“Ding!”

Hu Sai pressed the end bell.

The lingering rain-soaked garden and the desolate, eerie temple both turned from reality to illusion, slowly dissipating at this moment.

It was as if it were all a hallucination; the vast and magnificent microcosm reverted in the blink of an eye to the venue of only a few tens of thousands of square feet.

“I guess I still can’t beat you…”

Yan Lou shook his head and stepped forward with a light chuckle.

Silently swallowing the words: “Land of Peach’s great demon.”

To be honest, he didn’t feel much regret.

He had been prepared for failure ever since he knew who his opponent was.

If he were an Earthling, he might have said with a bitter taste: “If Yu is born, why should Liang be born?”

Unfortunately, he was from Blue Star and would find it difficult to know this saying in his lifetime, let alone surpass the talented Zhou Yu in both literature and martial arts.

And Chronicle, even if he couldn’t surpass the almost demonically intelligent Chancellor Zhuge in some aspects, could still make him his wings under the right conditions with sufficient materials.

The gap had been set from the start.

“Keep it up!”

Yan Lou extended a hand and bumped fists with Chronicle.

“Mm, don’t worry, I won’t forget what I promised you.”

Chronicle said softly.

“I won’t forget what I promised you either.”

Yan Lou said, exchanging a smile with Chronicle.

As clever as he was, how could he not hear Chronicle reminding himself?

But this made him feel much more at ease: with the great demon of Land of Peach unleashed, who could compete!

Thinking of the miserable future of people like Gao Sheng and Ren Wang, he couldn’t help but laugh.

And Chronicle, seeing his sly look, always felt that the kid was mocking him.

He couldn’t help but cross his arms like Eight Brothers, tilting his head slightly to scrutinize the other, silently adding his name to the “To-Be-Friended (or Mocked) Notebook.”

“Oh, the previous page is Ginger Tea? She should be eliminated this round, right?”

Chronicle thought to himself, patting Yan Lou on the shoulder and chatting amiably for a few sentences.

This made the other party think their relationship had grown closer after their interests were tied together, and he couldn’t help feeling joyful.

Chronicle then turned and waved his hand, leaving the venue.

But he wasn’t in a hurry to return; instead, he sat in the somewhat chilly chairs of the waiting area, fiddling with his phone.

During the previous match, he had felt it vibrate a couple of times, and only now did he have time to check.

Raising his hand to swipe into the main interface, he saw a little red dot with the number “1” wrapped around it on the top right corner of the Weixun green icon.

Clicking in, he found a new friend request.

Just three simple words: “Zhang Wuwei.”

“Finally…”

Chronicle smiled silently.

This name was the “lucky audience member” he had chosen in the previous Legion Card Clash.

After so many days, he still couldn’t swallow his pride and had taken the initiative to seek him out.

“What’s up?”

After accepting the request, he sent a message directly.

Three simple words, revealing an image of a “cold and impatient” genius.

He knew how to craft a persona.

“Did you make it through the 16 to 8?” the person asked instead of answering.

Chronicle didn’t respond, opening the DouCard app to browse some short videos.

【Extreme weather appears in various parts of Qingshan, citizens are advised to avoid going out at night. In case of emergencies, press the alarm bell promptly.】

【Scenic Order makes a comeback, Vice President Fan Lei of the Land of Peach Card Craftsman Association personally leads the team, successfully crushing them, expected to return to the city on the 17th of this month.】

【The Night University Freshman Competition comes to a close, our province’s newcomer Bai Ziliang wins second place, successfully elected as the class leader of the Tianjiao Class, expected to lead the team on an “Outer Periphery Purge Operation of the Demon Cave” at the end of the month.】

“Did you defeat Yan Lou?”

A message popped up at the top of the screen from “Zhang Wuwei.”

Chronicle still didn’t reply.

“I can help you win the Qingshan Cup!” Zhang Wuwei sent another message.

“Why don’t you use it yourself if you have a way?” Chronicle retorted.

In other words, if you were capable, why were you eliminated so early?

After this message, Zhang Wuwei was silent for a long time.

Across the screen, Chronicle could feel the awkwardness.

But he wanted to use these little details to increase the other’s aversion and resistance to “Qingshan Middle School.”

Sure enough, after a while, Zhang Wuwei sent several files in a flurry.

Chronicle opened them and found they were intelligence information on “Ren Wang,” “Gao Sheng,” and “Yu Anran.”

There were even some relatively clear battle videos.

These materials directly showcased the three people’s card deck types and battle styles.

Ren Wang, a native of Qingshan, naturally had the style of the underworld.

But in his underworld style, there was a bit more “righteous aura.”

Like the loyalty of Ghost Soldiers, the faith of Seven Brothers and Eight Brothers, it was thrilling yet somehow “reassuring.”

A complex emotion.

“Interesting.”

Chronicle rubbed his chin, silently noting down this person’s information, then opened the next file.

Gao Sheng, a person from Yunding, came from a card craftsman family—”Wangdao Gao.”

In Chronicle’s memory, Yunding was also a strong card province, but with extremely dangerous secret realms and scarce resources.

Therefore, they often sent talented students to several nearby provinces.

Qingshan was one of them.

Normally, no association would like to cultivate talents for other provinces.

But whether it was influenced by the “Yunhai Secret Realm” or the nurturing waters of Yunding, card craftsmen from there always had a “crazy vigor” and spirituality.

