Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

Qing Ming City.

At the shop.

Lu Ming was lost for words at what he saw.

Indeed…

The Sword Card Master was merely a false vocation suggested by the elders. All the odd requirements were set to prevent people from blindly following the trend…

However…

Someone actually met the requirements!

Two-star materials?

There were no two-star materials!

The Sword Card Master vocation did not exist at all!

Indeed…

The so-called ‘Sword Card Master' was created by the higher-ups according to the series of swordplay that he used. Actually, Lu Ming had other cards.

But, one would not be named as ‘Burial Mound Master' just because one used the Burial Mound Card.

This vocation did not exist at all.

But then again…

Xiaoyan… this name sounded very familiar.

Lu Ming looked at his profile. He was a fourteen-year-old teenage boy with a serious look. Lu Ming suddenly remembered who he was.

Oh.

He was the little genius from Zi Yang College.

Wasn't he an Energy Warrior? He was a three-star peak that mastered surmounting abilities at the age of fourteen years old! He was only one step to becoming a four-star! After his defeat last time, shouldn't he work hard to break through to a four-star? Why did he say that he wanted to cultivate to be a Sword Card Master?

Wait a minute!

If he cultivated to be a Sword Card Master…

“h.e.l.lo.”

Lu Ming asked cautiously, “Excuse me, did your parents allow you to cultivate to be a Sword Card Master?”

The teenager paused. “My elder sister did not agree. I re-cultivated without telling her.”

“I'm done for.”

Lu Ming's heart sank.

d.a.m.n!

How could a three-star peak re-cultivate without giving it a serious thought?!

The young brats nowadays were too wilful…

But then again, how long had it been since he last saw him, and how long had it been since he re-cultivated? It was a surprise that he had already mastered the lamination and the lines of Sword Aura!

This talent…

Lu Ming pondered deeply for a moment.

The higher-ups' definition of ‘Sword Card Master' was just nonsense. But Lu Ming was very clear about one thing. After inheriting the Lunar Shadow legacy, he had indeed become a Sword Card Master!

The very name of the Sword Card Master was the combination of Swordsman and Card Creator!

It was replacing the sword with the Original Card!

Well…

He wondered if this path could be taken after all?

He was a special case. His Original Card had been tempered and Xiaobai was an exception. G.o.d knew why her Original Card had a consciousness. But what about other people?

He thought for a few seconds.

Lu Ming released the second stage guidelines for Sword Card Master!

Tempering of the Original Card!

The Original Card of the Sword Card Master must be strong enough and to go through countless rounds of resources tempering. It was comparable to the Sword Embryo. One has to fulfill all of this to proceed to the third stage of Sword Card Master!

Reading permission—only limited to members of the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation who have completed the first stage.

“The a.s.sociation administrative panel…”

Lu Ming stared at the sub-panel. He noticed the data and materials submitted by Xiaoyan.

Since the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation had no branch, all the testing could only be done in the Card Creators a.s.sociation, and Xiaoyan really went for testing and submitted the data.

Name: Yan Suqi.

Energy Level: One thousand points.

Body Strength: Three-star peak.

Lamination Technique: Mastered.

Sword Aura Lines: Mastered.

(Fulfilled all conditions, application to become a member of the a.s.sociation.)

(Application approved.)

Hence…

There was one more member in the small Sword Card Master a.s.sociation.

“Energy tempering.”

Xiaoyan was diligently studying the second stage guidelines that Lu Ming released.

So, that was what happened.

One had to be a top talent to pa.s.s the first stage and one needed to have the best resources to pa.s.s the second stage.

He had seen for himself the capability of the Sword Card Master and he was once defeated by a two-star. His elder sister said that if one wanted to be the most powerful cultivator, the most basic requirement was to be invincible among one's peers!

This was the most important of all!

His sister did it back then, what about him?

Three-star peak!

He had mastered surmounting abilities!

However, he was humiliated by a two-star Sword Card Master!

Therefore…

He chose to be a Sword Card Master without any hesitation.

Anyway, he only started cultivating to be an Energy Warrior not long ago. Besides, it was mainly to train one's physical fitness. It would not be a waste to give up and re-cultivate now!

Particularly, now that he had seen how powerful Xiaobai was, all the more he looked forward to this vocation!

It turned out that…

This was a Sword Card master!

What about the countless number of cards that Xiaobai used?

If she could use a stack of cards in a compet.i.tion, what about when she was not in a contest…

Wouldn't she have even more cards?!

“I will definitely become a Sword Card Master!”

Xiaoyan was serious.

“This will do.”

Lu Ming was pleased with this arrangement.

Since he wanted to be a Sword Card Master…

Then he should become a real Sword Card Master!

If one could not temper the Original Card, it would mean failure, and one was not qualified to be a Sword Card Master. One should go back to one's original path.

Well…

Given the child's talents, he supposed he would not be delayed for long.

It was perfect!

If he succeeded…

Then he could continue with this path. No matter what, this was better than a Swordsman (his elder sister was the exception.) Lu Ming who had the Lunar Shadow legacy could easily create a Swordsman legacy system!

“I am indeed a good person.”

Lu Ming was full of emotions. There were very few people like him who had the looks and a good character.

“Master, master…”

Xiaobai leaned over out of curiosity. “What is energy tempering?”

In her impression…

Her Master had not taught her about the tempering of the Original Card.

“The so-called tempering of the Original Card…”

Lu Ming paused briefly before explaining. “It is similar to the Sword Embryo. The Original Card has to go through a variety of heavenly and earthly treasures or energy baptism and to keep growing stronger. This is called tempering! Isn't it the same when the Sword Embryo has just condensed? It has to go through tempering in order to become stronger.

