The slightly chilly morning air swept into the Seventh High School Multi-Purpose Gymnasium, where the place was buzzing with excitement.

The annual citywide mock exam for high school seniors is not only a crucial factor in determining college admissions but also a stage to showcase their talents to top universities.

The massive circular bleachers, tier upon tier, were filled with teachers and students wearing a variety of expressions, local reporters who had come upon hearing the news, and a few low-key yet eye-catching figures.

In the center of the arena, dozens of circular platforms, each about twenty meters in diameter, were embedded in the smooth alloy floor like stars. A pale blue energy barrier flowed along the edges of the platforms—these were the battlefields where the Card Realm battles were about to unfold.

The air was filled with the faint hum characteristic of card energy crystal stabilizers, as well as a tense, almost palpable sense of anticipation.

In the VIP seats near the front row, a group of young people dressed in crisp silver-gray uniforms, with intricate runes embroidered on their cuffs, stood out strikingly. They were the exchange delegation from the Theological Academy. 

Leading the group was a strikingly handsome young man.

Sui Yang was tall and slender, with deep-set, handsome features that clearly revealed his European heritage. His black hair was slightly curly, yet his eyes were a rare silver-gray. 

He leaned back in his chair with an air of ease.

“Sui Yang, have you seen the list? Seventh High School produced a Purple-tier talent this year—his name is Li Shi’an.” A boy beside him, also wearing a Theological Seminary uniform and thin-framed glasses, leaned in closer. “In previous years, that would’ve been a bit of a surprise.”

Someone nearby immediately chimed in, their tone tinged with undisguised regret: “Purple? It’s purple! But what good is that? I heard that at his awakening ceremony, he turned down a random green card and stubbornly chose a white card instead! What a loser! Starting with a white card—a useless one—even the strongest talent can’t overcome such a terrible starting point!”

“Are you out of your mind?” another seminary student scoffed. “A purple talent paired with a white card? Isn’t that like crippling yourself? No matter how good the talent—”

“A spell needs a card to channel it—does he really expect that ‘Beggar’ card to fly to the heavens? What a waste!” 

The murmurs weren’t loud, but they clearly reached Sui Yang’s ears.

His silver-gray eyes casually swept over the Seventh High School students below, who were lining up one after another to enter the arena, his gaze landing precisely on the slender, calm-faced boy walking in the middle of his class’s line.

“White cards… those are obtained through a specific process, right…?” Sui Yang spoke. His voice wasn’t loud, but it instantly silenced the surrounding murmurs.

“Huh? Yes, that’s how it’s recorded in the files.” The boy in glasses adjusted his frames. “He turned down the random Green Card and actively searched the White Card pool.”

The corners of Sui Yang’s lips curved upward ever so slightly; the smile was fleeting, so quick it seemed like an illusion.

“That’s interesting,” he said, his voice as soft as a sigh, his tone returning to its usual detached calm—gentle yet carrying an intangible sense of distance. “A targeted search… In that situation, to give up a visible Green Card and instead fish for a specific card from the vast sea of White Cards… Either he’s a complete madman, or…”

He paused, leaving the sentence unfinished.

But the unspoken implication caused several seminary students nearby to adopt pensive expressions.

A madman? Or… does he know some secret they don’t? Off to the side, in the ranks of Class 5, Senior 3.

“Shi’an, look up there—the people from the seminary have been staring this way the whole time!” He Bieshan swallowed nervously and gave Li Shi’an, standing next to him, a hard nudge with his elbow

Li Shi’an stood beside him.

“Yeah, I see them,” Li Shi’an replied, his voice calm and unruffled.

His gaze was fixed on the field platform ahead, which kept flickering on and off. Hao Yun stood on his other side.

Clear instructions came over the PA system.

“Attention all examinees! The first phase of this joint practical exam—scenario card selection and basic event chain simulation—is about to begin! Please enter the designated field platforms in order according to your exam numbers and activate your personal terminals to make your selections!”

A massive circular light screen lit up in the center of the venue, displaying the names and brief descriptions of the scenario cards available for this assessment:

【Bandit Camp Rally】: Green Card-level scenario. Initial resources: Basic bandit camp stronghold. Event chain tendencies: Recruitment, turf wars, faction expansion. Risk: Moderate.

【Prosperous Trade Routes】: Green Card-level scenario. Initial resources: Small caravan. Event chain focus: Management, Protection, Negotiation. Risk: Slightly below average.

