"Bro, I want to buy some snacks. Can you give me five yuan?"
Before dawn, Tang Jian was shaken awake by Tang Yueyue, the fragrance of her hair reaching his nose.
Opening his eyes, Tang Jian sat up helplessly and saw Tang Yueyue looking at him with a pitiful, ingratiating expression.
"Bro, okay? I know Mom and Dad have been giving you lots of allowance lately."
"Damn, you know that too?"
Tang Jian pinched Tang Yueyue's round cheek. He felt a little headache upon waking, as though he had not rested well last night.
"Of course I know. Hmph, I feel like I'm not their biological child. You're the real one, Bro."
"Don't talk nonsense. When you grow up, Mom and Dad will give you more allowance."
"Hmph. I'm already grown up. And I really am a little suspicious. Lots of novels say that between an older brother and younger sister, one of them is always not biological, and then, then..."
"And then what? Here, ten yuan. Stop rambling. Read fewer novels and review your schoolwork more. Hurry up and go, your brother needs to get dressed."
Tang Jian pulled ten yuan from the pocket of some clothes in the cabinet beside him, stuffed it into Tang Yueyue's hands as her face immediately lit up, and urged her on.
"Thanks, Bro. You must really be my biological brother." Tang Yueyue quickly put away the money and slipped out of the room, thinking that she could rent even more novels now.
Tang Jian watched Tang Yueyue's departing figure and shook his head slightly, though warmth still filled his heart.
Whether in his previous life or this one, he had always been close to his sister. Tang Yueyue really did like secretly asking him for allowance behind their parents' backs, while Tang Jian had always doted on and taken great care of her.
In my previous life, even after I graduated, my sister never became a card master. She only reached the level of a three-star card apprentice. This time, I need to create more opportunities and train her into a card master too.
Thinking this, Tang Jian climbed out of bed in his underwear and quickly got dressed.
After cultivating the Three Points One Line Technique all night, he felt as though he had not rested well, though that was mainly because his mental energy had been completely drained last night.
Tang Jian had now discovered that his card energy had increased by another point, reaching a total of 33. The card energy he had used last night had recovered, but his mental energy had only recovered by two points, and he still felt a little dizzy.
After washing up, Tang Jian took Tang Yueyue with him to catch the early bus to school.
Usually, around six in the morning, Tang Lin had already gone to work at the factory and had no time to take the two siblings.
Thus, every morning, the siblings took the bus to school.
"Bro, I heard that a genius student in our school's Rocket Class already has 40 card energy. They might even have a chance of becoming a two-star card apprentice before getting into high school."
On the bus, Tang Yueyue casually chatted with Tang Jian.
"Your card energy hasn't reached 40 yet, right, Bro? Your college entrance exam is coming up soon. Are you confident you can get into a second-tier university?"
Tang Jian sensed the looks some people around them were giving him. Looking awkward, he pinched Tang Yueyue's cheek and whispered, "Your brother is a special talent. My card crafting ability is outstanding, so getting into a second-tier university will be easy."
Tang Yueyue broke free from Tang Jian's hand and looked at him like she did not believe him.
"Once your brother gets into a good school and becomes a card master, your studies will become much easier too."
Tang Jian rubbed Tang Yueyue's ponytailed head.
"Then I wish you luck getting into a second-tier university!" Tang Yueyue looked up at Tang Jian.
In her heart, she felt that with her brother's card energy still below 40, it would already be amazing if he could get into a second-tier university.
Brat. What's so great about a second-tier university? Since I've been given another chance, I'll definitely choose something better—and give all of you something better too.
Tang Jian thought to himself, smiling as he patted Tang Yueyue without saying anything.
They arrived at the school gates at 6:20.
Tang Jian took out the last forty yuan from his pocket, pulled out five yuan to buy a basket of soup dumplings and a cup of soy milk, packed them in a black plastic bag, and hurried into the classroom.
During this final stretch of senior year, everything depended on the students' own discipline, so the teachers did not bother controlling them too strictly.
The school had once strictly forbidden students from bringing breakfast into the classroom to avoid excessive trash and the stale smell of breakfast filling the room, but now the teachers simply turned a blind eye.
"Jianren, hey, hey, I've got news for you. I heard the school's upcoming sprint Rocket Class will only admit forty people. And supposedly, every two weeks, they'll reward the students in the sprint Rocket Class with all kinds of prizes based on their progress."
Tang Jian had just finished a serving of soup dumplings while huddled in the corner of his seat when Yang Mao entered the classroom right on time. He tossed his backpack onto the desk and spoke excitedly.
"I'm really going all out this time. My dad bought me a bottle of Solar Energy Potion. Over the next week, I'll absorb it and definitely break through to 49 card energy."
Tang Jian was startled. "Only forty people? And there are prizes too?"
