158: A gamble! A leapfrog kill! (Combined chapter, asking for monthly votes)

“Oh, by the way, a lot of people were asking me for your contact information,” Mu Qianshan said to Jiang Yuan as they approached the Martial Arts Arena, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“My contact information?”

Jiang Yuan was a bit surprised, while Shi Ji’s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Jiang Yuan.

Mu Qianshan nodded, “Yes, they want to customize cards. Didn't you make the weapon card I have?”

“Oh, I see.”

Jiang Yuan showed a look of sudden understanding, and Shi Ji also relaxed.

“But I told them I would ask you first, to see if you were willing.”

“Let's not do it for now. When the time comes, I can always open a custom card service,” Jiang Yuan said, shaking his head after some thought.

First, he needed to finish making his own cards.

Then, he could offer a custom card service, for example, specifying the materials needed to customize a blue quality card.

As for Star Power and academic credits, he could already earn those with the basic cards.

But some rare materials were still a problem.

So, Jiang Yuan planned to open the custom card service only when he needed rare materials.

After all, it was not uncommon to have money but no materials.

It was all in preparation for the future.

“Alright, I’ll tell them that then.”

Compared to Jiang Yuan, who hadn't attended any second-year classes yet, Mu Qianshan had attended classes for a few days after his challenges ended and his ranking rose.

He had also gotten to know some of the second-year Students.

“Okay.”

After Jiang Yuan nodded, the two entered the Martial Arts Arena.

Jiang Yuan's challenge target was already waiting there.

“It's you?”

When he saw Zhou Hongfa, Mu Qianshan was also stunned.

He had gotten to know many people in the past few days, and even had some impression of Zhou Hongfa, having spoken to him a few times.

Zhou Hongfa was one of the people who wanted Jiang Yuan to make an equipment card, but he wanted to make defensive equipment, not a weapon card.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect him to challenge me,” Zhou Hongfa said with some helplessness.

As the forty-ninth ranked Student ahead of Jiang Yuan, he had thought Jiang Yuan would challenge the Student ranked immediately above him.

He didn't expect Jiang Yuan to challenge him instead.

“Ha.”

Mu Qianshan chuckled, then looked at Jiang Yuan with some curiosity.

“I thought you'd be like me and choose the highest-ranked person you could challenge.”

“That person is an Card Assassin. I don’t want to fight him, so…” Jiang Yuan spread his hands, his meaning clear.

“Alright, I understand.”

Zhou Hongfa nodded helplessly, “Wait, remember to go easy on me, my small body is fragile.”

“Don’t worry, I will.”

Jiang Yuan smiled. This time, he was here to test the power of the Qiankun Circle.

And, unfortunately, you are the first test subject.

“That’s good, then let’s begin.”

After the two stepped onto the stage, they noticed the second-year Students in the audience.

“Whoa, are you guys having a team-building event here?”

Mu Qianshan smiled and waved at Jiang Yuan, then walked to the audience and chuckled at the crowd.

“It’s Jiang Yuan’s battle. He’s been in seclusion for so long, we want to see how much his strength has improved,” a girl ranked in the 300s said with a smile to Mu Qianshan.

“Seclusion?”

Mu Qianshan turned to look at Jiang Yuan in the arena.

It would be more accurate to say he was making money than in seclusion.

Jiang Yuan’s three cards had been selling very well recently.

And a portion of the orders supporting his sales came from the group of people next to him.

Or rather, many people throughout the academy, once they knew, would choose to buy a set.

This set referred to the three cards: 【Seventy-Two Transformations - False Form】, 【Linglong Pagoda】, and 【Earth Movement Technique】.

Three cards for self-preservation, defense, and escape.

Sometimes, for functional cards like these, higher quality isn't necessarily better.

While higher quality functional cards might have better effects, the most obvious advantage of lower quality cards is their low Star Power consumption.

The most important thing for a functional card is its effect.

As long as the effect doesn't change, the quality doesn't really have much impact.

For example, with 【Seventy-Two Transformations - False Form】, the difference between within five meters and within fifty meters isn't very large.

“Alright, let’s just say he’s in seclusion.”

Mu Qianshan had no intention of explaining, as the battle in the arena was about to begin.

