The two continued walking on the stairs, unknowingly winding through layers of meandering steps.

After hearing Huberrian's words, Lanqi fell into deep thought.

Now he had taken on card debt because of [Great Love Poet].

Although this card was worth any price for him,

Lanqi hadn't forgotten that his original purpose for coming to the capital was to get rich quickly.

If he could become a bit stronger and accumulate some connections, then no matter who the potential enemies threatening his Wilford Trading Company were, Lanqi wouldn't be too afraid.

The judge would use invincible laws to judge everything.

And to gain the favor of powerful factions and strong individuals, besides becoming a renowned card maker, achieving excellence in challenging the Shadow World was also a path.

At present, to make money quickly in a short time, if he relied solely on card making, he'd probably work himself to death in the card workshop.

As for selling paintings... Lanqi wasn't sure if selling his artwork widely before becoming strong enough would bring unpredictable trouble.

If his paintings became too valuable while he was still weak, it could actually be a very scary thing, and he might be targeted by unsavory characters.

So unless he was really short on money, he wouldn't consider selling paintings casually for now, and even if he did sell, it wouldn't be under his real name.

Looking at it this way,

While studying card making, striving to advance to become a high-level card maker was the long-term plan for getting rich.

Although intensive card making practice could slowly train his spiritual power and thus promote breakthrough in rank, it was indeed too slow.

The fastest way to improve rank was also to challenge the Shadow World—

After successfully clearing a real Shadow World, one could obtain corresponding rank enhancement effects!

So many card makers choose to become "battlefield card makers" to level up in the Shadow World.

This is a type of support combat profession transformed from a manufacturing profession.

Since challengers obtain new identities and situations in the Shadow World, and cannot carry any items, potions, etc. when entering and leaving the Shadow World, they can only carry magic cards bound to the soul and stored in the soul space back and forth.

Battlefield card makers bring equipment card-form [Portable Card Making Tools] kits into the Shadow World, then they can craft targeted magic cards for teammates in real-time based on the situation in the Shadow World!

Even with this kind of support in the team, they can bring back materials that originally couldn't be taken out of the Shadow World through the method of "making them into magic cards and then soul binding", thus improving the team's clearance rewards.

Therefore, in many cases, even if battlefield card makers are indeed slackers, many powerful teams are willing to bring along a tool person who can improve the whole team's rewards.

Lanqi of course also had some potential as a battlefield card maker.

But with his currently unstable card making skills, he was far from qualified to serve as a battlefield card maker.

It can only be said that more skills don't hurt.

During the time Lanqi fell into silence, Huberrian spoke again from the side:

"If there are candidates who achieve particularly outstanding results in the annual entrance exam, they may be able to obtain an exemption from the registered challenger qualification exam. If nothing goes wrong, you will receive a notice after school starts, then you can go through the procedures and challenge the real Shadow World."

The structure of the entrance exam itself was similar to the formal registration exam.

If one could pass with an absolutely high score, Icerite Academy, as a certified cooperative institution of the association, would also apply for exam exemption for students to the academy.

While other new students would have to spend a lot of time taking the registered challenger exam of the Southern Continent Shadow World Management Association before they could challenge the real Shadow World for the first time.

Huberrian was very certain that with Lanqi's level of performance, there was no reason he couldn't get the exemption.

As for teammates... Lanqi didn't need to worry, there should be quite a few upperclassmen and teams from various departments who would actively approach Lanqi.

"Oh, I see. Thank you, Huberrian."

Lanqi hurriedly thanked her upon hearing this.

As expected of a great noble from the capital.

She was well-informed about many enrollment details that weren't written down.

"It's nothing."

Huberrian just looked ahead at the stairs and nodded slightly.

Huberrian's reminder just now made Lanqi quite happy.

Since he might not need to go to the Southern Continent Shadow World Management Association to take the registration exam, if things go smoothly, he could directly become an Iron-level registered challenger after completing the procedures.

According to what Lanqi had heard previously in his hometown South Vantina border territory, there were seven levels of challengers recognized by the Southern Continent Association. After each clearance, the association would give records or promotions based on the level of contribution, and the higher the level achieved, the higher the corresponding benefits, privileges and status.

