Who said this card is outrageous?

"But if you insist on entering this year, I'm afraid it will be extremely difficult. I still suggest you wait a while before considering entering the Void Rift."

After speaking, Luo Shulian leaned back in her chair, waiting for Zhang Che's reply.

Chapter 340 A Helpless Choice

Luo Shulian made it very clear that no matter how anxious Zhang Che was, it was impossible for him to obtain the qualification to go to the Void Rift in a short period of time.

The network of interests and relationships involved is too vast. No matter how valid his reasons or how special his identity is, it is impossible for an outsider to get the three major powers to give him special treatment if he wants to cut in line.

There's no way around it; extraordinary materials with spatial properties are just too precious.

Extraordinary materials are ranked by their attributes and rarity. The most recognized top-tier materials on the market are those related to the time attribute—but those things almost only exist in legends, and their circulation is strictly limited to the upper-level extraordinary level. People below that level can't even see them normally.

Under the time attribute, the space attribute is already firmly in the top tier.

Even disregarding everything else, just the fact that it can be used to make all sorts of storage items represents a huge, untapped market.

The prices of even slightly decent storage equipment on the market are outrageously high, and the supply can't keep up with demand.

This can be seen from the fact that Zhang Che is now a fifth-tier superhuman, yet he still only uses a third-tier [Magic Pocket] as his main storage item.

Actually, he had considered using his fusion ability to create some higher-level spatial items, but he hadn't dared to put his mind to it for fear of accidents.

At the very least, until he has a reliable fusion material and a firm grasp of the process, he would rather continue to make do with the old one.

On the other side, seeing that Zhang Che hadn't spoken for a long time, Luo Shulian assumed that he was still troubled by the matter of the Void Rift, so she comforted him, "How about this, I can exchange your reward for this card-making commission for the qualification to enter two other spatial rifts. You can try one first, just in case you find what you need."

She pointed to another document spread out on the table: "Those two level-three fissures may be a bit lower in level, but they are still legitimate places that produce space-related materials. If the quality is not good, we can make up for it with quantity. Maybe it will work in the end."

The shell fissure and the void-bound fissure, like the hollow-sounding fissure in Binhai City, belong to the lower-order fissures of the "empty" category.

After the Federation quelled the crisis caused by the two level-seven rifts near Nanzhao City, the two rifts did not stop their activity and continued to affect the surrounding environment.

After all, their existence was something that the Eye of Truth and his group deliberately created, and they never intended for it to end well from the beginning.

Zhang Che did not know how the subsequent crisis was completely resolved. The materials he could find only vaguely recorded phrases such as "multiple parties worked together... over many years... and finally it was quelled".

According to the information Luo Shulian gave him, the Void Rift and two other low-level rifts that also produced spatial attribute materials appeared in Nanzhao City after that.

Perhaps because they were "born" together, the Void Shell Fissure and Void Binding Fissure, although only rated as "Level 3" resource-type fissures, have much better output compared to the Void Echo Fissure, which is also Level 3.

To put it simply, if you want to obtain materials with spatial attributes in the Echoing Rift, you can only look for those special beings that have become powerful by obtaining spatial power. They are extremely rare. Zhang Che turned the entire rift upside down and only managed to get four Echoing Crystals.

However, the two level-three rifts in Nanzhao City are different. They are inhabited by a large number of extraordinary creatures that are born with spatial attributes. They have strengths of level one, two, and three, and their density and frequency of distribution are much higher than those of the Kongming Rift.

Although they still cannot match the number of other extraordinary creatures with different attributes living in the rift, they are still much stronger than the few in the Echoing Rift.

As their "elder brother," the configuration in the Void Rift is the same. While mid-level transcendent beings with spatial attributes are not everywhere, they are at least not hard to encounter.

The only problem is that the subspace behind the rift is not a complete world, and its spatial barriers are not as strong as those of a normal large world. Extraordinary beings with spatial attributes can easily tear through space and escape, so every time someone goes in, they have to make the necessary preparations in advance.

Otherwise, you might end up empty-handed and waste a precious opportunity.

Luo Shulian pointed to the information about the Void Rift on the table, counting on her fingers as she explained the pros and cons to Zhang Che, trying to persuade him to think twice before acting and not to make any unwise decisions due to momentary impulse.

Zhang Che listened quietly, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded.

He had no choice but to listen to advice.

After all, he alone could never shake this entire interest group.

The three major powers have already established the rules. Even if he has a Tier 6 Hunting Jade Token from the Adventurers' Headquarters, it can only be effective within the Adventurers' Guild's quota.

