A certain technical forum.

A thread suddenly appeared on the forum home page, attracting the attention of all the cultivators. This was because…

The thread was published by Lu Ming!

Who was Lu Ming?

He was a divine Card Creator who caused a sensation whenever he created a new card!

His Fruit Ninja Card led to the development of the Games Cultivation Card, enabling many students and children to practice and develop hobbies while playing.

This bore a lot of significance!

His Leviathan Card sent shock waves through the entire Summoner a.s.sociation that they were unable to sleep. In the end, the president of the Summoner a.s.sociation came out of his retreat to rea.s.sure the Summoners.

Right now, it had become the hidden trump card of many ordinary cultivators!

His Stealing Card resulted in a mental breakdown in all of the Energy Warriors. In the end, the Energy Warriors a.s.sociation bought the copyright of the Stealing Card from Lu Ming forcibly!

It resulted in the full transformation of the Energy Warriors' system !

Now, one could see flying fists attack, flying feet attack, flying nether regions attack. This card simulated them to develop all kinds of attacks using body parts that could leave the body!

This was Lu Ming.

He was a divine Card Creator who caused a sensation with every card he created!

As such…

Many people had been following Lu Ming's account in the technical forum. Although Lu Ming's account had been idle for a long time…

Therefore…

When this account was active again and Lu Ming published a new card, it attracted the attention of everyone right away!

Furthermore—

Various a.s.sociations were keeping a watch on him as well!

Their first reaction was to wonder which a.s.sociation Lu Ming was going to mess around with this time!

However…

When they opened the thread, they were surprised to find that it turned out to be a very special function card—Talent Card. It could detect all the talents that one had!

In the thread.

There was a detailed description of the functions of the card, as well as the various levels of talents, citing examples.

Talent a.s.sessment.

Name: Li Haoran

Card Creator Talent: Diamond League.

Sword Card Master Talent: Diamond League.

Swordsman Talent: Golden League.

Elementalist Talent: Golden League.

Energy Warrior Talent: White Silver League.

Sharpshooter Talent: White Silver League.

The Talent Card would do a very detailed testing of each person's talents, so that one could understand which vocation they should cultivate!

At present, the card had entered the alpha testing phase, it would be open to all next week.

Wow—

Everyone was surprised as soon as the thread was published.

Talent Card…

Why was there such a card?

Everyone on the forum could not understand. No matter how they looked at it, there was no demand for this kind of Talent Card … Who would buy it?!

Indeed…

The Talent Card had a more accurate and more detailed testing.

Was the Talent Card good?

Of course!

It was acceptable for people who wanted to have a more detailed a.s.sessment of their talents! However, compared to all the cultivators, the target audience was too small!

If one used testing equipment, the results would be almost similar.

All the a.s.sociations had experienced cultivators who were proficient in physical examination. By scanning one's body using energy, they would be able to know their estimated talents.

In that case…

How useful would a Talent Card be?!

They were very doubtful.

“I thought that it would be a very popular card.”

One Card Creator was very disappointed.

He had been following Lu Ming for a long time. He did not expect for the card that Lu Ming took so long to publish to have such an effect.

“Oh, his inspiration has dried up.”

One Card Creator sighed.

It was no wonder Lu Ming did not publish a new card for so long!

In the end…

“It is such a pity.”

People from other vocations also joined the discussion. Some marketing experts also said that the card only had a limited target audience!

Of course.

Some people spoke up for Lu Ming.

“Lu Ming should be able to make quite a lot of money from this.”

“This type of card will do well on the market. Like what happened with the previous cards, it might not be a good thing to always cause a sensation.”

“That's right. Lu Ming is unable to create too many cards. This kind of premium card like the Talent Card has a small audience but can make lots of money. This is the way.”

“I support Lu Ming.”

“It is not that Lu Ming's inspiration has dried up, it is that all of you have too high expectations…”

“That's right. Why should Lu Ming fly with you?”

Some people were filled with contempt.

In the end…

In the Card Creator industry, Lu Ming was merely an ordinary Card Creator. He did not have the responsibility to take on the burden of leading the entire Card Creator industry!

