Chapter 43

Chapter 43

After the first match ended, Li LeYang began studying the competition system, the rules, and various tactical approaches. He even compiled statistics on the types of cards that had appeared so far and their overall distribution.

He did his homework in extremely meticulous detail.

If Wang Huan and Lu Sunyi had been in the second day’s matches, they probably would have advanced smoothly as well.

Not only did he prepare all these strategies, he also closely monitored the movements of the people in Group 12.

Ning Zhu’s group was quite a complicated mix.

Luo Yu goes without saying.

Li LeYang feared nothing, but he truly feared this little maniac.

Her personality was too strange—if one had to describe it in a word, it would be: chaotic-evil.

Luo Yu came from the direct line of a prestigious family, yet her aptitude was mediocre.

Her parents had started anxiously trying for another child when she was five years old. Yet eleven years passed, and they still hadn’t succeeded.

Luo Yu’s own talent was average. If she had trained diligently, with the abundant resources of her family, she could actually have become an excellent card master.

But she didn’t want to suffer hardship, didn’t like studying. The only thing she was interested in was card creation. However, the cards she made never followed conventional methods—they were all strange, unorthodox tricks.

Her father had beaten her, scolded her, even threatened to strip her surname from her.

When she was younger, she would behave for a few days, but soon returned to doing whatever she pleased.

She didn’t want to study.

She loved playing.

Playing alone wasn’t enough for her—she also enjoyed toying with others.

Luo Yu’s parents were unable to have a second child, and they also realized that if they didn’t cultivate her properly, the vast Luo family fortune might end up being divided by collateral branches.

At fourteen or fifteen, Luo Yu also showed another outstanding side of herself.

She was not serious about proper matters, but she was very skilled at winning people over. She always had a group of followers around her, including many talented collateral descendants of prestigious families.

Luo Yu had taken an interest in Li LeYang.

The reason was simple.

Li LeYang was excellent. Not only was his aptitude good, he was also rare in being diligent and studious.

During the preparatory class, Luo Yu had tried to get close to Li LeYang. It wasn’t romantic interest—it was simply that she wanted to play with him.

However, Li LeYang had no time.

He truly had no time.

At that time, Li LeYang was in the same class as Ye Jianrong. Faced with someone whose resources were better than his, aptitude higher than his, and who was even more hardworking than him—a super “workaholic” type—Li LeYang’s fighting spirit was fully ignited. He did not want to lose to Ye Jianrong!

Luo Yu was ignored.

In her entire life, the thing she hated most was being ignored, so she began to mess with Li LeYang.

She used all kinds of strange and bizarre cards on him…

And so, the grudge between the two of them was formed.

At first, when Li LeYang saw Luo Yu in Group 12, he wasn’t too worried.

He understood her personality.

She had no interest in “results” of any kind.

Luo Yu had always been opposed to her family, so she probably never even intended to advance. As for why she was participating in the competition, it was likely just because she thought it would be “fun.”

Li LeYang had been paying attention to Cai Xinji instead, worried that this guy might take the opportunity for revenge.

Unexpectedly, Cai Xinji hadn’t done anything, but Luo Yu had set her sights on Ning Zhu instead.

“Why?” Lu Xianle asked nervously.

Chen Mo slapped his thigh and said: “Is Miss Luo misunderstanding something between you and Ning Zhu…?”

Li LeYang: “Stop. It’s not some melodramatic soap opera. I don’t have that kind of charm.”

Chen Mo said skeptically: “Brother Yang, don’t underestimate yourself…”

Li LeYang said: “Luo Yu wants to qualify for the Freshman Cup!”

Wang Huan also leaned in, puzzled: “Isn’t that crazy girl the one who hates ‘good grades’ the most? Logically speaking…”

Li LeYang rubbed his brow and said: “Her parents said that as long as she makes it into the Freshman Cup this time, she can do whatever she wants during her six years at the Spirit Card Academy—they won’t interfere with her anymore.”

