Are the Teachers at Magic Card Academy This Poor

The two of them walked out of the mall carrying shopping bags of all sizes, with Liu Yuan trailing beside Su Qi.

She was still brooding over the fact that her final "killer move" had failed to achieve the desired effect.

"Damn it... why is it so hard to make my brother blush just once..."

The girl's muttering was barely audible, but every word drifted clearly into Su Qi's ears.

Su Qi found it privately amusing.

Blush?

What a joke. Do you even know how thick-skinned he—

Oh, wait. To resolve this crisis,

he had made a decision that went against his ancestors.

He had temporarily acquired the aesthetic sense of a world-class fashion designer.

And he had spent a hefty amount of points for it.

If he couldn’t even handle a situation like this, wouldn’t that be a complete waste?

The only slight regret was that, perhaps because he had cheated by using an exploit, this entire trip had yielded nothing but a pile of women's clothing and the sight of his little sister’s defeated expression—not a single point had been gained.

Not even a measly "666" popped up as a consolation.

It wasn’t a total loss, but it certainly wasn’t a win either.

By the time Su Qi returned to the alley with his arms full of bags, it was already evening.

He tossed the shopping bags onto the ground and collapsed onto them, feeling more exhausted than if he had fought monsters in the Origin Realm.

Liu Yuan, however, was brimming with energy, eagerly pulling out each new piece of clothing to admire in front of the mirror, her face glowing with the joy of her haul.

Humming a tune, she hung each item in the wardrobe, murmuring to herself.

"This one for tomorrow..."

"This one for next weekend’s outing..."

"And this black one... hehe..."

The silly girl let out an inexplicable giggle before carefully tucking the paper bag containing black lace into the deepest corner of the wardrobe, as if hiding some priceless treasure.

...

Three uneventful days passed.

Thanks to the strong push from the authorities, the patent application process for Su Qi’s Origin Flow Construction Method had been completed.

These past few days, he had enjoyed a rare stretch of leisure—watching shows and playing games with his sister, and studying the black card Elder Feng had given him.

The card’s structure was far more intricate than he had imagined, its embedded logic and energy circuits providing him with plenty of new insights.

Then, on the afternoon of the fourth day, as he lounged on the sofa, basking in the cool breeze of the air conditioner, his phone rang.

The caller ID read "Mediterranean."

Su Qi answered the call.

"Su Qi, got something to tell you."

Wu Gong’s voice on the other end was tinged with barely suppressed excitement, the background noise suggesting he was in a bustling office.

"Great Xia’s government is organizing a nationwide ‘Origin Essence Technique’ competition."

Su Qi’s eyebrow twitched slightly. "A technique competition?"

"Exactly!" Wu Gong’s voice rose a notch, as if announcing the greatest news. "This is being spearheaded by Elder Feng himself—unprecedented in scale and prestige!"

"There are two main objectives."

"First, they suspect there might be flaws in Great Xia’s talent discovery system. I mean, a genius like you went unnoticed in the academy. If not for my keen eye... ahem. Anyway, the higher-ups want to use this opportunity to see if there are any hidden gems among the populace. If they can unearth a few more like you, it’d be an incredible windfall."

Su Qi listened without comment.

Keen eye?

This baldy really knew how to flatter himself.

A few more like him?

As if people with cheats like his grew on trees, ripe for the plucking.

"The second objective is to pave the way for you," Wu Gong continued, lowering his voice but not his enthusiasm.

"Your Origin Flow Construction Method is invaluable, but it’s also too revolutionary. Pushing it directly would meet resistance."

"Hard to believe, but that’s the reality."

"Great Xia isn’t entirely under Elder Feng’s thumb either."

"He only has the power to propose."

"And some of the old-timers aren’t as open-minded as he is."

"There are stubborn fossils who doubt and distrust, thinking a young punk like you couldn’t possibly have come up with anything substantial."

"Even with all the test data laid out in front of them, they refuse to budge."

"Damn conservatives."

