Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Supreme Star Realm (4)
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Seoran checked the final bid price and was stunned.
“One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand...”
She couldn’t accept reality and double-checked the digits several times.
But that didn’t change anything.
The Dragonkin Supreme Star Realm technique still boasted an insane price.
Of course, she could buy it if she really wanted to.
No matter how expensive the Dragonkin Supreme Star Realm technique was, it wasn’t pricier than the auction items.
Right after the auction, she had sold off the Earth Immortal pellet and two others, leaving her with plenty of funds.
But that was that, and this was this.
She absolutely couldn’t bring herself to spend her own money on this ridiculous price.
She might faint from the sheer injustice of it.
With lingering reluctance, Seoran turned off the terminal.
Then she shoved it into a drawer.
She felt like she’d fall into heart demon if she looked at it any longer.
That day at noon, while eating lunch together, Geum Yeongyeong asked,
“Seoran, why do you look so dead inside?”
“I need the Dragonkin Supreme Star Realm technique, but it’s way too expensive...”
“Really? Then why not take the Judge Qualifying Exam? When you think about it, you’re a dragon too. And you’re diligent.”
Seoran asked with a puzzled expression.
“Judge Qualifying Exam? Why that all of a sudden?”
Geum Yeongyeong replied in a leisurely tone.
“If you pass that, they give you the Dragonkin Supreme Star Realm technique.”
“What?!”
Seoran dropped her meal and dashed to her room.
She hastily yanked the terminal out of the drawer.
In her rush, she nearly smashed the furniture.
Seoran typed in the search terms.
“Judge, Qualifying, Exam...”
A flood of related information poured out.
Judge Qualifying Exam.
Its official name was the Court Public Recruitment Exam Dragonkin Track.
It was a massive judge selection test personally overseen by the Supreme Court, the judicial authority of Peach Blossom Sanctuary.
There were qualifications, procedures, and all sorts of complicated details.
But that wasn’t what she was curious about right now.
Seoran’s eyes scanned busily.
Finally, she found the benefits and perks for passers.
‘Passers undergo brief training and are appointed as judges.’
‘Passers receive the Dragonkin Supreme Star Realm technique Lifespan Mirror Return Art, plus a wide array of cultivation resources.’
‘Passers can exchange accumulated contributions for other techniques or cultivation resources.’
Geum Yeongyeong’s claim that passing the Judge Qualifying Exam granted the Dragonkin Supreme Star Realm technique was true.
Seoran searched for Lifespan Mirror Return Art.
Fortunately, it was listed in the Heavenly Net encyclopedia.
Name: Lifespan Mirror Return Art
Classification: Dragonkin Supreme Star Realm Technique
Interpretation: Polishing a clear mirror to split the gray.
Seoran began reading the document carefully.
‘A sensory enhancement technique personally devised by Supreme Arbiter Seon Baekpa Heukjin-gun. True to its Dragonkin origins, its primary effect dramatically bolsters the power of dragon eyes. It is specially granted only to those who pass the Court Public Recruitment Exam Dragonkin Track (aka Judge Qualifying Exam).’
Seoran knew who the Supreme Arbiter was.
She had heard about her from Deung Baekwol shortly after her ascension.
Seon Baekpa Heukjin-gun was an Earth Immortal of the Dragonkin affiliated with Peach Blossom Sanctuary.
When Seoran returned to the dining hall, Geum Yeongyeong said,
“See? I was right.”
“Yeah... It’s called Lifespan Mirror Return Art, and it’s no ordinary thing—it’s a technique personally created by an Earth Immortal.”
“That technique alone has Dragonkin at Supreme Star Realm slaving away at the Judge Qualifying Exam, even perfecting their dragon pearls for it.”
Seoran sat back down and asked,
“But how do you know about this? Even I, a Supreme Star Realm cultivator, and Damcheong had no idea.”
Geum Yeongyeong grinned and replied,
“I have my ways.”
It was part of the research for flawlessly performing countless roles.
*****
After lunch, Seoran went to see Deung Baekwol.
She wanted to ask about the Judge Qualifying Exam.
It was also about time for her puppet maintenance anyway.
As Seoran detached Deung Baekwol’s right arm, she said,
“Senior Deung, do you know about the Judge Qualifying Exam?”
“Judge Qualifying Exam? Hmm...”
“It’s a massive judge selection test. Official name is Court Public Recruitment Exam Dragonkin Track.”
Deung Baekwol rested her chin on her remaining hand, lost in thought.
For someone who knew everything except her own personal history, being stumped felt oddly fresh to Seoran.
After a moment, Deung Baekwol spoke.
“No matter how I think about it, I don’t know. Do you know who’s running it?”
