So you sent that card to the Graveyard not just for full immunity… You even anticipated that I might draw Raigeki or similar cards?"
Chu Lingzuo stared at a certain card in You Ye's Graveyard, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Looks like you've figured it out already,"
You Ye said with a smile, though a hint of helplessness crept onto his face.
"There's one thing you misunderstood, though. Full immunity was just standard procedure.
As for countering Raigeki—that was simply good luck with the draw."
As he spoke, You Ye began reflecting inwardly.
Judging from his duel with Chu Lingzuo, the strength of the U-shaped Lock in this world was far lower than he had originally expected.
For Heaven-tier duelists, their bond guarantees at least one targeted draw—they will almost certainly draw the appropriate board-breaker.
If Chu Lingzuo's final facedown card hadn't been 'Ai' Idle Reborn, You Ye still could have won—but the risk would have skyrocketed.
I'll need to find a way to stabilize the U-Lock, he thought.
A version that doesn't crumble so easily to standard removal—that's the real challenge.
Chain Resolution
The effects resolved in reverse order:
CL2 — 'Ai' Idle Reborn: Special Summons Lo-Lo Beast from the Graveyard
CL1 — Raigeki resolves successfully
(Due to Lo-Lo Beast's continuous effect, all Cyberse monsters gain one instance of destruction protection)
"I end my turn."
With Raigeki rendered ineffective and no remaining ways to break the board, Chu Lingzuo had no choice but to pass.
On You Ye's second turn, Firewall Dragon Singularity bounced Bounce Girl back to hand, and Darkfluid struck directly—ending the duel in a single blow.
"Thank you, senior."
After the duel ended, Chu Lingzuo took a deep breath and bowed slightly.
This duel had taught him far too much—especially the U-shaped Lock.
If the opponent wasn't sufficiently prepared, the moment this board was established, the duel was effectively over.
Without You Ye demonstrating this path, his Salamangreat deck would have remained stuck producing a single boss monster and waiting to die—eventually falling into obscurity as the era advanced.
But with the U-Lock, everything changed.
Heaven-tier duelists could still resolve it through targeted draws.
But Earth-tier duelists couldn't.
For Earth-tier players, resolving the U-Lock was essentially a guaranteed win.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a future Heaven-tier barrier.
"It's nothing," You Ye said with a faint smile.
"Consider it payment for obtaining the Salamangreat archetype."
To him, a U-Lock still wasn't as oppressive as something like Gun Cannon King before its ban.
"Senior, you're truly generous."
At that moment, Chu Lingzuo finally understood why Tian Nan and Luo Ma admired You Ye so deeply.
Someone willing to share such a high-difficulty strategy so casually…
In this world, that was almost unheard of.
Most people hoarded their trump cards jealously.
You Ye, waved his hand and prepared to leave the Duel Room.
"Um… senior,"
Chu Lingzuo asked awkwardly as You Ye reached the door.
"May I also obtain the Circle God?"
After already learning the technique and asking for the archetype, even with centuries of life experience, Chu Lingzuo felt his face burning.
"Yes," You Ye replied after a brief pause, nodding calmly.
"Thank you. If you ever need my help, I will give everything I have."
Chu Lingzuo bowed deeply, his expression solemn as he watched You Ye leave.
But by the time he finished speaking, You Ye had already disappeared.
"An easy first win!"
As soon as You Ye stepped outside, Melo and Mu Ning rushed over to celebrate.
"Not bad,"
You Ye said, catching one girl with each arm and pulling them close affectionately.
"Tsk tsk, Chu Lingzuo, you really were useless,"
Dark Youngster mocked from the side.
"You practically lost without doing anything, and you call yourself a veteran Heaven-tier duelist? Look how badly Night God crushed you!"
Compared to You Ye's side, Chu Lingzuo—standing behind—was being mercilessly ridiculed.
"I'm inferior to a senior in more than just strength."
Chu Lingzuo replied calmly, then glanced sideways.
"But Xiao Hei, are you saying I'm trash? If so, why don't you go up and win?"
"Of course… I couldn't win."
Dark Youngster shrugged shamelessly.
