Silence fell over the playground as everyone stared blankly at the white card in Li Shi’an’s hand. 

“A… a white card?” He Bieshan muttered to himself, his face etched with disbelief. “Shi’an… how could he have chosen a white card?”

Teacher Chen’s expression changed; he quickly walked over to the supervising teacher and asked urgently in a low voice, “Teacher Wang, could… could the instrument be malfunctioning? Li Shi’an is usually quite level-headed—he shouldn’t have…”

The moderator stared at the data scrolling across the screen, his brow furrowed, and shook his head. “The equipment is functioning normally. The process log shows that he voluntarily selected the designated White Card and… triggered an extremely rare targeted search response. I’ve never encountered a situation like this before.”

Teacher Chen was even more puzzled. “What’s there to search for in a white card pool? And why would it cause such a commotion…” The murmurs from the students in the audience gradually grew louder.

“It really is a white card…”

“What’s the deal? Why pass up a random green card just to get a white one?” “‘Beggar’? What kind of character card is that? It sounds so weak…” 

Li Shi’an, however, seemed oblivious to the murmurs below.

As he ran his fingers over the card’s surface, a strange, blood-linked thrill traveled from the card into the palm of his hand, then slowly spread throughout his entire body.

“Beggar… Zhu Yuanzhang…” He silently repeated the name in his mind.

A vague fragment of historical knowledge, long buried in the depths of his memory from another world, quietly surfaced. A legendary emperor who rose from the lowest ranks to found a dynasty?

There is a gap in the history of this world; records of the “Ming Dynasty” and the “Emperor Hongwu” have long since been lost. 

But that faint memory deep within Li Shi’an’s soul led him to form an incredible hypothesis about this card. 

Could it be…

“All right! Quiet!” The presiding teacher quelled the commotion in the room and cast a complex glance at Li Shi’an. “Li Shi’an, please return to your seat. Next up, Zhang Tao from Class 5, Senior 3!”

Li Shi’an clenched the card in his hand and walked off the stage with a calm expression. The students around him instinctively parted to make way for him, their gazes a mix of sympathy, curiosity, and—mostly—puzzlement.

He Bieshan immediately rushed over and whispered urgently, “Oh my God! Shi’an! How could you pick a white card! Teacher Chen down there is practically popping his eyes out of his head! Do you have any idea…”

“I know,” Li Shi’an interrupted him. “I picked it myself.”

“Why?!” He Bieshan was completely baffled. “Any random green card—no matter how bad—is better than a white card! Even if you got ‘Basic Cleaning Spell’, at least after graduation you could land a steady job at the Sanitation Bureau! This ‘Beggar’ card of yours… what’s it good for? Performing to beg for food?” 

He spoke bluntly, his face filled with anxiety for his friend. Li Shi’an smiled but offered no explanation.

Should he tell him that he might have stumbled upon a huge windfall? Until the results were in, it sounded more like a joke.

Hao Yun walked over as well, gently tugging at He Bieshan’s arm to signal him to stop talking.

She looked at Li Shi’an, her tone gentle: “Shi’an, are you… okay? No matter what, let’s take a look at the card’s details first.” On the playground, the Awakening Ceremony was proceeding in an orderly fashion.

Li Shi’an heard a few hushed murmurs.

“Li Shi’an? He’s always come in first in theory classes—how could he…” 

“He must be out of his mind—rejecting a green card for a white one?”

“And to think Teacher Chen always praised him for being level-headed and decisive. Now look…” 

In the front row, Yu Sinian turned his head, his eyes betraying undisguised surprise, which quickly gave way to a condescending air of pity—though the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but turn up.

Addressing a few of his followers beside him, he spoke at a volume neither too loud nor too soft—just loud enough for Li Shi’an, as well as He Bieshan and Hao Yun nearby, to hear clearly: “Tsk, what a waste. It’s truly a waste to use our academic superstar Li’s brain on just cramming for exams. This ‘beggar’ with a white card… Haha, could it be he plans to ‘experience life’ in the future and do some performance art? His opening move certainly counts as ‘steady and solid’—so steady it’s sunk into the dust.”

He deliberately emphasized the phrase “steady and solid,” prompting a burst of stifled snickers from the people nearby.

