133: Advance to [Platinum 4], the scarecrow reappears

Chapter 133: Advancing to Platinum 4, Straw Man Reappears

In a dense forest about 50 kilometers from Blueberry City.

Shi Li had just finished a battle with a monster.

“OK.”

He looked at the information on his mission card: 94 / 300.

With the high mobility of his hoverbike, the mission was progressing faster than expected.

Moreover, because of its proximity to the Royal Capital, more threatening monsters were regularly cleared out.

So, the strongest monsters he encountered were only of the two-star level.

Two-star monsters found it quite difficult to break through the Defense lines of the white mountain and the Bouncing Guard.

Therefore, by placing the Red Blade Maiden in the ace position, he could easily meet the condition of “full health throughout.”

“It’s getting late. I’ll rest here for a bit tonight.”

The faster-than-planned progress allowed Shi Li some time to rest.

Otherwise, too many late nights might affect his performance in the upcoming competition.

The capsule cube cabin came in handy at such times.

It could provide a comfortable resting environment and also warn him of his surroundings.

“Ding-a-ling…—”

Just then, his wristband suddenly rang.

There was a communication barrier between this foreign land and Blue Star, so the only person who could be calling him at this moment was someone nearby who also possessed a communication wristband.

He raised his hand to look, and sure enough, it was Huo Guang.

“Hello, Brother Huo.”

“Shi Li, let me tell you %#&*@—”

As soon as Huo Guang spoke, a burst of static came through the signal.

Interfered by the static, Shi Li couldn't understand what the other party was saying at all.

“Hello? Hello?”

After several attempts, the call was directly disconnected.

“Did something I just got break?”

Shi Li slapped the wristband a few times using the common method in Xia Guo, but it Still wasn't fixed.

“I remember the cube cabin can also communicate, and its signal is even stronger than the wristband.”

Just as he was about to pull out the capsule, he suddenly heard laughter from behind him.

“Who?”

For some reason, Shi Li felt that the laughter sounded indescribably familiar.

He turned his head and, sure enough, he had seen it before.

A Straw Man was standing casually behind him.

This fellow had even used blue paint to draw a nose on himself.

It looked like he was imitating a Banlan Tribe person.

“You little rascal, do you think I wouldn’t recognize you just because you have an extra nose?”

Shi Li, with quick eyes and hands, directly shot a cursor at him.

After the last training camp, he had specifically consulted Xiu Qingshan and learned about the existence of Mascots.

Every Mascot was a unique existence.

More specifically, a Straw Man was a Straw Man; there was only one.

The deck strategies or mechanisms of each Mascot were not entirely the same either.

They could not be judged by the common sense of card players or monsters.

For example, the Straw Man’s mechanism seemed to be “Fair Duel.”

Whatever level of deck he revealed, it would reveal the same level of deck.

However many cards of whatever level he played, it would play the same number of cards of the same level.

And this imitation was limited to that; from the last card game, it seemed the Straw Man could not reveal specific counter cards within the same reveal phase.

“What a coincidence.”

Shi Li hadn’t actually expected to encounter this guy again.

But he had indeed considered how to deal with it, knowing its mechanism.

And now, it was time to test it.

Buzz—

The card game barrier unfolded, and the card table formed.

Just like last time, the opponent Still had 9+1, a total of 12 card slots.

Shi Li arranged his deck, and the opponent did the same.

The first round arrived, and the Straw Man didn't move.

It seemed it needed him to reveal cards first, and then it would follow suit.

So he reached out and flicked his fingers at his two front-row cards.

Ding! Ding!

The card faces flipped over and then landed on the card table, becoming blank.

“Straw?”

The Straw Man tilted its head and didn't straighten it back for a moment.

Shi Li had actually revealed blank cards this round!

He hadn't placed any cards in the front-row positions!

So, under the influence of the mechanism, the Straw Man could only reveal 2 blank cards as well.

The first round passed without incident.

“Comfortable.”

Seeing his prediction succeed, Shi Li breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, before witnessing it, he wasn't 100% sure.

In the second round, the second-row cards Shi Li revealed were Still blank cards.

In the third round, the last-row cards Shi Li revealed were Still blank cards.

At this point, there were Still 2 regular face-down card slots on his card table that hadn't been revealed.

Theoretically, or rather, by rule, there was Still a possibility of placing character cards in these 2 slots.

But in the fourth round, and the fifth round.

Until Shi Li revealed all of his regular face-down cards, he hadn't placed any cards.

The Straw Man also followed him, revealing a total of 6 blank cards.

