78: The fourth gold-tier Beast Tamer! It's ridiculously powerful!

Leaving the Card Master Association, Lu Yuan politely declined Mayor Wang Kun's invitation to lunch.

Returning home.

His parents were in the living room watching TV, discussing the news report about the New Students Competition.

"Xiao Yuan is back!"

"Come quickly, the TV just finished broadcasting your awards ceremony. You've really brought honor to our Old Lu Family!" His father also smiled broadly, his tone filled with pride.

Lu Yuan smiled.

"Dad, Mom, I have something to tell you."

"In a couple of days, I'm going to the provincial city to participate in a higher-level competition."

"Oh? To the provincial city?" His mother was slightly worried, "Is it far? Is it safe?"

"Don't worry, Mom, the school and Uncle Yao will arrange everything; it's very safe."

"Moreover," Lu Yuan paused, "Uncle Yao's wife has already given me the villa in Yujing Garden. I'll tidy it up these two days. You can move in after I return from the provincial city, or even earlier if you wish."

"What? The villa in Yujing Garden... given... given to us?" His father stood up from the sofa in shock.

That was Jiangcheng's most luxurious residential area, with a single villa worth tens of millions!

"Yes, Uncle Yao's wife said it was a congratulatory gift for my championship win," Lu Yuan explained.

The old couple exchanged glances, both seeing shock and a hint of unease in each other's eyes.

"Xiao Yuan, this... this is too valuable; we can't accept it," his mother waved her hands repeatedly.

"Mom, the Yao Family also values my potential; it's a kind of investment."

"Just live there with peace of mind. The security there is the best in Jiangcheng, and I'll be at ease."

Lu Yuan reassured them a few more times before his parents reluctantly accepted the fact.

"Mom and Dad, I'm going back to my room now; I'm a bit tired."

"Go, go, rest well."

Back in his room, Lu Yuan locked the door and drew the curtains.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, took a deep breath, and calmed his slightly agitated mood.

The mysterious stone tablet was set aside; now, the more important matter was the fourth gold card that was about to be born!

He took out two cards from his pocket.

These two cards were the result of his careful selection over the past few days.

Since his promotion to Second-Tier, the upper limit for his Guaranteed Gold Drop talent's synthesis also increased.

A Second-Tier Card Master can gamble for up to four-star cards.

The skills of white cards were too common and not very outstanding.

So this time, Lu Yuan directly chose two green quality four-star cards!

The first one, [Extreme Cold Ice Crystal].

[Quality: Green]

[Star Rating: Four Stars]

[Type: Mutated Crystal]

[Skills: Ice Shard Barrage, Path of Frost]

This was a rare ice-elemental card, combining attack and control.

The second one, [Blazing Fire Peacock].

[Quality: Green]

[Star Rating: Four Stars]

[Type: Flying Demonic Beast]

[Skills: Blazing Feathers, Flapping Flame Wind]

Ice and fire.

Two completely opposite attributes.

Lu Yuan's choice of them was a bold attempt.

He had a faint premonition that if these two extremely opposing forces could be perfectly fused, the gold card that was born might hold unexpected surprises.

"Guaranteed Gold Drop, activate!"

Lu Yuan chanted silently in his heart.

Buzz—

A familiar invisible fluctuation spread out.

His mental power extended, like two invisible large hands, gripping the [Extreme Cold Ice Crystal] and the [Blazing Fire Peacock] respectively.

Source Power injected!

The surfaces of the two green cards glowed with a faint green light.

The physical cards began to become illusory and distorted.

But this time, unlike the previous fusion of white cards.

The energy contained in four-star green cards was far beyond that of two-star white cards!

Almost at the moment the fusion began, Lu Yuan felt the Source Power within him surge out like a flood through an open gate!

In just a few seconds, a feeling of emptiness came from the Source Power core in his chest.

"Indeed!"

Lu Yuan was prepared; with a flick of his wrist, three source cards glowing with blue light appeared in his hand.

Pure Source Power poured into his body, rapidly replenishing what was consumed.

In mid-air, the [Extreme Cold Ice Crystal] and the [Blazing Fire Peacock] had completely disintegrated into countless tiny specks of light.

Ice-blue specks of light emitted a bone-chilling cold.

Crimson specks of light carried a scorching heat.

The two types of light specks were distinctly separated, colliding violently in mid-air, making sizzling sounds.

The temperature in the room began to change drastically!

First, it plummeted, and a thin layer of frost condensed on the walls. The breath Lu Yuan exhaled turned into white mist.

Immediately after, an unbearable heat swept over, the frost quickly melted, and the air seemed to be on fire!

The energies of ice and fire were clashing, incompatible with each other!

"Fuse for me!"

Lu Yuan let out a low growl, his mental power highly concentrated, forcibly guiding the two opposing energies.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead, and his face was somewhat pale.

The difficulty of fusing high-star cards exceeded his expectations.

Crack!

The second source card was crushed.

Vast Source Power supported the fusion process.

In mid-air, under Lu Yuan's powerful mental restraint, the ice-blue and crimson specks of light finally began to show faint signs of fusion.

Like water and fire merging, they emitted crackling sounds.

