Hongxuan composed himself and said coolly, "Saint Envoy, since our business here is done, we’ll be leaving now."

Hearing Hongxuan’s disdainful words, Ming Lin was filled with rage. He glared coldly at Hongxuan, but there was nothing he could do.

He hadn’t received the recognition, so his anger felt like impotent rage. He didn’t even have the standing to object.

Wu Chenpei shook his head, his tone chiding. "Chief Judge Xia Han’s student hasn’t even gone in yet. How can you leave?"

Seeing the two playing off each other, Chong Jingtian’s already dark expression grew even more grim.

Xia Hanshi’s eyes narrowed slightly. He stood off to the side, looking like an old man with one foot in the grave.

’Oh, right, there’s still Su Chen.’ Ming Lin’s thoughts drifted. He couldn’t help but glance at Su Chen, whose expression was as calm as ever. He had no idea what was going through his mind.

’Su Chen’s Talent is about the same as mine,’ Ming Lin lamented internally. ’He’ll probably have a hard time getting recognized, too.’

’But then again,’ he thought, ’Su Chen defeated Hongxuan. Maybe he does have a chance of being recognized.’

’From what Wu Chenpei said, there’s a "One Dragon Shadow" and "Three Dragon Shadows." Even if he doesn’t get two, just getting a One Dragon Shadow would be good enough.’

Wei Yufan, however, remained expressionless. After some thought, he decided he’d rather see Su Chen come out just like him—confused and empty-handed.

"Su Chen, it’s your turn," Chong Jingtian called out, feeling a stir of anticipation.

’Since there are different levels of recognition, given Su Chen’s situation, the probability of him getting a One Dragon Shadow should be very high.’

’As for the final chosen one... we can figure something else out later.’

"Coming." Unperturbed by Hongxuan, Su Chen strode forward.

Hongxuan stood to one side, watching Su Chen walk past. His face wore its usual cool indifference, but his eyes couldn’t help but follow Su Chen’s figure.

’In all my years on this planet, Su Chen is the first person to truly surprise me. Not only is his advancement speed incredible, but his strength is considerable.’

Thinking of his humiliating defeat, even Hongxuan felt a pang of emotion, and he secretly shook his head.

’A pity. In his rush to catch up to me, he must have advanced into a low-Tier profession. He’s already forfeited any real chance he had.’

’The Morning Star Spirituality has incredibly high standards. If someone has previously held a Lower-level, or even a Middle Level profession, their chances of being recognized are virtually zero.’

Gazing at the crimson clouds before him, Su Chen’s eyes flashed, and he stepped inside.

Chong Jingtian and the others couldn’t help but hold their breath, as if terrified of disturbing him.

As he stepped into the clouds, Su Chen felt the world spin around him, as if he had entered another dimension. All around him, clouds churned endlessly.

It was stiflingly hot, and a faint stinging sensation pricked at his skin from the electric arcs crackling around him.

Not far ahead stood a fragmented Stone Slab.

Su Chen subconsciously tried to get a better look, but the Stone Slab’s surface was covered by a hazy mist. He could faintly make out what appeared to be golden symbols.

But when he tried to focus, he couldn’t see anything clearly at all.

’It’s not going to let me see yet?’

Su Chen muttered to himself. He looked around but couldn’t find this so-called Professional Spirituality.

He was about to take another step forward when he suddenly froze, feeling as if something had just locked onto him.

’Is it... the Stone Slab?’

Su Chen stared uncertainly at the Stone Slab, faintly sensing a feeling of elation coming from it, even a hint of kinship.

’Hm? Was I recognized that easily?’ Su Chen raised an eyebrow, speculating. ’But why would it feel a sense of kinship?’

A stream of light then shot out from the Stone Slab, coiling around Su Chen’s body as if verifying something.

Soon, however, Su Chen felt the elation and kinship coming from the Stone Slab gradually morph into bewilderment and doubt.

The stream of light circling his body spun faster and faster, and the emotions emanating from the Stone Slab grew increasingly intense.

