36: A crazy test from Yao

Ding!

Origin Card Slot successfully bound!

Heaven-bestowed Source Power gift, Source Power limit +12!

A warm current emerged from thin air, instantly flowing through Lu Yuan's limbs and bones.

The dry Source Power pool was rapidly filled as if after a long drought, and it continued to expand.

The originally solid bottleneck of a nine-star apprentice shattered like paper in front of this power!

Boom!

It was as if some invisible shackles had been broken.

Lu Yuan's body shook, his mental power highly concentrated, clearly seeing inside his body.

The scale representing the Source Power limit soared from 91 points!

95... 100... 103!

Finally, it steadily stopped at 103 points!

Second-Tier Apprentice Card Master!

It's done!

What surprised him even more was that with the breakthrough in rank, in the Origin Card slot area of his spiritual sea,

besides the Raging Waves Sea Soul and the recently acquired Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon,

two brand new, glowing empty card slots appeared!

A Second-Tier Card Master can accommodate two Origin Card slots! For him, doubling it meant four!

Moreover, the benefits of breaking through a major realm were not limited to this; his previously scarce Source Power was also rapidly replenished, as if he had consumed several source cards.

Source Power: 56 / 103

Source Power: 70 / 103

Source Power: 91 / 103

... Source Power: 103 / 103

Lu Yuan felt the surging power within him.

Source Power circulated faster, his perception range was wider, and his thoughts were clearer and more agile.

Is this the power of the Second-Tier?

It truly cannot be compared to the apprentice stage!

He immediately immersed his mind into the second gold Origin Card he had just bound.

Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon

Quality: gold (Wow! gold Legend!)

Star Rating: Three Stars

Type: beast taming card

Race: Elemental / Thunder Falcon / Avian Variant

Status: Perfect!

Skill 1: Thunder Shadow Sprint (Passive, greatly enhances flight speed and reaction ability, body covered in lightning afterimages during flight, possessing certain interference and defensive effects)

Skill 2: Falcon Eye Lock-on (Active, consumes Source Power for ultra-long-range lock-on, vision can penetrate some obstacles, locked target will be affixed with a persistent 'Penetration Mark', which cannot be dispelled by conventional means)

Skill 3: Thunder Claw (Active, condenses a large amount of lightning power in its claws, launching a high-speed penetrating tearing attack, dealing extra damage to 'Penetration Marked' targets. Source Power consumption: based on 100% channeling, the more channeled, the higher the intensity)

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

Strong! Too strong!

Passive acceleration, lock-on mark, burst thrust!

This is simply the perfect aerial assassin template!

Lu Yuan's heart surged, and he couldn't help but want to immediately try to communicate with this gold Origin Card.

However, as soon as the thought arose,

a strong premonition of his Source Power being instantly drained came from the depths of his soul.

It was as if if he dared to do so, the Origin Card slot would immediately suck him dry.

Lu Yuan chuckled awkwardly, temporarily abandoning this tempting idea.

It seemed that summoning a three-star gold Origin Card was still too much for his current total Source Power.

Last time, he thought he had an external source card to replenish consumption, but it only lasted for an instant, and the source card directly shattered.

However, he could clearly feel that

between the turtle shell phantom of the Raging Waves Sea Soul and the thunder falcon phantom of the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon,

a peculiar interaction seemed to have occurred.

They were no longer distinct but subtly circulated energy, familiarizing themselves with each other, and responding to one another.

What surprised him even more was that as he advanced to the Second-Tier,

the Sea Soul Tenacity recovery effect inherent in the Raging Waves Sea Soul card also seemed to have been strengthened!

The recovery speed of Source Power was faster than before!

The increase in the total limit also indirectly enhanced the endurance of this divine defense card.

With two gold cards in hand, the world is mine... cough cough, low-key, low-key.

He glanced at the time; about ten minutes were left.

It's about time to head back to school... Lu Yuan walked out of Cultivation Room B-307 feeling refreshed.

The new power flowing within him filled him with unprecedented confidence.

Just as he reached the corridor corner,

a familiar figure walked towards him.

"Lu Yuan?"

A clear and pleasant voice carried a hint of surprise.

It was Yao Xiao.

She was wearing a neat white tracksuit, outlining her graceful figure, and there were fine beads of sweat on her forehead, clearly having just finished her cultivation.

What was rare was that she wasn't wearing a mask this time!

"Yao Xiao? Are you also cultivating here?" Lu Yuan was also a little surprised.

The Starfall Club's expenses were not low, and he didn't expect to meet a classmate here.

Yao Xiao blinked her beautiful large eyes, a mischievous curve playing on her lips.

"My family owns it, so of course I cultivate here."

"Next time you come, just tell them my name, and you'll get a 50% discount."

Lu Yuan: "..."

Good heavens, so she was the dean's daughter.

"Then I thank you," Lu Yuan said politely.

Yao Xiao walked up to him, scrutinized him for a few moments, her pretty brows slightly furrowed.

"What have you... been doing these past few days?"

"I heard that the Black Water Gang... seems to be looking for you everywhere, making quite a fuss."

Lu Yuan's heart stirred, but he didn't answer directly.