“The Supreme Court of Peach Blossom Sanctuary.”
“Supreme Court? Ah, could it be...?”
Seoran asked,
“Did something come to mind?”
“Isn’t the head of the Supreme Court Seon Baekpa Heukjin-gun?”
Seoran quickly rummaged through her memory.
According to the Heavenly Net encyclopedia she’d just seen, the Supreme Court’s head was Supreme Arbiter Seon Baekpa Heukjin-gun.
It was certain.
Seoran nodded.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“So that’s how it is. While I was sealed, they must have changed the organization’s name. Back then, it was definitely the Supreme Tribunal, not Supreme Court. That’s why Seon Baekpa Heukjin-gun was called Supreme Arbiter.”
“Really?”
Seoran carefully set the puppet right arm she was repairing down on the table.
She pulled out a scroll-type terminal from her sleeve.
She entered a search term, and the info came up.
Peering at the terminal, Seoran said,
“Oh, it’s true. The Supreme Court’s old name was Supreme Tribunal. They changed it around 30,000 years ago because it sounded too authoritarian. The Judge Qualifying Exam started then too.”
“I see... Looks like a lot has changed besides the name. Recruiting members through public exams? Unthinkable back in the day.”
“Why?”
Deung Baekwol explained.
“Back when it was the Supreme Tribunal, they secretly selected all arbitrators. It was less a judicial body and more an elite strike force. I mentioned it before, right? What happens if you disrupt Celestial Realm order.”
“You mean the terminal company split for antitrust violations or the capital house minting counterfeit currency?”
“That’s right. Ancient history now, but the atmosphere was brutal back then. The entire Celestial Realm held its breath watching the proceedings—no exaggeration.”
Seoran reattached the right arm to the body and asked,
“That serious?”
“Yes, especially the antitrust case. It was a hair’s breadth from the whole Celestial Realm going up in flames. Fortunately, the company leadership surrendered in time. Ended with astronomical fines and a company split.”
“What about the capital house that produced counterfeits?”
Deung Baekwol flexed the right arm this way and that as she answered.
“Wiped out. The executives who fled across the Celestial Realm were annihilated by a single spell from Seon Baekpa Heukjin-gun, and the rest were hunted down one by one by the arbitrator squads.”
“One spell to strike executives scattered across the entire Celestial Realm? Hard to imagine.”
“Not for nothing is it called the utmost realm. Though Seon Baekpa Heukjin-gun is exceptionally powerful, to be fair. Ah, the right arm moves well now. Thank you.”
Seoran neatly organized the new info in her mind and left Deung Baekwol’s room.
*****
Seoran went straight to find Damcheong.
Damcheong was swimming with the carps in the mansion’s central pond.
She had taken him along to the Dragon Palace during her ascension.
Damcheong poked his head out of the pond and said,
“Is the puppet maintenance done?”
“Yes, just finished.”
“Good. Then how about swimming with me from now on? I’ll show you my new swimming technique.”
Seoran shook her head.
“Damcheong, as much as it pains me, I can’t.”
“Why? Feeling dizzy again?”
“No, I’m perfectly fine.”
Damcheong asked with a puzzled look.
“Then why can’t you swim with me?”
“Damcheong, forgive the rudeness, but how much cultivation have you done lately?”
“Ah...!”
Seoran continued.
“When was the last time you entered the Dharma steam room? Before I became half-human half-dragon, right?”
“No, that’s...”
“Looks like I was right. It’s been nearly half a month since then...”
Damcheong floundered in excuses.
“No... It’s... R-right! I haven’t gotten the Dragonkin Supreme Star Realm technique yet! I’m stockpiling energy to cultivate even harder later! Like a bear hibernating...!”
“As I thought. You planned to cultivate diligently once you got the Dragonkin Supreme Star Realm technique, didn’t you?”
“Yes, that’s exactly it!”
Seoran beamed as she got to the point.
“Perfect timing, then—this is the moment to wake from hibernation. Let’s prepare for the Judge Qualifying Exam together starting next year.”
“Ju-Judge Qualifying Exam? What’s that?”
“It’s the judge selection test run by Peach Blossom Sanctuary’s Supreme Court. Pass it, and they shower you with the Dragonkin Supreme Star Realm technique plus tons of cultivation resources. You’ll come with me, right?”
Damcheong asked in a trembling voice.
“Go? Go where?”
“To study abroad, obviously. I looked it up—there’s an island in Sector 2 where Supreme Star Realm Dragonkin gather to prep for the Judge Qualifying Exam. Called Yeongbaek Island, with an intense scholarly vibe and top-notch instructors.”
“Uh, uh...”
Damcheong sank limply to the pond bottom.