At the a.s.sociation.

Lu Ming pondered deeply for a moment and finally decided to partic.i.p.ate in the on-campus job fair.

He considered it carefully before making the decision.

He had been in this world for a long while. He needed a foothold there. The Sword Card Master a.s.sociation fulfilled Lu Ming's vision of home.

Look.

Obedient and brilliant Xiaobai…

Adorable and tender Xiaoyan…

Pious and sensible Haoran…

When he ventured out, all he needed to do was bring the rich tyc.o.o.n Zhao Yunshan with him…

Was this not enough?!

He could have all that he wanted!

If the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation grew and expanded, he would finally have a 'home'! This meant a lot to Lu Ming who did not have a home!

Of course.

This was only one of his considerations.

There was another reason, it was increasing their cultivation level in the future…

Cough.

What was the potential of the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation?

It had a lot of potential!

Due to the stringent entry requirements, everyone who joined the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation was very talented. Everyone could become very powerful!

The Spirit Body Section, the Swordplay Section, the Color Dyeing Section…

Every disciple had their own section!

Every disciple had their own glory and mission!

They had made what they were best part of a Sword Card Master's abilities. Therefore, with every addition of a disciple, the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation could develop itself further! If they had more and more of talents, the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation would become stronger, and Lu Ming would be able to learn new abilities.

Although Lu Ming had made it that far without any Master or Elder, he had his disciples with him!

Therefore, in order to become stronger, he had to recruit more talented disciples!

Well…

It was very logical.

"Let's sign up!

"I have come to this happy decision."

Lu Ming had made up his mind.

"Master.

"In that case, your resources at the a.s.sociations…"

Li Haoran paused briefly.

He had not signed up because of Master.

He knew that Master had been practicing at the Card Creators a.s.sociation and Swordsman a.s.sociation for the past few days. If he signed up, he would be left with nothing.

The reason why they treated Lu Ming with politeness was because they hoped that Lu Ming would join their a.s.sociations!

It was still okay with the Card Creators a.s.sociation. After all, the Sword Card Master was affiliated to the Card Creator. But it was not the same for the Swordsman a.s.sociation!

They hoped to get Lu Ming to leave the Card Creators a.s.sociation to join them.

All along, they did not take the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation seriously.

Actually…

To them, Lu Ming was still a Card Creator!

Everyone had the same sentiment.

However, once he joined the compet.i.tion for new talents and the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation would be competing with the big shots, they would no longer provide him with resources!

"Just go ahead and sign up."

Lu Ming maintained a calm expression.

He had thought it through.

Xiao-Xiaojian had a thorough understanding of the concepts at the Swordsman a.s.sociation. It had learned everything that it should and should not learn. There was no point in going there.

As for the cards…

Sunlight Card, research progress: 80%!

Mover Card, research progress: 80%!

The research progress of the two ultimate limit five-star cards had reached its limit! In order not to reveal the card itself, he had to study the remaining 20% by himself!

After all, when he handed over the lines so that the masters could study them, he told them they were 'incomplete lines from a certain legacy!"

Therefore…

There was nothing much to study over there as well.

"Yes, Master."

Li Haoran was in awe.

Master…

He was indeed his master!

In this critical moment, he was willing to sacrifice his interests to obtain more resources for the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation! He was working hard for the future of the Sword Card Master vocation!

In that case, they had nothing to fear!

He was indeed a graduate of The First Academy!

He had heard that Fourth Junior brother was about to graduate. It was time for him to publicize the Sword Card Master vocation!

Hence…

After receiving his instructions, Li Haoran submitted the official application—The Sword Card Master a.s.sociation was signing up for the job fair!

…

At this very moment…

The Human Resources Department was collecting the list of a.s.sociations.

Energy Warriors a.s.sociation, Elementalists a.s.sociation, Sharpshooters a.s.sociation, Sword Card…

Eh?

Sword Card Master a.s.sociation?

The HR employee had a dazed look as he looked at the new a.s.sociations that signed up. He then looked at the people who submitted the application and was stunned.

——

a.s.sociation Name: Sword Card Master a.s.sociation

a.s.sociation Level: Beginner.

a.s.sociation Size: Five Members.

a.s.sociation Ranking: Three Hundred And Sixtieth Place in Tian Du City a.s.sociation.

——

This was true.

There were a total of three hundred and sixty a.s.sociations in Tian Du City and the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation ranked last!

What the h.e.l.l was this a.s.sociation?!

To be honest…

If not for the list, they would have never heard of this a.s.sociation!

They checked and realized that it was founded by Lu Ming and used to be in Qing Ming City!

Well…

Lu Ming's official information: Beginner Four-star.

"Nonsense!"

