Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Ning Zhu couldn’t move her hand at all.
The card ring was made of very hard material. Normally wearing it didn’t feel like anything—it was like a smooth jade bangle, so familiar over time that one could forget it existed.
At the moment of the explosion, countless fragments pierced her skin. Ning Zhu only felt a searing pain erupt from her wrist, as if she had been stabbed by countless steel needles. Blood gushed out continuously, accompanied by a strong metallic smell. She stared blankly at her mangled wrist. For a moment, she even suspected she had lost her left hand.
Li Su Wen reacted quickly and immediately activated a 【Hemostasis Card】.
A flash of red light. Ning Zhu’s wrist was wrapped in white bandages.
Ning Zhu let out a muffled groan in pain. Li Su Wen’s face turned pale as she said, “I don’t have a 【Pain Relief Card】 here. I’ll take you to the medical room!”
With that, she bent down and directly carried Ning Zhu in her arms.
Ning Zhu’s mind was blank from the pain. She only felt that the arms holding her were very strong, and she even thought randomly—Teacher Li Su Wen really is an advanced card master, she’s very strong.
It took a while for the students in the combat classroom to recover.
Lu Xuan Le and Lin Ting shot up and rushed out the door.
Ye Jian Rong frowned slightly, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes.
The same boy who had been speaking sarcastically earlier curled his lips and added, “If she can’t use it, then she shouldn’t force it. Now look, she blew up her own wrist. I guess this so-called Ancient God Card holder is just…”
He didn’t finish.
A figure suddenly rushed in front of him and threw a punch.
Cai Xin Ji only felt a metallic sweetness in his mouth as warm blood flowed from his nose. He looked at the attacker: “Li Le Yang, you dare hit me!”
Li Le Yang had a bad temper to begin with. At this moment, anger overwhelmed him. “I hit you, so what? With that filthy mouth of yours, all you do is talk nonsense!”
Cai Xin Ji exploded in rage: “Who the hell do you think you are!”
With that, he lunged at Li Le Yang.
The two boys started fighting.
Li Su Wen had already left the teaching building and immediately activated a 【Somersault Cloud Card】.
This wasn’t the large 【Somersault Cloud Express】 used during freshman orientation, but a smaller, more convenient flying card that could carry two people.
Li Su Wen looked down anxiously at Ning Zhu and said worriedly, “We’ll be at the medical room soon!”
Ning Zhu wanted to say something, but the pain was too intense. The moment she opened her mouth, only a suppressed groan escaped.
Li Su Wen had already rushed at maximum speed, but to Ning Zhu, it still felt unbearably long.
It hurt too much.
It felt like a red-hot iron pressing on her wrist—burning yet freezing at the same time. Every nerve screamed in agony.
“Doctor Ma!” Li Su Wen arrived at the medical room and urgently called out, “Quick, use a 【Pain Relief Card】 on her!”
Doctor Ma was a tall, thin woman wearing black-framed glasses. She looked about fifty or sixty years old. There were visible wrinkles on her neck, but her face was well maintained. Behind the glasses were a pair of kind black eyes.
“What happened!”
“Her card ring exploded!”
“Oh my goodness!” Doctor Ma immediately activated a 【Pain Relief Card】. A soft blue glow spread out, enveloping not only Ning Zhu’s wrist but her entire body.
The pain vanished instantly. Ning Zhu even felt a strange sense of relief after the pain lifted, like someone who hadn’t slept for two days suddenly collapsing onto a soft bed—an overwhelming comfort and drowsiness surged over her.
“Good child, go to sleep for a while.”
Ning Zhu only managed a faint response before she fell into a deep sleep.
Ma Jin Hua placed Ning Zhu onto the bed and said to Li Su Wen, “I need to treat her wounds. There might be fragments from the card ring embedded in the flesh.”
Li Su Wen replied, “Thank you for your trouble, Doctor Ma!”
Ma Jin Hua removed the 【Hemostasis Card】 previously used by Li Su Wen, then brought sterilized instruments and carefully treated Ning Zhu’s wounds. During the process, she used several cards: 【Washing Card】, 【Anti-Inflammation Card】, 【Healing Card】, and finally the 【Growth Card】 that promoted tissue regeneration.
Li Su Wen paced anxiously outside until Ma Jin Hua came out and said, “Fortunately, the bone wasn’t damaged. It should heal after one night!”
Only then did Li Su Wen finally let out a long sigh of relief.
Doctor Ma Jin Hua wiped the sweat from her forehead with a towel and said, “What happened? How could the card ring explode?”
Such accidents were extremely rare.
