“That’s right! Guo Zixing can’t even save himself. His negative traits—【stubborn and suspicious】—are right there. Even if his potential bonus is high, he’d have to stay alive long enough to see it come to fruition!”

“But… given Zhu Yuanzhang’s past behavior… I just can’t shake the feeling that choosing the Yuan court is a bit off. ”

“Who cares? Staying alive and getting a head start is what matters most—it’s a purple talent, after all! With this card, becoming a general in the future isn’t just a dream.”

The teachers couldn’t sit still either, whispering among themselves.

“Arluwen… a mid-tier commander on a blue card, one of Yuan’s top commanders on the Haozhou front. His personal guard—what a high starting point! It’s like going straight to the top!” One teacher’s eyes burned with excitement. “Plus, the Yuan Dynasty protected by divine favor—for a low-tier cardmaster, that’s practically an impenetrable shield and armor.”

“Guo Zixing’s【Eye for Talent】 passive ability is truly astonishing—a 10% boost to potential growth. In the long run, its value is incalculable. But… the risk is just too high!” Another instructor shook his head. “Right now, the Red Turban Army is fighting like a cornered beast; they could be crushed at any moment by a single charge from Arluwen. Choosing the Red Turban Army is practically a death sentence. Is it really worth risking the complete collapse of your core deck for that small potential bonus? It’s not worth it!”

“That’s right—staying alive and securing tangible benefits is what really matters!” Teacher Zhang said firmly to Teacher Chen. “Teacher Chen, hurry! Figure out a way to warn Li Shi’an! Tell him to pick Arluwen! This is a golden opportunity! If he misses it, it’s gone!” 

Teacher Chen furrowed his brow, torn between conflicting thoughts.

His reason told him that Teacher Zhang and the others were right—choosing the Yuan Dynasty was practically the only sensible choice that would best preserve the purple talent and this unique card.

But looking at Li Shi’an’s calm profile… Teacher Chen opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing. He Bieshan and Hao Yun also saw the choice.

“Shi’an!” He Bieshan shouted urgently, his voice trembling. “Pick that Arluwen! The personal guard of the Blue Card General! He’s got the gear and the luck! Your card’s about to fail! This is your last hope!” 

Hao Yun also looked at Li Shi’an with urgency; though she didn’t speak, her eyes were filled with a clear preference for the “Imperial Court Bodyguard” option.

Within the arena, behind the earthen embankment.

The dying Novice Monk Zhu Yuanzhang was in a daze, but when those two powerful wills focused on him, and the two choice boxes representing different futures hovered before his eyes, a wave of loathing and rejection welling up from the depths of his soul erupted.

This revulsion completely and utterly zeroed in on the deep black option representing the “Yuan Court” and “Arluwen.”

The gleaming iron armor, the crimson-plumed phoenix-winged helmet, the heavy wolf’s-tooth mace… everything instantly overlapped with the ferocious, maniacal laughter of the Yuan cavalry and the desperate wails of the common people etched in his memory.

“Mongol… Mongol…”

A vague yet searingly hate-filled word seemed to pierce through time and space, exploding deep within Zhu Yuanzhang’s consciousness. 

This was not a rational judgment based on the current situation on the battlefield.

It is the deep-seated hatred and will to resist the tyranny of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty—belonging to Zhu Yuanzhang, the “Great Emperor Hongwu”—that is engraved at the very core of this card!

This body, this soul, this life—I am sworn to eternal enmity with the Yuan court!

Li Shi’an clearly “heard” this roar of rage emanating from the card’s soul.

“Bieshan, Yun Yun,” Li Shi’an’s voice cut through the field barrier, reaching the ears of his two companions with unmistakable authority, “Sometimes… we can let the cards make the choice.”

He raised his hand, not sparing a single glance at the alluring deep-black option. Without hesitation, he tapped the blazing crimson area.

【Selection Confirmed: Join the Righteous Army · Red Turban Guard!】

The deep black light representing the Yuan Court’s choice instantly shattered and dissipated, like filth consumed by raging flames.

Meanwhile, the crimson light representing the Red Turban Righteous Army surged like a wildfire, crashing into the body of the dying Novice Monk Zhu Yuanzhang!

“Ugh—!”

The huddled Novice Monk suddenly straightened his back, and the tattered monk’s robe he wore shattered inch by inch in the crimson light.

Hao Yun’s thread of life-sustaining holy light, as if it had found its most compatible vessel, was instantly ignited and assimilated by the crimson glow, erupting with unprecedented vitality.

【Escaped the dying state! Health restored to 30%!】

【Acquired Identity: Red Turban Army Bodyguard (under Guo Zixing) · Zhu Yuanzhang (Green Card · Intermediate Tier)!】

【Equipment Obtained: Red Turban (Headgear) · Common】

Effect: Symbolizes status and slightly increases the morale of nearby friendly units (Red Turban Army) by 1.

【Activate Synergy: The Spirit of the Red Turban!】

Effect: While in the Red Turban Army camp, Attack Power is increased by 8%, and an additional 5% damage is dealt to Yuan Army units. When on the same battlefield as Guo Zixing, receives an additional 5% boost from his 【Red Turban Alliance】 aura effect.

【Core Status Change: The True Dragon Lurks · The Red Turban Stained with Blood!】

Effect: Fully activates and aligns with the “Zhu Yuanzhang” historical core trajectory! Potential growth rate +15% (base 10% + Guo Zixing’s 【Eye for Talent】 5%)!

