Chapter 1: Academic Warning

At dawn, in the lord’s mansion on Cangwu Star, Jiang Tang sat on her bed, pondering life.

Before her floated a blue holographic screen:

[Dear S-Rank Card Master Jiang Tang:]

[Since you have not renewed your Card Master certification for two years, Nebula Academy hereby issues you an academic warning. Please complete the required credits for graduation this semester and participate in the Card Master ranking assessment on time, in accordance with Federation regulations and Nebula Academy rules.]

[Thank you for your cooperation.]

Another message reminded her that today was the first day of school.

After reading the messages, Jiang Tang muttered, “What kind of world is this?”

Her name was Jiang Tang, but her soul did not belong to this world.

In short, she had crossed over.

She had arrived three days ago. The original owner had been killed by a blow to the head; when she woke up, the consciousness inside was hers.

It was only six hours ago that Jiang Tang fully regained awareness.

From a thirty-year-old woman to a sixteen-year-old teenager, yet she found no joy.

The original owner’s parents were both deceased, leaving behind the resource-rich and strategically located Cangwu Star, but Jiang Tang, as the daughter, had no inheritance rights.

According to Federation law, the basic requirement to own a planet was to have at least one S-rank Card Master in the family; otherwise, the inheritance would be forfeited to the Federation garrison.

Jiang Tang was, in fact, a useless Card Master; her S-rank title was merely a facade achieved by deceiving the Federation’s vast database.

If her masquerade as an S-rank were exposed, deception of the Federation was a grave crime, enough to exile her entire family to a barren planet.

So, to survive and retain Cangwu Star, her first step was to become a genuine Card Master.

Jiang Tang sighed deeply and decided to try resonating with a card.

She clumsily immersed her consciousness into the mental realm.

“It’s really desolate,” she sighed, staring at the cracked, parched earth beneath her feet. “Just like my original world.”

Her original world had been ravaged by a great disaster.

The mental realm was the Card Master’s inner manifestation. She wasn’t sure if this was originally the owner’s mental realm or if it changed after she arrived.

In this world existed magical creatures called “Others,” natural enemies of humanity.

Firearms had limited effect against the Others.

Hence, gifted individuals emerged—the Card Masters—who fought the Others by resonating with cards drawn from the river of time.

Card Masters were ranked from F to SSS.

It was said that the first step to becoming a Card Master was to materialize the river of time within the mental realm; the longer the river, the more cards one could create, and the stronger the Card Master would be.

Since it was a river...

Jiang Tang pondered—didn’t she have two mother rivers?

In terms of deep history and longevity, no one could surpass her homeland.

At that thought, the earth suddenly cracked open, forming two massive fissures, from which torrents of river water surged forth.

Two endless great rivers appeared.

One shaped like the Chinese character “Ji” (几), the other like a “V.”

[System binding complete!]

[Your current rank: F]

[Your current mental power: 20/20]

The system suddenly appeared. Jiang Tang’s eyes widened. “A cheat code?”

How typical of a web novel.

The system didn’t respond further, and Jiang Tang paid it no mind; there would be plenty of time to explore later.

She casually scooped up some river water, and with a thought, it rose into the air, shifting form several times before settling into a purple card in her palm.

Jiang Tang’s hand trembled. So lucky?

Cards were divided into three types: Human, Divine, and Artifact, ranked from lowest to highest as Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Purple.

The first two types could be “invoked” or descend upon a person; the last type was weapons or similar tools.

Purple was the rarest card; fewer than ten Card Masters registered in the Federation possessed purple cards.

Resonating a card was only the first step; the second was activating it, which required knowing the card’s true name.

Jiang Tang studied the card carefully.

On its face was an image of a woman, half-human and half-snake, her face obscured.

A guess formed in her mind. She whispered the name: “Goddess Nuwa…”

The system popped up a prompt:

[You have resonated with a card!]

[You now know its true name!]

[Divine · Nuwa

Matching Degree: 100%

Affinity: 30

Proficiency: 0]

[Currently cannot invoke Goddess]

[Currently cannot descend]

Jiang Tang grinned foolishly, ignoring the last two messages.

It really was Nuwa!

The creator goddess of Huaxia!

She suddenly felt her future bright and promising.

With Goddess Nuwa by her side, what was there to fear from the Others? She could tear through the galaxy in minutes!

[Current mental power: 0/20]

[Warning! If mental power falls below zero, negative emotions such as anxiety, rage, and sorrow will arise! Severe cases may descend into madness!]

Jiang Tang snapped back to reality, a cold sweat breaking out on her back. She bowed twice reverently to the Nuwa card.

Using cards also required mental power; luckily, she was a weakling now and couldn’t use it yet.

In the real world, Jiang Tang heard a knock on the door. She opened her eyes to see a small child push the door open and skillfully slip inside.

It was her younger sister, Jiang Qing.

Behind Jiang Qing was the old steward.

The three of them were the only remaining members of the Jiang family.

Jiang Tang and Jiang Qing’s parents had both died on the battlefield fighting the Others.

“Sister…” The little child threw herself into Jiang Tang’s arms, sullen.

Jiang Tang wanted to lift her, but seeing her own thin, weak arms, she reluctantly gave up.

“You’re all talk, what’s wrong? Tell sister about it.”

Jiang Qing pouted, “Please don’t go to school, okay? They all bully you!”

Jiang Tang gently stroked her little head and said warmly, “No one can bully sister anymore.”

“Then let’s pinky swear!” Jiang Qing raised her pinky.

Jiang Tang laughed and linked her pinky with hers, coaxing her to do homework.

The old steward stayed in the room, worry etched on his face.

“Miss, do you want to take a few more days off and postpone your enrollment?”

Jiang Tang raised an eyebrow. “I’m almost recovered. No need to delay.”

The steward hesitated, then whispered, “The Gu family refuses to apologize. Do you want to take them to the Federation court?”

Jiang Tang rubbed her forehead; the wound had healed but still throbbed faintly.

She had almost forgotten—the original owner had five fiancés, all indifferent or even hostile toward her.

The one who struck the fatal blow was Gu Xue, the girlfriend of one of those fiancés.

Jiang Tang drew a cold smile. “It’s probably more than just refusing to apologize. What else did she say?”

The steward silently played a voice message. It began with vile insults, ending with the pointed challenge: “Little bastard, if you want me to apologize, come to the Card Master arena. Dare you?”

Jiang Tang touched the wound on her head and suddenly laughed. “Then all the more reason to go.”

The steward was stunned, scrutinizing her closely. Though the features were familiar, something had changed—she seemed more vibrant.

Probably a good thing, he thought, but worry still gnawed at him.

Jiang Tang noticed the steward’s concerned expression and felt a warmth in her heart. She summoned the newly drawn purple card and smiled, “If they don’t apologize in person, what’s the point? Besides, I’m looking forward to their reactions.”