Discussion

The funds available for them to squander were pitifully scarce, forcing them to rack their brains. The storylines for the card plays couldn't be too long, but they also had to be captivating—a daunting challenge for Ray. He wrote and rewrote countless times.

Chris wasn't having an easy time either; although the production work hadn't started, he was already making various adjustments in his mind. While the imagery for the card plays wasn't overly complex, enhancing their expressiveness was a significant challenge. The biggest issue was that they didn't have any extra money to experiment with. This meant that Chris needed to minimize the number of production failures, which would significantly reduce production costs. Clearly, his interest in cost control far exceeded his desire for advanced card knowledge. For these two broke guys, controlling costs was a matter of survival.

Finally, on the day the Star Academy's exchange group arrived at East Guard Academy, Ray's script was complete.

While the entire East Business City emptied out to catch a glimpse of the legendary Star Academy—one of the six great academies—Chris and Ray were holed up at home, intensely discussing the script. Their discussion was fervent and animated.

Chris asked Ray to carefully explain every effect he hoped to achieve, from the changes in lighting to the background, clothing, and even the characters' expressions at specific moments. The more Chris asked, the more detailed and specific his questions became, even bringing up issues that Ray had overlooked. Ray, unaccustomed to such meticulous scrutiny, felt overwhelmed. He understood Chris's intention to save costs, so he endeavored to be as thorough as possible.

For two weeks, they discussed everything in detail. The original thin script had now been accompanied by a thick stack of drafts. These drafts were filled with the results of their discussions over the past few days.

Both of their eyes were bloodshot, yet their spirits remained high. After these two weeks of intense discussion, Chris was thoroughly familiar with the entire story. Not only that, but he also had a clear idea of every frame, and every detail within those frames.

Now, what they needed wasn't to start production immediately, but to rest.

After resting, the two slept for two whole days and nights. Unbeknownst to them, during their time of intense discussion behind closed doors, the exchange group from Star Academy had already settled into East Guard Academy. This exchange event, which could only be described as extraordinary, had drawn the attention of the entire Sky Federation. What was initially meant to be a simple exchange between Star Academy and East Guard Academy had now transformed into a grand event for the entire East Business City.

Wade is the student representative for this exchange from Star Academy. He is tall and slim with a somewhat elongated face, slightly sunken eyes, and a sharp gaze. He is a third-year student in the Outter Academy at Star Academy. At Star Academy, if Outter Academy students do not qualify for entry into the Inner Academy, they can graduate after four years.

Wade's skills as a card cultivator are only slightly above average, he is adept in worldly matters, resourceful, and clever, which is why the school appointed him as the student representative. This indicates that Star Academy is taking this exchange event quite seriously. Aside from the fourth-year students, who are preparing for their graduation exams, other third-year students, including several skilled individuals, are also participating.

On the East Guard Academy side, the student in charge is Zoe.

"Wade, are you guys adjusting well to your stay?" Zoe greeted Wade politely upon meeting him. The exchange group, composed primarily of students, will be staying here for two months. Neither side will impose any strict requirements on them; they are free to do as they please.

Wade, who comes from a prestigious background, appreciates Zoe's courteous demeanor. He smiled slightly and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Bud. The hospitality at your school is truly meticulous. With such care, we might find it quite a challenge to readjust when we return to our own school."

"You are too kind. By the way, some students from your school are participating in the field internship organized by Class F of the third year. This might leave us short of teachers for supervision," Zoe said, a bit hesitantly.

The Sky Federation is divided into five major districts and twenty-two common regions, plus the capital, making a total of twenty-eight districts. These twenty-eight districts do not connect to each other and are almost entirely independent. For example, in the East Business City, which is part of the East Region, the area outside the region is covered by vast forests, representing the most primitive and untamed regions. This is the domain of other creatures, who dominate there with their formidable strength, danger, and numerous numbers. The development of each district in the history of the Sky Federation has been built on the blood of countless ancestors.

Beyond the Sky Federation lies the wilderness: dense primordial forests, arid deserts, and towering snow-capped mountains. What lies beyond if one travels through the wilderness, crosses the forests, deserts, and snow-capped mountains, and keeps going? No one knows. Every year, countless adventurers set out, but none have ever returned. The dangers of the wild are simply too many. In the wild, there are countless powerful creatures, some of which even the most elite card cultivators cannot match; they are the darlings of nature. But the wild is also a treasure trove, with abundant resources and precious furs from these beasts that drive greedy humans to reckless pursuit. The materials needed for the highly valued advanced cards are mostly obtained from the dangerous wilds and powerful creatures.

The discovery of Passage Windows and Grey Layers plunged the entire Sky Federation into a fervent age of exploration. In the year 2910 of the Calendar, humans discovered the first Passage Window in the wilderness, and soon after, the Grey Layer associated with it was also found. Passage Windows are gateways discovered in the wild that lead to other regions. The Grey Layer is the corridor connecting two Passage Windows, and it is said to be a hazy world, which is how it got its name. Shortly thereafter, the first New Domain, now known as the Mohadi Domain, was discovered. Its discoverer, Jansen, was rewarded with great honor and wealth.

The Sky Federation heavily promoted this exploration effort and even allowed private entities to engage in exploration. If a private explorer discovered a new territory, they were granted significant rights, such as receiving a ten percent tax on any trade conducted between the two regions and having priority trading rights. These privileges could also be transferred or sold. Following the implementation of this policy, exploration teams funded by major corporations sprang up like mushrooms after the rain. From that point on, as card cultivation theories advanced, card cultivators increasingly demonstrated powerful combat abilities, emerging as the foremost profession among other martial careers. The high demand for card cultivators in society further accelerated the development of card theories.

The wilderness became a paradise for countless adventurers, but it also served as a hellish graveyard for many.