“Li Ergou?”

Lu Ming’s memories from long ago flashed across his mind.

Oh… Right.

At that time, Li Haoran told Li Ergou to find his own way… afterward he had disappeared. He did not expect him to come back now.

“Why are you in this state?”

Lu Ming was shocked.

In his impression, Li Ergou was quite good-looking. Although he was not as dashing as he was, he was still considered as young and handsome. But right now…

Lu Ming took a closer look.

Well…

His clothes were ragged and shabby.

There were many holes in his clothes. They seemed like hollow mesh clothes.

Lu Ming was speechless. What was with the hollow mesh? Did he think that he was a trainee?

“Conceal!”

Li Ergou looked serious. “After the exchange with Senior Brother, I realized that I lacked a presentable ability. Therefore, I went in search of the Art of Concealment!

“I’ve succeeded!

“The Art of Concealment is an ability with its own style.”

Li Ergou’s expression was austere.

Everyone was in awe. This was the real attitude that a cultivator should have!

“What’s the result?”

Lu Ming was curious.

The Art of Concealment…

How could one test it?

“I lurked in the house of a seven-star for three days and I was not discovered!”

Li Ergou’s expression was austere.

Ss——

Everyone gasped a breath of cold air.

Crap!

Was this for real or not?

Three days?

One is able to be discovered if one is a few kilometers away from a seven-star. Whereas Li Ergou managed to lurk inside the person’s house!?

The Art of Concealment…

If Li Ergou is able to mask his aura to this extent, he will be invincible!

“I have a question,” Lu Ming suddenly said.

“Master, I am all ears.”

Li Ergou was very respectful.

“Was the seven-star that you lurked around a male or female?” Lu Ming asked.

“A female…”

Li Ergou sounded very proud of himself.

Shush!

The atmosphere suddenly turned quiet.

Lurked around, female, three days…

Lu Ming looked at Li Ergou. He suddenly felt that it was a miracle that he did not end up in the news!

“Ergou…”

Lu Ming sighed, patting his shoulder. “One should be upright.”

“Huh?”

Li Ergou was confused. After a long while, he hurried to explain. “Master, I chose a female cultivator as they are more sensitive and emotional. They have a stronger perceptual ability. The difficulty level is higher. I have to be able to conceal myself from a female seven-star in order to be considered as being successful in concealing myself from a seven-star cultivator.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“You didn’t look around?”

“No.”

Li Ergou had unwavering eyes.

He had concealed himself so as to carve out a path for himself. He would not steal glances!

What a joke.

If he harbored such thoughts, then back at the Widow Village…

Cough.

It was better not to elaborate further.

According to the past experience of his master, what he had engaged in would harm his body and lead to an early and sudden death. Therefore, he had decided not to find a partner in this life!

“How about giving it a try?”

Lu Ming squinted his eyes.

“Okay.”

Li Ergou was suddenly excited.

Finally…

He could show his master and his senior brothers the fruits of his cultivation.

Hence…

Shush!

Li Ergou’s figure gradually disappeared.

That was right.

He disappeared without a trace. Not only did his figure vanish, his aura gradually disappeared as well. He vanished into thin air without any trace!

Everyone was astonished.

This was amazing!

They could not see him at all!

If Li Ergou did not vanish in front of their eyes, they would not have noticed that he was around!

This kind of ability…

Everyone looked at each other and was surprised.

At this time, Xiaobai came out with a bounce in her steps. “Master, I just made a bowl of coconut milk soup with papaya and bean vermicelli… Eh? What is this?”

Xiaobai frowned.

Afterward…

Crash!

She raised her leg and sent a black figure flying.

Clang!

There was a deafening sound.

Li Ergou was left hanging on the wall.

“Eh, Junior Brother Ergou…”

Xiaobai suddenly thought of it. “Why are you crouching over there?”

Li Ergou was dumbstruck. “Can you see me?”

“Yes.”

Xiaobai cast an odd look at him. “Why are you crouching at the door?”

“I am showing Master what concealing is like…”

Li Ergou was aggrieved.

“Ah~”

Xiaobai felt bad about it. “I am sorry, I didn’t know. Please continue. This time I will pretend that I did not see you.”

Li Ergou was speechless.

Did that mean that she could still see him?!

Why did things turn out to be like this?

Li Ergou was confused.

He took a closer look. Senior Sister Xiaobai was only a four-star!

Four-star!

Why could she see him?!

His efforts made in cultivation had been wasted.

Li Ergou was doubtful about life.

Lu Ming was speechless.

The situation was indeed unexpected.

Xiaobai…

Xiaobai was very special.

Lu Ming remembered that a long time ago, Xiaobai could easily detect the unique aura on him. She could sense Miss Xin-er’s aura as well.

Thinking of hiding it from her?

This was impossible!

“Well, Ergou…”

Lu Ming comforted him. “Your senior sister is very special. Your concealment ability is very powerful. The rest of us couldn’t see you.”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!”

