Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Qing Ming City.

The Card Creators a.s.sociation.

Just as Zhang Yang was feeling glad that he had lured Lu Ming away, he suddenly received an emergency call from his a.s.sistant. Some of the Card Creators who had already agreed to join the branch today had joined Chong Yang branch instead…

Eh?

Zhang Yang was very surprised.

Chong Yang?

Was that possible?

Since Chong Yang had been defeated, they dared not appear for a long time!

How could they possibly poach their people?

Hence…

Zhang Yang instinctively logged into the Card Creator forum and then saw familiar headlines on the web and that familiar style.

Zhang Yang was instantly dumbfounded.

What the h.e.l.l was this?

Afterward, he looked at the publisher…

Chong Yang?

c.r.a.p, where is your shame?

“Meeting! Meeting!”

Anxious, Zhang Yang gathered everyone for a meeting.

“They are too shameless!

I heard that the president of the Chong Yang branch changed but I didn't expect him to be shameless to this extent?!” Zhang Yang said furiously.

The rest of the people cast a glance at him but did not say a word.

Wasn't this style identical to yours?

Speaking of being shameless…

It's your forte.

Cough, cough.

Zhang Yang coughed. “Anyway, we can't allow them to go on like this! After this shameless guy said this, all our people have run to their side!”

Everyone then began to take this seriously.

Certainly, it was very serious.

“Standards too poor…”

“Had no choice…”

Coupled with the poor relations.h.i.+p between the two parties…

Therefore, since Lu Ming already completed his learning at the Chong Yang branch, he must have become stronger?

What else could it be?!

If one were to say that Lu Ming went to learn from that side after learning from this side as the two were not mutually exclusive, the novices would not understand, okay?!

What should he do now?

The Card Creators glanced at one another.

They really did not expect people from the Chong Yang branch to be that vicious. They would rather face the huge threat of sudden death in order to fight with their branch!

“They are desperate for a victory.”

One of the vice presidents sighed.

Everyone thought so too.

It had been quite tragic for the Chong Yang branch. Since Li Haoran's incident, they had taken the blame for a lot of things. Certainly, they needed one thing to restore their reputation but they could not trample Qing Ming City and climb up in this way…

“Why don't you publish an article too?” one of the Card Creators said to Zhang Yang gingerly.

He felt that, in terms of shamelessness, President Zhang Yang was more formidable.

“First-mover advantage is very important.”

Zhang Yang sighed. “Now, I can only ask Lu Ming to come back.”

“Huh?”

Everyone's face looked pale.

“It's okay.”

“What was there to be scared of?!”

“Didn't they cultivate painstakingly for two days? We'll cultivate for three days then!”

Zhang Yang gnashed his teeth.

The Card Creators were speechless.

Their bodies really might not be able to endure this!

They were already middle-aged folks. How could they pull all-nighters?! Why would they burn midnight oil?! Three days of cultivation… Something could really happen…

The Card Creators really did not cultivate their physiques!

“It's okay.”

Zhang Yang patted their shoulders. “Take a break today. Go home and have a good sleep first before we commence! Also, I have prepared some small pills from the Pharmacist a.s.sociation…”

The Card Creators were speechless.

Hence…

The next day.

Lu Ming had just returned when the Card Creators a.s.sociation summoned him.

He was pleasantly surprised to discover that President Zhang Yang had suddenly been enlightened tremendously. He actually took the initiative to request the teachers of the a.s.sociation to study lines with him…

Lu Ming was elated!

It would be a huge gain for him!

The difficulty level of the studies was not important at all!

He could just bring up some lines that required deduction or research!

What did it mean?

It was equivalent to the entire a.s.sociation helping him in the deductions!

As such…

This would accelerate the pace of his study on cards!

Of course.

Lu Ming was not stupid. The lines that he brought up were all intermittent ones. He had already solved those easy lines. Therefore, it was not possible for them to create cards based on the lines that he had given!

A total of three days!

Lu Ming was full of energy.

The physique of a three-star peak was playing a vital role.

What made him surprised was that the Card Creators in the a.s.sociation were actually hale and hearty in old age. They persisted for three days without any rest and sleep before finally completing this learning session.

That night.

A sensational article was published.

“Homecoming! Take the essence and discard the dregs! Three sleepless nights of exchange between Lu Ming and the Card Creators. Significant gains and tremendous progress in ability!”

After reading it, the Qing Ming branch expressed unanimous satisfaction.

