At the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation.

Lu Ming stared at the electronic certificate, a dumbstruck expression on his face. He looked it up and realized that it was indeed real!

Yes.

He had graduated.

He became the first student in the history of The First Academy to spend the shortest time in school and graduate in the fastest time!

Furthermore—

It was very difficult to graduate from The First Academy!

As the strongest college ever, The First Academy had very strict graduation requirements for students. They had to pa.s.s all kinds of a.s.sessments and reach a certain standard before they received their graduation certificate!

In a sense, the graduation certificate of The First Academy was representative of one's ability!

Afterward…

They sent the graduation certificate to Lu Ming, despite him not studying at the school…

Lu Ming was somewhat in a daze.

What was this? He could vaguely hear Xiao-Xiaojian's laughter—Mr Lu, congratulations on receiving the graduation certificate from The First Academy.

To h.e.l.l with that!

What could he do with it?!

He was unlike those cultivators who made use of the graduation certificate to look for jobs or be in power and hence the certificate would act as a prerequisite. He did not need it.

Hence…

Lu Ming directly called the dean.

"Dean…"

Lu Ming was furious.

Cough, cough.

The dean was very calm as he explained to Lu Ming. "Lu Ming, you should know that our graduating requirement is of a six-star standard…"

"I am only a four-star."

Lu Ming rolled his eyes.

"That is your energy level. But we are mainly looking at people's combat abilities."

The dean was full of praise. "You have superb combat abilities. When you unleash your potential to the limit, you can kill a six-star instantly. This is the greatest justification for the school!"

Lu Ming was silent.

To h.e.l.l with a justification!

What could he do with it?!

"Can I still join the lessons?"

Lu Ming sighed.

"That won't do."

The dean directly refused.

What a joke.

What was the reason behind directly giving Lu Ming a graduation certificate? It was to prevent him from messing around… Back when he sat in for two lessons, two faculties were dealt with a huge blow!

The school forum had crashed as well!

The entire Faculty of Card Creation was almost destroyed!

Who could take it?

Therefore, they rejected him decisively now.

"Seriously?"

Lu Ming was very disappointed. "How about as a visiting student?"

"That won't do."

The dean was very certain.

"Alright."

Lu Ming could only give up.

After finis.h.i.+ng his words…

He hung up the phone.

The dean had a doubtful expression.

That was it?

He had easily given up?

Given his understanding of Lu Ming, he should be negotiating with him to fight for better benefits so as to protect his interests.

Well… could it be that Lu Ming had finally become sensible?

Or perhaps…

He felt guilt-stricken at the uproar that he caused?

Well…

That was possible.

After all, he had grown up…

The childish student he remembered from the past had been through the Lunar Shadow legacy, the disaster in Qing Ming City as well as other disasters. It was possible that he had made progress..

At the thought of this, the dean felt very grateful.

In this way, the graduation certificate was not wasted on him…

"Dean."

The a.s.sistant was worried. "Is it alright to issue him the certificate? After all, the graduation certificate of The First Academy…"

"It's okay."

The dean was the least worried. "I know what I am doing."

"Okay."

The a.s.sistant left.

…

At this very moment…

Lu Ming went looking for Li Tiantian. "Sister Tiantian, does The First Academy set a high requirement for graduation?"

"The top two percent. What do you think?"

Li Tiantian rolled her eyes.

One could only graduate with six-star combat abilities!

This was the estimated graduating requirement of The First Academy!

In many cities, a four-star was already considered as being very powerful and a five-star was considered a genius. A six-star was a super powerful cultivator which most had never seen before…

But over here…

It was very difficult to graduate from The First Academy.

Every graduate must be able to fight a beginner six-star!

There was no exception!

Of course, given the talents of the students in The First Academy, a peak five-star would be able to challenge a six-star. But even so, the difficulty level was still very high!

Because of this, it was considered as an honor and recognition of one's ability to be a graduate of The First Academy!

"What about those who can't graduate?" Lu Ming asked.

"They can leave with the student card as per normal. The student card of The First Academy is just as good as the certificates from other colleges. If not… one can repeat another year and keep on working hard!" Li Tiantian said.

