Your culture class teacher is sick, everyone, follow me downstairs for some activities.

The man nicknamed "Mediterranean" showed no change in expression, merely letting out a cold snort. "An answer everyone already knows probably isn't enough to justify sleeping in my class, is it?"

"Then let me ask you this."

"Since the supernatural systems of cultivators and ancient martial artists already existed, why did the Card Wielder system emerge afterward?"

Su Qi fell silent for a moment.

The question was indeed somewhat challenging.

But only somewhat.

"Because the Day of Heavenly Descent in the New Era didn’t just bring physical destruction and a collapse of civilization."

"The energy tides of Blue Star underwent a fundamental transformation."

"To put it in more popular terms, it became an Age of Decaying Dharma."

"Before this, ancient cultivators could directly harness higher-dimensional energy through spiritual perception, turning it to their own use. They could even briefly interfere with the laws of reality, creating effects that nearly defied science. For them, realms like the Source Realm or even the Unknown weren’t out of reach."

"But after the 'Day of Heavenly Descent'—specifically around the 16th year of the New Civilization’s fragile reconstruction—countless cultivators who had resisted the Source Realm mysteriously died in their homes around this time."

"Later, through relentless research, a scholar published a paper titled The Closed Nature of Energy Sources in an academic journal."

"By analyzing the energy activity of numerous unearthed relics from antiquity and interviewing the few surviving cultivators from the old era, he reached a startling conclusion."

Su Qi paused, his voice ringing clearly through every corner of the classroom.

"That catastrophe didn’t just obliterate the old civilization—it also placed an invisible 'lock' on Blue Star’s energy framework."

"The higher-dimensional energy once easily accessible became obscure, even carrying an intangible backlash. The once-glorious cultivators, due to the exhaustion or alteration of their energy sources, fell into decline overnight. Those who walked this path now had a remaining lifespan of no more than twenty years."

"And so, countless people began searching for a way to break free."

"Many cultivators sacrificed themselves as vessels, using their very lives as furnaces to explore the path forward."

"These are the ones we later revered as the Pathseekers."

"Through the sacrifices of countless Pathseekers, the embryonic form of the modern card system was born."

"It completely overturned the remnants of the old supernatural systems and laid the foundational framework for our current card theory, which prioritizes stability and controllability."

"Card Wielders no longer blindly pursued the path of cultivators, where 'great power resided solely within oneself.' Instead, they turned to more refined energy guidance and card construction."

"In truth, the method of summoning entities via cards evolved from the soul-controlling arts of ancient dark practitioners."

"Equipment cards trace their origins to object manipulation and spatial storage techniques."

"Traces of talismans, elixirs, and formations can still be found in consumable and special cards..."

As his words faded, the classroom fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone stared at Su Qi in stunned silence—including Liu Yuan.

Her lips parted slightly, completely unprepared for her perpetually drowsy brother to spout something so… incomprehensibly impressive.

Even "Mediterranean" was taken aback, scrutinizing Su Qi as if meeting him for the first time.

Well, he was meeting him for the first time.

He’d only meant to reprimand the sleeping student.

And to flaunt his own profound knowledge by posing a difficult question, knocking the kid down a peg.

Who could’ve guessed the boy wouldn’t just answer it—but do so exhaustively, even citing sources, author viewpoints, and exact dates?

What kind of monster was this kid?

"Ahem, ahem!" "Mediterranean" cleared his throat, masking his inner turmoil with a strained, amiable expression. "This student’s answer was… excellent! Profound!"

He even started clapping, unable to help himself.

A smattering of applause followed, most students still too shocked to react.

"Clearly, this student put in serious effort to prepare. Such dedication is a model for all of you!"

"Mediterranean" salvaged his dignity. "Alright, take your seat. And in the future… pay attention in class."

"Thanks." Su Qi sat down without batting an eye.

Liu Yuan leaned over, poking him lightly with a finger, her voice hushed and eyes sparkling. "Brother, you’re amazing! How do you know so much?"

Su Qi glanced at her, lazily yawning. "Basic stuff. No need to hype it up."

With that, he reclined in his chair and closed his eyes again.

[Joy +999]

Liu Yuan: "…"

It suddenly struck her that her brother’s grand speech might not have been about answering the question at all—but purely about… getting back to sleep?

Meanwhile, "Mediterranean" on the podium twitched at the sight of Su Qi shutting his eyes again.

This kid… was utterly incorrigible!

"I told you to sit down and listen, not sit down and sleep!"

"Mediterranean" was at a loss.

As the top academy in Magic City, the Card Wielder Institute wasn’t just fiercely competitive among students.

The faculty was no exception.

Every teacher had performance metrics.

Monthly evaluations.

Three subpar teaching reviews in a year, and your teaching license was revoked.

"Job security" was a foreign concept here.

Had Su Qi pretended to listen for a bit before sneaking in a nap, he might’ve let it slide.

But this blatant disregard?

