Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

In Qing Ming City.

Somewhere.

Xia Yu’s bent his bow and shot an arrow.

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Many arrows were shot!

One by one, the targets were blasted into dust.

“Three-star beginner…”

“Is this my limit?”

Xia Yu was somewhat disappointed.

He was only at two-star level now. Although he was using a more powerful arrow, he could only unleash the powers of three-star beginner level. It was not possible to be any stronger than that.

“You’re already very strong,” the old man beside him consoled.

Xia Yu was only a first-year student who had just entered the school!

Although the tempering over the years had delayed his progress slightly, Xia Yu’s foundation was extremely strong and no one could surpass him. Even that so-called seven-star Sharpshooter could not!

However…

Foundation was still foundation after all!

It could only provide him with a faster avenue!

Ability?

It could not be rushed.

“Lu Ming can already kill a three-star in seconds,”

Xia Yu muttered to himself.

“He’s in year-two after all,” the old man smiled and said.

“So?”

Xia Yu stood up. “He’s only a Card Creator!”

“Don’t forget what we’re here for.”

The old man shook his head slightly.

“But I don’t want to be a drag either,” Xia Yu said in a low voice.

He understood what the old man meant. However, when they were in the mine cave the last time, everyone’s capability was on par. He did not expect Lu Ming to have progressed to this stage!

On the other hand, what had he been doing all this while?

Waiting!

Waiting!

And waiting!

“I can’t wait any longer.”

Xia Yu closed his eyes slightly.

If this were to continue, he would fall behind Lu Ming tremendously and would never be able to catch up with him.

“That won’t happen.”

The old man smiled faintly. “Please believe me.”

“I believe you.”

Xia Yu looked afar. “But I believe in myself more.”

Buzz—

The longbow in his hands was actually shining dazzlingly at this moment.

***

The college at the crossroad.

In the dormitory.

After passing through the dirty and messy stairways and hiding from the evil gaze of the auntie in charge of the dormitory, Zhang Xiaopang finally returned to his own dormitory. He pushed open the door…

Swoosh!

A vast and endless world appeared before his eyes.

Green mountains.

Aqua colored water and wild dogs mating by the seashore.

It was full of charm and style.

“Get lost!”

Zhang Xiaopang went over and kicked the dog. Since he had been endowed with the ‘color change’ ability last time, the dog never reverted to normal and always behaved like this.

Buzz—

Lights flashed in Zhang Xiaopang’s hands.

He could sense an inexplicable thing moving restlessly in his body.

He felt tempted.

This was…

The color changing ability!

In this illusion, he existed like a god.

This was his illusion.

He was the master.

At a distance away.

A house stood amid mountains and sea.

Zhang Xiaopang moved forward and opened the door of the house. A beautiful lady was waiting for him like a wife yearning for her husband’s return. Her eyes were filled with gentleness.

“Xin-er, I’m back,” Zhang Xiaopang said.

“Quickly come and have dinner.”

The lady called Xin-er put the rice and dishes on the table.

“Yes,”

Zhang Xiaopang walked over.

“How’s the competition?” Xin-er asked gently.

“Well…”

After pausing for a moment, Zhang Xiaopang said in a low voice, “It’s a very good show.”

Xin-er looked a little puzzled.

Didn’t you participate in the competition? What did you mean by ‘It’s a very good show’?

“Well… Literally.”

Zhang Xiaopang sighed. “Lu Ming settled everything on his own.”

“Poof—”

Xin-er cracked up immediately.

“You look so pretty like that.”

Zhang Xiaopang was very emotional.

“You’ve said that many times.”

Xin-er smiled and picked up dishes for him with her chopsticks. It was his favorite braised pork. Zhang Xiaopang tucked in happily. However, at this moment…

Buzz—

Lights and shadows circulated before his eyes.

All the scenery before his eyes faded away.

Xin-er also disappeared and became his dormitory mate who had just opened the doors. The rice and dishes that he had just eaten had turned into fried tomatoes.

Zhang Xiaopang cast a deep glance at his roommate. “Do you have to disturb me at such a time?”

Why can’t you talk after dinner?

Was it that easy for him to cast an illusion?!

“You can even create illusionary taste now?”

The dormitory mate was astonished.

What did illusionary taste mean?!

Once you have succeeded, even ** could taste like chocolate!

It was extremely awesome!

“Passably.”

Zhang Xiaopang was not very skilled in it yet.

“That’s brilliant enough.”

The dormitory mate was astonished.

This was the ability of an intermediate Illusionist!

Zhang Xiaopang was an Illusionist who had just attained two-star and had only one thousand points of energy level. It was already extraordinary to achieve this! He did not know where this guy got all his opportunities and luck from…

“Is there anything wrong?”

Zhang Xiaopang was expressionless as he looked at him.