This was the pride of The First Academy!

In fact…

Many students were not after the graduation certificate. After four years and attaining the lowest standard, they would leave quietly with the student card.

Only genius would be able to reach a higher level!

And to strive for excellence!

"What if someone still fails despite repeating another year?"

Lu Ming continued to probe.

"Then they have to give up."

Li Tiantian sighed. "The college gives three graduating chances to all the students until the age of thirty. If they fail to reach the standard after three tries, they have to leave The First Academy…"

"I didn't know there were age restrictions?"

Lu Ming was curious.

"Of course.

"It is the best timing to cultivate when one is under thirty years old!

"If one cannot break through during this golden period, to be honest, it is meaningless to persist."

Li Tiantian was being very honest.

"You're right."

Lu Ming understood what she meant. However, he still had some doubts. "Is the graduation certificate that important?"

This was merely a certificate!

Regardless of whether one graduated or not, they were ultimately peak five-star!

"It is very important."

Li Tiantian nodded sweetly. "The graduates of The First Academy are the symbols of potential, talents, future prospects as well as six-star combat abilities!

"This means that they are heaven's pride and they are the future. This also means that they are geniuses who have six-star combat abilities, and they are qualified to break through to seven-star!

"Besides, even if they failed to break through to seven-star in the future, they were still peak six-star. No ordinary people could outmatch them. Therefore, in general circ.u.mstances, people who receive the graduation certificate become big shots in the future!

"As such… Every year during graduation season… is when the students are the most compet.i.tive!

"They need to work hard for the graduation certificate!

"With the graduation certificate, they are on a fast track to cultivation.

"After all, organizations are more willing to become friends with these people…

"Therefore, they would get to enjoy certain concessions in a lot of powerful inst.i.tutions or with the powerful people. For example, students who just graduated can receive a free six-star Energy Card from the biggest card shop in the Card Creation industry! There are similar examples for equipment or pharmacy stores.

"Other than that, the first thing to do after leaving the college… is to join the a.s.sociation!

"After leaving the school and the faculty, one should join the corresponding a.s.sociation. If one is a graduate of The First Academy, one is qualified enough to break through to a seven-star…

"Do you think the a.s.sociation will focus on grooming them or not?

"Of course they will!

Every branch of the a.s.sociation will use all their resources in hope of grooming a seven-star! All the resources will go to the real talents as well!

So…

A graduation certificate from The First Academy is a form of recognition. It represents the future!

Do you understand?"

Li Tiantian looked very serious.

To the students of The First Academy, the graduation season was the first hurdle they had to cross when they entered the society.

If they succeeded…

They would receive the graduation certificate and have many resources to make a good start in society!

If they failed…

They would be left with the certificate of being a student at The First Academy and that would mean they would be students forever… Prideful students would definitely feel indignant about it!

"Understood."

Lu Ming's heart skipped a beat. So this was what it was about!

Therefore, the graduation certificate was a seven-star certification!

It turned out that the certification of The First Academy was so important!

He thought that the dean had abused his personal influence to ostracize him. He did not expect that the graduation certification offered by the dean would be so valuable!

Wait a minute.

Lu Ming had an odd expression on his face.

Therefore…

Could it be that the dean felt that Lu Ming was qualified to break through to a seven-star?!

d.a.m.n!

He did not know that he was so impressive!

Whoos.h.!.+

Whoos.h.!.+

Something tried to glow but was held down by Lu Ming in the card bag…

Shut up!

He had no right to speak!

"Seven-star."

Lu Ming felt very satisfied.

He knew that his amazing talent would be noticed sooner or later! The dean might be a middle-aged man with a slippery character and a wily old fox with thinning hair like the hair on his legs, but he still had good foresight. Hahaha…

"What is it that is glowing in your card bag?"

Li Tiantian pointed toward Lu Ming's card bag.

"It's nothing."

Lu Ming pushed Xiao-Xiaojian deep into the card bag, maintaining the same expression. "It's the alarm clock that I set just now."

"Oh."

Li Tiantian nodded.