“That is true.”

After the discussion, they were no longer concerned about the card.

Hence…

The new card only caused a small hype and it soon died down.

No one paid attention to it.

Now that everyone was no longer interested, did not pay attention, and even had no need for the card, given Lu Ming's ident.i.ty and position in the industry, it was impossible to catch more attention.

Hence…

The technical forum moved on to talk about other topics.

The Talent Card seemed to have disappeared.

However…

Right then.

The online community was the exact opposite of a professional forum like the technical forum. It was a place where ordinary people would follow and be updated with gossip and chat about daily lives.

A video suddenly appeared: “Real Interview: Did you know that you are only one step away from being a grandmaster?”

Everyone was confused as they clicked on the video.

This was an interview of a peak six-star Elementalist!

He told his story in a very calm manner. He had been trying to break through to seven-star but he kept failing. He worked hard to cultivate for dozens of years until he was old, but he still could not break through!

However…

Until today, he received the Talent Card from the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation. After using it, he was shocked to discover that even though his Elementalist talent was as high as diamond league and he fulfilled the cultivation standard, his Swordsman talent had reached the king league! He was a super Swordsman genius in the true sense!

He cried on the spot.

In order to break through to seven-star, he had been through many sufferings for many years!

In order to break through to seven-star, he had used all means and ways!

However…

In the end…

It was all because he chose the wrong vocation!?

If he had known about his Swordsman talent and chosen the path of a Swordsman earlier, perhaps he would be a seven-star, no, he might even be an eight-star Swordsman now!

“I am filled with hate!”

This was the anguish that the senior felt from the bottom of his heart.

Right now, it was too late for him to re-cultivate. He was too old…

This was an interview.

This was a real interview.

The peak six-star was fairly famous, therefore, once the video was released, it created a huge stir, sweeping the entire online community!

“Why did you choose to be an Elementalist before?”

“There was no other choice… I felt that it was very cool and I went to the a.s.sociation to do a testing. The seniors said that my talents are quite good. Since I was eligible, I joined them.”

Many people could identify with what was said in this interview.

Hence…

The video became very popular.

This was true.

At times, the simplest way to become popular was for people to identify with you…

Right then…

Many cultivators were tempted, particularly the cultivators who were stuck in peak six-star for dozens of years. They felt a sense of panic.

Perhaps…

This was the case for them as well?!

Right then…

The Sword Card Master a.s.sociation invited some fairly famous peak six-star cultivators to do the test.

Well…

This group of people who did the talent testing had results that were similar to their own vocations. But it was alright, there were so many peak six-stars. There would certainly be some of them who did not have the same talents!

Hence…

After the testing, more typical cases were revealed!

“A peak six-star a.s.sa.s.sin is shocked to discover that his s.h.i.+eld Specialist talent is two levels higher than his a.s.sa.s.sin talent!”

“A peak six-star Energy Warrior discovered that his Elementalist talent has reached king league! It is almost certain that he is eligible to break through to seven-star!”

And so on.

Videos like this started to spread online, causing yet another sensation.

It was to the extent that…

There was a strange hot topic in the online community #The great grandmaster that we missed those bygone years#. #Those girls that we missed# was no longer popular. People were more concerned with the great grandmaster that they missed!

Many people shared their personal experience regarding this topic.

They might not have used the Talent Card. But that did not stop them from having an odd feeling during their cultivation, as if they were lacking something…

There were people who succeeded after changing vocations.

There were also people who became useless after changing vocations.

As such…

The Talent Card became more and more popular!

The cultivators were watching the situation closely!

They had to buy the card!

People who were too old and had no chance needed to know if they had wasted their time all these years! They needed to be accountable to themselves! Those cultivators who were still young and had the opportunity needed to know whether their talents matched. If not, they had to change vocations as soon as possible!

This was only the beginning!

The next day.

A series of shocking articles appeared.

“The Talent Card: The Card That Can Determine Your Life!”

“Does The College That You Are Enrolling In To Match Your Future Vocation?! Children, Have You Chosen The Most Suitable Path For Yourself?!”

“Choose The Talent Card—Win At The Starting Line!”

