Chapter 464: Unexpected Harvest |
[Congratulations on defeating Tong Zhuo! Your potential is unmatched, and you have reached first place on the High Firmament Star Potential Ranking!]
Clouds and mist rolled in as a green light descended, replenishing his expended energy.
"Tsk... even the notification text has changed," Su Chen murmured as his gaze swept across the holographic screen that popped up in front of him, though his mind was already evaluating the battle that had just concluded.
The entire fight hadn't been particularly complex. It was simply a matter of creating the illusion for Tong Zhuo that he could end the battle quickly, thereby forcing his opponent into a direct, head-on clash.
'However, the strength of the Flash-Shadow Body is indeed starting to fall behind...'
Not just in this battle against Tong Zhuo, but throughout the entire Martial Proof process earlier, he had realized that having immense power was useless if he couldn't actually hit his target.
This was exactly why individuals like Tong Zhuo and Du Yunfei had extremely balanced Sacred Classes, rarely leaning too heavily toward any single aspect. They did this to avoid situations where they couldn't land a hit, couldn't break through defenses, or found their bodies too fragile.
'Hmm, it seems I really do need to reserve a spot for the Flash-Shadow Body on the Seven-Branch Wondrous Tree...' Su Chen thought. He had been rather hesitant initially, but after this continuous string of battles, he had finally made up his mind.
Once harmonized, it would serve as his core Sacred Class, and he would inevitably continue to strengthen it in the future.
'With this, all seven Sacred Classes are filled out. The only question now is what element I should pair it with. Wind? That doesn't feel quite right...' Su Chen's thoughts drifted, but then he shook his head. 'I just don't know if I have enough Faith Essence.'
Theoretically, he had gained one thousand six hundred portions of Faith Essence all at once. The shortfall for his previous plans was one thousand three hundred, leaving him with only three hundred to use freely.
'Oh right, there's also the ninety from my increased quota, plus the four hundred or so I have left over. That should be enough.' Su Chen pondered briefly, feeling somewhat helpless.
The resources hadn't even reached his hands yet, and they were already fully accounted for.
'I need to find a stable source, or figure out a way to get a few thousand at once,' Su Chen thought, suppressing his swirling ideas as his eyes flickered. 'The commotion this time probably won't be small.'
At his age, whether he placed tenth or first, the uproar would be significant. It was merely a difference between a sensation and an absolute shockwave.
...
He actually won?
In another personal space, Zhong Yue stared at the holographic screen before him with a complicated expression, having only just managed to suppress the backlash from his Azure Deity Metamorphosis.
Tong Zhuo, who had originally held the top spot, was now relegated to second place—the very position he himself had occupied just a few minutes ago.
From the moment Su Chen knocked him out with two punches, he knew the man would definitely challenge Tong Zhuo. Given Su Chen's strength, he couldn't imagine any scenario where he wouldn't.
He had also guessed that Tong Zhuo would likely fail. The only slight uncertainty was whether Tong Zhuo might suddenly have a moment of clarity and handle Su Chen with extreme caution, potentially dragging the fight out until Su Chen was exhausted.
But the only thing he had witnessed was Su Chen's overwhelmingly powerful physique. As for whether his opponent possessed other abilities, it was hard to say.
"Just what is this guy..." He winced as he recalled the two punches that had smashed into him. How could that guy possess such terrifying strength? Did he have something similar to a Longevity Root on his person?
His opponent's performance reminded him of the despair he had felt facing Chang Geming the last time the Abyssal Domain's Star Potential Ranking was reorganized.
"The Dust Star Sea..." he muttered softly. He hadn't originally had any interest in that Outer Realm, but now he was genuinely curious about what kind of place could cultivate a monster like Su Chen.
"I'm afraid even Tai Xuanhong wouldn't be his match. That guy engaged in a prolonged bitter struggle against Kong Ming." Zhong Yue couldn't help but think of the news regarding the Chosen of the Sovereign of the Purple Zenith that had arrived alongside Bronze Heaven.
According to the rumors, the fallen site of the Sovereign of the Purple Zenith had been monopolized by several Radiant Moons. They had thought their age would still allow them to gain recognition, only for Tai Xuanhong to exploit a loophole and slip past them.
"However, Su Chen was merely at the Divine Dawn tier before. Even if he went, he probably wouldn't catch the eye of the Radiant Moon Spirit."
In several other personal spaces, Rong Yu, Tan Qingzhu, and the others who had yet to leave were all moved and astonished.
...
"He actually won!"
Outside the Martial Proof Hall, an unknown voice cried out, instantly shattering the silence and plunging the area into an uproar.
"Look at the Star Potential Ranking!"
"It updated!"
"..."
The boiling commotion soared straight into the clouds. Compared to before, the crowd gathered here had grown significantly.
Even though some people didn't even know what Su Chen looked like, witnessing this miraculous feat of defeating ten opponents in a row naturally drew supporters to him.
In contrast to the excitement further back, the area immediately surrounding the Martial Proof Hall was somewhat quiet. The holographic screen had already dispersed, leaving the crowd with unsettled minds.