He Bieshan’s face flushed with anger, and Hao Yun furrowed her brows, casting a worried glance at Li Shi’an. Li Shi’an, however, seemed oblivious, his mind deeply absorbed.

The card information panel was clearly imprinted in his mind:

【Card Name】: Beggar · Zhu Yuanzhang (Current Tier: White Card · Unawakened)

【Card Type】: Character Card · Growth Type

【Current Status】: Not Activated

【Base Ability】: Resilience (Passive) –   Slightly increases survivability in harsh environments.

【Affinity】: None

【Progression Path】：Unlocked

【Potential Rating】：??? (Data anomaly; cannot be parsed)

That “???” potential rating and the “data anomaly” label are quite unusual…

Memories from his past life surged back.

The Hongwu Emperor—who started with a single bowl and ended up ruling a nation? “Next up, Class 5 of Senior 3, He Bieshan!”

The teacher’s voice interrupted his train of thought.

He Bieshan stiffened, the resentment on his face instantly replaced by nervousness.

“It’s… It’s my turn!” He took a deep breath and gave Li Shi’an a firm pat on the shoulder. “Bro, wait for me!”

He hurried up to the stage, his steps almost stumbling.

He Bieshan pressed his palm against the sensor stone, his lips turning slightly pale with nervousness.

A light flickered on and off—neither too fast nor too slow—and finally coalesced in the palm of his hand into a card with a green background and a faint, pale blue halo along its edges.

On the front of the card was the ethereal image of a forging hammer with an ancient design, gleaming with a cold light.

【Card Name】: Basic Forging

【Card Type】: Skill Card . Life Skills / Crafting

【Rarity】: Green

【Effect】: Consumes a small amount of card energy to conjure the phantom of an energy hammer with basic forging capabilities, lasting ten minutes. It provides basic shaping and rough forging capabilities for metallic materials. As proficiency increases, forging efficiency and quality improve slightly. 

【Notes】：The starting point for a workshop apprentice—paving the way to the future (maybe).

He Bieshan looked at the card in his hand, his expression instantly falling, and his shoulders slumped slightly. A green-tinged-blue talent paired with a basic Life Skills card completely confirmed his earlier premonition. Destined for farming or blacksmithing! 

Forget about “Peak of the Beast Tide” or “Surrounded by Legends”—his dream of becoming a hero shattered more completely than glass at that very moment.

He walked off the stage in a daze, but when he saw Li Shi’an standing at the back of the line, quietly watching him, He Bieshan suddenly jolted to attention.

He shook his head vigorously, forcing the disappointment off his face, and managed to squeeze out a smile as he walked over to Li Shi’an.

“Hey, heh heh,” He Bieshan gave a couple of dry laughs, his voice a little hoarse. He pointed at the white card in Li Shi’an’s hand. “Look, Shi’an, this lousy hammer of mine is only good for clanging away at some scrap metal. But yours is, at the very least, a Character Card! A Growth-type one! I’ve looked up the records, buddy—many of those truly legendary Character Cards in history started out as White Cards! Sure… sure, the title ‘Beggar’ is a bit embarrassing, but what if! What if it’s a hidden gem? Nurture it properly, and who knows—it might skyrocket one day. Unlike me… my life is just going to stay like this forever…” 

Li Shi’an watched his friend put on a brave face and felt a warm glow in his heart. He gave him a light pat on the shoulder: “Don’t lose heart. The road ahead is long.” And in the card world, there’s always been a saying: “When one person succeeds, everyone around them benefits!”

“Senior 3, Class 6, Zhao Zhiyong!”

The host’s voice rang out from the stage once more.

A rather tall and burly boy with dark skin stepped onto the stage in response. He looked a bit nervous as he placed his palm on the sensor stone.

This time, after the green light flashed, it didn’t immediately take the form of a card. Instead, it hovered briefly in front of the stone tablet before finally materializing in the palm of his hand.

The card that appeared had a vivid green background, but its front featured a lifelike portrait: a burly, rugged man with a thick, bushy beard, clad in crude leather armor and wielding a ghost-headed broadsword.

In the background behind him, a wooden and stone fortress built against the mountainside, with a large banner reading “Acting on Heaven’s Behalf” flying from it, was faintly visible! A murmur of astonishment rose from the audience.

