Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Li Suwen seemed to fall into her memories and didn’t notice anything unusual in Ning Zhu’s expression.

Her tone lowered significantly as she spoke about the previous Star God Card holder:

“Miao Feng was three years younger than Jiang Binglun and me. When we were in our fourth year, he had just entered the academy. Jiang Binglun and I were in the Aries system and the Libra system respectively. I had full three-core completion, but Jiang Binglun was rather ordinary when he first enrolled—until his third year, he only ever received an A grade in Material Studies.”

“Back then, things were similar to now. Material course credits mostly relied on rote memorization. As long as you were willing to endure hardship and spend time memorizing, your grades wouldn’t be too bad.”

“Miao Feng chose the Aries system when he enrolled, just like you. But his personality wasn’t very Aries… hmm, that part is also quite similar to you. Maybe it’s because you both have full six-pillar charts.”

At those words, Ning Zhu only felt as though her internal organs had been soaked in a glass of lemon water, then forcefully wrung out again, leaving a sour ache filling her entire chest.

“Miao Feng was a star student from the very beginning. He had high talent and a good personality. Not only did he have many friends in the Aries system, he also got along well with students from the Libra system. The relationship between Aries and Libra students in his cohort was unprecedentedly good. There was much less conflict and much more cooperation. Although there was still competition, it was healthier and more constructive…”

“I was Miao Feng’s senior. We were already familiar with each other early on, and had a good relationship. Honestly, I don’t know how Jiang Binglun got to know Miao Feng. I only know that during his fourth year, the two of them suddenly became inseparable. Jiang Binglun’s grades also improved dramatically, going from being unknown to ranking first in the Libra system. By the time he graduated, he was even awarded the title of S-rank outstanding graduate of our cohort. That title carries a lot of weight—you’ll understand later.”

“When Jiang Binglun graduated, Miao Feng was only in his third year and had just turned eighteen. One year later, Jiang Binglun passed various assessments and returned to the academy as an assistant teacher. Hmm… I also entered at the same time as him, so we basically transformed into Miao Feng’s teachers. Of course, only assistants—we couldn’t directly teach classes. We mostly helped professors with tasks; in truth, it wasn’t much different from being students.”

“Jiang Binglun was still close friends with Miao Feng. Well, so was I. But at the time I had some resistance toward Miao Feng. He was from the Aries system, and in every aspect he far surpassed me. Even after I graduated and came back as his teacher, I still couldn’t compare to him.”

Li Suwen smiled a little awkwardly. “I was too young back then, and also very competitive, so… you understand, right?”

Ning Zhu forced a stiff smile. “I understand. If it were me, I’d also feel unwilling.”

Li Suwen shook her head and smiled. “You wouldn’t. You’re much more composed than I was back then.”

Then her expression turned serious again. “When I learned that the headmaster intended for him to inherit the Aries Card, my resistance grew even stronger. I hated that part of myself, but I couldn’t help it… I didn’t want myself to become uglier, so I slowly distanced myself from him.”

“However, Jiang Binglun became even closer to him. He’s rather stubborn, and in his youth even more so—very rigid in his thinking. Rather than calling him Miao Feng’s friend, it was more like a loyal subordinate. Yes, at the time we all thought Miao Feng would accomplish great things. Even the headmaster valued him greatly and intended for him to inherit the Aries Card.”

This was the first time Ning Zhu had ever heard about her “little uncle’s” past.

Maybe her mother knew.

But after what she had gone through, she would never mention it again.

“What happened after that?” Ning Zhu couldn’t help asking.

From what Li Suwen had said, her uncle never actually became a Star God Card holder during his time at the academy—otherwise he wouldn’t have been considered a candidate to inherit the Aries Card.

Li Suwen let out a soft sigh. “Miao Feng had always been outstanding… Right, he participated in the 2006 Card Master Competition. At that time, the competition system didn’t restrict the number of participants from each academy. That year, only one student from the Spirit Card Academy qualified—and facing the dominant Secret Card Academy and the rising Illusion Card Academy, he achieved second place in the individual competition!”

“With so many achievements backing him, after graduation he received many invitations—from major aristocratic families and Card Master Associations, even high-ranking officials in the Pure Human society…”

“But he rejected them all and chose to stay at the academy as a teacher.”

“He graduated at twenty-two, and just five years later became the Aries system director. He was the youngest system director in the entire Spirit Card Academy.”

“You should already know—the only requirement to become a system director is reaching Sequence Two.”

Jiang Binglun is Libra Sequence Two, ‘Justice’.