[Immediate Reveal]

And the words representing the ace card about to be revealed had already popped up from Shi Li’s face-down ace card.

“Straw!”

The Straw Man opposite seemed to understand something.

[Immediate Reveal]

Its ace card also popped up with text.

“Couldn’t exploit a bug, huh.”

Shi Li couldn't help but feel a little regretful when he saw this scene.

If all regular cards were revealed as blank, it meant all regular cards were removed from the field, so the ace card would automatically be revealed in the next round.

He had originally thought that since the opponent had 3 more card slots than him, it would take 3 more rounds to reveal its ace card.

The result showed that the mechanism didn't have the kind of bug he had imagined.

A new round arrived.

The ace card Shi Li revealed was naturally his strongest single-challenge power at the moment, the Red Blade Maiden.

The attached Characteristics were Unceasing + Abundant + Vast.

“Kung Fu!”

From the card face revealed by the Straw Man, a projection of a dragon-headed, human-bodied figure wearing yellow with vertical black stripes rose from the card.

[Martial Dao Tower Master]

Balance, 40 points, Three-star Attack 70, 200 / 200

[Fair Duel - Characteristic]: When the Martial Dao Tower Master is on the field, neither side can use hand cards in this game. [Ascending Dragon Roar - Passive]: In the round the Martial Dao Tower Master is revealed, it deals 10 points of Fixed Damage to all revealed enemy cards.

[Fire Ripple Fist - Passive]: The Martial Dao Tower Master's attacks apply 5 points of Ignite effect. [Blood-Cutting Dragon Blade - Passive]: The Martial Dao Tower Master's attacks apply 10 points of Bleed effect. (Fixed Damage: Ignores damage reduction other than Defense.)

(Ignite: Takes unavoidable damage next round, and Healing effects are halved.)

(Bleed: Continuously takes unavoidable damage starting next round; any Healing effect can remove it.)

As expected, the Straw Man also revealed 1 Three-star unique card with a Characteristic.

“There’s actually a Characteristic like this?”

Although he knew that Characteristics sometimes produced strange effects, this Fair Duel was the first time Shi Li had seen it.

He had heard of banning hand cards, but never banning hand cards for an entire game.

And “hand cards” here was a general term; it not only included normal hand cards but also main hand cards would be banned as well.

“Comfortable.”

Anyway, he hadn’t planned to use Crimson Liberation: True.

Since neither side could use hand cards, the course of the battle was visible to the naked eye.

Shi Li was very glad he had brought the Abundant Characteristic.

The Red Blade Maiden only needed to consume 20+20 points of health to release 2 Vast, which would deal (70+40) * 2 = 220 points of damage to take out the opponent.

And the opponent could deal 10+70 = 80 points of damage to him in the first round.

In the second round, it would be 70+5+10 = 85 points of damage.

Calculated this way, the Red Blade Maiden’s health loss over two rounds would be 40+80+85 = 205.

If he hadn't brought Abundant, this would have been a mutual destruction scenario.

“Straw!”

The Straw Man opposite seemed a bit slow to react.

Only when it saw its ace card defeated and removed from the field did it finally realize the problem.

The two rounds passed quickly, and just as the card game finally ended, human voices suddenly shouted outside.

“The Mascot is nearby!”

“Search!”

The sound of footsteps approached quickly.

When they entered the forest, Shi Li realized it was the group of Banlan Tribe geniuses he had encountered outside the city gate earlier that day.

“Straw!”

At the same time, the Straw Man also turned into dust and dissipated in its card game defeat.

Only the green straw it left behind fell into Shi Li’s hand, transforming into a card.

“Ah?”

All the Banlan Tribe geniuses present were stunned.

They had rushed and rushed, yet they were Still one step behind?!

“Who is this person?”

“He seems to be a Blue Star genius here for the competition.”

“I heard the Mascot is very difficult to challenge successfully. How did he defeat it by himself?”

Looking at Shi Li’s rank, which was only Platinum 3, everyone was a little disbelieving.

It was precisely because they were worried about not being able to defeat the Mascot that they had come in such a large group, preparing for a relay battle.

Now that one person had dealt with it, didn’t that make them look foolish!

“Blue Star person, what is your name?”

Among the crowd, A Ya Jun stepped forward.

He was actually fine with missing out on the Mascot.

He had originally been dragged out by his companions.

However, Shi Li’s strength in being able to defeat the Mascot did pique his interest.

“My name is Shi Li, nice to meet you.”

“I am A Ya Jun.”

“Thank you, you taught me well.”

“?”

“My apologies, I used the wrong formula.