“A character card!”

“It’s a Lord-type character card!”

“A mountain stronghold leader? That sounds so impressive!”

【Card Name】: Lord of Black Wind Fortress · Wang Ba 

【Card Type】: Character Card . Lord-type / Combat-type

【Rarity】：Green (Intermediate)

【Ability 1】: Command Bandits (Passive) –    Can summon and command up to ten (initial limit) basic bandit minions (White Card tier) to fight alongside you

【Ability 2】：□□ Technique (Active) –  Consumes Card Energy to unleash a single Strength-based slashing attack. 6

【Potential Rating】：Green (Mid-Tier) – Has a chance to be promoted to a Blue Card.

【Affinity】：None.

Zhao Zhiyong looked at the card in his hand, his face lighting up with immense delight! A Lord-type character card!

He clenched his fist tightly, his gaze instinctively sweeping across the audience below, tinged with a touch of unhidden pride.

He did nothing else; he simply straightened his back and strode confidently back to his seat in class, basking in the envious glances.

The Awakening Ceremony continued, with lights of various colors flickering on the Sesing Stele.

Some players who awakened the green “Frost Arrow” attack spell card drew a wave of envy, while others who awakened the “Basic Cooking” life skill card drew a few sighs. 

When Yu Sinian took the stage, the Sensing Stele glowed with a steady, bright blue light, which eventually coalesced into a contract card depicting a young Flame Griffin: 【Flame Griffin (Fledgling)】. After all, he had directly consulted his family about the card pool.

Although it was only a blue-grade superior card, contract beast cards were rare to begin with, and combined with its growth potential, it drew gasps of admiration from the entire audience.

Yu Sinian smiled modestly, savoring the feeling of being the center of attention, his gaze intentionally—or perhaps unintentionally—glancing once more at the white card in Li Shi’an’s hand, his sense of superiority nearly overflowing. 

Hao Yun’s awakening was a green, lower-grade 【primary light heal】, a support-type healing card. Its reliable and practical nature earned her quite a bit of applause.

Finally, the last student stepped down from the Sesing Stele platform, and the principal and several faculty members returned to the podium. The entire hall fell instantly silent, with all eyes fixed on the screen unfolding behind the podium!

The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the nervous pounding of countless hearts. The results of the talent level assessment—which would determine the future potential of every student—were about to be revealed!

【Senior 3, Class 1, Qin Yue, Talent Level: White (Upper Grade)】

【Senior 3, Class 1, Li Mei, Talent Level: White (Mid-Grade)】

【Senior 3, Class 5, Yu Sinian, Talent Level: Blue (Mid-Grade)】

【Senior 3, Class 5, He Bieshan, Talent Level: Green (High-Grade)】

【Senior 3, Class 5, Hao Yun, Talent Level: Blue (Lower Grade)】1

The list scrolled by rapidly, with most entries showing white and green talent levels.

Blue (Middle Grade) was the highest talent level revealed so far, and Yu Sinian had practically become the center of attention for the entire crowd.

Until the light screen scrolled to the last few names—the appearance of one name instantly plunged the entire playground into deathly silence!

Immediately afterward, an uncontrollable uproar, like a tsunami, swept through the crowd!

【Senior 3, Class 5: Li Shi’an, Talent Level: Purple (Low-Grade)】 

Purple!!!

The magnificent purple font appended to that name struck everyone’s hearts like a sledgehammer!

“Pur… Purple?!”

“Oh my God! Am I seeing this right? A Purple Talent?!”

“Li Shi’an?! Is that the same Li Shi’an who awakened the White Card ‘Beggar’?!”

“Purple?! How is that possible! How many years has it been since our school last produced a Purple-tier talent?!” “A White Card paired with a Purple-tier talent? What kind of cosmic joke is this?!” 

The deafening uproar was almost enough to tear the roof off the playground!

Countless gazes, like searchlights, suddenly focused on Li Shi’an all at once! Shock, disbelief, horror, bewilderment, jealousy, confusion…

The smug smile on Yu Sinian’s face froze and shattered in an instant. He stared intently at the blinding purple on the light screen, his eyes filled with utter shock and twisted jealousy! 

Purple! Could it really be a purple talent?! 

How could this be?! An orphan who’d awakened as a White Card waste?!

