CHAPTER 29: 029 CARD TRIAL_1

"It’s 376 now, and it even hit the trending search. It’s too bad the main server is too far for me to reach right now. Otherwise, I’d definitely make you the number one hot spot on the Blue Star APP."

"Host, when are you going to draw cards?"

Listening to Zero Egg’s query, Wen Jiang fell silent. She was flipping through the card library at a deck marked with a question mark.

"What’s there to draw from a B-Rank Card Set?" Wen Jiang looked at the question mark deck. "What’s with this row of question marks? Is it SSR Rank? If we’re going to draw cards, we might as well save up Points to open this Card Set."

"...Erm, no." Zero Egg’s tone suddenly became a bit strange. "I think we might not be able to draw this Card Set."

Wen Jiang was puzzled. "Why? Is the Points requirement outrageous?"

"Yeah," Zero Egg said, sounding confused. "Actually, I also don’t know what this question mark Card Set means. It was pre-installed in my database. It seems like you need to meet some qualifications to open it. I tried entering the Points required to unlock it, but even when I input up to 1,000,000,000 Points, it still showed you’re not qualified to unlock it. So, this Card Set can’t be drawn."

"Oh, is that so?" Wen Jiang wasn’t particularly concerned after hearing this. "Then that means the SSR Rank Card Sets are drawable."

"Should be, yeah? After you’ve opened an A-Rank Card Set, SSR Rank ones should appear automatically. It just might take a very long time."

Before this, it hadn’t even dared to hope Wen Jiang would have a chance at drawing SSR cards.

Wen Jiang made a decisive statement, "Then let’s draw the SSR ones. The B-Rank ones aren’t interesting."

"Okay then."

Since the host had decided so, it would be fine not to draw any. Honestly, the cards Wen Jiang created herself seemed to be stronger than those in its own Card Set... And it had secretly checked: in the history of the Yunxia Empire, there were some card elements similar to Wen Jiang’s, but they were far inferior. Where exactly did Wen Jiang get the inspiration to create cards? Effortlessly producing an entire Card Set, just like that... Zero Egg was uneasy inside, but it dared not speak. It just felt that following a problematic host behind its supervisor’s back was quite—thrilling!

「」

The Bamboo Demon card caused quite a stir online. Many fans hoped the Mount Flower Association would sell merchandise related to the Bamboo Demon card.

In that evening’s match, the Mount Flower Association used another new card, the Rabbit Demon, which once again set off a fan frenzy.

Seeing the passionate discussions online, Tang Qian returned from the meeting with a smile on her face. "Runyu," she asked, "that Card Maker, have you had any more interaction with her?"

Chen Runyu was always logged in to Chen Xiaotu’s account. Hearing this, he shook his head regretfully. "No. Since she handed the cards over last time and I transferred the money, she hasn’t talked business with me."

The main issue was the lack of a proper reason. She had already turned down an offer to join the Card Association, so any further attempts to get close would seem to have ulterior motives.

"Is that so?" Tang Qian thought for a moment, then suggested, "She put together that Card Set so quickly before; she might have other cards ready. Ask her if she’d be willing to make another Card Set, with the price doubled from before."

"Another Card Set so soon?" This time Chen Runyu hesitated. "But with the Dual-Change Card being so popular right now, she might realize how well-liked her cards are. Would she really be willing to create an exclusive Card Set for us again?"

"We have to try." Tang Qian wasn’t worried about this point. "Moreover, it’s not like those cards can fetch a good price just because they are in her hands. The Mount Flower Association has a strong reputation, so plenty of fans are willing to pay. Cards are amplified much more when held by the association. Conversely, if a Card Maker works alone, it’s hard to generate high sales, no matter how novel their cards are, unless they make a really big name for themselves. The benefits an association brings are simply incomparable to what an individual can achieve. Moreover, producing card-related merchandise requires factories to cover the costs. If she works alone, making cards expends spiritual power, and she wouldn’t be able to sell many cards by herself. There’s an entire commercial operational procedure behind all this."

What Tang Qian said was true, so Chen Runyu nodded. "I’ll give it a try."

Tang Qian also said, "Don’t focus too much on this after you talk to her. Don’t forget your competition is about to begin. Right now, A-Level and above competitions are the mainstream; B-Level ones are just small-time. You don’t need to worry too much about the association."

Tang Qian knew her apprentice was anxious about the association’s current situation, which was why he had been so eager to buy good cards.

Mount Flower was in an embarrassing situation. Fresh blood was dwindling, meaning many powerful associations would fight for emerging Spirit Card Masters. If the Mount Flower Association couldn’t produce dazzling results, no one would choose to join. It would only decline step by step, and investors would likely withdraw their funds eventually.

Even in a world where card power prevails, in the end, it’s still about benefits and interests.

Chen Runyu fell silent for a moment, then tentatively asked, "I heard that Senior Sheng hasn’t decided about the contract renewal yet?"

Tang Qian paused, a trace of fatigue surfacing between her brows. "That’s not something you or I should concern ourselves with. In the end, it’s a showdown between the leadership and Hongying. Although my relationship with Hongying is good, I can’t influence decisions at that level; I can only be informed of them early."

Sheng Hongying not renewing her contract was currently a thorn hanging over the Mount Flower Association.

If she truly decided not to renew and left, the Mount Flower Association’s path towards decline would be almost certain. Without a suitable Spirit Card Master, how could any number of new cards lead the Mount Flower Association to glory? The very thought made Tang Qian feel desperate for the Mount Flower Association.

In the end, the mentor and apprentice exchanged a look, sighed, and left together.

「」

Wen Jiang didn’t reply to Chen Runyu’s new message. She had seen enough card battles and decided to take part herself.

Using Card Spirits in battle is just like training. One has to become proficient to wield them better.

In this world, besides competitions, there are many Card Trial Halls. These are akin to the martial arts schools of old. Card types are myriad, and each association has its own unique strategies. Spirit Card Masters who lack talent, can’t join an association, and have no place to hone their skills often turn to these Card Trial Halls. Here, they can spar with others. Occasionally, they might even get a chance to test their skills against association members, thereby gauging the combat power of other associations’ signature cards.

Of course, this applies only to those below B-Level.

A-Level Card Spirits require a large arena due to their strong destructive capabilities, and the Imperial City does not allow such arenas to be built.

She put on a mask and randomly picked a bustling Card Trial Hall by the roadside. Inside, there were many Spirit Card Masters, and anyone was free to challenge others. Each match was held in a private room; the loser would step down, and the winner would continue to fight.

Considering the spiritual power expenditure of Spirit Card Masters, winning three consecutive matches would earn a reward from the Card Trial Hall. Each venue offered different prizes; this particular hall, for instance, offered a six-month membership card.