'Those two guys had already developed into the latter half of Tier One?' Su Chen couldn't help but think. 'I didn't feel much resistance when I made my move.'
However, when he thought about his two top-tier professions, his impressive abilities, and the Tier Two special item, it made sense that he had crushed them so easily.
"Black Flame Potion. Time for a taste." Su Chen licked his lips.
The Blood Circulation Potion was long gone. He kind of missed that feeling of high efficiency.
He pulled out the cork and took only a small sip. The current situation didn't allow him to let his guard down.
It was like swallowing molten lava. The scorching liquid rolled down his throat and gradually spread throughout his body, a stinging pain radiating from the inside out.
"Fuck, this is intense..." Su Chen himself was startled. The potion's effect was beyond imagination; even a small sip was this potent.
The [Molten Stone Refining Technique] activated on its own. The two types of stimulation didn't stack; instead, they counteracted each other. The stinging sensation gradually faded, but his body grew more and more active.
...…
In the municipal government office of Southwind City, City Lord Zhang Hongbo stood before a window, his expression grave as he stared at the horizon. From this high floor, he could faintly see the boundless city walls.
BANG!
The door was thrown open, and Yuan Chenyang and Zhou Xian walked in, one after the other.
Yuan Chenyang looked haggard, his face grim.
Zhou Xian was silent, sizing up the people in the room. The City Patrol Department, the Exploration Department, the Research Department, the Inspectorate behind him, and himself, the Minister of Internal Affairs... 'All the city's top brass are here. This is no small matter.'
"Inspector General Yuan, I heard you found the thief, but you 'accidentally' killed him, and the Holy Word Stone is still missing," the City Patrol Minister said coolly.
"That was something we painstakingly recovered from the last ruin, something that even Ying Feng is paying attention to. We'd only deciphered half the profession information on it. It involves space and is incredibly valuable."
"Ying Feng's people are on their way. Have you figured out how you're going to explain this?"
Yuan Chenyang shot them a cold look. The faces of several people present were tinged with schadenfreude.
He snorted inwardly and said flatly, "How I explain myself is none of Minister Feng's concern."
Despite his words, he couldn't help but feel helpless. There was clearly an inside job, but he hadn't been able to find out who the accomplice was.
The timing of the thief's appearance was also strange. After hiding for so long, he had suddenly popped up for no reason.
He had clearly held back, yet the man still died, making interrogation impossible. It was a dead end.
Forget explaining himself; he hadn't even cleared his name of the suspicion that he'd killed the thief to silence him.
It was just that there was no one in Southwind City who could pass judgment on him. But once Ying Feng's people arrived, things would get complicated.
The other man snorted and was about to speak when Zhang Hongbo turned around and cut him off. "Since everyone's here, I'll begin."
Everyone held their breath.
Zhang Hongbo said grimly, "The Fort Guards in South City's Area A2 have been unresponsive for over twenty-four hours. We have reason to suspect they've been overrun."
The expressions of the crowd changed in shock. "How could this be so sudden?"
"We estimate it's an unforeseen situation caused by the passage of a high-level life form," Zhang Hongbo said.
"South City?" Zhou Xian suddenly asked, his expression turning sour.
"That's right. The same direction Nanfeng Academy took for their routine patrol," Zhang Hongbo nodded.
"What?" Yuan Chenyang shot to his feet, forgetting his worries about the thief. "What are we waiting for? We need to send people to bring them back immediately!"
"No, I'll lead a team myself."
"Yes, we must send someone quickly. If there's an accident, it could have serious repercussions, especially with Ying Feng's people about to arrive." Zhou Xian's face shifted, and he chimed in, his expression worried.
Everyone knew that his son and Yuan Chenyang's student were in that group. Their anxiety was understandable.
"I'm not finished." Zhang Hongbo glanced at the two men and continued, "The Research Department has also detected a sudden surge in the fog's density in the direction of South City. We suspect a ruin has appeared."
"A ruin? So close... Could it be related to losing contact with the Area A2 Fort Guards?" The others couldn't sit still either. The appearance of any ruin represented enormous benefits.
"I share that suspicion, which is why I've decided to lead a team personally. Inspector General Yuan, Minister Zhou, you will come with me," Zhang Hongbo nodded.
"I have no problem with that," Yuan Chenyang responded immediately.
The group came to an agreement and began to act at once. Zhang Hongbo mobilized an elite team from the Exploration Department to follow him.
In less than half an hour, the team was assembled. They departed from South City, following the students' route in pursuit.