“Well… Hehe.”

The roommate rubbed his hands. “Can you lend me your doll?”

Shush!

Zhang Xiaopang’s expression changed drastically.

“Don’t worry!

I won’t do anything to my sister-in-law!” The dormitory mate promised.

“I just needed a model to build my illusion. I can’t figure it out on my own. Coincidentally, you have a doll here. Cough, cough…”

Zhang Xiaopang was expressionless as he looked at him.

“Well… It’s true. I swear!”

His roommate swore, “I won’t mess around with her! You are aware that my ability is too weak and can’t create an illusion on my own. Hence, many illusions need to be combined with reality…

At most, I’ll also help you in the future.

Uh—

When you need to construct an illusion, I’ll dress up in female clothing for you to test it?”

“Get lost!”

Zhang Xiaopang immediately kicked this guy out.

Who wants you to be dressed in female clothing?!

Xin-er is very normal, okay?!

Scoundrel!

Did he really think that Xin-er was a doll?

She was…

Forget it.

Zhang Xiaopang shook his head. He opened his sack and checked if Xin-er was still around. His gaze turned gentle. Xin-er, don’t worry, it’s drawing closer and closer to the time that we have agreed upon…

Really, it was coming soon.

Zhang Xiaopang took a deep breath and tightened his hold on the sack.

He glanced around to confirm that no one was present before he carefully placed the sack into his cupboard. After putting several locks on it, he then started to re-construct his illusion.

He had to cultivate seriously now.

Buzz—

The illusion was constructed.

He began to cultivate.

However…

He did not notice that, just as he was prepared to cultivate, a shadow floated out from the gap of the cupboard like a piece of paper and disappeared outside the window…

Eh?

Zhang Xiaopang was startled awake.

He opened his eyes suspiciously but did not see any changes in his surroundings. He then immersed in his cultivation again.

***

In the school.

Somewhere.

Chang Liang was also cultivating diligently.

The effect of Lu Ming bringing them along to be spectators was still very obvious. These little geniuses who had just attained some progress had been spurred on by Lu Ming, and were starting to go all out!

Everyone was going all out!

No one wanted to fall behind Lu Ming by too much!

He, Chang Liang, was never the background. He wanted to be a dazzling bulb!

At this very moment…

In the female dormitory.

Miss Liu Yuan, who had been taken purely as a salted fish by Lu Ming, had a serious look in her eyes too. She was staring straight ahead gravely. Many afterimages flashed across her hands.

Her neighbor glanced at her. “Yuanyuan, you’re damaging the refresh button. What are you doing?”

“Wait a minute.”

Liu Yuan’s expression was serious.

Shush!

Shush!

Her hands never stopped moving.

At this very moment, a piece of news appeared amid the lights and shadows. “Haha, what rubbish video is this? Rubbish Card Creator. Aren’t they just creating hype?”

Hehe.

Liu Yuan sneered coldly. She replied swiftly at this moment —

“Friend, we locals are aware of how formidable Lu Ming is. He created both Fruit Ninja and Leviathan. His combat ability is also brilliant! Perhaps you feel jealous because his current standing is something that you have never attained in your life. However, it’s not right for you to malign people like that after being bribed.”

Shush.

Liu Yuan shot out the message quickly before switching to another account and then logging in again, “We are all students of the college at the crossroads. Hit the like button for the people around you. People nowadays are so full of jealousy.”

She then changed to another account. “Passersby expressed that they have seen the video. He’s really formidable and has extraordinary means.”

She switched to another account again. “Hahaha, all of you can argue as much as you like. I am just a casual fan. Brother Lu Ming really dazzled me with his looks ღ( ́・ᴗ・`). Heart shape.”

Her roommate then understood what was happening.

This…

This girl was actually the Internet Water Army in the discussion forums!

“Do you have to do this?”

She did not know whether to laugh or cry.

“You don’t understand,” Liu Yuan said proudly, “It’s the era of network information! Although victory in a competition is important, it’s also very important to control public opinion! Brother Lu Ming and those few salted fishes have to cultivate. Of course, they can’t be distracted. I’m manage these kinds of matters then.”

Her roommate was speechless.

Why was it that a fine and professional team that represented the college at the crossroad became Brother Lu Ming a few salted fishes? Aren’t you the most salted fish?

You only know how to cheer and shout ‘Hooray’!

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Liu Yuan began to show off the speed of her hand movements again.

Her roommate could only shake her head helplessly. This girl had been possessed by a demon.

…

In Qing Ming City.

At the shop.

Xiaobai was diligently cultivating and Lu Ming was reading a book.

There were more bodies of knowledge on four-star card creation than he had expected. It seemed that he would have to take a longer time to study them. He could only take it a step at a time.

Also, he had to research the cards.

