Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Qing Ming City.

At the shop.

Lu Ming looked at the newly created useless card in a serious manner.

True.

This was a useless card.

It might be a surmounting card, however, due to the Brutal Charge + Fireball, it resulted in the final rating of the card to be at a one-star level!

Therefore…

With the high combat ability of Brutal Charge, one could easily skip levels in combat!

Therefore it was a surmounting card!

This Composite Card was indeed invincible at the one-star level.

However…

Did anybody create this card?

No.

This was because this card involved three-star Isolation Film and lamination. It was very difficult to create it. It had nothing to do with one-star…

Therefore…

This card was of little value!

He would call it [one-star Flames Bull] Card. Only high-level Card Creators were capable of creating this one-star card!

However…

Although this card was of little value, it had a lot of significance!

This pointed Lu Ming to a new path. It meant that the lamination of different abilities would result in a certain metamorphosis!

He was merely a Card Creator!

A Card Creator was not limited to their abilities. Instead, he could combine the abilities of different vocations to create a brand new and stronger card!

He knew of this in the past, but he never thought that…

It would be so powerful!

“Interesting.”

Lu Ming's eyes lit up.

There were many ideas that he wanted to try.

It was true.

In the past, due to energy instability and incompatibility, he could not continue with the creation of different cards. Right now, with the Isolation Film, he was very confident…

Research!

Lu Ming felt energized.

He had been always thinking about one thing. The Burial Mound Warrior was unable to move its body. What if he added mobility to it?

For example…

A bull?

The legendary bull rider!

Look, if the Burial Mound Warrior rode on the bull, it would have infinite power when charging at the enemy!

The Burial Mound Warrior was very strong!

Its only flaw was its inability to move!

In that case…

Did it mean that it could undergo a transformation and it would be a surmounting card?!

Hence…

He created a Brutal Charge + Burial Mound Warrior + Isolation Film Card. After casting it, he turned sullen, hopeless expression written on his face.

What was in front of him was a …

Bull with a human face!

That was right!

It was a bull with a human face, not a Minotaur!

This was a creature that had a human face and a bull body. The upper half of its body was that of the Burial Mound Warrior, and the lower half was an energy bull that could move about!

This…

What did this mean?

Lu Ming was in a daze. It was supposed to be a bull rider.

“Should I get it to move?”

Lu Ming tried to make the creature move.

Bang!

The bull with the human face charged and disappeared into the air.

Lu Ming was speechless.

Oh.

It was similar to Brutal Charge…

Therefore, the original bull had been replaced with a bull with a human face.

It was nonsense!

Lu Ming lamented listlessly.

Forget it, he should try another combination.

Lu Ming used the entire day to do endless research. He tried out all kinds of random combinations. Compared to energy bulls and Cloud Shuttle cards, it was easier to test and try out new ideas with the Burial Mound Warrior. Therefore, he came up with all kinds of combinations.

Flames Burial Mound Warrior…

Boiled Burial Mound Warrior…

Braised Burial Mound Warrior…

Steamed Burial Mound Warrior…

And more…

Lu Ming was madly testing the cards.

It was a pity…

He could not create any surmounting cards.

It seemed that Flames Bull was created as it was set at a very low level. It had no other choice but to be categorized as a surmounting card at the one-star level.

Lu Ming was very disappointed.

However…

Even if there were no surmounting cards, it was an eye-opener for him to be able to create various combinations in his research.

However…

He did not dare to waste too much time on this.

He could not neglect his cultivation.

Well…

Lu Ming thought about it.

He suddenly felt that he should leave the research to the professionals and the talented people…

For example—

Xiaobai.

Look, he learned Frosty Sword Aura from Xiaobai.

Oo…

“Xiaobai.”

Lu Ming suddenly called Xiaobai over.

“Huh?”

Xiaobai was dazed.

“How's the research with the Sword Aura going?”

A kind smile was seen on Lu Ming's face.

“Much better,” Xiaobai answered.

“Well…”

Lu Ming looked serious. “Xiaobai, you have been with me for quite a long while. It's time to teach you the real meaning of card creation.”

“Huh?”

Xiaobai was surprised.

Creation of cards!

But, she wanted to study Sword Aura…

“The Frosty Sword Aura is only the basics.”

Lu Ming knew what Xiaobai was thinking about as he said in a deep voice, “Once you learn the combinations and lamination, you will be able to bring your Sword Aura to a higher level!”

“I-is that so?”

Xiaobai was dazed.

Of course.

