CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER 22: ACADEMY PK TOURNAMENT

When Shen Sui arrived at the classroom, there was already someone there.

Duel Academy, despite having ’academy’ in its name, most of them, except for the well-known national divisions of Life Card Masters, exist as training bases for Life Card Master clubs.

Even so, considering the harsh nature of the Life Card Duel career path, the government has mandated that Duel Academies must offer cultural subjects and even set up several specializations for students to choose from.

When Shen Sui saw someone there, he was taken aback for a moment and instinctively thought that this classroom was for lectures.

"Excuse me, is this the teaching building?" Shen Sui asked uncertainly, as he wasn’t very familiar with Tianyi Academy yet.

"Yes." A pretty girl answered him.

Her hair casually hung down her back, frizzy and dry, looking like it wasn’t commonly groomed.

Her face also showed a hint of fatigue, as if she stayed up late doing something last night.

The girl’s outfit was equally casual, a white shirt paired with a pleated skirt, wearing black stockings on the right foot and white stockings on the left.

Initially, Shen Sui thought her outfit was intentional, until he noticed the white stocking was worn inside out....

This is just too casual.

But even so, the girl’s natural looks were surprisingly good, because despite being so carelessly dressed and carrying so many DEBUFFs, she still managed to give Shen Sui a sense of beauty, and quite a lot of it above average.

"You’re Shen Sui, right." The girl said his name, extending her hand to Shen Sui with a smile, "I’m Xinyuan Tanchun, your Life Card Duel coach."

"From Japan?" Shen Sui instinctively asked, "So young."

The woman burst out laughing, brushing her hair behind her ear, "I’m a genuine Huaxia person, and as for being young, of course! I’m only twenty years old, just two years older than you. But I’m surprised really, there’s still someone choosing World No. 1 these days."

Being sent over as Shen Sui’s coach at the age of twenty, it can only be said that Life Card Masters on Dawn Continent are indeed few.

Xinyuan Tanchun blinked at Shen Sui, her mouth curling up, said nonchalantly, "Though I am afraid of trouble, since I’ve finally encountered a newcomer from the same Soul Card World, I’ll guide you! Where is your Soul Card now? Let me see if I can trick that guy to feed you some cards there."

Shen Sui instinctively frowned, keeping in mind Lin Ke’Er’s words, that casually revealing one’s Soul Card information is not a good habit.

Xinyuan Tanchun seemed to notice Shen Sui’s hesitation, smiled and said, "No need to worry, there are few Life Card Masters in World No. 1 anyway, we should support each other even more."

"Speaking of which, Coach Xinyuan, why did you choose Dawn Continent back then?" Shen Sui asked curiously.

As soon as she heard this, Xinyuan Tanchun’s face turned gloomy: "Damn it! Talking about this really gets me annoyed! I originally wanted to choose World No. 19, but before drawing my Soul Card, I sneaked off to have my fortune told, and that fortuneteller said that World No. 1 was my best choice, that I’d meet a valued benefactor there, soar to great heights, even have a chance to secure a national championship."

"And then you chose World No. 1?"

"I’m not superstitious." Xinyuan Tanchun put her hands on her hips and said, "No way I’d believe in fortune telling."

"So..." Shen Sui looked at Xinyuan Tanchun.

She sighed, spread her hands, and said, "My mom insisted I choose World No. 19, and I’ve never listened to her in my life. Then among the remaining 32, I didn’t know which to pick, remembered the fortune telling, and just went with it."

No way, you are way too hasty! It’s a crucial decision that impacts your future, come on!

"Looking back, I really regret it, my drawn Soul Card is too strong, I can’t get a Transformation Card, just have to coax her into digging graves to get new cards. However, Dawn Continent has its perks!" Xinyuan Tanchun put her arm around Shen Sui’s shoulder and said, "Fewer people choose this world, so there’s less competition. You know, in those hot Immortal Soul Card Worlds, TM’s a secret realm can attract hundreds of Soul Card followers, it’s crazy competitive. Unlike Dawn Continent, resources are everywhere, easily dozens of cards thrown about."