Li Haoran and the rest echoed.

The concealment ability was indeed very powerful. They could not see him at all.

“There’s no need to comfort me.”

Li Ergou was teary-eyed.

Even Xiaobai could see him, notwithstanding the more powerful Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers. Therefore, everyone was merely teasing him!

He decided to leave to cultivate again!

There would be a day when he would be successful in the Art of Concealment!

“We really could’t see you.”

Everyone was between laughter and tears.

This was bad.

The child was discouraged because of Xiaobai.

What to do?

Everyone looked at each other.

In the end…

Li Haoran decided to do something. Back then, he was the one who tricked Li Ergou into leaving. Right now, he was the one who consoled Li Ergou. It was considered a perfect ending.

Very soon…

Both of them were back.

Li Ergou seemed to be very determined and was full with a fighting spirit.

“How did you console him?”

Lu Ming was surprised.

“I merely told him that Senior Sister and his Senior Brothers are stronger than him. It is natural and right…”

Li Haoran said calmly.

Lu Ming was speechless.

Now that he thought about it, it did make sense.

Hence…

Li Ergou’s situation had come to a close for now.

Well…

After Lu Ming’s approval, Li Ergou officially joined the Sword Card Master Association. He was in charge of the survival department in the Sword Card Master Association!

“I will work hard!”

Li Ergou was full of confidence. He would definitely bring the department to new heights!

In terms of surviving in difficult times…

No one was better than him!

“How is the on-campus job fair going?” Lu Ming asked.

“Everything has been arranged.”

Li Haoran said, “All we need to do is to be on time during the on-campus job fair.”

“That’s good.”

Lu Ming felt very satisfied.

“In that case…

“Let’s get ready for it.

“Yunshan has created a very good opportunity for us to talk to these students. Therefore, we must welcome them with our strongest abilities!

“Remember.

“Showcase your advantage and skills!

“It is better to think of a good method to leave a good memorable first impression!

“We must strive to trick… cough, we must strive to get all of them to join the Sword Card Master Association!” Lu Ming instructed.

“Yes.”

Li Haoran and the rest were ready.

They had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Afterward…

Lu Ming felt that he seemed to have forgotten something. He looked carefully at the on-campus job fair process. There did not seem to be anything else he had to pay special attention to:

Go to The First Academy — on-campus job fair— showcase their talents — attract students to join.

Well, it was a perfect process.

Therefore, what was missing?

Lu Ming was deep in his thoughts.

However…

At this moment.

Li Ergou asked quietly. “Master, can I take in disciples now?”

“You have a disciple?”

Lu Ming was taken aback.

“Yes.”

Li Ergou was somewhat embarrassed. “On the way back, I saw someone who was also practicing the concealment of their aura and hence I gave him some pointers. I did not expect that he would become my disciple… But you can rest assured, he is certainly not the same as us. I intend to define him as the second generation disciple…

“Look.

“There are high requirements for this current generation of disciples.

“One has to have talents, looks, resources and to be in charge of a department. But this will limit the vast majority of people! So, I thought of a method and that is to have second generation disciples!

“Disciples of this generation only need to be talented!

“It is alright if they did not have the looks. Master, we have you around. Their average looks will certainly be above average! It is alright if they did not have many resources. That is fine as long as Master is willing to take them in! With Master and Zhao Yunshan around, we don’t lack resources. If you are willing to take them in as disciples, they will not be lacking in resources!”

Li Ergou said.

The requirements for this generation of disciples were too stringent!

This was true. He had a hard time in order to fulfill the requirement that one must be well established in a certain area!

Moreover, in order to fulfill the requirement that he had to have an elder sister, he returned to Widow Village and had many talks with the sisters there.

It was a toll on him physically and mentally.

“In that case…”

Li Haoran squinted.

He had considered this question in the past.

Given the stringent requirements of the Sword Card Master Association, even if there were students who were interested, only a few would be able to join. They would not be able to benefit from the on-campus job fair!

Did anyone apply to join the association?

Of course there were!

They received applications everyday!

Their lovely Second Senior Brother who participated in competitions everyday had made a positive impact! However, until now, no one fit the bill!

Some did not have the looks while some did not have an elder sister or resources!

However…

If they were the second generation disciples…

It would be considered as fulfilling the requirements of the Sword Card Master Association in another sense!

Their master could make up for the lack of resources!

Their master could make up for the lack of looks!

Other than the standard talent requirement, the rest could be slightly altered!

And so…

This was a good solution!

This might be the starting point where the Sword Card Master rose to new heights.

“This is fine.”

Lu Ming’s heart stirred slightly.

The Art of Equalization would need the average talents of the entire association!

In order for his talents to not affect the talents of the association, they had to have enough disciples!

And if in accordance with the strict standards of the Sword Card Master Association, it would be very difficult to recruit a new disciple who met all the requirements. It would be years before he reached the target. But if he had the second generation disciples…

Lu Ming felt that happiness was beckoning to him!

