Chapter 390: I Hand My Fate into Your Hands
"The Dragon God Shrine needs its inspectors to not only have great cultivation strengths but high intelligence as well. An inspector who can't properly arbitrate disputes can't be entrusted with important tasks. For example, due to the recent war between the East Ocean Dragon Clan and the West Ocean Dragon Clan near the East Ocean City, I have been demoted." Su Han said as she patted her lips with a paper towel after finishing eating.
Hao Ren knew that the conflict between the East Ocean Dragon Clan and the West Ocean Dragon Clan was beyond Su Han's mediation power. However, from the perspective of the Dragon God Shrine, she had to take responsibility for not controlling the escalation of the dispute.
"Are there different levels among the inspectors?" Hao Ren asked.
"There are five levels. The lowest is the assisting inspectors whose term is one year, and they need to be tested each year. It means that they are temporary inspectors who can assist the official inspectors with some tasks but are not qualified to enter the Dragon God Shrine. Official inspectors have a ten-year term, so they are tested every ten years. The official inspectors are divided into four levels. Then according to the different duties, they are also divided into patrolling inspectors and regional inspectors. Like Qing Shaoyang, I was the highest level 4 inspector. However, due to the recent incident, I have been demoted to level 3, and my rights and privileges in the Dragon God Shrine have been significantly reduced," Su Han explained.
"I see..." Hao Ren began to understand the situation.
The assisting inspectors were like the temporary workers of the Dragon God Shrine; they weren't in the official headcounts and thus couldn't enter the Dragon God Shrine, let alone getting access to its resources. The only benefit for them was the gaining of experience and knowledge about the Inspector System.
Despite all this, many dragon cultivators tried to become assisting inspectors. After all, it was one step closer to becoming an official inspector, and they could gain some advantage in the official inspector selection process.
As for the official inspectors, they weren't worry-free since they needed to be tested every ten years. Although the tests were not an issue for Qian-level and Kun-level masters such as Su Han, the younger official inspectors who were on Xun-level and Dui-level would need to worry about being replaced by stronger new blood if they didn't make much progress over the years.
Su Han's demotion from the level 4 to level 3 meant not only a reduction of her rights but a disgrace of honor as well!
Hao Ren could imagine the gloating face of Qin Shaoyang who was now one level higher than Su Han. In the past, he didn't dare to mess with Su Han since he couldn't withstand her anger. But now, he could stay in the East Ocean City since he held more authority over Su Han.
With two official inspectors in the East Ocean City, Qin Shaoyang seemed to be the chief inspector while Su Han was his deputy.
Not wanting to allow Qin Shaoyang to take over her territory and have power over her, Su Han certainly hoped to kick him out again.
"As a level 4 inspector, Qin Shaoyang could have found some ways to disqualify you from entering the exams, but we now have a trump card." Su Han continued.
"Trump card?" Hao Ren asked in bafflement.
"Yeah, we have his natal dharma treasure, and that's why he doesn't dare to mess with us." Su Han nodded.
Hao Ren was not used to hearing 'we' from Su Han's mouth. After all, as a lone wolf, she had never used such words before.
Hao Ren was familiar with the importance of natal dharma treasures which had connections with the owners' spiritual senses and minds. Cultivators could control them at will to unleash their full power and could store them in their bodies.
For this reason, if cultivators' natal dharma treasures were taken, they would not only lose powerful dharma treasures. On top of that, a portion of their cultivation strengths would be grasped by the people who seized their treasures.
If the natal dharma treasures were destroyed, the spiritual senses the owners stored in them would be wiped out, thus resulting in a significant decline of the owners' cultivation strengths. If the owners were in danger or a fierce battle, the sudden decrease of cultivation strengths would be deadly.
That was why Qin Shaoyang didn't dare to play any tricks to stop Hao Ren from entering the exams of the Dragon God Shrine.
Otherwise, with his level 4 title, he would have canceled the recommendation Su Han made to the Dragon God Shrine as she was one level lower than him.
"With his natal dharma treasure in my hands, if he makes any moves against us, I can destroy his natal dharma treasure at any time. However, I can only hold the threat over him until the beginning of the exams," Su Han said in a low voice.
"Why?" Hao Ren asked immediately.
"Because... Qin Shaoyang is the chief examiner of the exams," Su Han said lightly.
"Huh?" Hao Ren was surprised.
"In the combat exams, 16 level 4 inspectors are responsible for four sections. As level 4 inspectors, Qin Shaoyang and I were both supposed to be the examiners. However, since I got demoted, I couldn't take on the position anymore."
