Chapter 12

It wasn't that Lu Li wasn't interested in this; after all, post-class instruction was a popular trope no matter how you looked at it.

It was just that with the Dark Magician Girl, the absolute ceiling of pure desire, right by his side, Lu Li naturally had no need to look further afield.

"Who told you to be so famous right now?" Zhang Ming teased. "I saw you enjoying it quite a bit just a moment ago."

To this, Lu Li merely rolled his eyes. "You showing up right on cue like this, I suspect you were sent by the principal."

"Good reaction!" Zhang Ming snapped his fingers. He didn't continue the previous topic; he still remembered the frustration of teasing Lu Li yesterday only to be retorted by him.

"And you call that a good reaction?" Lu Li retorted irritably. "I had only just stepped through the school gate, and you appeared immediately. It's as if you were specifically watching me. Combining that with what the vice-principal said yesterday, even a fool could figure it out."

"Fair enough." Zhang Ming didn't mind Lu Li's grumbling. He led him through several twists and turns until they finally arrived at the principal's office.

"Our hero has arrived." Although Gu Fa was the principal of the Third High School, he wasn't the rigid type. Seeing Lu Li arrive, he even cracked a small joke.

But then, a flash of surprise crossed Gu Fa's eyes—Lu Li had broken through to the War General Realm!

Was the mana reflux from crafting a six-star Magic Card enough to raise one by a whole major realm? Perhaps. Gu Fa wasn't entirely sure about this, as he had never successfully crafted a six-star Magic Card while in the Soldier Realm himself.

Besides Gu Fa, Zhou Rong, the vice-principal, was also present, and she likewise offered Lu Li a kind smile.

After reporting the temporary increase in Lu Li's reward, Gu Fa, just as she had imagined, did not object; instead, he praised her heavily.

However, having worked for so long, Zhou Rong could hear that Gu Fa's praise carried a certain special implication, though unfortunately, Gu Fa did not explain in detail.

But this was enough for Zhou Rong to understand that Lu Li must still harbor some secret, one that even Gu Fa, an Emperor Realm expert, dared not reveal lightly.

"Principal, please don't make fun of me." Lu Li felt a bit helpless, but he had to admit that Gu Fa's way of opening the conversation did indeed bridge the distance between them.

"Zhou Rong already mentioned the details regarding the unified examination to you yesterday, so I won't repeat them unnecessarily." Regaining his composure, Gu Fa smiled slightly and cut to the chase.

In his hand, there was now an extra storage card.

However, unlike the storage card Zhou Rong had produced yesterday, the one in Gu Fa's hand was engraved with a very special mark—the emblem of Cangling City.

In all of Cangling City, the only ones capable of having the city's emblem engraved on a storage card were those from the City Lord's Mansion.

"This storage card was entrusted to me by City Lord Cang Fenghua to pass on to you." Gu Fa placed the storage card bearing the unique Cangling City emblem in front of Lu Li. "Inside is the reward for your first-place finish in the unified examination."

Another storage card?

Taking the card from Gu Fa, Lu Li couldn't help but mutter to himself, though he had to admit, this thing was indeed quite convenient.

At the very least, when going on a long trip, you could just toss your things inside and travel light, without needing big bags and small parcels.

Therefore, compared to Magic Card Masters, storage cards were actually more popular among ordinary people; after all, a Magic Card Master's editor was superior to a storage card in both capacity and security.

And upon seeing the rewards inside the storage card, even Lu Li couldn't help but let a flash of surprise cross his eyes.

Should one say it was worthy of the City Lord's Mansion? They were truly generous.

The rewards inside the City Lord's Mansion's storage card were not much different from the one Zhou Rong had given him yesterday; the vast majority were materials.

Of course, besides materials, both had monetary rewards, but for Magic Card Masters, they cared more about the materials.

By comparison, the City Lord's Mansion's rewards were of higher value; the lowest quality of materials reached green grade, and the highest even reached purple grade. Materials of this level could even be used to craft eight-star Magic Cards.

Although there were only a sparse two or three pieces, the value within could not be measured by money. Even the selling price of just one of these purple-grade materials exceeded the total value of the reward Zhou Rong had given him yesterday!

Unfortunately, among these materials provided by the City Lord's Mansion, there were likewise no dragon-type materials. Lu Li felt a bit regretful about this, but he was still quite satisfied.

"It seems you are quite satisfied with these rewards." The change in Lu Li's eyes naturally did not escape the eyes of Gu Fa, an Emperor Realm Magic Card Master. "Normally, the highest reward given by the City Lord's Mansion is blue-grade materials. Do you know why there are purple-grade materials among your rewards?"

Purple-grade materials!

