He found the Class Rank Certification Office in the Copper Core. The layout was simple, the area was small, and the staff was sparse.
The certification process was straightforward. A specialized machine ran a scan, and in just a few moments, his class rank was confirmed.
"Are you really at the Fifth Tier?"
When he emerged from the room, the manager waiting outside looked astonished. "And a dual Fifth Tier at that?"
"Yes," Su Chen nodded. "Thank you for your trouble, Deacon Zhang."
Deacon Zhang hesitated to speak. After walking him out of the certification office and watching him leave, the deacon could not help but mutter, "His age doesn't add up. How could a dual Dark Emerald talent reach this level? It is truly bizarre."
On Qin Tianlin's floating island, the radiance on the surface of the Nether Tower gradually faded.
With a heavy thud, the doors to the Nether Tower swung wide open.
Fan Zhao strode out of the Nether Tower with a dark expression. Seeing this, Qin Tianlin, who was standing to the side, could not help but ask, "What did Qin Yuezheng say?"
"What else could he say?" Fan Zhao's expression was exceedingly ugly. "It is the same old excuse: they are short-handed and trying to clear out the Nether Domain creatures nearby. He said if I am in a hurry, I should find someone to help."
"Damn it!" Fan Zhao cursed angrily. "When Shen Yi'an needed his Spirit Fire a while back, why wasn't there any issue with being short-handed then?"
"Qin Yuezheng..." Qin Tianlin snorted coldly. "He is in such a rush to kiss Chu Lingyuan's boots."
"Hmph, isn't it just because Chu Lingyuan has a Star Seed student? Wei Zhenghong and Shen Yi'an have a decent relationship too. I heard they met with Su Chen the moment he arrived, and they seemed to have a great chat," Fan Zhao said sharply. "Master isn't dead yet! It isn't time for them to cast us aside!"
Hearing this, Qin Tianlin's face darkened, while Meng Shiyu frantically shot him meaningful glances from the sidelines.
Only after venting did Fan Zhao realize his slip of the tongue, and his face shifted into an awkward grimace.
'What a blockhead...' Qin Tianlin thought speechlessly, taking the initiative to change the subject. "If worse comes to worst, we will just find someone to help."
"It isn't that easy to find someone," Fan Zhao said, his brows tightly furrowed. "The Nether Domain requires a Ninth Tier mental-type professional."
It was common knowledge that mental-type professions were slightly more difficult to cultivate than physical-type ones.
Within the sect, there were quite a few Ninth Tier physical-type professionals, but those of the mental type were far scarcer.
As for those at the Chief level, they were completely beyond their authority to command.
Qin Tianlin pondered for a moment before saying, "I remember the Lan family has a Ninth Tier mental-type professional. Lan Hai is currently locked in a stalemate with the Wan family over the position of Sect Army Commander. He actually reached out to my grandfather before, but grandfather didn't make any promises."
"To owe such a huge favor just for a Spirit Fire..." Fan Zhao was somewhat unwilling.
Qin Tianlin shook his head. "We don't need to promise to support him with everything we have. We just need to show a little inclination, that's all. If we take the initiative to ask, I am sure he won't refuse."
Relationships within the sect were intricate, and lineages stretched back generations. Moreover, internal competition was always kept within certain boundaries; there were no true blood feuds.
It was a common occurrence for families to be enemies a century or two ago, only to become entangled as allies a century or two later.
"The Lan family... fine." Hearing this, Fan Zhao felt this was the only viable option. He then turned to Meng Shiyu. "Has Su Chen replied?"
Meng Shiyu sighed helplessly. "I used a third party as a middleman to contact him. They said Su Chen has urgent matters to attend to and cannot step away."
"Hmph." Fan Zhao snorted coldly. "What urgent matters could he possibly have? He just arrived—"
Meng Shiyu also felt somewhat dissatisfied. Although Qin Yun had prepared to make a move against Su Chen, her actions were limited to stirring up public opinion and having Hu Qi act before Su Chen even arrived.
Once Su Chen actually arrived, they hadn't made a single move.
