A Subtle Shift in History

"Bro, I want to buy some snacks. Can you give me five dollars?"

It was still dark in the morning when Tang Yueyue shook Tang Jian awake. He could smell the fragrance of her hair.

Opening his eyes, Tang Jian sat up, a little helpless, and saw Tang Yueyue trying to win him over with a pitiful look.

"Bro, please? I know Mom and Dad have been giving you a lot of pocket money lately."

"Seriously, you know that too?"

Tang Jian pinched Tang Yueyue's round face. He felt a headache coming on, as if he hadn't rested well last night.

"Of course I know. Hmph, I feel like I'm not their biological child, and you are."

"Don't talk nonsense. When you grow up, Mom and Dad will give you more pocket money."

"Hmph. I'm already grown up. And I'm actually a little suspicious. Many novels say that between a brother and a sister, one of them isn't biological, and then, and then…"

"And then what? Here, ten dollars. Stop rambling. Read fewer novels and review your homework more. Hurry up, your brother needs to get dressed."

Tang Jian pulled ten dollars from the pocket of some clothes in the cabinet beside him and handed it to Tang Yueyue, who immediately beamed. He urged her to leave.

"Thanks, bro. You're definitely my real brother." Tang Yueyue quickly put the money away and slipped out of the room, thinking she could rent more novels now.

Tang Jian watched Tang Yueyue leave, shaking his head slightly, but feeling quite warm inside.

Both in his previous life and now, he had a good relationship with his sister. Tang Yueyue really did like to secretly ask him for pocket money behind their parents' backs, and Tang Jian was quite doting on her, always taking good care of her.

"In my previous life, my sister hadn't even become a Card Master by the time I graduated, only reaching the level of a Three-Star Card User. In this life, I need to create more opportunities and cultivate her into a Card Master too."

Tang Jian thought to himself, pulling on his pants from under the covers and quickly getting dressed.

He had cultivated the Three Points One Line Technique all night. Although he felt he hadn't rested well, it was mainly because his mental energy had been completely depleted last night.

Tang Jian had now discovered that his Card Energy had increased by one point again, reaching a total of 33 points, and the Card Energy consumed last night had recovered. However, his mental energy had only recovered two points, and Tang Jian still felt a bit dizzy.

After washing up, Tang Jian took Tang Yueyue with him to catch the early morning bus to school.

Usually, around six in the morning, Tang Lin would have already gone to work at the factory and had no time to drop them off.

So, every morning, the siblings took the bus to school.

"Bro, I heard that a genius student in our school's Rocket Class has already reached 40 Card Energy. Maybe they'll even become a Two-Star Card User when they get into high school."

On the bus, Tang Yueyue chatted casually with Tang Jian.

"Bro, your Card Energy isn't even 40 yet, right? You're about to take the college entrance exam. Are you confident you can get into a second-tier university?"

Tang Jian felt the gazes of some people around them and looked a bit embarrassed. He pinched Tang Yueyue's cheek and whispered, "Your brother is a special talent. His Card Crafting ability is outstanding. Getting into a second-tier university will be very easy."

Tang Yueyue pulled away from Tang Jian's hand, looking at him skeptically.

"When your brother gets into a good school and becomes a Card Master, your future studies will be much easier."

Tang Jian ruffled Tang Yueyue's head, which was tied in a ponytail.

"Then I wish you good luck getting into a second-tier university!" Tang Yueyue looked up at Tang Jian.

She thought that if her older brother, with less than 40 Card Energy, could get into a second-tier university, that would already be very impressive.

"You little rascal, what's a second-tier university? Since your brother has been reborn, he can definitely choose something better and provide you all with something better too," Tang Jian thought to himself, smiling and patting Tang Yueyue without saying anything.

They arrived at the school gate at 6:20 AM.

Tang Jian pulled out the last 40 dollars from his pocket, took out five dollars to buy a cage of steamed buns and a cup of soy milk, put them in a black bag, and hurried into the classroom.

During this final period of senior year, it was all about self-discipline, so the school teachers didn't manage them too strictly.

For example, what used to be a strict ban on students bringing their own breakfast into the classroom, to avoid too much trash and the smell of breakfast permeating the room, was now largely ignored.

"Jianren, hey, let me tell you something! I heard the school's upcoming sprint Rocket Class is only accepting forty people. And supposedly, every week, based on the progress of each student in the class, they'll offer various prizes to motivate everyone."

Tang Jian had just finished a steamed bun, huddled in the corner of his seat, when Yang Mao entered the classroom right on time. He threw his backpack onto the desk excitedly.

"I'm really going to give it my all this time. My dad bought me a bottle of Solar Energy Potion. I'm going to try to absorb it over the next week. I can definitely break through 49 Card Energy."

Tang Jian was startled when he heard this. "Only forty people? And prizes too?"

