Chapter 16: 016 At the age where I’m powerless, I met the second woman in my life I want to protect_1
Zero Egg: "My fists are clenched! They’re itching for a fight!"
Before Wen Jiang could lose her cool, Zero Egg was already fuming.
Wen Jiang was somewhat speechless. "What are you so worked up about?"
Zero Egg retorted righteously, "Of course, I’m angry on your behalf! You’re my host now, and you’re from the Yunxia Empire. From your standpoint, I absolutely despise these people! Aren’t you angry too? Look at how badly your country is being insulted!"
She wasn’t actually angry.
It wasn’t that she lacked a sense of belonging to Yunxia; quite the opposite, she felt it very strongly.
Watching this flame war reminded her of when Spiritual Energy first resurged years ago. People with special abilities began appearing all over the world. Nations that reacted quickly maintained relative social stability, but for some reason, European countries had a higher number of these ability users, and they started their incessant yapping.
Of course, even without this incident, countries around the world insulted each other daily, with Yunxia being a particularly easy target.
Later, when unconventional Cultivators emerged in Yunxia, the entire world suddenly fell silent.
These current remarks were just a repeat of history, weren’t they?
She had long grown accustomed to it.
Moreover, the Yunxia Empire in this world had lost much of its cultural heritage precisely because it had committed vast human resources to fending off disasters.
It was one thing for people from other countries to be ungrateful, but now this loss had become a sore spot they prodded to provoke the Yunxia Empire.
Of course, it wasn’t the first or second day they’d behaved so despicably.
That was just the sort of thing they would do.
The System was unaware of Wen Jiang’s inner thoughts. Wen Jiang casually asked, "Is it possible for your system to bind with someone from another country?"
Zero Egg was taken aback, then replied, "Not very likely. Before we came here, we analyzed the world’s data. Although your people are currently looked down upon, it’s strange; the data processing showed that the highest concentration of power is in your country. That other system would definitely seek out the Spirit Card Master with the greatest potential in your nation."
World data... so it can be analyzed.
Wen Jiang nodded, signifying her understanding.
Zero Egg said hesitantly, "So, as I was saying, surpassing the Heaven’s Mandate System is probably impossible. But if we cooperate like this, with you being able to create such B-Rank Cards, I feel our mission progress will be much faster than before."
Its aspirations were humble enough.
After all, it was just a diligent, working-class System. While it had the right to dream, from a practical standpoint, it currently only dared to focus on completing its tasks.
Wen Jiang continued watching the competition.
A five-person team of Spirit Card Masters emphasizes comprehensive cooperation. Such a team includes roles for damage output, support, control, assassin, and a fill. This fill position is selected based on the team’s style, allowing for strategic additions. It’s generally an all-rounder role, requiring proficiency with cards suited for the other four positions, making it a highly demanding spot on the team.
Each match allows players to ban one of their opponent’s most proficient cards, with a total of three ban slots available. The more cards a player is proficient with, the less they need to fear this type of competition format.
But card training is also crucial. Card Spirits lack consciousness and rely entirely on the Spirit Card Master’s control, which in turn depends entirely on the master’s reaction speed. It’s considered remarkable if a Spirit Card Master can master four or five different types of cards. Therefore, the fill position is often held by the most talented yet most criticized players; however, it’s also a role that very easily produces star players.
Unlike Mountain Ghost, where the star player is the main damage dealer Tan Heming. For instance, Sheng Hongying, the ace player of Mount Flower, is a star fill player.
Therefore, constructing a card set based on this line of thinking and direction is undoubtedly correct.
Zero Egg curiously asked, "What will your next four cards be? Still going to make pretty ladies?"
Wen Jiang pursed her lips and smiled. "Naturally. Since they’re part of the same series, they should look similar to confuse opponents. The Rabbit Demon Card excels in combat; its speed in beast form is sufficient for an assassin role. This card is suitable for two positions and can have surprisingly effective results in certain situations. So, for my next cards, I’ll make two Support Cards, one Offensive Card, and one Control Card. That should be enough."