It’s an honor to meet you.”

The two shook hands ceremonially.

Then A Ya Jun repeatedly wiped his hand on his clothes right in front of him.

Shi Li thought this was some unique Banlan Tribe etiquette and was about to imitate him.

“Excuse me, I have a bit of a 潔癖 (cleanliness obsession).”

A Ya Jun explained proactively.

“Alright, after all, I haven't washed my hands since I touched monster droppings just now.”

“!!!”

Shi Li's single sentence made A Ya Jun's face completely change.

Identifying monster droppings was a branch of tracking, and Shi Li didn't think anything of it.

“Then let's leave it at that for now. I look forward to meeting you at the Torch Raising Ceremony.”

A Ya Jun turned around in a hurry and left with his group.

He needed to rush back and wash his hands.

After the Banlan Tribe members left, Shi Li took out the card he had just obtained.

【Wish Card】: Use this card to fulfill one wish.

Last time he had inquired, such cards fulfilled wishes based on the so-called 'wish power' stored within them.

The amount of wish power depended on the strength of the Mascot he defeated.

Now that he was Platinum 3, this Wish Card should be vastly different from the Gold 4 one he got last time.

“Let's try making a high demand first.”

Shi Li stroked his chin and stated his wish.

“Give me the direct Star Ascension token cards for white mountain and cloud stream.”

【Wish power too low, cannot be fulfilled.】

“Was I too greedy?

Give me the direct Star Ascension token card for cloud stream, plus 200,000 cubic coins.”

【Wish power too low, cannot be fulfilled.】

“Give me the direct Star Ascension token card for cloud stream, plus 190,000 cubic coins.”

【Wish power too low, cannot be fulfilled.】

Shi Li tested the Wish Card's limits repeatedly, fearing that if he made too big a leap and succeeded, he would lose out.

For example, if 190,000 was possible, but he failed at 200,000 and then jumped directly to 150,000 and succeeded, he would have lost 40,000 in between.

As for the idiotic move of asking the Wish Card about its bottom line, that was out of the question.

Because while the Wish Card was answering, wouldn't that be equivalent to already fulfilling the wish?

Shi Li did not lack patience and began to try again and again.

As a result, he kept “bargaining” like this, until he reached 50,000...

【Wish fulfilled, immediately realized.】

“Hmm?”

Shi Li was a little stunned.

He looked at the extra card in his panel and the amount in his account.

He was a little dumbfounded.

“No way, is Big Brother Wish Card that powerful?”

He had originally thought that if it Still didn't work after bargaining down to zero, he would remove the token card and restart the bidding from 1,000,000.

And it just worked?

This was a direct Star Ascension token card!

【Cloud and Mountain】: Use this card to directly Star Ascension a specific two-star card to three-star. What else was there to say? Shi Li immediately slapped the two cards together, completing the Star Ascension.

Buzz!

Then a purple light shone, and text popped up in front of him.

【You have completed this simulation. Completion rate is 100%.】

【You can obtain Character Card 【Cloud River (Three-Star)】 x1.】

【You can obtain Hand Card 【Charge (LV2)】 x1, 【Healing (LV2)】 x1.】

【You can obtain Item Card 【Key of Cloud】 x1, 【Psychic Wave】 x1.】

【Do you want to reset this mission for 16,000 cubic coins? Yes/No.】

“Comfortable.”

Shi Li clicked no.

A Platinum-colored light swept over his entire body, and his stat panel changed again.

【Rank】: Platinum 3 → Platinum 4

【Stamina】: 231 / 231 (3.5↑) → 245 / 245 (3.6↑)

【Energy】: 252 / 252 (2.2↑) → 263 / 263 (2.3↑)

Now, let's look at the new panel for the character card.

Speaking of which, this was his first time experiencing a card Star Ascension to three-star before he even got familiar with it.

【Cloud River】

Listen to the Wind, 20 points, Three-Star Attack 20, 100 / 100, 0 / 100

【Cloud Mountain - Characteristic】: When Cloud River is Still, white mountain gains 10 Energy. 【Band Synchronization - Passive】: When white mountain is revealed, Cloud River is also revealed. 【Ion Pulse - Passive】: Cloud River's attack consumes all current Energy and converts it into an equal value of 【Quantum Entanglement】.

【Flowing Cloud Recall - 80 Energy】: Cloud River selects 1 retired target, granting it 30 points of 【Revival】.

(【Quantum Entanglement】: Loses 10 Energy. If no Energy, loses 10 Health.)

(【Revival】: Card reappears in its original position.)

