Was……

  Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  In Qing Ming City.

  Lu Ming and Xiao Bai were comfortably enjoying life. It was only when Xia Yu and the group came knocking at their door that Lu Ming remembered that it was time to participate in the preliminary match.

  “Does having a disciple feel that good?”


  Zhang Xiaopang’s voice was brimming with jealousy.

  He only had a phantasm in his illusion as consolation. Xin-er’s appearance, voice and every word was created by him via an illusion. If he wanted more?

  It did not exist!

  Before he could endow the illusion with consciousness, everything was not real!

  But Lu Ming?

  Look, he had already forgotten about the competition.

  This was too much!

  Ah, the atmosphere was filled with a decomposing, sour taste……

  “Get lost,” Lu Ming said unhappily.

  Perhaps the thoughts of these guys went astray.

  As for the competition……

  Wasn’t it just a small matter?

  He did not make any comment even though he was the only one holding the fort. Why are you so anxious when you are just playing along as spectators?

  According to the rules, after the pre-selection ended, the so-called first round of match was the preliminary round.

  Due to numerous participants, the organizer would choose some cities to be competition venues. Only those who entered the top hundred needed to travel to the main venue later on. At other times, it was not necessary for them to do so. For Lu Ming and the team, their competition venue remained Qing Ming City.

  “There is a venue in Qing Ming City?”


  Lu Ming was very shocked.

  “Yes.”


  Xia Yu nodded slightly. “According to sources, it is a directive from the higher-ups.”


  “This is strange,” Lu Ming muttered.

  In the past years, hadn’t it always been held in Chong Yang?

  Forget it.

  All of this did not matter.

  It was quite good for the competition to be held at Qing Ming City too. They could use the traveling time.

  He heard that the stock for “The Complete Guide to Standalone Cards” had already arrived. Lu Ming very much wanted to see if there were any cards inside that he could integrate……

  He had to quickly settle the competition and go home!

  Hence……

  A group of people rushed to the venue.

  Wow—


  They heard clamoring as soon as they arrived at the Workers’ Sports Complex

  The spectators from the few nearby cities had also rushed there. Hence, the conference hall that was usually half-empty was now full and filled with voices.

  The expressions of Xia Yu and the group grew more solemn.

  This School Championship Competition was grander than they had imagined.

  However……

  When arrangements had been made for their opponents to enter the hall, their countenances turned ugly. This was because the opponent that had been arranged for them was actually Zi Yang Combat College!

  This was the strongest and most powerful combat college within the ten nearest cities!

  It was unmatchable!

  They were the only ones who entered the top hundred in rankings last year. Everyone was a three-star cultivator and there were even two three-star peak ones!

  What did it mean?

  Anyone from that team could trample the other colleges!

  But now……

  They had actually become their opponent.

  Why?

  Everyone glanced at Lu Ming instinctively.

  “Uh—”


  Lu Ming pondered for a moment. “Perhaps it’s because I’m better looking?”


  “That is possible,” Liu Yuan actually expressed her agreement.

  Xia Yu and Chang Liang peered at the girl but did not utter a word.

  How are you good looking?

  You’re purely pulling a long face!

  But then again, although the opponents for the competition held the week before were chosen randomly, when they compared the situation at the pre-selection and the current one……

  Random?

  Who the hell would believe this?!

  “Why don’t we lose and then wait for repechage?” Liu Yuan said dazedly.

  According to the rules, every round of matches had a repechage system. This was because they were afraid that strong teams would be eliminated when they encountered teams that were even stronger.

  The repechage system was prepared for people like them.

  However……

  Everyone glanced at each other and did not speak.

  In theory, they encountered such an opponent by chance. However, no one really believed it!

  Them vs. Zi Yang Combat College?

  That must be deliberate!

  Since that was the case, how could they possibly allow them to participate in the repechage? In the actual competition, they could not do anything to you but when it came to the repechage……

  This was just a matter of a word from someone.

  “It looks like you have been targeted.”


  Zhang Xiaopang was suddenly gloating.

  Hehe.

  Who told you to be so smug?!

  They promised to be low-profile. In the end, Lu Ming stirred up trouble everyday, from editing videos to killing in seconds…… All of Qing Ming City was already aware of this!

  How were they going to keep a low-profile?

  It would be strange if the judging panel did not target them.

  Oo……

  Wait a minute.

  If Lu Ming could not beat them, it would be their turn to make a move then?

  Zhang Xiaopang’s eyes were shining.

  He felt that he could also ride on the heat and display his powers, especially in such an occasion!

  He looked at the hall. Countless camera were focusing on the competition ground and there were many beautiful female spectators in the audience. Many chicks in the cheerleading teams were seemingly waving their hands at him……

  This was a chance!

  A chance to get rid of his single status!

  “I can finish off a three-star.”


