Tian Du City.

  Sword Card Master Association.

  Jiang Feng might not have known that within those few minutes, the master and disciple, Lu Ming and Xiaobai, were thinking of burying him in the grave again……

  Anyway, the admission criteria had been decided on for now.

  They would look for the student who scored 56 points and seek his cooperation to advertise the college and restore its reputation!

  Well……

  It was that simple.

  Lu Ming also had other alternative solutions.

  For example……

  “The admission cut-off points increased by ten! What was so charming about this school?!”


  “Four-star principal, six-star students. How did the school do it?!”


  Or something along those lines.

  So what if this was Tian Du City?

  He believed that even if this was Tian Du City, there would be some colleges that were not as highly sought after! There were very few colleges like The First Academy that had many six-star students!

  Of course.

  Before that, they had to find that student.

  ——


  Name: Li Mei.

  Results: 56 points.

  Nature: Special admission.

  ——


  “This name……”


  Lu Ming frowned slightly.

  “Do you know the student?”


  Jiang Feng’s heart stirred slightly.

  “No.”


  Lu Ming shook his head. “I know a Li Lei and Han Meimei[1] But…… I really don’t know who Li Mei is.”


  “I have a faint impression of this child.”


  Jiang Feng took a deep breath.

  How could he not have known the two students who joined the school through special admission!

  “Like you, the student’s situation is special and he joined the school at the last minute.”


  Jiang Feng sighed. “It was an old friend’s request. I didn’t say anything and agreed to it.”


  “This score……”


  Lu Ming pointed at the 56 points.

  Ever since he found out that he was the fool who had scored 64 points, he decided not to ridicule the students. After all, it was really amazing to have this score!

  “Oh.”


  Jiang Feng nodded. “Back then, he only passed one exam. He answered the multiple choice questions without much thought and he never came back. As for the 56 points, he must have scored full marks for the multiple choice questions.”


  Lu Ming rolled his eyes. “What happened later?”


  “I have no idea.”


  Jiang Feng thought carefully. “He kept a low profile in school.”


  The batch of students from last year including Xia Yu, Chang Liang, and the rest had all gained popularity, except for this student. He must have had a special family background, but was unusually low-key.

  The most interesting thing was that he was in Tian Du City!!!

  Think about it.

  A student from the college at the crossroads at Qing Ming City……

  Was here.

  There must be something going on here.

  Bam!

  Lu Ming stood up, his gaze bright. “It seems that we have to pay this person a visit. Oh, bring the wine as well.”
……

  Right then……

  The First Academy.

  The dean was enjoying his delicious premium beef lunch.

  “Is the college entrance exam over?”


  “Yes.”


  “Roll out the admission program.”


  “Yes.”


  The assistant nodded.

  Moments later.

  The dean had his lunch and felt pleased. “In the future after I have finished all the beef, tell Lu Ming to make a trip here. I have taken an increasing liking to this child.”


  The assistant was silent.

  He felt that the dean did not learn his lessons.

  However……

  Speaking of Lu Ming, he had something to report to the dean.

  “Well……

  “I wondered whether I should tell you this piece of news or not.”


  The assistant sighed.

  “Since you are so hesitant, don’t say it.”


  The dean was very calm. “Keep it to yourself.”


  The assistant was silent.

  Now that the weather was hotter, the dean was meaner to him……

  After a long time……

  He spoke up again. “It is regarding Lu Ming.”


  “Oh?”


  The dean paused slightly.

  “According to a friend in the Ministry of Education, there is one more college in this year’s group of colleges. It is the Sword Card Master Association affiliated school at the crossroads,” the assistant reported.

  The dean was confused.

  What the hell was the school’s name?

  Wait a minute.

  If it was an affiliated school under the Sword Card Master Association……

  “Are they participating in admissions this year?”


  “Yes.”


  The dean suddenly had a bad premonition.

  Seriously……

  According to his past experience, as long as Lu Ming was involved……

  “Lower this year’s cut-off points by five points,” the dean suddenly said.

  “Huh?”


  The assistant was confused. Five points?

  Only Heaven knew.

  As the strongest college, it was a huge sensation even if The First Academy lowered the cut-off points by one point! Yet the dean took the initiative to lower it by five points? This……

  “This seems to be too much?”


  The assistant was worried.

  “Not at all.”


  The dean was even more worried. “Hopefully I have been thinking too much. Anyway, continue to monitor Lu Ming. I want to know what he has been up to recently!”


  “Yes.”
……

  Tian Du City.

  Outside the Fifth Ring Road.

  A dilapidated village.

  This was a village in the city that was to be demolished. All the merchants had already moved out except for some tenacious households that still resided in the area, hanging slogans like ‘demolish over my dead body’.……

  There was a group of tenacious young people who still lived here.

  The rent was very cheap. Although there were always disruptions in their electricity and water supply……

  The Li Mei that Lu Ming was looking for lived in such a place. It was said that he spent three hundred days a year in that area.

  Shush!

  A screen popped up.