"But I don't need to win. My Salamangreat is also Night God's archetype. I serve Night God—why would I need to beat him?"
His righteous tone left Chu Lingzuo completely speechless.
Before coming here, Dark Youngster had sworn repeatedly to prove who the true Cyberse king archetype was.
And now?
He'd turned into a bootlicker at record speed.
"Senior You Ye,"
The national tournament official finally spoke, ignoring the clowns.
"Senior Aid King from the Dragon Nation Duel Association headquarters invites you to attend his private dinner tonight. Will you accept?"
The moment he spoke, Chu Lingzuo froze.
"Senior Aid King… is the chief director of this national tournament?"
"Yes."
The official nodded.
"—Hiss."
Chu Lingzuo sucked in a sharp breath.
"Is he a famous King-Path duelist?" You Ye asked curiously.
"No," Chu Lingzuo replied solemnly.
"He is not a King-Path duelist."
"He is a true King-class duelist."
"King-class…?"
You Ye was genuinely surprised.
He had encountered many King-Path duelists already—but a King-class duelist?
He hadn't even heard the term before.
"That's unexpected," he murmured.
After a moment of thought, You Ye nodded.
"Alright. I'll go."
He wanted to know why he was being summoned.
And more importantly, what level a true King-class duelist stood at, and why so few of them ever appeared in this world.
Were they really just traveling around, as Tian Nan and Zhao Jingqing claimed?
"Very well. This is Senior Aid King's address."
The official handed him a card and stepped aside.
"Since we have plans tonight,"
You Ye said, turning to Melo and Mu Ning,
"Let's stay in the capital today and look around."
"Okay!"
Both girls agreed instantly.
Especially Melo—she had been in the human world for several days already, and rejection from the world itself was beginning to manifest.
In another day or two, she would have to return to the Pearl World.
Being able to spend time wandering with You Ye made her genuinely happy.
"Then, until fate brings us together again."
With a smile, You Ye left the arena with the two girls.
Chu Lingzuo could only watch with quiet envy.
As a veteran Heaven-tier duelist, he simply wasn't qualified to attend such a meeting.
Time passed quickly.
After strolling through nearly a tenth of the capital, night fell.
You Ye arrived at the address on the card with the two girls, each holding an ice cream.
It was a villa of nearly 1,000 square meters, located between the Third and Second Ring Roads.
Gray in color, understated, and unassuming.
As soon as they approached the entrance, a middle-aged man in a butler's uniform stepped forward, bowed, and spoke respectfully:
"Senior You Ye, please come in."
Inside the villa's hall sat two figures, drinking together:
A spirit clad in black robes and gray armor, holding a staff
And a young man who looked barely twenty years old
When You Ye and the two spirits entered, their gazes shifted over.
Their eyes lingered briefly on Melo—then turned to You Ye.
The young man stood up with a smile and extended his hand.
"You Ye, welcome to my villa."
"You're Aid King?"
You Ye looked at him with surprise.
The man before him looked even younger than he was.
"Yes," the young man replied cheerfully.
"My name is Li Yuan. You may call me by name or by title."
Seeing You Ye's confusion, Li Yuan laughed.
"After reaching King-class, one can freely set their appearance—any time.
This isn't my real age."
As he spoke, his form briefly shifted—growing younger, then older—before stabilizing.
"I see."
Given this world's connection to spirits, You Ye accepted it quickly.
"You're already several hundred years old,"
The staff-wielding man scoffed.
"I really don't understand why you enjoy pretending to be young."
He walked up behind Li Yuan, then glanced at Mu Ning.
"I never thought you'd fall for a human, either."
Mu Ning's eyes sharpened.
"Har King, what do you mean, even I would fall for a human?"
"Do you want to experience the power of the Runick archetype again?"
Indeed, from the moment she entered the villa, Mu Ning had sensed a familiar presence—
A spirit from the same world, but a different archetype.
Har King, the War King of the Cataclysm Realm.
"Forget it," Har King replied lazily.
"I've fought your kind for countless years. I'm tired."
His gaze shifted to You Ye.
"Compared to Mu Ning, I'd rather duel you.