Hearing Gu Fa's words, Zhang Ming couldn't help but click his tongue. One had to know that even for him, his entire net worth didn't add up to a few pieces of purple-grade material.

As for Zhou Rong, she didn't show it as obviously as Zhang Ming; after all, as a vice-principal, she had encountered many purple-grade materials, but there was still a trace of envy in her eyes.

Thinking back, she had only come into initial contact with purple-grade materials after promoting to the Monarch Realm. Unlike Lu Li, who was still in his rookie period, he was already in contact with materials of the purple-grade level.

20. Generous Rewards! Overtaken!

"From the moment you started crafting the Magic Card until the entire unified examination ended, including City Lord Cang Fenghua and the principals of the other two schools, we watched the whole process." Noticing the confusion in Lu Li's eyes, Gu Fa didn't play the riddle-maker.

"It is precisely because we know the Dark Magician Girl is very special that the City Lord ultimately raised your reward by one tier." However, Gu Fa did not reveal the matter of the original Magic Card; this was the result of the few of them communicating beforehand.

In fact, even the fact that the reward was only raised by one level so as not to attract too much attention was something Cang Fenghua had considered repeatedly before deciding.

They were also seeing an original Magic Card for the first time and did not wish for this matter to become a trouble that hindered Lu Li's development.

This was actually also a signal of goodwill released by Cang Fenghua; after all, Lu Li's talent was there for all to see. A genius who could craft a six-star original Magic Card just after stepping into the Magic Card Master realm—Lu Li's future achievements would definitely not be bad.

"So that's how it is." Lu Li showed a look of sudden realization, but he hadn't expected that when he was crafting the Dark Magician Girl, he had been strongly watched by the City Lord and three principals.

Just as Yu Haojia hadn't seen that the Dark Magician Girl was an original Magic Card at the very beginning, Zhou Rong and Zhang Ming also hadn't seen that the Dark Magician Girl was an original Magic Card; their knowledge of the number of Magic Cards was even less than Yu Haojia's.

Now that Gu Fa had pointed out the special nature of the Dark Magician Girl in an obscure way, even if Zhou Rong and Zhang Ming were curious, they wouldn't think in the direction of an original Magic Card; they could only guess if the Dark Magician Girl had some special ability that hadn't been displayed yet.

But even so, the two were secretly shocked; after all, the strength the Dark Magician Girl had displayed previously was already terrifying enough. If there were still hidden abilities, wouldn't this Magic Card be a bit outrageous?

It was a pity that neither Lu Li nor Gu Fa would explain it to them.

"Besides the rewards just given to you, there is actually another reward for this unified examination." After expressing Cang Fenghua's goodwill, Gu Fa continued.

"There's another reward?" Putting away the storage card, Lu Li couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

For rookie Magic Card Masters like them, the value of blue and purple-grade materials was already high enough; he hadn't expected there to be additional rewards.

"The top five students in this unified examination also receive a chance to enter the Home of Spirit Beasts." Gu Fa slowly stated the final reward.

"Home of Spirit Beasts?" This was the first time Lu Li had heard of it; he didn't understand what it meant.

"The Home of Spirit Beasts is actually a dimensional plane attached to Cangling City." Zhou Rong explained, "The Home of Spirit Beasts abounds with various spirit-type and elf-type materials; it is a relatively popular dimensional plane within Cangling City."

Dimensional planes, special sub-spaces attached to the Magic Card civilization, are rumored to be special planes born after different worlds are destroyed and evolve through endless time.

Within the Magic Card civilization, there are numerous dimensional planes attached. As long as a two-way transmission channel is established, Magic Card Masters can travel to various dimensional planes through the Dimensional Hall.

Because the Home of Spirit Beasts abounds with various spirit-type materials and is one of the important resource production areas of Cangling City, it is directly managed by the City Lord's Mansion. Therefore, the City Lord's Mansion naturally has the right to arrange who can enter the Home of Spirit Beasts.

Under Zhou Rong's explanation, Lu Li finally understood what the Home of Spirit Beasts actually was.

"Spirit-type and elf-type materials?" A thoughtful expression appeared on Lu Li's face. Mentioning spirits and elves, countless card images flashed through his mind instantly.

Come to think of it, the history of elf development in Lu Li's memory was truly inspiring; from being plain and ordinary to having great capacity, only the history of pure-hearted succubus development could compete with it.

"If it weren't for you this time, perhaps our Third High School wouldn't have had any students obtain a quota to enter the Home of Spirit Beasts." Zhou Rong sighed.

Even though the overall level had gradually caught up, compared to the First and Second High Schools, the gap between the top-tier students remained significant.

"Come, this card was entrusted to me by an old fellow to give to you." Gu Fa took over the conversation and once again took out a card from his bosom.