The simplest method is some mild and powerful blood. The blood contains energy. If the Original Card is immersed in it for a long period of time, its quality will be significantly improved,” Lu Ming said.

“Oh?”

Xiaobai was interested and she looked toward the Original Card at the corner.

The Original Card s.h.i.+vered.

Puff!

Puff!

It moved up and down at a higher frequency, The brick that floated on top of it almost could not keep up with its rhythm.

Lu Ming looked at it sympathetically.

Tsk tsk.

It seemed that this guy could not escape a bloodbath.

That afternoon.

Lu Ming was cultivating.

Teacher An called and happily told him the good news that the school would be able to operate as usual, before he changed the topic and became very vague about the rumors regarding the school…

“Rumors?”

Lu Ming was confused.

“Yes.”

An Mufeng paused briefly. “There was almost an accident a few days ago when a group of students went swimming. Rumor about the legend about the water ghost began to spread…”

“Wait a minute!”

Lu Ming could sense that something was amiss.

Swimming?

Water ghost?

Are you kidding me?!

“Since when is there a pool at our school?”

Lu Ming turned sullen.

“Uh…”

An Mufeng paused briefly. “Well, didn't you tear down the field last time?”

“Huh?”

“The land is too firm and low… therefore, when it rains, the water cannot be drained out… Hence it became a lake in the school…”

Lu Ming was silent for a long time. “There isn't that much water.”

“Well…”

An Mufeng smiled bitterly. “The students cultivate all kinds of strange abilities. Some Water Elementalists changed the water… and some Earth Elementalists condensed the field… anyway, it eventually became what it was today.”

Lu Ming was speechless.

Alright.

They created the lake by themselves!

He could not say anything since the students were being very independent.

“What is with the water ghost?”

Lu Ming's voice was low.

“I don't know.”

An Mufeng shook his head, “I told the teachers to take a look and they did not discover anything. However, it is eerie in the school. I keep having this strange feeling.”

“Eerie…”

Lu Ming pondered deeply.

His heart stirred at what Old Jiang instructed him.

Oo…

The strange rise in the water level might be related to the secret of the school. If so, what were the school's hidden secrets?

The school…

That direction…

Lu Ming swept his gaze to the distance.

He should wait until Old Jiang was back. But right now, he should seal the field…

Suddenly…

His heart throbbed.

A strong and terrifying thought floated from Lu Ming and landed directly on the school. Lu Ming could clearly sense all the auras in the school as well as…

The mysterious lake!

“Brother Cat?!”

Lu Ming's heart skipped a beat.

Why would the black cat strike at this time?

Meow~

There was a faint sound from the Sea of Consciousness.

The black cat slowly erected, stretched itself and looked in the direction of the college from the Sea of Consciousness!

Obviously…

There was something over there that piqued its interest.

Lu Ming was stunned.

It seemed that there was something formidable there.

Given Brother Cat's personality…

It was too lazy!

Lu Ming even used to suspect that it was actually a pig…

It would only grind its teeth everyday!

Basically it was normal for him to sleep for the entire month! As long as he did not die, regardless of whether it was minor or serious injuries, it would not be bothered to care for him!

But right now, it was moving!

The last time it was so attentive, it was due to the cat bell on its neck…

Therefore…

Was there something new this time?

Lu Ming felt energized.

Buzz—

The thoughts of the Brother Cat floated over, telling Lu Ming to take a look.

“I won't go!”

Lu Ming pursed his lips.

Hehe.

It was ridiculous. It looked bad on him if he followed its orders…

Shus.h.!.+

A thought descended over him: You will be allowed into the World of Darkness and Shadows once.

“I will go! I have to go!”

Lu Ming sounded very righteous. “Since it is regarding the students, I have to make this trip.”

Hehe.

The black cat squinted at Lu Ming. He was indeed shameless…

“Sure.”

An Mufeng felt relieved.

He knew that Lu Ming was very powerful. He could be comparable to the presidents of various a.s.sociations. Even so, he was able to be true to his heart…

He was his role model!

“Xiaobai, be obedient and stay at home.”

Lu Ming gave her some cards. “I will go to school to take a look.”

“Okay.”

Xiaobai waved her hands obediently.

Lu Ming hurried to the school.

The field.

Oh, it should be the school lake.

Lu Ming stood by the lake, looking at the endless water. Some teachers were there as well, telling Lu Ming about all the various rumors about this place.

“What's the problem?”

Lu Ming asked.

“Over there.”

An Mufeng pointed to the far end of the lake. When they tried detecting it, the area had a lot of unstable energy. Those students also felt that something was not quite right.

“Is there any energy device over there?”

Lu Ming asked.

According to his understanding, it was normal for the energy equipment to display abnormal energy.

“There's nothing at all.”

An Mufeng shook his head. “When the field was completed, we installed some simple training equipment for the novices. However, the place was flooded…”

Lu Ming was speechless.

Oh.

Basic training equipment…

That was pretty much the same as a stadium in his previous life. If that was all there was to it, there should not be any energy leaks.

However, after he tore down the field, the land had become lower and the people dug deep into the ground to install the sports equipment. Moreover, given Brother Cat's reaction, the outcome was obvious…

It looked like something had been excavated…

Oo…

He should fish it out.

Of course.

Before that, there was a big problem.

“Who can swim?”

Lu Ming asked.

Shus.h.!.+

The world was silent.

The teachers looked at each other and smiled awkwardly.

Well…

They did not know how to swim!

The students wanted to learn swimming as well. But they had just started to learn and there was trouble at the lake.

In the end…

The teachers used their abilities to connect one corner of the field to the school's sewer. They watched silently as the water in the lake was being slowly drained out in the chilly wind.

All of them looked forlorn.