actually that massive. If converted into concrete data numbers, it definitively wouldn't exceed 50%. Forcefully averaging out the difference truly wouldn't be considered that huge of a loss.
Furthermore, in a disguised manner, it could actually even be considered slightly boosting his physical talent.
Moreover, he had originally comprehensively planned to carry out his simultaneous dual-class development to the very end anyway. Keeping his tiers and levels identical was something he fundamentally needed to do regardless.
Therefore, these so-called restrictive requirements completely didn't matter to him. Yet, upon successfully acquiring it, it could drastically elevate his combat strength by a massive margin.
Converting stamina and mental energy into each other interchangeably... for someone like him who was accustomed to unleashing explosive bursts of damage and was exceptionally formidable in both attack methods, the assistance it provided went without saying.
"Research... you..." Sang Hanhai couldn't help but look toward Qin Qiyuan. "You're the one who caused this mess, so you better clean it up for me!"
"Because its limitations are far too massive, this class is only evaluated at an A-rank. Are you going to spend money to buy it?" Qin Qiyuan asked.
"Old Qin!" Sang Hanhai yelled.
"He can give it a try," Qin Qiyuan said instead. "His foundational talents are exceptionally uniquely endowed by heaven. Averaging out his talents isn't necessarily a severe weakening. It's akin to two bottles of water, one high and one low; the higher one flows toward the lower one."
"The resulting loss isn't as massive as one might imagine."
"Elder Sang, my mind is already thoroughly made up," Su Chen also stated.
Sang Hanhai felt depressed with anger. Since Su Chen already knew of this class's existence, there were naturally countless methods for him to obtain it; he couldn't stop him even if he wanted to.
"If I were to spend money, roughly how much would it cost?" Su Chen inquired.
Jin Yunxuan replied: "An A-rank class, utilized exclusively under the identity of a Core Seed of the Adjudication Court... would require fifty million gold—"
"Uh..." Su Chen thought for a moment. "Can I exchange it using another class?"
"You can." Qin Qiyuan nodded. "I will properly evaluate whatever tier of class you provide."
"A top-tier 2nd-tier class... roughly what rank would that be?" Su Chen asked tentatively.
"Top-tier!?" Sang Hanhai suddenly moved closer. "As long as it's a top-tier class below the 3rd-tier level, they are all uniformly graded as A-rank!"
"They're that precious?" Su Chen was inevitably astonished.
"The quantity of top-tier classes fundamentally isn't numerous to begin with. Moreover, the lower the tier, the easier it is to acquire. The future long-term benefits they provide are immeasurable—" Sang Hanhai stared intently at him. "I just knew you kid were a walking treasury! Exactly where did Xia Hanshi manage to dig up so many top-tier classes!?"
Su Chen decided to bring out the [Wind and Thunder Adept]. Spiritual classes were innately much more precious; it was better to keep them hidden for now.
Qin Qiyuan chased away the eagerly watching Jin Yunxuan, but couldn't do anything about Sang Hanhai, so he could only allow him to stay behind as well to listen to Su Chen recount the acquisition requirements.
"...Firstly..."
"This class... seems to be the upper-tier advancement class of the [Void-Rending Warrior], right?" Hearing until the very end, Sang Hanhai suddenly tasted the deeper implications. "To think that top-tier 1st-tier class originating from Nanfeng City some time ago... was amazingly also on you!"
"It is..." Su Chen nodded. "Teacher Yuan Chenyang specifically bestowed it upon me."
"Yuan Chenyang?" Sang Hanhai laughed involuntarily. "Old Qin, you tell him."
Qin Qiyuan nodded. Just as he was about to speak, he glanced sideways at Sang Hanhai, saying in deep displeasure: "If you want to listen, you also have to pay an A-rank class."
Sang Hanhai's face darkened, taking his leave with extreme reluctance.
Qin Qiyuan coughed lightly before beginning his narration: "—"
【Discovered Special Class - Origin Reverser. Can be acquired upon completing the acquisition requirements.】
【Acquisition Requirement 1: Both physical and mental classes must not be lower than the 3rd-tier, and must simultaneously both be top-tier classes.】
【Acquisition Requirement 2: Completely exhaust physical stamina and mental energy to their absolute limits, no fewer than one thousand times.】
【Acquisition Requirement 3: Fuse with a Fragment of the Void Star.】
The three acquisition conditions genuinely didn't seem particularly difficult.