Zhou Hongfa was a Skill Card Master.

After the countdown above the Martial Arts Arena ended, Zhou Hongfa directly manifested his staff.

And Jiang Yuan, without hesitation, manifested the two cards: Nezha and Qiankun Circle!

Generally speaking, Jiang Yuan would first manifest one Nezha and one Shi Ji.

Then, he would use the last bit of Star Power to manifest the Jade Purification Bottle.

After the Jade Purification Bottle restored Star Power, the Purple Ribbon Garment and Nine Breaths Qi Cultivation would follow immediately.

Then, he would use Sweet Dew Water to restore Star Power again, followed by manifesting the Linglong Pagoda.

At the same time, Shi Ji would also begin to summon Undead Enslavement.

Of course, this was the sequence when facing an opponent with a higher cultivation stage than him.

If the opponent's strength was the same as his, it would directly be Nezha, Linglong Pagoda, and Jade Purification Bottle.

When facing an opponent with a higher cultivation stage, the priority of the Linglong Pagoda would be lower.

Of course, if the opponent was an Card Assassin, it would be a different approach.

Nezha plus Purple Ribbon Garment.

In any case, he had to save a bit of the first wave of Star Power for the Jade Purification Bottle.

This was the difficulty for low-stage Card Masters like them.

Star Power was often insufficient, and a battle required multiple Star Power replenishments.

This was also why Jiang Yuan hadn't equipped Nezha with a weapon card yet.

He needed to adapt to the situation at any time.

Once he had enough Star Power, he could equip Nezha with weapon cards.

At that time, Nezha would appear fully equipped from the start.

He wouldn't have to add equipment piece by piece like he did now.

Two blue quality cards shone in Jiang Yuan's hand.

Nezha appeared on the field, and the Qiankun Circle also transformed into a golden bracelet on Nezha's wrist.

The opponent had just summoned defensive equipment and a staff, which was a weapon card.

Then, he used the remaining bit of Star Power to use a card that could restore Star Power.

But Nezha had already soared into the air, and Three Heads Six Arms activated instantly.

The golden bracelet on his wrist directly transformed into golden light and dissipated, reappearing in Nezha’s hand the next second.

“Kill!”

Nezha roared, and the Qiankun Circle in his hand was directly thrown towards Zhou Hongfa!

Zhou Hongfa wanted to dodge, but he saw the golden bracelet constantly growing larger as it flew towards him.

“I can’t dodge it!”

Zhou Hongfa roared. He could even clearly see the ancient patterns on the golden bracelet.

At this moment, his Star Power had not yet recovered enough to use a blue quality defensive card.

“Boom!”

The moment the golden bracelet landed, all the scenery instantly disappeared.

The Martial Arts Arena vanished.

Jiang Yuan and Zhou Hongfa also appeared on the stone platform in the center of the arena.

“One-shotted!”

Several people in the audience sprang to their feet, while most were still in a daze.

“No way, Xuanxiao Early Stage fighting Xuanxiao Middle Stage, and he got one-shotted?”

Gan Yongchao, ranked 414th, had a distorted expression and stood up abruptly, questioning loudly.

His voice also woke up the other bewildered people.

“Was he really one-shotted?”

“The Martial Arts Arena disappeared, so how else could it be if not a one-shot? Did he destroy the Martial Arts Arena?”

Someone's remark directly silenced everyone.

Yes, if Zhou Hongfa wasn't one-shotted, then it meant the Martial Arts Arena was directly broken.

Compared to the latter, the former, while still surprising, was easier for them to accept.

“Cross-stage, one-shot kill…”

Gan Yongchao swallowed hard and turned to look at his classmates with a bitter smile, “If he challenges me later and I surrender directly, you won’t laugh at me, right?”

“I’m a little scared…”

After Gan Yongchao finished speaking, the girl ranked 364th also spoke, looking like she was about to cry.

After Gan Yongchao surrendered, she would be the one in the top fifty.

“Good thing I’m an Card Assassin.”

Another short-haired young man showed a relieved expression, “Never have I been so grateful for my career choice.”

“It’s alright, I’ll remember to challenge you,” Mu Qianshan said, seeing this scene, and patted his shoulder with a smile.