The employees were between laughter and tears.

This was a sophisticated event. Why did they want to join?

This was graduation season for The First Academy. In terms of scale and quality, this was far beyond common on-campus job fairs. This was a very important event!

All they had to do was look at the list of a.s.sociations.

——

a.s.sociation Name: Elementalists a.s.sociation, Tian Du City Branch.

a.s.sociation Level: Top-notch.

a.s.sociation Size: Thirty Eight Thousand.

a.s.sociation Ranking: Second Place in Tian Du City.

——

Look!

They were on different levels.

Why would an a.s.sociation with five members want to join?

"Cancel their application."

Two employees chatted casually.

"Good."

They canceled their application.

As the employees of the Human Resources Department, they were responsible for the students. They could not include a.s.sociations that were obviously unqualified.

…

At this very moment…

Li Haoran and another member looked dumbstruck as they stared at the message on the panel that said 'Registration failed'.

"What is happening?"

Li Haoran was at a loss.

Shus.h.!.+

He decided to resubmit the application—'Registration failed!'

What was going on?

Li Haoran looked dazed.

He took a closer look at the application. There were no special requirements. Why did their registration fail?

Hence…

He made a trip to the Human Resources Department.

"Are you serious about signing up?"

The HR employee was helpless as well. "To be honest, your a.s.sociation does not have the resources and manpower to support any graduates…"

Seriously…

The Sword Card Master a.s.sociation was too small! It did not even have a five-star member!

What would their graduates do there?

Nothing!

Become their master?!

They could not allow an a.s.sociation that was founded under special circ.u.mstances to sign up, particularly when they noticed that a rich tyc.o.o.n like Zhao Yunshan was one of the members…

Perhaps this a.s.sociation was set up by the rich second generation for fun?

"Stop fooling around, okay?"

The staff sounded as if they were coaxing children. "The on-campus job fair is a very serious event. It concerns the future of every student. We have to be strict in the selection of a.s.sociations who sign up."

"The Sword Card Master a.s.sociation has a lot of potential!"

Li Haoran looked serious.

This was his master's orders. He had to complete his task.

"This bargain hunting att.i.tude of yours is uncalled for."

The employees sighed.

What they had in mind was a bargain!

They would sign up first and wait to see if any graduates were interested in their a.s.sociation. Although it was highly impossible, there might be a slight chance that someone was interested!

"What makes you think this?"

Li Haoran smiled bitterly.

"This is because all of them have the same att.i.tude."

The staff handed them a stack of files. Li Haoran took a closer look and was stunned.

"Elementalist-Fire Elements a.s.sociation, application to join the on-campus job fair of this year's graduation season."

"Summoner-Riding a.s.sociation, application to join the on-campus job fair of this year's graduation season."

"Summoner-Food and Beverage a.s.sociation, application to join the on-campus job fair of this year's graduation season."

"a.s.sa.s.sin-Snooper a.s.sociation, application to join the on-campus job fair of this year's graduation season."

…

???

What was all of that?!

Li Haoran was shocked.

"Like you, they were thinking of getting a bargain."

The staff felt very helpless.

Like the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation, these a.s.sociations were small a.s.sociations that were affiliated with big a.s.sociations!

Initially…

The founding of an a.s.sociation was very simple.

A seven-star and above cultivator who had a distinctive personal style submitted an application and they could set up an a.s.sociation. It would gradually grow and expand to stand on its own, no longer affiliated with other a.s.sociations!

It was a pity…

The vast majority of a.s.sociations went downhill.

This was true for strange a.s.sociations as well.

They could not wait for a new talent to join them and break through to a seven-star, so as to solve their predicament. Therefore, they resorted to doing this…

Looking at those a.s.sociations that signed up, other than the first a.s.sociation that sounded normal, the rest were nonsense!

There were the Summoner Food and Beverage a.s.sociation and the Riding a.s.sociation. The a.s.sociations had worked together to provide delivery and their small businesses were doing good. Why did they join the fun then?

There was the a.s.sa.s.sin-Snooper a.s.sociation as well…

Perhaps the ruffians that were caught by the police were from that a.s.sociation?

Shouldn't they do something about it?

They were graduates from The First Academy. Why would they join such a.s.sociations?!

If possible, he really wanted to eliminate all of these a.s.sociations, but the relations.h.i.+p between them was complex. There was no way to get rid of them. He could only eliminate some that were not as complicated.

For example—

The Card Creator-Sword Card Master Branch.

"If it were in the past when there were only thirty to forty partic.i.p.ating a.s.sociations, it would not be an issue to add your a.s.sociation to the list."

The man smiled bitterly. "However, as this year is the school anniversary and it is very special, there are many a.s.sociations who are looking for a great deal. Hence, the application list is already full."