He remembered that before his rebirth, the sprint Rocket Class didn't seem to have a limit on the number of students, only on the Card Energy required for entry. And there were no prizes either.

Had some subtle changes begun to occur after his rebirth?

Or was this just a rumor, not true at all?

If there were prizes, in a small place like Xicheng No. 1 High School, besides Solar Energy Potion and other cultivation resources, Tang Jian didn't feel there was anything else that would attract him.

But the school probably wouldn't be so extravagant as to give out Solar Energy Potion. It was more likely to be a reward of opportunities to challenge the Interstellar Tower.

The Interstellar Tower was a virtual world constructed by an auxiliary virtual network card. It contained many powerful Card Cultivators and special disaster environments, forming various levels.

This type of Interstellar Tower was generally used by schools to motivate and test students. If a student performed exceptionally well in the challenges, it wasn't impossible to receive valuable cultivation resources like Solar Energy Potion.

Tang Jian also held out hope.

After chatting with Yang Mao for a bit longer, morning self-study began.

Tang Jian was fairly certain that Yang Mao's information was likely true. While the course of events in this life might have subtle differences from his previous one, the general trajectory remained consistent.

"Jian, since you say your Card Energy has reached 33, I suggest you talk to your family about buying a bottle of Solar Energy Potion.

For someone like you, who has never taken Solar Energy Potion, consuming it and absorbing it would increase your Card Energy by at least 10. With 43 Card Energy, you might actually squeeze into the Rocket Class.

As long as you get past the threshold, even if you don't win any prizes, it's definitely beneficial. It's money well spent."

Yang Mao advised him sincerely.

"Hmm, I'll consider it," Tang Jian nodded in response.

"Heh, forget it, Jian. Our Card Energy is only around thirty. There are simply too many students in school with 30 Card Energy. Even if you grit your teeth and take the potion, others might think of it too.

We're not like Yang Mao, who has over 40 Card Energy and can still compete, and your family situation isn't great either. Solar Energy Potion costs over 30,000 yuan a bottle."

Xu Fei, who was sitting in the back, a tall, slender, and refined-looking student, shook his head.

"Solar Energy Potion is too expensive. I've already given up on trying for the Rocket Class. I'll just practice Card Crafting more in this final period and see if I can get a good score on the college entrance exam."

Dong He, Xu Fei's deskmate, spread his hands helplessly and glanced at Tang Jian. "Yang Mao said you collect Scrap Cards? I have a few here, too lazy to go sell them, so I'll just give them to you?"

Tang Jian's eyes lit up slightly and he smiled, "Sure, but I can only pay you in a couple of days. Give them to me if you trust me."

Dong He hesitated, then nodded. "Better make it quick, my expenses have been high lately too."

With that, Dong He took nine Scrap Cards out of his pencil case and handed them to Tang Jian.

Yang Mao sighed softly. "Jian, you also have a talent for Card Crafting. If you can craft a One-Star Blank Energy Card before the college entrance exam, you might still have a chance."

He now believed Tang Jian had no intention of buying Solar Energy Potion to try for the Rocket Class, and he felt a bit of regret for Tang Jian.

However, Solar Energy Potion was too expensive; even if he wanted to help, he couldn't.

"Since you think so highly of me, just sell all your Scrap Cards to me from now on."

Tang Jian didn't explain anything, just smiled at Yang Mao.

Just then, Card User instructor Sun Yiying walked into the classroom and morning self-study began, with her leading the students in reviewing Card Crafting experience.

After morning self-study was breakfast time. The school food wasn't bad, but it was mass-produced, so the taste wasn't great.

Tang Jian ate a bit more to fill his stomach. When classes started in the morning, the entire class was divided into three subjects.

Students focusing on cultural subjects like math, physics, and chemistry stayed in the classroom, while those focusing on Card Crafting went to the school's specially established Card Crafting room. Students focusing on Card Energy were all taken to the school's large sports field.

Some students with exceptionally good Card Energy would even be taken to the school's fitness equipment room, where Card Master-level teachers would personally instruct and train them.

In Tang Jian's class, Senior Three Class Twelve, only Liu Kun was qualified to go to the fitness equipment room.

To improve Card Energy, one must have excellent physical fitness, so it's inseparable from physical exercise.

"Jian, these three Scrap Cards are for you too. Keep it up!" Yang Mao chose the Card Energy class. Before going to the sports field, he gave Tang Jian three Scrap Cards.

"Alright, I'll put it on your tab," Tang Jian said without ceremony, taking the Scrap Cards and heading to the Card Crafting room with his backpack.

"Brother Tang is going to the Card Crafting room too? Shall we go together?"

As soon as he stepped out of the Card Crafting room, Tang Jian met Xie Dong, who greeted him with a warm smile, looking very enthusiastic. Tang Jian couldn't help but narrow his eyes