The Card Apprentice

In fact, Chen Mu wasn’t concerned over the situation in Qianhu City; he just wanted to locate the demonic woman.

According to the plan, after obtaining the entry ticket to the competition, he just had to participate in the elite card artisan competition. Chen Mu and his group replaced Xiong family and stayed in their room in the Victoria Hotel. Nobody would reject such a powerful card artisan’s request to stay.

Competition was on the following day, and it was undoubtedly the most intense period to fight for the entry ticket to the competition. Almost every half an hour, they would hear somebody being challenged. Chen Mu was ready for the challenge, but to his surprise, as time went by, there was no challenger.

Qianhu City was full of noise and clamor. The fight for the entry ticket to the elite card artisan competition was increasingly fierce within the last few hours. The sudden arrival of Cang Lan threw Moon Frost Island into confusion. Although Cang Lan came alone, Moon Frost Island not only dared not attack him in secret, they had to ensure his safety. North Facing District’s Coalition Army of the Underworld was eyeing Cang Lan with hostility, and this put tremendous pressure on Moon Frost Island. On top of that there was an undercurrent of resentment and overt contention between different forces, and others who attempted to ransack from the chaos by stirring up trouble. Complete mayhem broke out.

Even during the call between Chen Mu and Bogner, they mentioned shooting down three art artisans who attempted to come close.

Qianhu City was, frankly, an erratic powder keg.

In such instability, the elite card artisan competition officially started. Compared to the intricate relations between various forces, the public was more interested in the large-scale elite card artisan competition. They worshiped the strong and heroes. This was also the biggest event since the popularity of fantasy card receiver. Card artisans with the least bit of fame from Heavenly Drum Village District were all gathered in Qianhu City. The rules for obtaining the entry ticket to compete assured the high standard of the competitors. Those who could participate in the competition were the aces of Heavenly Drum Village District.

The only regrettable thing was that Moon Frost Island didn’t send anyone to participate. Those who hoped to witness the beauty and grace of female card artisans were disappointed.

The stadium for the competition was newly built in the outskirts of Qianhu City. It could accommodate 300,000 people for any major competitions. On the day of the competition, the stadium was overcrowded.

“It’s all right. It’s all right.” Copper had a lingering fear on his face. They were almost drowned in the crowd. Scanning the stadium, there was no empty seats but only a hubbub of laughter and shouting. If anyone were to watch the competition from their seats, they would soon find out that they couldn’t hear a thing.

Fortunately, Qianhu City had prepared rooms for all competitors, and it cut off all noises from the crowd. Through the high-density protective glass, they could see the competition in the arena clearly.

Lan Feng looked at the competition schedule in her hands, and said to Chen Mu, “Woody, you’re the third to compete. Your opponent is Si Qing and he’s a Grade Seven card artisan. He uses ‘red leaf.’ His strength should be a little weaker than Gong Liang.” She was holding a stack of information in her hands. The information of other players was originally intended for Gong Liang but came in handy for Chen Mu. She had done a lot of preparation.

Through the glass window, Chen Mu was looking at the huge arena. His mind was wandering; he had no idea that he would ever be on this stage.

The first pair of competitors had appeared on the scene. A man and a woman flew into the arena. The noise near the arena was immediately lowered. Everyone was attentive.

Chen Mu looked at the arena. In an instant, his eyes widened. Lo and behold!

He stared at the woman on the stage like a statue!

Qing Qing!

He would never forget this woman! She wasn’t as ugly as the demonic woman, but was always composed and calm, even when she met the demonic woman, who he deemed as invincible. That amazing glimpse was imprinted in his memory, and now that he had become stronger, he could better understand her strength.

Why is she here? he thought? Isn’t she from Star Academy, why would she take part in this competition? he pondered.

Countless doubts popped up in his head. With the pale green figure in the arena, Chen Mu couldn’t stop speculating about her intentions.

Of course, Star Academy had enough reason to prevent the alliance of Moon Frost Island. But this kind of thing could only be done in the dark. If done publicly, it could only suggest an open break between the two forces.

In another room, Cang Lan sat comfortably. Surprisingly, Jia Yingxia was on his side.

“Mr. Cang, do you know this girl?” asked Jia Yingxia.

“Oh, does she have any special background?” Cang Lan expressed his interest.

Jia Yingxia laughed. “Yes, she has a strong background. She’s the only student in the youngest generation of Star Academy who trained in the Inner Academy. Her future is promising.”

Cang Lan was silent for a moment. “Looks like Star Academy is giving its all!”

Jia Yingxia calmly said, “Star Academy coveted Heavenly Drum Village District for quite a period. Although she surprised me a little, Mr. Cang’s presence surprised me even more.”

“Don’t you, the Principal, welcome me?” Cang Lan replied, impervious to Jia Yingxia’s words.

Jia Yingxia smiled and changed the subject, “As the only student able to walk out of the Inner Academy of Star Academy in the past 50 years, let’s see what surprises this legend could bring us.”

