Elemental Card King.

Chapter 173 A Single-Shot Miracle: Universities Compete for Talent

"That second place is pretty impressive," one student exclaimed.

The second talent on the talent sequence list is 'Disorderly Fission'.

This talent effect can directly cause the contract card to go berserk.

not only that.

When the Card Master's talent is applied to non-contract cards, it can generally maintain a short-term effect. Although it cannot last for a long time, it is enough for this user of the Chaotic Fission talent.

Imagine the terrifying energy a single energy card would unleash in a runaway fission reaction.

Without needing to bind a contract, one can rely on high-star energy cards to unleash damage values ​​that break through the sky.

"A humanoid self-propelled nuclear warhead."

"The military loves this kind of talent the most."

“Even in the past, when it wasn’t a wartime system, as long as someone awakened and confirmed this talent, they were basically guaranteed a place in the military.”

Huang Haoliang sighed.

Currently, there are four publicly recorded individuals in the Xuanhuang Kingdom who have undergone disorderly fission.

Considering the weighting of the relevant competitions, the one who contributed the most to the rankings is naturally Jiang Ran, a third-year student from Tianwu University, who recently won the championship of the National University Card Game Practical Exchange Competition.

Under the restrictions of the competition rules, it was naturally impossible for her to use the energy card at will.

This also serves as evidence of human strength.

"What the hell? My talent only ranks 105th." Xu Zigui grumbled, thinking that this talent ranking was worse than no ranking at all.

"It's not bad to even make the list."

Many people offered words of comfort.

Insufficient than above, more than below.

Xu Zigui's talent allows contract attack cards to gain damage amplification effects, which is already quite good.

Many students in the regular senior year classes failed to awaken their card master talent.

Some students even have no talent at all, with no bonuses at the very basic level, which are practically negligible.

Even worse are talents that offer negative returns.

For example: 'Increased card consumption', 'Random card failure', 'Extended cooldown', 'Self-damage', etc.

It's all negative feedback.

However, a few individuals have taken it to a whole new level.

For example, the 'self-inflicted damage' effect means that when the card player uses a high-damage attack card, they will also suffer a certain percentage of backlash damage.

Such negative effects can be well paired with damage-boosting decks that rely on sacrificing health, it just depends on whether you're willing to go all out.

"There are no useless talents, only useless card players. Don't forget, there are also people who have used trash talents to advance to god level."

"I'll drink this chicken soup first."

This lively discussion only came to an end when the afternoon classes began.

Because he missed some of his coursework during the preparation for the national competition, Su Chen listened attentively in class and also borrowed Huang Haoliang's math and physics notes during breaks to quickly catch up.

Mathematics is pure; if you don't know it, you simply don't know it.
Su Chen had no problem understanding the content in the textbook.

However, he had absolutely no interest in more advanced competitive problems; the enthusiasm for those was ultimately not as satisfying as actual card battles, and he would not consider a research career in the future.

Let's leave the problem of how to solve the dimensional operation problem to others.

During the second period in the afternoon, a subtle fluctuation emanated from his mental sea of ​​consciousness.

This is the spiritual gift that breaks through the reinforcement process.

"A single-shot miracle has occurred."

To Su Chen's delight, the remaining material cards actually enabled 'Golden Source Absorption' to develop a new mechanism.

'Golden Source Absorption: By absorbing and refining any metallic substances from the external environment, one can permanently amplify their offensive and defensive attributes, metal manipulation ability, and spiritual intelligence to a certain extent.'

"it is good!"

The option for permanent enhancement now includes 'Spirituality'.

Finally, there's an added benefit that benefits everyone.
After some thought, Su Chen decided that he might be able to boldly try using spiritual material cards to significantly increase the improvement.

“It’s worth a try.”

After all, just as Huang Haoliang said this morning, the price of gold has indeed risen.

The rain is coming and the wind is all over the building.

As the saying goes: antiques are valued in prosperous times, while gold is valued in chaotic times.

The political turmoil within the Grand Alliance, and even the uncertainty surrounding the future of human civilization, have cast a shadow of inexplicable pessimism over the world.

Su Chen picked up his phone and checked the upward trend of bulk magic metals through the Global Trading Center app. Undoubtedly, after half a day, the price was still rising across the board.

Some rare metal materials have been removed from shelves and are now unilaterally monopolized by the military.

The large-scale expansion of the expeditionary force and the rapid formation of reserves and militias in various regions have suddenly put a strain on all kinds of military supplies.

"It's impossible for military stocks not to skyrocket."

The card giants, led by the three starter families, have expanded their production scale with the permission of the War Reform Committee.

This morning alone, a total of 16 licenses for producing card-based weapons were issued to various large and medium-sized card game companies.

"The news says it's possible that someone is taking advantage of the situation to manipulate the market."

Su Chen didn't want to overspend, and although he had hundreds of millions of Alliance Coins, he didn't want to waste them, so he decisively chose spiritual materials.

15:45 minutes.

After two afternoon classes, school is over.

"Students who are participating in the card game practice club, please come with me to Hall A1 of the activity center."