Lu Ming had some thoughts on researching cards.

After lightning integration umpteen times, Brutal Charge eventually transformed into a three-star Burial Mound Card. Certainly, it would be more difficult to create four-star cards. Hence, he did not waste his time to experiment with that.

The little soldier formed by energy also became Burial Mound Warrior after multiple integrations. Additionally, there was the latest four-star card — Dressed in female clothing. Oh, wrong. Moonlight Card!

These were two completely different systems.

Demolition series!

A Supplementary Card that focused on impact!

Summon series!

A Battle Card that focused on summoning.

At the three-star level, Burial Mound Card and Burial Mound Warrior were already enough. However, he was researching four-star level now. Perhaps he needed a new series?

However…

What should he research?

Or perhaps, what would be suitable?

Lu Ming had no idea.

Since transmigration, he had done lightning integration for simple Base Cards such as Wind, Fire, Lightning, and Earth but did not have any finished products!

That was right.

Thunder Strike Skill, Lightning Skill, Thunderbolt Blast, Thunderbolt Might…

This was a complete series!

The Elementalist did not merely have all of these, theirs was even more complete. When they cast it, it could turn corners and add something. What about those created by Card Creators?

The effect was slightly weaker!

It was very dumb.

It was also an easy target.

These were not rare ones such as Burial Mound Card whereby opponents would be dumbstruck at the move as it was something that they had not seen before. If you really cast Thunderbolt Might, most probably people have already learned the techniques on ‘How to crack The Thunderbolt Might’ and can stop it before it lands. What was the use of it then?

Therefore…

Typically, these kinds of cards were customized based on profession.

For example—

Fire Elementalists liked to custom make fire-related ability cards!

Because it was very easy to control.

And it could unleash the greatest power!

They could opt for Fire Tongue, Fire Fist or other cards that they had not learned before. They could then try to control them and take them as their own trump cards…

This was the normal usage for the cards!

Cards were ultimately non-living things.

How to unleash their potential was the greatest knowledge!

This was also the main reason that the Card Creator had been an auxiliary vocation for many years.

This was also…

why Lu Ming was only using these two cards types now.

Because when he researched those base cards with series, these were the only two card types that had not been completely developed. Hence, there was still room for his research!

However, regarding four-star…

There was a lot of extensive research on them.

Lu Ming felt anxious.

There were very few Base Cards and most of them started from one-star or two-star level. There were only a few series that he could research.

However, if it was three-star standalone ability?

For example—

Three-star ability, Fire Lotus.

It did not have one-star, two-star or four-star. It only had three-star! If he were to integrate such an ability, would a new ability appear?

He was curious.

This was why Lu Ming needed to study the cards.

He was certain that, along with the improvement in his ability, there would be many more cards that he could study. Three-star, four-star, five-star…

Standalone Cards!

This point was very important!

“I can try it if I have the chance.”

Lu Ming’s heart stirred slightly.

Of course.

Before that, he had to build up a strong and complete foundation.

Now, even if there was a four-star Integration Card, he could not create it.

At the thought of this…

Lu Ming began to study conscientiously again.

At this very moment, a familiar figure stepped into the shop.

Liu Yuan?

Lu Ming was surprised.

Why did this lady come here? Wait, instinctively, Lu Ming glanced at the lady’s eyes. Oh, this was not Liu Yuan. It was Xin-er!

Why did this lady come here again?

Lu Ming’s heart jumped a beat.

“Buying cards?”

Lu Ming took the initiative to step forward.

Xin-er nodded slightly.

“One card?”

Lu Ming asked.

Xin-er shook her head slightly and held out three fingers.

“Okay, three cards.”

He asked Xiaobai to bring three cards over. Xin-er immediately took out some money. Lu Ming counted. The amount was wrong.

“You’ve given me more,” Lu Ming reminded.

Miss Xin-er shook her head and pointed at the Leviathan Card inside.

Lu Ming paused for a moment. He glanced at the excess money and it seemed to be the cost of one Leviathan card. Suddenly, he understood.

“So…”

Lu Ming paused for a moment. “When I was away, you took one card yourself?”

Xin-er nodded.

Lu Ming was speechless.

Hence, she was making up for it now?

This was amazing!

Did the dolls nowadays have such high moral values?

They were much better than those guys in his department who were still reading pirated novels despite having worked for a few years.

Lu Ming did not know whether to laugh or cry.

After explaining, Miss Xin-er left the money behind and then floated away. Lu Ming was left pondering. Did Zhang Xiaopang do anything bad again these few days?

Leviathan…

Wasn’t the Leviathan Card used for rearing?

Why did it deplete so quickly?

Why did he have a déjà vu of this couple coming out to buy ‘condoms’ each time after they depleted them? Perhaps there were some new features in it that he had not discovered?

→_→