Zhao Zhiyong’s smugness and sense of superiority had also vanished without a trace. His mouth hung slightly open, his eyes wide as saucers, as if someone had grabbed him by the throat, and his throat emitted involuntary “huh-huh” sounds as his mind went completely blank.

A purple talent? Li Shi’an?!

He Bieshan was completely dumbfounded. He rubbed his eyes hard, then pinched his thigh fiercely—gritting his teeth in pain—before finally confirming he wasn’t dreaming!

“Shi… Shi’an?! Purple… purple?! Oh my God!” He jumped to his feet, so excited he could barely form coherent sentences. He grabbed Li Shi’an’s arm, his voice cracking with emotion. “Purple! It’s purple! Shi’an! You… you… Holy crap!” 

Overwhelming elation and a sense of pride instantly swept away his earlier despondency.

Hao Yun also covered her mouth, her eyes wide, staring at Li Shi’an with utter disbelief. 

On the podium, the principal and several teachers were all stunned! 

Teacher Wang, who was presiding over the event, rushed to the instrument screen to double-check, his hands trembling with excitement: “Purple! It really is a low-grade purple! Although it’s only a low-grade talent, but… but a purple talent! Our Seventh High School… Our Seventh High School has finally produced another purple talent!”

The principal realized what was happening and turned bright red with excitement: “Great! Great! Great!” The entire playground erupted in cheers.

On the podium, the principal took a deep breath, trying to calm his excitement, and picked up the microphone again:

“Students! Quiet! Please be quiet! Let me say a few words!”

The principal’s voice carried an uncontrollable sense of excitement: “A Purple Talent! This is the first Purple Talent to emerge at our Seventh High School in the past five years—no, in the past ten years! This is the supreme honor for Li Shi’an personally, and it is also the pride of our entire Seventh High School!”

He paused, surveying the teachers and students below who were still reeling from the immense shock, and his tone turned serious:

“I must take this opportunity to once again emphasize the classification and significance of the Talent Tier System. Cards are the vessels through which we communicate with the Holy Pool and obtain Seeds of Power; their initial grade largely determines the height and direction of our starting point. But Talent Tier is what truly represents a Cardmaster’s potential to communicate with the Holy Pool from the depths of their soul—their future growth ceiling and the heights they may reach! This is the more core, more essential measure of aptitude!”

The principal’s voice was full of conviction: “History has long proven that one’s starting point does not entirely determine one’s destination! A powerful red or orange card, if held by someone of mediocre talent, may never unleash even a fraction of its true potential throughout their entire life! On the other hand, an unremarkable white card, when paired with extraordinary talent, may well shine with a brilliance that illuminates an entire era! Cards are weapons; they are tools. But talent is the driving force that powers these weapons, forges these tools, and ultimately propels us to the pinnacle of success!” 

His tone grew even more reverent: “As for the legendary red and orange talents? They are the darlings of the heavens! They are the nation’s most precious treasures! Once they emerge, they are bound to trigger extraordinary celestial phenomena, causing the Holy Pools of the entire nation—and even the world—to resonate in unison! They are often accompanied by innate supernatural abilities or an extreme affinity for the power of a specific card; they are strategic national treasures. Once discovered, they are immediately taken away in secret by state agencies, and the full might of the nation is mobilized to provide them with the highest level of specialized training. Their future lies in the vast expanse of the stars and the ocean; they are the cornerstones that safeguard the nation’s legacy!”

The principal looked at Li Shi’an, who stood below the stage holding a white card with a calm expression, his gaze brimming with expectation: “And our student, Li Shi’an, has awakened a purple talent—second only to red and orange!”

“A Purple Talent—while it may not trigger extraordinary celestial phenomena or result in immediate recruitment by the state—still signifies unparalleled potential! It means the ‘capacity’ of his soul far exceeds that of ordinary people, granting him a unique advantage in the efficiency of absorbing, converting, and utilizing card energy, as well as in his ability to understand, cultivate, and advance cards! Across the nation and even the world, those with a Purple Talent may not be as rare as a phoenix’s feather or a qilin’s horn, but they are undoubtedly true geniuses—one in a million! They are the precious young talents that all top academic institutions and powerful factions are eager to recruit and fiercely compete for!” 