He locked onto Yuan Court units as targets!

The Buddhist light of Huangjue Temple is transformed into the ‘Guardian Vajra’ trait (Defense +5%; resistance to evil spirits and mental attacks is retained and enhanced). While in this state, the probability of triggering exclusive historical events is significantly increased!

The crimson glow faded.

Behind the earthen embankment, the Novice Monk was no longer there.

In his place stood a young man whose frame was still somewhat slender, yet now stood as straight as a spear.

His bare torso revealed well-defined muscles, and his bronze skin was covered with old and new scars; several of the wounds, deep enough to expose bone, were still oozing blood, yet radiated a fierce vitality.

A Red Turban, as vivid as blood, was tightly bound around his head, where stubble had just begun to grow after his tonsure.

What he clutched in his hand was no longer a wooden alms bowl, but a bloodstained, chipped piece of metal from a Red Turban soldier who had been killed.

His face was smeared with blood, yet his eyes alone, set against the Red Turban, shone with startling intensity!

“Good! Good lad! You’ve got guts!” In the center of the battlefield, Guo Zixing—who was struggling to hold his ground—suddenly flashed a terrifying gleam in his eyes the moment Zhu Yuanzhang chose the crimson and radiated that unique, tenacious aura!

His card’s 【Eye for Talent】 flashed intensely, as if confirming the wild joy in his heart.

“Someone! Protect that new brother! Bring him over!”

He barked the order, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

“Roar!” Several Red Turban soldiers nearby perked up, forcefully cutting through the swarm of Yuan troops and charging toward Zhu Yuanzhang. Meanwhile, on the other side, Arluwen, perched high on his horse, saw his expression darken so much it seemed rain might fall from his face.

“You reckless, bald-headed fool! How dare you… How dare you defy this Commander! Have you defected to the rebels?!” Arluwen’s 【Arrogance and Underestimation of the Enemy】 negative trait was instantly triggered!

A profound sense of humiliation and rage at being insulted by a lowly insect made the veins on his forehead bulge.

“Crush him for me! Cut off that little bald donkey’s head and hang it on my flagpole!!”

“Kill!!” A deafening roar erupted from the Yuan army’s ranks. Several elite infantrymen swung their spears around, radiating the terrifying killing intent of the Yuan court’s elite, and charged toward Zhu Yuanzhang, who had just risen!

“Shi’an!” He Bieshan and Hao Yun’s hearts instantly leapt to their throats!

Yet Li Shi’an’s eyes burned with the same fiery intensity as Zhu Yuanzhang’s within the battlefield.

He looked at the charging Yuan elite troops, at that bloodstained notched battle axe, and at the bright red headscarf tied in his hair… “Bring it on!”

Li Shi’an’s thoughts were perfectly synchronized with his card.

Within the field, Zhu Yuanzhang moved!

Facing the thrusts of several spears, he performed a move that left everyone speechless!

He suddenly rolled forward in an extremely awkward yet lightning-fast somersault, narrowly slipping through the gap between several spears!

“Fool! You’re asking for death!” the Yuan soldier sneered, spinning around to swing his sword.

As his roll was drawing to a close, Zhu Yuanzhang dropped to one knee, his body taut as a drawn bowstring. Using the momentum of his roll and the rebound from his kneeling stance, he pivoted on his lower back and swung his battle sword upward in a reverse slash.

“Splatter!”

The blade tore through the leather armor and embedded itself in the body of the Yuan soldier at the very front, blood gushing out like a fountain.

“Aaah—!” The elite Yuan soldier let out a piercing scream; the excruciating pain instantly rendered him incapable of fighting, and he collapsed to the ground.

【Target injured (seriously wounded)! Triggered ‘Red Turban Resolve’ for additional damage against Yuan troops!】

【Target’s “Strict Military Discipline” effect has been nullified! Morale has collapsed!】

This strike was completely haphazard—a reckless, desperate move straight out of a street brawl. But…

It blended perfectly with this young man who had just tied a Red Turban! The notched battle sword was dripping with blood.

Zhu Yuanzhang, leaning on his sword, slowly rose from the pool of blood.

He wiped the blood from his face, looked up, and gazed at Arluwen, who sat high on his horse, his expression calm.

The dying Novice Monk was now dead.

Standing here was Zhu Yuanzhang of the Red Turban Rebellion. Beneath his feet lay the blood-stained soil of Haozhou.

Before him lay the Yuan dynasty’s realm, on the verge of collapse.

Above his head, bathed in the blood-red glow of the setting sun, was the card—slowly rotating, radiating a blend of golden and crimson light—whose form was solidifying from the blurry, ethereal silhouette of a “Novice Monk” into that of a “Red Turban warrior.”

【Card Name】: Red Turban Guard · Zhu Yuanzhang (Green Card · Intermediate · Evolving…)

【Status】: True Dragon Lurking · Red Turban Stained with Blood (Evolution Progress: 72%)

Guo Zixing’s eyes lit up with delight; he saw a glimmer of hope in his desperate situation and, without a second thought, roared toward that direction:

“Brother! Have you come to lend a hand? I, Guo Zixing, thank you! If I survive today, I shall reward you handsomely! Please help me hold the right flank!”

Zhu Yuanzhang looked up: “Commander Guo, have no fear!”

“The Yuan court is tyrannical, tormenting the common people! I, Zhu, know that even a commoner has a duty to act!” 

“Today, I am willing to follow you, Commander, and together we will slay these barbarians!”

“Charge—!”