After all, the requirements necessary to actually unleash this class's abilities post-acquisition were far harsher and more demanding.
【The Origin Reverser was thoroughly conquered by the imposing grandeur of the Crimson Flame Responding Thunder Great Exalted, determining to weaken its acquisition requirements.】
【Acquisition Requirement 2 - Times exhausting stamina to the absolute limit weakened to 100 times.】
The Great Exalted's face exerting its miraculous effects was something Su Chen was already completely accustomed to.
"The acquisition difficulty isn't low at all. Exhausting both mental energy and physical stamina to their absolute limits and then recovering... no matter how you look at it, it will take at least one to two days per repetition. This would basically require three entire years!" Qin Qiyuan specifically warned him.
"Additionally, the Fragment of the Void Star isn't an easy item to find either. Don't waste too much time on this."
Only after finishing speaking did Qin Qiyuan call Sang Hanhai back inside.
Old Sang said in a highly displeased tone, "When the time comes and Chong Jingtian arrives at our doorstep demanding answers, I absolutely will not help shield you!"
"I know the outcome, and I know the difficulty. This is my own personal choice; I won't trouble you two to bear any responsibility," Su Chen said openly.
"Sigh, it truly is wonderful to be young," Sang Hanhai couldn't help but sigh emotionally.
Having made an agreement with Qin Qiyuan, Su Chen would occasionally drop by here over the next period of time to assist in decoding that piece of Saint Word Stone.
Going downstairs together with Sang Hanhai, Su Chen finally asked the question he hadn't finished asking earlier, "Elder Sang, I heard this Defensive Spirit Ring was also constructed by Elder Pu?"
"For such a massive engineering project, my Senior Brother was merely the person-in-charge," Sang Hanhai revealed a suspicious look. "You kid, why are you suddenly so curious about my Senior Brother? Did Xia Hanshi give you some sort of mission?"
"No." Su Chen shook his head, explaining: "Just the last time you went to the Adjudication Court, I heard Ming Lin mention it. To think this Defensive Spirit Ring can actually repel mutants thousands of miles away! Why hasn't it been universally popularized and implemented everywhere?"
"If that were the case, the lower-tier cities wouldn't need to expend so many resources orchestrating defenses on their outer perimeters."
What he said was entirely reasonable and justifiable, so Sang Hanhai didn't probe further either. Ultimately, it also wasn't considered some sort of supremely massive secret.
"It can't be popularized. In reality, the crucial component isn't the Spirit Ring itself, but rather the things upon it." Sang Hanhai mysteriously lowered his voice.
Su Chen cooperatively revealed a highly curious expression. "What things upon it?"
"Symbols extracted from a specific stone slab. Similarly originating from that specific ruin." Sang Hanhai's eyes flickered slightly; he didn't conceal the truth.
'Stone slab!'
Su Chen finally obtained accurate, concrete information! However, it seemingly wasn't a Saint Word Stone.
Furthermore, back when Meng Qi had devoured Chu Xuan, that group of Faceless Ghost cultists also seemed to have mentioned a stone slab! Could it be exactly the exact same thing?
Suppressing the palpitations in his heart, he asked, "Can I see it?"
"You?" Sang Hanhai wasn't surprised Su Chen harbored this kind of thought. Pointing at his own grayish-white eyeball, he said, "See this? I merely swept a single glance at it! And at that time, I was already a 4th-tier professional!"
"Before reaching the 4th-tier, you absolutely don't even have the qualifications to sweep a single glance at it."
'4th-tier... it's the 4th-tier again...' Su Chen pondered. Back then, Xia Hanshi had also explicitly stated: before reaching the 4th-tier... there was completely no need to think about anything related to saving that person for him.
"Stop thinking so much. Honestly and solidly elevating your Class Development, and advancing step-by-step... that is exactly what you ought to be doing right now." Sang Hanhai patted his shoulder. "I still have matters to attend to, so I won't see you out."
He headed toward the deeper recesses of the Class Decoding Department. Su Chen remained standing in place for a very long time, watching Sang Hanhai completely disappear before finally taking his leave.
...
Sang Hanhai made his way all the way to a small wooden cabin residing within the deepest recesses of the Class Decoding Department. Upon seeing Pu Zhenghong, his very first sentence was, "It's verified."
