017: Ordinary Tang Jian

Tang Jian watched Yang Mao's smug expression, really wanting to say that his own Card Energy had long surpassed 40 points, even exceeding Yang Mao's at 46 points.

But seeing Yang Mao's innocent smile, Tang Jian decided it was better to keep a low profile and just reveal a little.

Like the fact that he could now craft a One-Star Blank Energy Card in one go?

"Actually…" Tang Jian had just started speaking when Yang Mao's eyes suddenly lit up. He waved ahead of them, "Hi, Hu Lingli, what a coincidence running into you!"

Up ahead, on the slope leading to the school, a tall, elegant woman with a graceful neck was walking slowly. Hearing him, she turned her head. Just her serene profile gave off a beauty like a quiet maiden.

Tang Jian could feel that his buddy Yang Mao seemed utterly captivated, so he swallowed the words he was about to say.

"Yang Mao, every time you meet me, you say the exact same thing."

Hu Lingli's voice was clear. Her small, delicate face held a calm and serene expression. Her gaze merely swept over Tang Jian, then directly ignored him, focusing only on Yang Mao, raising an eyebrow.

"Heh heh, Lingli, I heard my dad say that your dad said your Card Energy has reached 48 points? That's fantastic, you're about to cross the threshold into a Two-Star Card User."

Yang Mao stepped forward to speak with Hu Lingli, his voice a little stammering, appearing quite unconfident.

"48 points of Card Energy? Oh, I remember now, it seems Hu Lingli also joined the Rocket Class in my previous life, and she did well on the college entrance exam. Later, she got into a top-tier university in Jinghua, but eventually, I heard she became a Three-Star Card Master's mistress…"

Tang Jian thought to himself, looking at Hu Lingli, who stood with her arms crossed, looking like a graceful swan.

Yang Mao was now chatting with Hu Lingli; mostly Yang Mao doing the talking, with Hu Lingli occasionally humming in response.

"Uh. Old Yang, I'm heading off. Early self-study is about to start."

Tang Jian greeted Yang Mao and left first, not even glancing at Hu Lingli.

To be honest, girls at this age still possessed a natural, vibrant beauty, unlike six or seven years later when high school students would all wear makeup. Hu Lingli was indeed quite pretty.

However, as someone who had experienced life and was once a Three-Star Card Master, Tang Jian had seen all kinds of beauties. He wasn't about to be completely bewildered by a young girl who hadn't even fully matured yet.

"Who is he?"

Hu Lingli glanced at Tang Jian's retreating back, casually interrupting Yang Mao, and asked.

Perhaps this was the first time she had encountered a boy who, while walking with her, could leave without even a glance.

Could this be the so-called trick of feigning indifference to capture someone?

"Oh, he's my classmate. His Card Energy hasn't even passed 40 yet.

Lingli, my Card Energy has reached 44, and now I can craft a One-Star Blank Card in one go! I'm definitely going to get into the Rocket Class. Then we can study together and improve together, okay?"

Yang Mao chuckled dryly, unhesitatingly belittling his friend to elevate himself.

"Uh. We'll see. You still need to work hard. Gu Du and Liu Fei from our class already have 80 points of Card Energy. They've invited me to form a three-person team.

But I'm still considering it. Recently, I heard there's a formidable person in our school who seems to possess Mechanical Combat Cards. I want to bring him into our group. If you know who this person is, remember to tell me."

Hu Lingli said, not really paying much attention to Yang Mao or Tang Jian, and walked straight to another staircase.

"What!?"

Yang Mao stared blankly as Hu Lingli walked away, feeling somewhat dejected.

Seeing Yang Mao walk into the classroom looking quite disheartened and sit down beside him, Tang Jian could pretty much guess what had happened.

But this formidable person Hu Lingli mentioned, who possessed Mechanical Combat Cards, why did that sound so familiar?

Tang Jian wondered, suppressing a laugh, and patted Yang Mao, "Forget about it. A pretty face costs five hundred a night, but an interesting soul demands a car and a house. You should be more realistic and focus on what's right in front of you."

"What do you mean?" Yang Mao looked confused.

"Nothing much. I heard Shi Lei say that little Yingying will be picking people later. Get ready, the ones selling cereal will definitely come for us," Tang Jian chuckled.

Yang Mao became even more confused.

