46: Why didn't you say so sooner?

The sedan drove out of the abandoned factory, returning to Jiangcheng territory.

The thrilling scene at the Star Brilliance Secret Market just now still lingered in their minds.

"Thank you just now," Lu Yuan said first, looking at Yao Xiao beside him.

If she hadn't stepped forward in time, invoked the Yao Family's name, and coincidentally run into the Secret Market's patrol team, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

That effeminate man would have definitely killed him on the spot.

Yao Xiao shook her head, her face filled with worry.

"What are you thanking me for? You're in big trouble."

Her tone was serious as she began to explain:

"That was White Paper Fan, the Black Water Gang's second-in-command, Black Crow's strategist."

"This person's strength is at least at the peak of the third-tier, and he's incredibly cunning, especially skilled at manipulating people's minds and schemes."

"Behind him is Black Crow, the boss of the Black Water Gang, a true Fourth-Rank Elite Card Master, ruthless and one of the most formidable figures in Jiangcheng's underground world."

Yao Xiao sighed.

"Today was just White Paper Fan testing the waters. What about tomorrow? Black Crow will definitely use stronger forces, or even act personally."

"Moreover, it's not just the Black Water Gang; your gold card was exposed during the assessment test, so many people are probably eyeing you."

"White Paper Fan's appearance at the Star Brilliance Secret Market today might not have been a coincidence; he might have been there for you."

"The next few days in Jiangcheng won't be peaceful. Who knows what other forces will surface."

Lu Yuan nodded; what he worried about most were his parents.

They were just ordinary people; getting involved in a Card Master's conflict would have unimaginable consequences.

He, on the other hand, could temporarily hide in the Venus Tower. The Honor Class's security level was very high; no matter how rampant the Black Water Gang was, they wouldn't dare openly break into the core area of a key high school to kill and steal cards.

"At worst, I'll just hide in school and not go out," Lu Yuan said in a low voice.

Yao Xiao chuckled, seemingly trying to lighten the mood.

"If it really comes to it, you can hide in my room. The Venus Tower's girls' dormitory has even better security, you know."

Lu Yuan ignored her joke, his expression turning serious.

He needed to assess the risks and, more importantly, understand the potential merchants.

"Yao Xiao, what exactly is your family's background?"

He only knew before that the Yao Family owned a card shop and was well-off.

But today at the Star Brilliance Secret Market, when Yao Xiao revealed the name "Canglan Province Yao Corporation," even White Paper Fan was clearly apprehensive.

This was definitely not the influence an ordinary wealthy merchant family could possess.

Yao Xiao lifted her chin, a hint of pride in her voice.

"Hmph, you have good judgment."

"Our Yao Family, throughout the entire Canglan Province, is considered a prominent Card Master family and business group."

"Jiangcheng here is a relatively important branch."

"My father is one of the heads of the Jiangcheng branch, mainly responsible for the channel operations of the Alliance's online card mall and some physical industries. He himself is also a Fourth-Tier Card Master."

A Fourth-Tier Card Master!

Lu Yuan's heart trembled slightly.

This was already on the same level as Black Crow, the boss of the Black Water Gang!

No wonder White Paper Fan had reservations.

"This is just the Jiangcheng branch," Yao Xiao continued, her pride even more evident.

"Our main branch in Canglan Province City is truly formidable! With an ancestor presiding over it, he is a true Sixth Rank Grandmasters Card Master!"

Sixth-Rank! Grandmaster!

Lu Yuan gasped, 'Why didn't you tell me you had such a background sooner?'

'Why are you so low-key?'

'Why don't you show off normally? Why?'

'Do you know how long I've been looking for a big shot?'

'Do you know?!'

'You should have said something sooner!?'

Sixth-Rank! That's an existence at the very top of the pyramid in the entire Canglan Province!

Deputy Director Li of the Municipal Education Bureau and Principal Zhang Chengye probably weren't even fit to carry the shoes of a Sixth Rank Grandmasters!

"The main branch has deep foundations, even possessing unmerged gold beast taming cards! It's said they're the super-aggressive kind..."

She suddenly clapped her hand over her mouth, realizing she seemed to have said too much, and quickly changed her words.

"Ahem, anyway, they're very powerful! Not comparable to local minor forces like the Black Water Gang."

Lu Yuan looked at her deeply, his eyes filled with resentment.

He thought of borrowing cards when he was reborn, of her constant reminders, of her repeatedly defending him today, even at the risk of directly confronting White Paper Fan.

Besides her father's instructions, perhaps there were other factors?

Finally—

Lu Yuan suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice, his warm breath almost brushing Yao Xiao's earlobe.

"Do you want it?"

Yao Xiao's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and she abruptly retreated half a step, hitting the car door.

She was both shy and angry, glaring at Lu Yuan, her ears completely red.

"Lu Yuan! You... you pervert! Are you trying to die?!"

What was this guy thinking?!

At a time like this, he was still making such jokes!

"I'm talking about the gold card!" Lu Yuan said, speechless, pointing to his chest, "Doesn't your main branch have one? You want one too, right?"

"..."

Yao Xiao froze, then reacted, her embarrassment deepening, and she stomped her foot hard.

"None of your business!"

Can't this guy speak more clearly!

How embarrassing!

But... a gold card... who wouldn't want one?

However, she also knew that a treasure of that level, even in the main branch, wasn't something a junior from the Jiangcheng branch could easily obtain.

"You want to commit suicide for love? Give me a gold card?"

Lu Yuan: "..."

"Crazy..."

"Forget it, I'll tell you in a couple of days, but you can go back and ask your dad."