Lu Ming smiled. “Think about it, a Swordsman that only releases Sword Aura and learns different strokes is too weak. Their skills are not diversified! This is why the Swordsman is being criticized. The Swordsman is someone who only specializes in combat! However, we are different. Everyone has their own experience…!”

Cough, cough.

Lu Ming coughed and repeated himself. “However, we are different. We are able to master the abilities that Swordsmen are lacking. We are stronger!

For example—

Full moon!

To them, it was simply a Sword Aura! But after we put it through lamination, we can add frost, flames and various abilities to it!

Don't you think that it is very powerful?

If we are able to master better Lamination Techniques…

Wouldn't we be able to have better control?

Or even…”

Lu Ming paused briefly before he said meaningfully, “Fly on a sword?”

Shus.h.!.+

Xiaobai's eyes lit up. “Can we do that as well?”

She had heard about that.

According to the legend, only the very powerful Swordsmen were capable of flying on swords!

Of course.

Lu Ming was very pleased. “Our Original Cards might not be able to do it. However, we can modify them through the Sword Aura, making them more durable, stronger and more controllable…”

“Oh…”

Xiaobai felt strange.

Her master's use of words… seemed slightly vulgar.

However…

What he said was indeed true!

Lu Ming imparted the Isolation Film to Xiaobai and she was immersed in studying it.

Sword Aura, flying…

Xiaobai began to think about which abilities were suitable and which were not. If one had to fly, which abilities could be of a.s.sistance…

Lu Ming was very envious.

Look.

It was good that someone else was doing the cultivation.

Lu Ming sighed. Her Original Card was very well-behaved while his black cat was useless.

Puff!

Puff!

The Original Card was working out at the corner.

Lu Ming looked at it. When he pa.s.sed by the Original Card, he threw a brick on top of it. The Original Card who was training faltered and almost fell down.

“Way to go.”

Lu Ming encouraged the Original Card.

The Original Card was silent.

Are all of you devils?

The next day.

Early morning.

“Brother Lu, Brother Lu!

Zhang Xiaopang was on the phone and he sounded very excited. “Our opponents for the top one hundred are out!”

“We are not partic.i.p.ating…”

Lu Ming was speechless.

“I know.”

Zhang Xiaopang was still very excited. “But do you know who our opponent is? He is a very popular celebrity player. The other party is a very powerful five-star cultivator! Many students in our school are his fans. What do you think if we ask him for his signature while attending the compet.i.tion?”

Lu Ming was dumbstruck.

To think that he could come up with something like this!

Asking for signature!

That was so embarra.s.sing!

“Get lost!” Lu Ming said angrily.

“This is a good way to earn money!”

Zhang Xiaopang sighed. “His signature is very valuable… If we take photos secretly… Brother Lu, aren't you going to consider this suggestion?”

“Get lost!”

Lu Ming was helpless.

“Alright.”

Zhang Xiaopang was disappointed. “I will try it out myself.”

Lu Ming was speechless.

Was he without any self-esteem?

It was…

Forget it.

Lu Ming rubbed his head, so be it.

Hence…

Lu Ming's life went back to normal.

These days he was occupied with increasing his energy level.

His original energy level was at three thousand points. It had increased rapidly and he finally broke through to five thousand points. It was worth celebrating. He was halfway through the long journey to becoming a three-star!

“Soon!”

Lu Ming was very satisfied.

Given this speed, he would become a three-star peak in no time!

Oo…

By then, he supposed Old Jiang would be back?

He had owed Lu Ming a breakthrough opportunity and lots of money…

That was what Lu Ming had in mind.

However…

There was no news of Old Jiang but he received shocking news—due to certain reasons, measures might be taken to close down the vocational college at the crossroad!

Lu Ming was dumbstruck.

Wait a minute.

Was there a mistake?

Close down?

This must be a joke!

They were in the top one hundred now!

What did it mean to be in the top one hundred? Among thousands and thousands of colleges, they ranked the top few. Why would they be banned under this circ.u.mstance?

Did they consider the feelings of the colleges that did not make it to the top one-hundredth place?

“Is there a mistake?”

Lu Ming asked around.

“It was true.”

Teacher An wanted to cry but there were no tears. “The news from the Ministry of Education… it must have been deliberately released so that we could be prepared while we wait for the official notice.”

Lu Ming was speechless.

This was not right!

Why did they work hard to get into the top one hundred?

It was for the college!

But, look at the outcome!

The higher-ups did not take this into consideration and decided to close it…

Hence…

He asked his acquaintance at The First Academy and he finally knew the reason.

The matches in this year's School Champions.h.i.+p Compet.i.tion had been over faster than usual, and many contests in the later rounds were held one after another. Furthermore, due to some reasons, there was almost no publicity…

Therefore…

The compet.i.tion was not as popular this year!

