Su Yuan's heart stirred slightly as he checked the attributes of the card:
[Introduction: A summoning technique developed by undead mages that can connect to hell and summon Netherfire Steel Bone Wolves for control]
[Netherfire Steel Bone Wolf]
[Species: Undead, Wolf]
[Talent: Netherflame Bone: Contains netherfire within its bones, enhancing physical defense by 10% and fire resistance by 20%. Additionally, it causes continuous netherfire corrosion on the targeted area for a certain period.]
[Element: Gold, Fire]
[Six Dimensions: Strength: D, Agility: D, Defense: D, Constitution: F, Spirit: F, Star Power: E]
[Skills: Netherfire Cannon (Green), Netherfire Steel Claws (Green), Skeleton Charge (White)]
Seeing the attributes of this star card, Su Yuan couldn't help but feel delighted.
This was a summoning card capable of summoning a Star Beast with 3D Talent!
A summoning card also belonged to the Skill Star Card category, but it was relatively unique.
Among the various factions of Star Card Masters, there were two major branches under sorcerers who primarily relied on summoning for combat.
One was the Beast Tamer, and the other was the Summoner.
Beast Tamers formed contracts with Star Beasts, treating them as companions, growing together.
Summoners, on the other hand, summoned Star Beasts, energy bodies, and even non-biological summons through magic techniques.
Compared to Beast Tamers, Summoners had the advantage of summoning and using their creatures instantly without worrying about their death or damage.
However, the downside was that summoned creatures couldn't be cultivated, having limited potential and growth. Each summon consumed their spiritual power and star power, acting more like tools in battle.
Nonetheless, practitioners of these two factions were relatively rare due to the high entry barriers. Not everyone could master them.
First, Star Card Masters needed high spiritual power to enhance summoning effects and increase the summoning limit, which was fundamental.
Secondly, considerable financial resources were necessary. Beast Tamers needed to purchase materials for their beasts' growth, while Summoners had to buy various summoning cards.
As summoned creatures had limited strength, Summoners had to constantly upgrade their summoning cards to match their own level, leading to substantial expenses.
Lastly, whether a Beast Tamer or Summoner, having talents that could strengthen beasts or summoned creatures was advantageous.
Due to these requirements, such Star Card Masters were very rare—finding even one Summoner among a hundred Star Card Masters was difficult.
However, it didn't mean only Summoners could embed summoning cards. On the contrary, good summoning cards were highly sought after by all Star Card Masters!
Summoned creatures varied widely, providing advantages beyond battle, such as reconnaissance, tracking, healing, and buffing, greatly benefiting Star Card Masters.
Apart from human-developed summoning techniques, Star Beasts with summoning skills were incredibly rare and usually humanoid.
Thus, summoning cards in the market were very scarce, comparable in rarity to weapon cards!
At this moment, seeing no immediate danger, Wang Huai and Wu Yue approached.
"Su Yuan, what is it?"
Su Yuan replied truthfully, "A summoning card!"
"A summoning card?" Wu Yue was shocked, eyes filled with envy, "A Green Grade summoning card, that's very rare!"
Su Yuan nodded, communicating his star power to embed the [Netherfire Steel Bone Wolf (Summon)] card without hesitation.
Although Su Yuan had only studied the "Beginner Stage Star Beast Atlas" at the academy and was unfamiliar with Hell Plane creatures, the Netherfire Steel Bone Wolf had Strength, Agility, and Defense of 3D Talent!
Even though its Constitution and Spirit were only F, it wasn't much of a problem for a summoning creature.
Su Yuan opened the panel and saw that the information on [Nether Wolf Summon] had already been updated:
[Nether Wolf Summon (Green, Entry-Level): Summons a Bronze Early Stage Netherfire Steel Bone Wolf, maximum quantity: 1. Summon effects dynamically change based on the Imperial Master's realm and spiritual power.]
Su Yuan nodded. Summoning a Bronze Early Stage Netherfire Steel Bone Wolf at the entry-level was normal.
Although this didn't provide much of an enhancement for him, it was only at the entry-stage. Once the skill level increased, the power and limit of the summoned creatures would significantly improve.
For others, at a Bronze Early Stage, they'd have 6-8 skill slots. Besides auxiliary and buff skills, at least 4-6 summoning cards would be embedded.
This meant they'd have 4-6 Bronze-level Star Beasts!
Thus, in most cases, Summoners could easily outnumber their peers in sheer quantity.
Only at the highest levels of engagement did the quality of creatures make a significant impact, affecting the outcome differently.