Compared to summoner Card Masters like Jiang Yuan, who were more afraid of Card Assassins, close-combat Card Masters like swordsmen such as Mu Qianshan had no great fear of Card Assassins.

When Card Assassins attack at close range, they can react.

And in close combat, Card Assassins can only bully Skill Card Masters and Summon Card Masters.

Card Masters have all been tempered; they won't be easily taken down by Card Assassins.

Of course, this refers to ordinary people.

Except for genius Students.

The somewhat relieved Card Assassin smiled. He didn't think Jiang Yuan didn't choose to challenge him because he was afraid of him.

At most, it was the Card Assassin's stealth skill that made it difficult for Jiang Yuan to lock onto them, preventing him from directly attacking them.

Jiang Yuan probably wanted to end the battle quickly!

That's why he chose Zhou Hongfa, who was ranked one spot behind him.

"You, instantly killed me?"

At this moment, Zhou Hongfa on the field also reacted, looking at Jiang Yuan with an incredulous expression and asking.

"Hmm, it seems so."

Jiang Yuan nodded; he was also very satisfied. The power of the Qiankun Circle was indeed good.

The damage from Qiankun Strike was boosted by the strength increase from Three Heads Six Arms, plus the double damage effect from the first attack.

The critical hit effect of 【Supreme Steel Treasure】 combined with the shock damage of 【Shocking Qiankun】.

Although the 【Heavenly Law】 skill did not increase damage, it did expand to an extent that the opponent could not evade.

The damage from these stacked skills exploded in an instant, indeed enough to instantly kill Zhou Hongfa.

But wasn't Zhou Hongfa's defensive equipment made of jade?

If so, it could only be said that the instant kill was worth it.

If not, then the Qiankun Circle's damage was a bit ridiculously strong.

After all, it crossed a minor realm.

"You..."

Zhou Hongfa looked at Jiang Yuan with complicated eyes, somewhat unsure how to express himself.

He was instantly killed!

Damn, how embarrassing!

He had thought he would lose, but he never thought he would lose so thoroughly.

Jiang Yuan didn't even use his full strength.

Nezha's other two weapons, the long spear and the fast-moving weapons under his feet, were not used.

Shi Ji hadn't even appeared, let alone his Undead Enslavement.

And he was instantly killed just like that.

What could he say? Was he too weak?

No!

It's because the opponent isn't human!

After Zhou Hongfa gave Jiang Yuan another complicated look, he waved his hand and left the field.

Jiang Yuan didn't pay attention; the power of the Qiankun Circle indeed exceeded his imagination.

He had thought it could shatter the opponent's defensive equipment in one blow.

But he really didn't expect that one blow would directly smash the opponent to death.

Jiang Yuan was slightly excited and continued to challenge the next opponent.

Gan Yongchao, ranked four hundred and fourteenth!

"Alright, I've received the challenge letter."

Gan Yongchao in the audience looked at the challenge letter Jiang Yuan sent on his phone with some helplessness and said to everyone.

"Go for it, I'm rooting for you."

Mu Qianshan smiled, but Gan Yongchao pouted.

"Rooting for me?"

"Hah!"

Gan Yongchao's face was grim, and he rushed towards the field with a formidable aura.

Giving up is impossible; he would never give up in this life!

Even if he couldn't win, he had to fight a match first!

Besides, he might not necessarily lose... that badly!

Thinking of this, Gan Yongchao's momentum immediately weakened by a notch.

"Huh?"

Jiang Yuan was stunned for a moment, not expecting him to be among the group of spectators.

Compared to Mu Qianshan, who had attended classes for a few days and was familiar with many second-year Students, Jiang Yuan had never attended a single class.

He only knew that Mu Qianshan knew the people in the audience.

However, he didn't know that they were second-year Students.

"Not just me, your next challenged opponent is also here."

Gan Yongchao pointed to the audience seats with some helplessness.

"Next opponent?"

"Yes, Gu Naihan, ranked three hundred and sixty-one."

Gan Yongchao nodded.

Jiang Yuan couldn't help but find this amusing.

You haven't even entered the arena yet, and you're already sure you're going to lose.

As an opponent, you're more confident than I am.

"Please."

After a chuckle, Jiang Yuan invited Gan Yongchao into the Martial Arts Arena.

