On the light screen, the words 【Zhang Niujiao (Unawakened)】 firmly captured everyone’s attention. After a brief, deathly silence, an uproar erupted like a volcanic eruption!

“Zhang Niujiao?! That early leader of the Black Mountain Army? The adoptive father of Yellow Turban General Zhang Yan?”

“Though not as famous as the Zhang Jiao brothers, he was still an important regional commander within the Yellow Turban Army!”

“A White Card? A Temporary Card? This… this can’t be possible! The Zhang family has gone to great lengths to summon more core ‘Divine Envoys’ or even ‘Human General’ cards, and yet they… they just fished a special card out of thin air?”

“And it came from that support-type girl?! Just how lucky is Li Shi’an’s team?!”

The reporters’ cameras instantly swiveled, frantically zooming in on the close-up of Hao Yun’s newly acquired card on the screen, as well as her own face, still etched with bewilderment and shock.

Teacher Chen had completely frozen in place, his mouth gaping wide enough to fit an egg. Next to him, Teacher Zhang pinched the philtrum of his nose hard and muttered, “It’s an illusion…it must be an illusion… Did I cook up a ‘Zhang Niujiao’ while making porridge?”

In the VIP section, Sui Yang’s eyes flashed with an intensity he’d never shown before.

“This can’t be luck…” his voice carried a hint of suppressed excitement. “It’s a path! Have they found another path to the core of ‘Yellow Heaven’? The simplest, yet most fundamental path. I’ve always felt that the Zhang family’s understanding of the Zhang Jiao card was too superficial. Survival, basic sustenance. This Li Shi’an—his grasp of historical context far surpasses that of ordinary people.”

At that moment, the Zhang siblings, caught in the eye of the storm, felt it most acutely.

Zhang Hongyuan’s face was deathly pale. He stared intently at the white card in Hao Yun’s slot, his eyes filled with disbelief, fury, and a hint of he himself was unwilling to admit… dread!

“The fluctuations of the Earth God’s Mark… though faint to the point of near-vanishing, there’s no mistaking it!”

A storm of shock raged within him. “That’s a resonance produced only when my Zhang family’s core cultivation technique channels the power of the ‘Thick Earth’! Is it a bridge connecting to ‘Earth General’ Zhang Bao—or even deeper forces? How could… how could it appear on a White Card that’s been activated by an outsider—one that’s unawakened and even has chaotic data?!”

This completely overturned his understanding!

Generations of research by the Zhang family had long established that communicating with the power of the Yellow Heaven required complex talismanic rituals, specific energy channeling, and a profound understanding of the grand vision: “When the Azure Heaven is dead; the Yellow Heaven shall rise.”

They sought the might of spells, the ferocity of warriors, and the supernatural power of talismanic water. But what had the other party done? Cooked porridge! Given alms! The most basic life-skill cards!

And this had activated the “Earth” meridian—one even he found difficult to tap into? They’d even lured away a Yellow Turban general bearing a historically renowned surname?

It was as if, in the very realm of which he was most proud, a pot of porridge had been thrown right in his face!

Zhang Qingyue covered her mouth in shock, her large eyes filled with confusion: “Brother… Zhang Niujiao… he… shouldn’t he be…”

She didn’t finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear. As a historical figure closely tied to the Zhang family’s legacy, Zhang Niujiao’s card fragments should, in theory, be easier for them—as his bloodline descendants—to sense and draw toward them. How could someone have “picked them up” this way? 

“Shut up!” Zhang Hongyuan snapped in a low voice, his expression darkening. “This is suspicious—it may not be a good sign. That card’s data is chaotic, and its status is abnormal; it may not amount to much.”

He forced himself to suppress the storm raging within him and tried to regain his composure. “Our goal is the ‘Divine Envoy’ or even higher—we mustn’t let this minor setback throw us off course! Continue the ritual!”

Despite his words, however, his speed in crafting the card on the spot noticeably slowed. The shock and frustration he felt were far beyond what words could conceal.

Their reactions did not escape the notice of Alex, who stood nearby.

This handsome, blond-haired, blue-eyed young man was taken aback for a moment, then a hint of undisguised derision played on the corners of his mouth.

“Huh,” he chuckled softly, “So this is the closely guarded legacy of your Yellow Heaven Military Government? It seems… not all that impressive. Even a girl from a support class who isn’t from your clan, can so easily elicit a response from your system’s cards using such… a simple method?”

He shook his head, his tone brimming with a sense of superiority: “It seems the barrier to entry for your Eastern historical cards is much lower than I imagined—and they’re also… lacking in logic.” 

Upon hearing this, Zhang Hongyuan’s face instantly turned ashen, but he couldn’t refute it. He could only snort coldly and redouble his efforts to channel his cards, attempting to summon a powerful card as quickly as possible to salvage his pride.

Alex, however, no longer looked at them. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Li Shi’an’s team, a hint of scrutiny flashing in his eyes—though it was mostly a condescending curiosity.

“Zhang Niujiao is…” He recalled the crash course his family had given him on Eastern card knowledge. “A bandit chieftain? Even if he reaches the pinnacle of his rank, he’d still just be a… grand bandit chieftain who commands more bandits? Perhaps he could reach the peak of a Blue Card? But compared to me—the ‘Sun King’ who truly embodies the spirit of the ‘Codex’ and the ‘Covenant,’ and is dedicated to establishing order and glory—he is, after all, nothing more than a peasant, unworthy of the grand stage.”

The slight wariness he’d felt due to the unexpected turn of events caused by Li Shi’an’s team was quickly replaced by the confidence born of the nobility of his own card bloodline.

“In times of chaos, true kingship and order are ultimately needed to bring an end to it all. The struggles of these mud-legged peasants are nothing more than dust beneath the wheels of history.”