Unless he can demonstrate the extraordinary strength to suppress the three major forces—such as advancing to the upper-level transcendent—even if he can persuade one of them to allow him to cut in line, he will inevitably face the full opposition of the other two.

If things escalate, even the side of the casual players will stand against him.

The rule of allocating a certain number of slots to independent players was jointly established by the three parties in order to prevent one side from completely monopolizing the rift resources. If Zhang Che, an outsider, squeezes in through connections, the first to be dissatisfied will probably be those independent players who have been waiting for slots.

Moreover, Luo Shulian has already done enough, and for this reason, she is willing to offer two more low-level rift slots as compensation.

Although the value of those two level-three resource-type rifts cannot compare to that of the level-six void rifts, they are still places that produce space-type extraordinary materials, and each admission slot is obtained only after going through various competitions.

Now that Zhang Che has rashly cut in line, it will inevitably affect those who are honestly queuing behind him. Luo Shulian has already done a great deal of effort to coordinate a lower-level spot for him despite the pressure.

Seeing that Zhang Che agreed to her opinion, Luo Shulian secretly breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly began to arrange for him to enter the Void Rift.

Although having the position of vice president allows for some conveniences, one cannot go too far and allow one person to occupy two valuable spots.

The number of admission slots for the two Level 3 Rifts is already limited, and it is already quite difficult to coordinate even one of them.

After comparing various options, Zhang Che ultimately chose the hollow shell fissure.

"I'll arrange your entry into the rift as soon as possible. Theoretically, it shouldn't take more than a week. Just wait for my notification." Luo Shulian tidied up the documents on the table while constantly reminding Zhang Che of some precautions. "Also, it would be too conspicuous for a fifth-tier transcendent to go to the Void Rift alone."

Chapter 341 Ma Qiyun's Request

"I suggest you find two weaker lower-level superhumans to act as cover. Anyway, each entry slot allows a maximum of three people to form a team. Find a suitable client, pretend to be leading the exploration, and you can earn some extra money on the side."

She said the last sentence in a half-joking tone, but Zhang Che listened carefully and said that he would definitely consider the suggestion.

Seeing that the matter was almost settled, Luo Shulian took out a basic pass for the Empty Shell Rift from the drawer and handed it to him, saying it was a reservation voucher. The official approval slip would be stamped later and he would be notified to pick it up.

The matter was finally temporarily resolved, and Zhang Che saw no need to stay any longer, so he bid farewell to Luo Shulian and left.

As the door closed, Luo Shulian watched Zhang Che leave, then plopped back into her chair, leaned back, and wearily rubbed her face.

The office became quiet.

"I never expected to see a hunting jade token issued by the guild headquarters... and it's from such a young and skilled fifth-tier card maker."

She removed her hand from her face, stared at the spot on the table where Zhang Che had just been sitting, and muttered to herself, "So who exactly is this guy? I've never heard of him in the Southwest Province before."

She frowned and searched through her memories, going through each of the promising young card makers in the Southwest Province over the past few years, but she couldn't find anyone who met the requirements.

As for why not just search for the name directly? Is that even a question? Anyone with a brain knows that "Zhang Che" is just a pseudonym for convenience when traveling.

Since its inception, the Adventurers' Guild has never stipulated that real names must be used for registration. Therefore, whether it is to avoid enemies, to keep a low profile, or simply to remain anonymous, there are far too many people who make a living as adventurers using pseudonyms.

While there are countless common names like Zhang Che, Luo Shulian is certain that you could find almost any one of them on the Adventurers' Guild roster, making them completely irrelevant.

She rubbed her temples and decided to stop thinking about it. Anyway, they were now in a cooperative relationship. As long as the commission could be completed normally, they would each get what they needed. Who cared what their background was?

Anyway, I'm following all the proper procedures, so no one can find fault with me!

……

During the days he was waiting for a notification, Zhang Che received a call from Ma Qiyun, who said that there was an important matter concerning his son and he hoped to discuss it with him in person.

Hearing the seriousness in the other party's tone, Zhang Che dared not delay and arrived at the other party's house on time.

Before even entering the room, Zhang Che sensed a familiar fluctuation of spiritual energy. It wasn't very solid, but it was full of an unusual sense of vitality.

Once inside, they saw that the source of the mental energy fluctuations was indeed Ma Lingfeng.

Compared to before, his mental state has improved significantly, and he is no longer as weak and unstable as before.

What Zhang Che cared about even more was that he could clearly sense that the fifteen-year-old boy in front of him had now become a formal second-tier superhuman.

However, the opponent's abilities were not solid. The spiritual power in the boy's body had a noticeable sense of instability and was not firmly established. It was obvious that this power was not obtained through gradual cultivation, but was forcibly enhanced by external forces.