The Martial Arts Arena opened, and the digital countdown above the Martial Arts Arena also began to move.

As the countdown reached zero, both of them released their cards simultaneously.

Jiang Yuan still used 【Nezha】 plus 【Qiankun Circle】 and 【Jade Purification Bottle】.

Sweet Dew Water fell, and Nezha also transformed into Three Heads Six Arms, smashing out the Qiankun Circle in his hand.

"Block it for me!"

Gan Yongchao did not materialize his weapon but rather a defensive equipment card and a defensive Skill Card.

After two blue-quality cards appeared, Gan Yongchao also used a white-quality Star Power recovery card.

As the blue-quality Skill Card was released, a golden round shield immediately appeared in the sky.

The golden round shield blocked the Qiankun Circle's attack.

But in just an instant, the golden round shield cracked, then turned into golden light particles and fell.

With the golden round shield broken, Gan Yongchao was also hit by the Qiankun Circle.

Gan Yongchao also had a blue-quality defensive equipment on him.

However, after blocking this attack from the Qiankun Circle, the light on it had clearly dimmed to an almost invisible degree.

"Damn, good thing I didn't die."

Gan Yongchao breathed a sigh of relief; not being instantly killed was already much better than Zhou Hongfa.

However, Gan Yongchao was clearly not just content with not being instantly killed.

After his Star Power recovered, Gan Yongchao again used a blue-quality defensive Skill Card.

He wasn't a Skill Card Master, but he had quite a few Skill Cards on him.

As the blue-quality defensive Skill Card was used, a light yellow, eggshell-shaped halo also enveloped him.

Blue-quality Skill Card: 【Repulsion Defense】!

However, this time Nezha did not use the Qiankun Circle to attack again.

Although the subsequent attacks of the Qiankun Circle were not weak, the first attack was the strongest due to the effect of 【Qiankun Strike】 causing double damage.

Not using the Qiankun Circle to attack now could also prevent people from realizing that the Qiankun Circle's strongest attack was only the first one.

Seeing that Gan Yongchao had blocked the first attack of the Qiankun Circle, Jiang Yuan sighed slightly and again materialized the Fire Tipped Spear and Wind Fire Wheels.

Nezha, with Three Heads Six Arms, holding the Fire Tipped Spear and stepping on the Wind Fire Wheels, charged towards Gan Yongchao.

The golden Qiankun Circle had already transformed into a ring the length of a forearm, held in Nezha's hand.

Now, of Nezha's six hands, four hands held two Fire Tipped Spears, one hand held the slightly enlarged Qiankun Circle, leaving only the last hand empty.

"That golden bracelet in his hand, could it only have a single attack capability?"

Seeing this scene, the people in the audience also began to ponder.

"So, if you just block the first attack, then this weapon is basically no threat afterwards?"

Everyone started discussing; this was something Jiang Yuan hadn't expected.

He didn't expect that by not launching a second attack and merely holding it, they would still guess that the Qiankun Circle only had a single attack capability.

However, their guess was not entirely correct; the Qiankun Circle didn't just have a single attack capability, but rather its first attack had the greatest offensive power.

But it didn't matter; guessing it or not made no difference.

"Even if it only has a single attack capability, so what?"

"One attack shattered your defensive skill and your defensive equipment. Can you block Nezha's subsequent attacks?"

A person ranked in the two hundreds among the second-year Students spoke coldly.

Everyone fell silent; he was indeed right.

Even if it was just one attack, after that one attack, they would have no defensive capabilities left, so could they still block Nezha?

Or rather...

Everyone turned their heads to look at a bald man.

The bald man's face darkened; he was the unlucky fellow who was the first to be eliminated by Jiang Yuan in the freshman assessment.

"First Paralysis Armor should indeed be useful."

"However..."

The bald youth looked at everyone: "You all saw how he eliminated me back then; First Paralysis Armor didn't seem to have much effect on him."

"I suspect he has a skill that can bypass defensive equipment skills."

"Just like the Wonderful Method skill of Mu Qianshan's Zifu Sword, it has a chance to ignore the opponent's armor?"

After Mu Qianshan's challenge ended and everyone became more familiar with each other, they pretty much understood what the Zifu Sword's skill for instantly killing opponents was.