  Zhang Xiaopang was in high spirits.

  Lu Ming glanced at him.

  “Really.”


  A mysterious smile emerged on Zhang Xiaopang’s face. “Although I don’t have a way with four-star and above, but if it’s a three-star…… It’s not that easy to endure the primitive urge in a human body.”


  “I can give it a try too.”


  Xia Yu’s expression was solemn.

  If he were to use that move……

  He might be able to finish off someone at three-star beginner level.

  Feeling awkward, Chang Liang and Liu Yuan glanced at each other.

  Where was the promised ‘just playing along and having fun’?

  Everyone agreed to merely cheer for Lu Ming. In the end, the two of you quietly possessed such combat abilities? How would they feel?

  “I……”


  Chang Liang paused for a moment. “I can make one of them lose his sight temporarily……”


  This was his only tactic.

  However……

  He was very clear that a temporary loss of vision could only affect the other party’s combat ability to a certain extent, such that the other party could not unleash their full powers! Hence, he had to admit defeat once he cast this And then create an opportunity for the next person in the line!

  “That’s good too.”


  Xia Yu felt that this was not a bad arrangement. With Chang Liang around, he and Zhang Xiaopang had greater chances of winning one round each. If Lu Ming were to also win one round, their score would be three vs. two and they would emerge as the victor.

  “What do you think?”


  Everyone looked at Lu Ming.

  “No need.”


  Lu Ming waved his hands. “These are small matters. I still have a book to read after I’m done with this.”


  Ah?

  Everyone froze.

  Was he that confident?

  People have already sent the Zi Yang Combat College and you are still rushing home to read?

  Brother!

  Could we stop fronting at such times?

  One has to look at the situation!

  You don’t even see that three-star beginner as a threat. What about the two three-star peaks? They are your true opponents, okay! Are you sure that you have enough cards?

  “Zi Yang that side……”


  Xia Yu felt very helpless.

  “It’s okay.”


  Lu Ming waved his hands. “They will just lose in another way.”


  Everyone was speechless.

  “Is Brother Lu that complacent now?”


  Zhang Xiaopang was very emotional.

  “That’s called confidence.”


  Liu Yuan rolled her eyes.

  “I hope so.”


  Zhang Xiaopang was quite worried.

  “Don’t worry. There won’t be a problem,” Lu Ming reassured.

  They were just a few three-star cultivators. What was there to be afraid of?

  With the lesson drawn from the case of the dean, he roughly knew why the School Championship Competition did not want him to continue with the participation. However, he did not want to continue in the first place.

  His original plan was to stop as soon as they entered the top hundred!

  He did not expect the School Championship Competition to take precautionary measures. They refused to let them pass even the first preliminary round.

  Why did they have to do that?

  Lu Ming gave a deep sigh.

  If the School Championship Competition did that, they would be doing the other teams in……

  At this very moment……

  Continuous cheers could be heard at the competition venue.

  Very soon……

  Along with the elimination of teams, it was finally Lu Ming’s turn.

  As soon as he entered the competition ground, he heard deafening cheers.

  Oh, opposite him.

  As a popular team that would possibly get into the top hundred, naturally, Zi Yang Combat School was extremely popular and long had a huge group of supporters.

  The first to enter the competition ground was actually their team leader!

  A three-star peak!

  “You’re Lu Ming?

  The so-called Combat Card Creator?”


  The team leader smiled faintly.

  Lu Ming was speechless.

  Were cultivators nowadays that talkative?

  “I’ve seen your declarative statement.

  You are quite talented.

  However, you chose to be a Card Creator.

  No matter how you boast about the Combat Card Creator, it is still a Card Creator. You’re just relying on the advantage of a surmounting ability now if you don’t have all that……”


  Bang!

  He took a step forward and was surrounded by surging lights. It was actually a surmounting ability — Energy Combat Outfit!

  Swoosh!

  Everyone was cheering.

  Energy Shield, Energy Armor, and Energy Combat Outfit!

  This set of self-created body armor could cultivate and evolve energy. Unexpectedly, someone could really achieve this surmounting ability after cultivating hard enough!

  He was the team leader, indeed!

  “Zi Yang will definitely win!”


  “Zi Yang will definitely win!”


  Deafening cheers filled the air.

  As supporters, they loved to see such a scene the most.

  “Right now……

  Both of us have a surmounting ability, where is your advantage?”


  The team leader wore a proud expression.

  In that case……

  Lu Ming had lost his advantage.

  “Come on!”


  The team leader challenged him.

  He had already cast his most powerful defense. Naturally, he hoped that Lu Ming would take the initiative to strike.

  Hehe.

  Lu Ming simply smiled.

  The Energy Combat Outfit was quite powerful and was also cast by the corresponding three-star peak Cultivator. Naturally, its defense ability was very strong. It could even be more powerful than the Autumn Water Sword Aura!

