118: 【Cicada Wing Messenger】Powerful Item

Chapter 118: Winged Messenger's Powerful Trait

In this round, Shi Li also played 1 [LV2 Healing] for the [Stone Giant], restoring 40 HP.

So after this round, the cards on both sides were as follows:

[Stone Giant]: 100 / 250 (0 / 10 Stun)

[Cyber Boxer]: 40 / 100

[Seatemple Abbot]: Withdrawn

“It’s over—”

Seeing this card layout, Wang Ji knew that victory had already slipped away from him.

It could be said that the [Stone Giant Snail]'s 100 HP was perfectly timed.

If he only relied on the output of [Cyber Boxer] + [Mask Clan Shaman], he could only deal 90 damage in one round, not enough to instantly kill it.

If he let the [Loyal Gangster] participate in the output, then he himself would inevitably be instantly killed.

The situation that followed for Wang Ji indeed went downhill rapidly.

Soon, his ace was revealed first.

Shi Li defeated him with just 1 [Crow Warrior] worth 30 points.

On the other end of the network cable, the audience began to review the game.

“If I remember correctly, this [Despicable Goblin] originally carried the trait [Despicable Flying Dagger], which dealt 10 damage with each skill activation.”

“Without this trait, it not only avoids dealing damage to the [Stone Giant Snail] when casting [Blindness].

It also lowers Wang Ji's guard, making him overlook the possibility that it could also attack the [Stone Giant].”

“This [Despicable Goblin] truly deserves to be the MVP of a normal game; who would have thought that Shi Li could play a 20-point utility card so skillfully.”

“And didn’t you notice, Shi Li actually only used 130 / 150 points to defeat Wang Ji, who used all 150 points.

It’s like he gave him 20 points worth of cards.”

“One can only say that Wang Ji is still too inexperienced and simply cannot cope with Shi Li's cunning.”

Shi Li only had this one card game today, and after winning, he went to the virtual library.

However, he had only been reading for a few minutes when the phone rang again.

“Why is it always like this?”

He reluctantly answered the phone.

On the other end of the line was Fang Jinghai.

Fang Jinghai was silent for a few seconds before saying, “Shi Li, I lost.”

“Huh?”

Shi Li was slightly surprised by this situation.

“My opponent was Pineapple City’s number one seed, Lu Xinran—”

Fang Jinghai began to recount his experience.

“Actually, just yesterday, I luckily had a breakthrough on the spot and reached the Platinum 4 rank.

Meeting Lu Xinran, who was also Platinum 4, I was originally full of confidence.

After all, at the same rank, I was confident I could compete with anyone.”

“But you clearly lost to me, who was at a lower rank, before.”

Shi Li interrupted him and twisted the knife.

“...Are you going to listen or not?”

“I am, go on, go on.”

Then, Fang Jinghai introduced the entire card game to Shi Li.

The key point was that he had used all four of his three-star character cards, including the three-star Unique Character Card [Yuanshan Deputy Sect Leader], which was comparable to a four-star card.

However, Lu Xinran only used two of her four three-star character cards to defeat him.

“Rationally speaking, I don’t think you have much chance of winning.”

Fang Jinghai said gravely.

“Then why are you looking for me?”

Shi Li retorted.

“This isn’t about emotionally hoping you can avenge me and bring honor to our Durian City!”

Next, Fang Jinghai introduced Shi Li to the specific situation of his match with Lu Xinran.

“Anyway, that’s how it was, I made a misstep and lost.”

“A crippled ace against a full-health ace, I think you made more than just one misstep.”

“Goodbye!”

With Shi Li's words, Fang Jinghai angrily hung up the phone.

“Hmm, it seems he’s cheered up, at least he’s not dejected anymore.”

Shi Li nodded, his attention returning to Lu Xinran’s deck.

“Ugh—this kind of deck, it really can’t be stopped.”

He could actually understand why Fang Jinghai lost.

Although Lu Xinran only used three three-star cards, it could be simply summarized in one word: power.

Her deck was relatively plain but very powerful.

It was purely a display of raw strength, showcasing high stats.

Facing such an opponent, a head-on clash of deck power was not the best strategy.

After all, Lu Xinran still had one three-star character card yet to be revealed, so he didn't know what level her deck's final power could reach.

And so, the next day's competition arrived as scheduled.

Shi Li's randomly assigned opponent was still a student from Pineapple City.

The opponent was only Platinum 2 rank, and was even easier to deal with than Wang Ji.