Especially in peaceful times—without malicious attacks, a card master’s card ring should never explode.
Li Su Wen had a solemn expression. “This child is the Ancient God Card holder.”
Ma Jin Hua was startled. “Was she sabotaged by someone?”
Then she added, “That’s impossible. People from the Zodiac Society definitely can’t infiltrate here. Besides, they only target the Star God Card holders, so it shouldn’t be…”
Footsteps hurried over, and a “young man” in a red robe entered the medical room.
Yang Huai Zhou had used a 【Illusion Disguise Card】, restoring his appearance from a twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy back to around fifteen or sixteen. The moment he entered, he asked, “How is the injury?”
After hearing the report, Yang Huai Zhou’s solemn expression eased slightly.
Ning Zhu was sleeping deeply and couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Yang Huai Zhou could see the “white mist.” It floated in front of Ning Zhu—small, faint, yet clearly protecting its master.
Ma Jin Hua said, “These are the extracted card ring fragments.”
Yang Huai Zhou looked at them and reached a conclusion: “It’s spiritual energy overload.”
Li Su Wen and Ma Jin Hua were both visibly stunned.
They had previously suspected someone tampered with Ning Zhu’s card ring, but they hadn’t expected it to be spiritual energy overload.
Li Su Wen said, “That doesn’t make sense. In the 【Green Grassland】, she used an 【Armor Card】…”
She paused, then understood. “No wonder she was able to smash a 【Warrior Card】 head-on.”
The principle of an 【Armor Card】 is different from a 【Fire Card】.
For example, Ning Zhu using a 【Slide Card】 would not cause card ring spiritual energy overload. These non-offensive cards have limited spiritual energy demand, unlike attack cards which continuously draw energy without limit.
Realizing this, Li Su Wen said in frustration, “That was my oversight!”
Yang Huai Zhou said, “I didn’t think of it either.”
Over the years, Ling Card Academy had produced many exceptionally talented students.
For example, last year’s Li Jin, and this year’s Ye Jian Rong—both were born with abundant spiritual energy.
But even they would not cause a second-tier card ring to explode just by using a first-tier 【Fire Card】.
Li Su Wen felt deeply self-reproachful. “Back in the Spirit Rhythm Land, I failed to recover the thief who stole the seven-star card ring!”
If the seven-star card ring had been recovered, Ning Zhu would not have encountered such an accident.
The more she thought about it, the more regret she felt. Her nails dug deep into her clenched palm, leaving deep marks.
Yang Huai Zhou looked at her and said, “No need to blame yourself. What you need to do next is teach her how to control her spiritual energy.”
Li Su Wen immediately replied, “Leave it to me!”
After speaking, she hesitated slightly and asked, “Still no news of the seven-star card ring?”
Yang Huai Zhou shook his head.
Li Su Wen hesitated again, thinking of another card ring sealed inside the Fate Bell.
Yang Huai Zhou clearly knew what she was thinking and said, “No. That card ring is too dangerous.”
Li Su Wen let out a soft sigh. “I just hope the seven-star card ring that belongs to her can be recovered soon.”
Ma Jin Hua then asked, “I heard the Secret Card Academy wants to jointly hold a Three Academies freshman card competition?”
Li Su Wen immediately said, “They have ulterior motives!”
Ma Jin Hua cleared her throat and said, “If it’s held in winter, it might not be impossible. It’s already been a semester—surely that girl won’t be abducted, right?”
The “Three Academies Freshman Cup” discussed on the school forum was not baseless rumor.
Chapter 25
Ning Zhu couldn’t move her hand at all.
The card ring was made of a very hard material. Normally, wearing it didn’t feel like anything—just like a smooth jade bracelet. After wearing it long enough, one would even forget it existed.
At the moment of the explosion, countless fragments pierced into her skin. Ning Zhu only felt a searing pain erupt from her wrist, as if she had been stabbed by countless steel needles. Blood gushed out continuously, accompanied by a strong metallic smell. She stared blankly at her mangled wrist, and for a moment even wondered if she had lost her left hand.
Professor Li Suwen reacted extremely quickly and immediately released a 【Hemostasis Card】.
A faint red glow flashed, and Ning Zhu’s wrist was wrapped in a white bandage.
Ning Zhu let out a muffled groan in pain. Li Suwen’s face turned pale as she said, “I don’t have a 【Pain Relief Card】 here. I’ll take you to the medical room!”
With that, she bent down and directly lifted Ning Zhu in her arms.
Ning Zhu’s mind was blank from the pain. She only felt that the person holding her had very strong arms, and she even had a random thought—Professor Li Suwen really is an advanced card master, her physical strength is amazing.
