Elemental Card King.

Chapter 82 Preliminary Rounds! A Pioneering History Begins
"The first place winner even gets a custom card back!"

Each provincial card game association will offer different provincial competition rewards based on its own economic scale.

This year, Qingyun Province surprised everyone by including a custom card back as the first-place prize.

Generally speaking, the color of the back and outline of any card is related to its quality.

That's why we have terms like green card, purple card, blue card, and red card.

Customized card backs, from the most visual perspective, are given a completely new texture and luster by using a printing process.

This action is equivalent to an enchantment effect.

If we had to make a comparison, it would be similar to skins in a certain mobile game that can increase attack attributes.

The specific bonuses mentioned here are not exaggerated.

On the contrary, it seems somewhat conservative.

It's like adding a new mechanism to unlock or a synergy effect.

In a sense, it represents an honor.

For example, the champion of the global college student card battle competition will receive a custom foil card skin. After the card is selected, the contract card with the flashing effect is enough to show off the person's honor badge.

The enchanted card will receive a 50% damage increase.

The champion of the Global Card Masters Pro League also receives a custom card back, which is different every year.

This year's skin is "Daylight Fireworks," which, when enchanted, gives the card a powerful burst effect.

"Enchanting materials require the use of the core essence that is associated with the plane. They are difficult to refine, consume a lot of resources, and are non-renewable. Over-mining can even seriously affect the environment and the stability of the plane's crystal walls."

"In this way, the value of a customized card back is really too high."

In the past two decades, no provincial champion in Qingyun Province has ever received such an honor.

That's the treatment only the top three in the national competition receive.

This year, the province did something special.

what's the situation?
A rumor also began to circulate that a prominent figure's child was participating in the competition this year, with the implication being that Councilor Feng from Yunfan City was the one in question.

The next day.

Registration day.

Training teams from 25 prefecture-level cities under the jurisdiction of Qingyun Province began to register and report to the venue.

"Once registered and confirmed, the driving force and weaponry cannot be changed!"

Because it involves relevant certification and authorization, these dangerous equipment cannot be changed as easily as cards.

When registering, you will need to present valid identification to avoid any issues.

In addition to this, the card allocation information is registered, specifying the three specific cards to be allocated.

"People from Donghua City, line up here."

The staff member maintaining order glanced at the queue and frowned, somewhat surprised that there were so few people.

"Only 32 people!"

After confirming it several times, she was somewhat stunned.

It's worth noting that other city training teams have at least 70 members, while Donghua City probably only has 30 members, which is the minimum requirement, if it weren't for the need to make the team look good.

This can be considered a strategy of deploying elite troops and generals.

"You look down on even a third prize?"

She shook her head and chuckled, truly baffled as to what the leader of the Donghua City delegation was thinking.

"That bastard isn't coming."

Teacher Wu Zhongming was also in line. He had just given a wry smile as he faced the teasing and jokes of several colleagues from out of town.

Although he was angry about the trouble caused by that scoundrel Wang, he also believed that this year's overall performance would be much better than in the past few years.

Yes, overall performance.
Beyond Su Chen and Xia He's surprise, Wang Liyang was indeed quite capable. He was efficient and competent, and his philosophy of teaching according to aptitude allowed him to accurately guide each student to grasp the basics.

This was simply impossible in the past.

The reason is simple: firstly, no one has his keen eye to judge which meditation image is suitable for the student.

Secondly, no one who had led a team in the past had more influence than him.

To mobilize so many unique and priceless meditation charts in one go—that kind of energy is beyond what ordinary people can match.

All 32 people participated in the course and began to understand the basics.

This 100% success rate is truly astonishing; it's practically a small miracle.

It can be said that during the two months they spent together, Wang Liyang's reputation within the training team went from being mixed to receiving overwhelming praise.

Although this guy can be quite sharp-tongued at times and has a bad temper, he's good at teaching people.

The various challenging training cards were designed to help the training team members identify and address any gaps in their knowledge.

Of course, it's best to forget about having Wu Zhongming and others continue working with him for another year.

We'd better send someone to remove this giant Buddha statue as soon as possible.

"When is that bastard going to return to the army to report for duty?" Wu Zhongming asked.

Teacher He Yun shrugged and said, "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? Who knows what the military system is up to?"

Information cocoons exist in every industry, creating certain information barriers.

However, the military's major actions have already sparked some unfounded speculation among the public.

In the past month, three senior generals have resigned one after another.

Even the overall commander of defense (global defense minister) suddenly announced his resignation due to illness. It wasn't until last week that the first governor of the planet signed the latest appointment letter and announced the new candidate.

It is widely speculated that this is a campaign to cleanse the military of its corrupt practices and resolutely purge those who advocate pure-blood ideology from the military.

Completely unlike what Teacher He Yun perceived, this young and promising Lieutenant Colonel Wang Liyang did not have any discriminatory attitude towards ordinary people.

This must be a major problem with the internal routing.

"We'll see him in the next few days. Once the provincial competition is over, the city training team will be disbanded. At that time, one or two people from our team might join the provincial team. As for Wang Liyang, he definitely won't participate," said Teacher He Yun.

