The new headquarters of the Judgement Institute is quite majestic. Floors one to forty are provided as Extraordinary Training Grounds for use by system-coordinated Transcendents at no charge.

No need to worry about the [gate access].

The entrance to this headquarters building is monitored by [Deep Sea]. Only at the mid-levels will there be a need for manual verification. Gu Shen simply wanted to take a casual stroll. Even without the [source code] to modify gate access, his authority allows him to easily enter the building.

Transcendents come and go in the headquarters of the Judgement Institute.

Here, every day, a large number of Intern Judges accept missions. The Judgement Institute provides "Breathing Techniques" and "Seal Items" as rewards, but to exchange for them requires sufficient merit points.

Awaken the Extraordinary Ability after passing the [Deep Sea] background check.

These Intern Judges want to grow stronger; the best way is to take on tasks released by the [Deep Water Area] Spirit Network.

They can form teams on their own or choose to execute tasks solo.

In recent years, the main system of [Deep Sea] has completed another upgrade. Computing power is now enough to cover the entire East Continent. Judges from the Changye area traveling to various places can have their movements recorded. For team tasks, the Spirit Network evaluates each individual’s performance, then distributes and assesses merit points.

"The people here are even more numerous than I imagined."

Gu Shen spoke to himself while walking.

The speed of development in this era is too fast.

Earlier, when he was cultivating in Changye, the [Deep Sea] network wasn’t as advanced as it is now. Today, the entire building is managed by [Deep Sea]. Most of the Transcendents are merely passing by, with little to say to each other — receiving tasks, choosing to team up with acquaintances, and then completing the tasks.

All these activities can be performed within the [Deep Sea] network.

However, the headquarters of the Judgement Institute retains the final authority over [Judgement Archives], so each mission acceptance and handover requires actions in the real world, in-person at the building to handle procedures.

"At this rate of development, soon there will be no need for anyone to come to the headquarters building to handle tasks."

Chu Ling said, "Someone in the East Continent Council has already suggested allowing [Deep Sea] to fully manage task releases... Law Enforcers within the three-institute system can directly complete task distribution through the Spirit Network."

"From a convenience perspective, this is actually a good idea."

Gu Shen spoke calmly, "But unfortunately, I won’t let this proposal pass."

Through his efforts, the highest levels of Changye and Da Du have already reached a consensus.

The [Deep Sea] network will always be just a tool.

The power to control the tool must be in human hands.

The Ancient Literature Society was destroyed once by [Deep Sea], and Gu Shen will not let this happen a second time.

Gu Shen entered the building and pressed an elevator button.

"Please wait."

Just as the elevator was about to close... someone reached out a hand and blocked the elevator switch.

Gu Shen raised an eyebrow.

The Transcendent who reached out to stop the elevator appeared about forty years old, looked weathered, had a gentle countenance, and his Extraordinary Realm reached the sixth level.

Second Order Peak, just a bit away from comprehending the [Domain Embryo].

Indeed, this realm is not considered poor.

In this world, Transcendents with innate cultivation talent are ultimately in the minority.

Some people advance courageously and reach this level of the Extraordinary Realm in three to five years...

While some are trapped here for a lifetime.

What truly caught Gu Shen’s attention were the several puzzled teenagers behind this middle-aged Transcendent.

Once these individuals entered, the spacious elevator suddenly became much more crowded.

Most of these Transcendents were only sixteen or seventeen years old, the youngest appearing just twelve or thirteen.

"Thank you."

The middle-aged Transcendent in front nodded slightly to Gu Shen.

"No problem."

Gu Shen nodded politely without saying much.

The elevator closed, and the middle-aged Transcendent checked the team numbers. He wrapped his arm around the youngsters surrounding him and whispered, "It’s not a simple feat to come to Changye to participate in the Dojo Trial... Qinghe District doesn’t have many individuals qualified to come in a year, so you must seize the opportunity."

These people are from Qinghe District?

What a coincidence, they are from the same place as him.

Looking at the youthful and nervous expressions between the brows of those teenagers.

Gu Shen unavoidably felt a bit dreamy inside and couldn’t help but smile.

Indeed.

Just as I thought, the completion of the new headquarters will attract a large number of young Transcendents... There’s a part of my own shadow in these teenagers.

This middle-aged Transcendent is clearly not a native of Changye, hence the subtle restraint in his demeanor.

Second Order Peak, in a small place is a decent realm.

However, in Changye, it’s quite ordinary.

One can only serve as an average Judge.

"Do you remember what I said to you earlier?" The middle-aged Transcendent spoke softly, fearing to disturb Gu Shen.

The teenagers nodded in succession: "...Remember."

Gu Shen seemed to focus on his own thoughts, monitoring the conversation of these teenagers in the process.

The teenagers were murmuring the building plan of the Judgement Institute headquarters.

The Extraordinary Dojo on floors one to forty is divided into different zones.

Spiritual, Elemental, and Strong Attack, the three major departments of Transcendents... can gain different enhancements in various Dojos.