At this point, the ground of the cave slightly trembled, stone pillars slowly retracted, and the wall ahead moved aside, revealing a tunnel entrance fitting two people.
Wu Yue exclaimed, "What is this?"
Wang Huai's eyes lit up, "Seems like the pathway to the core area of the secret realm!"
Su Yuan nodded in agreement. The three of them approached the entrance and peered inside.
Inside was a cold, blue stone passageway with dimly glowing illumination stones embedded on both sides, stretching out of sight.
Su Yuan asked, "Shall we take a look?"
The three of them entered the passage together. After walking for seven to eight minutes, the view brightened slightly, revealing a large Undead Fortress.
Behind them stood a massive forty-meter-tall wall made of bones, adorned with twisted, eerie patterns and unreadable evil runes.
In front were various structures, including palaces, altars, and black towers, mainly built from blue and black stones.
On the open ground before them, they could see Ghost Knights, Hellish Goblins, and other common creatures from Hell.
The most striking sight was a Necromancy Hall built entirely of bones at the edge of their vision.
Wu Yue took a deep breath and said, "It seems this is the core area of the Molten Cave Secret Realm."
Wang Huai concurred, "Exactly. Moreover, it appears more aligned with the Hell Plane; it might be a fragment of the Hell Undead Domain."
Seeing Wang Huai eager to explore, Wu Yue hesitated, "The Molten Cave was already more perilous than expected. The core area will likely be even more dangerous..."
Wang Huai smiled, "The path of the Star Card Master isn't without risks. The higher the risk, the greater the rewards. The best treasures in the secret realm are probably in the core area. This is only a Bronze-level secret realm. Silver-level creatures shouldn't appear, so it's worth the risk!"
Wu Yue pondered momentarily, then nodded firmly, "Alright, let's venture in!"
Wang Huai asked Su Yuan, "How about you, Su Yuan? You and your friend are separated. It'll be harder to meet outside, but easier if we head deeper."
Su Yuan nodded, "That's my plan too. Besides, I want to see that Necromancy Hall."
Wang Huai agreed, "With your skills, Su Yuan, you should definitely check out the Necromancy Hall. If this secret realm has any extremely rare treasures, they're likely in there!"
After a brief contemplation, Wang Huai suggested, "But let's rest and recover before taking separate actions. After all, we consumed a lot fighting in the cave." If not for the recent battle in Qingli Cave, Wang Huai might have asked Su Yuan to consider a team-up.
But now, having witnessed Su Yuan's superior strength, Wang Huai dismissed the idea of teaming up.
The strength gap was too vast. Forming a team would only result in them being burdensome.
"Indeed, we need to recover." Su Yuan checked his star power, finding it below 40%.
"By the way, Su Yuan," Wu Yue suddenly asked, "Which academy did you get into? I noticed your star power fluctuation is at the beginner stage, so you must be a prospective student at a top-tier academy, right?"
"Yes, I'm at Demon Capital."
"No wonder. Demon Capital Academy's incoming student, huh?" Wu Yue shook his head with a bitter smile, "Seems like the gap between Qing Province Academy and the Three Capitals Academy is quite significant..."
Su Yuan laughed, "Usually, the gap wouldn't be that wide..."
After all, I have the system, so don't take me as the standard...
Wang Huai studied Su Yuan and nodded in agreement, "Indeed, you're impressive!"
Wu Yue laughed heartily, "Yes! Even our top freshmen might not match you!"
Wang Huai patted Wu Yue, "Let's stop chatting and find a relatively hidden place to recover quickly..."
Before Wang Huai could finish his sentence, a rapid, discreet star power fluctuation came from the passage behind them. Three dark red blood arrows shot swiftly toward Su Yuan and his companions!
"Dodge!" Su Yuan shouted, his eyes flashing silver as he instantly teleported out of the way.
But Wang Huai and Wu Yue weren't as fortunate. Realizing the danger too late, they only managed a slight dodge, avoiding vital organs. The blood arrows pierced through their bodies, leaving egg-sized blood holes in their chests and abdomens!
Wang Huai collapsed heavily, body trembling.
Wu Yue fared worse. Despite Holy Light Baptism healing his previous injuries, his vitality hadn't completely recovered. Now heavily injured again, he passed out.
"Instant Movement is indeed impressive, dodging my Blood Shadow Dark Arrow in such circumstances..."
A rather frivolous voice echoed from the stone passage.
Su Yuan looked up to see a pale, rosy-faced effeminate youth slowly emerging from the dim passage's exit.