38: Gold Card! Even if you're far away, you can still get a Gold Card!!

On the high platform.

Deputy Director Li of the Municipal Education Bureau pushed up his glasses and quietly asked the principal beside him.

"Old Zhang, this student... is named Lu Yuan?"

The principal quickly nodded, a proud smile on his face.

"Yes, Deputy Director Li, he is a student from Class 7 of our high school's third year. His strength has always been among the top. I've been paying close attention to him for a long time, and I didn't expect him to give me such a big surprise this time. He's a talent who accumulates steadily before bursting forth!"

Deputy Director Li nodded, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes.

"Source Power of 103, and his control is even more astonishing... He's a promising talent, keep a close eye on him."

Beside him, Director Wang of Xinghe Group also showed a look of interest.

Homeroom Teacher looked at Lu Yuan, unsure how to describe her feelings.

Drugs?

No!

This was definitely not a level that could be achieved by drugs!

Such exquisite control over Source Power required talent, and comprehension!

What exactly happened to this child?

The second test ended.

More than half of the students were eliminated again.

Less than a hundred remained.

They would proceed to the final and most crucial test—simulated combat.

In the center of the auditorium, dozens of silver-white metal pods rose.

These were the latest virtual combat simulators provided by the Card Master Association.

They could simulate various monsters and combat scenarios.

"The final test: combat simulation!"

"You will enter a virtual space and fight against monsters generated by the system."

"The system will give you a comprehensive score based on your performance."

"Scoring criteria include: combat duration, Source Power consumption, tactical application, card synergy, etc."

"Difficulty is self-selected, divided into: Easy, Normal, Difficult, Nightmare."

"Note, the higher the difficulty selected, the higher the base score, but the greater the risk of failure!"

"Now, choose your opponent!"

Students stepped forward one after another to choose their difficulty.

Most people chose Normal difficulty, fighting against First-Tier mid- or late-stage monsters.

A few confident eight-star and nine-star apprentices chose Difficult difficulty, fighting against peak First-Tier monsters.

As for Nightmare difficulty, no one touched it.

That was usually reserved for Second-Tier Card Masters.

Even Yao Xiao chose Difficult difficulty. She didn't seem to focus much on actual combat, though her theoretical strength was quite good; it was also possible she was playing dumb to hide her true abilities.

In short, among the many Second-Tier "seed" candidates, only Lu Yuan intended to choose the Nightmare level.

Finally, it was Lu Yuan's turn.

He pressed the Nightmare option without hesitation.

Immediately, gossip erupted around him.

"He actually dared to choose Nightmare?"

"He just got promoted to Second-Tier, right? His Source Power isn't even stable yet, it's too risky."

"He's probably trying to get a high score."

"I curse show-offs to have a bad end..."

Lu Yuan walked into a simulation pod, and the hatch slowly closed.

It was his first time seeing such high-tech equipment. The first thought that came to his mind was that this thing must be worth a lot of star coins... His thoughts drifted, and the scene before him changed.

He appeared on a virtual grassland.

【Scenario: Gale Grassland】

【Opponent: Second-Tier Gale Wolf (Two-star, Green quality) x3】

【Difficulty: Nightmare】

【Mission: Defeat all opponents, Card Master must not be injured】

Woof—!

Three wolf howls rang out.

Three swift Gale Wolves with bluish-gray fur burst out from the grass, forming a triangular formation to surround Lu Yuan.

Their eyes were fierce, drool dripped, and they exuded a bloodthirsty aura.

Extremely fast!

As expected of Second-Tier monsters!

And there were three of them right from the start!

A Card Master who had just entered Second-Tier would probably be flustered in this situation.

But Lu Yuan was different; days of hunting had tempered his personality.

He had fought wolf packs before, and to be honest, the pressure was just average.

He didn't even summon his gold card immediately.

With a thought.

Buzz!

A white card appeared.

【Wind Bamboo Worm】!

A small green insect appeared out of thin air, immediately flapped its wings and flew up, emitting a buzzing sound, trying to attract the attention of the Gale Wolves.

Indeed.

The gazes of the three Gale Wolves were immediately drawn to this seemingly fragile little insect.

In their simple minds, getting rid of this annoying little thing first was only natural.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three bluish-gray shadows, like arrows shot from a bow, simultaneously pounced on the 【Wind Bamboo Worm】 in the air!

Stupid wolves... Now's the time to get you all together!

Lu Yuan moved,

"Come out!"

Buzz—!!!