In the end, Shi Li won easily.

As for Gong Ping, who continued his lucky streak and advanced to the top 4 yesterday, he met Lu Xinran.

This guy was defeated even faster than Fang Jinghai; the opponent didn't even reveal her ace before taking him down.

It was still reading online, and still, a phone call came just after a few glances.

“Director Hou?”

However, this caller was unexpected by Shi Li.

And the news Director Hou brought was also good news.

The pioneering gathering team was highly efficient, and just yesterday, they had finished gathering from that Firm Ore Vein.

After consolidated statistics, Shi Li and Zhong Xin, as discoverers, each received a 2% share.

The small amount of money Shi Li received was 40,000 cubic coins.

“Also, I heard you obtained a unique token card in the exotic. Have you completed the simulation mission yet?”

“Luckily, I completed it a few days ago.”

Hearing Shi Li say this, Director Hou was no longer surprised, but secretly thought, 'As expected.'

This kid’s speed at digesting resources is truly top-notch.

“Then open the door, I’m at your doorstep.”

“Alright.”

Shi Li didn't know why the other party would visit him.

If it was just about cubic coins, a direct transfer would suffice.

He left the cubicle, went downstairs, and opened the door.

Director Hou was indeed already standing outside the door.

“I won’t go in. I have something to hand to you personally here.”

He slipped a card into Shi Li’s hand.

“This is—”

Shi Li was puzzled.

Picking it up, he saw that it was actually the two-star material card that Zhang He had taken from the treasury.

Its projection was a piece of old, worn parchment with several blurred characters written on it.

[Yu An's True Work]: Balance System trait material, seems to have something special (Two-star)

From the latter half of the sentence, Shi Li could judge the value of this material card to him.

Perhaps in someone else's hands, this was just a very ordinary Balance System material.

But if used on the [Winged Messenger], it might give birth to an exclusive trait.

“I exchanged this from Zhang He with my employee points; I felt you might need it.”

Director Hou smiled.

“Director Hou, I don’t even know how to repay you for this.”

Shi Li certainly wanted to accept it, but he always felt a little uneasy.

Ever since Shi Li joined the Show Card Hall, this elder brother had taken great care of him.

The total value of the things he had given him, both before and after, was already tens of thousands.

“No need to repay, no need to repay.”

Director Hou quickly waved his hand and smiled, “I’ve been in this position as director for many years, and what I like most is seeing the new generation of our Show Card Hall gradually grow and become the backbone of the Card Hall in the future.”

“?”

Shi Li always felt that the other party’s words seemed to have a deeper meaning,

But he wasn't involved in office politics, so he didn't understand it immediately.

“I watched your card game today; you played very well.”

Director Hou patted Shi Li on the shoulder, encouraging him.

As a high-level executive of the Show Card Hall, he also had the authority to watch the college entrance exam duels.

He had watched all of Shi Li's card games without missing a single one.

“Next, you’re going to duel against Pineapple City’s number one seed. Good luck.

You are the hope of our Durian City.”

After Director Hou finished speaking, he silently added a sentence in his heart.

He is also my hope for promotion to Deputy Curator or even Curator.

It was precisely because he had the authority that he also watched Lu Xinran's card games.

Especially after watching Fang Jinghai's duel with Lu Xinran, he actually thought Shi Li's chances of winning were not high.

That's why he quickly arranged for resources to be sent over, hoping it could help Shi Li.

“Then thank you, Director Hou.”

“Hey~ Call me Brother Hou!”

“Thank you, Brother Hou, Director.”

After seeing Director Hou off, Shi Li immediately returned to his room to begin his work.

First, he opened the circuit structures of the two cards, [Winged Messenger] and [Yu An's True Work].

After careful observation, he also purchased some necessary one-star material card auxiliary materials through the Card Hall's internal system.

The drone delivery was quite fast, arriving at his balcony in just 20 minutes.

Payment on delivery, 2000 cubic coins were spent just like that.

“Let’s begin.”

Shi Li sipped his coffee, opened the card-making panel, and began to operate.

As a Unique Character Card, the circuit complexity of [Winged Messenger] was comparable to a two-star character card.

In just 10 minutes, he encountered his first failure.

[Material card circuit change detected. This card will be destroyed after completion.]

[Do you want to reset this card creation process by spending 2000 cubic coins? Yes / No]

“Wow, that’s expensive.”

Fortunately, he had money, so Shi Li continued the operation.

