Magic Card Era: Infinite Deck Enhancement — Chapter 71

Chapter 71: My Daughter Is Still the Best!

The man stood impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, but a closer look revealed the fine fabric straining dangerously against its seams. It didn’t take much imagination to picture the explosive, coiled muscles hidden beneath that formal attire. Such a heavy, brawler-like physique was an exceedingly rare sight among Magic Card Masters, who typically relied on spiritual energy rather than brute physical strength.

Even Luke found himself glancing sideways. If this guy wasn’t slinging magic cards, he could have easily dominated the heavyweight boxing circuit.

“Uh, we didn’t consider that.” Chairman Yu and Song Yongzhang exchanged a brief, awkward glance. Their conversation had been abruptly cut short, leaving a fleeting trace of embarrassment on their weathered faces.

The Cang Capital General Association sat right in the bustling heart of the city, surrounded by a constant flow of pedestrians. Two entire teams of young card masters loitering at the grand entrance had already drawn quite a crowd of curious onlookers.

However, both Yu and Song were wily old foxes with skin as thick as a fortress wall. The awkwardness vanished in the blink of an eye, replaced by their usual composed smiles.

“Allow me to introduce you,” Chairman Yu said, gesturing to the muscular man. “This is Vice President Shangguan, one of the esteemed Vice Presidents of the Cang Capital General Association.”

Shangguan?

Compound surnames were uncommon, and Shangguan certainly wasn’t a widespread family name. But here in Cang Capital, that specific surname carried an obvious, crushing weight. The most prominent figure bearing it was none other than Shangguan Hong, the President of the Cang Capital General Association—a powerhouse who had already ascended to the legendary Immortal Realm.

Given that the muscular man standing before them was a Vice President in the very same association, his connection to Shangguan Hong was bound to be significant.

In a heartbeat, the casual curiosity in the students’ eyes shifted into deep reverence. To these young competitors, Shangguan Pu’s status suddenly felt even more towering than that of Chairman Yu or Song Yongzhang.

“Come inside,” Vice President Shangguan said, his deep voice rumbling. “Many of our old friends have already arrived. If you dawdle any longer, you’ll be lumped in with the very last batch.”

Shaking his head in mild amusement, he turned and led the delegation through the grand doors. However, as he walked, Shangguan Pu’s gaze flicked subtly toward the crowd, landing squarely on Luke. A spark of intense interest flashed in the Vice President’s eyes.

His father, Shangguan Hong, had already briefed him about this particular boy. It was genuinely difficult to fathom that such a young, unassuming Magic Card Master was actually an Original Magic Card Creator.

Naturally, the ability to forge Original Magic Cards wasn’t strictly bound by a creator’s age, but the sheer rarity of the talent made it staggering. However, Shangguan Hong had shared Luke’s unique status with him in absolute confidence, issuing a stern warning never to casually leak the information.

Because of that strict directive, Shangguan Pu ruthlessly suppressed the burning urge to pull the boy aside and demand to see his original creations. He knew the gravity of his father’s words; if the old man wanted it kept quiet, there was a monumental reason behind it.

A Nine-Star General, Shangguan Pu noted silently, his sharp senses probing Luke’s spiritual fluctuations. Just a single step away from breaking through to the Commander Realm. He’s only a hair’s breadth behind Wan’er. A faint smile touched his lips. I suppose nothing less should be expected from a genius capable of crafting Original Magic Cards.

Although his daughter, Shangguan Wan’er, held the higher rank as a Three-Star Commander, Shangguan Pu knew exactly how much wealth, rare materials, and elite tutoring the family had poured into her advancement. It was the sheer, overwhelming foundation of the Shangguan clan that had propelled her to that height so quickly.

Luke, on the other hand, hailed from a perfectly ordinary background, yet he was nipping right at Wan’er’s heels. If their positions were swapped, Shangguan Pu had a strong, nagging suspicion that his daughter might not have reached Luke’s current level.

No wonder Father told Wan’er to get close to him. This boy might just be an incredible opportunity for her.