In the dojo of the Spiritual Transcendent, there are sealing objects set up to calm the mind. Their effect can’t compare to Red Lake, but they’re decent... It’s probably a simplified version of the "Heart-washing Pond." It’s important to note that this is a freely open Spirit Dojo, and any Transcendent can enter, even though it’s divided into zones, other Transcendent fields are not prohibited from entering.

For those "youngsters" whose mindsets are not stable enough, this Spirit Dojo can be a significant aid, a sanctuary.

For the strong assault type, numerous Mithril Gravity Training Rooms are set up.

The highest cost is for the Elemental type.

The Judgement Institute Dojo has expended great effort, collecting "universal resources" from major Elemental systems to provide each Elemental Transcendent with a refined "element extraction" experience.

For example, the fire system has a dedicated "Lava Simulation Room" on one level of the dojo, while the ice system maintains a "Snowfield Environment" through sealing objects.

An Elemental Transcendent finds it quite challenging to discover a natural environment suitable for extracting source material.

The headquarters of the Judgement Institute have indeed made a significant investment.

Of course, these are artificially gathered resources, and their conversion efficiency can’t compare to those transcendent miracle places nurtured by nature.

But this gesture itself is quite impressive.

The elevator went all the way up to the fortieth floor, and Gu Shen, having overheard the conversation, roughly understood the situation.

The Changye Court headquarters regularly conducts a "genius recruitment" every year.

No matter if they’re from Jiangbei or Jiangnan, as long as they are talented and capable young Transcendents, they can enter the headquarters through this "recruitment."

Staying at headquarters will grant more resources.

However... they must also bear greater responsibilities.

If those Transcendents born in remote areas can seize this opportunity, they can experience a leap in their fate, and their growth speed will greatly accelerate. But as "reciprocal recompense," the number and difficulty of missions they need to execute yearly will also increase.

And today is the day that will decide whether these young people’s fate can make that leap.

There is a "recruitment" today, and young Transcendents from various places will undergo some simple trials, and the outstanding "talents" among them will be able to stay in Changye.

"Ding——"

The fortieth floor arrived.

The middle-aged Transcendent nodded again toward Gu Shen. Gu Shen smiled slightly, watched these young ones leave, and since he had no destination, he followed them out of the elevator.

On the fortieth-floor dojo, many similar groups had already gathered.

"Old Yu, why are you only arriving now?"

Another middle-aged Transcendent leading a team was eagerly looking around not far away. He sighed with relief when he saw the elevator open.

"Encountered some issues, so I was slightly delayed."

Old Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Brother Xu, has the initial selection list from [Deep Sea] come out, and can we see the match-up information?"

"It has... the difficulty of this "recruitment" is quite high."

The middle-aged Transcendent referred to as "Brother Xu" was named Xu Fang. He was stunned for a moment when he saw the young person walking out of the elevator with Old Yu and asked softly, "Who is this?"

Old Yu turned to look back.

He saw the young man standing outside the dojo railing, standing together with the youths, curiously observing the dojo.

"I... don’t know him."

Old Yu smiled wryly and said in a low voice, "Encountered him on the elevator and just happened to come along; I always thought he was a big figure from Changye."

"A big figure from Changye, coming to the Judgement Institute headquarters for the first time?"

Xu Fang’s expression was a bit complex.

This young man exuded a faint pressure that indeed made one fearful. Coming from the remote Qinghe District, they wouldn’t dare rashly extend their spiritual power to probe?

But looking again now, this young man doesn’t seem like a "big figure" at all.

What big figure would be curiously observing the Judgement Institute dojo like a fourteen or fifteen-year-old child?

"Could he also be a participant in the ’recruitment?’"

Xu Fang couldn’t help but mentally relay, though it was just a jest.

The "recruitment" at the Changye headquarters has an age limit.

Those over twenty are basically restricted from participating in the "recruitment."

However, there are no absolutes, this era won’t bury any star.

As long as the strength is great, even if they are late bloomers, it’s fine. Changye wouldn’t miss any capable and ambitious "aspiring individuals."

"Brother Xu, this is Changye, so don’t speak carelessly. Even if I couldn’t investigate, he’s undoubtedly a formidable Transcendent."

Old Yu solemnly said, "I just made eye contact with him in the elevator."

"You made eye contact, and so?"

"He was very polite and courteous to me," Old Yu seriously said. "Changye’s big figures are all very courteous."

"Puh..."

Xu Fang almost couldn’t hold back from laughing. He thought there was some rigorous reasoning behind it.

"Alright, I’m using spiritual communication. He can’t hear us."

Xu Fang said, "But you’re right, Changye is full of big figures. I just received important news that this ’recruitment’ is unlike previous ones, reportedly several Judges are paying attention... This young person might be a disciple or junior under some Judge, looking out for promising talents for their faction."

"This recruitment, with Judges’ attention?"

Old Yu immediately felt nervous. Looking at the young person leaning on the railing again, the more he looked, the more he seemed to belong under some notable Judge.

...

...

(PS: Lately, these have been transitional Chapters with relatively scattered storylines. I hope everyone can be patient as some small holes need gradual filling in Changye. Also, there’s another update tonight. If you can’t wait, friends can go ahead and get some rest.)