It was downright disrespectful.

Like the kid didn’t even see him as worth acknowledging.

If this were the second class of the semester, he might’ve turned a blind eye.

There was no real point in giving Su Qi a hard time.

But there were no "ifs."

On the first day, if he didn’t stamp out this behavior, the other students would take him for a pushover.

Fail to establish authority early, and maintaining discipline later would be a nightmare.

"One more question."

"Answer this, and you can sleep through every one of my classes from now on."

"Sleep in your dorm for all I care!"

The next question was borderline unfair for a freshman.

Su Qi probably wouldn’t take the bait.

So "Mediterranean" pulled out his foolproof provocation tactic.

Just as expected—

Su Qi’s eyes snapped open.

"Mediterranean" continued, "What you just explained wasn’t strictly card theory basics but the origins of the Card Wielder profession—meant to remind us to stand on the shoulders of our predecessors and never forget our roots."

"This semester, you only need to grasp two things in card theory fundamentals."

"How to maximize source energy absorption, and a rudimentary understanding of card circuits."

"Come up here and share your insights with the class."

Under the weight of everyone’s expectant stares, Su Qi felt backed into a corner.

With no way out, he steeled himself and walked to the podium under the collective gaze.

The podium wasn’t high, but standing on it and facing dozens of pairs of eyes below still made him feel slightly uneasy.

"Dear juniors, my understanding of cards is still quite shallow. Today, I’ll boldly share some immature thoughts. If there are any shortcomings, please feel free to correct me."

Starting with a humble disclaimer was always a safe bet.

The room below was silent—no applause, no response.

Most eyes carried a scrutinizing gaze.

But now that he was already up here, he couldn’t just leave without saying a word.

What should he talk about?

Su Qi’s mind raced.

His card-making methods were too shocking to demonstrate outright—it would only invite unnecessary trouble.

He needed something insightful yet not too outrageous.

Got it!

"Mr. Baldy… do you have any Source Crystals on you?"

The "Baldy" teacher’s eyebrows furrowed into a knot.

What did this kid want with Source Crystals?

Source Crystals, short for Source Essence Crystals, were formed when free-floating source essence condensed naturally or artificially under high pressure.

They were the core energy source for card practitioners—used in cultivation, card-making, and powering large-scale instruments. They were the universal currency.

Even at the Magic Card Academy, the lowest-grade Tier-1 Source Crystal cost a whopping 30,000 credits to exchange.

An average student’s monthly allowance was about that much.

Of course, he had some.

As a senior lecturer at the academy, the school allocated a certain quota of Source Crystals each month as teaching resources and benefits.

But for this kid to casually ask for a 30,000-credit crystal out of thin air?

Besides, under normal circumstances, a seventh-tier practitioner’s cultivation speed couldn’t keep up with the regeneration rate of source essence, so they wouldn’t even need Source Crystals yet.

"What do you need it for? A theoretical discussion shouldn’t require one."

"Professor, you mentioned earlier that this semester’s focus is on two things: how to absorb source essence with maximum efficiency and a basic understanding of card circuits."

"Empty theory is dull. As the saying goes, practice is the sole criterion for testing truth."

"I think nothing would help the students understand better than a live demonstration."

"Otherwise, explaining some terms would be a pain."

Su Qi’s reasoning was clear and logical.

The students below immediately perked up, murmuring among themselves.

"A live demonstration of absorbing a Source Crystal? Seriously?"

"Is he just trying to scam Old Wu out of a crystal? Once it’s in his pocket, Old Wu won’t dare ask for it back."

Damn, not only was he asking for it—he planned to use it right then and there?

Was this kid truly confident, or just bluffing to make the teacher back down?

Interesting.

Suddenly, he wanted to see what tricks this student—who had been full of "surprises" since the first minute of class—could pull off.

"Fine!"

"Baldy’s" eyes gleamed as he retrieved a crystal from his storage card.

It was about the size of a thumb, pure white, emitting a soft glow.

Essentially, it was the same kind of hard currency as the spirit stones of ancient times.

"Consider this my personal support. If you can actually deliver something insightful and help the students learn, it’s yours."

"But if you waste it… well, we’re all adults here. You’ll have to take responsibility for your actions."

The implication was clear: screw this up, and not only would he embarrass himself, but he’d also have to pay for the crystal.

"Thank you, Professor."

Su Qi took it without hesitation. The crystal felt cool and smooth in his hand, its pure energy sending a refreshing jolt through his mind.

He weighed the crystal in his palm, then smiled at the class.

"Before we begin, let’s cover the basics. According to the standard 'Primer on Source Essence,' absorbing it revolves around two principles: 'drawing' and 'containing.'"

"'Drawing' means using mental energy as a guide to destabilize and capture the stable structure of source essence."

"'Containing' means using the body as a vessel to receive and convert the drawn essence."

"The process is like… sipping pearl milk tea through a straw. The straw’s width determines how much you can suck up at once; the suction strength determines how fast you drink."