After Zhang Che sat down, Ma Qiyun took the initiative to speak and explained the whole story to him: Ma Lingfeng originally had a passive seal on him. The purpose of this seal was only to suppress the growth rate of his spiritual power, and there were no other negative effects.

That day, Ma Lingfeng impulsively injected his spiritual power into the [Six-Tailed] card, which was like suddenly lifting the lid that had been pressed down for a long time, causing the extraordinary power that should have been released gradually to erupt all at once.

The situation was extremely dangerous. If Zhang Che hadn't been there in time to help Ma Lingfeng calm and pacify his agitated mental state, Ma Lingfeng's worst fate would have been irreparable damage to his mental sea, or even worse, he might have become mentally impaired.

By then, let alone geniuses, it's uncertain whether they'll even become extraordinary beings in the future.

Fortunately, the crisis was resolved in time, and Ma Lingfeng was fortunate in a way. After receiving treatment from professionals, he went from being an ordinary person to a genuine second-tier superhuman.

But power gained out of thin air always comes at a price.

The sudden surge of power left a significant gap in his mental sea. To completely stabilize his state and fill this gap, he would have to spend a lot of time slowly honing his foundation.

According to the doctor's estimate, the entire process will take about three years to complete. Only after the "debt" is paid off will it not pose a threat to Ma Lingfeng's future development.

After recounting the whole story, Ma Qiyun turned to Ma Lingfeng beside him, gesturing for him to step forward and bow to Zhang Che in thanks.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ma Lingfeng knelt before Zhang Che and kowtowed several times, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Zhang, for your life-saving grace. I will remember it forever!"

Upon seeing this, Zhang Che instinctively wanted to stop him, but when he met Ma Qiyun's firm gaze, he hesitated slightly and ultimately did not intervene, choosing instead to accept the boy's gratitude.

Ma Qiyun then went on to explain the purpose of bringing Zhang Che over.

Previously, they had consulted a professional in the field to assess Ma Lingfeng's current condition. According to the doctor's assessment, Ma Lingfeng's current situation was actually very suitable for becoming a card maker.

Furthermore, the mental training involved in the card-making process can shorten the "debt repayment" period to some extent.

Therefore, Ma Qiyun immediately thought of Zhang Che, hoping that his son could become his disciple.

While saying these words, Ma Qiyun kept his eyes on Zhang Che, and his meaning was very clear.

He put down his teacup, took a deep breath, and then solemnly said, "Brother, I haven't asked for favors much in my life, but for the sake of my child's future, I have to swallow my pride and ask today."

He looked at Zhang Che with a sincerity in his eyes that Zhang Che had never seen before on this man's face.

"I don't expect him to be very successful in the future. If he can learn even a tenth or twentyth of your skills, that will be enough for him to live on for the rest of his life."

"I assure you, this child will absolutely listen to you from now on, and you can teach him however you want. As long as you're willing to accept him as your student, you can decide all the rules and regulations for the apprenticeship ceremony, and I, Ma Qiyun, will have no objections!"

After speaking, Ma Qiyun waited quietly for Zhang Che's reply, while Ma Lingfeng, standing to the side, also raised his head, his gaze falling on Zhang Che, awaiting the other party's decision.

Chapter 342 Taking on Apprentices

To be honest, what Ma Qiyun and his son did was really beyond Zhang Che's expectations. He originally thought that he came today to help with the child's future arrangements, but he didn't expect Ma Qiyun to bring up the matter of becoming his apprentice directly.

Zhang Che paused in mid-air, holding the teacup. His gaze lingered on Ma Qiyun's face for two seconds before turning to Ma Lingfeng standing in front of him.

Although the boy kept his head down and didn't dare to look him directly in the eye, his earnestness still made him take a few more glances.

Actually, he didn't feel much aversion to this matter.

Mainly, based on their previous interactions, Zhang Che had come to approve of Ma Qiyun's character and abilities, knowing that this man was reliable. Therefore, out of affection for Ma Qiyun's family, Zhang Che naturally felt a certain goodwill towards them.

Looking at the child's determined gaze, Zhang Che couldn't help but feel a little emotional—even though he had awakened his memories of his past life, the more than ten years he had lived in this world were still the most important period of his life.

Among them, Cheng Shu, who was both his master and adoptive father, had the greatest influence on him.

That ordinary man, who spent his entire life on the path of card maker and only ever reached the second tier, led Zhang Che, a child who knew nothing about the extraordinary world, onto this path in his own way.

He has always remembered that unreserved and generous sharing of knowledge.