’What’s wrong with it?’ Su Chen had a bad feeling. ’Did it discover something?’

Su Chen’s brow furrowed as a guess suddenly formed in his mind. ’Could it be because I already know one of the Great Venerable’s advancement requirements? Maybe that created some kind of bizarre resonance, causing the Stone Slab to jump to the wrong conclusion.’

’But now that it’s taken a closer look, it’s realized I’m a fraud and gotten angry?’

’I hope that’s not it.’ Su Chen’s heart tightened, but he continued to inch forward, raising his guard. No matter what, he had to forcibly collect the profession information from this Stone Slab before he left.

The crimson radiance surrounding him flowed ever faster, and the emotion coming from the Stone Slab shifted from suspicion to alarmed fury.

However, the violent ejection Su Chen had anticipated never came. The stream of light coiling around him suddenly dispersed and flowed back into the Stone Slab.

Unexpectedly, the Stone Slab’s anger even began to dissipate.

Soon, a crimson dragon shadow shot out from the Stone Slab. Its upper body was lifelike, but its lower half was just a blurry, indistinct ribbon of light that slowly drifted toward him.

’What does this mean? Do I count as being recognized?’

’This is a One Dragon Shadow?’ Su Chen paused, then pieced it together. ’Even though this Spirituality thinks I tricked it, it still acknowledged me. But only just barely.’

’So this Spirituality has to follow rules, huh?’

Su Chen thought as he frowned at the little crimson dragon. ’A One Dragon Shadow, is it?’

At this moment, the anger from the Stone Slab had vanished, replaced by a faint sense of disdain.

’Disdain?’ Su Chen’s eyes narrowed. At the same time, he received a fragmented message from the Stone Slab.

"...Spirituality complete... reveal requirements..."

’Only with a complete Spirituality can the profession requirements be revealed?’

’After all this waiting, it’s still not going to let me see?’

Su Chen let out a cold laugh. ’The nerve!’

By now, with his steady advance, he was less than a single step from the Stone Slab.

He moved in a flash. Black lightning erupted from his body, and a pale thunder mark surfaced between his eyebrows. An icy, desolate aura burst forth, like a world-ending calamity descending!

Holy Hand Empowerment—Disaster Lord Form!

Holy Hand Empowerment—Azure Thunder Disaster!

He thrust out his arms, and two pillars of twisted black lightning shot out, smashing into the Stone Slab. The hazy mist covering its surface instantly vanished.

The Stone Slab, engraved with golden symbols, appeared with perfect clarity before his eyes.

A wave of fury, far greater than before, erupted from the Stone Slab. Tendrils of crimson lightning shot out, as if to execute this insolent offender with a thunderous punishment!

[Advancement requirement for Great Venerable Red Flame Thunder Resonator discovered. Supplementing Advancement Requirement #2: Annihilate the self with the End of Thunder Mark, then achieve nirvanic rebirth with the Seed of Red Fire.]

Immediately after, another line of text appeared—

[The Great Venerable Red Flame Thunder Resonator has detected an external Spirituality displaying disrespect toward the Host and is angered.]

Following this, the crimson clouds behind Su Chen began to churn. The roiling mist and flowing crimson light intertwined in the air, gradually solidifying into a towering silhouette, its face hidden within a blazing halo, impossible to discern.

The alarmed fury from the Stone Slab instantly collapsed, replaced entirely by awe.

Immediately, Su Chen felt a wind howl behind him. The surrounding mist thinned, and three great dragons seemed to charge in from the outside. They then condensed into a single, even mightier crimson dragon that circled Su Chen, letting out a sonorous roar.

[The fragmented external Spirituality pays its respects to the Great Venerable. Host has received the highest recognition and obtained a Spiritual Grace—First Fire Rekindled: Can restore your body to its peak condition at any time. Single use only.]

Looking at the text appearing on his panel, Su Chen suddenly broke into a grin. A cheeky thought popped into his head—

"Yours is a hen, but mine’s a rooster."