Still, paternal pride flared up within him. Even if he is an Original Creator, his current cultivation is still lacking. A whole major realm separates him from Wan’er. If they clash, it’s hard to say who would come out on top. As a father, Shangguan Pu naturally rooted for his own blood.

Withdrawing his discreet gaze, the Vice President pushed the thoughts aside. The upcoming Youth Training Competition would provide more than enough time to witness Luke’s true capabilities on the battlefield.

From the outside, the Cang Capital General Association was already a colossal architectural marvel. But stepping through the main doors, the sheer scale of the interior left the visiting students breathless. A sky-high vaulted dome stretched above them, lined with magnificent, sweeping golden accents that caught the ambient light. The opulent environment instantly made the twelve satellite city branches look like quaint rural outposts.

Since regular working hours had ended, the sprawling main hall was closed to the general public. Only a few scattered staff members remained on standby. The moment they spotted Vice President Shangguan leading the new arrivals, they hurried over with practiced efficiency.

Their designated task was to process the competitors arriving from the twelve cities for the Youth Training Competition, and having handled several groups already today, they moved like clockwork.

“It’s been a long journey for all of you. You should rest first,” Vice President Shangguan said, exchanging a few final, quiet words with Chairman Yu and Song Yongzhang before gesturing for the staff to take over.

Neither the Cangling City nor the Cang Yue City participants voiced a single complaint. In fact, a collective, silent sigh of relief rippled through the group. Walking in the shadow of three Sovereign Realm Magic Card Masters had been suffocating. Even with the older men intentionally reining in their spiritual pressure, the residual aura was simply too heavy for these novice card masters to endure for long.

“They really call this a ‘guest room’?” Luke muttered, staring at the sprawling structure before him.

Guided by the association staff, Luke and his team had been brought to their accommodations for the duration of the tournament. Calling it a room was a gross understatement—it was a full-fledged luxury villa. The sheer extravagance of it drew quiet gasps from the rest of the team; this temporary housing was vastly more opulent than their actual homes.

The villa was fully equipped, smoothly integrating high-end amenities without ruining the elegant, modern aesthetic. Walking through the spacious living area, Luke even spotted a small indoor artificial hot spring and a pristine swimming pool. The level of funding required to provide this for mere trainees was frankly absurd.

Shaking his head in amusement, Luke raised his hand. A familiar surge of magic rippled through the air as he summoned the Dark Magician Girl.

Mana materialized in a soft flash of light, her blonde hair bouncing as she landed lightly on her feet. Taking in the splendid, glowing decorations of their new home, her beautiful cyan eyes widened, sparkling with absolute delight.

“Take a good look around,” Luke said, stepping close and playfully tapping the tip of her nose. “We’ll be staying here for the next few days.”

Mana scrunched her nose, puffing out her soft cheeks in a charming, exaggerated pout that made Luke chuckle.

With a flick of his wrist, a sleek Storage Magic Card materialized between his fingers. Another wave, and his packed luggage appeared neatly onto the polished floor.

If a Storage Magic Card existed back on Earth, Luke mused, watching the bags settle, people would wage absolute wars over it. The convenience is just game-breaking.

A darker, more malicious thought suddenly crossed his mind. What if someone packed a Storage Magic Card with C4 explosives, fuel-air bombs, or other highly lethal modern munitions? A person could casually stroll into a heavily guarded stronghold and unleash hell. He would instantly earn the title of the world’s greatest assassin. It was just a flimsy little card, entirely unassuming to the untrained eye. Who would ever suspect it held enough terrifying firepower to level a city block?

Luke shook his head, tossing those wild, impractical thoughts out the window. He was in a world of magic and monsters now; modern explosives were a moot point.

After wandering through the rest of the villa and taking one last moment to marvel at the sheer, unadulterated luxury the Cang Capital General Association provided, Luke turned his attention back to Mana.

“Let’s go,” he said, offering her a warm smile. “It’s getting late, and I’m starving. Time to eat.”