In the previous years, there would be heats, publicity, hype, and marketing for every round… and the compet.i.tion would only begin after it garnered enough attention and interest on the Internet.

As for this year…

He wondered what happened with the School Champions.h.i.+p Compet.i.tion…

The matches were held one after another, for fear that it would garner attention.

Afterward…

This was how it turned out.

Although it was amazing that Lu Ming and his team got into the top one hundred places, it did not attract the attention of many people. The overall popularity of this year's School Champions.h.i.+p Compet.i.tion had been very low!

This was not enough to help the college.

In addition…

And more importantly…

Even if they got into the top one hundred, it had nothing to do with the college at the crossroad.

So what if Lu Ming was very powerful?

He was too extraordinary!

He did not represent the students and the college!

After all, not everyone had an elder sister like him…

“Why is it that the review team nowadays is so wayward?”

Lu Ming gave a deep sigh.

“You should give up.”

The dean smiled. “The review team did a thorough review of your school, but it did not meet any of the conditions… Didn't you join the compet.i.tion so as to influence the evaluation?”

Cough, cough.

Lu Ming coughed. “Is there really no chance?”

“I don't think so.”

The dean was sorry as well. “If your team was noticed earlier, you might have been seen as the talents and glory of the college at the crossroad, as for now…

It was too late.

The review had been done and the school does not meet all the requirements.

Right now, the team… can only be considered as garnering attention for itself. Of course. This is beneficial for the five of you.”

He hung up the phone.

Lu Ming had not come to his senses.

He did not expect that the college at the crossroad would be closed down eventually!

There were too many twists and turns.

Garnering attention for themselves…

He was very handsome. He had no need for that.

It was ridiculous!

“This matter…”

Lu Ming thought about it. He should talk to Teacher An and the rest.

At the office.

Xia Yu and the rest were there.

The few of them sat there looking at one another.

Obviously…

n.o.body expected such an outcome. They were late…

“Don't worry.”

Teacher An put on a forced smile. “Even if the college is closed down, it will not affect you.”

True.

After the college at the crossroad was closed down, it would have the least impact on the few of them.

It was… considered a good thing!

“Of course there would be an impact.”

Chang Liang sighed. “To be honest, it is due to Lu Ming that we can get into the top one hundred. We are very clear about our abilities…

If we were talented, we would not be here!

Even if we barely make it to a better college, we might have to leave due to limited resources and talents…”

Chang Liang was very clear about the situation.

His abilities were special and could create wonders.

However… that was all.

He only had the most ordinary ability.

If he had a better ability, he would not have to gone to this school.

“Me too.”

Liu Yuan expressed her agreement.

“Is there really no other way?”

Xia Yu knitted his eyebrows.

“I don't think so…”

Teacher An sighed.

The Ministry of Education had already hinted at the closure to them. They had no other choice.

They could only wait for the announcement!

However…

Lu Ming was reminded of what the dean said just now.

The review team hesitated for a long time before deciding on the closure. This suggested that the team was undecided. This might be good news for them!

Since it was possible that they would be influenced by external factors, therefore…

Lu Ming squinted his eyes.

“I do have a way.”

Lu Ming's voice was low.

“What?!”

Everyone's eyes lit up immediately.

“However… It is on the premise that…”

Lu Ming looked at everyone who was looking at him with antic.i.p.ation as he said seriously, “We have to win one match!

We only need to… win in one match!”

Everyone's expression changed slightly.

C-contest?

They had to keep on fighting?!

“Are you sure winning one match is enough?”

Xia Yu's expression was solemn.

“Yes.”

Lu Ming nodded.

“Sure.”

Xia Yu's gaze was sharp.

If they only needed to win one match, perhaps…

Everyone looked at each other, determination in their eyes. Although the opponent was very strong, if they did not try, they would not know the outcome!

However…

Zhang Xiaopang was the only one… who looked stark white.

He looked terrified.

This expression…

Lu Ming suddenly thought of something and his eyes narrowed. “Zhang Xiaopang, have you been up to any strange things lately?”

“N-no…”

Zhang Xiaopang looked guilty.

“I hope so.”

Lu Ming glanced at him. “Otherwise, you will be killed by them.”

Zhang Xiaopang's hands trembled, he felt like crying but had no tears.

Didn't they say they would give up?!

He partic.i.p.ated in the compet.i.tion as they had agreed on giving up…

However…

Come to think of it, the students at the key college were very powerful…

It was true.

This was based on the statistics released by the department!

W-would they be alright?