  After all, this Sword Aura was merely at the two-star level!

  As a two-star with surmounting ability, he could subdue an ordinary three-star ability. However, if it was facing an equivalent surmounting ability, there would be minimal advantages.

  However……

  So what?!

  Shush!

  Lu Ming flipped his palm and over ten cards appeared in his hands.

  That team leader turned pale immediately.

  T-ten cards?

  Bang!

  Bang!

  Bang!

  The Sword Aura landed.

  Beams of Sword Aura were released from Lu Ming’s hands, whizzing across to the team leader.

  The first Sword Aura landed on the Energy Combat Outfit but did not cause much of an impact. It was the same for the second, third, fourth and fifth……

  When the eleventh Sword Aura shot over.

  Click!

  There was a crisp and clear sound.

  When the twelveth Sword Aura flew past, the Energy Combat Outfit had already disintegrated completely.

  When the thirteenth Sword Aura was released……

  Swoosh!

  That team leader was flung out and plastered on the wall.

  Shush!

  There was dead silence in the entire hall.

  This……

  How could this happen?

  How could Lu Ming possibly have that many cards?!

  Lu Ming only smiled faintly.

  There was nothing that one Sword Aura could not settle. If there was, he would use two. If there were more, he would use ten or a hundred. He could smash you to death!

  Challenge?

  No way.

  “How many cards did he have?”


  “Can a Card Creator create cards that quickly?”


  “I don’t know.”


  “Aren’t you a Card Creator?”


  “Haha, I was. But now, I don’t want to be anymore.”


  Everyone was shocked.

  They had not seen such a situation for a long time since the “stocking up cards” situation disappeared.

  There were only a few days of time to prepare for the competition!

  How could he have so much time and energy to create that many cards?! Everyone was aware that it was extremely difficult to create a Swordsman Card. Typically, one could only create one card per day!

  Lu Ming had used ten cards at once……

  Was this a joke?!

  At this very moment……

  Zi Yang team.

  They pulled their wounded team leader off the wall.

  “Lu Ming…… shouldn’t have a lot of cards left…… His card bag…… I can see the thickness.”


  That corners of the wounded team leader’s mouth actually curled into a faint smile. He said intermittently, “Continue to execute the earlier plan…… Challenge him and force him to use more cards…… When he finishs his cards…… We will…… be able to win!”


  Yes.

  This was their plan!

  They had studied Lu Ming and his team’s capability very seriously and was very clear of the lethality of the Autumn Water Sword Aura. They even obtained data of the potential damage caused by that Sword Aura!

  They had all the statistics!

  Their only worry was……

  the quantity!

  Therefore, they had to force Lu Ming to use more Sword Auras!

  They were very aware that Lu Ming’s card took precedence. Seven days. Even if he did not sleep or rest, there was a limit to how many cards he could create!

  And this……

  was their chance!

  The team leader took actions personally and used his surmounting ability to corner Lu Ming!

  It would be best if they could win. Even if they were to lose, they would try their best to deplete Lu Ming’s greatest trump cards. This was what he had been doing!

  “Deplete them……

  In the end…… Let Xiaoyan make a move,”


  The team leader lost consciousness after he finished his words.

  “Yes.”


  The team members gritted their teeth.

  Tears were welling up in the eyes of that boy called Xiaoyan. No one knew that he was the secret weapon of Zi Yang Combat College!

  Entering the top hundred college rankings last year brought them their greatest gain!

  The high exposure rate made those foreign talents notice this college and register for admission. Xiaoyan was one of them. He was only fourteen years old and was a super genius!

  He was also a three-star peak!

  He had the same surmounting ability!

  Be it combat ability or talent, he far surpassed the team leader.

  Leaving him for the last was a last-gasp kill!

  Their Zi Yang Combat College must get into the top hundred and could not fail here!

  Hence……

  The team members acted according to the plan.

  “Lu Ming, what are you……”


  Bang!

  He was sent flying off the competition ground.

  “Lu Ming, you’re just a Card Creator……”


  Bang!

  He was sent flying off the competition ground.

  “Lu Ming, you’re a d-dumbass?”


  Bang!

  She was also flung out.

  Shush!

  There was dead silence in the entire hall.

  This was because it was too tragic for the team from Zi Yang Combat College. Although they were much stronger than those teams at the pre-selection, from the look of it, they were just enduring more strikes.

  Two strikes!

  Two strikes!

  Two strikes!

  Three of them had already hit the wall.

  Unexpectedly, Lu Ming had become that powerful?

  He was simply a demon king!

  At this very moment……

  Just as there was pin-drop silence on-site, the last team member of Zi Yang Combat College, the boy who obviously looked young, stepped onto the stage seriously.

  He looked like a warrior that was preparing for a battle.