Alex made his decision swiftly.

Without further hesitation, he elegantly raised his hand, a card held between two fingers.

【Core Card: Sun King · Louis XVI (Linked Card, Low-Grade Purple Card)】 Activated! 

A young man dressed in a lavish, vintage European court gown, wearing a wig, his face bearing a hint of melancholy yet striving to maintain his dignity, appeared before Alex.

He held a scepter symbolizing power in his hand, and an air of luxury that clashed sharply with the surrounding ancient Eastern battlefield enveloped him.

“In the name of His Majesty Louis XVI, let the light of order shine upon this land of chaos.” Alex recited in an operatic tone as he summoned the card.

【Hall of Mirrors at Versailles】.

A hazy yet dazzling vision of a hall—composed of countless plays of light and crystal mirrors—radiated outward from Louis XVI at its center. Though not vast, it forcefully pushed aside the surrounding ruin and chaos, creating a small realm of “perfect order.”

【Faction Selection: Yuan Court!】

Alex controlled the phantom of Louis XVI, sending a mental signal imbued with the powers of “Covenant” and “Negotiation” toward a nearby squad of Yuan cavalry on patrol.

The effect was immediate!

The squad of Yuan cavalry was visibly startled; they had clearly never encountered such a strange yet noble-looking presence before.

Under the influence of the 【Hall of Mirrors at Versailles】, the squad leader instinctively sensed that this person was of extraordinary origin—perhaps some distinguished guest from beyond the realm—and, not daring to show any disrespect, immediately dispatched a rider on horseback to report to higher-ranking Yuan Court officials.

Before long, a Yuan court official dressed in civil service attire arrived in a hurry, accompanied by his entourage.

Alex had long since prepared his pitch. Using Louis XVI’s cards, he skillfully repackaged European court etiquette and concepts of fiscal management as “advanced foreign financial techniques,” and, combining this with the power of the cards’ 【Codex】, materialized a series of seemingly sophisticated accounting spreadsheets and contractual documents.

“…Therefore, if we can restructure taxation and establish new agreements in accordance with this Codex, we will surely resolve the shortage of military rations and stabilize order in the provinces.”

Alex spoke eloquently, while the 【Hall of Mirrors at Versailles】 shimmered faintly behind him, enhancing his persuasiveness and that illusory sense of “authority.”

The Yuan court official had never seen anything like this before.

Dazzled by the dazzling mirage of the Hall of Mirrors and the seemingly inscrutable “foreign sorcery,” and further shaken by the very real tax loopholes and collection challenges that Alex had pointed out, he was instantly awestruck!

【Event Chain Triggered: Foreign Envoy · The Code Shines on Huaiyou】

【Alex, leveraging the “Order” and “Covenant” traits of the Louis XVI card, as well as his status as a foreign noble, successfully deceived the local Yuan Dynasty officials, earning recognition and initial trust!】

【Yuan Dynasty Faction Reputation: Friendly → Respected!】

【Temporary Permissions Granted: You may access a limited amount of Yuan Court logistical supplies and recruit a small number of local militia (requires resource expenditure).】

【Opportunity to Advance Has Arisen: Successfully complete your mission and stabilize the region to receive an official investiture from the Yuan Court, thereby absorbing the “Order Reconstruction” destiny and the authority of the Yuan Court!】

A satisfied smile spread across Alex’s face.

Everything was unfolding exactly as he had envisioned—the noble path befitting the “Sun King.”

Choosing the Yuan Court’s ready-made “Order” fast track was undoubtedly a wise decision. As for the struggles and mishaps of those mud-legged peasants, they were, after all, merely minor interludes.

He cast a contemptuous glance at the Zhang siblings, who were still poring over that “Data Disruption” white card in the distance, as well as Li Shi’an’s team, who were busy running the soup kitchen even farther away, and his sense of superiority grew even stronger.

“Just wait and see. True power lies in establishing order, not in creating chaos. Once I have complete control over this place, you will all be my subjects.”

Li Shi’an, of course, had also noticed what was happening over at Alex’s side.

Seeing Louis XVI conversing amiably with the Yuan court officials—and even beginning to “restore order”—Li Shi’an not only felt no concern but instead found the corners of his mouth curving upward uncontrollably as he let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness… he chose the Yuan court.”

“Shi’an, what are you laughing at?” He Bieshan happened to catch his expression and asked in confusion, “That foreign devil seems to be doing quite well for himself—he’s even made connections with the Yuan officials!”

Hao Yun also looked over in concern: “His card looks so flashy, and the Yuan court still wields a lot of power right now…”

Li Shi’an turned his gaze away, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: “Gorgeous it is, and he didn’t choose the wrong path—it suits his card perfectly. But…”

He paused, his tone tinged with amusement: “He’s forgotten—or perhaps his card simply can’t tell him—that this ‘order’ he’s chosen is, in itself, a massive quagmire, a powder keg about to explode. The Yuan court’s rule over this land has long been rotten to the core. Its ‘order’ is a false prosperity built upon the bones of displaced people.”

“Trying to patch up a volcano on the verge of eruption with ‘codes’ and ‘covenants’?” Li Shi’an shook his head. “It’s nothing more than shackling himself with even heavier chains. The faster he rises now by leveraging the Yuan Court’s authority—the more ‘Order’ fortune he absorbs—the worse it will be when the volcano erupts…”

He didn’t say any more, but He Bieshan and Hao Yun both felt an inexplicable chill run down their spines, instantly grasping what he meant.

When the time comes and the Yuan Court—that sinking ship—goes down, everyone on board who has become too deeply entangled with it will be dragged into the abyss by a massive whirlpool! The so-called “Order” destiny will likely transform instantly into the most ferocious “backlash”!