But then again, it seems like I didn't complete today's task of striking up a conversation

Su Qi was fully focused on channeling his soul energy to materialize the card he had just drawn.

Suddenly, a voice startled him so badly he nearly jumped: "Can you sell me that card later?"

It wasn’t that he was particularly skittish—it was just that being in a safe environment while deeply concentrated made him especially vulnerable to unexpected interruptions.

Su Qi snapped his gaze upward and saw a woman standing beside him, her cool eyes fixed on the card in his hand.

Her appearance was striking, with silky white hair cascading loosely over her shoulders, the ends slightly curled like wisps of wind-tousled clouds.

The eyebrows above the eyes that met his were slender and delicate, resembling faint ink strokes on a distant mountain, arched slightly with an air of aloof pride.

His first impression of her was clear: this was no ordinary girl.

Su Qi didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked down at the card in his hand.

[Card Name: Robe of Extinguished Desires]

[Type: Origin]

[Rarity: Rare]

[Energy Level: ?????? (Sixth Tier)]

[Description: One should not be consumed by the desires that fester within.]

[Attributes]

[Strength: 25]

[Agility: 27]

[Magic: 19]

[Skill: Serene Heart]

[Wearer’s likelihood of succumbing to negative emotions is drastically reduced.]

Huh?

An ‘Origin Card’?

That was unexpected.

Even in the card vault of Jiangxia’s Cardholder Association, Origin Cards made up no more than 20% of the collection.

Cards of the ‘Origin’ and ‘Illusion’ types were distinguished by their sources—‘Origin’ cards came from the ‘Source Realm,’ while ‘Illusion’ cards were crafted by artificers.

Generally, ‘Origin’ cards had superior stats, higher prices, and greater stability, making them a seller’s market.

‘Illusion’ cards, on the other hand, had lower attributes but more unpredictable and varied skills, with prices that fluctuated wildly—a buyer’s market.

Still, Su Qi couldn’t figure it out.

Why would this girl, who already seemed about as emotionally detached as they come, want a Robe of Extinguished Desires?

He blurted out without thinking: "Planning to become a nun?"

[Amusement +3]

Her response was even more aggressive than he anticipated: "Do you want to disappear from this world?"

If Su Qi had a favorability system, he could practically see a [Favorability -15] popping up above her head.

Thankfully, this was the real world, not some dating sim—otherwise, he’d half expect her to have him quietly disposed of.

"Double the market price."

Just then, some of the nearby martial examinees, who had been training for their upcoming tests, noticed the commotion and decided to make themselves useful for once.

"Isn’t that Yun Huang from the Yun family?"

"Who’s the guy opposite her? Talk about bad luck."

"Who’s Yun Huang?"

"Are you even from Jiangxia?"

"Nah, my hometown’s too competitive. I transferred here this year to snag a martial exam slot."

"Oh, so you’re one of those talentless rich kids gaming the system. Charmed, I’m sure."

"Cut the sarcasm. It’s not like I had a choice—family arrangements. Just explain, will you?"

"Since you asked so nicely, I’ll enlighten you."

"She’s the only daughter of the Yun family."

"Her name means ‘Born to Be a Phoenix.’"

"Eighteen this year, a sixth-tier Shadowflame Realm Pathseeker."

"Eighteen? Sixth-tier? Pathseeker?"

"Are those words supposed to go together? Are you insane or am I?"

"Believe what you want."

Amid the chatter, combined with the urban legends Su Qi had heard, things clicked into place.

So-called ‘Pathseekers’ were neither cultivators, nor martial artists, nor cardholders.

Or rather, they were all three at once.

They blended the strengths of all three disciplines into one.

The title was a tribute to humanity’s earliest pioneers.

Back then, when the path ahead was shrouded in darkness and enemies lurked everywhere, a handful of people refused to bow to fate.

They forced themselves, again and again, to break past human limits, carving a bloody path forward so that future generations could thrive.

That was the ‘Path’ they sought.

Where no road existed, they made one.

In modern times, even if someone monstrously talented managed to master all three disciplines, they wouldn’t call themselves ‘Pathseekers’—they’d opt for ‘Omnidisciplinarians.’

Because accepting that title meant shouldering a duty:

‘When the future of humanity grows dim once more, walk into the abyss and forge a new path.’

Born to Be a Phoenix…

Pathseeker…

Su Qi couldn’t imagine the suffocating weight those words must carry.

If someone told him to become a ‘Pathseeker,’ he’d curse them out—why don’t you do it yourself, you lunatic?

But that didn’t mean he lacked respect for such people.

He hoped the world was full of saints.

Just not him.

Still, something felt off.

The reformed martial exams…

The reappearance of a Pathseeker…

Damn, was the front line of the Source Realm about to collapse?

Well, even if his guess was right, there’d still be seven or eight years of buffer. Not his problem yet.

Su Qi pinched the card between his middle and index fingers and flicked it toward her.

"Take it."

"Just let the Association know it’s on your tab. I’ll draw another."

No big deal.

Yun Huang caught the card effortlessly, as if plucking a blade from the air.

She gave a curt nod, her tone devoid of emotion. "Fine."

With that, this unexpected encounter should have ended.

But then—

[A radiant soul is fading.]

Su Qi’s unreliable special ability was acting up again.

"Not my problem."

[A radiant soul is on the verge of vanishing.]

"Knock it off."

[If saved, estimated rewards: 231 Shimmer Points.]

"Then again… I haven’t completed today’s ‘flirt with a girl under 1.6 meters’ quota, have I?"

He glanced at Yun Huang. She looked about 1.6 meters tall.

No particular reason—just that letting such a radiant soul disappear would be a shame.