An energy fluctuation far more intense than any previous summoning suddenly erupted!

Blinding gold light instantly filled the entire virtual grassland!

Screech—!

Accompanied by a sharp whooshing sound and violent thunder!

A magnificent gold raptor appeared out of thin air!

【Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon】!

Its body wasn't massive, but its gold-forged feathers, streamlined body, eyes as sharp as lightning, and the silver-white electric arcs swirling around it all exuded a terrifying, heart-stopping pressure!

Just the moment it appeared, the three fierce Gale Wolves' movements suddenly froze!

Their eyes revealed the instinctive fear of living creatures!

But it was too late!

【Falcon Eye Lock-on】!

Lu Yuan's mind stirred, not even needing to deliberately guide it.

In the sharp gold eyes of the 【Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon】, an electric light flashed!

Three almost imperceptible energy marks instantly branded themselves onto the three Gale Wolves!

Their movements, trajectories, and weaknesses became incredibly clear in Lu Yuan's perception!

The next moment!

The 【Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon】 moved!

There was no flashy skill wind-up!

Only an incredibly fast gold lightning bolt!

Zzzzt—!

The gold light flashed and was gone in an instant!

As if it had pierced through space!

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Three dull thuds of a sharp weapon entering flesh rang out almost simultaneously!

The three Gale Wolves, still maintaining their pouncing posture, suddenly stiffened!

Their heads were instantly pierced by an invisible force!

Blood spurted wildly!

Their life force was instantly cut off!

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Three corpses fell powerlessly onto the grass.

The entire process, from the appearance of the 【Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon】 to the end of the battle.

Less than one second!

The virtual grassland returned to silence.

Only the gold Thunder Falcon remained, standing proudly in the air, electric arcs leaping around it, exuding a destructive aura.

【Ding! Battle Over!】

【Score: SSS+】

【Time: 3.8 seconds】

【Source Power Consumption: 98 points】

【Evaluation: Crushing Victory!】

Outside the simulation pod.

Inside the grand auditorium.

Everyone stared dumbfounded at the combat replay from Lu Yuan's simulation pod on the central big screen.

That dazzling gold light!

That magnificent thunder raptor!

That terrifying strike, so fast it instantly killed three two-star monsters!

The screen froze on the proud figure of the 【Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon】.

Silence lasted for three seconds.

Then—

Boom!!!

The entire auditorium, as if a bomb had been thrown into it, instantly erupted!

"gold... gold card!!!"

A student shrieked!

"Holy crap! It's a gold card! It really is a gold card!"

"Three-star gold card! That pressure! It's definitely a three-star gold card!"

"Lu Yuan... he actually possesses a three-star gold beast taming card?!"

"No wonder! No wonder his Source Power increased so fast! No wonder his control was so strong!"

"Oh my god! Our school has produced a genius with a gold card!"

The students went completely wild!

The teachers were no less excited.

Homeroom Teacher covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes wide and round.

gold card!

It was actually a gold card!

No wonder! No wonder!

On the high platform.

All the leaders had lost their previous composure!

They suddenly stood up, staring intently at the screen, their eyes filled with shock, excitement, and undisguised greed!

gold card!

What did this mean?

It meant unlimited potential!

It meant a future powerhouse!

It meant huge investment value!

Everyone had different thoughts.

"Quick! Go and investigate! All information on this Lu Yuan! Family background! Social connections! Everything!" Deputy Director Li practically roared!

The surrounding leaders and corporate representatives also took out their phones, issuing similar commands to their subordinates!

In the crowd.

Yao Xiao looked at the gold figure on the screen, suddenly understanding.

So... this was his confidence?

No wonder he could remain so calm when facing the Black Water Gang's pursuit.

No wonder he dared to say that she would know after the test in three days.

This guy... he hid it really well!

Since when? Last Friday, over a week ago?

Could a single gold card really make a seven-star apprentice skyrocket to a Second-Tier trainee?

A playful smile unconsciously curved her lips.

Things were getting more and more interesting.

In a corner.

An inconspicuous teacher quietly took out his phone, composed a message, and sent it out.

【Target confirmed to possess a gold card, three-star, thunder-attribute avian type, suspected to have been obtained in the Beast Hunting Zone, report to Brother Ya immediately!】

The simulation pod door opened.

Lu Yuan walked out.

What greeted him was the fervor and madness of the entire auditorium.

He knew.

From this moment on.

His peaceful life was completely over.

Trouble and opportunity would arrive simultaneously.

But he was ready!