...…
WHIR... The purple stone gate before him gradually opened. Seeing the slender figure walk out, Jiang Rong couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. A gratified smile appeared on his old face. "As expected of my daughter."
It was Jiang He, who had been missing for a long time. A strange light flickered in her eyes, and the air around her rippled invisibly.
"I almost..." Jiang He's voice was hoarse, tinged with lingering fear. "I almost didn't make it back."
"As long as the promotion was a success. You're a Tier Two Professional now. The Blood Oath Contract won't have much of an effect on you." Jiang Rong also sighed in relief, then added, "There's one more thing. The person behind Qi Chuan isn't Yuan Chenyang."
"Hmm?" Jiang He's gaze sharpened, her pupils glowing with a faint purple light.
"The reason Su Chen was able to get into the special training class seems to be... Bai Fengxi." Jiang Rong wore a strange expression. He hadn't expected Su Chen's connections to be so convoluted; it had taken him some time to figure it all out.
"Bai Fengxi?" Jiang He was blank for a moment, then she remembered. 'Yuan Chenyang's female student.'
"He's certainly capable," Jiang He's expression was hard to describe. "I guess that counts as a connection to Yuan Chenyang, more or less."
"I'm afraid Yuan Chenyang can't even protect himself right now..." Jiang Rong shook his head, his tone profound. "The thief was found, but the stolen item wasn't. When Ying Feng comes to hold someone accountable, he'll have to take the blame."
Jiang He realized, "So we can still use Su Chen to figure out Qi Chuan's situation?"
He nodded. "Correct. There's been an incident outside the city. The people who went out will be back soon."
"Since it wasn't Qi Chuan who got Su Chen onto the special list, he's bound to make a move outside the city. But he doesn't know Su Chen's background, and there isn't enough time. I doubt he can accomplish much."
"After Su Chen returns, his curiosity about him will only grow stronger."
It took Jiang He some effort to sort out the connections, but she cast the thought aside in the next moment.
'Su Chen...' She licked her slightly chapped lips. Her carnal interest in that "little wolf-dog" was surging again.
This time, she was a Tier Two Professional. She would have the upper hand again.
...…
"Hm?"
Su Chen's eyes snapped open. His skin was flushed, wisps of mist curling around him. His insides felt like they were on fire, but he also had a strange sensation.
'It feels like... the Blood Oath Contract...' Su Chen clutched his chest, murmuring, 'Is it broken?'
An indescribable sense of urgency rose in his heart. It didn't come from Jiang He, but from the fact that his sense of security had been weakened yet again.
He had no real conflict with Jiang He, but he didn't consider her a friend, either. Because of the Blood Oath Contract, they might even have become enemies.
He glanced at his panel--
[Sky Splitter Warrior: 30%]
[Molten Stone Refining Technique - Skilled: 5%]
Only the clearly visible progress could bring him a sliver of security.
He thought, 'But I need to put a Spiritual Side Meditation Technique on the agenda, or my Secret Artifact Master profession will be stuck here.'
'Troublesome...'
Over the course of the night, Su Chen finished the entire bottle of Black Flame Potion in small sips, raising his [Sky Splitter Warrior] profession development to 32%.
His [Molten Stone Refining Technique], operating at high intensity, also reached 30%. The rate of improvement was slightly lower than at the introductory level.
The next morning, the main group assembled. The students weren't in high spirits. Zhou Zhong was in particularly bad shape; he had stood watch for Su Chen the night before and hadn't gotten enough rest. His eyes were shot with blood.
Su Chen, on the other hand, was in good spirits. As a Secret Artifact Master, a Spiritual Side profession, staying up for a few nights wasn't a major issue. The Black Flame Potion contained nutrients sufficient to compensate for his body's exertion.
The logistics team distributed breakfast. Compared to last night's roasted meat, breakfast was rather simple: standard compressed Nutrient Liquid.
Hu Xiang patrolled the area, his gaze occasionally drifting toward Su Chen, who was eating with his head down.
After calming everyone down last night, he had made a special trip to search the area around Su Chen's watch post coordinates, but he hadn't found the bodies he expected.
This made him suspicious. 'Did Su Chen hide his strength so well that he actually managed to counter-kill the attackers?'
'Or did he really just follow Old Zhao's instructions, returning to inform the camp when his time was up, while the two attackers were taken out by some unknown danger in the fog?'
Hu Xiang's gut feeling leaned toward the latter.
Otherwise, to be able to take care of two Tier One Professionals in such a short time with so little commotion... Su Chen's true strength would be hidden far too deeply.
But his rational mind told him that Su Chen seemed to have seen right through him, which he found inscrutable.