Look.

The president's words were carefully crafted and detailed.

Unlike others who fooled around, it had to attract the eyes of the people and also be consistent with the facts. Therefore, the final headlines turned out like that!

The Chong Yang branch flew into a rage at that moment.

What did he mean?!

Discard the dregs?

d.a.m.n it! Was he saying that the things picked up from Chong Yang branch were all rubbish?!

Hence…

They invited Lu Ming again that day and reimbursed him for the travel expenses…

After two days, another article was out.

How could the Qing Ming branch take this lying down?

Hence…

They invited Lu Ming again. Along with the small pills, they endured another round of in-depth exchanges…

It was only until a certain old Card Creator really could not take it anymore and almost suffered a sudden death that the two sides stopped their endless compet.i.tion and decided on a truce.

But Lu Ming…

He was overjoyed!

The senior Card Creators of both a.s.sociations were helping him study the cards!

Initially, the research on cards that needed a long time or was almost impossible to complete within a short time actually progressed to ninety percent under such conditions!

It was awesome!

The four-star Cloud Shuttle Card was about to come!

What else could he say?

This was amazing!

The two a.s.sociations would help him research. They were certainly brilliant.

Of course.

Under such circ.u.mstances…

Most likely, it was not quite possible to realize this.

Over the past few days, he had been immersed in his study. When he went online just now, he then realized what had happened. It was no wonder that the old senior was wobbling earlier…

He had thought that he was excited.

It turned out that he was feeling weak…

He should feel alright after taking medicine?

Alright.

Even if Chong Yang invited him again, he dared not go anymore.

These guys…

If one of the old seniors really had a sudden death…

He could not afford to bear the responsibility.

He would leave now, leave now.

Lu Ming intended to leave Chong Yang City.

However…

At this moment.

A faint aura appeared. It was so wispy. If Lu Ming's mental strength was not strong enough, he would not be able to discover this thought at all!

This feeling…

He had been targeted!

Lu Ming squinted.

He had been to Chong Yang City numerous times and did not face any problems…

This time…

Why would someone target him?

Or perhaps…

Who would dare to target him?!

Lu Ming was confident in his own ability. He could confront ordinary four-star cultivators directly. If they were stronger… he could escape even if he could not beat them!

To speak without any reservation…

He was unrivaled in both Qing Ming City and Chong Yang City!

Well…

A foreigner?

Lu Ming's heart was vigilant and one of his hands was already on his cards.

Shus.h.!.+

He walked past the streets calmly.

When he pa.s.sed by the alley in front of him, he could clearly sense murderous intents akin to poisonous snakes spreading and waiting for release at any point in time.

Oo…

Something is hiding in there?

Hehe.

Interesting…

Lu Ming's expression was normal.

When he walked to that alley.

Suddenly…

He was shrouded in a cold light.

This aura…

Four-star!

Lu Ming grew solemn.

Bang!

Endless murderous intents surged.

Like a venomous snake, that four-star a.s.sa.s.sin dashed out. Sneering, Lu Ming was about to strike. Suddenly, there was another surging force…

Bang!

That chilling and scary murderous intent suddenly disappeared without a trace.

Vaguely.

He seemed to have heard a moan.

Shus.h.!.+

Lu Ming walked past the alley calmly.

In the eyes of others, they could not see any abnormalities at all. No one knew that a horrible a.s.sa.s.sination attempt had almost occurred there!

Even Lu Ming himself was filled with surprise.

It was actually… stopped by someone?

Astonis.h.i.+ng.

If his mental strength was not that strong, perhaps he might not even notice anything!

It was really…

Heh.

Wasn't it interesting?

A trace of a smile emerged on the corner of Lu Ming's mouth. He arrived at the corner of a certain road. When no one was observing him, he took the chance to return to that alley quietly without a sound.

Over there…

Two figures actually appeared. Most interestingly, one of them was actually an old acquaintance — Li Haoran!

Why was he here?

Lu Ming was curious.

“Why did you stop me?”

That teenager clad in black had fallen to the ground and was wiping fresh blood from the corner of his mouth.

“Are you out of your mind?”

Li Haoran glared at him harshly. “You dared to kill Lu Ming. Don't you want your life anymore?!”

“He's the one to blame for what happened to you.”

The teenager in black pursed his lips.

“Bulls.h.i.+t!”

Li Haoran's face was ghastly pale. “I'm the one who challenged him. What did it have to do with him?! This is a matter of academic exchange, why do you have to kill?!”