“Here at Seventh High School,” the principal’s voice rang out with conviction, “he is a rising star! He is the pride and hope of our school! The school will concentrate its finest resources to support Li Shi’an’s future growth! Regardless of his initial cards, his purple talent alone justifies this level of investment!” 

The principal’s speech was like a bucket of cold water, completely snapping some students—who were still stuck on the “white card loser” stereotype—back to reality. The looks they cast at Li Shi’an were now filled with envy rather than the pity they’d felt before.

Indeed, a purple talent!

His starting point may be low, but his future is limitless!

The government might not recruit him directly, but the school and various factions would certainly not let a genius like this slip through their fingers!

The principal went on to emphasize a few more times how the school would support and encourage all students, but the minds of the vast majority of teachers and students in the audience were already far removed from those platitudes.

Countless eyes remained fixed on Li Shi’an, the focus having shifted from that out-of-place white card to him. The card determines your starting point; talent determines your ceiling. 

Was this white card, “Beggar,” paired with this purple talent, simply a hidden gem—or… the beginning of a legend brimming with unknown possibilities?

The ceremony finally came to an end, and the students began to disperse in small groups, but the center of their discussions was, without a doubt, Li Shi’an and his bizarre appearance of a “white card paired with a purple-tier talent” combination.

Li Shi’an, He Bieshan, and Hao Yun were also preparing to leave with the crowd when a tall, burly figure, accompanied by several others, hurriedly pushed through the crowd and strode up to Li Shi’an. It was none other than Zhao Zhiyong, who had previously awakened the green card “Lord of Black Wind Fortress”!

“Li… Li Shi’an!” Zhao Zhiyong’s voice was much higher-pitched than usual. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Li Shi’an was a stark contrast to his previous, condescending glance—it had become incredibly intense. “Congratulations! Congratulations! I never would have guessed that you… you actually have a Purple-tier talent! Purple! That’s incredible! You’re truly a hidden gem!”

The few henchmen behind him nodded repeatedly, their eyes brimming with flattery as they looked at Li Shi’an. Li Shi’an stopped in his tracks and looked at him calmly.

He Bieshan instinctively took a step forward, positioning himself in front of Li Shi’an, and stared warily at Zhao Zhiyong, his tone sharp: “Zhao Zhiyong, what are you up to?”

He knew all too well what kind of person this guy was.

Zhao Zhiyong seemed oblivious to He Bieshan’s wariness, and the smile on his face grew even more enthusiastic: “Don’t get the wrong idea, don’t get the wrong idea! He, I’m just here to congratulate Li! And by the way… hehe,” he rubbed his hands together, his eyes fixed intently on Li Shi’an, “Shi’an, look at you—with that purple talent, you’ve got a bright future ahead of you! B ut… ah,” he changed the subject, letting out a heavy sigh and wearing an expression of profound “regret.” “That starting card of yours… to be honest, it’s holding you back a bit. ‘Beggar’… how… how can that possibly live up to your purple-tier talent? It’s like a pearl buried in the dirt!”

He paused for a moment, his voice taking on a “sincere” tone: “But! Don’t lose heart. Just because your card is low-quality doesn’t mean there’s no way forward. The key is to find the right path! Look at me—I have Wang Ba, the ‘Lord of Blackwind Fortress,’ a Lord-type character card! That means I naturally possess the ability to assemble and lead a team! Whether you’re hunting for materials in the wild or exploring secret realms in the future, teamwork is the way to go! Going it alone—no matter how strong your natural talent—will never amount to much!”

Zhao Zhiyong grew more and more excited as he spoke, practically spitting as he talked: “Li! Join my team! With your purple talent, it would be a total waste to have you as my second-in-command! But I promise, I’ll definitely prioritize you when it comes to resources! My parents are in the card material business, and we’ve got plenty of resources in our family warehouse! As long as you join, I guarantee you’ll get priority access to the card-crafting materials you need! I’ll help you upgrade the quality of that… um, ‘Beggar’ card as soon as possible! Or I’ll help you find an even more powerful second card slot! What do you say? A powerhouse alliance! Together, we’ll definitely make a name for ourselves on the path to becoming card masters!” 

He spoke with such passion, as if he could already envision the glorious future of having a purple-talent deputy on his team.

