57: Black Crow II, the mysterious Sun Libang

Lu Yuan won the next two matches without any suspense.

The power of the Hellhound far exceeded that of cards of the same rank.

Whether facing the speed-oriented Wind-Traveling Bird or the defensive Rock Golem, the Hellhound crushed them with overwhelming force.

The burning green ghost fire and the ferocious double Bite made it impossible for his opponents to mount any effective resistance.

Four consecutive victories!

Lu Yuan undoubtedly secured first place in the Honor Class's first combat assessment.

On the other side, Yao Xiao's battles were much more agile and graceful.

Her Origin Card was a blue three-star Thousand Illusions Butterfly.

This beast taming card itself did not have outstanding attack power but was extremely skilled at creating illusions and mental interference.

During battles, countless colorful butterfly phantoms danced, disrupting the opponent's vision and perception.

Combined with several control and weakening skill cards, Yao Xiao always managed to find her opponents' weaknesses and win with skill.

She also successfully achieved three victories, only narrowly losing to Lu Yuan.

As for Lin Dong, perhaps fueled by a surge of anger, he performed at his usual level in the subsequent two matches. Relying on his four-star blue card, Thunder Hawk, and several powerful skill cards, he stumbled to victory, ultimately falling to Lu Yuan.

The final rankings were announced.

Lu Yuan, first.

Yao Xiao, second.

Lin Dong, third.

The three of them will represent Qingteng High School in the upcoming Jiang City Card Master Newcomer Tournament.

The awards ceremony was very simple.

The principal personally attended, handing the 100,000 star coins prize money and a green Source Power card to Student Lu Yuan.

"Student Lu Yuan, your performance has been outstanding. I hope you continue to bring glory to our school in the Newcomer Tournament."

The principal's face became even more amiable. As expected of the gold card boy, as long as Lu Yuan continued to make a name for himself, his career would be smooth sailing.

"Thank you, Principal," Lu Yuan said politely as he accepted the reward.

Yao Xiao also received a 50,000 star coins reward. The prize money wasn't important; getting ahead of Lin Dong made her eyes crinkle with a smile.

Lin Dong, on the other hand, only received 20,000 star coins, his face still grim. After accepting the reward, he turned and left without a word.

"See you at the Newcomer Tournament."

Lu Yuan watched his retreating figure and said faintly.

Lin Dong paused, but didn't look back, quickening his pace and disappearing from everyone's sight... Back in his Venus Tower dorm.

Lu Yuan leaned back in his chair, the scene of Yao Xiao's match involuntarily replaying in his mind.

That Thousand Illusions Butterfly, fluttering gracefully, creating endless illusions.

It indeed matched her fighting style: agile, cunning, and not relying on brute force.

"Illusion techniques, huh..."

Lu Yuan stroked his chin, a playful smile suddenly appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Since we're going to play with illusion techniques, let's go all the way and make it big and strong."

A somewhat mischievous but rather interesting idea began to sprout in his mind.

He opened his phone and skillfully entered the "Yao Star card Mall."

(The Yao Family's online store. Yao Xiao had granted Lu Yuan the highest authority, allowing him to purchase many items that were unavailable in the Alliance card Mall due to insufficient permissions.)

He typed into the search bar.

flower butterfly, white, two-star.

Bewitching Fox, white, two-star.

These two cards were the lowest-tier white cards, with almost no combat power.

The only characteristic of the flower butterfly was its beauty; when its wings flapped, it would scatter hallucinogenic pollen.

The Bewitching Fox was slightly more useful, capable of emitting a faint mesmerizing aura that had some effect on ordinary people but was mostly ineffective against Card Masters. It also had a mystical passive ability that could slightly increase the favorability of the opposite sex.

Neither card was expensive, totaling less than two thousand star coins.

As usual, he chose expedited delivery.

As for what would ultimately be synthesized, even he couldn't be entirely sure.

But the process, he imagined, would be very interesting... Jiang City, Lin Family Manor.

Study.

Lin Haige, the president of the Jiang City card Association, Lin Dong's father, a refined-looking yet short-tempered middle-aged man, was currently looking irritably at a business report.

The report showed that the market share of the Yao Corporation's online mall had increased by another two percentage points.

Meanwhile, the Lin Family's offline physical stores and their nascent online channels had once again shrunk.

"Useless! A bunch of useless people!"

Lin Haige slammed the report onto the table.

Just then, there was a knock on the study door.

"Patriarch, a lady is outside asking to see you. She says... she has important information about the Yao Family."

The butler came to report.

"I'm not seeing anyone!" Lin Haige was in a fit of pique.

"She says... her name is Cao Yun, and she just escaped from Yao Tianxiao's grasp."

The butler added.

Cao Yun? The boss of Guotianjiang?

Lin Haige's movements slowed, and he stood up, pondering.

He didn't have deep ties with underworld organizations like the Black Water Gang and the Axe Gang, but he had heard of Cao Yun's name—a ruthless Fourth-Rank Elite Card Master.

Why would she conflict with Yao Tianxiao? And escape?

"Let her in."

A moment later, a figure staggered into the study.

It was Cao Yun.

Her face was pale, her breathing weak, and her arm was wrapped in thick bandages, with faint bloodstains seeping through, clearly indicating severe injuries.

In the battle at the warehouse, although she had narrowly escaped using her illusionary clones, she had sustained serious injuries and was further harassed by the subsequent pursuit sent by Yao Tianxiao, leaving her in a sorry state.

