He directly selected, then looked at the next card.

The eighth card, the cover depicts a bloodstained robe-wearing figure fiercely beating a bird-like monster.

Although the face is still unclear, the robe-wearer's lips seem to carry a hint of a smile.

"Venting Anger: Deal 8 damage to the enemy. If damage was taken this turn, enter Calm state. Costs 1 energy."

Damage plus status change, not bad, can form a combo with the first card "Anger Attack".

But doesn't that mean he'd be injuring himself and then getting angry, venting by beating others?

Thinking about it, it's kind of twisted.

"I like it."

Liu Zheng showed the same smile, looking at the next card.

The ninth card, the cover depicts the robe-wearer placing a hand on the masked head of a humanoid monster, whose eyes emit purple light.

"Transmutation: Make the enemy's next attack deal damage to other enemies. Ineffective against boss enemies or when only one enemy is present. Costs 2 energy."

"This card..."

He fell into contemplation.

To some extent, this card is both offensive and defensive and works exceedingly well against enemies high in attack but low in health.

But its usage conditions are stringent, and the energy cost of 2 is not low.

"Let's set it as a backup for now."

Liu Zheng shook his head, looking at the next card.

The tenth card, the cover depicts the robe-wearer holding his head with both arms, covered in wounds.

"Enduring Humiliation (ability): Every time damage is received, the enemy that caused damage gains one layer of Vulnerability. Removed from the game after use. Costs 2 energy."

"Vulnerability: Doubled damage received from attacks, decreasing by one layer at the end of each turn."

A purely humorous card.

The quadruple damage in Anger state seems appealing, but the problem is that if pursuing a high-crit path, the enemy doesn't have a chance to deal damage, and if pursuing a counter-defense route, the enemy equally can't deal damage.

Even if intentionally getting injured, it takes effect in the second turn, costing 2 energy, purely slowing down the rhythm.

He skipped it, looking at the next card.

The eleventh card, the cover depicts the robe-wearer reading a book while striking a gigantic Slime with a stick.

"Diligent Practice: Deal 10 damage to the enemy. If it kills the enemy, randomly upgrade one card from your deck. Removed from the game after use. Costs 2 energy.,

"Great card!"

Liu Zheng's eyes lit up.

Free upgrades are quite nice; obtaining them at the start of the game is even divine.

And the removal effect after use is actually positive, as it cleans up the deck.

"I'll take it."

He selected it without hesitation, then looked at the next card.

The twelfth card was another "Flying Chaotic Punch".

"Should I take it?"

Liu Zheng hesitated for a while.

Theoretically, low-cost, high-damage area attack cards can be taken multiple times, but personally, he doesn't like taking duplicates.

"Let's set it as a backup for now."

He looked at the next card.

The thirteenth card was a duplicate card, the basic defense card "Defend".

No need to hesitate, directly skipped.

Liu Zheng looked at seven more cards in a row, all either duplicates or useless, thus skipped all.

Coming to the twenty-first card, the cover shows the robe-wearer holding a stick, half his face red and the other half blue.

The scene is half flames, half ice.

"Duality: If in Anger state, enter Calm state; if in Calm state, enter Anger state. Costs 1 energy."

"Good card."

Seeing this, he roughly figured out that the deck revolves around "Anger" and "Calm" states.

"Anger" for output, "Calm" for energy and reducing damage.

If state switching isn't timely, not only will output fail but also face huge damage.

At such times, "Duality" is essential for flexible state switching.

"Selected."

Liu Zheng looked at the next card.

The twenty-second card, the cover shows the robe-wearer flying mid-air, emitting purple light, with countless purple thunderbolts in the sky.

"Ultimate Ascension: Enter Demigod State, if combat victory is not achieved by the turn's end, instant death occurs."

"Demigod State: Gain 3 energy value, attacks deal triple damage."

"So fierce!"

Attack dealing triple damage, adding Vulnerability it's 6 times damage, even bosses may not withstand it?

The instant death drawback essentially isn't a big deal, as it's only used when failing to KO the enemy within one turn.

Unfortunately, this card can't form a combo with "Flying Chaotic Punch", otherwise a triple damage area attack would be godly.

"I'll take it anyway."

Liu Zheng looked at the next card.

The twenty-third card, the cover depicts the robe-wearer sitting on an ugly little monster's corpse, holding a stick in one hand and resting his chin in the other, with a golden question mark above his head.

"Pondering: Exit the current state, draw two cards, costs 1 energy."

"Yet another card draw."

It's not unworthy; let's set it as a backup.

He looked at the next card.

The twenty-fourth card, the cover shows the robe-wearer thrusting a broken stick into a crown-wearing armored figure, while the broken part pierces her own chest.

"Heaven and Earth Same Life: Deal 30 damage to the enemy, deal 10 damage to oneself, costs 3 energy."

Pure numeric value, extreme output.

In Anger state, it deals 60 damage in one hit, if combined with Demigod state and Vulnerability, it deals 120 in one hit.

Judging from other card values, even non-bosses can be one-shotted.

Yet dealing 10 damage to oneself is very harsh; in Anger state, it hits oneself with 20 damage, the basic defense card only adds 5 defense points.

"Backup for now."

Liu Zheng looked at the next card.

The twenty-fifth card, the cover depicts the enraged robe-wearer throwing a stick, surrounded by piles of sticks and monsters slain by sticks.

"Furious Battle (ability): Every time entering Anger state, draw two cards. Removed from the game after use. Costs 1 energy."

"Take!"

Seeing the card effect, Liu Zheng selected it without hesitation.

Constant card draw, greatness speaks for itself.

The twenty-sixth card, the cover shows the robe-wearer standing in a library, holding a pile of books.

"Five Cars' Worth of Knowledge: Draw cards until hand limit is reached, removed from the game after use. Costs 1 energy."

"Hand limit is 10 cards."

"Take!"

He selected it again without hesitation.

Other cards only draw up to 2 cards, this one can draw up to 10, greatness speaks for itself.

The twenty-seventh card, the cover shows a stick smashing down.

"Stick Strike: Deal 6 damage to the enemy, costs 1 energy."

Basic attack card arrives, 1 cost 6 damage, its sole purpose proving the power of "Flying Chaotic Punch".

The twenty-eighth card was another "Furious Battle".

"Should I take it?"

Liu Zheng hesitated slightly.

Card draw is good, but he doesn't seem to be lacking in card draw now; rather he lacks defense.

Although offense is the best defense, having absolutely no defensive cards surely can't work.

The earlier "Full Defense" was decent, but given his current selection of attack cards isn't substantial, it doesn't play a big role.

"Let's see the last two cards first."

He looked at the next card.

The twenty-ninth card, the cover depicts the robe-wearer placing a finger on Jing Zi, showing a gray-haired robe-wearer in the mirror.

Their fingers touch, emitting faint purple light.

"Seek Help From Future: Gain 3 energy value, reduce 3 energy value next turn, removed from the game after use. Costs 1 energy."

"This card..."

Liu Zheng was uncertain.

Theoretically, given the explosive nature of "Anger" state, borrowing energy for a single explosiveness is worthwhile.

If the enemy isn't killed in this turn, the next turn is essentially a loss.

"Eh?"

Preparing to look at the last card, a flash of inspiration struck his mind.

Wait...

Had he already become a perpetual motion machine?