He recalled that before his rebirth, the sprint Rocket Class had not seemed to have a fixed number of students. It had only set a card energy requirement for entry, and there had not been any prize incentives either.
Had some things begun to change subtly after his rebirth?
Or was this just a rumor that had been distorted through repetition?
If there really were prizes, then in a small place like Xicheng No. 1 High School, aside from cultivation resources such as Solar Energy Potions, Tang Jian could not think of anything else that would interest him.
But the school probably would not be extravagant enough to hand out Solar Energy Potions. More likely, the reward would be an opportunity to challenge the Interstellar Tower.
The Interstellar Tower was a virtual world created by a support-type virtual network card. It contained many powerful card cultivators and special disaster environments, forming level after level of challenges.
Schools generally used such Interstellar Towers to motivate and test students. If a student's performance in clearing the levels was exceptionally outstanding, it was not impossible for them to receive precious cultivation resources such as Solar Energy Potions.
Tang Jian could not help but feel hopeful.
After chatting with Yang Mao for a while longer, morning self-study began.
Tang Jian was now fairly certain that Yang Mao's information might be true. Perhaps the course of events in this life differed subtly from his previous one, though the overall direction remained the same.
"Jianren, since you said your card energy has reached 33, I suggest you talk to your family and buy a bottle of Solar Energy Potion too.
For someone like you who has never taken a Solar Energy Potion before, once you take and absorb one, you can gain at least 10 card energy. With 43 card energy, you might really be able to squeeze into the sprint Rocket Class.
As long as you get past the threshold, even if you don't win any prizes, there will definitely be benefits. This money is worth spending."
Yang Mao sincerely advised him.
"Mm, I'll consider it." Tang Jian nodded in response.
"Hehe, forget it, Jianren. Our card energy is only around thirty. There are just too many students in the school with 30 card energy. Even if you can grit your teeth and take the potion, others may not fail to think of it too.
We're not like Yang Mao, with more than 40 card energy and still able to make a push. Besides, your family situation isn't exactly good. A Solar Energy Potion costs over thirty thousand yuan a bottle."
Xu Fei, a skinny, tall, refined-looking boy sitting behind them, shook his head.
"Solar Energy Potions are too expensive. I've already given up on the sprint Rocket Class. During this last stretch, I'll practice card crafting more and see if I can get good results in the college entrance exam."
Dong He, Xu Fei's deskmate, helplessly spread his hands. He glanced at Tang Jian. "I heard from Yang Mao that you buy used cards? I have some. I can't be bothered to go sell them myself, so should I just give them to you?"
Tang Jian's eyes brightened as he smiled. "Sure, but I won't be able to pay you until a couple of days later. Give them to me if you trust me."
Dong He hesitated briefly, then nodded. "Try to be quick. My expenses have been high lately too."
As he spoke, Dong He took nine used cards from his pencil case and handed them to Tang Jian.
Yang Mao sighed softly. "Jianren, you have talent for card crafting too. If you can successfully make a One-Star Blank Energy Card before the college entrance exam, you might still have a chance."
He had already assumed that Tang Jian had no intention of buying a Solar Energy Potion to make a run at the sprint Rocket Class, and he felt some regret for Tang Jian.
But Solar Energy Potions were too expensive. Even if he wanted to help, there was nothing he could do.
"Since you think so highly of me, just sell all your used cards to me from now on."
Tang Jian did not explain anything. He merely smiled at Yang Mao.
Just then, card apprentice instructor Sun Yiying entered the classroom and began morning self-study, leading the students in reviewing their card crafting experience.
After morning self-study came breakfast. The school food was not bad, but it was still cafeteria food, so the flavor was nothing special.
Tang Jian ate a little extra to fill his stomach. When the morning classes began, the entire class split into three groups.
Students focusing on cultural subjects such as mathematics, physics, and chemistry remained in the classroom. Those focusing on card crafting went to the school's specially built Card Crafting Room, while those focusing on card energy were taken to the school's main athletic field.
Some students with especially high card energy were even taken to the school gym equipment room, where teachers at the card master level personally instructed and trained them.
In Tang Jian's Class 12 of senior year, only Liu Kun was qualified to go to the gym equipment room.
To improve card energy, one had to possess excellent physical fitness, so it could not be separated from physical training.
"Jianren, these three used cards are for you too. Keep it up!" Yang Mao had chosen card energy class. Before heading to the athletic field, he gave Tang Jian three used cards.
"Alright, put it on my tab." Tang Jian did not stand on ceremony. Taking the used cards, he slung his backpack over his shoulder and headed for the Card Crafting Room.
"Brother Tang, you're going to the Card Crafting Room too? Let's go together?"
Just as he came out, Tang Jian ran into Xie Dong. The other boy greeted him with a smile and looked extremely enthusiastic, causing Tang Jian to narrow his eyes...
Before you continue