A short while later, the Card User instructor, Sun Yiying, walked into the classroom wearing white stockings and a black skirt.

Immediately, the entire class quickly quieted down.

Sun Yiying looked around. Her large eyes behind her black-rimmed glasses flashed with satisfaction, and her cheeks dimpled with a smile. "As you all know, in less than ten days, the school will be forming the Rocket Class.

So today, I will select the most promising students from our class to enter the Rocket Class for a ten-day intensive training.

Now, those whose names I call should come up and stand on the right side of the stage. For those not called, you can also volunteer to sign up on the spot.

However, if your Card Energy doesn't exceed 40 points, or if you cannot craft two-thirds of a One-Star Blank Card in one go, then please don't sign up."

In reality, Sun Yiying had a complete understanding of the class's situation. She knew exactly who had a chance to join the Rocket Class.

The reason she still offered the chance to volunteer was to prevent other students from getting too discouraged.

At the same time, if anyone had recently met the standards, they wouldn't be overlooked.

While the class was murmuring quietly.

Sun Yiying had already started calling names.

"Liu Kun!"

"Here!" The well-built Liu Kun was the first to stand up, walking towards the right side of the podium under the envious and admiring gazes of his classmates.

This student was truly a key player in the class; his Card Energy had reached 70 points a week ago, and it might be even higher now.

"Gao Yang!"

"Here!"

Another tall, thin, bespectacled student stood up and walked to the right side of the podium.

This Card Energy was nearing 50, making him one of the top students in the class.

"Yang Mao!"

"Here!"

Yang Mao immediately stood up, his previous dejection completely gone. He winked at Tang Jian, "Sorry, buddy, I'm going first."

Tang Jian squeezed out a smile, "You go ahead, buddy! I'll be right behind you!"

"Pfft! Dream on." Yang Mao rolled his eyes and scurried to the right side of the podium.

"Wang Lele!"

"Here!"

A cute girl with a ponytail and a slight baby face stood up, blushing as she tiptoed onto the stage.

"He Chong!"

"Here!"

A short, lean young man with a buzz cut stood up and walked to the right side of the podium.

At this point, Sun Yiying stopped calling names.

Out of 57 students in the entire class, only these five barely met the standard, receiving envious and admiring glances from many of their classmates.

"Alright, now it's time for self-nomination. Students with Card Energy above 40, or those who can craft two-thirds of a One-Star Blank Card in one go, may come up to the stage."

Sun Yiying adjusted her glasses, looking expectantly at everyone.

A hand weakly rose. A chubby boy named Jia Ling in the front row stood up, "T-teacher, I have 39, I..."

"You have 39 what?" Sun Yiying blinked.

"I have 39 Card Energy." Jia Ling mustered his courage.

"Oh?" Sun Yiying's eyes brightened slightly, and she nodded, "Come up first."

Jia Ling's face flushed with excitement at her words. He quickly went up to the stage under the surprised and envious gazes of his classmates, as if he had won the lottery.

"Anyone else?" Sun Yiying looked at the students in the class.

"Teacher, I have 38!"

"No. That's too far off." Sun Yiying shook her head.

Someone sat down, disappointed.

Tang Jian stood up, "Teacher Sun, I can craft a One-Star Blank Energy Card in one go."

"Hmm? Tang Jian?!" Sun Yiying looked surprised.

"Huh?" Yang Mao, who had been smiling broadly by the podium, froze. He looked at Tang Jian in astonishment, his eyes full of shock.

"Buddy! Are you kidding me?"

"Tang Jian, you said you can craft a One-Star Blank Card in one go? One go?" Sun Yiying frowned, repeating the question suspiciously.

"Mm. Yes. I'm very fast. I can demonstrate it for the teacher right now. It only takes about four minutes." Tang Jian nodded seriously, an innocent expression on his face.

The entire class was stunned, looking at Tang Jian with surprise and suspicion.

Crafting a One-Star Blank Energy Card in four minutes – this level of Card Crafting might be achievable by some in other Rocket Classes, but no one in the entire Class 3-12 had ever been known to achieve it before.

And now, the unremarkable Tang Jian had achieved it?

Finished in four minutes?

Please vote for me, I can't live without votes! Sob!

PS: Some content and background in previous chapters have been slightly modified. -- 2018.8.20.