105: 【Crimson Trial: True】

This was the first time Shi Li had experienced a task where one wrong step led to failure.

He couldn't even use Dimensional Retrospection because he hadn't moved 3 squares.

Then new text appeared.

Can be retried in 30 days.

Yes/No to reset this task for 11,000 cubic coins.

The Fated Card task was slightly different; it inherently had a refresh function.

The real difficulty, or rather, the primary key point, in obtaining a Fated Card was achieving 100% completion in a unique card's star-up task.

However, waiting 30 days was too long; it would only allow for 12 attempts a year.

Who knew how long this task was, what its success rate was, or how long it would take to complete?

“This is such a rip-off.”

Shi Li looked at his savings, which had increased to 36,000 cubic coins.

However, this was an unavoidable process, so he could only choose to spend money to refresh.

According to previous experience, if he didn't refresh now, it would be even more expensive later.

After refreshing once, the refresh price for this task would be locked.

Otherwise, if he refreshed other three-star tasks, Crimson Trial · True would increase in price.

He expected this task might need many refreshes, so it was better to refresh early.

After refreshing, the text on the panel began to appear again.

Lin feels the other party is somewhat special.

Please help her make a choice.

A. Ignore the other party; B. Attack the other party; C. Strike up a conversation.

“Choose C.”

This time, Shi Li chose what seemed like the most proper option.

The other party ignored Lin and walked straight past...

Nothing happened.

This task has ended.

Can be retried in 30 days.

Yes/No to reset this task for 11,000 cubic coins.

“This is really comfortable…”

Shi Li, who usually messed with other people's minds, had his mind messed with this time.

Refresh.

This time, choose B.

“Take this!”

As she brushed past the other party, Lin suddenly drew her blade.

Clang!

The mysterious person gently raised a hand and blocked her attack.

“As expected of a genius of the Dragon Horn clan, have you discovered me?” The mysterious person’s voice was hoarse.

“This NPC has a bit of a sadomasochistic streak. You ignored me when I tried to talk to you, but now you respond when I try to cut you with a knife, right?”

Shi Li couldn't help but complain.

This time, the simulation task finally seemed like it could progress.

However, when he encountered the next 3-choice question, he found that he still hadn't received a preview.

In other words, it was still a plot option.

Learning from the first question, Shi Li chose what seemed like the most unreliable answer this time, and it actually passed.

He succeeded several times in a row, but on the fifth 3-choice question, he still failed.

The task ended in failure again.

He refreshed again, and this time he reached the seventh question before the task failed.

Shi Li was left with a pitiful 3,000+ cubic coins.

“I've figured it out; this task is simply not meant for humans.”

He discovered a pattern.

It was likely that each stage was a plot-based 3-choice question, and if he chose incorrectly, the task would immediately fail.

Just as he had guessed, this simulation task was probably very tormenting.

He really didn't know how Bai Jiajia managed to get that Fated Card.

However, he heard that the more difficult the task, the better the effect of the Fated Card obtained.

Shi Li could only comfort himself this way.

After the city-wide mock exam ended, there was less than a month left until the college entrance examination card duel began.

He hoped to complete Crimson Trial · True before the college entrance examination card duel arrived and use it as his trump card.

So, if he had no money, he would go earn it.

He knew it was time to return to the Level 3 Anomaly again.

During this period, every time Old Han came out for a rotation, he would contact Shi Li and tell him about the situation inside.

As of the last contact, a total of 8 people, including Shi Li, had completed the prerequisite task of hunting Great Winged Lycan.

However, most people defeated other types of Great Winged Lycan; besides Shi Li, only Zhang He and Zhong Xin had defeated the Great Crocodile-mouthed Wyvern.

Unfortunately, Fang Jinghai couldn't enter the Level 3 Anomaly; otherwise, his Earth Elemental Brat would have perfectly countered the Great Crocodile-mouthed Wyvern.

Some people who completed the prerequisite task went to find the Great Priest but were told that they needed to gather 10 people before they could proceed to the next task.

“Two days have passed now, so the number of people should be sufficient.”

Thinking of this, Shi Li dialed Director Hou's number.

“Hello~ Shi Li~”

The call was answered almost instantly.

He wondered if it was his imagination, but he felt Director Hou's tone today was even more cordial than usual.

...

Pineapple City, First Middle School.

A third-year high school girl was sitting in a conference room with her homeroom teacher, watching a projection.

The screen showed the card duel between Shi Li and Fang Jinghai.

“Xinran, what are your thoughts after watching?”

After the card duel finished, the homeroom teacher asked.

“His victory was a bit of a trick.”

Lu Xinran smiled slightly, then added, “But a win is a win; he deserves this victory.”

“You're right. I believe he will be your biggest opponent in the first stage of the college entrance examination.”

The homeroom teacher nodded.

Due to this year being special, Jiangnan University conducted unified tryouts for all cities.

It was said that many talents emerged from these tryouts, and Jiangnan University signed more letters of intent than in previous years.

Some of these agreements even guaranteed admission, bypassing the college entrance examination entirely.

This led to a reduction in the number of guaranteed admission slots Jiangnan University allocated to various cities within the province.

Therefore, the guaranteed admission slot for the first place in each city's college entrance examination duel, which used to be annual, was diluted to one slot for every two cities.

Pineapple City and Durian City are the closest, considered sister cities.

Therefore, the third-year high school students from these two cities will be assigned to the same competition zone.

“Don't worry, Teacher.

I am no longer the person I used to be.”

Lu Xinran stood up, with a hint of arrogance, “What I want is not a guaranteed admission slot, but to be first in the entire province.”

Above her head, the Platinum 4 tag shone brightly.

“Indeed…”

The homeroom teacher also smiled.

Although this student, who had a B-level contract with Star Card Hall, missed Jiangnan University's tryouts, she achieved a remarkable feat in the neighboring province.

She single-handedly completed a Core Event during a Level 3 Anomaly pioneering expedition independently organized by Star Card Hall.

She had even been pre-admitted to Starlight University, which is one of the five prestigious universities on Blue Star affiliated with Star Card Hall.

The homeroom teacher believed that Lu Xinran, who was only Gold 1 before entering the Anomaly, would not have ranked in the top ten province-wide, but now her rank was definitely the highest in the province.

“Shi Li is just my first stepping stone.

I will let him know the power of stats.”

She was confident that the deck she meticulously crafted, card by card, would not lose to any card player of the same rank.

...

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