Li Suwen is Aries Sequence Two, ‘Dragon Breath’.

This is both the requirement and the only condition for becoming a system director.

Because Zodiac sequences become harder to advance the higher you go, sixth-year students typically reach at most Sequence Four upon graduation—and that might already be the highest level most card masters ever achieve in their lifetime.

Sequences are not fixed; they progress or regress.

For example, many card masters who focus on card-making after graduation may fall from Sequence Four to Five or even Six due to lack of sequence cultivation.

In this peaceful era, it is not uncommon for people to eventually drop all the way to Seven as they age.

Ning Zhu became anxious. “Then why did he become a Star God Card holder?”

At this pace, he was clearly on track to inherit the Aries Card—how did it turn into this…

Li Suwen said softly, “Ten years ago, the Zodiac Society suddenly emerged and began causing frequent disturbances. The headmaster sent the three of us to track their movements, and we unexpectedly discovered the Star God Card. At that time, the core members of the Zodiac Society were conducting a very strange ritual. In order to interrupt it, Miao Feng rushed in first—but unexpectedly, he was recognized as the Star God Card holder.”

Ning Zhu listened in a daze. Even imagining the scene made her feel the danger and tension of that moment.

“So Miao Feng accidentally became the Star God Card holder. I was very worried, but Jiang Binglun became even more fanatical. As I said, he wasn’t so much Miao Feng’s friend as his admirer.”

“Miao Feng didn’t become the Aries Card holder—but becoming the Star God Card holder was undoubtedly far more powerful.”

“And after that?” Ning Zhu’s voice tightened unconsciously, as though long-buried truths were about to surface.

“Maybe she could know what exactly happened back then.”

“Did my little uncle really kill my grandfather?”

“[Star God Card] appearing in the world is very dangerous. The Zodiac Society went crazy hunting down any Star God Card master they did not recognize. Miao Feng became the target of everyone. His personal ability was very strong, and with the multiple layers of protection from Spirit Card Academy, nothing dangerous actually happened.

“At that time, all three major academies were optimists. They wanted to properly guide Miao Feng, and at the same time use him to further research the [Star God Card], and even better complete the Twelve Zodiac Cards. This, for the entire card master world, was a revolution and advancement.

“At first everything was going well. Miao Feng mastered the [Star God Card]. Although he couldn’t trigger divine skills, it greatly increased his combat ability. At that time the Zodiac Society was killing everywhere, and they even threatened Miao Feng’s family…”

Hearing this, Ning Zhu’s heart suddenly tightened.

Only then did Li Suwen slowly continue: “We decided to take the offensive and wipe out the Zodiac Society members in one strike. Miao Feng took the initiative to step forward. He was not only the bait, but also the strongest fighter. During that period we destroyed many of their strongholds, captured a large number of members, and even recovered several forbidden cards…”

“Everything was going well, really, everything was too good. That’s why when the accident happened, it caught everyone completely off guard.”

“What happened!”

“Miao Feng went mad.”

Ning Zhu’s heart sank.

Li Suwen’s expression darkened, her tone filled with undisguised sorrow: “That operation—I did not participate. Jiang Binglun went. The entire team only he survived. The rest…”

Ning Zhu unconsciously clenched her hands, the color on her face gradually fading.

Li Suwen finally said it: “The rest were all killed by Miao Feng.”

“Why!” Ning Zhu nearly shouted.

“I don’t know.” Li Suwen shook her head. “No one knows the reason. Maybe he was eroded by the [Star God Card], maybe he had already been planning something… no one knows. The only confirmed truth is that he killed his own teammates while in a conscious state. He became the new leader of the Zodiac Society.”

Ning Zhu froze. After a long while, she finally found her voice again: “He’s still alive…”

Li Suwen replied: “Yes.”

“But…” Ning Zhu swallowed the rest of her words.

Li Suwen didn’t know she was a Star God Card master. She couldn’t tell her either—if the [Fate Transfer] was disturbed, her parents would be in danger.

Li Suwen sighed: “After that, Jiang Binglun became like a different person. He didn’t talk much before, but he wasn’t this cold and inhuman… he’s not targeting you specifically. He treats everyone like this… however, he values Li Jin very much. Li Jin is a Zodiac Card master he personally trained.”

Ning Zhu was no longer able to focus on any of this. Her mind was in chaos, countless guesses surged up, filling her with dread.

Miao Feng was the previous Star God Card master…

He really went mad!

Not only did he kill his father, he also killed many teammates!