Whenever he encountered a problem, he would connect to the virtual library through the cubicle to look it up.

During this process, his card-making knowledge also grew rapidly.

And while learning and crafting by hand, he also discovered that the trait he was creating seemed to reach the complexity of a two-star or even three-star trait.

Complexity often represented the trait's effect.

As expected of an exclusive trait for a Unique Character Card, it was indeed different.

Fortunately, the duel with Lu Xinran was on the last day of the previous segment, so he still had more than two days to work on it.

Finally, after two days, Shi Li reached the last moment.

[Production successful.]

[Do you want to reset this card creation process by spending 2000 cubic coins? Yes / No]

“Of course not.”

Looking at the result, which cost a whopping 30,000 cubic coins, he felt a bit emotional.

[Ding!]

With a pleasant crisp sound, white light began to Gather on the card face of [Winged Messenger].

Soon, a brand new trait appeared in its card content.

[Inspire - Passive]: When Winged Messenger is revealed, trigger the Battlecry effect of 1 card again (T0)

“Comfortable.”

After reading this effect, Shi Li could only say it was comfortable.

Battlecry, which is the special effect carried when the card is revealed.

Although he didn't have many character cards with the Battlecry trait, it didn't stop him from praising it.

You should know that the Battlecry effects of some character cards are extremely powerful.

Therefore, the [Winged Messenger] support card can definitely be said to have unlimited potential.

At the same time, a text prompt also popped up.

[Balance System Resonance]: 20% → 40%

Comfortable.

Now he still had 10,000 cubic coins left, and he was short of 1,000 to try [Crimson Trial · True] once.

Shi Li didn't plan to spend all his money, so he simply chose to rest and recharge.

Crafting cards continuously for two days and nights had truly made him mentally exhausted.

The next day, Shi Li logged in on time.

[Neural frequency recognition, complete.]

[Player Boya recognition, complete.]

[Welcome to this college entrance examination, Student Shi Li.]

[Your opponent will be randomly matched after 3:00.]

Three minutes passed quickly, and soon Lu Xinran's card shadow appeared opposite him.

“Come on, let’s start a game.”

Lu Xinran actively initiated the challenge.

“Let’s do it.”

Shi Li gladly accepted.

In the Twenty-sixth High School principal's office, Principal Su and several teachers were sitting in front of a large screen, watching this card game.

What was being first in the city's mock unified exam? Today, Shi Li was about to have the opportunity to create a new school record for their school—the title of first in both cities, which carried far, far more weight than being first in the city's mock exam.

“However, this Lu Xinran is not easy to deal with.”

“Indeed, I watched her duel with Fang Jinghai.”

“One can only say that her playstyle is quite old-fashioned.”

However, they also knew that they could only say there was a chance, and dared not harbor excessive hope,

Because this opponent's style was one of the most difficult types to deal with at the high school student level.

On the big screen, Shi Li was the first to reveal his first row of cards.

[Pah!]

The first card was still the constant [Pah Pah Guard].

“If you still plan to use the opening single reveal tactic, I advise you not to even think about winning.”

Seeing this card, Lu Xinran snorted coldly.

“I am not like Fang Jinghai or Wang Ji; it’s impossible to defeat me with such a tricky method.”

“I won’t allow you to insult my defeated opponents, those stray dogs, like that.”

“?”

Your own words are clearly more insulting, alright.

However, Lu Xinran also noticed that the trait carried by this [Jumping Pah Guard] was different.

Before, it was [Stasis] + [Taunt]; this time, it was [Stasis] + [Little Pah Pah].

Clearly, Shi Li did not intend to use the single reveal tactic.

[Protect the Homeland!]

His second revealed character card was the Crow People Youth.

[Crow Warrior]

Chasing Wind, 30 points, Two-star Attack 30, 100 / 100, 10 / 30

[Son of the Wind - Passive]: Crow Warrior gains 10 [Charge] in the round he is revealed.

[Dive Strike - 30 Energy]: Crow Warrior attacks 1 target, with a [Stun] effect.

“This combination is good; one card absorbs damage to protect the back row, and one card with control interferes with the opponent.”

“If you don’t eliminate the [Pah Pah Guard], you can’t attack the back row.”

“If you don’t clear the [Crow Warrior], the continuous [Stun] will destroy the opponent’s defense line.”

In the teachers’ eyes, Shi Li’s combination was quite typical.

The kind of typical that would appear in textbooks.

“A good combination.”

Even Lu Xinran, seeing these two cards, expressed her approval.