"I watched your duel, your Soul Card is called Alice, right?" Xinyuan Tanchun laughed and said.

This is why Soul Card names aren’t written in full, because even if a Life Card Master doesn’t reveal it, duels always result in some leakage of Soul Card information, the less leaked the better.

"An Apprentice Mage, not easy to survive on Dawn Continent. Really, for the sake of your Soul Card follower’s safety, better have her come over and pair with my Soul Card!" Xinyuan Tanchun patted her chest and said, "My Soul Card, a Tier 13 Archmage, counts as one of the top figures on Dawn Continent."

"Tier 13, is that impressive?"

"Of course! Except for those Tier 15 Gods and Tier 14 Popes, Saintesses and the like, a Tier 13 powerhouse can walk horizontally, right?" Xinyuan Tanchun chuckled, "And my Soul Card’s identity is special, all factions must show some respect. Since you won’t tell me the info, just remember, if your Soul Card runs into trouble, just tell her to find Isabella Oliveira! The Tomb Guardian of Dawn Continent."

"Oh, that flat-chested Vampire?" Shen Sui instinctively said.

"Ah?"

"Haha, nothing, just reminded me of a game character." Shen Sui coughed twice.

Xinyuan Tanchun blinked in confusion.

Isabella Oliveira, one of the capture targets in "Dawn Link", and besides Vivian, an immensely popular character.

Her setting is the most classic blonde tsundere loli True Ancestor of Vampires, an ageless existence in the game.

During Shen Sui’s second playthrough of the Twilight of the Gods route, he partnered with her to kill the Ancestor of Vampires.

Shen Sui wasn’t surprised at all that Isabella is still alive.

No, he even felt a bit anxious.

Because in the game, getting Isabella to fight alongside you required full affection...

Anyway, Xinyuan Tanchun indeed reminded Shen Sui that the quickest way to understand history is to ask those ancient undead folks.

Seeing Shen Sui still wasn’t revealing his Soul Card information, Xinyuan Tanchun didn’t insist further, instead, she started talking to Shen Sui about herself and some upcoming matters.

The duel exam isn’t the endpoint but the starting point for inner competition.

The first academic year at Duel Academy is the busiest, students need to quickly assemble a deck of forty Life Cards and participate in the monthly academy PK tournaments. If you win three matches in the PK, you can challenge your coach, and once the coach believes you have the capability to become a professional Life Card Master, they’ll write a recommendation letter to the Life Card Association for you.

Afterward, you’ll have to go through a five-match Ranking Tournament.

A best-of-five match win in the Ranking Tournament confirms you as a professional Life Card Master. Typically, opponents are randomly assigned Tier 1 Life Card Masters by the Life Card Association. However, if you can beat a Tier 1 Life Card Master and wish to face a tougher challenge, you can apply to the Life Card Association for opponents of higher tiers, and if you win, you can continue to request for higher tier opponents, up to a Tier 5 Life Card Master.

Winning three matches is the hard condition for becoming a professional Life Card Master, while your assigned tier depends on the strongest opponent you’ve defeated.

Even though the Ranking Tournament can only be joined once, it’s the quickest way for Life Card Masters to ascend ranks. Because after the Ranking Tournament, to ascend a rank, you must earn enough points to apply for a Promotion Tournament, where there’s no difficulty choice, and the Life Card Association randomly assigns five target-tier professional Life Card Masters. Win, and you ascend ranks; lose, and come again next time.

Therefore, many professional guides emphasize the importance of the Ranking Tournament, and it’s also a perk of getting into Duel Academy. If you’re not a Duel Academy student, to enter a Ranking Tournament, you must earn enough points in officially recognized amateur duel competitions and then apply to the Life Card Association.

"If possible, aim to reach a higher rank in the Ranking Tournament." Xinyuan Tanchun proudly said, "Back then, I straight-up advanced to Tier 4 in the Ranking Tournament!"