Now that Lu Yan was not around, she could be considered as Lu Ming's elder sister. Therefore, she would share with him all that she knew. Of course, she exuded charm in her mannerism…

It was a pity…

It was oblivious to Lu Ming…

With the black cat around, he would not have any other indecent notions about Li Tiantian.

At this very moment…

Lu Ming finally understood.

If Li Tiantian was right, with the certificate, he could enjoy access to higher and more advanced guidance and service. There was no need for him to insist on studying in the college!

The foundation of swordplay…

He could pick up the knowledge at the Swordsman a.s.sociation!

The foundation of card creation!

He could go to the Card Creators a.s.sociation!

"Sister Tiantian, is the so-called certificate really useful?"

"Of course.

Most powerful cultivators give special privileges to the graduates…"

"Oh."

Lu Ming's heart stirred slightly.

…

That afternoon.

Lu Ming visited the Card Creators a.s.sociation branch at Tian Du City as a graduate from The First Academy!

Shus.h.!.+

This caused a huge sensation in the entire a.s.sociation.

Although this was Tian Du City and they had many six-star cultivators in the a.s.sociation, it was totally different when it was a six-star graduate from The First Academy who was getting ready to become a seven-star!

If they groomed and helped the child to advance to seven-star...

Hence…

The big shots at the branch came out to welcome him and they saw Lu Ming.

"A four-star???"

"Around sixteen to seventeen years old?"

The big shots were dumbstruck.

The lowest level graduate that they had seen was an intermediate five-star. Given his five-star level, he was able to slay a six-star, and he managed to graduate from The First Academy…

He was a super genius!

And right now…

A four-star?

And an intermediate?

"Lu Ming?"

Someone recognized that he was the founder of Fruit Ninja. "I remember that you are from the college at the crossroads in Qing Ming City. Why are you in The First Academy?"

"That was a transfer of school."

Lu Ming smiled faintly.

The Card Creator big shots were doubtful. They checked the certificate and it was real.

Which meant that…

Lu Ming had indeed graduated from The First Academy!

This meant that Lu Ming was able to challenge a six-star! Or perhaps, he was much stronger than Card Creators who had weak combat abilities!

"Very good!"

"Very good!"

The Card Creating Masters were gratified.

Finally…

There was a qualified graduate from The First Academy!

Lu Ming was from the Card Creators a.s.sociation branch as well. Hence they extended their welcome to him.

"What do you want to learn?"

The Card Creators nodded slightly.

"Five-star lines."

Lu Ming revealed a friendly smile. "I am weak in my card creating skills and hence I am here to learn. I would like to know the application of five-star lines…"

"No problem."

The Card Creators were pleased.

They thought that it was a big deal. He was merely there to create cards.

"You can go ahead and ask us!"

"We will share all that we know with you."

The Card Creators were very generous.

"Thank you."

Lu Ming was grateful.

Afterward…

He engaged in a serious discussion with the big shots about the various segments and problems he encountered with the Sunlight Card and the Mover Card that he had yet to create.

"The lines… The structure… The formula…"

The big shots were lost in their thoughts.

…

It was very late at night.

The Card Creator branch was brightly lit. The Card Creators were unexpectedly excited. They did not feel tired at all. They began a discussion and did research with Lu Ming.

The discussion was pa.s.sionate and intense.

…

The next day.

The Card Creators looked dazed and exhausted.

Finally…

This small stage of research was a success!

They had to say that Lu Ming was very lucky. The lines seemed like some complex ancient lines. It was only a short segment and it left them enchanted.

They went without sleep for a night!

Ah, the long-lost bromance…

"Hey, it has been ten years since I experienced such pa.s.sion…"

"That's right. I feel as if I have returned when I was young…"

"This is the charm of the lines."

The Card Creators were delighted.

Afterward… they looked at the new lines that Lu Ming drew…

"Are there more lines?"

"Yes."

"Let's continue!"

The Card Creators might have been tired, but their eyes burned with pa.s.sion.

…

Late at night.

The Card Creators squinted their eyes. One could not tell if their eyes were opened or not. They were in a daze as they deduced and completed the last part of the lines…

"Lu Ming, are there more lines?"