"What price would he be willing to pay for a gold card?"

After a moment of thought, Lu Yuan seemed to feel something was amiss.

Looking into Yao Xiao's eyes, he said earnestly: "I'm not joking, I'm serious."

"If you want it, I'll give it to you!"

The sedan quickly returned to Qingteng High School.

The two got out of the car, the atmosphere still a bit subtle.

Yao Xiao glared at Lu Yuan and quickly walked towards the dormitory.

Lu Yuan rubbed his nose and, instead of returning to the dormitory, walked straight to the Venus Tower's exclusive training area.

He urgently needed to uncover the secret of that fragment and the potential improvements it could bring.

Facing the impending threat, only strength was the greatest reliance.

He chose an empty, high-level training room and set the highest privacy protection.

The Source Power concentration inside the training room was three times that of the outside, and the environment was quiet and safe.

He sat cross-legged and took out the dusty stone fragment he had found at a Star Brilliance Secret Market stall.

The fragment felt warm in his hand, its texture hard, its surface covered with fine cracks, utterly unremarkable.

He tried to carefully probe a wisp of Source Power into the fragment's interior.

Buzz!

A chaotic, jumbled, yet faintly containing both water and lightning, two distinct Origin Card energies, feedbacked back.

Among them, the heavy, lingering nature of water-elemental energy and the violent, swift nature of lightning-elemental energy were distinct, yet strangely coexisted within this small fragment.

It really was water and lightning!

This perfectly matched the attributes of his Raging Waves Sea Soul and Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon!

Could this be the medium mentioned in the Source Power Resonance theory that can guide different attribute Origin Cards to establish a connection?

Taking a deep breath, Lu Yuan held his breath and focused.

He tried to simultaneously activate the auras of Raging Waves Sea Soul and Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon, like two evenly thick streams of energy, no longer probing, but actively and slowly making contact with the fragment in his hand.

A sudden change occurred!

It was as if an ancient, slumbering entity had been awakened.

The two gold cards, dormant in his Origin Card slot, simultaneously emitted a faint hum!

A longing and resonance originating from the depths of his origin were transmitted through Lu Yuan's body onto the fragment!

The originally dim source core fragment, within its fine surface cracks, suddenly lit up with a faint glow!

First, a serene aquamarine light, like the stillness of the deep sea.

Then, silver-white electric arcs, like lightning streaking across the night sky.

The chaotic energy inside the fragment, as if guided by some supreme rule, slowly began to become orderly.

It was no longer a chaotic pile, but began a mysterious arrangement and combination.

The aquamarine light and silver-white electric arcs, like two fish chasing and playing with each other, were no longer distinct but began to slowly intertwine and rotate, forming a miniature, stably operating energy vortex at the fragment's core!

An indescribable sense of harmony emanated from the fragment.

Lu Yuan clearly felt that, guided by the fragment, the heavy, ocean-like defensive and restorative properties of Raging Waves Sea Soul, and the lightning-fast extreme speed and lightning attack properties of Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon, seemed to have built an invisible bridge between them.

They were no longer two independent, powerful entities, but faintly showed a tendency to merge into one!

He tried to activate his own Source Power.

Sure enough!

Source Power surged as if in a wider, smoother river, easy to call upon, and freely convertible!

Moreover, he faintly sensed a miraculous possibility—

Perhaps, it was possible to allow the energies of the two cards to undergo some degree of attribute superposition or energy conversion!

Water and lightning, seemingly distinct, even somewhat opposing.

But in higher-level energy theory, all things share a common origin, and they might not be unable to coexist, or even amplify each other!

Lu Yuan closed his eyes, his mind sinking into simulation.

He imagined summoning the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon. (Why imagine? Because he really didn't have enough Source Power.)

The golden raptor soared in the sky, electric light flashing as its wings flapped.

The moment it launched its Lightning Claw, Lu Yuan tried to guide a wisp of Raging Waves Sea Soul's water-elemental flexibility to attach to it.

Buzz!

The simulated lightning claw seemed to become more condensed, a wisp of deep blue mixed in with the silver-white electric light.

When the attack landed, the lightning power seemed to carry an irresistible penetrative force, no longer pure brute force, but with an added subtle infiltration, seemingly able to bypass some energy defenses and strike directly at the core!

He then tried to activate Raging Waves Sea Soul's defense.

On the water curtain shield formed by the Raging Waves Barrier, he carefully integrated a wisp of Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon's lightning power into it.

Splash!

On the surface of the simulated water curtain, fine silver-white electric arcs instantly sparked!

The water curtain defense was not only tough and heavy but also seemed to carry a faint paralyzing effect, capable of slowing down or even temporarily paralyzing enemies who touched the shield!

Although the effects of this superposition and conversion were currently very weak, extremely unstable, and demanded an incredibly high level of precise control over Source Power, with even a slight mistake potentially leading to energy conflict and self-repercussion.

But this undoubtedly opened a whole new door for him!

An unprecedented path of enhancement!

Dual gold card resonance!

This mysterious source core fragment was immeasurably valuable!

Just as Lu Yuan was immersed in this wonderful exploration, preparing to further study the fragment's internal energy structure and attempt deeper levels of resonance—

Buzz buzz... The vibration of his phone interrupted his cultivation.

The call was from his Homeroom Teacher, Qian Jing.

At this hour, what could Homeroom Teacher Qian want with him?

Lu Yuan frowned, feeling it wasn't good news.

Sure enough, the next second, Qian Jing's anxious, even panicked voice came from the other end of the phone:

"Lu Yuan! Come to my office immediately! Your parents... something happened!"