And so on.

Various kinds of shocking t.i.tles appeared.

The contents of the articles were even more stunning.

If you did not choose the Talent Card, if you did not determine your vocation talent, your future was over! Therefore, all students and parents began paying attention to the card!

“#College entrance examination# Work to earn money to buy a Talent Card!”

“#College entrance examination# I have to enroll next week, but I still don't know which vocation to choose. Changing vocation is a waste of time. Does anyone know where I can buy a Talent Card?!”

“#The great grandmaster that we missed those bygone years# I am a peak six-star, I am fifty years old this year. I want to purchase a Talent Card as well, hopefully I didn't choose wrong… Sigh, on the other hand I hope I have chosen wrong and I will have the chance to re-cultivate…”

“#The great grandmaster that we missed those bygone years# This is the first time I'm using this application, can I learn how to post a thread?”

“#Win at the starting line# I will get Talent Cards for my child!”

“#Win at the starting line# Recently, I feel that I am not making improvements in my cultivation. I might have chosen the wrong vocation… I am anxiously waiting for the Talent Card to be sold on the market.”

Hence…

The number of discussions and topics related to the Talent Card skyrocketed all of a sudden!

It was even more popular than a certain basketball player!

It was the top trending topic!

Everyone was shocked!

The discussion regarding the basketball player had been forwarded over one billion times, and the number of clicks was over three billion times! This meant that one out of every eight mammals on this planet was his fan! The entire planet was crazy about him! He was so popular yet he was outshone by the discussion about the Talent Card!

In that case…

This showed that the Talent Card was really very popular!

No one was able to stop it!

And it was only then did the major a.s.sociations realized the magnitude of the problem.

The card was madly discussed by everyone!

These two days, the cultivators who had already agreed to join the a.s.sociations put their plans on hold, saying that they were ‘sick'. How could they not know what exactly was going on?!

Obviously…

These people were waiting for the Talent Card!

If they had chosen the wrong talent, they might even change a.s.sociations!

Not only that, if there were huge changes in the testing results, those who were already in the a.s.sociations might leave their current a.s.sociations!

The problem had suddenly become serious.

“This Lu Ming…”

The big shots looked livid.

Two days ago they had brushed off Lu Ming's new card as harmless. Well, after the series of strategic planning and marketing, everyone was being embroiled into this mess!!!

“Which b.a.s.t.a.r.d planned this?!”

The big shots of the a.s.sociations were furious.

They should focus on selling cards. Why did they implicate the peak six-stars and college entrance examination?

Everyone was in a panic!

“I heard that it was done by Zhang Yang, the head of the publicity department of the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation.”

“Zhang Yang…

“Haha.”

The big shots narrowed their eyes.

However, it was of no use to make trouble for him now. Right now, their priority was to deal with the panic that was caused by the Talent Card! No one would want to see their members leaving their a.s.sociations for other a.s.sociations!

However…

Just at this moment…

The vice president from the Card Creators a.s.sociation spoke up. “Don't worry about this.”

“Why?”

The big shots were puzzled.

“Do you think only Lu Ming could come up with this?! I have taken a look at the so-called Talent Card and figured out its functions. But to achieve it…

“It is not reliable!

“We gathered everyone in the a.s.sociation to create a similar card, but the cost was too high! This card might be simple, but to replicate it…

“Haha.

“Don't worry.

“Even if the algorithm is complete, he won't be able to do it!”

The vice president of the Card Creators a.s.sociation was very certain.

In that case…

The big shots felt more a.s.sured.

At this very moment…

Sword Card Master a.s.sociation.

Lu Ming looked at the shocking popularity and was full of emotions. He was indeed Zhang Yang…

“Master.”

Li Haoran was in a hurry. “Zhang Yang was beaten up again.”

“Who did it?”

“I don't know. It is said that dozens of people charged at him and took turns beating him…”

Li Haoran was full of fear and trepidation.

Lu Ming was speechless.

He must be very detestable for someone to do that.

However…

Zhang Yang did all he did to advertise the card!

“Reimburse him!”

Lu Ming waved his hands generously.

