35: The second golden beast – Thunder Falcon

Lu Yuan's gaze fell upon the system panel.

The icon, which had already cooled down, emitted an enticing glow.

"Unique Talent: Guaranteed Gold Drop"

He couldn't wait any longer.

The baseline test was in three days.

Before then, he needed to turn this opportunity into tangible strength.

The dismissal bell rang.

Lu Yuan didn't return to the dormitory building.

He needed an absolutely safe place where he wouldn't be disturbed or discovered by anyone.

He ruthlessly passed on the previous toilet option; there was no other reason, it just felt disgusting.

Outside the school gate, in Jiangcheng's West District, there was a high-end card Club named "Starlight."

It was said that the private cultivation rooms there were equipped with military-grade protective shielding barriers.

Of course, the price was also extremely expensive.

One hour cost five hundred star coins.

Lu Yuan wasn't short on that kind of money now.

It's worth mentioning that Lu Yuan learned his lesson from last time; he climbed over the wall outside the old teaching building when entering and leaving the campus, not giving the Black Water Gang's informants any chances.

He took a taxi to the Starlight Club.

What met his eyes was an extremely magnificent sign, and those coming and going were all well-dressed Card Masters.

The interior decoration was even more extraordinary, exuding expensiveness everywhere.

Lu Yuan seemed a bit out of place, but as the saying goes, whoever pays is the boss!

"Hello, I need to rent a high-end private cultivation room."

The receptionist was a young lady in a professional uniform. Seeing Lu Yuan's student appearance, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but her excellent professional etiquette kept her smiling.

"Alright, sir. A high-end private cultivation room is five hundred star coins per hour, with a two-thousand deposit. How long do you need to rent it for?"

Lu Yuan thought for a moment. He heard that advanced cultivation rooms also came with combat dummies and specialized puppets, so perhaps he'd have a chance to try out skills.

"Then I'll rent it for two hours first."

card swipe, registration.

The receptionist handed him a metal room card.

"Cultivation Room B-307. I wish you a pleasant cultivation."

Lu Yuan took the room card and, led by a attendant, walked through a quiet corridor to a heavy metal door.

Swiped the card, opened the door.

The cultivation room wasn't large, only about ten square meters.

The walls were made of silver-gray metal with a cold gleam, inscribed with intricate energy patterns, through which Source Power faintly flowed.

In the center of the room, there was only a meditation cushion. A wooden stake and a display screen stood against the wall.

Besides that, there were some crystal balls for measuring Source Power, just like at school.

The rumors were false; there were no specialized puppets as he had imagined.

Lu Yuan closed the door. The metal door automatically locked, and the two-hour countdown began.

Lu Yuan calmed his mind and felt it.

The air inside seemed to be filled with a faint energy aura, indeed much denser than outside.

The soundproofing was excellent; no outside sounds could penetrate.

He walked to the center of the room and sat down cross-legged.

He took a deep breath, calming his mind.

He spread his palm.

Two cards lay quietly in his palm.

One was the "Shadow Mantis," entirely black, outlining the figure of a nimble mantis.

"Quality: White"

"Star Rating: Two-star"

The other was the "Thunderbird," with metallic-lustered wings and sharp eyes.

"Quality: White"

"Star Rating: Two-star"

These two were his carefully selected beloved cards.

His first Origin Card slot was already occupied by the "Raging Waves Sea Soul."

That gold two-star beast taming card granted him powerful defense, water domain control, and recovery abilities.

So, what did he need for his second Origin Card?

Speed! Reconnaissance! And, sufficiently powerful surprise attack capability!

The "Shadow Mantis" specialized in stealth assassination, with a pair of bone blades for sharp attacks.

The "Thunderbird" possessed lightning attacks, high-speed gliding, and aerial reconnaissance capabilities.

Both had their advantages and disadvantages.

But considering that the "Raging Waves Sea Soul" leaned towards positional warfare, Lu Yuan needed a tamed beast that could quickly cut in, was flexible, mobile, and could help him escape.

The "Gliding" and "Eagle Eye" of the "Thunderbird" undoubtedly better suited his needs.

Moreover, the lightning attribute offered more explosive attack power.

It was decided!

With the "Thunderbird" as the base and the "Shadow Mantis" as the material!

Target—the second Origin Card slot!

Lu Yuan closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into his body.

He communicated with the system deep within his mind.

"System, activate 'Unique Talent: Guaranteed Gold Drop'!"

"Select the 'Thunderbird' card as the base and the 'Shadow Mantis' card as the material!"

"Perform origin fusion evolution!"

Buzz—!

A familiar tremor rose from the depths of his soul!

It was even more intense than when he fused the "Raging Waves Sea Soul" last time!

The "Shadow Mantis" card in Lu Yuan's hand instantly transformed into a pure white light, which, as if drawn by a force, merged into his glabella!

Immediately after, the "Thunderbird" card also shone brightly!

The white light surged into Lu Yuan's body, and after a brief pause, it rushed directly towards the empty, faintly glowing new card slot next to it!

The second Origin Card slot!

Boom!!!

The moment the "Thunderbird's" white light touched the card slot, a golden light, far more dazzling and violent than when he fused the "Raging Waves Sea Soul" last time, erupted!

That gold was no longer pure gold!

Within it, countless fine, leaping, destructive silver-white electric snakes intertwined!