They were always able to break through mental limitations, combining the style of their province to create innovative and highly efficient cards.

This was in stark contrast to the local students whose thinking had become somewhat rigid due to the environment.

Which school wouldn’t love such students?

Even if they were cultivating talents for Yunding, at least during the senior year, these Yunding students would compete and fight for resources for them.

And Gao Sheng and Yu Anran were the “Yunding-born Qingshan top students” born under this philosophy.

The family of the former controlled a “blessed land” called “Shenglong Wangdao Qihai.”

There, a precious card crafting material called “Wang Qi Crystal” was being produced every moment.

As far as Chronicle knew, that stuff was somewhat similar to “Divine Fragment.”

If the story was right and a bit of this was added during card crafting, it was highly likely to produce a card spirit with royal traits or skills.

Under the premise of the same quality and star level, and without obvious counters, it could be said to be a massacre in the battles of low-level card craftsmen.

“King? It would be best to have a Ghost King, so that the advancement task for General Zeng could also be settled.”

Chronicle smiled and said.

Looking at Gao Sheng’s information, “Corpse Demon King,” “Ghost-Eyed Wolf King,” “Blood Bud Flower King,” “Human-Faced Catfish King,” “Dream-Talking Falcon King,” whether flying in the sky, running on the ground, or swimming in the water, he had made them all.

Yet he was missing Qingshan’s biggest specialty: “Ghost.”

“He’s keeping it as a trump card.”

As a fellow sixth-ranked, Chronicle saw through Gao Sheng’s little trick at a glance.

“What’s the point of hiding a trump card? Isn’t it better to be open and aboveboard like me?”

Chronicle shook his head.

He had the least respect for such people.

“If I encounter him later, I’ll definitely let him experience the ‘Open and Aboveboard Fist.’”

Chronicle thought to himself, opening the next file.

Yu Anran, the daughter of Yunding’s richest family.

According to the locals, even a coin dropped from the sky belonged to their Yu family.

That’s how rich they were.

Yet this top-rich girl’s card crafting style was very much in line with the “lower-class life.”

Probably the kind that’s ordinary and warm but everywhere subtly abnormal and weird:

A grandmother who likes to knit sweaters, with a “kind” face full of “benevolence”;

A father who’s not doing well at work but still “smiles” at life;

A mother who loves her family, “gentle” and beautiful, the “kindest”;

A brother who’s in the midst of the senior year sprint, “optimistic and cheerful,” “healthy and sunny”;

A “cute” little sister rubbing her sleepy “eyes,” hugging a patched teddy bear, with a black cat lying at her feet, its eyes emitting a faint glow.

Looking at the not-so-clear, slightly shaky battle footage, Chronicle fell silent.

Although she was from Yunding, this rich loli’s understanding of the underworld aesthetic was enough to make 99% of the people from Land of Peach ashamed.

Even for Chronicle, who had not yet fully formed a Chinese-style horror, he deeply admired such an understanding of the underworld.

“Too NB (awesome).”

After watching her battle video, Chronicle couldn’t help but express his feelings.

Then he said, “Land of Peach, you’re not allowed to have such an NB person.”

Of course, it was just a joke. He actually admired such a level of genius in his heart.

After the competition, it wouldn’t be bad to be friends with Yu Anran, Ren Wang, and Gao Sheng.

But for now, they were still “enemies.”

He had to do his best to persecute his opponents, which was the greatest respect for them.

“I know how to show respect.”

Chronicle thought to himself, chatting briefly with Zhang Wuwei.

During this time, the competition ended.

Ginger Tea and Li Baitian came out of the arena one after another.

One with a relaxed face, the other with a hint of unwillingness, just one glance and you knew they both lost.

“Chronicle Brother, keep it up!”

“Old Ji, Land of Peach is counting on you.”

Chronicle smiled in response: “Mm, I wish you a smooth journey too.”

At this moment, Yu Anran came over with her hands behind her back and light footsteps, her twin ponytails bouncing.

“I didn’t expect us to clash so soon.” She patted Chronicle on the shoulder and said with a sweet smile.

“Hm?”

Chronicle was startled and instinctively turned to look at the big screen hanging on the wall.

The list for the top 8 had already come out.

And his opponent was none other than the Yu Anran in front of him.

“Don’t hold back, I also want to see…”

She said, blinking her eyes: “how formidable the great demon of Land of Peach is.”

After speaking, she ran off giggling.

Chronicle turned to look at Ginger Tea and Li Baitian: “What did she just call me?”

“Land of Peach’s great genius.” Ginger Tea said without blinking, with a sincere face: “How fitting.”

“Indeed.” Li Baitian turned his head away, somewhat guiltily.

Chronicle narrowed his eyes, reading something from their expressions.

“Sure enough, I’m still too honest. I can’t be so gentle with them in the future; they’re not even afraid of me.”

He said, sighing lightly, scaring the two girls into a shiver.

Seizing the opportunity, they slipped away through the gap opened by the revolving door.

As they ran, they cursed Yu Anran, that blabbermouth little girl, in their hearts.

“Uh…”

Chronicle scratched his head, riding the Year Beast leisurely towards the hotel.

He was preparing to craft the “Red and White Collision” plugin.

The chapter title is wrong again, I’m numb to it, I’m really not clickbaiting, dear readers.

I’m completely numb now, I wish I could slap myself, too damn tricky.