Shocked and curious, the teenager in black stared at Li Haoran.

His realization…

Why was it suddenly so huge?

“You memorized the rules for college students behind my back?”

The teenager in black was shocked.

“Get lost!”

Li Haoran's expression was ugly. “Don't be a clown! You're even trying to murder now! Tell me. Have you killed anyone before?! Can you bring yourself to do it?”

“I think so.”

The teenager in black pondered the question seriously for a moment. “There's always a first time.”

Li Haoran was expressionless.

This was all bulls.h.i.+t!

This little b.a.s.t.a.r.d's only a.s.signment was to give Zhang Yang a beating. He even boasted about it for half a month. When did he have the guts to kill someone?

Furthermore…

Were you able to kill Lu Ming?

At the thought of this, Li Haoran's expression turned even uglier. He lounged to the front of the teenager in black and bellowed, “You almost died. Do you know that?!”

“Aren't you aware of his prowess?”

“You're courting death. Do you know that?!”

The veins in Li Haoran's forehead were bulging.

“I know.”

The teenager in black simply lay on the ground. “That's why I looked for him.”

Li Haoran was suddenly stunned. “What do you mean?”

“It doesn't matter anymore.

“Anyway, you're the one who saved my life…”

The teenager in black slumped on the ground lazily. “I have thought about it. You're almost wasted now. You're staying in Chong Yang City and becoming salted fish forever…

I know that you and your father only have yourselves to rely on since you're a child…

I also know how close both of you are.

But you can't let him take advantage of you like that…

You're almost hollowed out.

I'm very aware that he is your obsession. If he pa.s.ses away, then you might gain more powers. Otherwise, any other words are useless c.r.a.p!” the teenager in black said calmly.

Li Haoran was silent.

Many people had spoken to him about his father.

Too many people.

It did not matter to him anymore.

No matter what…

His father was the one who raised him, fed him and changed his nappy… He painstakingly raised him. How would these outsiders understand the relations.h.i.+p between them?

How could he abandon it that easily?

“Where did you get this messy stuff from?”

Li Haoran glanced at the teenager in black.

“Novels…” The teenager in black instinctively replied and then came to his senses. “It doesn't matter where I read it from. After ruminating about it, I find that it makes sense.

Therefore, my initial thought is… to kill your dad!”

The voice of the teenager in black was cold and sinister.

He was certain.

He would kill this father who always did his son in!

Li Haoran would definitely gain more powers, attain stellar success and become a legend!

“How dare you?”

Li Haoran widened his eyes.

“I dare not.”

The teenager in black pursed his lips. “Therefore, I decided to use another way… to kill Lu Ming.”

By the side, Lu Ming had a ‘What the c.r.a.p' expression on his face.

Wait a minute.

Are there holes in your brain?!

In the last second, you wanted to kill his dad. In the next second, you want to kill me?

d.a.m.n!

What did I do to provoke you?!

Why do you have to be that drastic!

Were the brains of children nowadays that difficult to manage?!

Li Haoran was silent.

“I've thought about it. Our relations.h.i.+p is considered good.”

The teenager concluded. “If I die, most likely, you will feel sad for some time. Perhaps you will be able to overcome your dad's control and develop powers…

Besides…

I've also a.n.a.lyzed Lu Ming. He is powerful, good-looking and has unlimited potential…

Most importantly, he has an elder sister. Therefore, it's not easy for you to look for trouble. You also have a family. Therefore, you won't dare to kill him rashly.

You will work hard… to surpa.s.s Lu Ming, Lu Yan and everyone else…

This should be your life.

This is what you deserve.

Unlike now, hiding in Chong Yang City and becoming a useless dog…”

The teenager in black spewed a mouthful of foam that had a tinge of blood in it.

Li Haoran's eyes were red. He walked to the teenager in black and kicked him, bellowing, “Idiot! Idiot! d.a.m.n it! You're an idiot! What will I do if you die?!

Besides my dad, I only have you… Idiot! Idiot!”

“Hehe.”

The teenager in black glanced at the sky, gnas.h.i.+ng his teeth. “You're also an idiot! I will keep trying to a.s.sa.s.sinate Lu Ming until you come to your senses…

When you are willing to step away from the control of your dad and stop being a coward… I will stop!”

Li Haoran was expressionless.

These were normal words but whey did it sound that strange when it came out from this guy's mouth?