Zero Egg was a bit dumbfounded. "Why two Support Cards? Isn’t that redundant?"
Wen Jiang replied, "It’s not redundant. One of the Support Cards is very special."
Creating cards requires vivid memories; she had to remember the characteristics of the Demon Race.
Her most vivid impression was of a Bamboo Demon.
This Bamboo Demon grew in a remote, ancient forest. When Spiritual Energy resurged, it gained sentience but was extremely timid. The world after the Spiritual Energy resurgence was fraught with danger. With its limited abilities, it gradually honed a unique skill over time.
Disguise. Its combat strength wasn’t high, but its mastery of disguise was unparalleled.
It could transform into any similar object it had seen, thereby evading predators and pursuers.
There were indeed disguise-type cards on the market, but the Bamboo Demon possessed another trait that others couldn’t match.
It could turn invisible.
Its low combat power didn’t matter. In human form, it could turn invisible and deliver a fatal blow at a critical moment. In its Bamboo Demon form, it could disguise itself as an opponent’s card or an ally’s card to confuse the enemy.
These two abilities combined truly made it a B-Level trump card.
Unfortunately, it was only B-Level. Wen Jiang knew that, with her own strength, she could see through the Bamboo Demon’s disguise in an instant—that was the effect of rank suppression.
Once her abilities rose to the next stage, the cards she could create would be even more complex.
The other card was a Flower Demon Support Card. Its ability was quite common: in its Flower Demon form, it could enhance the abilities of other cards.
Its human form was even more intriguing. She recalled the Flower Demon’s defining trait: it was a captivating little demon that, upon sensing trouble, would immediately collapse and pitifully beg for mercy.
Even Wen Jiang, who considered herself clear-minded and free of worldly desires after her cultivation, had once been momentarily enchanted by this Flower Demon.
It combined both support and control effects in one.
Unfortunately, the Flower Demon’s strength was insufficient. After its cultivation, it failed its Tribulation and ultimately perished.
For demons, undergoing Tribulation was an even more difficult ordeal than for humans.
After watching the match, Wen Jiang felt a surge of interest, so she entered the card-making room and began to create cards.
The memories in her mind were vivid. She could perfectly construct both cards, from appearance to abilities, without the slightest deviation. Since these were entities that already existed in her memory, the world’s will quickly acknowledged them, and the first Bamboo Demon Card was soon fresh from the forge.
Depicted on the card was a stunningly beautiful woman, looking utterly pitiable with her peach-soft skin and apricot-blush cheeks. She wore an ancient-style, long green gown patterned with bamboo leaves. A slight frown of her delicate eyebrows would instantly evoke compassion. When she lifted her eyes to look at someone, her gaze shimmered, always carrying a hint of sorrow.
In truth, it was her fear that gave rise to such a disposition.
The System couldn’t help but gasp. "If you applied to a game company as a character modeler, you’d instantly become the players’ daddy!"
Wen Jiang raised an eyebrow, pleased. She gently lifted the Bamboo Demon’s chin. The Bamboo Demon had no true consciousness, but having been created, it possessed some inherent, lifelike reactions. It shyly curtsied. "Greetings, Master."
Wen Jiang sent an image of this card to Bunny Treasure’s account.
Chen Xiaotu had just gotten her account back from her brother and was sending study materials to a classmate. Because she couldn’t reveal Mount Flower’s secret plan to purchase the Rabbit Demon Card, she was temporarily unable to show it off, which made her feel incredibly frustrated.
When Chen Xiaotu opened the private message from her priority contact and saw the card:
PFFT!
She clutched her chest, spat out a mouthful of blood, and collapsed.
Why, oh why, at an age where she felt so utterly powerless, had she encountered the second woman in her life whom she vowed to protect!