"They’re paranoid it might be a trap by the Descenders—like, what if the Origin Flow Construction Method itself is flawless, but there’s a counterpart technique that, when activated, instantly cripples anyone who’s practiced it?"

"Because they think the timing of your method’s emergence is too convenient."

Wu Gong’s tone dripped with disdain, clearly having encountered plenty of such attitudes while coordinating the project.

"So, Elder Feng had to compromise slightly. Organizing this competition is within his authority."

"You’ll participate using the Origin Flow Construction Method. Then, in front of the entire nation, you’ll claim the championship with indisputable dominance!"

"This will prove the superiority of your technique while also gilding your reputation with the brightest gold. With this achievement, who would dare question you or your method again?"

"Even those old fossils wouldn’t dare defy the tide of public opinion."

Su Qi fell silent.

He understood now.

This wasn’t just a competition—it was a grand stage tailor-made for him, a coronation ceremony broadcast to the world.

Elder Feng’s intention was clear: to thrust Su Qi and his "Origin Flow Construction Method" into the spotlight in the most undeniable way, establishing him as the standard-bearer of a new era.

But this wasn’t what Su Qi wanted.

He preferred to quietly gather resources, grow in the shadows, and amass wealth without fanfare.

Now, they were forcing him into the limelight, making him the center of attention—completely contrary to his original plan.

"Can I refuse?" Su Qi asked.

Wu Gong choked on the other end, as if Su Qi’s response had caught him completely off guard.

To him, this was an incredible opportunity, the kind countless young people dreamed of—a shortcut to fame and glory.

"Ahem... Su Qi, I know you’re a low-key guy who dislikes the spotlight," Wu Gong quickly adjusted his tone, adopting a persuasive tone. "But this isn’t just about you. It’s about the promotion of the ‘Origin Flow Construction Method,’ about the future of Great Xia."

"Plus, the rewards for this competition are astronomical. The champion will receive vast cultivation resources, even a custom card personally crafted by Elder Feng with his full effort..."

Wu Gong went on and on about the irresistible prizes, but Su Qi had already tuned out.

Appeals to duty, the future, or honor—none of it mattered to him.

"I get it," Su Qi cut him off.

"If I sold that custom card, how much could I get?"

"Huh? So... you’re agreeing?"

"No, I mean—that’s Elder Feng’s life’s work we’re talking about!"

"The Cardholder system doesn’t do much for lifespan extension. Elder Feng is already a hundred years old—he doesn’t have many years left."

"That's why he set up a small courtyard himself, renting it out at low prices to promising young people."

"Watching the youthful energy of these young people coming and going, it’s as if it could dispel some of the looming shadows of death around him."

"He rarely crafts cards anymore, and even when he does, they’re only low-level ones."

"Offering such a reward means he’s staking his life on this."

"You’re asking how much money it’s worth? Is this about money?"

Su Qi: "…"

Do you even know what level of card he can produce when he stakes his life on it?

This reward holds no real temptation for him.

But this competition…

He’ll still participate.

No need to think twice about it.

Preaching to the masses—this has to yield a massive haul of points.

"But… I’m broke."

After a moment of silence, the balding man suddenly recalled Su Qi’s remarks during the meeting with Elder Feng.

"Didn’t Elder Feng file a patent for you? Once the Sourceflow Construction Method gets widely promoted in half a year, you won’t be short on money."

"But I need money now."

"Then I’ll lend you 300,000 to tide you over. That should last you half a year, right?"

"Are the teachers at the Magic Card Academy all this poor?"

"Damn it, I’m just a teacher. No tutoring, no side gigs in the Source Realm—how much do you think I make? I just finished paying off my mortgage last year, alright?"

Mortgages—terrifyingly oppressive?

Even a tenth-tier powerhouse like him is effortlessly crushed by it.

"Why not go to the Source Realm and make some money? Too scared?"

Wu Gong choked on his words, then forced out a dry laugh. "Fine, I’ll go ask Elder Feng how much he can convert it into."

