NOVPUBOn the third floor of the Cardmaker’s Association, the midday sunlight fell on the glass curtain wall, subtly merging with the orange glow of the epic card on the magic fluorescent screen. This created numerous enchanting light halos, immersing the entire hall in a shimmering light.
At the same time, murmurs and exclamations echoed throughout the floor.
Outside the building, cheers akin to a festive celebration arose from Hutton Pedestrian Square. It was like a distant wave of sound, originating from the screens on the ground floor and crashing against the glass curtain walls. Even the people sitting in the discussion area on the third floor could clearly hear it.
Unlike the joyful atmosphere of the onlookers.
The air between Hyperion and Sofia seemed to freeze over.
Hyperion felt so oppressed that it was nearly suffocating.
When Sofia first saw the orange glow, she seemed a little speechless, as if her brain had short-circuited.
"Orange... Epic?"
In Sofia’s understanding, for people their age, being able to create a purple rarity is already pushing their limits.
Only the academy professors, and the best, exceptional third-year student are possibly capable of creating a pink, holy rarity.
Orange Epic.
It is a realm that only the Duchess Migaya-level card-makers can venture!
"Sofia, do you know what rank an Orange Epic would be? Did you see it? Lanci is really incredible!"
The first thing Prince Aynor did after regaining his senses was to grab Sofia’s shoulders and ask enthusiastically.
Even though he had seen many Registered Card-making Master exams, he couldn’t guess at which rank his dear friend would achieve!
Sofia, on the other hand, seemed to be in a stupor. Her dazed look at the fluorescent screen was akin to a doll just awakened from a dream, yet to adapt to reality. She was shaken by Prince Aynor.
On the single sofa to the side. n𝚘𝚟𝚙𝚞𝚋.𝚌o𝚖
"Stop talking stop talking... Prince Aynor... really, stop it... put away your Divine Skills..."
Hyperion was burying her head, chanting incessantly in a low voice.
She only felt that everything was over, like sitting on pins and needles!
If it wasn’t for her promise to wait for Lanci, she would have activated her Invisibility and fled without hesitation!
...
On the other hand.
In the atrium test field on the fifth floor of the Cardmaker’s Association, Lanci seemed completely consumed by fatigue.
The camera showed his body nearly collapsing under the pressure of Mana, his figure flickered a few times as he exited the Artificial Shadow World, ultimately appearing in the spacious atrium hall, attracting the attention of all examiners.
He actually couldn’t continue with the production of the fifth card, even if he still had the chance.
At this moment, Lanci felt an endless wave of fatigue washing over him from every corner of his body, his eyelids were heavy, his dormitory and his bed were his only longing.
Once he returns to the Ichrite Academy, he should be able to sleep for a long time.
It might even be longer than the sleep he had after he finished drawing Talia’s portrait at the Nanwantian Border.
When Lanci stepped out of the Void Gate of the Artificial Shadow World, the chief examiner, Lawrence, looked at him with shock.
Although the results of the examinee weren’t publicly displayed on the broadcast.
However, as the chief examiner, he could directly see the results and specific contents through the supervisory terminal in his hand.
There, the words were displayed clearly: [Examinee Lanci Welfort, Platinum Level].
This result was like a lightning bolt out of the blue, leaving Lawrence at a loss for words.
His heart pounded in his chest, as if hit by a storm of surprise.
He stared at the examination terminal, the words echoing in his mind over and over again, finally verifying whether he had misread them or not.
Still, this result remained in sight, bringing with it a wave of excitement.
Lawrence, the vice president of the Ichrite Cardmaker Association Branch, had been in charge of the Registration Exam for card makers in the Royal Capital for many years. He had only seen a few occasions where someone was assessed at the gold level.
Moreover, the Gold-level usually denotes the veteran sixth or seventh-order card makers that have not registered before, who take the registration exam and produce a Pink Holy card.
This was the first time Lawrence had seen anyone assessed directly at the Platinum Level. More importantly, it was a young man from their own country!
Orange Epic represents the limit of Magic Cardmaking and is a chasm that is difficult to cross.
Many gold-level seniors, standing at the peak of card makers, could never produce a signature piece of Orange Epic grade in their entire lifetime.
The Platinum Level represents having the potential to produce an Orange Epic.
While the Magic Crystal Level represents a mastery of the Orange Epic.
The Master Level beyond that is just an honor; no one in the southern continent today could potentially handle it.
So even though the Platinum Level is only one rank difference from Gold, it is as different as chalk from cheese.
Seeing Lanci return to the main hall, chief examiner Lawrence immediately assigned his duties to the assistant examiner and quickly walked up to Lanci.
"Mr. Lanci, may I have the pleasure of a word with you?"
Lawrence asked sincerely, his gaze rested on Lanci’s evidently exhausted face, he quickly added,
"I know you need to rest, I promise it won’t take too long, we can talk as we walk."
"Of course, Mr. Lawrence. My friends are waiting for me on the third floor."
Lanci responded with a pleasant smile, summoning a little bit of his remaining spirit.
He felt somewhat curious about what level he had achieved with his work that warranted such respect from the examiner.
"Please follow me."
Lawrence nodded. His tone of voice was calm and steady, seemingly treating Lanci as a member of the association.
He led Lanci slowly into a passageway that led from the main hall to the inner areas of the fifth floor, an area usually only used by association staff.
The passageway was comprised of warm wood, its sedate tones contrasting starkly with the overall modern style of the association’s building, creating a feeling of comfort and stability.
When they reached the end of the passage, their view suddenly opened up, and a great floating staircase appeared in their sight.
This staircase, unlike a conventional one, was comprised of semi-transparent and immortal crystals. It resembled floating clouds in the sky, moving at a mysterious rhythm like the heartbeat of the association building.
As Lawrence and Lanci lightly stepped onto the stairway, the crystal steps began to gently descend, taking them towards the third floor. The air around them was drawn by the movement of the steps, bringing a cool breeze.
"Mr. Lanci, first of all, congratulations on being designated a Platinum Level Card Maker."
Lawrence, standing on the crystal staircase, turned to look at Lanci and said.
"Platinum Level?"
Lanci lifted his weary gaze in surprise.
He hadn’t expected to be directly assessed at the Platinum Level.
Remember, the rumored genius magical artisan girl who will come from the Arolan Kingdom Academy to observe Dean Loren’s [Original Slabstone Tablet-Wind] is only at the Gold Level.