  Lu Ming walked to his destination with the help of the navigation.

  Well……

  There was a dilapidated self-built two-floor building. The landlord was an old man. He held up a sign protesting against the demolition. Upon seeing Lu Ming, he removed the sign on his body, smiled to reveal a mouth full of golden teeth.

  “Hey man, do you want to rent a house?”


  Lu Ming shook his head. “I am looking for someone.”


  “Who is that?”


  The old man lowered his voice.

  “Li Mei,” Lu Ming said.

  “Oh?”


  The old man’s voice became high-pitched. A pair of blurred eyes became focused as he said meaningfully, “Go to the second floor. Turn at the corner. He is at the room furthest in.”


  Lu Ming was speechless.

  This seemed like……

  Why was it different from what he had imagined?!

  What was he up to?

  →_→


  Lu Ming was a little puzzled.

  However……

  Given his abilities that were comparable to a seven-star…… Yes, he was comparable to a seven-star. Miss Xiaoya was a seven-star-to-be. Since he had defeated her, he must be comparable to seven-star! It did not matter whether she was in tip-top condition, or the limitations of the on-campus job fair or any other challenges. These did not exist. Anyway, he had won……

  Lu Ming reassessed his capabilities.

  Well……

  He was comparable to a seven-star!

  As for why his usual combat capabilities were merely at the beginner six-star level, who cared?

  Cough.

  Hence……

  Lu Ming walked calmly to the corner of the second floor. As he turned the corner, the residents inside showed strange and warm smiles, making Lu Ming feel uncomfortable……

  This scene……

  If he was not mistaken……

  The last time he had felt that uncomfortable……

  It was when his friend mentioned a small alley that was filled with pink lights. Of course, he had not been there and he did not go there out of curiosity. He had merely heard it from his friend. That scene was similar to the situation he was in now.

  Therefore……

  What was Li Mei up to?!

  Unknowingly……

  Lu Ming’s footsteps slowed down.

  It was said that the society was striving for gender equality. There were often young girls who were led astray. Were young boys who were led astray as well?!

  →_→


  Could it be that……

  Shush!

  He walked to the entrance,

  A gentle and comfortable purple light came from the room…… It was the symbolic purple for the gay community……

  Well……

  He had confirmed his doubts.

  Lu Ming was expressionless.

  Wow—


  Lu Ming pushed open the door. He looked through the purple curtains and saw a handsome young man inside the room. He saw Lu Ming and smiled.

  “Friend, what position do you prefer?”


  The young man asked gently.

  Lu Ming was speechless.

  That was saying it quite nicely.

  He thought about it. Before asking him questions, he wanted to know what kind of person Li Mei was. After all, this concerned the future of the college at the crossroads!

  This had nothing to do with his curiosity with a certain industry in the alternate world.

  His intentions were pure.

  He merely wanted to know more about Li Mei.

  Well……

  Hence……

  Lu Ming leaned forward and whispered. “What positions do you offer?”


  “We have plenty of them.”


  The young man was very satisfied with Lu Ming’s reaction and he whispered, “Look, we have ‘Wild Geese Descending On The Sandbank’, ‘Monkey Stealing The Peach’, ‘Clear Pastures In The Moonlight’.……”


  Lu Ming was somewhat stunned.

  Damn!

  The alternate world was really advanced!

  What was ‘Wild Geese Descending On The Sandbank’.…… He heard that there was a martial art move that was similar. If it was the kind of business that he imagined, well…… Wild Geese Descending On The Sandbank’ might be the nickname for lying face down. It was no wonder…… Now that he thought of it, it made sense. The young man was indeed knowledgeable……

  The ‘Monkey Stealing The Peach’ was easy to understand.

  Well……

  Here was the problem. What did ‘Clear Pastures In The Moonlight’ mean?

  Lu Ming was puzzled and he asked the young man. The young man gave Lu Ming a perplexed look as he said in a straight face, “This is one of the Energy Warrior boxing stances. Don’t tell me you don’t know this?!”


  “Boxing stance?”


  Lu Ming was shocked.

  “Yes.”


  The young man was perplexed. “This is one of the boxing moves from five-star Energy Warrior trapping attacks. How can you not know about it?”


  “Oh~”


  Lu Ming suddenly saw the light.

  So this was a boxing move……

  “What did you think it was?”


  The young man was suspicious of him.

  “I thought……”


  Lu Ming said with a straight face. “I thought that it was a stickwork posture.”


  “Do you know any stickwork postures?”


  The young man was surprised.

  “Of course.”


  Lu Ming nodded slightly. “I am also familiar with postures like ‘An Old Man’.…… cough, ‘An Old Steed In The Stable ‘.”


  With that……

  He swept his gaze over the shelves bathed in purple lights. Due to the lighting, he had not taken a good look at them before. Now that he read the labels……

  Xx move of xx Swordplay.

  Xx move of xx Fists.

  Xx move of xx Hammer Work.

  Wait a minute.

  This is actually a place that sells cards!

