That remark was clearly meant to mock Bi Yan, and upon hearing it, many couldn't help but stifle their laughter.
Bi Yan's brows furrowed as she turned toward the source of the voice, only to see a tall, curvaceous woman with short black-and-blue hair smiling at her, showing not the slightest hint of fear—it was Yelan.
Possessing a Pyro Vision, Bi Yan had a naturally fiery temperament, and she immediately snapped, "Who are you calling a useless drunkard?"
Yelan shrugged, her smile unwavering. "Whoever gets mad first is who I'm talking about."
Bi Yan was about to lose her temper when Bai Ye, standing behind her, pressed a hand on her shoulder. Unlike Bi Yan, Bai Ye—descended from the Bai Ze—was much more composed. She said coolly, "Don't fall for her provocation. If you make a move now, you'll be disqualified from the competition immediately."
Only then did Bi Yan calm down, giving Yelan a sharp glare before scoffing, "Hmph! I'm generous enough not to stoop to your level."
Watching the exchange, Lucas couldn't help but smile. Yelan, however, turned to him and winked mischievously, deliberately raising an arm to reveal a glimpse of her fair underarm before sticking out her tongue playfully.
The others might not understand what she meant, but Lucas immediately recalled the events of the previous night. His face flushed red as he hurriedly looked away.
"Adorable," Yelan murmured with a smile. "Oops… I might've teased him a little too much."
"Silence, please," Ningguang shook her head with a helpless smile before finally addressing the crowd. "It seems that many contestants have concerns regarding the competition format. In truth, as the organizers, we have taken this into account. That is why we have prepared two different competition modes: the traditional Genius Invokation TCG format, as well as a new variation—Genius Invokation: Battle Mode."
The crowd's expressions showed a mix of curiosity and confusion.
Lucas, on the other hand, was speechless. Are they seriously turning a card game into a brawl?
"Allow me to briefly explain the rules of Genius Invokation: Battle Mode," Ningguang continued as she took out a uniquely designed glove.
"This is a newly developed product from The Ministry of Civil Affairs' Workshop Division—the Seven Saints Disc."
"But… isn't that just a glove?" someone muttered from the crowd.
Ningguang chuckled, then clenched her fist lightly. At that moment, the edge of the glove lit up, forming a glowing, circular holographic interface.
A duel disk?! Lucas immediately realized what was happening. Are we turning this into Duelist Kingdom now?
"When two contestants activate their Seven Saints Discs, a separate space will form for the duel, ensuring that the battle does not interfere with the outside world," Ningguang explained. "In this mode, all card effects will activate immediately, and participants themselves will also serve as combat units."
"I see!" Hu Tao suddenly understood. "So, this turns the competition into a fight where the cards are just supporting tools?"
"Exactly," Ningguang nodded. "Furthermore, Equipment Cards and Effect Cards can be used directly on the contestants. The game retains a health point system, where every attack received reduces a participant's HP accordingly. A contestant loses when their HP reaches zero."
"I don't really get it," Beidou admitted, cracking her knuckles, "but if I can use powerful Equipment Cards, does that mean I can just cut my opponent down?"
"You could put it that way," Ningguang said with a slight smile. "Of course, participants are free to choose between the traditional format or Battle Mode through mutual agreement."
"So, how do we qualify for the next round?" Hu Tao quickly asked.
"Each contestant will start with two Mora Tokens, which serve as wagered stakes for each match," Ningguang explained, holding up a finely crafted badge inlaid with a Mora emblem. "Additionally, every time you defeat an opponent, you may claim one card from their deck as a reward."
"The duel can only begin when both sides agree. Anyone who collects a total of seven Mora Badges by 9 PM tonight will qualify for the next stage."
Many contestants had prepared extensively for this tournament, so opinions on the new rule were mixed. Some were relieved that they wouldn't be forced into playing a card game they weren't skilled at, while others worried that the Battle Mode wouldn't be any easier.
"Next, you may use the points earned from the previous round to exchange for new cards," Ningguang announced.
She stepped aside, revealing more than twenty long tables arranged behind her, all lined with various Genius Invokation TCG cards.
For hardcore card game enthusiasts, this was nothing short of heaven.
"Your time starts now," Ningguang said with a smile. "Please select your decks as quickly as possible."
As soon as she spoke, the crowd surged forward, eager to grab the best cards. On one hand, they needed to act fast due to the time limit. On the other, if they hesitated, the strongest cards would be snatched away.
Lucas, however, remained completely unbothered, taking his sweet time browsing through the selection.
"What are you dawdling for?" Shenhe shot him a glare as she passed by. "If you don't hurry, all the good cards will be gone."
"No rush," Lucas chuckled. "I already know exactly what I need."
Besides, he knew that the cards he wanted weren't something anyone else could afford.
It was only then that Shenhe recalled—Lucas had earned nearly a hundred million Mora in the last round.
With that much wealth, he could afford to take his time, unlike the others who had to scramble for whatever they could get.
"Filthy rich bastard," Shenhe muttered, scowling. "If private trades were allowed, I'd borrow a few million from you."
Lucas smirked and patted her on the shoulder. "I'm touched that you'd say 'borrow' instead of just robbing me."
Shenhe simply pounded her fist against her chest. "Since we can use Battle Mode, I just need some Equipment and Effect Cards that enhance my abilities. That should be enough, right?"
"That's a good approach," Lucas nodded. The Battle Mode seemed to suit someone like Shenhe, who disliked complex strategies and preferred a straight-up fight.
With eighty million Mora at his disposal, Lucas had plenty of options. Some highly effective yet overpriced cards had been left untouched by other contestants due to their cost, but to Lucas, they were nothing more than common trinkets.
Under the envious and jealous gazes of the other contestants, Lucas casually scooped up an entire stack of premium cards, shoved them into his card pouch, and walked away from the tables.
"Hey!"
Just then, an arrogant, domineering voice called out from behind him.
"Stop right there, Lucas!"