In the vast duel arena, remnants of dark red energy were still dispersing.
Violent fluctuations rippled through the air like aftershocks, accompanied by thunderous echoes that had yet to completely fade.
For a moment, it felt as though the entire duel field had been scorched and flattened.
As the blinding light slowly dimmed and the swirling dust settled layer by layer, silence descended upon the scene.
A heavy, deathly silence.
So quiet that no one present even dared to breathe too loudly.
No one had reacted yet.
Wang Hao stood frozen in place, his expression hollow, as though something inside him had been completely drained.
The light in his eyes was gone.
All that remained was confusion.
Just two words were written all over his face.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What just happened?
As the captain of the academy's assessment department, losing to a freshman was already hard to accept.
But this—
This wasn't just a loss.
He had been completely annihilated.
Killed in a single turn.
Eight thousand Life Points, wiped out cleanly.
Even within the academy, there were only a handful of people capable of pulling off a one-turn kill with such stability and precision.
This wasn't strength anymore.
It was abnormal.
It was perverted.
This duel had shattered not just his Life Points, but his confidence as well.
At this point, Wang Hao's mental state could only be described with one word.
EMO.
"Victory confirmed," You Chen said calmly, adding the final touch with a relaxed smile.
"What a pleasant duel."
That sentence struck Wang Hao like another critical hit.
A mental backstab.
Critical damage!
Liu Qingyi, standing nearby, blinked her bright eyes, shock clearly written across her face.
The strength You Chen had displayed in this duel far exceeded what he had shown before.
Not just raw power—but seamless sequencing, precise timing control, and a terrifying ability to read both the board and the opponent's mindset.
Every card.
Every chain.
Every decision.
All of it had been calculated.
It was a flawless, textbook-level OTK.
As one of the academy's top students, Liu Qingyi had naturally noticed the timing traps in that duel.
She even smiled faintly at the realization.
New students often suffered from timing mistakes.
But this time—
It wasn't You Chen who fell into the trap.
He had been fishing from the very beginning.
And the bait had been irresistible.
Not only Wang Hao—
Even she herself had nearly been caught off guard.
This duel allowed her to see You Chen from a completely new angle.
"Honestly," Liu Qingyi said with a light laugh, "you really are born to play cards."
You Chen glanced at her and replied casually, "So, there shouldn't be any problem with entering the master class, right?"
Liu Qingyi nodded without hesitation.
"Of course. Defeating the captain of the assessment department is more than enough. Congratulations in advance."
"Good," You Chen said, then immediately added, "Also, don't forget the royal card library access."
That was the part he cared about most.
After all, this was the Royal Card Library shared by the four major universities—completely incomparable to ordinary external card pools.
Liu Qingyi turned around, smiling.
"Who said the card library isn't important?"
"From this point of view, you're quite honest."
She waved slightly and left behind a sentence.
"Come on, I'll take you to the master class. I didn't expect the assessment to end this quickly."
At this moment, You Chen didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he turned his head and looked at You Wushuang.
"You Wushuang," he said, "haven't you watched enough yet? You can head back."
You Wushuang didn't argue.
It was already late, and she still had to go back to the shop.
"Alright, kid," she said, glancing at him. "Take care of yourself at school. Come back at least once a week, understand?"
Although the two of them argued constantly, being suddenly alone in such a big house still felt unfamiliar to her.
Lonely, even.
How could You Chen not understand what she really meant?
He curled his lips.
"What a hassle."
"I'll come back every three to five days. It's only a few dozen kilometers anyway."
"And don't think you're getting out of it—every time I come back, you're cooking."
After saying that, You Chen waved his hand and walked away.
"Tch."
"You little brat who never grows up."
Although she complained, the corners of You Wushuang's mouth lifted slightly, and there was a trace of warmth in her eyes.
That was how siblings were.
They quarreled endlessly, never agreeing on anything—
Yet somehow, they always understood each other without words.
…
Master Class.
Following Liu Qingyi, You Chen arrived at a classroom located deep within the academy.
There were plenty of students in the outer classrooms, but the moment he stepped into this one, the atmosphere changed completely.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
You Chen glanced around and paused slightly.
There were only eleven students inside.
Including him, that made twelve.
No wonder it felt so silent.
"Are there really so few people in the master class?" You Chen asked, somewhat surprised.
"What do you think?" Liu Qingyi replied softly.
"The entry conditions for the master class are extremely strict."
"You either defeat all three assessors…"
"Or, like you, defeat the captain of the assessment department."
"Either way, it's not something ordinary students can do."
She continued calmly.
"Every student here is a candidate for becoming a future special student."
"And every one of them has outstanding strength."
Hearing the term special student, You Chen frowned slightly.
"What's a special student?"
Liu Qingyi explained patiently.
"Each school only has five special student slots."
"They represent the five strongest students in the academy."
"As for how they're selected…"
"You need to pass multiple super-level examinations, one after another."
"They're all students who've survived countless high-level duels."
"To put it simply—"
"You need at least professional-level potential to even be qualified."
You Chen understood immediately.
In other words, only duelists with genuine top-tier potential could break through the layers of assessments and claim that title.
"Why ask?" Liu Qingyi teased. "Interested in becoming a special student as soon as you enroll?"
"Not really," You Chen replied casually. "Just asking. I wasn't interested before."
"Oh?" Liu Qingyi smiled. "Special students receive a yearly scholarship of five million."
"They're also rewarded with housing."
"And if they place in competitions, they get priority access to royal decks and exclusive benefits."
"I want all the information about special students later," You Chen said instantly.
"I didn't have a choice before."
"But now, I suddenly feel motivated."
Liu Qingyi laughed helplessly.
This guy was way too honest.
Not even pretending.
"Alright," she said, glancing at her watch. "You go in first. It's almost time—I should head out."
"See you later."
After saying that, You Chen stepped into the classroom.
The moment he entered—
All eleven students inside turned their heads simultaneously.
Different gazes met his eyes.
Some were proud and aloof.
Some were restrained and observant.
Some burned with competitive intent.
And some—
Some stared at him with strangely enthusiastic, almost fanatical expressions.
You Chen paused.
"…Huh?"
Why does it feel like the atmosphere is a little off?
Why do some of these looks resemble—
Idol worship?
Why are there nympho-like eyes here?
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