Starting from the lowest Iron level, followed by Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Magic Crystal, and Hero levels.

Putting aside the novice Iron and Bronze levels, people who could reach the third Silver level were already quite seasoned Shadow World veterans, and were the backbone of this world's Shadow World conquest.

If one reached the fourth Gold level, they would have a prominent social status no matter where they went!

From Platinum level onwards, even when traveling to other continents, they would be recognized by relevant associations with different systems, truly possessing world-renowned super-strong status.

After the practice of these two entrance exams, Lanqi found that he seemed to have some decent potential as a Shadow World challenger.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

He was already eager to start his challenger career.

"Do you know what level students in this school can reach?"

Lanqi asked curiously.

"It's already quite impressive if Icerite students can reach Gold level. As for Platinum level... only fourth-year and part-time students have it."

Huberrian thought for a moment and answered with some difficulty to let go,

"Those people actually have no need to stay in the academy anymore, they can leave anytime."

If she could also reach this level, even without her father's protection and the status of the duke's family, she wouldn't be afraid of those who wanted to harm her.

Unfortunately, she didn't think that with her talent, she could reach that step like those few monsters standing at the top of the academy.

"Part-time?"

Lanqi turned his head to look at Huberrian in confusion.

He understood fourth year, but he didn't know this academy also had "part-time" students.

"Generally speaking, students can apply for graduation in their third year, and will also be given quite a few challenger points, or be recommended for employment in various associations."

"Every year, a few exceptionally outstanding students choose to follow senior professors in the academy for additional years of research study, possibly staying at school to study for several years without leaving, collectively referred to as 'fourth-year students'."

"'Part-time' refers to a few challengers who already have senior Shadow World challenge experience and are studying part-time at our school. We are equivalent to 'full-time' students."

Huberrian patiently explained to Lanqi.

Without realizing it, during their conversation, they had already walked to the last level of the long stairs.

"I see, thank you for your explanation!"

Lanqi smiled and thanked the all-knowing Huberrian.

Just a few more steps forward.

What came into view was a huge hollow glass curtain wall, allowing a full appreciation of the beauty of the entire campus, including flowers, trees, buildings and lawns, everything was beautiful.

And on the suspended mid-landing of the stairs in front of them, a fork in the road appeared.

"See you at school then, I'm going to find a friend of mine over there."

Lanqi stopped, pointing towards the terrace direction, bidding farewell to Huberrian.

He was going to the terrace area connected to the first floor to find his demon mentor Talia who was waiting for him.

Compared to Talia who never spoke more than ten words at a time, chatting normally with Huberrian made Lanqi feel much more comfortable. Indeed, older girls who can't get married have some problems of their own.

"Goodbye."

Huberrian nodded in response.

With that, their shadows crossed, walking in two different directions.

......

Three days later, early morning.

The Creise Empire to the south of the Hutton Kingdom.

Due to the continuous mountain ranges separating the two countries, even if one wanted to transport a large amount of goods from the southern border of the Hutton Kingdom to the northern border of the Creise Empire, it would be more convenient to go around to the east and take the sea route by merchant ship.

Many of the northern cities of the Creise Empire are built on mountainous terrain, with tall building clusters coexisting with undulating terrain, and one can even see classical buildings surrounded by blue sky and white clouds.

Granweifley City, a main city in a northern border territory of the Creise Empire, can be said to be one of the most prosperous cities in the north. It is backed by cloud-piercing mountain ranges to the north and faces the sea to the east, with its docks bustling year-round.

The upper pillar layer of this northern border Granweifley City is suspended between several intersecting mountain peaks, with buildings mostly in deep gray or beige classical style. The climate is warm and bright, the air is filled with the fragrance of flowers and deep music, the streets are spacious and clean, and everywhere are well-dressed merchants, knights, and clergy.

At this time, in a room on the fourth floor of a building called "Wilford Trading Company" in this city-state, with a nameplate embedded on the door that read "Chairman's Office".