Hu Qi was dead. Fan Zhao might have intended to establish dominance, but Su Chen did not know that. Had he never considered the possibility of smoothing over their relationship?
Refusing to even meet face-to-face—this kind of attitude could certainly be considered unyielding.
However, Su Chen currently possessed immense momentum, and with Qin Yun absent, if the other party refused to come, there was genuinely nothing they could do.
Qin Tianlin glanced at Fan Zhao, also harboring a bit of resentment in his heart. They shouldn't have invited Su Chen in the first place; now they were just bringing humiliation upon themselves.
Still, he understood his martial uncle's temperament well enough and could only say, "There is plenty of time. We need not lower ourselves to his level."
"Hmph." Fan Zhao grunted coldly. Things were going poorly in the Nether Domain, and just as poorly with Su Chen.
He had merely gone into seclusion for three or four months to inaugurate a special profession, yet the situation outside seemed to have completely flipped on its head.
"When Master returns, he will naturally have a way to deal with them." Fan Zhao was not just talking about Su Chen.
At that exact moment, Meng Shiyu glanced down at a message on his wristband. His expression filled with astonishment as he blurted out, "Su Chen has advanced to the Fifth Tier! And he is a dual Fifth Tier."
"Dual Fifth Tier?" Qin Tianlin's expression shifted slightly in shock. "How could he be so fast? What profession did he advance into?"
"I am not sure." Meng Shiyu shook his head hesitantly. "I do know he requested two advanced professions from the Spirit Hall, but it shouldn't be possible for him to inaugurate them yet. My guess is they are top-tier professions he brought from the Crimson Thunder Planet."
"Fifth Tier... at his age..." Meng Shiyu could not help but remark. "Does he really have a dual Dark Emerald talent? Why does it feel like his advancement speed is completely anomalous?"
"Where did the information about his dual Dark Emerald talent come from?" Qin Tianlin asked suddenly, his brows knitted tight.
"I don't know. Everyone says he has a Dark Emerald talent. Master Qing probably mentioned it," Meng Shiyu replied uncertainly.
"Qing Cang..." Qin Tianlin's expression morphed as a sudden thought popped into his head. "Could Qing Cang have deceived us? What if he doesn't actually have a Dark Emerald talent?"
"This..." Meng Shiyu's face flickered through a range of emotions. "Would there be any need for that?"
Qin Tianlin's expression darkened. "If we attacked him under the assumption of his dual Dark Emerald talent, only for the truth to be revealed later that Su Chen isn't a Dark Emerald at all, but a Crimson or even a Mystic Purple talent... wouldn't Qing Cang have completely outplayed us?"
Meng Shiyu's heart skipped a beat. Qin Yun's initial public opinion offensive had centered entirely around the dual Dark Emerald talent. If Qing Cang had realized this and laid out a trap in advance, it was entirely possible.
"There is definitely a secret regarding his talent!" Qin Tianlin declared with absolute certainty, though his face looked even worse.
If Su Chen's talent, strength, and mindset could all keep pace, then his position as a Star Seed would only become increasingly secure. At that point, Qin Tianlin wouldn't even factor into the equation anymore.
The mere thought cast a heavy gloom over Qin Tianlin's already forced composure.
"He could seize the top spot among Fifth Tiers while he was only at the Fourth Tier. Now that he is..." A sudden realization dawned on Meng Shiyu, and his face twisted into an incredibly complicated expression.
Qin Tianlin subconsciously snapped, "Impossible! The higher the tier, the wider the gap. It won't be that simple for him to step over my head."
Meng Shiyu fell silent and said no more.
Fan Zhao was just about to speak when his wristband suddenly vibrated intensely. He glanced down and frowned. "It's that spineless coward, Zhou Yunyang..."
After a brief moment of thought, he answered the call. A virtual screen popped up, displaying Zhou Yunyang's large face, brimming with smiles. "Hall Master Fan."
He spoke with an intimate tone, deliberately omitting the word 'Vice.'
"What is it?" Fan Zhao's expression remained icy.
