When the seven-colored radiance appeared, Cheng Ting and Yang Xuequn both froze, mouths slightly open, unable to put their emotions into words.
Obtaining Rule-grade cards or even Primordial Cards through certification wasn't something they could understand.
As King-Path Duelists, they themselves had access to Primordial Cards.
And You Ye was internally recognized as the most gifted duelist—so being granted extremely rare Rule-grade cards was perfectly reasonable.
But—
Throughout the entire history of dueling, spanning countless years, the Heaven-Bestowed Primordial Card had appeared only once in public records.
Its rarity was on a completely different level compared to ordinary Rule-grade cards.
Only now did they fully understand why Tian Nan and Zhao Jingqing had specifically instructed them to notify everyone the moment You Ye completed his certification.
Clearly, something similar had already happened during his Mystic-Rank certification.
They didn't want to miss another miracle created by You Ye.
After a moment, You Ye slowly opened his eyes.
From the sensations coursing through his body, he could clearly feel that his physical attributes had increased by more than tenfold—though that was secondary.
What truly mattered was that he could now clearly sense every spirit connected to him.
He could perceive their emotional states, instinctively know which spirits could be summoned to his side, and even how long they could remain with him.
Beyond that, the most dramatic improvement was his Bond.
He had a strong feeling—
After reaching Earth Rank, his connection with spirits had deepened significantly.
While it wasn't yet at the Heaven-Rank level—where he could nearly draw whatever he wanted—
He was confident that any random draw would contain at least two playable cards.
Situations like his duel with the Egyptian Gods, where only a single card could function, would never happen again.
Feeling these changes, You Ye looked toward the three clusters of floating cards, focusing on the one glowing with seven colors, and took it into his hand.
The instant he touched it, information flooded into his mind.
Staring at the completely blank card artwork, You Ye broke into a smile.
This card was called a Rule Primordial Card.
Within it, the Rules had listed a set of cards—
You Ye could select one and designate it as a Primordial Card.
However, the joy was soon overshadowed by regret.
The list contained many absurdly powerful choices:
Time-Rewinding Sangan
Witch of the Black Forest
Crystron Halqifibrax
Crossout Designator
Dandelion Lion
Prank-Kids
True King of All Calamities
…and other eternally banned monsters
But—
The cards he wanted most—Double Summon, Pot of Greed, and Victory Dragon—were not included.
Fortunately, there was still good news.
One card on the list was perfect for him.
Bitter Choice.
Yes.
It was time to let this world's so-called "primitive duelists" experience what true Bitter Choice really meant.
After deciding how to use the Rule Primordial Card, You Ye turned his gaze to the two violet-gold Rule-grade cards.
He was just about to instinctively select Double Summon twice—
When he stopped.
Rule-grade cards were different from Primordial Cards.
He could choose any card, but there was no urgency.
He could wait until tonight, communicate with the Tearlaments spirits, and see what cards he would receive from them first.
If Tearlaments were still incomplete—even with Bitter Choice—it would be too crippled.
In that case, he'd need to consider strengthening other decks he actively used, such as picking Pot of Greed variants that benefited multiple decks at once.
Then, during Heaven-Rank certification, he could choose Double Summon later.
After sorting out that plan, You Ye examined the remaining cards.
Among the Primordial Cards, the Rules had granted:
Swap Frog
Swift Scarecrow
Swift Beaver
It was clear the Rules understood exactly what he needed.
With these three, he could even consider upgrading one Rule-grade card into Toadally Awesome.
That would be nearly complete full-power Frog Thunder.
Of course, it still couldn't compare to a no-banlist Frog build—but it was close.
Finally, his attention moved to the other Rule-grade cards.
His expression became… strange.
First were three members of the Xyz Five Evils:
Number F0: Utopic Future ZEXAL
True King of All Calamities
Outer Entity Azathot
Heavyweights—every single one.
Currently, aside from VFD, the others were hard for him to summon.
Then there was another Xyz monster—something truly cursed:
Kashtira Arise-Heart.