The students in the combat classroom took a while to recover.
Lu Xianle and Lin Ting immediately jumped up and rushed out the door.
Ye Jianrong frowned slightly, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes.
The boy who had been making sarcastic comments earlier curled his lips again and muttered, “Can’t even use it properly, so don’t force it. Now look, her wrist got blown up. This so-called Ancient God Card master… is just fu—”
He didn’t finish before a figure rushed in front of him and threw a punch.
Cai Xinji only felt a metallic taste in his mouth as warm blood flowed from his nose. He looked up at the person: “Li Le Yang, you dare hit me!”
Li Le Yang had always had a bad temper. At this moment, his anger flared and he said, “So what if I hit you! With that rotten mouth of yours, all you do is talk nonsense!”
Cai Xinji exploded in rage: “Who the hell do you think you are!”
As he spoke, he lunged at Li Le Yang.
The two boys started brawling.
Professor Li Suwen left the teaching building and immediately released a 【Somersault Cloud Card】.
This was not the special transport cloud used during freshmen enrollment, but a smaller, more convenient flying card that could carry two people.
Li Suwen looked down anxiously at Ning Zhu and said heartbrokenly, “We’ll be at the medical room soon!”
Ning Zhu wanted to say something, but the pain was too intense. Any attempt to speak only turned into a suppressed groan.
Li Suwen had already rushed at top speed, but it still felt unbearably long to Ning Zhu.
Too painful.
It felt like a red-hot iron pressing against her wrist—alternating between burning and freezing—every nerve screaming in agony.
“Doctor Ma!” Li Suwen arrived at the medical room and shouted anxiously, “Quick, use a 【Pain Relief Card】 on her!”
Doctor Ma was a tall, thin woman wearing black-framed glasses. She looked about fifty or sixty years old. There were visible wrinkles on her neck, but her face was well maintained. Behind the glasses were a pair of kind black eyes.
“What happened!” she asked.
“Her card ring exploded!”
“My heavens!” Doctor Ma immediately activated a 【Pain Relief Card】. A soft blue glow spread out, not only covering Ning Zhu’s wrist but enveloping her entire body.
In an instant, Ning Zhu could no longer feel pain. Instead, she felt an overwhelming relief, like the sensation of collapsing into a soft bed after two days without sleep. A wave of comfort and heavy drowsiness surged over her.
“Good child, just sleep for a while.”
Ning Zhu only managed a faint response before falling into a deep sleep.
Ma Jinhua placed Ning Zhu onto the bed and said to Li Suwen, “I need to deal with the wound. There might be fragments of the card ring embedded in the flesh.”
Li Suwen replied immediately, “I’ll leave it to you, Doctor Ma!”
Ma Jinhua removed the hemostasis card Li Suwen had used, then took sterilized instruments and carefully treated the wound. During the process, she used several cards: 【Rinse Card】, 【Anti-inflammatory Card】, 【Healing Card】, and finally a 【Growth Card】 that promoted tissue regeneration.
Li Suwen paced anxiously outside until Ma Jinhua came out and said, “Fortunately, no bones were damaged. It should heal after one night.”
Only then did Li Suwen finally let out a long breath of relief.
Ma Jinhua wiped the sweat from her forehead and asked, “What exactly happened? How did the card ring explode?”
Such incidents were extremely rare.
Especially in peaceful times, without malicious attacks, a card master’s card ring should never explode.
Li Suwen said gravely, “This child is the Ancient God Card master.”
Ma Jinhua was startled. “Was she targeted by someone?”
Then she shook her head. “That’s impossible. People from the Yellow Path Society can’t get in here. Besides, they only target Star God Card masters…”
Hasty footsteps sounded. A “young man” in a red robe arrived at the medical room.
Yang Huaizhou had used an 【Illusion Disguise Card】, changing his appearance from twelve or thirteen years old back to fifteen or sixteen. As soon as he entered, he asked, “How is the injury?”
After hearing the report, Yang Huaizhou’s tense expression relaxed slightly.
Ning Zhu was in deep sleep and couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Yang Huaizhou could see a “white mist” floating in front of her. Though small, it was clearly protecting its owner.
Ma Jinhua said, “These are the fragments taken from the card ring.”
Yang Huaizhou examined them and concluded, “It’s spiritual energy overload.”
Li Suwen and Ma Jinhua were both stunned.
They had suspected sabotage, but they never expected it to be energy overload.
Li Suwen said, “That shouldn’t be possible. At the Green Grassland, she used an 【Armor Card】…”
She paused, then understood. “No wonder she was able to smash a 【Warrior Card】 with her head.”
