164: The allure of gold cards and the diverse reactions of people!

The next day, early morning.

Outside the entrance of the Lost Water Realm Secret Realm, it was already packed with people.

A dense throng of people moved about, with various standard floating vehicles and modified off-road vehicles almost overflowing the open space outside the temporary camp.

Families, large companies, and trade associations with names and reputations within Canglan Province had almost all sent people over.

There were even many forces that had heard the news from neighboring provinces and rushed over.

Coveting this grand feast!

"Have you heard? That kid Lu Yuan, he's trapped inside!"

"Tsk tsk, what a pity, so young, and they say he even had two gold cards!"

"Pity my ass! He died, so those two gold cards become ownerless, don't they?!"

"Raging Waves Sea Soul! Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon! My heavens, any one of them is enough to make a family rise!"

Lu Yuan's "death" and the lost gold cards—this news spread like wildfire throughout Canglan Province overnight, and then expanded outwards with a prairie fire momentum... Provincial Hospital, VIP ward.

Zhou Wanxiong looked haggard.

He had just sent off the ashes of two of his brothers.

"Master, please accept my condolences..." The butler whispered comfortingly from the side.

Until—

"Patriarch! Big news! It came from the Lost Water Realm!"

"Lu Yuan... Lu Yuan died inside! And his two gold cards are very likely still in the Secret Realm!"

Zhou Wanxiong's originally dim eyes, at the moment he heard the words "gold cards," suddenly burst forth with two sharp gleams!

As if a dying person had clutched a life-saving straw!

He abruptly sat up from the hospital bed, his movements so swift that there was no trace of his previous dejection.

"Is the news true?!"

"Absolutely true! Now everyone outside is going crazy! All the major families have sent people over!"

Zhou Wanxiong took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently.

Sadness?

What was that?

His mind raced.

His two brothers were dead, unable to be resurrected.

But if he could obtain Lu Yuan's two gold cards, the Zhou Family's losses would not only be compensated but might even reach a new level!

"Immediately gather our people! All clan members above Tier 3 who can move, assemble!"

Zhou Wanxiong's voice regained its former authority.

"Lost Water Realm! Our Zhou Family will definitely obtain it!"

He muttered to himself, "Dajiang, Dahai, I will use that kid's gold cards to comfort your spirits in heaven! To make your deaths... more valuable!"

That extremely realistic and mercenary face was exposed without reservation at this moment.

The butler looked at his master in this state, opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing, just silently retreated to make arrangements... Lost Water Realm entrance.

The Yao Family's team almost occupied the best position.

Yao Tianxiao personally led the team, followed by dozens of Yao Family elites.

Yao Tianbi stood beside him, her expression complex.

They had almost mobilized half of the family's strength.

Not far away, the Zhou Family's team had also assembled, with Zhou Wanxiong personally overseeing, his gaze fixed intently on the Secret Realm entrance.

The Deyun Hall team, led by a middle-aged beautiful woman, also secured a spot.

Even more eye-catching was the Canglan Academy team.

Over a hundred young students, dressed in uniform academy attire, led by several mentors, stood in neat rows, full of vigor.

The leading mentor was spitting enthusiastically as he delivered a "pre-battle mobilization."

"Students! The rule-based transformation of the Lost Water Realm this time is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"The Secret Realm is rich in Source Power, and newly generated cards and materials are everywhere!"

"This is both a practical training exercise and a rich outdoor study tour! Everyone must seize this opportunity to bring glory to the academy and secure resources for yourselves!"

Most of the students looked excited, eager to try their hands.

Only a few sharp-minded individuals vaguely sensed the unspoken implications in the mentor's words.

As well as the greed in the eyes of the surrounding "socialites."

It definitely isn't that simple!

The most astonishing display came from the Provincial Government.

Dozens of armored hovercraft, emblazoned with the Alliance emblem, cordoned off an area.

Card Masters in identical combat uniforms exuded an aura of iron-blooded ferocity.

