Chapter 25
After the incident spread on the school forum, Wang Rengui finally realized what had happened and belatedly sought out Ning Xi.
"Ning Xi, how come I didn't know you made so many cards?"
"Because you don't check the group chat." Ning Xi wanted to shrug, but stopped herself. She felt that she and the other person weren't that close yet.
“Alright. Then, esteemed card maker Ning Xi, do you have any free time? My budget is more than sufficient.” Wang Rengui jokingly bowed to her.
He thought that once the competition was over, it would probably be much harder to get a date with Ning Xi.
Mingxin Academy has no shortage of excellent card makers, but it also has no shortage of card masters willing to spend money on a good card. Right now, people on the forum are still discussing "whether Ning Xi's card-making skills are superior or Naliren has regained her strength," but after a while, they'll realize the truth.
He definitely needs to take advantage of this time to book as many cards as possible!
"Okay." Ning Xi nodded. "Could you show me your cards too?"
Unlike Nariren, Wang Rengui's cards gave her a first impression of being mediocre.
This is a card set containing three cards: the [Knight's Emblem], which enhances strength and constitution; the [Knight's Armor], a defensive weapon card; and the [Knight's Shield], a handheld weapon card. The creator appears to be a native of the Vast Ocean Star Region, as the card style is not realistic, incorporating many exaggerated and imaginative elements.
The card effects were mostly designed around defensive functions, nothing particularly special. Only one ability of [Knight's Shield] caught her attention.
The probability of this triggering hostility from other creatures causes them to turn their attacks on Wang Rengui.
In gaming terms, it's a probability-based taunt trigger.
This feature is actually somewhat risky—you can't be sure what the user's status is when the taunt is triggered. However, Wang Rengui has been using this deck for some time and seems to have adapted well to this feature.
Ning Xi said, "This card set... isn't actually bad, but the creator seems to be an amateur."
The card patterns used in the cards are slightly unrefined. Although this does not affect the final card, it does have some impact on the card's effect.
Wang Rengui said, "This card was bought by my family on the recommendation of others. The card maker is a member of a well-known family in our hometown."
His family runs a small business and isn't poor, but three generations of them have had little to do with the card game industry. They care more about other things than the strength of the cards.
This set of cards was nominally a gift to him, but in reality, it was a favor from his family.
Ning Xi nodded.
Time was tight, and she couldn't possibly customize a new set of cards for Wang Rengui. Even if she did, he wouldn't have enough time to adapt to them.
However, some cards can be added to compensate for the functional deficiencies of this card set.
Ning Xi's first card, "Great Restoration Pill," is a single-target healing card that can both heal and mitigate negative effects, preventing him from being controlled to death by ice-type abilities, a situation he encountered in the D-level realm.
Although Yu Xiangyin obtained the [Warm Jade], its healing effect is slow and affects the entire group, and may not be able to cope with the sudden situation encountered by Wang Rengui.
For the second card, Ning Xi has a little idea.
She specifically purchased the material "The Rebellious Bone of the One-Horned Rhinoceros." The One-Horned Rhinoceros is a common beast in the D-rank realm, known for its impatient and easily angered nature; once someone provokes it, it's difficult to escape its clutches. Ning Xi thought she could use this to create a card.
She handed the completed card to Wang Rengui, who was unexpectedly excited: "Great idea! How come I didn't think of that?"
"Ning Xi, can I book your schedule after the competition?" Wang Rengui said, taking out his terminal again to scan Ning Xi's payment code.
...There's no need for that.
Ning Xi shook her head: "I'm just a D-level card maker, it's not that serious."
“According to statistics, 80% of card makers are stuck at level D,” Wang Rengui said enthusiastically. “I’m not sure if I can break through to level C, so I need to prepare for my future. Ning Xi, how much more should I pay to get your availability?”
Ning Xi gave a wry smile.
She simply didn't have the time, so naturally she couldn't answer Wang Rengui's question and could only brush it off with "If it were you, I would definitely have time."
Two days later, it was time for their second match.
Whether it was luck or something else, in the second competition, the "first in credits" performance was still ranked very high.
The first round of matches has already eliminated many teams, and quite a few teams, after studying the competition, have opted to play in community tournaments instead. Now, everyone in the 33-star tournament knows that students from Mingxin Academy are out there smurfing. Yet, even under these circumstances, the audience has not decreased but rather increased.
Or rather... the audience didn't actually decrease but increased, it's just that there were especially many viewers for their show?
Because of Nariren and Moze?
Ning Xi swallowed hard. With the competition imminent, she didn't want to cause any trouble, so she lowered her head and blended into the crowd to enter the venue.