A middle-aged man sat in a comfortable chair behind the desk, put on his glasses, and began to read the "Hutton Times" from two days ago.

He was the chairman of the Wilford Trading Company, and also Lanqi's father — Noé Wilford.

Because the Wilford Trading Company had important trade channels between the two countries, newspapers published throughout the Hutton Kingdom were not difficult to buy, just that they might be delayed by two or three days sometimes, and it wouldn't be surprising if they were delayed by seven or eight days when not encountering merchant ship circulation.

"Let me see what news there is recently."

Noé leisurely browsed through the newly acquired Hutton Kingdom newspaper.

He didn't read it every day, only occasionally when he had finished his affairs and happened to have some leisure time, he would get the latest Hutton newspaper from the staff and read the news.

[A youth from the Holy Education Research Society, after being kicked out of the team by his companions, became enraged and turned into a Casanova, conquering all of his companions' mothers. When his companions regretted and were ready to line up to apologize, he chose to turn around and send their mothers to prison, with the reason being that he was underage.]

[A man in the South Vantina border territory, harboring resentment towards his boss due to overtime work, and learning that his boss was allergic to healing potions, beat his boss with hands smeared with healing potions, but surprisingly didn't cause an allergic reaction and instead severely injured the boss. After a month of detention, the man sued the potion manufacturer in court upon release, citing the production of counterfeit and inferior healing potions. Currently, the man has received 650 pounds in compensation from the manufacturer.]

Noé shook his head while turning the pages, trying to keep from bursting into laughter.

The Hutton Kingdom is a place of talented people and fertile land.

Sometimes they often have to modify laws, because there were no such legal provisions before, and they need to be added based on new and bizarre criminal situations.

The "Hutton Times" is sometimes even better to read than a regular joke book.

Thus, Noé flipped through the newspaper, enjoying his rare leisure time.

Beautiful oil paintings and embroideries hung on the walls of the chairman's office, soft carpets covered the floor, and the view of the sea of clouds could be seen outside the window, making Noé, who was stealing a moment of leisure from his busy schedule, feel extremely comfortable.

Soon, he found a report about the capital Icerite —

[During the annual Icerite Magic Academy - Sage Academy entrance examination, a serious accident occurred...]

[Examiner Viscount Felat Shavinsen is out of life-threatening danger after emergency treatment.]

[It can be seen that artificial Shadow Worlds still need many safety improvements.]

"I wonder what unlucky student could injure an examiner so severely, whoever raised such a thing really created bad karma."

Noé laughed schadenfreudely and sighed.

It's good that his son Lanqi is a bit mediocre, at least he wouldn't cause such accidents.

Communication magic is expensive, and cross-country communication magic requires permits and multiple relay stations. Unless there's an emergency, Noé rarely contacts the family in the South Vantina territory of the Hutton Kingdom.

Noé didn't need to ask whether Lanqi passed the exam or not.

Of course he must have failed miserably in the Alchemy Department's entrance exam and returned home.

Noé had already instructed the butler Hans that when Lanqi came home dejected, he should cut off his funding and let this good-for-nothing fool suffer a bit!

The next time he returned to the South Vantina territory, he would see if Lanqi had grown up even a little bit.

Continuing to read on, this news item wasn't over yet.

[During the examination, the artificial Shadow World startup terminal also experienced a malfunction once, allegedly due to abnormal operations by the examinee. According to an interview with Professor Polao of the Icerite Academy - Magic Engineering Department, he stated that the current emergency repair has already caused at least 8,000 pounds of Southern Kingdom United Currency in losses to the Magic Engineering Department...]

The image surrounded by newspaper text showed an angry old man with gritted teeth.

Although he already looked like he was holding back his anger in front of the camera, the look in his eyes that wanted to stab someone couldn't be hidden.

[...This is reporter Luvishir reporting for you.]

Finally, it ended here.

Noé shook his head and closed the newspaper.

"Heh, what a talent, able to break the exam terminal. If the Magic Engineering Department demands compensation, I'm afraid the family will be in trouble."

After finishing today's Hutton jokes, Noé felt completely satisfied.

Hope there will be some more exciting news next time.