Su Han paused for a second before continuing, "But Qin Shaoyang is still an examiner who is responsible for judging the results of the competitions and maintaining order. As a chief examiner, he must have his natal dharma treasure. Since I don't want to report the conflict between us to the Dragon God Shrine, I will have to return his natal dharma treasure by that time."
"Ok..." Hao Ren nodded his head slowly. Su Han had done everything she could. Besides, she sounded quite helpless at the fact that she was demoted.
If Su Han had been the chief examiner, Hao Ren, as her assisting inspector, would have some advantage over others. Now... Su Han just hoped that he wouldn't be in the group Qin Shaoyang was in charge of.
"Let's get to business. First, you must pass the written exam on the first day." Inhaling deeply, Su Han opened her storage ring and took out a heavy law book.
The law book was at least 30 centimeters thick and 80 centimeters wide, much bigger than any dictionaries Hao Ren had ever seen!
"You have four days to memorize this handbook," Su Han said lightly.
"Hand... Handbook!" Hao Ren almost spat out blood. He had an excellent memory before, and he obtained photographic memory after cultivating. However, could this giant book be called a handbook?
"Everything that inspectors need to know is in here. The written exam will test you on the concepts in this book," Su Han said.
"Any key points?" Hao Ren asked her and hoped for a good answer.
"No." Su Han shook her head.
Seeing his disappointment, Su Han continued, "This handbook for inspectors is sealed by a special array, which means that the moment you turn a page, the content on it will disappear. In other words, you can only read it once. Therefore, it doesn't really matter when you get it. In fact, I think it is better for you to read it just before the exam."
Speechless, Hao Ren looked at her and thought, "You mean you are doing me a favor by giving me the book so late?"
He guessed that only the Dragon God Shrine could think of such a strange way of testing.
At this thought, Hao Ren asked her, "Do you remember all the content in the book?"
Su Han shook her head.
"Ugh..." Hao Ren immediately asked, "Then, how did you pass the exam?"
Su Han thought for a moment before answering earnestly, "I don't remember."
"Ugh..." Hao Ren was exasperated with her.
"I'll read this book with you. For each of the four nights starting today, we will read one-fourth of it. Hopefully, we can finish it by Friday," Su Han said.
Hao Ren looked at her and nodded. He couldn't back out now. After all, becoming an official inspector would benefit himself, Su Han, and the East Ocean Dragon Clan.
On second thought, he knew that studying with such a beauty like Su Han was something many guys would die for.
If the guys at school heard about this, Zhou Liren would be so jealous that he would want to stomp Hao Ren to death.
"I'll go take a shower and change into my pajamas. If you can, you may make some late-night snacks." Su Han stood up from the couch and walked to her bedroom.
She had never thought that she would stay up all night with a man. But now, she had to put all her hopes on a man who was only at Gen-level!
If Hao Ren could make it into the top ten, she would be able to find a way to move him to the East Ocean City and squeeze Qin Shaoyang out.
She could only continue her cultivation in peace and charge at the peak of Qian-level with the eyesore, Qin Shaoyang, gone.
Subconsciously, she had placed her future in Hao Ren's hands!
She had never cared so much about a man's success or tried so hard to help a man make progress!
For Hao Ren, she even temporarily paused her cultivation for a few days, which was unthinkable and unimaginable in the past.
When Su Han went into her bedroom to change into her pajamas, Hao Ren walked into the kitchen to prepare late-night snacks. Meanwhile, Xie Yujia who was in her dorm room got a phone call from an unknown number.
"Hello?" She answered it.
"Are you Xie Yujia?" An impolite voice sounded through her cell phone.
"Yeah. It's me." Xie Yujia walked to the balcony of the dorm room with her cell phone. "Are you Zi?"
"Humph!" The clear voice paused for half a second. "Uncle told me that if I want to go to Fifth Heaven, I can go with you. Where is he?"
"I don't know where he is. But do you want to go to Fifth Heaven now?" Xie Yujia asked.
"Little White is at your place. I'll get to the gate of your school in half an hour. After reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, I must cultivate harder. I'm not like you! Humph!"
With a click, the phone call ended.
Standing on the balcony, Xie Yujia was a little angry with Zhao Yanzi's tone.
But on second thought, since Hao Ren asked her to take care of Zhao Yanzi, she calmed down and controlled her mood.
"But... Where is Hao Ren...?" Xie Yujia looked up at the moon and thought.