Perhaps it was precisely because the nobles possessed the blessings of Divine Cards...
With the aid of supernatural abilities, they became elites in every industry, amassing vast fortunes?
While the commoners, unaware of the existence of supernatural abilities and devoid of Divine Cards, could only serve as beasts of burden, exploited by the nobility?
This thought sent a chill down his spine.
Zhou Ke still remembered how, just two days ago, he had been mistakenly arrested by the police on the charge of [using supernatural abilities in front of commoners].
So, the commoners were like livestock, kept in the dark, completely ignorant of the existence of supernatural abilities, left to be slaughtered by the nobles.
Zhou Ke sighed.
In just two short days, his worldview had undergone a seismic shift.
He had originally assumed that this world he had crossed into was no different from Earth, aside from its political system.
But the emergence of Divine Cards, supernatural abilities, magic schools, and assassins from the Skull Society forced Zhou Ke to admit how little he truly knew about this world.
Zhou Ke clenched his fist.
Fortunately, he had received his Divine Card on his 18th birthday, granting him access to the truth of this world.
As long as he could attend the Divine Card Academy, he would eventually become one of the nobles.
He refocused his attention on the journey ahead.
Last time, he had reached the school instantly through Professor Chen Yun's supernatural ability—teleportation.
But today, Zhou Ke had to make his own way there. Without the ability to teleport, he had no choice but to take the subway.
The subway station at 8 a.m. was packed to the brim, unbearably crowded. Zhou Ke couldn’t help but sigh.
Most nobles had private cars; in this world, the subway was generally reserved for commoners or minor nobles like Zhang Yang who had fallen on hard times.
As the train arrived, people surged forward, pushing and shoving to board.
Zhou Ke barely managed to squeeze onto the carriage with his nimble frame, only to find all the seats already taken.
Resigned, he stood swaying among the crowd.
"Ding dong. Next stop: East City Plaza."
This was a major station, and some passengers began filing out.
Zhou Ke was headed to the terminal, so he stayed put.
"Ah." In the sea of bodies, a soft figure bumped into him.
"Sorry." A clear, feminine voice came from behind.
Zhou Ke turned his head.
It was a girl with silver hair.
Sunlight streamed through the window, refracting into delicate halos on her silver locks.
Above her black mask, her fair skin peeked through, and her long lashes cast butterfly-wing shadows on her cheeks.
Her attire was understated yet elegant—clean, simple, and full of character.
She appeared to be around Zhou Ke’s age, carrying a red backpack, likely also heading to school.
After apologizing, she slightly closed her eyes, not looking in Zhou Ke’s direction.
Her silver hair was distinctive, and Zhou Ke immediately recognized her.
The girl from yesterday—the one with the Divine Card, the Queen of Spades.
Zhou Ke’s gaze shifted to her wrist—a silver bracelet engraved with intricate patterns.
On it was a peculiar emblem.
This emblem resembled the badges worn by Zhuang Xingyao and Ye Lingtian on their chests, though with slight differences.
It depicted a [Spade] pierced by a longsword.
He recalled Zhang Yang’s words.
Zhuang Xingyao and Ye Lingtian were both from the Four Great Noble Families, hence the badges.
This girl before him... was also one of the Four Great Nobles.
Zhou Ke frowned.
This subway was meant for commoners, with only the occasional minor noble down on their luck.
Why would someone like her be here, squeezing into a crowded train?
"Excuse me..." Zhou Ke attempted to strike up a conversation.
BOOM!!!
A violent tremor suddenly rocked the train.
Passengers looked around in confusion, murmuring:
"What’s happening? An earthquake?"
"AAAAHHHH!!!"
A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the carriage.
A female passenger covered her mouth, pointing toward the end of the train, her voice trembling:
"There’s... there’s a monster on board!"
Zhou Ke followed her gaze.
In the last car of the train stood a figure cloaked in black, its face hidden beneath a hood.
At first glance, one might mistake it for an eccentric cosplayer.
But from its sleeves protruded not human hands, but dark, slimy, writhing tentacles.
Slowly, the humanoid creature spoke, its voice hollow and raspy:
"Resisters die."