"It's like this..." Zhou Yunyang said softly. "Su Chen came to the Artifact Hall today. He wanted to pick up some materials and purchase a weapon."
"Su Chen?" Hearing that name again caused Fan Zhao's face to darken instantly. He glared at Zhou Yunyang. "Did you give them to him?"
Zhou Yunyang shook his head repeatedly. "No, no, aren't I asking for your opinion first?"
Fan Zhao's expression softened slightly as he stated in a deep voice, "Materials and weapons in the Artifact Hall can only be exchanged for contribution points, right? He just arrived. Where would he get contribution points from?"
Zhou Yunyang's expression shifted slightly. "You mean...?"
A cold sneer curled the corners of Fan Zhao's lips. He spoke indifferently, "Sect rules are sect rules. Even a Star Seed cannot be an exception."
A look of sudden realization washed over Zhou Yunyang's face. "Understood, completely understood."
"Hmph, at least this Zhou Yunyang knows what's good for him." Fan Zhao extinguished the virtual screen and muttered, "That man is as slippery as they come. Su Chen may be like the noonday sun right now, but no matter how much potential he possesses, he still needs time to cash it in."
The expressions on Qin Tianlin and Meng Shiyu's faces relaxed considerably. Although it was just a small matter, it offered a glimpse into the larger picture, indirectly revealing the mindset of many within the sect.
Fan Zhao's mood vastly improved. "Let's make a trip to the Lan family."
Meanwhile, in an office within the Artifact Hall, Zhou Yunyang pushed open the door and walked out, his face beaming with a humble smile. "Little Martial Uncle, I did a quick search for the materials you mentioned, and we still have quite a bit in stock. As for the mental-type weapon, I browsed through the armory and found one that perfectly matches your requirements."
"However, you won't be able to take the items away today. Wait just a little while, and I will personally deliver them to you later."
"I can't take them away today?" Su Chen's heart stirred slightly. Looking at the smile on Zhou Yunyang's face, he felt thoughtful. "Very well then. How many Star Coins do I need to pay?"
"What's this about Star Coins? Can the bond between us really be measured in Star Coins? These few materials are nothing." Zhou Yunyang care—
—fully closed the door, his face full of smiles. "However, I must tell you something in advance. Do not make a fuss about these materials, and certainly do not tell anyone they came from me. The Artifact Hall will not have any record of this transaction."
'This guy is a freaking genius...' Su Chen thought, staring at his smiling face and roughly guessing the situation. This was likely coming out of Zhou Yunyang's own pocket.
He didn't want to offend Fan Zhao, but he didn't want to offend Su Chen either.
"Fan Zhao?" Su Chen suddenly asked.
The brilliant smile on Zhou Yunyang's face froze. He hadn't expected this Star Seed's mind to be so sharp.
But given how incredibly slick he was, he seamlessly transitioned that stiff expression into a helpless sigh. "You should know that while my ancestors basked in the glory of the Morning Star, it has been difficult to maintain by my generation. I am just a small fry trying to please everyone and stay afloat. Please don't take it to heart."
"Not at all." Su Chen felt a surge of genuine respect. This Zhou Yunyang was both bold and meticulous. "If it is truly inconvenient for you, you can pass the items to Ming Lin, and he will forward them to me."
'This little guy is pretty cunning. Barren planets really do temper a person well. No wonder there have been rumors in the sect lately about sending sanctuary students to barren planets for experiential training...'
As these thoughts drifted through Zhou Yunyang's mind, he said aloud, "Since that's the case, I won't see you out."
"Sorry for the trouble." Su Chen stood up and walked straight out.
Watching Su Chen leave, Zhou Yunyang finally let out a long sigh. "Alas, dancing on the blade's edge... who can truly understand my hardships?"
Despite his words, there was not a trace of distress on his face. He actually seemed to thoroughly enjoy this double-dealing lifestyle.
Just as he was pondering, a message popped up on his desktop terminal. He skimmed over it, his heart leaping in shock. "Fifth Tier already? So fast?"