"How could this be..." Feng Cheng's throat bobbed, finding it hard to believe. "Tong Zhuo clearly had the upper hand."
No one responded. They had naturally seen what transpired, but as for the finer details, they could only wait until the combat recordings were released to study them carefully.
"Someone's coming out," a voice suddenly announced.
Ripples appeared in the empty space before the hall, and a figure materialized.
Su Chen felt his surroundings just begin to come into focus when a wave of uproar washed over him.
As an eighth-rank professional, his perception was naturally astonishing. Furthermore, the surrounding crowd didn't try to hide their gazes, staring at him intently.
Even from a distance, he could feel the intense, almost tangible layers of gazes piercing him—shock, astonishment, doubt, respect, envy...
The average tier of this group was simply too high. Eighth-rank professionals could be seen everywhere, ninth-rank and dual ninth-rank practitioners were numerous, and even the Morning Stars had formed a distinct lineup.
When some of their gazes landed on him, his body involuntarily exhibited a defensive reaction. Su Chen could even vaguely sense the mental power locked within his cells beginning to jump and cheer.
'Could this be Faith Power?' He recalled Daoist Wood's article. The attention of this crowd was overwhelmingly intense, perhaps causing a slight qualitative change.
At the very front, Qi You wore a complicated expression. Looking at the young man below, he finally smiled. "Congratulations, Junior Brother Su, on reaching first place."
With that, he descended from mid-air and arrived in front of Su Chen. "Such imposing might... it has been many years since we've seen the likes of it in High Firmament."
"Indeed!" Jiang Yue also let out a loud laugh, descending from mid-air and stroking his large beard. "It's been a long time since something this interesting happened in High Firmament. What a formidable Bronze Heaven."
The other Morning Stars also descended one after another, raising their hands in congratulations.
The seniority between the various Heavens was complex. Generally speaking, below the Morning Star rank, as long as the age difference wasn't too massive, they addressed each other as senior and junior brothers. The same applied among the Morning Stars.
They only argued over specifics if there was a clearly defined hierarchical relationship.
Qi You knew that Su Chen was the student of the Heavenly Lord of Bronze Heaven. The other Morning Stars might not have known, but at this moment, they all went along and called him Junior Brother.
"You are too polite, Senior Brothers..." Su Chen handled such scenes with natural ease. He quickly cupped his hands in greeting, chuckling bitterly, making himself appear rather bashful and shy.
The Morning Stars exchanged subtle glances. Before Su Chen emerged, everyone had formed a rough estimation of him. Someone who could pull off such a spectacular feat, even if not haughty and arrogant, should at least be similar to Tong Zhuo or Zhong Yue, right?
Why did he look so shy, as if he couldn't handle a few words of praise?
Or was he just an expert at playing dumb?
Though they harbored such thoughts, no one voiced them. After a few rounds of pleasantries, they appeared to be having a very agreeable conversation.
Nearby, figures occasionally emerged, revealing themselves to be Tan Qingzhu and the others. The moment they stepped out and saw Su Chen surrounded by the Morning Stars, their cheeks twitched. It was as if they remembered something unpleasant, and they quietly stepped to the side.
"For High Firmament to produce another Hidden Dragon capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Chang Geming is a grand occasion worthy of celebration," Qi You said with a beaming smile. "Junior Brother Su, if you have no pressing matters today, why don't you come with us? We shall host a banquet of a hundred tables."
"I dare not decline Senior Brother Qi You's gracious invitation, but alas, I am truly tied up with important matters today," Su Chen replied helplessly. "As you Senior Brothers know, our Bronze Heaven has only recently arrived here. There are many matters that are not yet settled and require meticulous preparation."
Bashful, my ass! You're as shrewd as they come! The Morning Stars snorted coldly in their hearts.
Qi You had just offered to celebrate, and you immediately started pouring out your grievances.
Qi You's smile didn't waver as he said, "Your words ring true. Bronze Heaven is, after all, newly arrived. There is indeed much to prepare."
"How about this? My Upper Firmament Heaven will present a Jade Cleansing Platform to Bronze Heaven as a token of our goodwill."
That damn Qi You! The Morning Stars standing behind him exchanged glances, cursing inwardly.
This Jade Cleansing Platform could target specific professions, imposing a certain degree of suppression based on the profession's strength. Although it capped out at the sixth or seventh rank, it was an excellent tool for nurturing disciples.
Qi You was certainly being generous.
"Haha... then my Eternal Dragon Heaven cannot be stingy either. We'll add a Dragon Blood Pool..." Jiang Yue mused.
Someone smiled pleasantly, "My Sangwu Heaven will present a Sangwu Tree..."
"My Xuanwu Heaven..."
"My Jade Sea Heaven..."
Listening to the endless chorus of offers, Su Chen was genuinely surprised. The title of first place on the Star Potential Ranking was incredibly effective.
No, it wasn't just because of his first-place ranking, but rather his meteoric rise, which signified that Bronze Heaven had a worthy successor...
Aside from the Ancient King, Bronze Heaven had no one else of note.