Very well!

They could join as long as they were talented!

Well…

There was only one problem left.

“Are they willing to be second generation disciples?”

Lu Ming was doubtful.

Only heaven knew!

It was already very difficult for people to be willing to join the Sword Card Master Association, notwithstanding being a second generation disciple!

“Master, we are the Sword Card Master Association!”

Li Haoran was very proud of it.

“This is an honor for them.”

Zhao Yunshan looked indifferent.

Lu Ming was speechless.

This was bad.

His disciples thought too highly of themselves.

“Will it really be fine?”

Lu Ming smiled bitterly.

“Of course.”

Li Haoran was very sure. “As long as we clearly specify the requirements of the first generation disciples and the second generation disciples, we leave it up to them to choose!”

The first generation disciples had to meet the most stringent requirements and they had to be established in a certain area!

It was to the extent that…

They had to coach a batch of second generation disciples!

As long as one met the requirements, one could become a first generation disciple!

At present, the association had ‘spirit body’, ‘swordplay’, ‘dyeing’ and other departments. As long as one could create one’s own department, they could become a first generation disciple!

As for the second generation disciples…

The requirements were much lower.

All they had to do was to meet the minimum requirement.

Of course.

Due to limited resources, this generation of disciples did not need to drive the research of a certain department like Zhao Yunshan. All they needed to do was to improve their abilities!

This also ensured that the disciples were just as powerful!

This also ensured that the Sword Card Masters had powerful abilities!

For example—

Li Ergou’s disciple.

Li Ergou used his disciple as an example. “My disciple is an Assassin, specializing in concealment! One’s energy is limited, especially when there are no resources. It is not realistic for him to learn all the skills of a Sword Card Master. Therefore, he will major in concealment and minor in the core skills of a Sword Card Master.”

Everyone agreed with him.

Hence…

They came up with a “The requirements for the second generation disciples of the Sword Card Master Association” together. The requirements in general were lower than that of the first generation, except for the requirement regarding one’s talents.

“How is your disciple?”

Li Haoran looked toward Li Ergou.

“He has met the standard.”

Li Ergou was very confident. “This child is talented and has the looks. Although he cannot be compared to Master and I, he is still considered handsome.”

“Okay,” Li Haoran agreed.

Afterward…

Lu Ming came to his senses.

Wait a minute.

If they had the second generation disciples, would that make him the founding master?!

“I will bring him over.”

Li Ergou got up.

Just when everyone thought that he would be gone for a long time, Li Ergou came back with someone. The entire Sword Card Master Association turned silent.

Oh.

He was the teenager in black who was also the gatekeeper…

Li Haoran was speechless.

The teenager in black was silent.

“Master, is this the association that you are talking about?”

The teenager in black was dumbstruck.

Damn!

His master was sloppy like a beggar. But he could conceal his aura from a seven-star cultivator with his powerful concealment abilities. This gave him the impression that he was an experienced disciple of an ancient sect…

In the end…

It turned out to be the Sword Card Master Association!?

“Yes.”

Li Ergou said proudly, “I am the fifth disciple!”

The teenager in black looked at him with a dumbstruck expression.

This was bad.

Another person was bluffed…

Damn it! This was a pyramid scheme!

“Xiao Hei.”

Li Ergou pulled his disciple close to him. “Let me make a round of introductions.”

“Shut up!

“From now on, you are no longer my master!”

The teenager in black turned sullen.

There was no need for any introductions!

He had been the gatekeeper for ages.

He even knew how many guards and cleaners there were in the association, notwithstanding the few people there! To be honest, if he was not worried that his foolish friend would be scammed, he would have left long ago!

“Well…”

Li Haoran sighed.

“You shut up too!” The teenager in black said coldly.

“I know that you have been brainwashed! I won’t take issue with you now.

“Humph!

“You can rest assured!

“There will be a day where I will make you leave this lying pyramid scheme!”

The teenager in black said proudly.

Li Haoran was between laughter and tears.

Why was he being so obstinate?

“As for you…”

The teenager in black looked toward Lu Ming. “You are the leader of the pyramid scheme. Just you wait. I will defeat you sooner or later!”

Upon finishing his words…

He turned around and left without hesitation.

Everyone was speechless.

What was happening?

Li Ergou was dumbstruck.

“It’s alright. He is just a disobedient younger brother.”

Li Haoran heaved continuous sighs.

“He has yet to sort things out?”

Li Haoran was helpless as well. “I reckon he will understand when he succeeds.”

“That is bad.”

Lu Ming rolled his eyes.

It seemed like he would be treated as the leader of a pyramid scheme all his life…

After all…

Apart from Xiaobai, no one else had really succeeded!

At this very moment…

At the entrance.

In the corner of the security room.

The teenager in black looked solemn as he recited to his dagger. “Dagger, dagger, you have already grown up. You are a mature dagger. You have to learn to cultivate by yourself and to assassinate others by yourself…”