【Academic Retreat】: Green Card-level scenario. Starting resources: Academy. Event chain focus: Study, Debate, Building a Reputation. Risk: Low.

【Turbulent Times】: White-card level scenario. Starting resources: None. Event chain focus: Famine, displacement, struggle for survival, slim chances. Risk: Extremely high! 5

【Border Fires】: Blue-card level scenario (requires a Blue-level or higher talent or special item to unlock). Initial Resources: Identity as a border guard. Event Chain Focus: Warfare, Military Merit, and Hard-Earned Promotion. Risk: Extremely High!

……

Select to begin.

Most platforms featured scenarios with a green or blue hue, with the majority choosing 【Bandit Alliance】 or 【Prosperous Trade Routes】, while a few daring or particularly talented candidates attempted 【Border Beacons Ablaze】. Scenarios that were safe, manageable, and offered a clear path to development were the top choice for the vast majority of candidates.

It was Zhao Zhiyong’s platform’s turn.

He stood tall, his chest puffed out, his face radiating unabashed confidence.

On the selection screen that popped up on his personal terminal, his finger tapped 【Bandit Stronghold】 without hesitation!

Whoosh!

The platform’s display instantly transformed into a rich, dark-green glow, from which faint sounds of clashing blades and the shouts of foot soldiers could be heard.

Zhao Zhiyong’s figure rapidly faded within the glow. Immediately afterward, the image of a burly bandit chieftain—wielding a demon-headed broadsword and clad in crude leather armor—materialized where he had been standing. It was none other than his card: 【Black Wind Bandit Chieftain · Wang Ba】!

Even more striking was the sight beside Wang Ba: energy shadows twisted and coalesced, and ten White Card-level 【Mountain Bandit Minions】—wielding crude clubs and glaring with ferocious eyes—suddenly appeared, lining up in two rows!

“Good!” Wang Ba growled triumphantly, his voice rough and hoarse. “My men! Today, follow this Chief as we carve our way through the mountains!”

The sound was moderately amplified by the field, drawing many astonished glances from the audience. The initial resources paid off immediately, clearly demonstrating the advantages of the Lord-type card.

Soon, it was the turn of the platform occupied by the trio of Li Shi’an, He Bieshan, and Hao Yun.

“Shi’an, which one should we choose?” He Bieshan stared nervously at the light screen, his palms drenched in sweat. “【Prosperous Trade Routes】? Or… 【Retreat at the Academy】?Should we play it safe?”

Hao Yun also held his breath, looking at Li Shi’an.

Li Shi’an’s gaze, however, pierced through the array of options representing “stability” and “growth,” landing precisely on the last one—an unremarkable card that was even labeled “White Card Tier” and “Risk: Extremely High!”—【In the Eye of the Storm】.

The name itself carried a bone-chilling coldness and the desolation of the end of the world. Without the slightest hesitation, he tapped his fingertip lightly in midair.

【Selection Confirmed: In the Eye of the Storm!】

“What?!”

The pale blue light screen surrounding the platform suddenly shifted!

Gone was the stable, gentle glow of energy; instead, a gloomy, heart-stopping leaden gray instantly spread throughout the area!

A piercing wind seemed to sweep in from nowhere, carrying with it the chill of impending rain, and faint, intermittent cries of despair mingled within it! In an instant, the Field Platform seemed to transform into a deserted island abandoned by the world, filled with an atmosphere of desolation, ruin, and uncertainty. “In the midst of storm and turmoil?! Have they lost their minds?!”

“Holy crap! A White Card scenario—the highest risk! Isn’t going in there a death wish?”

“Li Shi’an… he’s actually heading into the chaos of a war-torn era with a ‘beggar’ White Card, a blacksmith, and a healer?”

“You can’t waste a Purple Talent like that! How are card characters supposed to survive in a war-torn world? They could starve to death, freeze to death, or get trampled by rampaging soldiers right from the start!”

The audience erupted in an uproar, filled with bewilderment and a sense of absurdity.

Even the seminary students in the VIP section turned to look, and the bespectacled young man stared at Sui Yang in utter astonishment.

“A stormy and turbulent world…”

Sui Yang stared at the platform shrouded in gloomy, stormy energy. “Starting with a white card and voluntarily throwing yourself into a time of chaos… Li Shi’an… what exactly are you trying to do?” 