With a wave of his hand, President Du Hanping led a group of students outside, the wind whistling through the air.

Huang Haoliang is participating in a project interest group. A small group of students who previously participated in the provincial mathematics and physics competition will meet in a virtual space via remote holographic projection to discuss some mathematical and physics problems online.

There are no signs of the third period in the afternoon resuming, but the students in the advanced class are all very conscientious and no one is going home.

After taking some notes, Su Chen went to the school history museum. After taking a photo with the principal, he also had the two gold medals he was carrying made into replicas on the spot.

"No. 1 Middle School is proud of you."

Principal Hong excitedly shook his hand. After exchanging pleasantries, he remembered something important: "Su Chen, you're in high demand now, very sought after."

"Currently, the admissions offices of Jiangnan University, Tianwu University, and Beijing University have all called our school to inquire about your admission without examination. Do you currently have any preferred prestigious universities to choose from?"

According to the previous procedure, students and their high schools were required to submit applications for guaranteed admission to their target universities.

Students also need to submit their competition certificates, letters of recommendation, and personal transcripts (monthly exams, provincial mock exams). After receiving these documents, the university admissions office may even conduct additional interviews and assessments.

at the moment.

Everything has changed.

"No interview is needed, and your final college entrance examination score is not required. Three prestigious universities are eager to recruit you and even want to discuss and contact you further."

Principal Hong revealed in a small way: "All major universities have set strict standards to recruit and train more combat card masters. A national champion like you can get conditional admission from the top 5 universities."

These words suggest that the highest bidder wins.

"Can it still be operated this way?"

Su Chen was also somewhat surprised. He had heard that Donghua Private Yucai High School, which was isolated, would recruit more outstanding students from outside by hiring "ghostwriters" in order to increase its annual admission rate to prestigious universities and to compete for the provincial top scorer.

One bonus beforehand, and another bonus afterward if the task is accomplished.

The overall prize money is very generous.

With the situation constantly changing and the shadow of the impending war looming, universities, which bear the heavy responsibility of training card masters, urgently need new institutions to enhance their reputation.

"Looks like I don't even need to submit a letter of recommendation."

Su Chen sighed. After the national competition, a recommendation letter personally written by Yao Yi, the vice president of the Card Master Association, had already been delivered to him. This letter was specifically for him to submit his application for admission to his desired prestigious university.

"This is the opportunity of our time."

At this moment, Professor Yu Dong was also filled with mixed emotions, and he couldn't help but say in a literary style: "A person's fate depends not only on their personal struggle, but also on the course of history."

That's something that can't be denied.

Imagine if it weren't for the mysterious unknown factor 'X', the provincial competition would never have featured a custom card back, and the national competition rewards would never have been so luxurious, reaching an all-time high.

If it were last year's competition champion, they would probably be dumbfounded upon seeing these awards, and their mentality would probably be somewhat broken. If only their parents had made them a year younger back then.

The rewards and resources invested in the two competitions are no longer on the same level. The overall reward for the previous national champion was even less than that for this year's third-place winner.

Now, Su Chen, this highly sought-after talent, is waiting to be snatched up by the top 5 universities.

To some extent, he did indeed reap a huge pre-war bonus.

"It's like going on a blind date; you have to be compatible."

Principal Hong smiled and said, "You'll be at university for four years, so we should see how much help they can provide you in choosing your contract card in the future. If you have no objections, I'll arrange for us to meet the day after tomorrow."

"No problem," Su Chen nodded.

Teacher Yu Dong, who was standing nearby, also took it to heart. He knew that Su Chen's parents were missing and that the guardian was not a card master, so he really needed to help with the next level.

Around 4:30.

Before the evening rush hour, Su Chen took the maglev bus home.

"The security situation has improved today; it seems the deterrent effect was effective."

On the way, he scrolled through his phone and checked the local news. After deploying mechanical guards to patrol 24 hours a day and the Skynet system to monitor the energy reading fluctuations of unidentified cards around the clock, yesterday's criminals had all disappeared.

This is also related to the transition to a wartime system.

Many people may not be familiar with this concept. Once someone violates the law or regulations, not only will the judge exercise their discretion to impose a heavier sentence, but they may also face an exceptional punishment.

Once you're in a military court, there's no room for maneuver or negotiation; the other party has absolutely no chance to appeal or reach an out-of-court settlement.

Several member states even reinstated the death penalty at once.

"To put it simply, there are probably quite a few people who have been sentenced to death in the past few days."

"Although it can't be called a chaotic era yet, the heavy blows have effectively nipped the collapse of order in the bud. This new alliance is led by a group of military leaders."

On the bus, quite a few people gossiped about it.

The new coalition cabinet is still in the process of parliamentary elections, and there are already signs of a candidate for the first chief minister, who is destined to be a puppet figure with little say.

The military power of the entire Grand Alliance has been completely taken over by the War Reform Committee. All war regulations no longer need to be reviewed or voted on by the parliament, and its dominant power is beyond imagination.

No god-level card master wants to stay in the capital.

This number one player in the league, who has won every single game, is unwilling to be bogged down by tedious administrative matters.

