Chapter Bonanza (8/10)

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There was another knock on the lounge door, and before anyone could answer, it swung open.

A man and a woman stood in the doorway, their faces radiating an earnest joy.

One wore the Cangshan emblem of “Beilu Academy” pinned to his chest, while the other wore the Langtao emblem of “Nanjiang University.”

“Li Shi’an, we finally found you!” The male teacher from Beilu Academy spoke first: “Your performance in today’s competition was truly spectacular. We at Beilu really need students like you—those with vision and drive. ”

The female teacher from Nanjiang University immediately chimed in: “Li, this is how we are at Nanjiang University. Although our overall ranking may not match that of certain other colleges, we are definitely in the top tier. Our research into historical cards is very in-depth, and we have abundant resources. We place particular emphasis on students’ independent development paths and would never force you to change anything.”

She recalled Li Shi’an’s earlier response to Imperial College—it had been quite telling.

The two scanned the room and spotted Sui Yang and Chen Jue. Their expressions froze for a moment, but they quickly regained their composure.

“Student Sui is here, is he?” the Beilu professor chuckled. “Shenzhou Card Theological Seminary is moving quickly this year, isn’t it? But… Li, you might as well shop around, haha.” 

The teacher from Nanjiang, however, was more direct, gazing at Li Shi’an with a sweet smile: “Li, how’s your decision coming along? Our Nanjiang College can offer you…”

“Director Wang, Director Liu,” Sui Yang interrupted her, “I’m currently introducing Li to some of the… unique features of our Shenzhou Card Theological Seminary. I hope you two don’t mind?”

His tone was polite, but he showed no sign of getting up—clearly implying, “It’s pointless for you to object.”

Of course, both directors were deeply bothered by this, but on the surface, they waved their hands repeatedly: “Not at all, not at all! It’s admissions—fair competition, fair competition!”

Director Wang from Beilu couldn’t resist upping the ante: “Li, we still have one spot left in Beilu’s ‘Spark Program’ this year—a direct path to the inner academy, one-on-one mentoring, and an annual allocation of resources equivalent to this amount…”

He made a gesture with his hands.

Director Liu, not to be outdone, retorted, “Our Nanjiang ‘Qianlong Fund’ is even more flexible, and we’re right next to several large historical fragment realms—there are plenty of opportunities for hands-on experience!”

Li Shi’an felt a headache coming on and was just about to speak when the lounge door was once again flung open.

This time, a dense crowd of reporters and camera crews surged in. Long and short lenses instantly filled every corner of the room, and the glaring flashes went off once again.

“Student Li! What are your thoughts on the invitations from Beilu and Nanjiang?”

“Have you already made up your mind? Is it Shenzhou Academy?”

“Could you discuss the specific criteria you’re using to choose an academy?”

“There are reports that Director He from Imperial College looked extremely displeased when he left—is that related to your rejection?”

Li Shi’an was now genuinely at his wits’ end. If he’d known, he would’ve had Sui Yang arrange a different time and place; there was simply no way to have a proper conversation here.

The two admissions directors were both startled by the commotion, but immediately realized this was an excellent opportunity to promote their colleges, so they straightened their posture.

Amid the commotion, Li Shi’an spoke up: “I’m very grateful for the generosity shown by Beilu College and Nanjiang University. The terms you’ve offered are very attractive, and I’ve truly felt your sincere goodwill.”

Just as a look of delight flashed across the two directors’ faces, they heard Li Shi’an continue: “However, I’m very sorry. I’ve already decided on another option.”

Director Wang grew impatient: “Student Li, won’t you reconsider? Did Shenzhou Card Theological Seminary make some special promise? Whatever they can offer, we at Beilu College can certainly negotiate!”

Director Liu quickly added: “That’s right, Student Li. Choosing a college determines the direction of your future—you must be very careful!”

Li Shi’an shook his head and turned his gaze toward Sui Yang.

He spoke up: “I’m leaning more toward Shenzhou Card Theological Seminary.”

“There are quite a few reasons. But one very important point is…”

He paused to gather his thoughts: “It’s because of Senior Sui Yang’s primary card, 【Qingtian Hermit · Liu Bowen】.”

“What?”

“Liu Bowen?”

“That… useless card of Sui Yang’s?”

The teachers from Beilu and Nanjiang gasped in unison, blurting out their true thoughts without a second thought for offending Sui Yang.

They had assumed Li Shi’an was choosing Shenzhou Card Theological Seminary likely for a higher scholarship, or perhaps because Sui Yang had promised a more flexible training program… but they never imagined that what had won over this genius—who possessed the potential of a Pioneer-class Emperor Card—was…

…was Sui Yang’s initial primary card—one so infamous that it was displayed in admissions offices across major universities as a “cautionary tale”?!

