11: Source card assistance, meditation hopeless

Lying on the bed, Lu Yuan picked up the source card that glowed with a gentle light.

source card

Quality: White

Type: Rare card

Effect: Contains 10 points of pure Source Power, can be absorbed continuously or quickly replenished. At the same time, it slightly increases the holder's Source Power absorption efficiency.

Note: The most basic Source Power replenishment and cultivation auxiliary card, with significant effects during the apprentice stage.

Without hesitation, Lu Yuan closed his eyes and, following the method taught by the teacher in class, guided the energy within the card.

A cool, pure warm current flowed from the card into his palm, along the meridians of his arm, and slowly converged into his chest.

His dry Source Power pool was quickly filled as if by long-awaited rain.

7 points... 8 points... 10 points... The barrier of 77 Source Power seemed to loosen slightly under the impact of the pure energy.

When the card's light returned to dimness, Lu Yuan opened his eyes.

Level: First-Order Card Master Apprentice (7-star peak)

Source Power: 77 / 77

His Source Power was completely full, and he even vaguely felt that the upper limit had increased slightly. Although the panel hadn't changed, it was a more abundant feeling.

"7-star peak..."

He was just one step away from 8 stars.

But this last step, relying solely on meditation, would probably take several days.

Lu Yuan looked at the source card in his hand; it seemed this thing was quite good for replenishing Source Power.

However—

Effect: Contains 9 points of pure Source Power, can be absorbed continuously or quickly replenished. At the same time, it slightly increases the holder's Source Power absorption efficiency.

In less than two hours, he had spent nearly 3,000 star coins...

With nothing else to do, Lu Yuan opened his phone and first searched for card prices.

saber-toothed turtle, blue one-star, market price around 20,000 star coins, average cost-performance ratio.

Swamp Crocodile, blue four-star, attack-type beast taming card, the price was much higher, generally fluctuating between 80,000 and 100,000 star coins, a pretty good combat card for the early stage.

"Thank you, A-Hu," Lu Yuan's lips curved slightly.

Next, he began to browse the card trading platform, entering "two-star," "white," and "beast taming" in the search bar.

Soon, a dazzling array of card information popped up.

Prices mostly ranged from several hundred to over a thousand star coins.

Lu Yuan carefully filtered them.

Raging Waves Sea Soul focused on defense, and he urgently needed an offensive beast taming card to make up for his shortcomings.

In the end, he ordered three cards.

Thorned Beetle: White one-star, decent defense, insect type. Bought one, intending to return it to Nickname. Price: 488 star coins.

Wind Bamboo Worm: White two-star, flying insect type, fast, weak attack power, good at reconnaissance and harassment. Price: 920 star coins.

Shadow Mantis: White two-star, insect type, excellent stealth ability, claw attacks carry a weak venom, suitable for sneak attacks. Price: 1,450 star coins.

The three cards combined cost nearly 3,000 star coins.

He chose cash on delivery and expedited shipping, expecting it to arrive by Sunday morning.

After all this, Lu Yuan finally felt a hint of sleepiness.

He glanced at the clock on the wall; it was almost one in the morning.

The night passed without incident...

On Saturday, Lu Yuan sat in meditation all day, still at 77 points. The upper limit seemed to have increased slightly again, but even with the assistance of the source card, progress was too slow and difficult to sustain.

Mainly, his legs were numb and his butt hurt, so he gave up and decided to gamble on cards instead.

Sunday, early morning.

Sunlight streamed into the room through the curtain gap.

Lu Yuan woke up early, feeling refreshed.

A call came in on his phone; it must be the delivery.

Lu Yuan opened the door, paid, and signed for a small metal box.

He opened it, and inside lay three brand new white cards.

Thorned Beetle, Wind Bamboo Worm, Shadow Mantis.

He took out the Thorned Beetle card alone and put it in his pocket.

Name: Wind Bamboo Worm

Star Rating: Two-star

Quality: White

Type: beast taming card

Race: Elemental / Insectoid

Skill One: Gentle Breeze - Flaps thin wings, creating a weak airflow. Interferes with the opponent's vision, no substantial damage.

Skill Two: Leaf Mimicry - When still, body color blends with surrounding vegetation. Slightly reduces the chance of being discovered. Passive skill.

Status: Perfect

Note: A common low-tier insectoid monster, gentle in nature, often inhabiting bamboo forests or grass, feeding on plant sap. Low value, one of the choices for apprentices to practice with.

card Name: Shadow Mantis

Star Rating: Two-star

Quality: White

Type: beast taming card

Race: Elemental / Insectoid / Mutant Mantis

Skill One: Shadow Stealth - Consumes a small amount of Source Power, body blurs for a short time, merging into shadows. Increases movement speed, reduces the chance of being locked on. Duration: 3 seconds. Cooldown: 10 seconds.

Skill Two: Swift Cut - Swings its forelimb scythes, launching a quick slash. Deals a small amount of physical damage.

Status: Perfect

Note: A predator active in dark corners, agile in movement, good at sneak attacks. Be careful of its sharp forelimbs. Slightly stronger than the Wind Bamboo Worm, but still low-tier.

(Skills without a written cooldown have no cooldown; as long as there is enough Source Power, they can be used continuously.)

Lu Yuan was very satisfied, considering these two cards as a base, they were excellent value for money.

He stayed until after lunch, then picked up his schoolbag and went out for school.

(High school classes resume on Sunday afternoon.)

Qingteng High School, Senior Year Department.

"Student Nickname."

The perpetual mask, and a pair of clear, distant eyes, turned towards him.

Her voice was soft and pleasant.

"Is the matter handled?"

Lu Yuan took out the Thorned Beetle card from his pocket and handed it over.

"Your card, thank you."

Nickname extended her fair fingers and took the card, her fingertips brushing against Lu Yuan's thumb inadvertently.

"How was your weekend...?"

Lu Yuan understood in his heart what she wanted to ask.

"It was alright," he said with a relaxed tone, "I solved some troubles."

"I heard... Zhao Feng bothered you?"

News sure travels fast.

Lu Yuan nodded, neither denying nor explaining further.

"You got the subject and object reversed; it should be me bothering him."

"Oh!" Nickname looked directly at him, her curious little eyes blinking. "So, what about what you promised me?"

"Nothing special," Lu Yuan avoided the main point, "He brought it upon himself."

Nickname: "..."

She stared at Lu Yuan for a few seconds. "If you're like this, I'll never lend you a card again."

"Alright, alright, it's fine to tell you." Lu Yuan suddenly changed his expression, his tone becoming serious. "Before, I was too muddled, wasting too much time. From now on, I want to cultivate seriously, strive to improve my strength, get into the best card Master university, and change my fate."

His words were completely sincere; as for whether the other party believed him, that was none of his business.

"How perfunctory," Nickname complained inwardly, her expression beneath the mask unknown to anyone.

After a moment, she softly hummed, "Mm."

"That's good."

She put away the Thorned Beetle card and left.

"A reminder, Student Lu Yuan. A tall tree catches the wind."

"Some people don't like to see others suddenly become brilliant."

Lu Yuan watched her retreating figure, lost in thought.

Was Nickname reminding him?

Reminding him that he might have attracted the attention of certain people?

Zhao She's group? Or others in the school?

However, Nickname's attitude didn't seem like she knew he had a gold card.

Never mind, to rise quickly, he would inevitably touch some people's interests.

Being timid and hesitant would never change one's fate...