A wave of energy fluctuation, more terrifying and noble than when the Nine-Tailed Illusion Heart Fox was born, suddenly spread out from the center of the fusion!

This fluctuation contained extreme cold, mixed with the scorching heat that could incinerate all things, utterly domineering!

Two completely opposite characteristics intertwined, forming a new, heart-pounding power!

Crack!

The third source card shattered in response!

All Source Power was poured into this final fusion!

Finally!

The ice-blue and crimson specks of light completely intertwined, no longer distinguishable.

Ultimately, they transformed into a streak of... gold... piercing through the sky!

Boom!

The gold light surged, instantly filling the entire room!

An indescribable pressure descended, bringing with it the biting cold that could freeze the world and the majesty that could incinerate all things!

Lu Yuan even felt that the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon in his chest card slot was trembling slightly, seemingly responding to this nascent powerful force, and also as if expressing a kind of submission!

The light slowly receded.

A brand new card quietly floated before Lu Yuan.

Its entire body displayed an interwoven ice-blue and crimson-gold color, exuding an inexplicable nobility.

The card's border was carved with intricate ice crystal and flame patterns, and on the card face, a magnificent and peerless exotic beast was depicted.

It possessed the elegant posture of a phoenix, but its entire body was covered with ice-blue, crystal-clear feathers, emitting a faint chill.

However, at the edges of its wings and the tips of its long tail feathers, pale white flames burned!

The flames were not solid; they were more like a manifestation of energy, silently flickering, yet emitting terrifying high temperatures capable of incinerating everything.

Its eyes, one ice-blue and one crimson-gold, were full of majesty and spirituality, as if they could see through all falsehoods in the world.

It gracefully circled amidst a background of intertwined ice and fire, an ice crystal throne condensing beneath it, and pale flames blooming behind it!

Sacred, majestic, cold, scorching.

[Winter Frostflame Phoenix]

[Strength: Second-Tier]

[Quality: gold]

[Star Rating: Five Stars!]

[Type: Phoenix Variant (Ice/Fire)]

[Skill One: Frost Flame Breath]

(Sprays breath containing extreme cold and destructive flames, dealing dual ice-fire attribute damage to the target and applying a "Frostburn" effect: continuously suffers freezing slowness and burning damage, weakening the target's elemental resistance)

[Skill Two: Frozen Domain of Absolute Zero]

(Releases Frost Flame Power within the body, creating a domain of extreme cold and scorching heat in a designated area. Within the domain, enemies will continuously suffer Frost Flame erosion, significantly reducing movement speed and attack speed. Friendly units gain increased ice-fire resistance and a small amount of health recovery. Source Power consumption is huge, domain range and duration depend on Source Power input.)

[Skill Three: Nirvana Fire (Passive)]

(When the Winter Frostflame Phoenix (Card Master) receives fatal damage, it will detonate all Frost Flame Power within its body, causing a destructive Frost Flame impact to the surroundings, then transforming into a frostflame egg. If the frostflame egg is not destroyed within a certain period, the Winter Frostflame Phoenix (Card Master) will be reborn from it, with strength restored to its peak. After each Nirvana, it cannot be used again within one month.)

[Note: Frost Flame Power can damage source cards!]

[Remark: The ultimate fusion of ice and fire, a miraculous creation born between destruction and rebirth, wielding the supreme authority of frost and flame.]

Lu Yuan looked at the information on the card, his heart pounding wildly, almost leaping out of his throat!

He had anticipated that this fusion might bring a surprise, but he never expected such a huge surprise!

It was too strong, unbelievably strong!

Dual ice-fire attributes!

"Frost Flame Breath," dual damage plus continuous Debuff, and it can reduce elemental resistance—this is simply a bane for magic users!

"Frozen Domain of Absolute Zero," a large-scale crowd control and Buff skill, combining offense and defense, with extremely high strategic value!

The most heaven-defying one was the passive skill—"Nirvana Fire"!

Resurrection!

This was a true resurrection skill!

And it was a full-health resurrection!

He suspected this had already exceeded the scope of ordinary gold cards!

Mythical red cards were nothing more than this!

This trump card was too powerful!

Lu Yuan took a deep breath, calming his emotions.

As the fusion was completely finished,

He could clearly feel a pure and vast Source Power feeding back from the Winter Frostflame Phoenix card, merging into his Source Power core.

This Source Power was more immense and purer than any previous gold card's feedback!

His Source Power core was frantically absorbing this power, becoming more solid and full.

His Source Power limit began to loosen again, and it climbed upwards at a terrifying speed!

One hundred fifty points!

Second-Tier Five Stars!

One hundred sixty points!

Second-Tier Six Stars!

Finally, his Source Power limit steadily stopped at—one hundred sixty-three points!

Second-Tier Six Stars!

From Second-Tier Four Stars to Second-Tier Six Stars, merely by gambling on one card!

This rate of increase was simply astounding!

Lu Yuan felt the surging Source Power within him and the close connection established with the Winter Frostflame Phoenix, unable to suppress a confident smile.

With this Winter Frostflame Phoenix, he felt even more confident facing the upcoming provincial competition and the mysterious Lost Water Realm!

The Lin Family?

If they still dared to come knocking, oblivious to their own peril, he wouldn't mind letting them taste the flavor of ice and fire!

...