"We are a decent a.s.sociation…"

Li Haoran sighed.

"Y-yes."

The man echoed. "However, all the places have been filled."

Li Haoran was speechless.

d.a.m.n! This didn't make any sense?!

They were a decent a.s.sociation that was serious about partic.i.p.ating in the on-campus job fair!

What to do?

It seemed that he could not complete the task a.s.signed by his master.

In fact, the HR employee had a good working att.i.tude. He had explained the situation to him and he even showed him the name list. There was nothing that he could do. He was unlucky to encounter such an issue.

He had no other choice but to report to Lu Ming.

"Well…"

Lu Ming pondered deeply.

He could totally understand the situation.

In the previous life, when too many companies partic.i.p.ated in the on-campus job fair, the person-in-charge would set restrictions as well.

After all, things would go wrong if the students from 985 and 211 universities and colleges[1] joined a bogus company to sell insurance or condoms. Things would be chaotic!

To put it bluntly, the company's reputability mattered a lot!

Over here…

The a.s.sociation's comprehensive abilities mattered a lot!

Well…

It was simple.

Lu Ming hurried down to the Human Resources Department and took a look at the so-called approved name list. "If I challenge one of the a.s.sociations and win, can I replace them to be put on the list?"

"It can be done, but…"

The man paused and looked at him suspiciously. "Are you sure?"

How could one prove their a.s.sociation's abilities?

It was very simple!

Disciples would challenge each other! This was a representation of the a.s.sociation's potential.

The managers of the a.s.sociations would challenge each other! This was a representation of the limit of the a.s.sociation.

That was all.

However, even for the weakest a.s.sociation that merely signed up to grab bargains and did not have any seven-star cultivators, they still had six-star cultivators as their trump cards!

What about them?!

The Sword Card Master a.s.sociation might suffer a crus.h.i.+ng defeat!

"I am certain."

Lu Ming had made up his mind.

"Well, then let me check."

The staff looked through the name list and found an a.s.sociation that seemed to be the weakest—Energy Warrior-Ma.s.seur a.s.sociation.

"I didn't know there was such an a.s.sociation."

Lu Ming was taken aback.

"Of course!"

"Since there is a Sword Card Master a.s.sociation, why can't there be a Ma.s.seur a.s.sociation?"

The man was upset.

However…

At the mention of this, he made a point to introduce the a.s.sociation.

Energy Warrior-Ma.s.seur a.s.sociation.

As the name suggested, it was a small a.s.sociation that was affiliated with the Energy Warriors a.s.sociation and majored in deftness and nimbleness.

In the past, a terrifying fire virus raged and countless cultivators were seriously injured. No one could save them, even clerics. In the end, an Energy Warrior used special techniques to attack the victims' back. His delicate moves and incredible energy managed to expel the fire elements!

Henceforth, this ability became popular.

The powerful Energy Warrior founded the Ma.s.seur a.s.sociation and it was pa.s.sed on to generation after generation.

"Well…"

Lu Ming paused briefly before he said, "Sorry for being presumptuous, but the blind ma.s.seur shop by the roadside…"

"Most of them belong to this a.s.sociation's industry," the man said truthfully.

Lu Ming was speechless.

Li Haoran was silent.

"Let's find another a.s.sociation."

Lu Ming felt somewhat helpless.

The Ma.s.seur a.s.sociation did not major in combat. He could not bear to challenge them…

Although all the cultivators under this a.s.sociation belonged to the Energy Warriors a.s.sociation that majored in physical fitness, they did not major in combat abilities and hence were simply sandbags!

Besides…

What if the other party sent a blind cultivator, should they retaliate?

He felt bad about fighting them!

"Oh?"

The man gave Lu Ming an appreciative look. He did not expect this person to be that considerate. Since that was the case, he would find someone who was suitable for them.

Hence…

He found the a.s.sociation that ranked third to last in terms of the size. "This will be your opponent, the Professional Airbender a.s.sociation."

Lu Ming was dumbstruck.

automobile repair[2]?

d.a.m.n!

Did China East Education[3]set up shop here?!

Hence…

He leaned in: "Elementalists a.s.sociation-Airbender Professional a.s.sociation!" was written on the name list.

…

[1] Project 211 is the Chinese government's new endeavor aimed at strengthening about 100 inst.i.tutions of higher education and key disciplinary areas as a national priority for the 21st century. Project 985 is to promote the development and reputation of the Chinese higher education system by founding world-cla.s.s universities in the 21st century.

[2] Automobile repair and Airbender have the same p.r.o.nunciation in Chinese.

[3] China East Education has an education inst.i.tution that provides hands-on auto repair skill training.