The mechanism of the 【Armor Card】 is different from that of the 【Fire Card】.
Just like how using a 【Sliding Card】 doesn’t overload spiritual energy, non-offensive cards have limits on energy consumption, unlike attack cards which continuously draw power.
Li Suwen sighed in regret. “I was careless.”
Yang Huaizhou said, “I didn’t think of that either.”
Over the years, Ling Card Academy had seen many talented students.
Like Li Jin last year, and Ye Jianrong this year—both were born with abundant spiritual energy.
But even they would not cause a second-tier card ring to explode just by using a first-tier 【Fire Card】.
Li Suwen blamed herself heavily. “Back in the Spirit Rhyme Land, I failed to retrieve the stolen seven-star card ring!”
If they had retrieved it, Ning Zhu would not have suffered this accident.
The more she thought about it, the more regretful she became, her fingernails leaving deep marks in her clenched palm.
Yang Huaizhou said, “No need to blame yourself. What matters now is teaching her how to control her spiritual energy.”
Li Suwen immediately said, “Leave it to me!”
She hesitated, then asked, “Still no news about the seven-star card ring?”
Yang Huaizhou shook his head.
Li Suwen hesitated again, thinking of another sealed ring inside the Heaven’s Fate Bell.
Yang Huaizhou clearly knew what she was thinking and said, “No. That ring is too dangerous.”
Li Suwen sighed. “I just hope we can recover the one that belongs to her soon.”
Doctor Ma suddenly asked, “I heard the Secret Card Academy wants to jointly hold a freshman card competition with the three academies?”
Li Suwen immediately said coldly, “That’s clearly their ulterior motive!”
Doctor Ma coughed and said, “If it’s held in winter, it might not be a bad idea. It’s already been a semester—surely the girl won’t be lured away so easily.”
The “Three Academies Freshman Cup” discussed on the forum was not groundless.
The Secret Card Academy had indeed expressed this intention and had already persuaded the Illusion Card Academy. Now they were only waiting for the Ling Card Academy’s approval.
But their intentions were too obvious.
Inviting only freshmen to compete, and offering a six-star card ring as a prize—what was the goal?
To test the Star God Card master, and also to find a chance to get close and possibly bring them into their own academy.
Yang Huaizhou was not worried that Ning Zhu would transfer schools.
If she felt another academy suited her better, transferring would not be a problem.
Li Suwen disliked Secret Card Academy’s schemes and said unwillingly, “Principal! It’s not like we don’t have better card rings…”
Her words instead made Yang Huaizhou decide. “The Freshman Cup is fine. Properly arranged, it can help freshmen from all three academies improve quickly.”
Li Suwen anxiously said, “Principal!”
Yang Huaizhou continued, “That six-star card ring is ownerless. For her, it is the safest option.”
Li Suwen: “But…”
Doctor Ma comforted her, “Relax. The girl is from Huaxia. She won’t be lured away.”
Li Suwen remained frustrated. “But Ning Zhu doesn’t even have a suitable card ring. Even if she participates, she may not win first place.”
Ning Zhu slept for a day and a night. When she woke up, she saw Lu Xianle and Lin Ting.
They looked at her worriedly. Lu Xianle asked, “Does it still hurt?”
Ning Zhu felt warmth in her heart. “It doesn’t hurt anymore. The 【Pain Relief Card】 works really well.”
Lin Ting handed her a glass of water. Lu Xianle tried to help her sit up, but Ning Zhu smiled and said, “It’s fine, I can do it myself.”
As she drank water, she secretly glanced at Bai Ze.
The white cat was lying on the pillow, showing only a fluffy little backside.
Mm…
Still angry.
When Ning Zhu’s wrist exploded, Bai Ze also erupted in anger. It instantly reverted to its true form, and if Li Suwen hadn’t immediately carried Ning Zhu away, it would have flown off with her.
Ning Zhu hadn’t had time to say anything then, so now she could only whisper, “It’s okay.”
Doctor Ma came in and checked her wrist. “It’ll heal by tomorrow. I’ll give you a 【Scar Removal Card】 afterward. Use it for a full course and you’ll recover completely.”
That night, when Ning Zhu video-called her mother, she naturally didn’t mention any of this.
After hanging up, she suddenly found it funny.
Last time she impulsively cooked at home, she accidentally cut her fingertip while chopping vegetables. She cried loudly, tears and snot everywhere, and the more her father Ning and Aunt Miao comforted her, the harder she cried.
But now?
She hadn’t shed a single tear.