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Just some minor trouble, it's already resolved."

Yao Xiao looked at him suspiciously.

Minor trouble?

Could something that made a local gang like the Black Water Gang almost entirely mobilize to search for him be minor trouble?

What secret was this guy hiding?

And... wait a minute!

When did this guy advance to the Second-Tier?

Wasn't he a seven-star apprentice last time?!

She increasingly felt that this classmate was not simple and definitely harbored a big secret!

Yao Xiao suppressed the urge to press further and changed the subject:

"I'm also heading back to school; want to ride in my car together?"

Lu Yuan looked at the sky, thought about the Black Water Gang, and readily agreed.

"Then I'll trouble you."

...Inside the luxurious private car.

Soft leather seats, a constant comfortable temperature, isolated from the noisy world outside.

Yao Xiao tilted her head, watching the fleeting streetscape outside, and asked seemingly casually:

"Lu Yuan, tell me honestly, why was the Black Water Gang looking for you so ostentatiously?"

"Did you... get something good in the Beast Hunting Zone?"

Lu Yuan leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest.

"You could say that, a small encounter."

Yao Xiao turned her head, her beautiful eyes fixed on him.

"A small encounter? One that made the Black Water Gang chase after you at all costs?"

"One that allowed a seven-star apprentice to transform into a Second-Tier Apprentice Card Master?"

"You're really tight-lipped, aren't you?"

Lu Yuan opened his eyes and spread his hands.

"It's not that I'm tight-lipped; it's just that some things, if I told you now, you wouldn't believe them."

"Moreover, knowing them wouldn't do you any good."

Yao Xiao pouted slightly, looking a bit displeased.

"Hmph! Being a riddle-teller, huh?"

"Believe it or not, I'll throw you out of the car!"

Although her tone was playful, Lu Yuan could feel that she was genuinely curious.

"Mercy, my lady!"

Lu Yuan quickly begged for mercy, a helpless smile on his face.

"How about this, wait until the class placement assessment three days later, and then you'll know."

Yao Xiao's eyes lit up at his words.

Assessment?

What was he planning to do at the assessment?

She no longer pressed, merely looking at Lu Yuan thoughtfully, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

She looked radiant, lost in thought... At the entrance of Qingteng High School.

A sleek, expensive black private car slowly drove into the school gate, attracting the attention of many students.

When the car door opened, and the masked Yao Xiao and Lu Yuan stepped out one after another,

a flurry of whispers immediately erupted around them.

"Holy cow! Isn't that School Beauty Yao? Who's that next to her?"

"It seems to be... Lu Yuan? How could he be with School Beauty Yao?"

"And he rode back in her private car? What's their relationship?"

In a corner not far away.

Yellow Hair was puffing on a cigarette, chatting idly with a few of his underlings.

When he saw Lu Yuan getting out of the car, he froze instantly as if struck by lightning!

The cigarette in his mouth fell to the ground with a "plop."

"Damn! Lu... Lu Yuan?!"

Yellow Hair rubbed his eyes, unable to believe it!

This kid... wasn't he cornered in the wilderness by Bald Head Qiang and his crew?

How could he be back alive?!

And he came back so swaggeringly in a private car?!

Yellow Hair didn't bother to pick up his cigarette, fumbling to pull out his phone.

"Hello! Brother She! Brother She! This is bad!"

Zhao She's impatient voice came from the other end of the phone: "What are you howling about! I'm already annoyed!"

Yellow Hair urgently said: "Brother She! Lu Yuan! That kid is back! I just saw him get out of a car with my own eyes!"

"What?!"

Zhao She's voice instantly rose, filled with disbelief.

"You said Lu Yuan is back?! Are you sure?!"

"Absolutely! Brother She! Right at the school gate! Lots of people saw him!"

"The classmates next to me were even saying something about School Beauty Yao's car..."

Zhao She was silent for a few seconds, a million expletives running through his mind.

"I understand. Keep a close eye on him and report any movements immediately!"

Hanging up the phone, Zhao She's face was so gloomy it could drip water.

Lu Yuan actually managed to escape from Bald Head Qiang's encirclement?

And even got involved with the Yao Family?

What exactly was this kid's background?

He didn't dare to delay and immediately dialed another number.

"Brother Ya."

"What is it?"

"Brother Ya, the target... Lu Yuan, he's back in Jiangcheng," Zhao She reported cautiously, "Yellow Hair just saw him; he returned to school in the Yao Family's car."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the communicator.

Then, a cold anger, almost overflowing through the phone screen, erupted.

"Useless!"

"Bald Head Qiang and those useless guys! So many people couldn't even stop a student! And they let him run back to the city!"

"It seems I've been too lenient with them usually!"

Zhao She didn't even dare to breathe.

"Brother Ya, please calm down..."

"Calm down?" Black Crow sneered, "With him back in Jiangcheng, it won't be so easy to make a move!"

"That card..."

Black Crow's voice was filled with unwillingness and greed.

"Zhao She, keep a close eye on that Lu Yuan for me!"

"Since he's back, he shouldn't expect to have peace!"

"Yes! Brother Ya!"

...