Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Qing Ming City.

It was snowing heavily.

The shop downtown was very lively.

After the person that he did not know the name but was very dramatic by kowtowing and kneeling on the floor left, there was finally peace in Lu Ming's shop.

However…

Lu Ming was faced with a very serious problem now.

This disciple…

Should he agree to it or not?!

The appearance of Yan Suqi was an accident.

He transferred to become a Sword Card Master for no reason and became his disciple. Lu Ming was taken by surprise. Therefore, he had no other choice but to accept him.

This was not because he was adorable and rich.

But it was a different case for Li Haoran.

Li Haoran was serious about taking this path and for the Sword Card Master to become the greatest vocation… c.r.a.p! Lu Ming had no idea whether they could continue on this path!

This was a new vocation!

This was a vocation with no future!

Therefore…

He was very hesitant.

It was definitely not because Li Haoran was older and poor.

At this moment…

Li Haoran looked solemn. He knelt on the floor, not moving an inch. The teenager in black seemed to sense something. He kept quiet while Xiaobai stood next to Lu Ming obediently.

Right then…

The shop was as quiet as ever.

Lu Ming was pondering.

It was true.

He remembered.

The vocation of Sword Card Master…

Back then, this vocation was created merely to s.h.i.+ft the responsibility to another person. But right now, it seemed that it was not quite the same. For some unknown reason, it became the dreams of others…

There was Salted Crispy Chicken and Li Haoran…

“Why bother?”

Lu Ming sighed. “Why can't you choose a better dream?”

Sword Card Master was merely the product of improvisation…

It might have existed but at the same time, it did not exist.

Sword Card Master…

This was a difficult path to take!

Li Haoran's heart sank.

It seemed that he was unsuccessful in becoming Lu Ming's disciple.

He prided himself on being more gifted than Xiaoyan and Xiaobai. Perhaps he was delayed for too long… and therefore he was unsure and perturbed. In the end, he did not expect that he would really fail!

At the thought of this, he felt a bit saddened.

The decision back then…

It had after all affected him!

Yes.

If he knew it, he would not have remained in Chong Yang City.

At this very moment…

Some people who pa.s.sed by naturally noticed the odd situation in the shop.

After all, this was the downtown area, many outsiders would come here to buy Energy Cards. They were surprised when they noticed that a four-star cultivator knelt down on the floor, wanting his master to accept him as his disciple…

Tsk tsk.

That was incredible.

“Wait a minute, isn't that Li Haoran?”

“The person seems to be Lu Ming.”

“Eh?”

Some people recognized Li Haoran.

Since the cities were close to each other, there were many people from Chong Yang City. They did not expect to see Li Haoran asking Lu Ming to be his master.

T-this… What was this?

“They used to have conflict.”

“I have heard of it.”

“He came here to be his disciple, this is too…”

“He is on his knees.”

Everyone whispered to each other.

Li Haoran ignored them.

To him, whatever they said did not matter.

He used to suffer from eighth-grade syndrome (This is typically used to describe early teens who have delusions of grandeur, who so desperately want to stand out that they have convinced themselves they have hidden knowledge or secret powers.) and be stubborn. Since he had realized his mistakes, he would not be bothered by the opinions of others. He only wanted to know if Lu Ming was willing to take him in as his disciple!

“Yo. Isn't that the genius, Li Haoran?” He heard a joking voice.

At the doorstep.

A few young people walked over and laughed at the scene in front of them.

“Do you know them?”

Lu Ming looked at Li Haoran.

“Yes.”

Li Haoran looked embarra.s.sed. “They are cla.s.smates from my college. I used to be the most talented student in school and I offended many people…”

Oh.

Lu Ming understood now.

In the past, Li Haoran was very arrogant, and these people, though indignant, did not dare to say anything. Ever since Li Haoran's Original Card cracked because of Lu Ming, there were rumors that he was deemed useless…

These people would naturally not let him go.

“I have not been to college for a long time.”

Li Haoran felt ashamed. “I wanted to ignore these people. I didn't expect that they would be here.”

Oh.

Lu Ming understood what was going on.

“Haha.

We have to come.

Since the invalidated Card Creator can be here, why can't we?”

Those people laughed.