This recruitment effort wasn’t so much about valuing Li Shi’an himself as it was a blatant bid to tap into his astonishing purple talent potential and the immense value he could bring in the future!

As for that white card, “Beggar”?

In Zhao Zhiyong’s eyes, it was nothing more than an insignificant bonus—or even a burden. What he was recruiting was “Li Shi’an’s” purple talent!

The students who hadn’t yet dispersed turned to look, many of them with envious expressions.

For a cardmaster just starting out, being recruited by the core member of a team that possesses a Lord Card and has the backing of a wealthy family is an incredibly tempting prospect.

Not to mention that the terms Zhao Zhiyong offered sounded quite generous.

He Bieshan was so furious his face turned beet-red—this was a purple-tier talent! And he was supposed to go work as someone else’s deputy? 

Just as he was about to object, Li Shi’an gently pressed his hand against his shoulder.

Li Shi’an looked up, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly to reveal a faint, somewhat distant smile.

“I appreciate Zhao’s kindness.” Li Shi’an’s voice wasn’t loud, but it clearly cut through the surrounding commotion. “However, I don’t think the matter has been decided yet.”

The eager smile on Zhao Zhiyong’s face froze instantly, turning to bewilderment. “Huh? What do you mean?”

“In a week, we’ll have our first full-scale school-wide mock exam.” Li Shi’an’s gaze passed right over him; his tone was calm and unruffled, yet carried an air of unquestionable certainty. “If, during that exam…” 

He paused, his gaze returning to Zhao Zhiyong’s face, which was etched with confusion, and said clearly: “If I lose, I’ll join your team, serve as your deputy, and follow your orders.”

Zhao Zhiyong, his henchman behind him, and the students around them who had been eavesdropping all froze in shock. This offer… was practically a windfall!

Before Zhao Zhiyong could recover from this huge “surprise,” Li Shi’an finished his sentence:

“But if I win.”

He clearly stated his condition: “Then, I’ll need you—or rather, your parents—to provide me with the basic resources listed on the card-making materials list: ten units of ‘stardust sand,’ five units of ‘low-tier soul crystals,’ one ‘blank card vessel (green),’ plus one thousand points of Basic Card Energy Crystals.”

This condition instantly silenced the air around them, leaving only the sound of people gasping in shock. Stardust sand! Soul Crystals! A blank card vessel! And 1,000 points of card energy crystals!

For an ordinary student, this was an absolutely astronomical sum!

Zhao Zhiyong’s expression shifted from bewilderment to astonishment, and finally to a look of absurdity and amusement, as if he were looking at a madman.

He stared at Li Shi’an, as if trying to determine whether the other guy had been driven mad by his purple talent or was simply playing a joke on him.

“Huh? Hahahaha!” Zhao Zhiyong finally couldn’t hold back his laughter; he was laughing so hard tears were welling up in his eyes. Pointing at Li Shi’an, he exclaimed, “You’re using a single blank card—‘Beggar’—to beat my green card, ‘Black Wind Fortress Lord’? And mine even comes with ten henchmen! Li Shi’an, do you even know what you’re saying?” 

The henchmen behind him also burst into laughter.

“Exactly, Brother Zhiyong, he must be out of his mind with joy!”

“A White Card player taking on a Green Card lord? And expected to win? Isn’t that just a pipe dream?” 

“And he’s making such outrageous demands—unbelievable!”

Talent is talent, but in just one week… how is that supposed to show?

Zhao Zhiyong finally managed to stop laughing. Wiping the corners of his eyes, he looked at Li Shi’an with an expression as if watching a fool picking up money off the ground, nodding repeatedly: “Alright! Alright, alright, alright! I admire your imagination, and I admire your ‘courage.’ It’s a bet! I’ll take that bet! It’s just some materials, right? My parents’ warehouse isn’t exactly short on them. As long as you actually win, I, Zhao Zhiyong, keep my word—I’ll hand them over with both hands! Hahaha!”

He laughed heartily, as if he could already see this “Purple Genius” bowing his head in defeat before him a week from now, becoming his trusted right-hand man. 

This is practically a surefire win!

“It’s a deal,” Li Shi’an nodded.

“What do you mean, ‘it’s a deal’?”