The analogy was straightforward, and many students’ faces twisted into…

Expressions of disdain.

Nothing new here.

Everyone already knew this stuff.

Su Qi paused, then shifted gears.

"But this analogy isn’t entirely accurate. Because Source Crystals aren’t milk tea—they have a 'personality.' And we aren’t just simple containers. Our bodies are complex energy fields."

"So, maximizing absorption efficiency isn’t about how hard you 'suck.'"

"Today, I’d like to share a personal theory I call the 'Sourceflow Construction Method.'"

"'Sourceflow Construction' refers to understanding how source essence flows during absorption, and how to form stable, high-efficiency energy channels through specific nodes…"

Of course…

This was all made up on the spot.

The inspiration came from the cultivation technique provided by Su Qi’s own card.

But he couldn’t outright describe that technique.

The "Sourceflow Construction Method" was already a watered-down version—about 80% weaker.

Don’t underestimate it, though.

Consider this: Su Qi had gone from fifth-tier to seventh-tier in just two and a half months.

And that was with delays from sparring sessions.

Meaning, a talented person learning this method could go from fifth-tier to seventh-tier in just a year.

Do the math: starting cultivation at 15, with the early tiers being much easier, and they’d be a guaranteed seventh-tier by the martial exams.

Something like this would inevitably cause a stir.

But Su Qi had actually wanted to share it after the exams.

The Great Xia’s situation wasn’t optimistic.

Selfishness had its limits.

He just hadn’t figured out how to introduce it—until now.

If questioned later, he’d just play dumb: "Huh? Is it really that amazing?"

"Doesn’t everyone cultivate like this?"

A mix of feigned ignorance and humblebragging would do the trick.

"Enough theory. Now, let me demonstrate what I mean by 'Sourceflow Construction.'"

With that, Su Qi fell silent.

In front of everyone, he gently clasped the Tier-1 Source Crystal in his palm.

Then, he closed his eyes.

The classroom was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Every gaze was locked onto his hand.

One second.

Two seconds.

Five seconds.

…

Two and a half minutes passed.

Nothing happened.

Murmurs of discontent began spreading through the room.

"What’s this guy doing?"

"All that big talk…"

Up on the podium, "Baldy" couldn’t help but smirk in resignation.

Su Qi had sounded so convincing earlier.

For a moment, he’d almost believed the kid had some groundbreaking theory.

Turns out it was all empty rhetoric.

Absorbing Source Crystals was all about innate talent—no need for fancy theories.

In the end, this freshman was just…

Before the thought in his mind could fully form, his pupils abruptly constricted the next instant!

Su Qi's Source Crystal, which had been emitting a soft white glow, suddenly dimmed as if snuffed out by an invisible hand!

No—

Not just dimmed!

The energy within it was being drained at an inconceivable speed!

The pure white crystal was visibly turning transparent from the edges, as if melting away like ice tossed into boiling water!

"This… this is impossible!"

The "Baldy" teacher gasped under his breath, frozen in place.

By standard metrics, an eighth-tier Card Wielder typically required over two and a half hours to absorb a single Tier-1 Source Crystal.

But now… how long had it been?

Two and a half minutes?

Do you have any idea what two and a half minutes meant?

And Su Qi was only seventh-tier!

At that moment—

A light knock sounded on the classroom door.

A man in his thirties stood outside, glancing at "Baldy."

He was the combat instructor of the Magic Card Academy.

He’d timed it—Baldy’s first lecture usually wrapped up in thirty minutes.

Leaning against the doorframe with crossed arms, the combat instructor declared, "You’re sick."

Without waiting for Baldy’s response, he addressed the class, "Your theory instructor is ill. Everyone, follow me downstairs for drills."

Who could’ve guessed that the line which had worked flawlessly for semesters would fail this time?

The combat instructor never imagined a mere theory teacher would dare disrespect him!

He’d even given Baldy enough time to finish the lecture.

If he said Baldy was sick, then Baldy was sick—got it?

Several more strands of Baldy’s already sparse hair chose that moment to abandon ship.

Because he’d just seen Su Qi’s focus break, the absorption of Source Energy halting.

"Go to hell, you bastard! Nobody leaves!"

Did this idiot even realize what he’d just ruined?

Sometimes, groundbreaking theories were born from fleeting sparks of inspiration.

Hell, Su Qi’s entire hypothesis might’ve started as stubborn pride—an excuse to nap without losing face.

Once interrupted, that flash of genius would vanish, impossible to recreate.

This wasn’t hyperbole.

Everyone’s experienced it—one second, the idea’s there; the next, after a distraction, it’s gone.

Baldy, old and unpracticed in cursing, could only spit crude vitriol.

"Traitor to the nation!"

"Fuck your ancestors! You’re a damn disgrace to Daxia!"

"You’re the one who’s terminally ill!"

"Next time, use your fucking eyes before barging in!"