A glint flashed in his eyes, and the smile on his face grew even brighter. "Who knows the bitterness in my heart?"
The news of Su Chen advancing to the dual Fifth Tier spread like wildfire. Speculations regarding his talent also ran rampant. Many believed it was absolutely impossible for him to have a Dark Emerald talent; it had to be at least a dual Crimson, or even a dual Mystic Purple.
Following the update to his profile, the relevant supply resources were rapidly adjusted. Everything was swapped to the Fifth Tier standard and delivered directly to his floating island.
A few days later, Zhou Yunyang quietly sought out Ming Lin, handing over a heavy bundle of materials for him to take back.
With the materials in hand, upgrading his weapons was a simple task.
Inside the training room, it did not take long for Su Chen to elevate all four of his Secret Artifacts to the Fifth Tier.
He currently toyed with a tiny crystal skull in his hands. A transparent flame burned within the empty sockets of its eyes and mouth.
[Skull of Spirit Essence - Fifth Tier: Forged from compressed Mental Source Crystals.]
This was the Fifth Tier mental-type weapon Zhou Yunyang had meticulously selected for him. Its functions were extremely comprehensive; not only could it amplify mental-type abilities to a certain extent, but it also offered decent defense against external mental attacks.
His mental power gradually saturated the item entirely, turning it into his newly controlled Secret Artifact. At the same time, it sank into his mind, shrouding the exterior of his mental core.
Taking another look at his interface panel, the Sly Fox Essence had already been refined. He applied it directly to the Endurer profession, fulfilling the first requirement.
The difficulty skyrocketed, demanding four top-tier physical-type professions. However, he still met the criteria. Without any need to reduce the difficulty, he immediately inaugurated the class.
A gentle, warming current quietly surged from the depths of his lower abdomen, splitting into several distinct lines of heat that climbed up the central pathway of his body.
Wherever the heat flowed, his muscles swelled slightly, and a faint numbness echoed from his bones. It felt like a living root system, branching out along the natural network of his blood vessels and nerves.
As the warmth permeated his entire body, a very faint flush appeared on the surface of his skin. This class change was incredibly mild and concluded very quickly.
[Endurer Class Change Successful. Acquired Profession Ability - Underlying Vigor: Upon stamina exhaustion, stimulates the body's latent potential to instantly recover 30% of stamina.]
[Extra Reward Acquired: Stamina recovery increased by 20%.]
"It triggers when my stamina is exhausted?" Su Chen glanced at the interface. The ability was quite good, and the extra reward boosted the recovery amount even further.
It was essentially equivalent to recovering half his total stamina the moment he drained it completely.
"However..." His eyes flickered slightly. He casually activated Holy Hand to enhance an ability, draining his mental power, and then extracted his physical stamina to convert it.
Sure enough, the very instant his stamina bottomed out, waves of a warm current—seemingly originating from nowhere—gushed through his limbs and bones, replenishing his dried-up body.
Simultaneously, the nutrients stored by his Glutton profession were also converted.
But Su Chen did not stop. He continued to use Holy Hand, draining his stamina once more. Surprisingly, waves of warmth welled up yet again.
"It actually works like this..." Su Chen raised an eyebrow. Because of his Inverse Origin-Glutton system, he could repeatedly orchestrate states of stamina exhaustion within a short period, continuously triggering the Endurer's passive effect.
"If this is the case, it is basically giving me two extra chances to use Holy Hand's enhancement out of thin air. Tsk, tsk..." Su Chen was highly satisfied. The more professions he took on...
...he never knew when they might create a miraculous synergy with his previous profession abilities, transforming an ordinarily average skill into something significantly stronger.
However, not long after his ability testing concluded, and before he had even left the training room, a ravenous hunger that made his eyes gleam green erupted from within his body. Every cell was restless, feeling as though he was about to consume himself.
He hurriedly chugged several mouthfuls of Fifth Tier nutritional potions before the sensation finally eased slightly.
He let out a long breath, sensing the nutrients inside his body being rapidly broken down and devoured. "It seems this recovered stamina isn't just generating out of thin air after all."