Even if he was a True Radiance, in the eyes of outsiders, once the Heavenly Lord of Bronze Heaven fell, it wasn't a guarantee that Su Chen could hold onto his position as a Moon Seed, even if he had been chosen by the Radiant Moon Spirit.
Therefore, in the eyes of the vast majority, Bronze Heaven would likely be a fleeting existence, unworthy of much attention.
But his current dominant display proved that he could definitely secure the Moon Seed position.
This also meant that Bronze Heaven would undoubtedly endure for several thousand years. In other words, during their lifetimes, and even those of their descendants, they would inevitably have to interact with Bronze Heaven. Hence, they had to extend a greater amount of goodwill.
Su Chen's mind raced, figuring out the situation. Not one to stand on ceremony, he quickly said, "Then I shall thank all of you on behalf of my Master."
With that, his expression grew visibly moved. "To tell you the truth, Senior Brothers, since arriving in our High Firmament, I've been restless day and night. With your help, I can finally be at ease."
"Sigh..." At this point, his face filled with bitterness. "Actually, I also owe you all an apology."
"An apology?" Qi You was stunned. Giving Su Chen some items was just a way to build goodwill, but this kid had taken the opportunity to say so much.
And ending it with an apology completely baffled him.
"An apology?" Qi You was stunned. Giving Su Chen some items was just a way to build goodwill, but this kid had taken the opportunity to say so much.
And ending it with an apology completely baffled him.
"Why do you say that?" he asked carefully.
Su Chen sighed. "I know that in our Martial Proof Hall, if one wishes to challenge the rankings, they don't actually need to fight their way up step by step. Unfortunately, I am truly lacking in Faith Essence, so I had no other choice."
"I fear my actions might have dissatisfied quite a few people, so I am apologizing to everyone here, especially to those few..." His gaze shifted toward Tan Qingzhu, Ye Chutong, and the others who had just emerged.
"Circumstances forced my hand, and I have offended you greatly. I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me," he said sincerely.
These individuals were still reeling from the single punches that had laid them out, their faces icy. Hearing these words so suddenly, their expressions grew extremely stiff.
They didn't know whether to smile or remain stony-faced.
What a difficult brat to deal with... Qi You's cheeks twitched. You've already accomplished what you set out to do, and now you want to silence us too.
Jiang Yue's expression shifted continuously. You fought your way from tenth to first place just for that little bit of Faith Essence?
The atmosphere at the scene fell somewhat silent. Just as everyone was at a loss for how to respond, ripples appeared in the void, and Zhong Yue stepped out.
His face was dark, having braced himself for the opportunistic mockery of others.
Instead, he was met head-on by Su Chen, whose face was filled with sincerity. "Senior Brother Zhong Yue, I have deeply offended you earlier."
Zhong Yue's face stiffened. I... you...
Why didn't you say that when you knocked me out with two punches... Oh, wait, he seemed to have said it back then too.
"It was our High Firmament that was inconsiderate..." Qi You suddenly spoke up, pondering. "The Star Seeds of Bronze Heaven likely haven't had access to many profession-related resources. You must be in dire need of such things right now."
"How about this? We allocate five hundred portions of Faith Essence to you, Junior Brother, for purchasing resources?"
"Thank you, Senior Brother." Su Chen muttered to himself, not expecting that a few words of squeezing would yield five hundred portions. That was quite a lot.
But he immediately followed up with, "What about the other two Star Seeds of my Bronze Heaven?"
Qi You could clearly feel the amused gazes of the few people beside him watching the show. He let out a slow breath, "Three hundred each, then."
"I thank you on their behalf." This time, Su Chen was truly sincere.
Qi You waved his hand, stepped forward, and supported Su Chen's arm. With a smile, he said, "We are all a family; there is no need to be so polite."
From a distance, it looked like a scene of deep affection and camaraderie.
But Jiang Yue's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he had noticed something. The other Morning Stars also had sharp gleams in their eyes, though none of them spoke.
Su Chen's heart skipped a beat. He could clearly sense that the moment Qi You touched his body, the man had extracted something—a bit of his flesh and blood tissue.
It probably wasn't much, and the man had even left behind some kind of technique to nurture the spot.
Under normal circumstances, he shouldn't have been able to detect it. But who told him to achieve Spirit-Flesh Unity?
Every cell in his body stored mental power. The moment a tiny bit of mental power vanished, he noticed it instantly.
Was it a probe, curiosity, or suspicion?
In a flash, a look of anger appeared on Su Chen's face.
How the hell did this guy achieve Spirit-Flesh Unity?
Qi You was also a bit dumbfounded, but seeing Su Chen's changing expression, his reaction was equally swift. He hastily said, "I just realized, the five hundred portions of Faith Essence I allocated earlier probably won't be enough. How about another five hundred?"
Oh? Jiang Yue's eyes widened in surprise. Did Qi You just mess up?
In front of a massive crowd, Qi You would have to be crazy to try anything against Su Chen.
The last time a Star Seed in High Firmament was secretly harmed by one of their own, the Dao Sovereign had been furious and had forcibly removed the offending Heaven.
Qi You had likely tried to spy on Su Chen's secrets, only to get caught by Su Chen himself?