Shus.h.!.+

With that, they entered the shop.

Lu Ming swept his gaze over them. Very good. Those at the back were three-star peak and the leader had even reached a four-star.

“Right now…

You are not the only one who is a four-star!”

The person walked to stand next to Li Haoran, looking down at him.

Li Haoran was silent.

“Leave.”

Lu Ming waved his hands indifferently.

He was no longer young.

He had lived two lifetimes, he was very chill about things.

It was true.

Shouldn't one be rash and angry, punching to those people? Unfortunately, Lu Ming was very lazy, he could not be bothered with these young people.

“Sure.”

The person smiled. “Since the boss said so, we will naturally leave.”

With that…

They grabbed Li Haoran and prepared to leave.

“No?”

The teenager in black sighed. It seemed that he had to interfere.

However…

At this moment.

“Wait a minute.” Lu Ming suddenly spoke.

“What?”

There was a cold glitter in the person's eyes. “Does the boss intend to interfere?”

They knew Lu Ming's abilities very well.

The School Champions.h.i.+p Compet.i.tion was quite popular and they had seen how Lu Ming wiped out his opponents in the compet.i.tion. However, that was after all a match…

This was reality!

In the compet.i.tion, Card Creators were the only ones who were allowed to use cards!

But in reality…

All of them could use cards!

He was not the only person who had cards!

They had cards as well!

If Lu Ming was intent on being a busybody, he would not mind showing Lu Ming that there were a lot of differences between the so-called arena matches and combat in reality!

“Of course not.”

Lu Ming stretched.

“Li Haoran.”

He looked toward Li Haoran.

“Yes.”

Li Haoran looked up.

“If you want to become my disciple, it will depend on whether you are talented enough.”

Lu Ming said lightly, “Today, I will teach you a move. Watch carefully. It all depends on yourself how much you can learn from this… If you don't understand…”

“Yes!”

Li Haoran was excited.

Lu Ming… Was going to teach him some moves!

Oh my goodness!

His heart throbbed. He must learn them!

If he could not understand…

He would be too ashamed to bring this up in the future.

“What do you want?”

The person looked at Lu Ming, feeling wary.

Those around him got ready to defend. They were worried that Lu Ming would be angry and attack them.

“Did you know? The Original Card… is a very interesting thing.”

Lu Ming waved his hands.

Buzz—

The Original Card condensed in his hands.

“To a Card Creator, it is merely a card, but to us…” Lu Ming said calmly.

Whoos.h.!.+

His gaze suddenly focused.

Bang!

There seemed to be a flash of golden lights in his pupils.

He gently raised his hand, the Original Card flashed in his hands, turning into Z-shaped lightning, dissipating in the air, leaving streaks of brilliance, before returning to Lu Ming's hands.

It only lasted for a moment!

Those people and Li Haoran had yet to react.

Shus.h.!.+

They could only see the glittering golden lights and the remaining shadow of the Z-shaped lightning…

When they came back to their senses, the Original Card had returned to Lu Ming and nothing seemed to have changed.

Everyone looked confused.

This…

What kind of ability was this?

It shone golden lights and disappeared?

“Haha!”

“Stop fronting with this ability of yours.”

One of them laughed.

However, he felt a rush of coldness on his head, and he touched his head…

Shus.h.!.+

His hair fell off his head.

What was happening??!

He was terrified.

At the sight of this, the other people touched their heads and had a frightening discovery. Their hair fell off neatly to the ground…

All of them had their hair shaved!

Their heads…

Felt icy cold.

“How can that be possible…”

The leader was shocked.

He felt cold all over.

d.a.m.n it!

Lu Ming, this guy…

He trembled. He knew that Lu Ming was powerful. However, he remembered he merely used the cards to attack others during the School Champions.h.i.+p Compet.i.tion. Why was he so powerful?!

The card swept over their scalps, but they felt nothing at all.

If…

If the cards razed their necks…

The few of them trembled.

“Hahaha! So that's it!”

Li Haoran suddenly broke into laughter.

He understood!

He understood everything!

So it turned out this was the real meaning of Sword Card Master!

The talk about creating swords-related cards…

All of that was nonsense!