"But Elder Feng is a man of integrity—he doesn’t have much personal wealth. Keep your expectations in check."

"I’ll register you for the competition then. The academy will notify you about the specifics, like the schedule and rules. Prepare well these next few days, and if you need anything, just reach out. The academy will support you fully!"

After hanging up, Su Qi tossed his phone onto the bed.

What a hassle.

"What’s wrong, brother? Who called? You look upset."

Liu Yuan walked out of the small kitchen with a plate of sliced fruit.

She set it on the table and squeezed in beside Su Qi, her voice laced with concern.

"The academy," Su Qi muttered around a bite of watermelon. "They want me to join some competition."

"A competition?" Liu Yuan’s eyes lit up. "What kind? A Cardmaster duel?"

"Are you going to fight? Can I cheer for you?"

Seeing his sister’s excitement—as if she were the one competing—Su Qi’s headache worsened.

"Not a duel. It’s a… Source Energy Cultivation Innovation Contest," he made up a name that sounded suitably dull.

"Oh…" Liu Yuan’s enthusiasm instantly deflated. She hated boring things the most.

Nibbling on a slice of watermelon, she asked, "Is there prize money?"

"Yes."

"A lot?"

"Probably… a considerable amount."

"Then just treat it as earning money! Money makes everything better."

"If you win, we can move to a bigger place!"

Su Qi studied his naive sister’s money-grubbing expression, and somehow, his irritation faded.

Yeah.

If you can’t resist, just go along with it.

If they’re forcing him on stage, fine—he’ll perform.

Acting?

That’s his specialty.

Besides, he was curious—how many points could he rake in by putting on a nationwide show?

……

[Announcement on the First "Fundamental Framework for New Systems of Source Energy Cultivation" Conceptual Competition]

Su Qi’s eyebrow twitched.

He sat up straight and read the notice carefully.

Not to sound conceited, but Su Qi felt this was practically tailor-made for him.

[This conceptual competition requires participation in class-based or minimum ten-person teams.]

[Teaching materials must be recorded as video lectures, with outstanding entries to be featured as open courses on the academy’s official website.]

[No restrictions on participation—open to both internal and external applicants.]

[The competition focuses on proposing new directions for Source Energy Cultivation methodologies, with a total prize pool of 500 million Great Xia Dollars…]

500 million?!

Su Qi’s breath hitched.

He double-checked—no mistake. It was written as "five hundred million" in Great Xia characters, not numerals that could be misread.

So this is what they call…

"Elder Feng doesn’t have much personal wealth"?

Then Su Qi might as well be a beggar.

He kept reading.

[Competition Details: Participants must propose a new developmental direction for Source Energy Cultivation theory, comparing its advantages and disadvantages against existing systems.]

[Scoring Criteria: A core panel from the Great Xia government will evaluate and score submissions to determine the winner.]

By the end, Su Qi’s heart was pounding.

He wasn’t unfamiliar with wealth—the 10% royalties from his X-grade patent alone would surpass 500 million in the long run.

But this was different.

That was future money—stocks, prestige.

This 500 million? Cold, hard cash.

Instant gratification!

Beyond the allure of the prize, Su Qi sensed the deeper implications of this competition.

The government was casting a wide net, gathering ideas.

Progress in any vast system relies on fresh perspectives and bold innovation.

If he alone introduced these ideas, it’d be too shocking.

But under the guise of a competition—where "collective brainstorming" produces a winner—and he just happens to be the best solution?

That sounds far more palatable.

A chance to legitimately push his agenda, advance Source Energy Cultivation, and pocket 500 million?

Su Qi warmed to the idea and immediately prepared to sign up.

But when he clicked the registration link and saw the requirement for a team roster—

"Class-based or minimum ten-person teams."

His smile froze.

Forget whether the nine runaway students would cooperate.

Who would fill the last spot?

His airheaded sister?

Su Qi stroked his chin, deep in thought.