This was indeed the head of publicity of their a.s.sociation—He suffered the harshest blows and created the hottest sensation!

He was very dedicated!

“Yes!”

Li Haoran felt gratified.

His master was still so kind-hearted.

At this very moment…

Lu Ming browsed through the content on the online community and was filled with emotions, particularly when he saw the topics regarding college entrance examination, and how the children were anxiously waiting for the Talent Card!

This batch of children were very fortunate to meet him…

One could choose one's talents.

How about vocations?

In the previous life…

He died as an It programmer. 996[1] was a joke. He was the legendary 007[2] programmer!

What was 007?

Well…

It was all work and no rest!

One would work seven days a week, from 00.00am to 00.00pm!

This was why he died suddenly in the office. It was because he slept in the office…

Well…

If back then he knew which vocation was suitable for him at the college entrance examination, he would not have such a miserable life! Perhaps he would have been a CEO, having an ideal woman as his wife, reaching new heights in his life…

In fact, in his previous life, there was indeed someone who told Lu Ming similar things. That was an old man who claimed that he was a fortune teller. He said that it was a pity that Lu Ming chose to be in the IT industry, otherwise, he would have been able to take the crown…

Lu Ming suspected that this comment was related to the 100 yuan that he had given him. Of course, he suspected that the so-called ‘take the crown' that the old man mentioned was to make deliveries…

→_→

Anyway.

Now that the Talent Card had garnered people's attention, he had to create it as soon as possible.

Yes.

Lu Ming had yet to create it…

The creation of the Talent Card was actually very simple, it was a basic Lamination Card. There would be five layers of lamination. One of the layers was the Physical Examination Card that would detect physical fitness! One layer was the Medical Card that would detect the mental state! There was also the Consciousness Card that detected the Sea of Consciousness! These three layers were the basic data of the test!

The main function of these three cards was to replace the testing equipment!

Afterward…

The core of the talent system— the Algorithm Card!

And—

The final card, Encryption Card!

A Talent Card consisted of five layers, the layers were laminated together. Given Lu Ming's capabilities, he had no problem in creating it, the issue was—

It was very costly!

Yes.

When they did testing in the a.s.sociation, all one needed was to use the machine to work out the algorithm. However, once it was put into a card, it wasn't easy!

Five layers of cards!

It was very costly!

If he created such a card, it would be very expensive!

They could only invite a few peak six-stars to try out the few cards that they created!

Given how it was hotly discussed now, Lu Ming knew that if he set the price at hundreds of thousands of yuan, he would be beaten to death.

This was true.

He would suffer a fate worse than Zhang Yang!

“It is more troublesome than imagined.”

Lu Ming looked solemn.

Five layers of lamination!

The cost was much higher than he imagined!

Hence…

He looked through the cards in the card library, searching for all possible alternatives or cards with lower cost, trying to reduce the cost to a certain extent as far as possible!

At this very moment…

His eyes suddenly rested on a card.

This was a new card that had been added to the library—a two-star data card, the Signal Card! Its only function was to transmit a data segment at the last minute.

Well…

There was nothing else.

Signal Card.

As the name suggested, it would release signals in time of crisis, emit a warning, take a record of the current time, place, what happened and took photos before transmitting them instantaneously!

This was a new era card that combined modern technology and energy!

Due to its transmission channel, it was not limited to energy transmission. It could also integrate the signal of the communication device perfectly, forming multi-channel transmission at higher speed! It had a very powerful encryption! If one wanted to decrypt it, one had to crack the transmission ability and the signal at the same time to intercept the data!

The effect was amazing!

This was a two-star. It was a good bargain. Why was it that it was not popular?

Well…

This was because it could be s.h.i.+elded easily…

As it involved the integration of energy and signal, therefore, it was unfortunate that once the energy or signal was s.h.i.+elded, the card would be useless…

That was not even mentioning the powerful cards that had a double s.h.i.+elding effect. For example if cards like the Environment Card of the teenager in white had a single s.h.i.+eld…

One might not put a s.h.i.+eld up for transmission of energy, but one would do so for signals!

Everything would be disrupted if there was signal interference!