Everyone: “………………”

Lu Xianle cleared her throat and couldn’t help saying: “That is actually very tempting.”

Compared to petty jealousy or romantic drama, this was undoubtedly a much stronger motivation.

Luo Yu might be crazy, but she was genuinely smart.

She only needed to qualify for the Freshman Cup, and that in itself wasn’t too difficult for her.

The White Sheep system had two slots.

The biggest threats were also two people: Li LeYang and Ning Zhu.

Coincidentally, she and Ning Zhu were both assigned to Group 12.

If she eliminated Ning Zhu in Group 12, then in the final round of the thirteenth match, she could secure a qualifying spot without any uncertainty.

The thirteenth match was a competition among the top eight from all twelve groups combined.

That pool of nearly a hundred people represented the elite of first-year White Sheep students—it would not be easy for Luo Yu to control everything.

Not to mention Ning Zhu’s roommates, there were also Li LeYang, Chen Mo…

And other noble family descendants who would seize the opportunity to compete for qualification.

The uncertainty in the thirteenth match was too high, but the twelfth match was different.

If Luo Yu put in enough effort, she could really turn it all into her own people.

And no matter how strong Ning Zhu was, she couldn’t possibly handle 1 versus 99.

Hearing this, Lu Xianle and Lin Ting became anxious: “Let’s go tell the professors! This is forming factions!”

Ning Zhu said: “What’s the evidence?”

Li LeYang sighed: “Exactly. No evidence!”

Lu Xianle said: “Then what do we do? Do we have acquaintances in Group 12? Can we…”

Li LeYang said gloomily: “You probably don’t know how rich Luo Yu is.”

Lu Xianle: “……”

Ning Zhu added: “Forget money. No one wants to offend the Luo family.”

Lu Xianle was unconvinced: “No matter what, the rules say no forming factions. We’ll watch the livestream cameras. If they gang up on Ning Zhu, we’ll report them directly!”

Li LeYang said helplessly: “Luo Yu isn’t that stupid.”

Lin Ting didn’t understand: “Then what will she do?”

Wang Huan also asked: “And they’re all in [Character Cards] form—how are they even supposed to identify Ning Zhu?”

Ning Zhu said: “That’s easy. Just set a secret signal.”

Wang Huan: “…………”

Li LeYang added: “There are five total circle shrinks in the match. In the first three, she won’t directly target Ning Zhu.”

Ning Zhu said: “But she can arrange people on the outer ring to collect as many cards as possible. That way, even if I reach the fourth circle, there won’t be any high-level cards left.”

Li LeYang continued: “Exactly. At that point, everyone in the fourth circle will gang up on Ning Zhu. Don’t even mention reporting it on the spot—the fourth circle is that small, we all know it. If enough people enter, it becomes a chaotic free-for-all. There’s no way to prove they’re forming factions.”

Lu Xianle and Lin Ting grew more and more nervous as they listened, both deeply worried for Ning Zhu.

In their dorm, Ning Zhu was originally the one with the highest chance of advancing, but now… she had instead become the one in the most danger of failing to advance.

Lu Xianle tried hard to think: “Do we have any countermeasures?”

Lin Ting also helped brainstorm: “Should we go ask around for that secret signal? Then you could blend into their group…”

Li LeYang gave a bitter smile: “If it could be found out, I would’ve found it already… Luo Yu is very cunning. She won’t reveal the signal to them until the final 【Perception Card】 phase.”

Ning Zhu shook her head: “No need. There’s no need to alert the enemy.”

Everyone had run out of ideas and could only look at her.

Ning Zhu was also nervous inside, but panic was useless. She had to move when it was time to move. She said: “The rules are already there. They won’t gang up on me in the first three circles, so I still have a chance.”

