The Card Apprentice

With such a huge commotion in the city, how could Zeng Yushan and his gang not notice anything? They were just in time to witness the scene when they arrived.

“What an overbearing battle aura!” Lin Yao’s face was full of shock.

Zeng Yushan looked grave, and he agreed. “This Qiao Yuan’s capability is indeed powerful. Just this aura alone can hardly be matched by ordinary card artisans.”

The other few were already dazed by the scene. Since their admission into Moon Frost Island, they had been indoctrinated with the belief that Moon Frost Island was the strongest. The sudden discovery that such an accomplished ace existed outside the school threw their minds into utter confusion.

Lin Yao turned and asked, “Senior, do you know anything about this Dang Han?”

Zeng Yushan spoke in an undertone. “Our paths crossed once. This man is cruel, merciless, and sly, and he is an extremely difficult person. Pity that I’ve never fought with him before, so I don’t know his exact capability.”

Lin Yao looked confused. “This is somewhat strange. By the looks of it, Dang Han seems fully confident of gaining possession of the Golden Word Shackle. What is it about this Golden Word Shackle that attracts him? Moreover, being such a crafty fellow, how does he dare to so recklessly challenge Qiao Yuan, who’s just two places behind him?”

Zeng Yushan was also somewhat perplexed. “Perhaps there is some inside information we don’t know about.”

The two spoke no more and paid close attention to every change in the scene.

“How impressive!” Another female student of Moon Frost Island was incredibly excited, and her eyes were glowing. “Fight! Fight! Fight with all your might! Being able to see such a duel between aces, this trip’s certainly worth it!”

Two boys nearby both shivered and subconsciously shifted a little farther away from her. It was scary that such terrifying and violent traits laid beneath the usually demure and endearing appearance!

“Senior, is rank 72 of the Black-Line Star Listing this impressive already? Aren’t those in front even more powerful?” The lovely eyes of another female student were wide open, and her face was full of shock. She was evidently stunned by the battle aura emanating from Qiao Yuan.

Zeng Yushan smiled gently. “Ha ha. Several teachers at the academy have this level of capability too. Junior Ke’er need not worry much. Besides, anyone who can enter the top 100 of the Black-Line Star Listing is naturally a capable fellow.”

“Ah,” Ke’er answered, seeming to have understood.

Zeng Yushan had actually left something unsaid. Even in Moon Frost Island, not many teachers could attain such a level of capability. He had relatively more experience in the outside world and was aware of the difference between them. In comparison with the card artisans on the Black-Line Star Listing, the academic card artisans were far too inexperienced. Though all sorts of friendly duels and competitions were available in school, in contrast with the card artisans on the Black-Line Star Listing, they were still rather far behind.

Which of the card artisans on the Black-Line Star Listing was not one who had experienced hundreds of battles and had worked hard for their way out from countless massacres? As he thought of that, a hint of anxiety involuntarily rose in Zeng Yushan’s heart.

He suddenly recalled the corpses discovered in the forest. Though several were unidentifiable, a few were relatively well-preserved. After identification, it was found that the dead men had all been members of Constellation, and amongst them were two captains.

Could it have been infighting?

Of the seven teams of Constellation, three captains had died, and one captain was heavily injured. The three teams remaining were all that was still intact at present. Zeng Yushan couldn’t figure out what exactly Constellation was trying to do. In the past few days, large numbers of unknown card artisans flooded into Zargan, which further gave him some premonition.

Currently, he only wished the school’s reinforcements would arrive soon. Those juniors of his, though each capable in their own right, very much lacked actual combat experience, which worried him exceedingly. It was as though Zargan had suddenly turned into a dangerous place with fierce undercurrents. Zeng Yushan had always vaguely had some illusion that a pair of invisible hands was behind all of it.

Dang Han showed some signs of being moved for the first time. The intensity of the adversary’s desire for battle was rather rare among the card artisans he had encountered before. He was somewhat doubtful of the intelligence he had received. According to that information, Qiao Yuan had managed to kill Mo Ta by means of his command of wild beasts. His own battle capability had nothing remarkable. The person who had provided that piece of intelligence was rather credible, which was the reason behind his deliberate provocation that day. Dang Han’s expression alternated between light and dark, and his eyes were twinkling.

The Golden Word Shackle’s origin was mysterious. Even its previous owner, Mo Ta, was unaware of its source. However, Dang Han had once encountered it and had been looking for an opportunity ever since. Unfortunately, Mo Ta had already joined Constellation at that time. As Dang Han was extremely wary of Wen and Yuchi Bai, he hadn’t dared to attempt snatching it away.

The moment he had seen from the latest issue of the Black-Line Star Listing that the Golden Word Shackle had fallen into the hands of a card artisan named Qiao Yuan, he had cast aside everything and hurried for Zargan at top speed, with the sole purpose of snatching the Golden Word Shackle from Qiao Yuan’s hands. However, on his way, he had met someone unexpected and had learned the exact details of Mo Ta’s death, which had made him even more joyous.