“This Characteristic is quite comfortable.”

Originally, Shi Li thought Cloud River was a support card, but he didn't expect it to have an exclusive output-oriented Characteristic.

And this Characteristic was definitely one that Listen to the Wind cards dreamed of.

Because although Listen to the Wind cards had the fastest Charge among the seven systems, they also had the biggest and most obvious drawback.

That was, Still Charge occupied an action, leading to an inability to Attack, which resulted in wasted output.

To compensate for this drawback, there were essentially two solutions:

The first was to reduce the output proportion of Listen to the Wind cards in the deck.

More simply, the lower the score of the Listen to the Wind card, the better.

Ideally, a Listen to the Wind card would be a 0-point card.

Because a 0-point card's attack deals no damage, Still wouldn't result in wasted output, allowing the score allocation to be given to other output cards.

In this regard, Persistence cards operated on a similar principle.

The second was to reduce the negative impact of Still.

Or, to put it another way, increase the benefits of Still.

For example, Cloud River's Characteristic, although the benefit is reflected in white mountain, it is Still a benefit.

Another example is the current Ion Pulse.

Suppose Cloud River is Still for 2 rounds, gaining 40 Energy and losing 20x2 attack output.

In the 3rd round, it Attacks.

It would be 20 Attack Power + 40 points of Quantum Entanglement.

In terms of output value, it directly offsets the losses of the previous 2 rounds.

Additionally, it's important to note that Quantum Entanglement is a very powerful attack method.

If it uses a skill simultaneously with the target, and the target's skill runs out of Energy, then it will lose Health.

The Health loss here is 'loss,' not 'damage,' so it is not affected by damage reduction and Defense.

It's equivalent to Fixed Damage.

Coupled with the fact that Cloud River's Energy cap can actually be increased.

A full 100 points is truly rare.

If 100 points of Quantum Entanglement hit balanced cards and Rage cards, which have no Energy, it could directly cause an instant kill.

So, don't underestimate Cloud River just because it only has 20 points; its output capability is not small.

What's more, the effect of Quantum Entanglement is not just output; the key is its functionality in deducting other people's Energy.

After reviewing the character card, he skipped the hand cards.

He already owned both of these LV2 hand cards.

“What does this item card mean?”

【Key of Cloud】: Requires 【Key of Mountain】 for synthesis.

Just a few words, with no other description.

“So, I must first complete white mountain's Star Ascension, and achieve 100% completion to get the Key of Mountain, and only then can I synthesize it?”

Shi Li deduced the conclusion, feeling a bit exasperated.

However, this also made him a little excited.

Because, according to what was said, the two cards, 【Cicada Wing Crisis】 and 【Tiao Tiao Treasure Guard】, should, like 【Crimson Liberation: True】, be simulation mission token cards associated with their innate hand cards.

Then this Key of Cloud + Key of Mountain is very likely to be the same.

He just didn't know what the innate hand card of such a linked card would be.

“But let's not think about it for now; let's focus on what's at hand.”

He shook his head, released his capsule pod, and began to rest.

Early on the fifth day, Shi Li returned to Blueberry City. The rumors of the palace assassin had already passed, but the news of the palace exhibitionist stealing people became a topic of conversation after dinner.

It was said that the person involved, a certain Su, despite being drunk, repeatedly claimed that he had also encountered a stripping assassin.

Shi Li was focused on his journey and, of course, did not stop to listen.

He was in a good mood now, having successfully completed his goal on this trip.

Red Blade Maiden's Abundant had increased from +30 to +50.

Before returning to his residence, Huo Guang called Shi Li.

The representative players from the other two provinces had already arrived, and there would be a small meeting tonight.

After washing up, he had a good nap.

After waking up, he headed to the designated meeting room a few minutes early.

From a distance, he saw a person standing at the door of the room.

The other party was a pale-skinned, slender young man with a Platinum 6 rank above his head.

Without guessing, he knew it should be the representative player from the neighboring province.

“Not going in?”

Shi Li saw the person just standing there and asked casually.

The young man said nothing, just smiled and moved aside for him.

Shi Li thought the other person was waiting for someone, so he didn't say anything either.

After entering the room, he found that everyone seemed to have arrived.

Including himself, there were already 5 people in the room.

3 guides and 2 representative players.

Shi Li looked curiously at the person outside the door, who was looking down at his watch.

This made him subconsciously look at his own wrist-watch.

The clock currently showed 3 seconds, 2 seconds, 1 second until the agreed meeting time of 8 PM.

When that 1 second ended, the other person stepped over the threshold.

What's wrong with this person?