"This is already the third time. I'm afraid Su Chen can resonate with absolutely any Saint Word Stone."
Pu Zhenghong was still ceaselessly carving upon a blank Saint Word Stone. Hearing this, his movements paused. Only after remaining silent for a moment did he ask, "Has he ever expressed curiosity regarding the Divine Language?"
"Uh..." Sang Hanhai froze, carrying a hint of embarrassment: "He seemingly only possesses a pure curiosity toward the specific classes recorded on the Saint Word Stones. As for the Divine Language, he hasn't mentioned a single word."
Pu Zhenghong's brows knitted tightly. "To surprisingly not be curious as to why exactly his body can resonate, and merely be curious about the classes... what exactly has Xia Hanshi taught him!?"
"However, he seems to be quite curious about you. He asked about many things, even asking about the Defensive Spirit Ring," Sang Hanhai added, yet secretly pondering internally.
'I can't even confirm whether the symbols on the Saint Word Stones genuinely are the so-called Divine Language. My Senior Brother is truly becoming somewhat demonized and obsessed.'
'But it's understandable... Just like his Teacher, he desperately wants to prove that his own theories are fundamentally correct.'
"You told him the matter regarding the stone slab?" Pu Zhenghong's tone grew slightly chilling. "You still remain continuously obsessed with it, never forgetting."
"Sigh, Senior Brother ah." Sang Hanhai sighed heavily. "Who could possibly forget? Could you forget!?"
"Nine times out of ten, whatever is uniquely recorded upon that fragmented stone slab is exactly the specific class those people are desperately searching for! Something even the Royal Court relentlessly drools over! Just a single line of symbols can outright intimidate and deter mutants!"
"The Royal Court..." Pu Zhenghong sank into silence, while Sang Hanhai continued speaking.
"Yuandu has continuously been searching for opportunities. They seem to know significantly more, constantly nurturing individuals with exceptionally high talent in hopes of obtaining that ruin's utmost acknowledgment and approval."
"We have already fallen significantly behind. Them coming over this time... they claim it's to 'explain', but those who arrive likely do not come with good intentions."
"Su Chen's appearance is perhaps our opportunity! Setting aside all else, if we can completely decode the stone slab, the other three cities will probably have absolutely no choice but to bow their heads and submit as subordinates!"
"Acknowledgment..." Pu Zhenghong shook his head. "How could it possibly be that easy? A class of that absolute tier possesses its own inherent divinity. Wanting to obtain its acknowledgment purely relying on talent is far, far from enough."
Pu Zhenghong didn't continue on Sang Hanhai's topic, suddenly changing subjects: "It has already been completely confirmed. Among the people from Yuandu arriving this time... is Tang Chen."
"Tang Chen! I just knew it!!" Sang Hanhai abruptly stood up, saying agitatedly, "Last time, he took advantage of your absence, bringing a piece of Saint Word Stone over here to arrogantly parade his military prowess, audaciously claiming absolutely no one in Yingfeng could decipher it! For a full half-year, he blocked the gates of the Class Decoding Department, maliciously ridiculing us!"
"This time, he has brought yet another piece of Saint Word Stone," Pu Zhenghong stated mildly.
"He's genuinely bullying people far too excessively!!" Sang Hanhai's expression changed furiously. However, immediately after, he laughed out loud again. "Then this time, he's fundamentally just coming here to seek out his own suffering! Setting you aside, Su Chen alone is enough to make him swallow his own spit!"
"Regarding the matters involving Su Chen, it's ultimately still best not to let far too many people know." Pu Zhenghong pondered deeply. "The people of Yuandu... have already drifted further and further away from our path."
...
'Armored Bone Adept... Origin Reverser... Fortunately, I have the Great Exalted—'
On his way back, Su Chen looked at his system panel. This time, he had obtained identically two classes.
After being weakened, the difficulty of acquiring the Origin Reverser wasn't considered high. It was merely passively taking beatings; there was also some sort of core involved, but he should be able to complete it very quickly.
'Even without using any defensive measures, I can just forcibly tank quite a few hits with my physical body.'
The [Origin Reverser], on the other hand, was somewhat troublesome. Exhausting stamina entirely to the absolute limit and recovering indeed required hard, rigid time. If it weren't for the weakening, he would've actually needed three full years, or perhaps even longer, to successfully complete it!