A Sword Card Master could actually use a card like a sword…

Bang!

The powerful energy around him condensed.

Buzz—

Buzz—

Li Haoran's Original Card floated in the air.

It was full of cracks and one could tell that it had been repaired. It looked like an ugly sight. However, this card emanated a powerful aura…

Lu Ming was too fast. He did not understand his move.

However…

“Come on!”

He charged toward the four-star cultivator that caught hold of him!

Bang!

The Original Card slammed against him!

“Get lost!”

The man retaliated with a punch.

He might not be able to defeat Lu Ming, but he would not lose to him!

Bang!

Terrifying energy shook.

The four-star cultivator was forced to retreat two steps by the tremors of the Original Card!

Everyone was in a frenzy!

T-the Original Card is actually capable of this?!

“Haha!”

Li Haoran suddenly broke into laughter.

True enough!

The tempering of the Original Card was effective!

Although, that was the only effect that he saw right now.

He had made the right choice. Lu Ming created the Sword Card Master and that was definitely the path of the true master! A path that was above all vocations!

The Sword Card Master!

It was invincible among the peers!

“Master, please accept my bow!”

Li Haoran knelt down once again.

He was very grateful.

Lu Ming froze.

d.a.m.n!

This fellow could really understand it?!

He felt that it might not be good to reject him outrightly. Therefore, he decided to use the Original Card to make a grand performance…

Well…

Average people would not be able to understand it.

He could not understand!

However…

He did not expect that Li Haoran could see through the essence of a Sword Card Master at just one glance. He knew to use the Original Card in place of a sword to attack them!

And he defeated them!

“Senior sister.”

Li Haoran served tea to Xiaobai respectfully.

“Good.”

Xiaobai was proud of him.

Not bad. He was slightly more talented than the fool, Xiaoyan.

Alright.

Lu Ming rubbed his head.

What could he do?

“Study hard then.”

Lu Ming patted him on the shoulder.

“Yes.”

Li Haoran was elated.

At the doorstep.

The crowd that was watching the fun dispersed.

Li Haoran swept his gaze over them. They seemed to remember the fear of being dominated by Li Haoran back then and they rushed to leave…

Humph!

Li Haoran merely snorted.

After a long time…

He got up and left.

The move that Lu Ming taught him was too shocking. The attack had been engraved in his mind. He would go back to reflect and ponder over what he comprehended today.

“d.a.m.n, is the Sword Card Master so amazing?”

The teenager in black was shocked as well.

He knew that the Sword Card Master was powerful. But he never expected it to be to this extent! He also did not expect that Lu Ming would be almost as skilled as the hairdresser in the salon!

He was very fast in his attacks!

It was very powerful!

“Can you help me to ask if I can be a Sword Card Master as well?”

The teenager in black was tempted.

“Haha.”

Li Haoran looked at him. “Do you understand cards?”

“I don't know.”

“Do you understand swords?”

“I only know how to be cheap.”

“Get lost!”

Li Haoran sent him away before he pondered hard about what he learned today.

“Body tempering… Mental strength… Card spirit…”

Li Haoran linked everything that he had learned.

After being a disciple of Lu MIng, everything seemed clear to him.

He was ashamed!

It turned out that…

The master was of a different level!

Hence…

He reflected on what he learned today and wrote a guideline, uploading it onto the a.s.sociation forum. Of course, only members of the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation were allowed to read it.

Currently…

The only members were the few of them.

“The true meaning of a Sword Card Master…”

At this very moment…

In the shop.

Lu Ming was still thinking about what happened just now and he felt upset at the thought of it… Xiaobai and Xiaoyan were quite good, but why did he take in Li Haoran?

Although the guy was quite good-looking…

But after all, his looks could not be compared to his. The average looks of the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation had dropped because of him.

And he was not young.

“I have to be mindful in the future.”

Lu Ming learned from his lesson. “Remember, in the future, you must not accept disciples who are too old…”

“Okay.”

Xiaobai made notes seriously.

Compared to Xiaoyan…

She paused slightly… she was reminded that Xiaoyan was only fourteen years old. Therefore she crossed the sentence and changed it to no one older than her third junior brother…

At this very moment…

His wristband vibrated.