Class teacher Teacher Chen was stamping his feet in frustration offstage, his face turning green with anger: “What a blunder! What a blunder! At the start of this chaotic era, how is he supposed to make a name for himself with that ‘Beggar’ card? By begging for food? He Bieshan’s ‘Basic Forging,’ he’ll be lucky to make a single knife! How many lives can Hao Yun’s healing spell save? It’s obvious he’s going to crash and burn in the first-stage event chain!” 

Teacher Zhang beside him shook his head repeatedly: “It’s over, it’s over. Forget about beating Zhao Zhiyong—they might not even make it through the first stage! A purple talent! Isn’t this just sabotaging themselves?!”

Zhao Zhiyong, of course, also noticed the gloomy, despair-filled atmosphere on the neighboring platform.

Controlling 【Black Wind Fortress Lord · Wang Ba】, he brandished his ghost-headed broadsword and, through the field barrier, let out a loud, derisive snort in the direction of Li Shi’an’s platform: “Ha! You’re pushing your luck! Do you really think a purple talent is a get-out-of-jail-free card? Choosing ‘Chaotic Times’ and taking a ‘beggar’ along to beg for food? A loser paired with a worthless card—a perfect match! I’ll just have to see how many grains of rice you can beg for with that crappy bowl of yours in the Age of Chaos!” 

The taunting words made He Bieshan and Hao Yun’s expressions grow even more grim.

Li Shi’an, however, paid no heed to the commotion around him or Zhao Zhiyong’s taunts. 

He stood in the center of the platform, the hazy “Wind and Rain” energy ruffling the strands of hair on his forehead.

“Bieshan, Yun Yun, focus. It is in times of chaos that the dragon rises. Stick to the plan. Trust me.” 

His words seemed to carry a certain magic, instantly dispelling most of the panic in He Bieshan’s heart. He Bieshan took a deep breath and forced himself to stand up straight, even though his calves were still trembling. Hao Yun also took a deep breath, nodded firmly, and silently began to channel the meager amount of Ka energy within her body.

Once all the examinees had made their selections, the light screen on the field platform stabilized completely.

“Phase One of the Practical Joint Exam: Scenario-Based Card Event Chain Simulation—Begin!”

A cold, electronic voice echoed throughout the arena.

Instantly, the lights on all platforms began to fluctuate violently as the powerful Card Energy Simulation System kicked into gear, projecting the historical background, social context, potential crises, and faint opportunities of the selected scenarios onto the candidates’ card characters in the form of an incredibly realistic “event chain”! 

Zhao Zhiyong’s 【Mountain Fortress Rally】 platform.

A dark green glow, like boiling liquid, rapidly intertwined, forming the contours of rolling mountains, amidst which a rudimentary yet sizable wooden mountain fortress began to take shape.

Wang Ba stood in front of the gathering hall of the mountain stronghold, proudly reviewing his ten henchmen. A quest chain prompt sounded in Zhao Zhiyong’s mind:

【Event Chain 1 (Green): “Strategist Joins the Cause.” A down-on-his-luck scholar, frustrated by his lack of recognition, is passing by the foot of Black Wind Mountain. Having heard of the fort leader’s fame, he wishes to join the cause. 

Successful recruitment grants the “Junior Strategist” support card (Green), which boosts the fort’s development efficiency. Failure may trigger a “Report to the Authorities” event.】

“A scholar? A Strategist card? That’s a great find!” Zhao Zhiyong’s eyes lit up, and without hesitation, he chose to trigger the event!

The lighting and shadows shifted, and the figure of a scholar—clad in a long robe washed pale, with a gaunt face tinged with sorrow—materialized at the entrance to the stronghold.

Facing the gate, he bowed deeply: “I am Liu Wenqing, a scholar who failed the imperial examinations. I have long heard of the mighty reputation of Chief Wang of Black Wind Fortress and have come specifically to join your ranks, willing to offer my humble service!” 

Wang Ba felt smug. He strode boldly up to the gate and bellowed in a gruff voice, “Hey! You bookworm… uh, Mr. Liu, is that right? I can see you’re a scholar who knows when to cut your losses! Come on, join our gang! From now on, you’ll eat meat by the mouthful and drink wine by the bowlful with me! I guarantee it’ll be better than chasing after that worthless official title!”

He tried to imitate the bold, generous demeanor of a rough-and-tumble hero recruiting talent, but his crude language, exaggerated gestures, and the contempt for scholars in his eyes were impossible to hide.