'I absolutely must plan this out properly—'
The moment he returned to the Adjudication Court, Su Chen immediately learned of a matter that left him quite astonished.
"Wei Yufan successfully advanced to the 5th-tier?"
Ming Lin, who had been waiting right at his door, nodded. "Yeah. That guy had already accumulated for a very long time. Originally, he wanted to advance to a top-tier 5th-tier class, yet now it's merely an upper-tier 5th-tier class. It's truly not worth it."
Following Su Chen into the room, he looked at his back, inevitably letting out a sorrowful sigh. Ever since Su Chen battled Chu Xuan, the so-called suspense regarding the Chief Seed title had completely and faintly vanished.
Originally, the battles and skirmishes between them Core Seeds were still considered fairly frequent, but now they had stagnated for a very long time.
Yet Wei Yufan was unwilling to accept this reality. He forcibly advanced to the 5th-tier, surpassing the arena's maximum suppression limit, rigidly jamming himself into the 'Chief Seed' position.
Using this kind of method—which was fundamentally severely crippling himself in disguise—merely to block Su Chen... Ming Lin couldn't comprehend it at all.
"He's surprisingly quite impressive." Su Chen merely muttered a single sentence, not taking it too much to heart.
If Wei Yufan knew of Su Chen's current absolute indifference, he would probably explode from pure fury, Ming Lin chuckled bitterly in his heart.
Wei Yufan would infinitely rather sacrifice a portion of his future prospects just to absolutely ensure he stopped Su Chen from becoming the Chief Seed. Yet, in absolute reality, Su Chen didn't have many thoughts regarding it to begin with.
"I also don't know exactly whose heads these two newly vacant Core Seed positions will land upon." Ming Lin brought up this topic.
With Chu Xuan and Meng Qi dying in rapid succession, the two exceptionally granted Core Seed slots had become entirely vacant once again.
Chong Jingtian didn't choose to retract them; instead, he prepared to host an internal selection tournament to determine two absolute victors to definitively replace them and become Core Seeds.
Recently, absolutely everyone in the Inner Court was intensely focusing on this matter. Each and every one of them was eagerly rubbing their fists and wiping their palms in preparation. Filling a vacant spot was significantly, vastly easier than challenging an already established Core Seed.
"When exactly does it commence?" Su Chen casually asked. He knew Old Bai also intended to become a Core Seed, so he would likely participate.
"Soon, I gather. It definitively must be completely finalized and the dust settled before the people from Yuandu arrive," Ming Lin deduced.
"You also know the people from Yuandu are coming?" Su Chen was astonished.
"This is entirely no longer a secret." Ming Lin was rendered completely speechless by Su Chen's astonishment. "Most likely, there will undeniably be another round of open and secret struggles. The last time they came, I had just entered the Adjudication Court. I even fought several sparring matches against the few people they brought."
"What were the results?" Su Chen was exceptionally curious.
"There were wins and consecutive losses. But their overall general quality is significantly, notably stronger than our Adjudication Court's seeds," Ming Lin recalled. "Unlike our Yingfeng, which is divided into the Adjudication Court, the three departments of the Security Bureau, and various assorted institutions, Yuandu is completely unified under the overall jurisdiction of the Holy Church! Their resources are vastly more concentrated."
"Comparing purely against the Adjudication Court alone, we are an entire tier inferior! Rumors state that this time... their 'Chosen Son' will also come!"
'Chosen Son...' This was already the absolutely second time Su Chen had heard this title! Yet, perceiving Ming Lin staring directly at him, a sudden bout of malicious chills washed over him. "What kind of utterly bizarre gaze is that?"
Ming Lin explained: "I'm merely exceptionally curious. Between the two of you... exactly who is more formidable?"
"The Chosen Son is the most exceptionally special existence within the Holy Church. The method they use for selection is exceedingly wildly bizarre; it seemingly isn't based on concrete strength, nor does it seem to be based purely on innate talent."
"Boring." Su Chen shook his head. Regarding the absolutely impending arrival of the people from Yuandu this time, the exclusively singular things that could truly capture his attention were the [Spirit Adept] class and that exact deity they purportedly worshipped.
However, the good identically excellent news was: since this Chosen Son was incredibly uniquely special, there was a massively high probability he possessed the [Spirit Adept] class! Thus, his absolute hopes of obtaining it had increased notably by a massive margin.
(End of this chapter)