The agreement reached in the examiner area quickly spread.
An examiner representative had already come to Jiang Chen's courtyard, found him, and relayed the matter in full detail.
Jiang Chen was stunned. After listening to the examiner finish, his tone dropped sharply: "Examiner, let me put it simply. You're saying that from now on, I can't apply for tasks in the alchemy area consecutively, correct?"
"That's right. From now on, you can only spend one week per month in the alchemy area. This is an agreement reached by all examiners." The examiner nodded, perfectly composed. He wasn't worried about this mortal prodigy making any fuss. Since it was the unanimous opinion of all examiners, any complaints on his part would be useless.
Jiang Chen let out a cold laugh: "So what you're saying is, even if I haven't broken any rules, as long as you feel like it, you can suppress me at any time. Right?"
"Don't overthink it. While this may seem a bit unfair to you, it's for the greater good. Besides, indirectly, it's also a form of protection for you."
"Protection?" Jiang Chen laughed. "So by your logic, if you didn't do this, I might actually be in danger?"
"In the long run, do you really want to become the target of every genius's hatred? Do you want to make yourself a lightning rod? I believe your goal is to join one of the Four Great Sects, and surely you don't want to offend all the sects' geniuses before you even set foot through their doors?"
When the examiner saw that Jiang Chen wasn't accepting this graciously, he grew unhappy inside. He thought, how could a mere mortal martial artist be this dense?
Jiang Chen laughed with bitter mockery, so furious it had turned into a smile. He nodded lightly: "I see. So whenever a so-called genius is surpassed by someone else, that counts as offending them. Is that it? And this is the highest standard of selection for your Four Great Sects — make absolutely sure those so-called geniuses never have to take a loss. Right?"
"If you want to see it that way, be my guest." The examiner's face darkened. "Remember, you're just one person. When facing the larger trend, going with the flow is the smartest choice. I've said my piece — digest it however you like. Either way, going forward, you can only apply for seven tasks per month in the alchemy area. Any more than that, and no one will issue you any tasks. Whether you accept it or not, that's the final outcome."
These words amounted to an ultimatum.
Having said that, the examiner turned to leave.
Jiang Chen's brow shot up. His voice rang clear, the energy throughout his body surging into a pillar of sky-high fury, and he spoke: "Remember, there is no such thing as a 'larger trend.' The so-called geniuses you're bending over backwards to protect today — one day, they will all be crushed beneath my feet. Whether you accept that or not, that is how it will end!"
Jiang Chen had always considered himself a man of decent temperament, but this time, he had been thoroughly provoked.
All along, he had kept a low profile, trying his best not to stir up trouble. He quietly pursued his score-grinding strategy in silence.
But the tree may wish to be still — the wind never stops.
Every time, his low profile only earned him more bullying, more suppression.
And now these examiners had used this absurd justification to openly impose restrictions on him personally.
Honestly, if the examiners had changed the rules to apply to everyone equally, Jiang Chen might not have been this furious.
But these revised rules applied to him alone. This was a blatant, targeted campaign against him. How could he swallow such an insult?
Even a clay Buddha had three parts temper — let alone Jiang Chen.
The examiner paused at these words, not turning his head. His voice was flat: "If that day truly comes, even the rules of these Four Great Sects can be changed for your sake."
"Changed for my sake?" Jiang Chen sneered. "You've got it wrong. When that day comes, I'll be the one setting the rules."
Though rage burned in Jiang Chen's chest, he had not lost his reason. He understood that the reason these examiners could suppress him so brazenly was because he, Jiang Chen, was merely a mortal genius. Compared to the collective sentiments of all the sects' geniuses put together, it was obvious which way the scales should tip.
The examiner was momentarily taken aback, then let out a cold laugh, privately consigning Jiang Chen to the ranks of delusional dreamers. He thought, as expected of a mortal martial artist — ignorant of the wider world, blindly arrogant, and wildly overestimating himself.
The examiner area's restrictions on Jiang Chen were also spread far and wide in the first moments after the announcement.
In an instant, across the entire Heavenly Spirit Area, a fresh wave of heated discussion erupted once more. The majority of martial artists applauded enthusiastically, saying the examiners had been supremely wise.
But there were also some clear-headed martial artists who secretly felt a pang of sympathy for Jiang Chen. This was the cruel reality of the sect world.
Rules, after all, only restrained the weak and tilted in favor of the strong.
"Haha, now that's truly satisfying! Let's see how he grinds scores now. He'll probably be sent right back to where he came from before long!"
"That's for certain. A mortal martial artist's talent is ultimately limited. Cheating the system can't take you far. At the end of the day, this selection tournament is still a game for us sect geniuses."
"Heh, I bet tonight the top-tier geniuses can finally sleep soundly."
"Poor mortal genius — I'd guess he's probably thinking about hanging himself right about now! Hahaha. Just a shooting star in the end — flashing by before it disappears."
Across the entire Heavenly Spirit Area, this kind of talk was everywhere — schadenfreude, kicking a man while he was down, a buzzing excitement over having successfully crushed someone.