At the forefront, there were even several figures wearing the unique dark gold combat uniforms of the Ten Thousand Frontiers, their auras unfathomable.

Provincial Governor stood at the front of the team, his expression solemn.

Publicly, it was announced as a cooperative investigation to recover the remains of victims.

In reality, everyone understood that they were more interested in the gold cards Lu Yuan might have left behind.

And... that "supreme object" that had been glimpsed once but not successfully contained.

After the rule-based transformation, would that thing appear in the form of a gold card or some special treasure?

This was the true purpose of the Ten Thousand Frontiers's presence.

"Everyone!"

Provincial Governor cleared his throat, holding a microphone.

"After our technical personnel's overnight efforts, the rule-based transformation of the Lost Water Realm has been initially stabilized!"

"A permanent teleportation anchor point has also been successfully established inside the Secret Realm!"

He pointed to the giant teleportation array, just completed and glowing with a faint blue light, behind him.

"From today onwards, the Lost Water Realm will be officially opened as a Grade B resource Secret Realm, officially certified by Canglan Province, to all eligible Card Masters!"

(Secret Realms are divided into Special A, A, B, C, and D, 5 grades, classified by size and energy level. Grade B resource Secret Realms are the highest level Secret Realms that civilian Card Masters can access; the Nine Heavens Secret Realm is a Grade A Secret Realm.)

"Of course, within the Secret Realm, dangers still lurk everywhere. Please assess your own capabilities and pay attention to safety!"

After finishing his official speech.

Provincial Governor no longer delayed, raising his voice: "The Lost Water Realm teleportation array, now—open!"

"Buzz—!"

The giant teleportation array glowed brightly, and stable spatial fluctuations spread out.

"Charge!!!"

Someone shouted first.

The next moment, the crowd surged madly towards the teleportation array!

"Don't push!!"

"Damn it, who stepped on my foot!"

"The gold card is mine!"

The scene briefly fell into chaos.

Countless Card Masters vied with each other, fearing to fall behind, their extreme desire for power and wealth displayed vividly at this moment... Nine Heavens Secret Realm, March Forest.

Lu Yuan yawned and stretched.

The "bark fashion" he wore looked even shabbier after a night of tossing and turning.

Even some private parts could be glimpsed from different angles!

"Junior Schoolmate Lu Yuan, here."

Lin Wei rummaged through her backpack for a while and tossed over a neatly folded combat uniform.

"This is a spare uniform I got dirty in the swamp area before. It has some mud spots, and I don't want it anymore. If you don't mind, you can wear it for now."

Her tone was casual, with a cheerful smile on her face.

Lu Yuan took it and saw that it was a dark green lightweight combat uniform. Although it showed some signs of wear, its material was tough, far superior to the bark he was wearing by an unknown number of times.

"Thank you, Senior Schoolmate Lin Wei!" Lu Yuan was overjoyed.

"This... how can I accept this?" He said politely, but his hands were quick, and he immediately found a secluded tree to change behind.

The combat uniform was slightly too large for him, especially the shoulders were a bit long, but at least he was no longer barely clothed.

A faint, subtle fragrance emanated from the combat uniform, likely the scent of a cleaning agent Lin Wei often used.

Lu Yuan took a deep breath, feeling much more refreshed.

"Haha, Junior Schoolmate looks quite decent in that outfit!" Shi Tai grinned.

Raimond also nodded: "Hmm, much better than your bark."

Lu Yuan chuckled, stretched his limbs, and felt much more comfortable.

"Senior Schoolmate Raimond, are we still tracking the Void Shadow Stealth Leopard today?"

"Of course." Raimond said, "That beast is very cunning, but we have already locked down its approximate activity range. We must find it today."

Qin Feng took out several special talismans, and with a slight release of Source Power from his fingertips, began to draw something on them.

"The last place the Void Shadow Stealth Leopard appeared was in a rocky slope three kilometers to the west. I suspect its lair is nearby."

"Alright, let's go!" Raimond waved his hand...