That idiot Fierce Tiger, relying on his thick skin, charged in head-on and ended up being besieged by Yao Family experts, suffering even heavier injuries than her. Now, he was nowhere to be found, and it was hard to say if he was dead or alive.

After much thought, throughout Jiang City, the only family that dared to take her in, had the ability to protect her, and held a grudge against the Yao Family, was the Lin Family.

"President Lin."

Cao Yun managed to stand steadily, her voice hoarse.

"I need protection. In exchange, I'll give you information that's enough to bring down the Yao Family."

Lin Haige narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the disheveled woman.

A Fourth-Rank Elite Card Master, even injured, was a force not to be underestimated.

Moreover, she was Yao Tianxiao's enemy.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

"Tell me," Lin Haige gestured for her to sit, his tone softening a few degrees.

Cao Yun took a breath, her eyes flashing with deep hatred.

"The Black Water Gang is finished. Black Crow and White Paper Fan are both dead."

Lin Haige nodded. He already knew this news. The Black Water Gang's demise was too swift, too complete, and strangely eerie.

"Was it destroyed by Yao Tianxiao?"

"Not entirely." Cao Yun shook her head, fear appearing on her face.

"Yao Tianxiao did make a move, but he didn't gain much."

"The one who truly acted, instantly turned the tide of battle, and crushed Black Crow, was that kid named Lu Yuan!"

"Lu Yuan?" Lin Haige frowned, "That gold card student from Qingteng High School? The one who's close to the Yao Family?"

He knew this person; Lin Dong had returned and complained about him with exaggerated details.

Just a kid who got lucky and obtained a gold card.

Perhaps he had some talent, but it was uncertain if he could even keep the gold card.

Crushed Black Crow? A Fourth-Rank Elite Card Master?

It was simply a fantasy!

"President Lin, do you think he only has one gold card?"

Cao Yun saw Lin Haige's disbelief and gave a bitter smile.

"He has two!!"

"Moreover, one is a water-type giant turtle, with unparalleled defense and an enormous body! The other is a lightning-type flying beast, as fast as lightning and extremely swift in attack!"

"The most terrifying thing is that these two gold cards are incredibly powerful, instantly killing White Paper Fan in one encounter!"

Cao Yun meticulously described everything that happened in the warehouse.

The Tidal Turtle Shell and Sea Soul Roar of the Raging Waves Sea Soul.

The terrifying speed and penetrative power of the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon.

Under the dual gold resonance, the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon easily tore through the Calamity Raven's wings, severely wounding Black Crow.

Finally, the terrifying scene where the Raging Waves Sea Soul, like Mount Tai Crushing Down, directly crushed the self-destructing Black Crow into a pulp!

The refined look on Lin Haige's face vanished completely.

If Cao Yun's words were true, he suddenly stood up, greed practically overflowing from his eyes!

Two gold cards!

With a compatibility so high they could resonate!

What did this represent?

It represented infinite possibilities!

If he could obtain these two gold cards... let alone a mere Yao Tianxiao, even if the main branch of the Yao Family from the provincial city came, what would it matter?

Fifth Rank! Even Sixth Rank Grandmasters!

Unify Jiang City's underground world and control the card market!

Black Crow No. 2, successfully born!

"Is the information true?"

"Absolutely true!" Cao Yun stated emphatically, "I saw it with my own eyes! Fierce Tiger can also testify, if you can find him!"

"Good! Very good!"

Lin Haige paced back and forth in the study, the light in his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

"Ms. Cao, from today onwards, you are an honored guest of my Lin Family. Rest assured and recover from your injuries."

"I will block the Yao Family's pursuit for you!"

"When the time is right, I will make Yao Tianxiao, and that kid Lu Yuan, pay back with interest!"

...Night deepened.

Qingteng High School, a secluded corner of a grove.

Several figures in black trench coats and masks quietly reappeared.

They were the mysterious organization members who had previously appeared in Lu Yuan's residential complex and the abandoned factory.

From the shadows, a familiar figure emerged.

It was none other than the Honor Class's Dean of Students, Sun Libang!

His usual amiable demeanor was gone, replaced by a deep, reserved aura.

"Vice President."

The masked leader bowed slightly.

This title, if heard by outsiders, would be enough to cause a huge stir in Jiang City!

The Dean of Students of Qingteng High School was actually the Vice President of this mysterious organization!

"The target only used that five-star blue card, Hellhound, in today's class combat assessment, and did not use his gold cards."

"His strength is growing rapidly, and his control over the Hellhound is already quite proficient, easily defeating his opponents."

"He will definitely participate in the Newcomer Tournament, which will be the best opportunity to observe his gold card abilities."

"Hmm," the masked man responded.

"Inform the President," Sun Libang nodded, looking towards the distant Venus Tower.

"This Lu Yuan is exceptionally talented, and his temperament far surpasses his peers."

"Perhaps, we can try to recruit him, give him a chance."

"I will find an opportunity to talk to him."

"If he is willing to join us, it will be a great asset to the organization."

"It's not too late to consider taking action after he refuses."

The masked man remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the suggestion.

"Understood, I will report the Vice President's suggestion truthfully."

"Go," Sun Libang waved his hand.

The figures once again melted into the darkness and disappeared.

Sun Libang stood alone under the tree, the evening breeze rustling his clothes.

He looked up at the crescent moon in the sky, and in his cloudy old eyes, that complex light, understood by no one, flashed once more.

"Lu Yuan... two gold cards..."

"The winds of change are blowing again in this era..."