"Another Magic Card? It wouldn't be another storage card, would it?" Muttering to himself, Lu Li still took the card Gu Fa handed over and observed it curiously.

Similar to the storage card given by the City Lord's Mansion, the center of the card Gu Fa gave this time was also imprinted with a very special rhombic mark, faintly emitting a subtle aura.

Although it wasn't as unique as the City Lord's Mansion's mark, which could be recognized at a glance, Lu Li felt he had seen this mark before, just couldn't recall it all of a sudden.

"A membership card for the Magic Card Association?" It was Zhang Ming on the side who recognized the origin of the card at a glance, but his face also showed a very strange expression. "This is a form of identification after joining the Magic Card Association, but doesn't joining the Magic Card Association require passing the association's assessment?"

Zhang Ming was also a member of the Cangling City Magic Card Association and naturally knew the conditions for obtaining a membership card. Back then, he had submitted three applications before successfully passing the association's assessment and becoming a member.

How could Gu Fa just take out an association membership card and give it to Lu Li?

"Under normal circumstances, Magic Card Masters joining the Magic Card Association do indeed need to pass an assessment to obtain a membership card. However, Lu Li's situation is relatively special; this was directly approved by Old Man Yu." Gu Fa waved his hand and explained, "There is one more thing: Old Man Yu has spoken. Counting the Dark Magician Girl, as long as you, Lu Li, can successfully craft three six-star Magic Cards before the end of the college entrance examination, you can obtain the treatment of an elite member."

Old Man Yu? The only one who could be called that by Gu Fa was Yu Haojia, the branch president of the Cangling City Magic Card Association! So the old fellow you just mentioned was the branch president of the Cangling City Magic Card Association.

"Hiss!" Hearing this, Zhang Ming couldn't help but gasp. This was a lot of information. Of course, more importantly, he was only an ordinary association member until now, while his student had a high probability of becoming an elite member in the near future.

Was he actually being overtaken?

"President Yu approving an exemption from the assessment to join the association—this is the first time I've heard of it." Zhou Rong on the side also couldn't help but rub her forehead. "Lu Li, joining the Magic Card Association and becoming an elite member will have many benefits."

She was a Monarch Realm Magic Card Master after all; if she hadn't become an elite member yet, it would be a joke if it got out.

21. Friendly Match? Crashing the Party!

Back then, Zhou Rong had also only successfully promoted to an elite member after reaching the late stage of the Monarch Realm. After all, the promotion condition required by elite members was to craft a seven-star Magic Card.

But Lu Li, a rookie Magic Card Master, didn't need to craft a seven-star Magic Card to have the opportunity to promote to an elite member. Zhou Rong felt a bit uncomfortable in her heart.

However, thinking that Lu Li was a student of their Third High School, Zhou Rong felt a bit better. Thinking again that the First and Second High Schools had never enjoyed such treatment, she felt that this matter didn't seem unacceptable.

Of course, even if she didn't accept it, it would be useless; after all, the one who made this decision was Yu Haojia, the branch president of the Cangling City Magic Card Association. In Cangling City, the only one of the same level as him was the City Lord, Cang Fenghua.

"Compared to ordinary members, the treatment of elite members is much better. Every year, many people apply, but the pass rate is not high."

Zhang Ming was not an elite member, but Zhou Rong was, so she knew very well the gap in treatment between elite members and ordinary members.

"Since President Yu thinks so highly of you, take this opportunity to strive for further progress and become an elite member of the association. This will also have many benefits for your future development."

"I understand." Lu Li nodded and put away the Magic Card Association membership card. As for what specific benefits joining the association had, he would need to learn more in detail after going back.

"The time to enter the Home of Spirit Beasts was originally arranged for tomorrow." After Lu Li digested the matter of the Magic Card Association, Gu Fa spoke again, but his face became serious. "But because of an accident, the time has been adjusted to three days later."

Seeing Gu Fa's face suddenly become so serious, Lu Li subconsciously focused his spirit. Not only Lu Li, but Zhou Rong and Zhang Ming also did the same; after all, they were also unaware of this.

"City Lord Lin Heling of Cangyue City will bring a team to exchange tomorrow. At that time, there will be a friendly match involving various academies between the two cities." Gu Fa spoke slowly. "The City Lord's intention is to have you participate in the exchange match as one of the representatives."

Cangyue City? A friendly match? Lu Li was stunned. Was he sure this was a friendly match? And not coming to crash the party? Cangyue City was a big-shot city that had been in the top three for years.

"Now that the college entrance examination is approaching, Cangyue City is coming to compete at this time. This is definitely not coming with good intentions." Zhou Rong's face was grave; clearly, she also knew the gap in strength between Cangling City and Cangyue City. ===== CHAPTER 13 =====