This card had suffered a stage drop right in front of all the university mentors during the college entrance exams.

It had plummeted from a Blue Card, Upper Grade—【Magistrate of Gao’an County, Jiangxi】—to a “Qingtian Hermit” blue card—lower grade.

At the time, all the mentors had declared his potential limited and urged Sui Yang to replace his primary card as soon as possible.

Sui Yang himself raised an eyebrow slightly; he hadn’t expected Li Shi’an to point this out so directly.

“Student Li, you… you’re not mistaken, are you?” Director Wang couldn’t help but clarify, “Of course, we recognize Student Sui’s talent and ability. At such a young age, he’s already a Fourth-Tier Cardmaster, and the three main cards he’s acquired since then are exceptionally powerful. But… but his primary card—as everyone knows—unexpectedly dropped in grade during the college entrance exams and has yet to recover. This…”

Director Liu chimed in, his tone advisory: “Yes, Li, we all know you have a unique understanding of your cards, but there’s no need for you to—”

Their words were cut short by Li Shi’an.

“I know,” Li Shi’an said with a slight twinkle in his eyes. “I know that the Liu Bowen card dropped in rank during Sui Yang’s college entrance exams, transforming from a county magistrate into a hermit in the mountains. Many people see this as a failure—a regression in the card’s potential.”

“But I see it differently,” Li Shi’an explained. “A county magistrate is engaged in worldly affairs—a subject who follows the rules of the old order; whereas a hermit, though seemingly detached from the world, may actually be lying low, waiting for the true ‘stirring of the winds and clouds.’”

“In my view, this isn’t a demotion,” Li Shi’an said, startling the crowd. “It’s a period of… consolidation before a metamorphosis.”

“Perhaps Zhu Yuanzhang needs someone who can read the signs of the heavens, discern the course of events, and assist the True Dragon in forging a new era… an imperial mentor.”

He paused for a moment. Though he wasn’t entirely sure if Shenzhou Academy’s tolerance stemmed from President Sui Yang’s influence, he still offered a diplomatic response.

“Shenzhou Academy chose to believe in Senior Sui when his ‘card’ was downgraded—even as everyone else questioned him or urged him to give up—and supported him in continuing on his path. This kind of tolerance, which allows for exploring ‘non-mainstream’ paths, perhaps moves me more than any generous resources.”

Since I’ve decided to go to Shenzhou Academy, then… should I give him a tactful shout-out in front of the cameras?

“This proves my earlier assessment,” Li Shi’an said, looking at Sui Yang with certainty. “Shenzhou Academy is indeed the best place for ‘Zhu Yuanzhang’ to grow.”

The reporters’ cameras focused on Li Shi’an and Sui Yang.

Big news! Explosive news!

The reason the holder of a Pioneering-class Emperor Card chose Shenzhou Academy was, surprisingly, because of another problematic card.

Sui Yang spoke softly, breaking the silence.

“It seems we’ve indeed found the freshman who best aligns with Shenzhou Academy’s philosophy.” His gaze swept over the two stunned admissions directors. “Director Wang, Director Liu, it looks like Shenzhou Academy is going to take the lead this time.”

The faces of the admissions directors from Beilu and Nanjiang shifted, but in the end, Director Wang couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Student Li, your idea is… unique. But whether a card is a good fit isn’t something you can just imagine. Student Sui’s 【Qingtian Hermit · Liu Bowen】 card is in a special state; even within Shenzhou Academy, despite the efforts of multiple mentors, they haven’t been able to make it ‘return to the hall of power.’”

He was just a hair’s breadth away from saying outright: Your idea is great, but reality is harsh—this isn’t something a newly-awakened high school student like you can handle.

Director Liu added, “That’s right, Li. We know you’re exceptionally gifted and have a profound understanding of your own cards. But helping someone else’s cards undergo such a fundamental transformation is far more difficult than you might imagine. What if… I mean, what if your attempt yields no noticeable results and instead affects the status of both cards? Wouldn’t that be…”

These remarks drew murmurs of agreement from some of the reporters.

“Director Wang has a point—card evolution isn’t a game.”

“Liu Bowen’s card issue is reportedly quite tricky; otherwise, Sui Yang wouldn’t have been stuck on it for so long.”

“Isn’t Li Shi’an being a bit too confident?”

Li Shi’an remained calm; he was well aware of the difficulty involved.

Liu Bowen served as an official during the early Yuan Dynasty, holding the position of Deputy Magistrate of Gao’an County in Jiangxi. Though his rank was not high, he had already demonstrated extraordinary talent and erudition.