According to outside interpretations, after completing a major purge of the regime and ensuring there are no concerns in the rear, the other side will return to the front lines to deploy military tasks.

On the surface, the Grand League's constitutional dignity has at least been preserved.

But in secret, everyone knows that the military government's influence is becoming increasingly strong.

The vacant seats in parliament and the new cabinet will be filled by a group of Marshal Yan's loyal followers.

"Damn it, what are these peace organizations all about? I'm getting high blood pressure just from watching the news. They're just too chaotic."

Not long after, Su Chen, who was on the bus, heard someone complaining in utter disbelief.

In fact.

He also came across the related reports.

no way.

It's too eye-catching.

Major news outlets have reported on the protests by various non-governmental peace organizations in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, where they have taken to the streets with signs and protests.

"Let us listen to the voices of the Protoss, understand their demands, and not let prejudice blind us. We must not be held hostage by the military government."

"Let's replace fear with understanding, dissolve barriers with dialogue, and wish for harmonious coexistence among all things in the universe, rejecting the cruelty of war."

'Let's restore love and peace to the world!'

'Let there be universal harmony, and let us reject war!'

Reject hatred, build peace, join hands with the demon race, and create a peaceful future.

'.'

The overall slogan and appeal were very simple: reject war and empathize deeply with the demon race. The overflowing of the saintly heart was almost unsettling.

In fact.

Su Chen also felt a strange, nameless anger rising in his heart. As a real family member who was a victim, he felt nothing but hatred towards the demonic descendants.

They're practically at our doorstep. If the Demon Race truly embraced peace and was good at communication, they wouldn't have laid out plans years in advance, let alone used earth-shattering methods to interfere with the operation of the plane and make them tremble with fear.

"Hey."

When Su Chen arrived at the station in Xianye New City, he heard some people sighing as he got off the train.

It was as if they were lamenting their misfortune, or perhaps expressing their uncertainty about the future.

In fact, these peace organizations had already made a big fuss when A-star was developing the Green Forest dimension, and the former had no choice but to release a 175-page Green Forest ecological survey report.

When human civilization reached an unprecedented level of prosperity, and after the humanist movement reached its zenith, the brave, fearless, pioneering, and enterprising spirit of martial virtue seemed to gradually fade away in the long river of time.

Card players no longer pursue power and conquest, but rather ruggedness and savagery.

In some member states, men's aesthetic preferences even tend to favor feminine and effeminate women.

In a sense, this is the result of the upper class's deliberate indulgence and guidance, reducing conflict and violence and promoting internal stability.

at the moment.

A formidable foe has suddenly appeared on the table, forcing the entire ship to undergo a major shift. The alliance needs more competitive and aggressive card masters.

But perhaps some people's mindset hasn't changed; they're either stupid or malicious, still playing the love and peace card when humanity's survival is at stake.

The Virgin Mary has taken root in my mind.

You should be the ones sitting on the Leshan Giant Buddha.

"So many people have been arrested."

When I got home, my uncle Tong Ruisong was also discussing this matter.

The military leaders in the new alliance certainly won't be merciful.

That night.

nine thirty.

After Su Chen finished cultivating the three rounds of Primordial Elemental Technique, he suddenly found that his silent phone was constantly popping up a bunch of communication messages.

This moment.

He suddenly sprang up from his webbed cat throne.

"Aunt Jing!!"

now.

The huge weight that had been hanging over his heart finally lifted.

In the Alliance territory, at a small-scale transit station, the Starscar Tear warp hub.

A joint law enforcement team, which had been separated for nearly half a year, trekked and leaped across the uninhabited border areas, finally returning to the civilized zone within the alliance's territory.

Their appearance caused a huge sensation.

Urgent communications have already been sent to the capital.

This joint mission, involving personnel from the Extraterrestrial Dimensional Order Maintenance Bureau, the Dimensional Observation Bureau, and the military, was a secret operation.

"Le, you should have listened to me sooner."

Qin Miaojing smiled too.

She hadn't expected the situation in the league to change so drastically.

Six months ago, she submitted a report of suspected contact with an unknown superior race. After the bureau leadership rejected the report and made revisions without success, this joint action by the three parties was taken in order to seek solid evidence.

This overseas investigation operation cost them a significant number of personnel.

However, they did manage to capture three members of a high-ranking race, now confirmed to be named 'Demon Descendants,' along with more than ten corpses and a large, damaged, unidentified magical ritual device. The precision of the latter impressed the accompanying scientists throughout the journey.

"Go back and think about what you want to do?" the female lieutenant colonel from the military headquarters asked.

While browsing the unread messages in her hand, Qin Miaojing smiled and said, "Taking care of the baby."

"You have a child?" The person on the other end was slightly surprised.

"What's wrong with a kid who's almost eighteen?"

After sending the text message, Qin Miaojing laughed: "Okay, other people's kids are just a little taller and more handsome, and have better grades. They won the provincial championship and then the national championship. They're so-so, but they're not bad."

"???"

The female lieutenant colonel was stunned. "Did I ask you that many questions?"
(End of this chapter)