Zzzzz—! Crackle—!

It was as if thousands of thunderbolts were exploding within the card slot!

The sounds of wind and thunder roared!

The protective shielding barrier of the entire cultivation room was instantly activated to its maximum!

On the silver-gray metal walls, the energy patterns flashed wildly!

Ripples, visible to the naked eye, even spread across the barrier's surface.

Lu Yuan grunted, his face instantly turning pale!

His Source Power was drained again.

This power was too strong!

Even the aftershocks of the fusion made him feel immense pressure!

The golden light grew increasingly intense, almost engulfing the entire cultivation room!

Electric snakes danced wildly, and thunder boomed!

It was as if an ancient thunder beast was being nurtured and awakened within that tiny card slot!

Lu Yuan held his mind firm, fully guiding this violent power, confining it within the second Origin Card slot.

He could feel a brand-new consciousness, filled with destructive power, rapidly forming!

Sharp! Swift! Violent!

That was the will of the sky and thunder!

He didn't know how long passed.

Perhaps an instant, perhaps an eternity.

The violent golden thunder light finally slowly receded.

All the electric snakes, all the sounds of wind and thunder, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, merged into the center of the second Origin Card slot.

There, a brand new card quietly floated.

The card was entirely a dazzling gold, with fine electric arcs flowing along its edges.

On the card face, a magnificent raptor was depicted!

Its body was more agile and streamlined than the "Thunderbird."

Its feathers were like cast gold, shimmering with a metallic luster.

Its eyes were as sharp as a falcon's, seemingly capable of piercing through space, with silver-white electric light flickering within them!

Its sharp talons gleamed with a cold light that could tear through anything!

Faint lightning power coiled around its body, exuding a heart-palpitating pressure!

"Ding!"

"Detected host performing origin fusion evolution..."

"Unique Talent: Guaranteed Gold Drop activated..."

"card quality guaranteed to be raised to gold!"

"Fusion successful!"

"Congratulations to the host for obtaining a brand new gold three-star Origin Card—'Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon'!"

gold!

Three-star!

Lu Yuan's little heart pounded.

Indeed!

Using a two-star white card as the base, fusing another two-star white card, under the effect of the "Guaranteed Gold Drop" talent, ultimately produced a higher-star gold card!

gold three-star! "Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon"!

This was even higher level than the "Raging Waves Sea Soul"!

A powerful soul connection was instantly established between Lu Yuan and the "Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon."

He could clearly feel the untamed will of the "Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon."

It was completely different from the profound resilience of the "Raging Waves Sea Soul."

The "Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon" gave him a feeling of just three words—

Fast! Accurate! Ruthless!

Lu Yuan's mind stirred, and he checked the detailed information of the "Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon."

"Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon"

"Quality: gold (Wow! gold Legend!)"

"Star Rating: Three-star"

"Type: beast taming card"

"Species: Elemental / Thunder Falcon / Avian Variant"

"Status: Origin Card Slot Binding (Lu Yuan), Soul Connection 31% (continuously increasing)"

"Skill 1: ???"

"Skill 2: ???"

"Skill 3: ???"

(Origin Card Slot not yet successfully bound, unable to visualize card information)

"Notes: The darling of the sky, the embodiment of lightning! Its speed surpasses the swift wind; its gaze locks onto death; its talons tear through the firmament!"

Three question marks?

Lu Yuan was slightly stunned.

He then realized.

Perhaps because it had just fused, the skill information had not yet fully appeared.

It was different from the little green turtle at the beginning, which evolved after becoming an Origin Card.

But this did not prevent him from feeling the terrifying power contained in this card!

He feared it would be another Source Power guzzler.

As time passed,

The two Origin Card slots, like two suns, now shone brightly in his spiritual world!

On the left, there was the deep and heavy golden turtle shell phantom, exuding a majestic aura like the sea.

On the right, there was the sharp and swift golden thunder falcon phantom, wreathed in destructive lightning power!

One primarily for defense and control, one primarily for extreme speed and surprise attacks!

One guarding the earth and oceans, one soaring through the nine heavens with thunder!

Twin gold cards!

Lu Yuan couldn't help but think of that classic quote—"And... who... else!?"

Lu Yuan exhaled a turbid breath. He could feel his body's weakness,

But more than that, there was an unprecedented sense of fulfillment. With two gold Origin Cards, his strength had definitely undergone earth-shattering changes!

He was now more than ten times stronger than before entering the Beast Hunting Zone!

It was just... his current situation.

Lu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.

The secret of having two gold cards was even more significant than having one gold card!

Once exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

What was the Black Water Gang?

Even those powerful families would probably be alarmed!

It seemed he needed to find a backer, at least so he wouldn't have to constantly worry about being harassed by the Black Water Gang.

Lu Yuan stood up. The cultivation room's protective barrier had returned to calm, and the energy patterns on the walls had dimmed.

Although the commotion earlier was significant, it was fortunately completely isolated.

He glanced at the time; more than half an hour had passed.

Taking advantage of this rich environment, he needed to recover his Source Power as quickly as possible.

He took out a recovery potion and began to meditate.

As for the specific skills of the "Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon"... once it was bound and summoned, he would naturally know.

Lu Yuan closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into his body.

His heart was filled with anticipation.

The baseline test in three days... it was time to make a splash.

And also, to make certain people weigh their own worth.

Were they qualified to devour him?