"Yes."

"…We can do without this."

"There is indeed something like this."

…

The next day.

Early morning.

Lu Ming left looking refreshed.

It was too awesome!

They had deep and serious discussions for the entire two days and nights. He made huge progress on the Sunlight Card and the Mover Card. It was very helpful in his mastering of five-star lines!

They were indeed six-star Card Creators!

They were indeed big shots!

It was a pity…

The masters were physically weak.

After returning to the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation, Lu Ming organized the information that he had acquired on the lines. He reviewed the knowledge he had learned and was on the way to acquire more knowledge.

This time, he wanted to learn more about swordplay!!!

"Xiao-Xiaojian?"

"Yes."

"I will have to leave it to you."

"Don't worry."

Xiao-Xiaojian was proud of itself.

It might not be good in other areas, but when it was about swordplay…

Hehe…

It could learn everything that they taught at a glance!

The time was just right.

Regarding the third stage of the Lunar Shadow legacy… It was the third move after Moonblade and becoming one with a sword. Although Xiao-Xiaojian had a.n.a.lyzed the swordplay, Lu Ming still could not understand the swordplay.

He was really clueless!

"Don't worry.

"I have split this move into one hundred and eight parts, thirty of which I could understand, and I have changed the order for the remaining seventy-eight parts and separated them…

"You can work on consulting these parts," Xiao-Xiaojian instructed.

"Understood."

Lu Ming looked solemn.

On the day itself.

He stepped into the Swordsman a.s.sociation.

Although it was a sudden visit by the graduate of The First Academy, the Swordsman a.s.sociation gave him a warm welcome. They appeared very interested especially when they learned that Lu Ming wanted to learn more about swords!

They arranged top-notch Swordplay Masters to teach him.

Afterward…

…

Swoos.h.!.+

Swoos.h.!.+

Lights flashed.

The master wielded the sword and the Original Card tried a similar move.

It finally understood the moves.

Xiao-Xiaojian was studying diligently.

After breaking them into small parts and with the demonstration of the top-notch Swordplay Masters, the essence of the Lunar Shadow legacy was deciphered and was imparted to Xiao-Xiaojian…

Of course.

On the surface, it seemed that it was Lu Ming who learned the moves.

Shus.h.!.+

Shus.h.!.+

One Swordplay Master imparted…

Another Swordplay Master…

Another Swordplay Master…

Seven to eight Swordplay Masters worked on different parts and imparted them to Lu Ming. Lu Ming never stopped to rest at all!

"Strong perseverance!"

"Such good quality… he is indeed a graduate from The First Academy!"

"He is only seventeen years old."

The Swordplay Masters sighed.

Swordsmen were supposed to be very resilient. But they could not help but get compet.i.tive…

That was right.

He was so young but he was very determined. As Swordplay Masters, they should not rest as well! They must show Lu Ming what it meant to be hale and hearty despite their age!!!

Hence…

The Swordplay Masters continued to study swordplay with Lu Ming…

One day…

Two days…

Cras.h.!.+

One Swordplay Master could not take it and crumbled to the ground. It was a toll on the body to do research and practice swordplay without resting and sleeping! It did not help that they were physically trained!

Three days…

Another Swordplay Master fell to the ground.

Four days…

Another two Swordplay Masters fell to the ground.

Five days…

The remaining two Swordplay Masters could not take it as well. They crumbled to the ground looking pale. They cast a glance at Lu Ming before fainting… His cheeks were still rosy and he looked energetic…

How could that be possible?!

Lu Ming should be the most exhausted person among all of them! He was only a four-star. He should be the weakest person here!

How could that be…?

Could this child have the legendary ten times a night[2.with s.e.xual connotations] body const.i.tution?

Bang!

They crumbled to the ground with a dazed look on their faces.

In the sky.

Xiao-Xiaojian floated in the void.

Obviously…

They had no idea that these few days it was Xiao-Xiaojian who was cultivating and comprehending the swordplay… Lu Ming did not do anything at all. Hence he did not feel the least tired!

…

The next day.

The Swordsman a.s.sociation announced that they would close for three days.