You Chen's eyes burned with intensity.
If "Sudden Insight" was a versatile reward that was universally useful, then "Glimpse of Essence" was a reward worth waiting years for, a must-have task reward! As long as its effects weren't negligible, and the "quantity" needed to achieve a qualitative change wasn't too excessive, its value was no less than a ten-thousand-year soul bone perfectly suited to a soul master!
The mastery of the martial spirit's essence power is the dividing line of true strength.
Throughout history, there have been soul masters with lower-quality martial spirits who, through superior mastery of their essence power, achieved exceptional efficiency in utilizing their strength, allowing them to exhibit combat power far exceeding their martial spirit's quality.
Records from Spirit Hall noted a Soul King with a medium-quality wooden sword martial spirit who defeated a Soul King with a top-tier defense martial spirit in one strike!
But You Chen, being You Chen, quickly suppressed his inner excitement and focused on the task information.
As expected, both task completion conditions were currently in an unfulfilled state.
Leveraging higher authority to suppress Yu Xiaogang was ambiguous. Could he claim he used Qian Xunji's influence to oust Yu Xiaogang from Spirit Hall? Perhaps, but it wasn't entirely related to him.
As for theoretically crushing Yu Xiaogang, You Chen had long accomplished that.
Yet, similar to a previous task of "making a female classmate see him in a new light," it wasn't automatically completed upon receipt.
With You Chen's current understanding of the system, tasks involving subjective awareness of the target didn't necessarily require a direct confrontation or change in perception by the said target.
For example, a "new light" task was completed without even meeting the other party, once they formed such an idea post-task acceptance.
Regarding "proving theory" and "theoretical crushing," there are two scenarios.
One is Yu Xiaogang inexplicably realizing his inferiority to You Chen, starting to lament, completing the task.
The other involves You Chen engaging in another theoretical debate-like event with Yu Xiaogang, causing him further humiliation and defeat.
However, the first task method, "authority suppression," requires concrete action.
Like "defeat target" tasks, even if You Chen had previously defeated the opponent, a re-defeat was necessary.
And regarding task completion, he had a plan in mind.
"So this is Nordin City?"
Xiao Wu exclaimed as she gazed at Nordin City's gates.
After a week of leisurely travel, stopping intermittently, they finally reached their destination.
This journey was less a trek and more a sort of outing.
You Chen glanced sideways at Xiao Wu, saying, "Though I'm your uncle in name, don't think you can cause trouble in Nordin City under my name. I know you're playful and mischievous, but if you get into trouble, I won't bail you out."
"Eh? Is that how you act as an uncle?"
Xiao Wu widened her eyes, speaking as if considering You Chen's position, "Even if it's fake, others won't know. If your niece gets bullied outside and you don't dare say a word, won't people look down on you?"
"It doesn't matter. Anyone worth my attention can see through this 'uncle-niece' facade at a glance. Why care about the opinions of those who don't matter? This title is just to spare you some minor troubles, to prevent bullying. But it's not a shield for you to bully others," You Chen explained.
"Tch." Xiao Wu pouted, kicking a stone by the roadside.
"Oh, I haven't told you yet."
As if recalling something important, You Chen stopped heading towards Nordin City's main gate and turned to the puzzled Xiao Wu: "I ended up here because I offended someone important and was sent to this remote place. Naturally, I keep a low profile to avoid giving them reasons to target me again."
"Offended someone important? Tsk tsk, you said you came for business, but you were actually exiled? Uncle, you're quite pitiful."
Xiao Wu tilted her head, "So, were you already part of some organization?"
You Chen nodded, "Yes. I'm with Spirit Hall."
This revelation caused Xiao Wu's body to stiffen abruptly.
...
"You Chen, sir, here is your steward badge and uniform. You need to report here every day at eight in the morning. There's a two-hour break at noon, and if there's nothing urgent in the afternoon, you can leave as early as five. Also, our branch operates on a rotating schedule. The specific arrangements are..."
Inside Spirit Hall, a young white-robed steward was methodically explaining the protocols to You Chen.
"Oh, do you need me to show you to your dormitory here?"
After explaining the details, the white-robed steward inquired.
You Chen shook his head, "No need. I've arranged to purchase property in Nordin City. I'll be residing there from now on. The address is (…), so if there's an emergency, you can find me there. Note it down."
The mention of property didn't surprise the steward. Although purchasing a house before arrival seemed a bit extravagant, for a soul master, buying several properties in Nordin City wasn't a big deal.
To become a yellow-robed steward, one had to be at least a Soul Elder. And strength was just one basic requirement.
In fact, many branch hall masters in lower-level cities were yellow-robed stewards.
Their branch hall master in Nordin City was such a case.
Even if You Chen was seen as having suffered the humiliation of "demotion" from the main hall, in a small place like Nordin City, a yellow-robed steward was already a significant figure.
While those in the main hall might see You Chen's situation as "a tiger falling to the plains," to the white-robed steward before him, You Chen was a "dragon swimming in shallow waters."
Logically, the branch hall master should have personally welcomed such a "big shot."
However, they merely sent a white-robed steward, handling things simply and officially.
This was almost a clear message.
But this situation was within You Chen's expectations, and he didn't mind the so-called "show of authority."
"You've probably noticed this little one is my niece, who came from afar to rely on me. Can you arrange for her schooling here?"
Finishing business matters, You Chen patted the unusually silent Xiao Wu's head and inquired of the white-robed steward.
"Ah, that's naturally no problem."
The young white-robed steward merely nodded.
After all, Spirit Hall members weren't civil servants and lacked sensitive political awareness.
He even felt a bit pleased with You Chen's request.
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