Li LeYang worriedly said: “But they will definitely try to gather as many cards as possible. It’ll be very hard for you to pick up enough cards.” After the first match, drop locations had become relatively fair, so situations like Li LeYang’s earlier one would no longer happen.

Ning Zhu replied: “It is indeed hard to collect cards—but as long as I get kills, I’ll have cards.”

Everyone: “!”

Li LeYang sucked in a breath: “Right! We were all misled! You can take the initiative!”

“Yes.” Ning Zhu nodded. “After all, everyone except me is an enemy.”

In the first three circles, they would avoid suspicion and not dare to gang up on her.

But Ning Zhu had no such concern—she would take the initiative.

Li LeYang slapped his thigh: “Damn! That crazy woman did it on purpose!”

Lu Xianle and Wang Huan and the others looked confused: “Huh? What do you mean on purpose?”

Li LeYang’s face turned green and white: “I get it now—how was it so easy for me to get that information? She deliberately leaked it to me so I would tell Ning Zhu. That way, Ning Zhu would definitely become cautious and might even choose to hide in the first three circles to avoid exposing herself.”

Once Ning Zhu missed the opportunity in the first three circles, it would be too late to counterattack in the fourth.

But what if Ning Zhu wasn’t scared and instead went on a killing spree in the first three circles?

Lin Ting understood: “Ah! Even though I didn’t make it to the final circle, I still advanced!”

Li LeYang: “Exactly! Luo Yu deliberately released the information to target Ning Zhu because she was afraid Ning Zhu would kill too many people early on!”

Lu Xianle still didn’t fully follow. She slowly sorted it out: “So… because of the rules, Luo Yu can’t act in the first three circles, but she still wants to scare Ning Ning, so she deliberately leaks information. If Ning Ning gets scared, even if she hides until the fourth circle, Luo Yu can still successfully close the net…”

Lin Ting said: “But Ning Ning outplayed her!”

Ning Zhu shook her head and gave a wry smile: “I didn’t think that far ahead.”

She simply didn’t want to sit and wait for death.

The fourth circle was difficult, so she would start from the first three circles instead.

Even if she really got targeted, the terrain in the first three circles was more open and complex.

At that time, she might even be able to secure more kills.

—

Luo Yu had indeed deliberately leaked the information.

She understood Li LeYang too well.

Li LeYang loved collecting intelligence, so she would feed him intelligence.

If Ning Zhu knew she was being targeted, would she still dare to act rashly?

A person with a full Six-Pillar Chart would be very “calm.”

Especially first-year freshmen.

Luo Yu looked at the little figurine on her desk and tapped the pretty girl with the high ponytail, saying: “I’ve been wanting to play with you for a long time.”

—

Finally, the twelfth match began.

After two days of competition, the referees, commentators, and audience were all quite exhausted.

But as the final match was about to start, they were once again full of energy.

Ning Zhu! The Ancient God Card Master!

What dazzling moves would she show?

And Luo Yu—this young lady has always refused to follow conventional rules. What kind of chaos would she create?

Everyone was here for the excitement, never afraid of things getting bigger, and they were extremely eager for this twelfth match.

Li Suwen was also looking forward to it.

She firmly believed Ning Zhu would advance, but she also wanted to see how she would perform.

This was Ning Zhu’s first time in the 【Perception Card】 area. It looked somewhat like a cinema: a large screen at the front, and neatly arranged seats behind it.

Each seat had a card placed beside it, and what they needed to do was use the 【Perception Card】.

When Ning Zhu sat down, she unexpectedly saw an acquaintance.

Yuan Xiaona said happily: “Ning Zhu, long time no see.”

Ning Zhu smiled at her: “Long time no see.”

Yuan Xiaona’s expression flickered for a moment, then she leaned in quickly and said: “Be careful!”

Ning Zhu: “……”

Yuan Xiaona quickly added: “The secret code is ‘First Lesson of the Semester’!”

The teacher’s voice rang out: “When the countdown ends, please immediately use the 【Perception Card】.”