He even became the leader of the Zodiac Society!

Did he know the Zodiac Society was hunting his sister’s family?

Or was he deliberately arranging it?

And the [Star God Card]—how could it so coincidentally appear in the place where she was taking extra lessons?

These chaotic thoughts surged up, making Ning Zhu unable to sit still.

“Professor…” she swallowed, “I want to see the headmaster.”

Li Suwen didn’t ask further. “I’ll contact him for you.”

She clearly misunderstood, thinking Ning Zhu wanted to ask the headmaster to cancel Jiang Binglun’s tutoring.

Ning Zhu did not explain, to avoid slipping up.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Li Suwen, but after the [Fate Transfer], she could no longer explain things clearly to her.

Miao Feng was her little uncle, and she was the new Star God Card master…

Was this really just a coincidence?

If it wasn’t a coincidence, then there might be some terrifying conspiracy hidden inside it.

She had to inform the headmaster.

Li Suwen came back with a furrowed brow and said, “The headmaster is on a long trip.”

Ning Zhu: “!”

Li Suwen added, “The place has very poor communication. He’s using auto-reply. He said once he gets a signal, he’ll reply one by one.”

Ning Zhu had no choice.

If even Li Suwen couldn’t reach him, then she had even less chance.

Seeing her like this, Li Suwen comforted her: “It’s fine, I’ll back you up! You don’t need to go to his place for tutoring anymore. It’s just the Celestial Balance sequence course…”

“No, wait—because of your Ancient God Card master identity, other teachers can’t teach you… hmm, I’ve got it! You can go find Li Jin! He’s a Celestial Balance card master, even more qualified than Celestial Sequence Rank 2 ‘Justice’ to teach you!”

Ning Zhu wasn’t thinking about any Celestial Balance course anymore. Her mind was full of terrifying conspiracies, and she just wanted to contact the headmaster immediately…

Wait!

Li Suwen’s words reminded her.

If she couldn’t contact the headmaster, she could go find Senior Li Jin!

In this world, only the two of them knew her identity.

But…

Would Senior Li Jin know anything?

After all, he was only a second-year student.

No time to worry about that.

She didn’t know anything herself—at least Senior Li Jin knew more than she did.

“Okay!” Ning Zhu stood up. “I’ll go find Senior Li Jin.”

She couldn’t wait even a moment longer. She immediately stood up and said goodbye to Li Suwen.

Li Suwen: “Hey… why so rushed, wait until tomorrow—”

Ning Zhu vaguely replied, “I want to quickly sense the ice element.”

Li Suwen could only stuff two drink cards into her hands: “Don’t rush—stay ‘calm’!”

Ning Zhu left Li Suwen’s office and first asked Bai Ze, “Do you know my little uncle?”

Bai Ze: “I was sleeping very soundly.”

Ning Zhu wasn’t surprised. Bai Ze had told her this many times before—most Star God Card masters couldn’t see card spirits, and even Star Magus could only hear its voice.

And if the Star God Card master couldn’t see the card spirit, Bai Ze would remain in a sleeping state and know nothing.

Ning Zhu called Li Jin: “Senior, are you free?”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone, then a cold voice sounded: “Yes.”

“Where are you? I’ll come to you!”

“Card-making Building, Laboratory 13.”

After hanging up, Ning Zhu only then realized.

Senior Li Jin was in the card-making laboratory!

That didn’t look like someone who was free at all.

But she really couldn’t wait any longer. She just wanted to see him quickly and tell him all the terrifying connections forming in her mind.

Ning Zhu rented a [Slide Card] and sped toward the card-making building.

The card-making building was not a teaching building, but a structure specially prepared for teachers and students as an “experimental lab.”

It was somewhat similar to the practice rooms in some music academies. Students could take their student card to the first floor for registration, and then be assigned an independent laboratory.

Each laboratory was equipped with a full set of card-making equipment, along with safety protection systems.

Card-making carried a certain level of risk. In the event of an accident, the safety systems here could not only effectively contain the spread of danger, but also ensure that the card master received rescue at the earliest possible moment.

Ning Zhu had been here many times already. In preparation for the Freshman Cup, she had long started experimenting with card creation.

The administrator on the first floor recognized her at a glance and smiled, “Back again? Still Room 14?”

But Ning Zhu said, “Teacher, I’d like to apply for access card to Laboratory 13.”

Li Jin was in the middle of card-making and couldn’t come out conveniently.

Fortunately, Ning Zhu could apply for the access card in the capacity of a card-making assistant.