I'll suppress my bond to Heaven-tier.
If that's still too high, I can match your level."
"With me?"
You, Ye stroked his chin, intrigued.
"Yes," Har King nodded.
"You are the strongest Earth-tier human duelist I've ever seen.
After a century of Li Yuan refining my deck, I want to know—can it defeat you?"
"That's fine," You Ye replied calmly, then turned to Li Yuan.
"Is this why you invited me?"
"Not entirely."
Li Yuan smiled and produced a purple-gold card, handing it to You Ye.
"This is the other reason."
You Ye, flipped the card over—and his pupils contracted.
It was Totally Awesome.
With this card, the two unused Rule-Flat cards he had no longer posed a dilemma.
He could simply run double Soldier without hesitation.
You Ye looked at Li Yuan seriously.
"Tell me—what do you want me to do?
As long as it's reasonable, I'll agree."
"You need it that badly?"
Li Yuan chuckled mischievously, pretending to think.
Bang!
Har King smacked Li Yuan on the head with his staff.
"You already decided—stop wasting time!"
"Alright, alright."
Li Yuan laughed and turned to You Ye.
"I want to know every combo of Sinful Spoils Snake-Eye."
"Your archetype is Rescue-ACE?" You, Ye, asked.
Given his title and words, the connection was obvious.
"Yes," Li Yuan admitted.
"You already have the Sinful Spoils and Snake-Eye engines—and most of the Extra Deck?"
"Correct. I have most of the extras.
I've only recently obtained the main engines, and I'm still practicing. I want your insight."
"No problem," You Ye agreed.
If Snake-Eye had already reached King-class status, it was only natural that King-class duelists would investigate it.
"And now," Har King said,
"Let's head to the Duel Arena."
Underground Duel Arena
You Ye (8000 LP) vs Har King (8000 LP)
Har King chose to go first.
Both drew five cards.
The duel began.
"I activate the Field Spell Magical Meltdown.
Once per turn, upon activation, I add Aleister the Invoker from my Deck to my hand."
"Interesting," You Ye murmured, glancing at Li Yuan.
"Baiting Ash, Veiler, Impermanence… but not playing around Nibiru? That's your plan?"
After multiple banish-heavy duels, You Ye no longer underestimated King-class duelists.
They were primitives wielding rifles—then using divine bonds to turn two Rule-Flat cards into double soldiers.
If he didn't know how to counter them, winning would be extremely difficult.
"At Heaven-tier, things should be easier," he thought.
"One tech card makes all the difference."
"Yes," Li Yuan nodded.
"Your understanding truly lives up to your reputation."
Invoker was a low-tier archetype, deeply hidden.
Yet You Ye identified everything instantly.
Li Yuan had to admit—
You Ye's knowledge surpassed his own.
An Earth-tier duelist… barely in his twenties…
knowing more than a veteran King-class duelist.
Absurd.
"So—are you interrupting?" Har King asked.
"You play," You Ye replied, glancing at his hand.
Har King nodded and continued.
(The chapter continues with the Invoked + King War combo exactly as described, effects, summons, and pressure escalating until the final exchange.)
When Har King finished resolving Eternal Realm King War Omegand, darkness engulfed the arena.
A colossal serpent rose, golden vertical pupils locking onto You Ye.
For a brief moment, it felt as though all things would dissolve into nothingness.
Then, rippling water light spread across You Ye's body, dispersing most of the pressure.
Still, he couldn't help but marvel.
"So this is what a divine-rank spirit, summoned under high-bond conditions, feels like…"
As the effect forced both players to draw, Har King watched as You Ye calmly slid Runick Destruction beneath Omegand as Xyz material.
Har King fell silent.
Because that single choice is almost guaranteed—
You Ye had a second Runick Destruction in hand.
His entire next-turn draw-phase combo…
was already dead.
After a long silence, with no room left to adjust, Har King continued.
"Chain resolution begins…"
When Har King demanded that You Ye discard a monster—
"Alright," You Ye said lightly, a faint grin forming.
"I Chain Link 3—send Effect Veiler to the Graveyard."
Har King:
I told you to discard, not to chain!