You Ye was baffled.
He didn't even run Kashtira.
What was he supposed to do—overlay Red Mermaid and Fenrir Wolf?
Without Kashtira's support, summoning it in a duel was pointless—
Unless he somehow found Reichheart.
At that thought, You Ye recalled the earlier Naturia Horus build and smiled faintly.
Another Xyz was:
No.41: Bagooska the Terribly Tired Tapir—
Also known as the legendary "41: Just Sleep".
And finally—
A card that wasn't Xyz, but whose power level was utterly outrageous.
Repeatedly banned. Repeatedly unbanned.
Magical Scientist.
Except for Duel Links—
It was banned on every single format list.
For You Ye, its value was insane.
Both Tearlaments and Thunder Sprite could run it.
His Dragon Cannon wasn't restricted.
Which meant—
Dragon Cannon → dump Scientist
Spright Elf → revive Scientist
Scientist → summon Naturia Exterio
A crushing lock.
After organizing everything, You Ye grew more and more satisfied.
Overall, this certification's rewards were exceptional.
Especially for Thunder Sprite.
If he obtained Toadally Awesome, he might just show this world what true Frog Thunder looked like.
"Looks like you gained a lot, Ye?"
At this moment, Mu Ning, who had been standing beside him, spoke with a gentle smile.
"Yes," You Ye nodded.
"I obtained two entirely new decks. One of them almost directly became my top-two deck."
"Top two?!"
Cheng Ting and Yang Xuequn were already shocked—now their hearts trembled again.
Two brand-new decks from a single certification.
Completely unrelated to Tearlaments, Naturia, or Runick.
And one of them was in the top two.
The envy was overwhelming.
They usually had to beg spirits, pull strings, or leverage Rule authority just to gain partial archetypes.
You Ye?
One Earth-Rank certification—two elite decks, minimum.
The gap was absurd.
They silently mourned You Ye's future opponents.
Facing him wasn't just about studying one deck anymore.
Even preparing two was already elite.
You Ye?
He could switch decks every duel.
How do you counter that?
Unless the Rules explicitly forced him to use a specific deck, targeting him was meaningless.
This world didn't use side decks like his previous life.
As long as you owned the cards, you could change decks freely between rounds.
"Well?" You Ye, smiled. "Want to try a duel?"
"…No," Cheng Ting and Yang Xuequn replied instantly.
Curiosity was one thing.
Actually, dueling You Ye was another.
Before, during Mystic Rank, they believed bond-hate tech could give them a chance.
Now?
A duelist's intuition told them—
You Ye could already face them head-on.
And might even win.
Winning was fine.
Losing?
A King-Path Duelist losing to an Earth-Rank Duelist was unacceptable.
"Alright," You Ye nodded, then asked casually,
"That King-Rank tomb—any progress?"
"…No," Cheng Ting replied awkwardly.
"Other than you, no one can clear it."
"What happened?" You Ye frowned.
A King-Rank tomb stalling all Earth-Rank duelists?
"That tomb's final guardian copies the strongest duelist's deck," Zhao Jingqing said as she entered.
"Best-of-three. Guardian always goes first."
Instantly, You Ye understood.
The guardian had copied Chang Xingge's Drytron.
Three games. Always first.
Even Chang Xingge herself couldn't clear it.
"Understood. I'll go tomorrow morning."
He'd try Tearlaments.
Thunder Sprite was strong—but going second, it couldn't bait multiple negates with one card.
Tearlaments could.
Even without Diviner, four to five negates could be brute-forced.
Later, Zhao Jingqing asked about exchanging the Rule Primordial Card.
You Ye refused without hesitation.
That card was irreplaceable.
That night, You Ye entered the Spirit Communion Space.
Colorful bubbles rose everywhere.
"Congratulations on reaching Earth Rank, Ye~!"
The Tearlaments' spirits celebrated warmly.
And soon—
A duel against the Rules themselves began.
With Bitter Choice in the deck.