But she was too late; someone with sharp eyes had already found her.
"Ning Xi!"
A loud female voice.
"I am a student from the Mingxin College News Agency. Would you like to say a few words to us?"
Why does Mingxin Academy have a news agency? Aren't they a card-themed academy?
Before she could answer, the news agency member asked in his usual loud voice, "As a card maker who has suffered discrimination in recent years, what are your thoughts on Nariren?"
Ning Xi took a deep breath, her face expressionless: "I don't know what the connection is between the two."
"What's your opinion on Nariren's act of acting on her own initiative?"
“She didn’t act on her own,” Ning Xi had a better grasp of the person’s thinking. Influenced by the other person, she unconsciously adopted a slightly exaggerated tone. “Participating in this competition and adopting special tactics was a decision made jointly by our team.”
"Rather than saying that Nariren acted on her own initiative, it would be more accurate to say that my willful request was unanimously supported by my teammates."
"Ning Xi, do you mean you've decided to fight the Golden Compass, even if it means facing a significant disadvantage of three against four?"
“It was my decision.” Ning Xi’s tone was relaxed, even with an upward inflection at the end. “Besides, I don’t think our team is playing three against four.”
"If I'm included, then it's four against four, isn't it?"
Her words had a significant effect.
As the match drew closer to its start, the discussions on the forum shifted their focus from Naliren to Ning Xi.
[I thought Naliren was the most eccentric one in their team, but I didn't expect there to be another expert?]
[Ning Xi? What makes her think she can say that? Just because of her crippled mental strength?]
I feel a little sorry for Yu Xiangyin. She's a really nice person, a real pushover.
There were also faint voices speaking up for Ning Xi.
Ning Xi has been working hard on card production these past few days; she might have created some kind of devastating weapon.
Aren't card makers supposed to be partners of card masters? Why are they separated like this?
[What a joke, a D-grade weapon of mass destruction? You'd be better off believing I'm the First Emperor than believing her.]
How many times do I have to say it? The skill of the card master is the most important thing; cards are just icing on the cake.
Moze's gaze swept quickly across the post without any reaction. He only spoke briefly when his teammate asked a question.
"To attract attention."
"This kind of clown should be taught a lesson."
Once he defeats Nariren, he might be able to spare some energy for this arrogant card maker.
A few minutes later, the two teams entered the playing field.
Nariren stepped forward and bowed to Moze.
Moze returned the greeting with a relaxed, nonchalant smile: "Naliren, I feel very sorry to have you leave my team."
Nariren looked him straight in the eye: "Unlike you, I feel very lucky."
"Really?"
Moze activated his card, and shimmering light, like the waves of sea, appeared on the hard ground.
"Let me see how long this luck will last."
The two quickly engaged in combat. Moze was dressed in a sturdy sailor uniform, carrying a heavy, chained anchor in one hand and a light, gleaming scimitar in the other. His unusually mature appearance added a touch of realism to his current attire.
Nariren looked just as everyone knew her, clad in dazzling golden armor, with flames swirling around her.
Two figures, one in blue and one in red, were intertwined.
"Moze! Go for it!"
"Captain! Smash her!"
As if encouraged by the cheers of the audience, the "captain" raised the anchor high and then slammed it down, as if the person in front of him was not his classmate, but a monster from the sea. Nariren dodged and weaved to the left and right, avoiding his attacks.
"Naliren, this isn't like you!"
"Charge! Teach Moze a lesson!"
Nariren's gaze remained calm and unaffected, as she focused intently on dodging.
No one noticed that in a corner of the arena, Ning Xi's eyes were filled with a spiritual energy.
To fully understand Moze's cards, you can't just watch videos; you have to see them on the battlefield without any obstacles.
Thanks to Nariren's bet with the "Golden Compass," no one else on the field made a move, allowing Ning Xi to focus on her analysis.
Although Moze appeared not to have used the [Golden Compass], but only a few equipment cards, the power of the [Golden Compass] had actually spread throughout the entire arena.
Ning Xi glanced at the arena floor beneath her feet. It was clean, yet she felt a dampness within it, a urge that made her want to take something out and dry it.
The mental force acted immediately, disrupting the gradually spreading energy field. Moze's movements faltered, and Naliren seized the opportunity, her flaming longsword aimed at his head.
Moze retreated and used his scimitar to block the attack.
“Your attacks have become soft,” he whispered. “I miss the days when we first met, when your attacks were as fiery as flames.”
His aura deepened, and his scimitar drew an arc, simple yet seemingly stirring invisible ripples, forcing Nariren to crash into it.
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