What he hadn’t expected, though, was that the adversary’s unyielding attitude exceeded his estimation. Was it false bravado, or did he have something or someone to rely on? Dang Han couldn’t help but feel somewhat unable to make up his mind. As his gaze fell on that golden and crystalized energy chain, his eyes turned fiercely passionate.

Card artisans who could reach that level of attainment were filled with confidence in themselves. As he thought of how he had chanced upon the various rumors surrounding the Golden Word Shackle, all suspicion was cast far out of his mind.

“You can’t tell what’s good for you!” Dang Han grunted with some show of coldness and a pair of greedy eyes. At the same time, his body brightened all over, and a jade-green light spotted with silvery stars covered him up. From far away, his whole body appeared to have been sculpted from jadeite.

“Jade Star!” sounded a few exclamations from the crowd. The Black-Line Star Listing had records of the name of the card Dang Han specialized in, but a name was all there was. No one had personally witnessed its functionality and battle style.

The brilliance of jade-green energy flowed around him. From spots of silver stars burst forth a couple of dazzling balls of light every now and then.

Chen Mu made up his mind at once and attacked with decision. He didn’t seem to have moved, but the energy chain hovering in front of him suddenly shot out exceptionally quickly! The three triangular energy bodies were as sharp and threatening as three snake fangs! That regular attack was nothing special, but it came without warning.

Nobody had expected Chen Mu to act at once and to blatantly launch a sneak attack under the eyes of so many!

A fierce light flashed across Dang Han’s eyes. While he didn’t appear to have moved, he slid three meters to the left as though his feet had been smeared with oil. An adversary who acted so unconventionally and had little regard for reputation was usually extremely difficult. However, at present, he had no time to think much and could only be 120 percent alert.

Though his sneak attack was unsuccessful, Chen Mu wasn’t too concerned. It could only be a joke if an ace like Dang Han were injured by a sneak attack of that standard. His intention had just been to break the adversary’s rhythm and to create a slight window of opportunity for himself. However, Dang Han was extremely shrewd and gave Chen Mu not even a slight opportunity.

Intense dark green energy fragmented instantly and turned into dozens of star-shaped energy bodies. From their form and shape, they looked very much like starfish, except that each was vividly jade-green, and the silver spots on them flashed like stars. Dang Han laughed coldly, and his right hand waved gently toward Chen Mu.

The jade-green energy starfish drifted toward Chen Mu with little hurry and contrasted starkly with Chen Mu’s lightning-quick sneak attack a moment ago. The most bizarre thing was that a few of the energy starfish actually dove into the ground!

Though Chen Mu was excited, his mind was strangely calm. An unconventional energy body such as that had to also have something special about the way it attacked. The world of cards was boundless, and no one knew how many compositions of energy bodies there actually were. Different energy structures had different characteristics. Chen Mu wouldn’t have been surprised no matter how unique the energy body was.

“Save!”

A transparent golden cube appeared in front of Chen Mu. Many among the crowd had seen Chen Mu before and couldn’t help but feel even more excited. They had seen with their own eyes how the Meteor Chopper, with all the might from Ji Ming of the Linghai Training Camp, had been unable to shake that glass-like substance merely the thickness of a finger.

However, as those people were looking forward to the clash between the two sides, the neat, glass-like cube was as soft as sticky candy. It curled toward Chen Mu. In the blink of an eye, a ball-shaped golden energy cloak covered Chen Mu securely. Energy chains could be distinctly seen on the energy cloak and were distributed on it like patterns. Now and then, golden rays flowed along the energy chains.

Those who had seen Chen Mu use the save command before clicked their tongues in wonder.

Zeng Yushan suddenly said, “Junior Ke’er, you major in energy cloak cards. What do you think of this energy cloak?”

That female student by the name of Ke’er came to herself with a start and responded, “The structure is very stable. The energy chains are functioning as the skeleton and allow the cloak to be even more secure. This fellow’s control over energy is very fine and impressive. Even I can’t do it…” As the flow of her words reached the end, her voice grew softer, and her head drooped with some sense of loss.

Zeng Yushan was rather fond of that cute junior of his. Seeing her so disheartened, he involuntarily explained, “Junior is still young. This Qiao Yuan is much older than you. When you grow a little older, you will definitely be capable of this, too.”

“Yeah!” Ke’er raised her face. With determination in her eyes, she nodded her little head firmly.

“Ha! My little Ke’er is the best. Fret not! Fret not! Sister Li is here!” The female student who everyone had avoided like snakes and scorpions pulled Ke’er into her embrace and unconsciously rubbed her head, entirely unaware of the mess she made of Ke’er’s hair.

Her incredibly fiery gaze was on the field, and she spoke with fervor. “Ha ha ha! Though this man looks a bit ugly, he’s really a tough one! Tough guys are my favorite! Beat that Dang Han into pulp! I haven’t liked the look of him since long ago!”

Seeing the incredibly passionate Li, the other few unanimously moved farther away from her again. Nonetheless, everyone’s eyes were all fixed on the two men in the field.

It was the Jade Star versus the Golden Word Shackle—the first collision!