Therefore…

It would be done for.

The card had yet to become popular and it was done for.

“Transmission of data…”

Suddenly, Lu Ming was tempted.

He did not care if the card was successful or not. He was after the techniques!

As such…

He bought this card to study it. After familiarizing himself with the lines and the output point and input point, he was deep in his thoughts.

Well…

The Signal Card was only for single-use.

This was because after the alarm, there was no need and no time for feedback. The entire segment of lines would be transmitted once.

In that case…

What if they could do one-time feedback?

Lu Ming tried to send the simple lines that were sent from [point-to-point] from its original ending point to the starting point and it worked!!!

This meant that…

The lines could be sent and received!

Of course.

The premise was that energy and signals were not blocked.

Well…

It could be applied to the five cards of the Talent Card!

Physical Examination Card! Medical Card! Consciousness Card! Algorithm Card! Encryption Card!

The Physical Examination Card would scan the body and make a judgment based on the lines algorithm in the card (function of the physical examination machine) and come to a conclusion!

In this card, scanning was just the basics.

Scanning was simple.

A one-star ability could easily do the job. The biggest problem was the algorithm. Only the large amount of algorithm data and database from the physical examination machine were capable of deriving the results.

Well…

It would be troublesome.

This was also the core of the Physical Examination Card.

After all, the Physical Examination Card would replace the function of the entire physical examination machine!

It was the same for the Medical Card, Consciousness Card, Algorithm Card and Encryption Card! As they needed to write a large amount of lines and maintain the energy in the cards, therefore it would be very costly!

Well…

What if they did not use all of this?!

What if it was only a scan?!

The first step of the Physical Examination Card, Medical Card and Consciousness Card was to scan. What if after scanning, the data was transmitted back to the a.s.sociation, and after making a judgment using the machine, the data was transmitted back?! This meant that the Talent Card only required a scanning ability and a transmitting ability!

That was all!

That was right.

One could scan all the data, transmit them back to the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation to process the physical examination data, the medical data, the consciousness data and the algorithm data, and reveal the outcome right away!

There was no need for encryption!

The released card could be used as card encryption. Anyway, it was only for single-use!

Look.

The problem seemed to be solved!

Hence…

The top-notch five-star Talent Card that had to consume a large amount of energy and involved many stages had become a two-star special card. It was very cost-effective!

Of course.

Before this….

The Sword Card Master a.s.sociation had to prepare many servers and testing machines! However, the cost of the servers and the testing equipment paled in comparison to the astoundingly low cost!

“Master is amazing!”

Li Haoran and the rest exclaimed.

d.a.m.n!

How can that be?

“Master, will this card be called Talent Card?”

Li Haoran was excited.

“No.”

Lu Ming smiled. “Accurately speaking, it should be called [Cloud Talent] Card.”

“Cloud?”

Li Haoran was puzzled.

Why was there a cloud in front?

To this…

Lu Ming smiled secretly.

Child.

You don't understand. In my world, not only is there cloud testing, there is also cloud gaming, cloud players, cloud cataholics, cloud romance…

Three days later.

The servers and equipment purchased by the Sword Card Master a.s.sociation had arrived. The [Cloud Talent] Card was officially launched!

It caused a nationwide sensation!

Everyone was surprised to find that this small testing card not only contained testing, it also had a wonderful small function!

For example…

Test Results:

Name: Shen Hejun.

Energy Warrior Talent: Diamond League.

Swordsman Talent: Golden League.

Sharpshooter Talent: White Silver League.

Card Creator Talent: White Silver League.

Ding!

“The testing is completed”.

“Dear Cultivator Shen Hejun, h.e.l.lo! Congratulations, your diamond league Energy Warrior talent is better than 75% of the world's Energy Warriors!”

Shen Hejun was speechless!

[1] The 996 working hour system is a work schedule commonly practiced by some companies in China. It derives its name from its requirement that employees work from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, 6 days per week; i.e. 72 hours per week.

[2] This was a joke circulating on Chinese social media, referring to a new work ethic – “007”, that is “00.00am to 00.00pm”, seven days a week.