During the conversation, the registration for the city training team was almost complete.

Everyone had a nameplate with a number. "Let's go back to the hotel and have a big meal."

Teacher He Yun said, "Let's treat everyone to a good meal. You've all worked hard these past few days."

"Great!"

Many people cheered.

Opening day.

Preliminary round.

According to the provincial competition process, the bottom 25% of contestants will be eliminated in the one-day preliminary round.

Eight o'clock in the morning.

The magnificent Yundu Arena is like a colossal structure lying on the ground, with its sixteen gates as solemn and imposing as giant gates, easily accommodating more than 2000 students.

Upon entering the venue, eight enormous screens descended from the sky like colorful curtains, resembling a giant's circular arm stretching across the air.

During the provincial competition, no media live broadcasts or outside spectators were allowed, so the super-large venue, which could accommodate 150,000 spectators, appeared unusually empty at this moment.

In the audience area, there were only a few scattered instructors from various regions as bystanders.

"Congratulations everyone, it's truly remarkable that you were able to get here."

On the stage in the center, a middle-aged man in brocade robes, looking rather overweight, was giving a speech.

"The number of applicants for this year's college entrance examination has not yet been released, but last year, 278 million people took the college entrance examination in Qingyun Province. It is such an honor for the 2185 people present here to be able to stand here."

"You are all outstanding teenagers, one in a million!"

This Vice President Li of the Provincial Card Masters Association probably has some of the attributes of a success guru; his speech was eloquent, inspiring, and moving.

After a series of emotionally charged words of praise, the conversation finally turned to the main topic.

"The assessment cards for this preliminary round will be directly issued to each contestant, and everyone will be teleported and assessed at the same time."

"Those who fail the on-site assessment will be eliminated, and some contestants who take too long to pass the test will also be eliminated."

"25% of the participants will be eliminated in the preliminary round, so everyone needs to carefully consider their time management and choose the right strategy."

"In addition, based on your time, those who succeed in the assessment will be divided into three tiers."

"The first tier will have a certain advantage in the next round of the rematch."

"Please be prepared to give it your all."

"The preliminary round will begin in three minutes."

offstage.

More than 2000 students stood in a circular pattern around the central stage.

Everyone was clutching an assessment card tightly in their hands.

This is something that everyone here is familiar with.

"Isn't it just a training card that's been enhanced in disguise?"

In particular, most of the members of the Donghua City training team recalled some extremely targeted and difficult challenges.

"Come on, everybody!"

Just then, a passionate shout came from somewhere, and infected by the emotion, cheers and encouragement rose up all around.

A short while later, the assessment card was officially activated.

All the contestants vanished from their original positions, leaving only streaks of beacon light behind them.

When Su Chen's vision returned, he found himself in a battlefield.

The flames of war raged overhead, and falling fireworks streaked across the night sky like shooting stars, leaving fiery trails against the dark backdrop of the universe.

Beneath his feet lay a rugged, peculiar surface, covered with the remains of cooled molten metal.

This is not Earth!
As Su Chen looked around, he saw the wreckage of an interstellar orbital turret that should have appeared in space lying in the distance. A streak of fireballs falling from the horizon kicked up a huge pile of mud, which then buried the ship's wreckage beneath it.

"This is a retired old warship."

Just as Su Chen thought of this, the assessment spirit spoke up at the right moment.

"Test taker number 233 has successfully entered the venue."

"Your vital signs have been successfully recorded."

"Health status is now being monitored in real time."

"This assessment scenario simulates a segment of the armed expansion of the Star Luo Plane in the 71st year of the Glorious Era. You will play the role of a logistics personnel and set off immediately for the target location according to the instructions of your superiors."

At this point, a yellow punctuation mark appeared in Su Chen's pupils.

Based on the difference in viewing distance, this punctuation mark is far from where I am now.

"On your way to your destination, in addition to various monsters blocking your way, there will also be corresponding environmental threats. Various extremely threatening stray bullets and artillery fire will come from all directions. Please keep your vigilance around you during the battle."

"If the detected vital signs are 30% lower than the actual level, the assessment will be terminated and the individual will be considered eliminated."

"at last."

"Notice 1: You may only use two two-star energy cards in this assessment. If you are found to have used more than two cards in violation of the rules, you will be disqualified from the provincial competition."

"Note 2: This assessment is not applicable."

After the warning message, which you have already memorized, is announced, the assessment will begin timing 15 seconds later.

Without hesitation, Su Chen activated three cards in quick succession.

after that.

He inserted his contract guardian card into a small floating machine.

This is the card weapon that Su Chen chose; it's a defensive card weapon.

Once the energy card is activated, this small floating device that surrounds and guards the surrounding area can automatically identify and defend against attacks.

of course
With only two two-star energy cards, how to rationally allocate them to card weapons or drive weaponry became a difficult strategic challenge for this assessment.

At least for very distant destinations, two tickets are simply not enough to cover the entire journey, and may not even cover half of the trip.

This requires you to use your own brain.

(End of this chapter)