Lu Ming was somewhat surprised as he looked at the latest article posted on the a.s.sociation forum—The true meaning of a Sword Card Master.

He opened it and found that there was a detailed description about the true power of the Sword Card Master, and it also praised Lu Ming, saying that he was very formidable…

Even Lu Ming felt like putting his arms akimbo after reading it.

c.r.a.p!

I didn't know I was that formidable?!

I didn't know that I was on a different level?!

I didn't know that I was so powerful?!

Well…

Not bad.

Lu Ming suddenly recovered from his senses.

This article could be used as the fifth stage of the Sword Card Master guidelines!

Wait a minute.

This article seemed to be better than his…

Li Haoran was indeed a genius. He had more experiences and he could make comparisons between a Sword Card Master and other vocations, as well as make the connections between them. The format and content of the article seemed to be more structured and it was perfect. Perhaps he should a.s.sign this task to him.

Hence…

Lu Ming immediately contacted Li Haoran.

“Master,” Li Haoran said respectfully.

“The article is good. I have thought about it, in the future, you will be responsible for creating the guidelines for the Sword Card Master.”

Lu Ming said in a deep voice, “Writing the article is also a means to practice and have more self-awareness. This is beneficial to you.”

“Thank you, Master!”

Li Haoran was excited.

These was the Sword Card Master guidelines. They would be available to everyone in the future.

And yet his Master wanted him to do it!?

It was really…

Think about it.

In the future, his Master would impart the skills to him so that he could write the guidelines!

He had absolute trust in him!

Also…

He was aware that he could not write everything down!

In the future, there might be more and more Sword Card Masters. Some information might be available to everyone, while some information was only limited to a few seniors. Therefore, the guidelines…

Li Haoran looked serious.

The more he thought about it the more he appreciated the importance of the guidelines.

“I will finish them with due diligence!”

Li Haoran looked serious.

“Okay.”

Lu Ming smiled faintly.

Lu Ming was in a good mood after ending the call.

Hahaha!

He had cleared another load off his shoulder.

He was frightened by Salted Crispy Chicken's learning speed and he kept chasing after him for more guidelines. Now that he had Li Haoran to deal with it, he felt much more at ease.

Well…

It was perfect!

It was not a bad choice to take in him as his disciple.

Lu Ming was very satisfied. But then again, Xiaoyan's card spirit…

“Xiaoyan.”

Lu Ming called Yan Suqi.

“Master,” Xiaoyan said respectfully.

“How did you get your card spirit?” Lu Ming asked.

“I did it according to what senior sister said.”

Xiaoyan was serious.

“Oh?”

Lu Ming's heart skipped a beat.

d.a.m.n!

Did this mean that as long as one was sincere, it would certainly happen?!

Was this a joke?!

However…

He could vaguely hear the sound of a lady…

“Are you having fun with your cla.s.smates outside?”

Lu Ming smiled faintly.

Look.

Children nowadays… fourteen years old…

Heh.

“No.”

Xiaoyan was very truthful. “That is my elder sister.”

Lu Ming's hands trembled slightly.

If he was not mistaken, his sister was no joke. After all, back then, Xiaoyan looked at the guidelines of The First Academy and decided to transfer to a Sword Card Master…

Back then, there was only one requirement: To have an elder sister who was comparable to Lu Yan!

Therefore…

This…

Cough, cough.

“Please say my greetings to your sister.”

Lu Ming felt extremely guilty.

“Yes, Master.”

Xiaoyan was very respectful.

Vaguely.

The sister of Xiaoyan seemed to be saying something. As it was too far away, Lu Ming could not hear it clearly, and he asked for clarifications. “What did your elder sister say?”

“Nothing much,”

Xiaoyan hurried to say.

“It's alright. Tell me, I am interested to know your sister's perception of me.” Lu Ming asked.

“Uh—”

“Just tell me.”

“In her actual words?”

“Yes.”

“Uh, my sister said… she was afraid that she might not be able to control herself and she might beat you to death.”

Xiaoyan sounded embarra.s.sed.

“Hahahaha. Naughty.”

Lu Ming smiled dryly. “Xiaoyan, your sister… has a heavy accent…”

Xiaoyan was speechless.