"This concerns no one else. I am here to kill only one person."
With that, it began advancing toward Zhou Ke’s location.
"Hey, what’s your deal? Cosplaying?" A burly, muscular man stepped in its path. "This is a public space. Show some respect for order."
The creature paused, as if studying the man’s face.
Two seconds later, the same raspy voice replied:
"Non-target. Obstruction removed."
In an instant, one of its tentacles lashed out, striking the man with terrifying force.
Despite his imposing stature, the man was sent flying like a sheet of paper.
The sound of slimy mucus squelched beneath the creature’s cloak as the man crashed into the train’s railing, the stainless steel bars vibrating from the impact.
The man collapsed instantly, unconscious.
With the obstacle cleared, the creature resumed its approach.
The crowd erupted into panic, scrambling to flee the carriage.
Zhou Ke didn’t move.
He noticed the skull insignia embroidered on the creature’s black robes.
And he realized—the silver-haired girl hadn’t left either.
"It’s a killing monster from the Skull Society. Typically, they’re pre-programmed with the [target’s] characteristics, so they don’t kill indiscriminately."
"That’s why that commoner man isn’t dead."
The girl murmured under her breath:
"But precisely because of that, these [killing monsters] operate like machines—rigid and single-minded in their logic."
Zhou Ke exhaled softly.
He remembered yesterday’s second round of freshman trials.
That assassin had confidently declared that the Skull Society would send more killers after him.
Seeing this tentacled monstrosity, Zhou Ke had braced himself—he just hadn’t expected them to strike so soon.
He sighed and muttered:
"Hah. It must be here to kill..."
"It must be here to kill me," the silver-haired girl whispered.
???
Her quiet remark accidentally stole Zhou Ke’s line.
Zhou Ke shot her a sidelong glance.
Miss, aren’t you jumping to conclusions?
The girl remained oblivious to his look, her eyes locked onto the tentacled creature.
In the next moment, she swiftly drew her Divine Card.
Though her movements were fast, Zhou Ke caught a glimpse of the design—a black queen.
The Queen of Spades.
The girl chanted under her breath:
"Using a Divine Card in public is illegal... but this is an emergency!"
She then recited an incantation:
"[Spade] breaks armies, [Queen] forges divine arms."
Instantly, a pistol materialized in her hand.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Without hesitation, she fired at the monster.
The creature made no effort to dodge, taking the bullets head-on—yet it showed no sign of injury, continuing its relentless advance.
The girl's eyes flickered with a hint of surprise. She quickly shook her head and was about to step forward when an arm suddenly blocked her path.
It was Zhou Ke who had reached out.
"Classmate, its target is me. Please don’t throw yourself into needless danger," Zhou Ke said softly, standing firmly in front of her.
The girl studied him up and down, hesitating before asking, "And you are...?"
is also known as: "Sword Flying Under the Desk: My School Life" "Balancing Cultivation and STEM Homework" "The System That Taught Me to Take College Entrance Exams While Surviving Heavenly Tribulations" Good news: I got reincarnated. Even better news: I got reincarnated with a system. So, should I chase wealth? Or pursue immortality? Maybe become a superhero for the motherland? But with regrets weighing on this second life, I’d rather fix what I missed before. System: "Host, the cultivation world is full of dangers. You must form your Golden Core immediately!" Lin Mo glanced at the truck he’d just stopped with one hand. "At my level, it’s not like I’ll piss off ‘Little Boy’ or ‘Fat Man,’ right? Whatever—I still have two math problems left. Go play by yourself." System: "How can you still focus on homework at a time like this?! Host! Don’t throw your life away!" Lin Mo stayed silent, burying himself deeper into his workbook.
th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"
end. Thus one must continue to cultivate, and become a saint or great emperor, in order to prolong one's life. Chen Xia, however, completely reversed this. Since his transmigration, he has gained immortality, and also a system that awards him with attribute points for every year he lives. Thus between the myriad worlds, the legend of an unparalleled senior appeared. "A gentleman takes revenge; it is never too late even after ten thousand years." "When you were at your peak I yielded, now in your old age I shall trample on you." - Chen Xia
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