However, toward the end of the Yuan Dynasty, with corruption rampant in the bureaucracy and the realm in turmoil, Liu Bowen felt his lofty aspirations could not be realized. He therefore chose to resign from public office and retreat into seclusion, devoting himself to writing and observing the changing times.

It was precisely because Sui Yang had chosen the right path that his card had dropped.

Historically, Liu Bowen’s true rise to prominence indeed came when he met Zhu Yuanzhang.

He was repeatedly invited by Zhu Yuanzhang to step out of seclusion and assist him. Ultimately, he became the master strategist who helped Zhu Yuanzhang eliminate rival warlords and establish the Great Ming Dynasty, earning renown as the ‘Imperial Advisor’ and the ‘Reincarnation of Zhuge Liang.’

For Sui Yang’s card to undergo a true transformation—returning to the top tier of blue cards or even higher—it requires precisely such a pivotal moment of “convergence of great forces” and “an invitation from the true dragon.”

Li Shi’an looked at Sui Yang. Instead of directly addressing the two directors’ doubts, he asked, “Senior Sui, what was the main rationale behind Shenzhou Card Theological Seminary’s previous attempts?”

Sui Yang was quite cooperative and admitted frankly, “Mostly, we tried to emulate the virtue of respecting and welcoming talent, or invited him in the name of the greater good for ‘all the common people under heaven.’ We even went so far as to infuse resources imbued with the fortune of ‘literary prowess’ and ‘strategic wisdom’… but the results were meager.”

Li Shi’an felt this was more or less what he had anticipated.

These methods might move an ordinary strategist, but as for Liu Bowen, he had already lost faith in the imperial court; thus, he was waiting for a “rightful ruler” who could show him the possibility of “ending the age of chaos and ushering in an era of peace.”

“I see,” Li Shi’an said, looking up. “In that case, words alone aren’t enough. There’s no time like the present—why don’t we attempt a card resonance right now? Let’s see… if my ‘Zhu Yuanzhang’ can knock on the thatched gate of that ‘Qingtian Hermit.’”

At these words, the entire room was taken aback.

Here? Now?

To attempt card resonance without any preparation whatsoever?

That’s way too bold!

Directors Wang and Liu exchanged glances, both feeling that Li Shi’an was being far too presumptuous.

The reporters, however, grew excited.

Immediately, a quick-witted reporter shouted, “Student Li! Student Sui! If you agree, we at the *East China Card Daily* can immediately apply to use the mini-training arena next door. All energy consumption and equipment costs will be covered by our newspaper.”

The other media outlets quickly caught on, silently cursing the guy for being so shrewd.

Free access to a high-level training arena?

Sui Yang looked at Li Shi’an, seeking confirmation with his eyes.

Li Shi’an nodded slightly.

You’d be a fool not to take advantage of a freebie—it’ll save us the trouble of finding a venue back at school.

“Well then… we’d be grateful,” Sui Yang said, flashing a charming smile at the reporter.

The turn of events took everyone by surprise.

A few minutes later, Li Shi’an and Sui Yang were standing inside the miniature training arena.

Outside the arena, the crowd of onlookers was packed shoulder to shoulder.

The two directors from Beilu and Nanjiang followed them inside, their expressions mixed with complex emotions.

Many reporters had even prepared two drafts—one expressing awe in the event of success, and the other offering analysis and commentary in the event of failure—just waiting for the outcome to be decided so they could send them out immediately. 

A staff member stepped forward to inquire about the arena’s parameter settings.

Everyone’s gaze was fixed on Li Shi’an.

Logically, the Zhu Yuanzhang card—which was considered to have greater potential—should have been designated as the core.

But Li Shi’an did not hesitate a moment, pointing at Sui Yang: “Use Senior Sui’s 【Qingtian Hermit · Liu Bowen】 card as the core.”

Sui Yang was momentarily taken aback.

Using his card as the core meant Li Shi’an would shoulder greater risk; should the evolution fail or the conflict become too intense, the damage to the Zhu Yuanzhang card would be far greater.

Li Shi’an smiled: “Since the goal is to help Senior Sui rediscover the true meaning of his card, ‘Qingtian Hermit’ should naturally take the lead. At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang should be the one ‘seeking out the wise,’ not the one ‘recruiting’ them. The time is not yet right; we cannot force it.”

Sui Yang gave Li Shi’an a meaningful look and said no more.

He placed the 【Qingtian Hermit · Liu Bowen】 card into the slot.

Li Shi’an set the 【Red Turban Commander · Zhu Yuanzhang】 card aside.

“Let the simulation begin!”

A colossal surge of energy poured into the 【Qingtian Hermit · Liu Bowen】 card.

The card burst into brilliant light and rapidly manifested a scene.