Bai Yue stood silently at the side, staring Qing Qing in the arena. A flicker of hostility flashed in her eyes. Qing Qing stood in the arena, and looked at her opponent indifferently. In front of her was a card artisan about 36 or 37 years old, looking at her warily.

“Start!”

Qing Qing didn’t seem to hear it and remained still. Her opponent didn’t know what was up her sleeve. He stared at her wide-eyed with great vigilance.

In Chen Mu’s room, he shook his head and said, “Qing Qing won.”

Copper was baffled by his comment. He turned his head to him in surprise. “Woody, do you know her? Didn’t they just begin?”

“Yes, her name is Qing Qing. She’s a student from Star Academy. Do you remember the exchange program between Star Academy and Eastern Wei Academy? She was in it.” Chen Mu continued to explain, “She had started her attack. Among the Big Six, Star Academy’s imaginary card is the strongest. If I’m not wrong, she’s using a six-star imaginary card.”

Sure enough, right after Chen Mu’s words, the player opposite Qing Qing suddenly bled from his seven orifices and fell on his back.

Boom! The spectators surrounding the arena were extremely bewildered and the cheers were loud. They didn’t see Qing Qing’s attack, and her opponent died all of a sudden. The crowd was confused!

In Room One, Jia Yingxia was somewhat in awe of her performance, she commented, “The Star Academy’s imaginary card is indeed impressive and kills in a flash. Good!”

“As long as they don’t run into card artisans from Bitter Solitude Temple.” Cang Lan smiled too.

Among the Big Six, card artisans from Bitter Solitude Temple weren’t famous for their effectiveness in fights. However, they were firm and tenacious, and good at cracking illusions. Their soundwave cards were great at interrupting imaginary cards.

In the Principal’s office of Star Academy.

The Principal, with snow-white hair, watched the elite card artisan competition from Heavenly Drum Village District being broadcasted by the fantasy card receiver. His eyes were cold. On his side, the dean of Star Academy was staring at the screen with astonishment and incredulity.

“Qing Qing… Isn’t that Qing Qing?” The dean of Star Academy pointed at the screen while stuttering, “She… why is she up there?”

The principal’s voice was as usual. “She should have been threatened by someone.”

The dean, as if his tail was being stepped on, was almost screaming, “How is it possible? How could she be threatened when she’s highly skilled?”

“Nothing is impossible.” The coldness in the principal’s eyes had faded. The expression on his face was as usual. “If they had met the Coalition Army of the Underworld, or if they were held hostage by Cang Lan, it would be possible.”

“What… what shall we do then?” The dean was discouraged and beaten down.

Rossiji and Nick, who were regarded as aces, rebelled. The most outstanding student of the younger generation, Qing Qing, became a pawn for others. Even a fool was aware of all the power Star Academy had in Heavenly Drum Village District, and of its inevitable end. Tan Yumin’s notebook was in the hands of Tang Hanpei and Caesar, the God of Slaughter.

“Why…” The dean’s eyes were losing its focus as he muttered.

As an academy having the heaviest influence in Heavenly Federation, Star Academy was in a desperate situation, unannounced. The dean couldn’t figure out why Rossiji and Nick betrayed Star Academy. Did Star Academy mistreat them? If Star Academy hadn’t groomed their talent, they wouldn’t be what they were.

…

In a remote town, Rossiji and Nick watched the screen leisurely.

“Qing Qing is so pitiful!” Nick sighed heartlessly as he gloated over her misery.

Fatty sighed softly and said, “Star Academy is in trouble.”

“It’s none of our business anyway.” Nick continued their conversation. Suddenly, he turned his face towards Fatty. “Don’t tell me, you want to go back.”

The fat man sneered, “How is it possible? I don’t want to live like a prisoner again. Besides, the situation is not that bad.”

“Rest assured, Star Academy is extraordinary wealthy and has great influence. They wouldn’t lose everything so quickly,” Nick replied, heartlessly.

Fatty smiled and said nothing, but he knew that what he said was not the same as Nick.

After winning, there wasn’t a smile on Qing Qing’s face. She walked down from the arena with an indifferent look. Several medical card artisans quickly entered the arena, checked the fallen card artisans, and soon announced the player’s death.

The brutality of Qing Qing was beyond many people’s expectations, especially Nick and Fatty’s. They stared at the screen in shock.

“She’s so cruel?” Her brutality sent shivers down Nick’s spine. He had fought with her before but never discovered her savagery.

Fatty squinted.

Instead, Chen Mu was nonchalant to Qing Qing’s brutality. Previous battles had taught him that only by killing his enemies earlier could he ensure his own safety. In large-scale battles, there was no time for hesitation.

What worried him was another problem.

He was sure that after the battle between Qing Qing and demonic woman, there was a high chance that she would investigate him. Did she know his real name and appearance? Chen Mu was uncertain, but if she knew, it was undoubtedly a thorny problem.

He had a problem. He took part in this competition to attract the demonic woman’s attention, and there weren’t any alternative plans.

Another round of competition ended. The battle was brilliant. But in the eyes of the masters, it was far less shocking than Qing Qing’s silent blow.

And it was Chen Mu’s turn to compete.