“Actually…”

He paused for a moment.

“You don't need to persuade me.”

The teenager in black struggled to get up. Despite being covered in wounds, he was resolute to leave. “I'm going to look for Lu Ming.”

“Uh, no.”

Li Haoran sighed. “Actually, after experiencing so much recently, I've already come to my senses and also found the path that belongs to me…”

Huh?

That teenager in black looked dumbstruck. His departing figure froze like a corpse.

“I've already come to my senses.”

Li Haoran felt somewhat embarra.s.sed. “I know I care too much about what my dad thinks. Therefore, I have declined all the activities and I won't partic.i.p.ate in any unreasonable things anymore… I'll cultivate properly and become stronger. I'll become a true genius one day!”

The teenager in black gaped and had a ‘What the f***' expression. “Why didn't you tell me this earlier?”

d.a.m.n it!

He almost died, okay!

“How would I know that you will suddenly go and kill Lu Ming?”

Li Haoran was speechless. “Didn't you keep saying yesterday that Sister Lan is beautiful and gentle and you have to do it with her at least once…”

He was at a loss for words.

It was true.

This chap spoke about going to the club yesterday but in the blink of an eye, he came to kill Lu Ming…

Would he dare to believe this?!

Who could keep up with his punctured brains?

If he had not kept a watch on this chap as he felt that something was not quite right, he was fearful that something was really going to happen!

The face of the teenager in black turned ghastly pale. After a long time, he said, “I was thinking that it's such a pity for a virgin to die that young…”

Li Haoran was silent.

It was very logical. He actually could not retort.

After a long time…

He remembered a very important thing, and asked, “Therefore, have you done it with her or not?”

“No.”

The teenager in black looked aggrieved. “She took me for a child and shoved me out…”

“Huh?”

Li Haoran was shocked. “Is it age or something else that is too small…”

“Age!

Of course, it's my age!”

The teenager in black widened his eyes.

Were you looking down on me?!

Yours truly is a four-star cultivator!

I am an a.s.sa.s.sin who majored in body physique, not a useless Card Creator like you! Believe it or not, yours truly could shoot the plane in the sky down with my pee!

“Alright.”

Li Haoran believed him.

“Have you really come to your senses?”

The teenager in black cast an unfriendly look at him.

“It's real.”

Li Haoran was certain.

“If you continue to be a lackey of your dad, I'm not going to bother about you anymore.”

The teenager in black was full of doubts.

Li Haoran sighed. “Can you be more cultured in your words?”

“Why did you suddenly come to your senses?”

The teenager in black was very skeptical.

Humans.

They would change only after experiencing some things. He felt that novels would not lie to him, or movies. Those superheroes had to suffer the loss of kin or something…

Li Haoran suddenly said that he had come to his senses?

Who the h.e.l.l would believe this?!

“I am serious.”

Li Haoran paused for a moment. “I really didn't know what I want to do in the past. That's why I listened to my dad. Because nothing really interests me.

Be it card creating or anything.

But now, I've found my own path…”

Li Haoran's expression was serious.

“Really?”

The eyes of the teenager in black lit up.

“Yes!” Li Haoran said viciously, “Although it's very difficult and it's a very tough path, this is also the first time that my interest is piqued…”

“Oh?”

The teenager in black lounged over. “Let me take a look.”

“Okay.”

Li Haoran's gaze was filled with sincerity.

Shus.h.!.+

He opened his screen and let the teenager in black look at the new thing that he was studying — “The Sword Card Master's Third Stage Guidelines—The Birth of the Card spirit!”

“Wow!”

The teenager in black was shocked.

“??!”

There was a look of shock on Lu Ming's face.

Wait a minute.

What the h.e.l.l was this?

The development of this plot did not seem quite right…

To h.e.l.l with it!

How did Li Haoran become a Sword Card Master? Furthermore, he had already studied until the third stage of the birth of the card spirit… d.a.m.n…

“Who is that?!”

The teenager in black acutely sensed the flow of aura.

He was ultimately a four-star a.s.sa.s.sin!

Even though he was injured!

Forget it that he did not notice it earlier. Now, he naturally realized that there was an aura.

Cough, cough.

Lu Ming coughed and could only step out.

Shus.h.!.+

The body of the teenager in black froze.

Li Haoran's body froze.

Lu Ming was at a loss for words.

The trio glanced at one another, not knowing what to say.

The atmosphere… was filled with awkwardness and politeness…