  There were many sets of skills and abilities there, from swordplay to fists, from the abilities of Swordsmen to those of Energy Warriors and even Elementalists!!!

  Therefore, the young man was a Card Creator!

  Furthermore……

  If Lu Ming was not mistaken, they were all pirated cards!!!

  Lu Ming quickly scanned the shelves and was shocked.

  It was very difficult to create pirated copies of abilities.

  When someone sealed an ability, all they did was seal it and it could only be used once. It was impossible to learn the abilities through the cards!

  This was as good as saying one could master the ability after watching it being used once!

  Was this a joke?!

  This kind of genius did not exist……

  At the thought of this, Lu Ming was reminded of his sister and Xiaobai. He paused and looked at it from another perspective. There were very few such geniuses! They almost did not exist!

  Well……

  As for pirated goods……

  It was even more difficult!

  To make a pirated copy of an ability, one had to break down the abilities into parts. It was similar to dancing. One had to break down the dance into individual moves to understand and to master it!

  However……

  It was impossible for ordinary people to break down abilities!

  Thinking of making pirated copies of Swordsman’s abilities?

  Alright.

  One had to first understand the Swordsman’s abilities and to learn them! Being an outsider, one had to comprehend the move to be able to master it!

  This was the same for all vocations!

  One had to first learn the abilities to make pirated copies of the vocational abilities. This was even harder for outsiders than the people in the industry! This was because one did not belong to the vocation and hence had to create it through imagination!

  Therefore……

  Although they were pirated copies, there were very few of them.

  The various associations simply turned a blind eye to it.

  People only made pirated copies of low-level abilities and there were only very few copies. It posed no threat.

  As for this place……

  All the moves seemed to be broken down into many parts!

  An ability was divided into twenty strokes or thirty strokes.

  Every single move and posture was included!

  If one bought everything and learned all of them, one would be able to master the ability!

  Furthermore……

  These cards covered almost all vocations!

  This……

  This was too terrifying!

  Lu Ming was shocked. He remembered that Jiang Feng mentioned that this young man casually answered the multiple choice questions and scored full marks. Therefore, he was an unrivaled genius!!!

  He was a demon talent!

  For a genius like him……

  The Sword Card Master Association had to get him to join them!!!

  However……

  At this time, the young man realized that something was wrong and he looked solemn. “You were not introduced by our people. You are not someone from our circle……

  “Let me see……”


  Shush!

  A purple light swept over Lu Ming.

  “Card Creator?

  “A four-star?!”


  There was a cold glint in the young man’s eyes. “It turns out that we are of the same trade……”


  Lu Ming became sullen.

  Damn it! He was not of the same trade as the young man who sold pirated compact discs!

  He was a Sword Card Master!

  Did he know what a Sword Card Master was?!

  Furthermore……

  Even when he had a difficult time in his previous life, he did not resort to selling compact discs! Apart from buying some adult content compact discs he could critique in order to have a stronger sense of justice, he never sold any!!!

  He knew criminal law and it was a serious offense to circulate xx……

  It was even more serious than making your own xx videos.

  “Haha.

  “They say that two of a trade seldom agree. It is very true.”


  There was murderous intent in the young man’s eyes.

  “No.”


  Lu Ming sighed. “I am from the college at the crossroads. I was looking for you……”


  “Really?”


  The young man checked a contact on the communication device with nonchalance and sent a message. “Brother Wang, how is the situation at the college at the crossroads recently?”


  “How else can it be?”


  The other party sighed. “All the students have transferred away. It is hopeless. The school is gone as well.”


  Lu Ming was speechless.

  “Well……

  “I am sure you know Jiang Feng.”


  Lu Ming got the principal to talk to the young man. “Old Jiang, you have to salvage this situation.”


  “Coming.”


  Jiang Feng appeared on the screen. There was a smug look on his face. In the end, Lu Ming still needed his help. He was not being arrogant, he……

  “Who is this old man?”


  The young man could not be bothered with him.

  Jiang Feng was dumbstruck. “Don’t you recognize me?”


  “No.”


  The young man was indifferent.

  “I am the principal of the college at the crossroads.”


  Jiang Feng took a deep breath, maintaining a smile on his face.

  “Oh.”


  The young man understood. “I heard that you are a Card Creator as well. Does it mean that since the school disappeared, you came here to Tian Du City to compete with me?”


  Jiang Feng was silent.

  Who the hell wanted to compete with him?!

  This was crazy!

  “Since we are of the same trade, don’t blame me for going overboard!”


  The young man was indifferent.

  In this place where it was difficult for the police to enforce laws, it was very normal for people to break into fights when they had conflicts with each other. The person who was slower to react would die. Therefore, he was very ruthless with people who came right to his doorsteps to provoke him!

  Bang!

  The purple glow exploded.

  Lu Ming was speechless.

  Jiang Feng was silent.

  Damn it. Is a fight breaking out?……

  [1] Li Lei and Han Meimei are fictional characters in a series of English-learning textbooks for middle school students in China.