Lush green mountains rose in tiered peaks, shrouded in mist and clouds; a narrow stone path wound its way up to the mountainside.

A stream murmured gently, and the rustling of pine trees filled the air—truly a serene and secluded mountain scene.

On a stone platform in front of a thatched cottage, the figure of a scholar—clad in a coarse linen robe and wearing a square headscarf—gradually took shape.

He held a scroll in his hand, but his gaze did not rest on the text; instead, it gazed out at the sea of clouds in the distance.

His brow betrayed a serenity born of having seen through the ways of the world, yet there also seemed to be a hint of worry.

【Qingtian Hermit · Liu Bowen】 Status: Stable; Environmental Fit: High.】

The training ground began its simulation.

Li Shi’an placed the 【Red Turban Commander · Zhu Yuanzhang】 card into the slot.

In an instant, a sudden anomaly occurred.

Liu Bowen, standing on the stone platform, flinched.

The training ground attempted to stabilize and reinforce the “Hermit” tag, but the influx was like a mud cow sinking into the sea.

Liu Bowen’s figure became somewhat unstable, at times clear, at times blurred.

【Warning! 【Qingtian Hermit · Liu Bowen】 is experiencing unknown interference! Abnormal status!】

【Rule simulation obstructed! Energy conflict intensifying!】

The staff’s expressions shifted slightly.

Journalists in the VIP section exchanged low gasps of surprise; many immediately typed “This doesn’t look good” into their notes.

It seemed the experiment was doomed to fail—primarily due to overconfidence.

Sui Yang’s heart leaped to his throat, but he remained silent, refraining from interfering.

The rules were still futilely attempting to pull Liu Bowen back onto the “hermit” track, constantly reinforcing imagery of thatched huts, green pines, and mountain streams.

But in Liu Bowen’s eyes, these scenes were rapidly fading.

Replacing them was a hazy yet incredibly vivid vision:

Beacons of fire stretched as far as the eye could see; the fields were littered with the corpses of the starving; under the iron hooves of the Yuan court’s imperial army, the common people were left with no means of survival… This was the harrowing spectacle of a time of chaos.

Immediately afterward, a dazzling golden-red glow rose from the midst of this chaos, carrying a resolve to transform the heavens and the earth… This was the momentum of the latent dragon.

Within the vision, the golden-red light grew ever more intense.

“Beacons of fire… the aura of a king… t-this is… the Imperial Star?! No, this isn’t the legacy of Ziwei; is this the omen of the ‘Slaying the Serpent’ Uprising, reopening the heavens and earth?!” Liu Bowen frowned.

The heavens and earth were undergoing a cataclysmic upheaval.

The 【Qingtian Hermit · Liu Bowen】 card shattered.

The barrier shrouding the mountains and fields shattered.

Liu Bowen’s form fragmented and reassembled; the coarse cotton tunic he wore transformed into a dark scholar’s robe, and the square headscarf on his head became impeccably arranged.

The astonishment on his face had already given way to serenity; his gaze was sharp, as if piercing through all the illusions of the world.

He kept his extraordinary strategic genius—capable of governing the heavens and the earth—deeply hidden within his heart, quietly awaiting the moment when the winds of change would rise.

He bent down and solemnly picked up the fallen scroll.

【Card Name: Awaiting the Right Moment · Liu Bowen】

【Card Type: Character Card · Strategist/Advisor】

【Current Rank: Blue Card, High Grade】

【Status: Perceiving the Will of Heaven, Biding His Time】

【Skills】

“Strategic Wisdom” (Passive): Significantly enhances the ability to analyze the big picture, formulate strategic plans, and the success rate of schemes. When actively triggered, it allows for a one-time, large-scale strategic simulation (consumes a massive amount of energy).

“Astrological Divination” (Active): Allows observation of the flow of fortune to predict auspicious and inauspicious events (accuracy depends on the user’s cultivation level and energy).

“Qimen Dunjia” (Active): Masters certain formations and mechanical devices, which can be used to trap enemies, provide support, or alter local terrain.

Bonds:

【Imperial Mentor】 (Not Activated): Requires deep consensus and collaboration with an Emperor card possessing the “Pioneering Destiny” trait to activate.

【Hint】: “The dragon lies hidden in the depths—should it not be used?” No! “The dragon appears in the fields—it is auspicious to meet a great man!” He has already glimpsed a corner of Heaven’s Mandate and quietly awaits the arrival of the one who can truly restore the realm and reshape the land of Huaxia!

The phoenix perches on the parasol tree—it will not alight on any other tree; the virtuous choose their ruler—they will not assist any other! 

The glow gradually faded, and the card fell into Sui Yang’s hands.