He can’t hide it.

The scholar, Liu Wenqing, furrowed his brow imperceptibly, a flicker of disappointment and humiliation passing through his eyes.

He bowed once more, but his tone had grown somewhat colder: “I appreciate the Chief’s kindness. However, I, Liu, have come to serve not for food and drink, but to seek a discerning leader who recognizes talent, with whom I may build a great cause. If the Chief regards me merely as a rough-and-tumble ruffian, then…”

“Stop rambling!” Wang Ba interrupted impatiently. He had no interest in listening to this penniless, pretentious scholar. “What’s this about recognizing talent? My fists are my talent! One question: are you joining the gang or not? Stop dithering like a woman!” 

A few bandit henchmen standing nearby joined in the jeering, letting out crude laughter.

The scholar Liu Wenqing’s expression darkened completely, and the last glimmer of hope in his eyes was extinguished.

He straightened up and glared coldly at Zhao Zhiyong: “Those who follow different paths cannot walk together! Since that is the case, I take my leave! I only hope the Chief won’t regret this!”

With that, he turned and walked away without hesitation, his figure quickly fading from view.

【Event Result: Recruitment Failed! Triggered the chain event “Scholar’s Resentment”! After descending the mountain, Liu Wenqing, still seething with indignation, reported the location of Black Wind Fort and the distinguishing features of some of its henchmen to the nearby county magistrate’s office! The county magistrate was furious, issued a nationwide arrest warrant, and dispatched a squad (twenty men) of constables (White Card-level) to wipe out the fort!】

“What?!” The smug look on Zhao Zhiyong’s face froze instantly, giving way to astonishment and a hint of panic. 

Before he could react, the light and shadows on the platform began to fluctuate violently once more!

On the mountain paths surrounding the bandit stronghold, light and shadow coalesced into twenty constables dressed in black uniforms and wielding iron rods and chains!

The leader, holding an arrest warrant, bellowed, “By order of the County Magistrate, we are here to wipe out the bandits of Black Wind Fort! Bandit chief Wang Ba, surrender now!”

“You bastards! Block them for me!” Wang Ba, both shocked and enraged, frantically ordered the ten henchmen beside him to engage the enemy.

However, his white-card henchmen were inherently weak in combat; facing a squad of well-trained, tightly coordinated constables, they crumbled almost the moment the battle began! Amid screams of agony, the henchmen scattered in a blur!

The constables swung their iron rods and chains, charging straight at the 【Black Wind Fortress Chief】!

Wang Ba hastily raised his sword to parry. Although he managed to slash two constables away using his Green Card’s power, most of the attacks struck his energy shield, emitting a dull thud!

The card pulsed violently, and the energy bar representing his health visibly dropped a little!

Although he had ultimately managed to barely fend off the squad of constables thanks to the sheer power of the Green Card itself, Wang Ba was now a sorry sight. His face was deathly pale, cold sweat beading on his forehead, and as he looked at the five or six remaining henchmen by his side—all on their last legs—he trembled with rage.

“Damn it! Useless bookworm! You don’t know a good thing when you see it!” 

Zhao Zhiyong glared at the scene before him, cursing through gritted teeth, so frustrated he felt like he was about to spit blood. 

His meticulously planned “Bandit Rally” had suffered a major setback right from the start!

Not only had the recruitment failed, but it had also drawn a warrant from the authorities and resulted in heavy casualties! This was nothing short of a disastrous start! He instinctively turned his head, his heart brimming with resentment, and glared at the platform next door where Li Shi’an was standing. 

On the other side, Li Shi’an and his group’s 【In the Eye of the Storm】 scene.

Gloomy, leaden clouds hung low, weighing down the air until it was hard to breathe.

A howling cold wind swept across the barren wilderness, whipping up withered yellow grass and dust. Bare tree branches swayed feebly in the wind, and faint, unsettling wails could be heard in the distance.

As soon as the scene unfolded, the chain of events pierced the three characters’ minds like cold steel needles:

【Event Chain 1 (White): “Starving and Freezing.” In these turbulent times of famine, displaced people are everywhere. You have nothing but the clothes on your back, your stomachs are growling, and you’re exposed to the cold winds of the wilderness. The pressure to survive is immense! Please resolve the issues of food and warmth as soon as possible; otherwise, your character will continue to lose vitality!】