160: The Power of Love

Chapter 160: The Power of Love

“Good card.”

When Shi Li saw this Giant Sky Clan Child, he couldn't help but praise it.

Its Characteristic seemed like a negative effect, but in reality, it had a positive one.

The effect of Stun was to Defense next turn, and since it was a front-row card, its most important responsibility was to absorb damage anyway.

So, constantly using Defense was not a big problem.

Moreover, don't forget, this round had a single-hand card rule.

The Giant Sky Clan Child could use Defense throughout the match without any cost, which was very suitable for the single-hand card rule.

Both sides revealed their cards, and the action phase arrived.

Shi Li: “LV1 Shield.”

Senior: “LV1 Shield.”

As it was the first round, both sides were relatively restrained.

They played the same hand cards.

Shi Li's side only had 60 attack, so he was definitely losing HP.

Although in the second round, he revealed a Fluorescent Vine.

The senior from Bear Country, on the other hand, revealed a 40-attack Momentum card.

His intention was very clear: to instantly kill the Crow Warrior this round to prevent it from using Stun to break the Defense of the Giant Sky Clan Child next round.

For this, he even played an LV2 Counter, completely disrupting Shi Li's idea of saving the Crow Warrior.

Shi Li's choice was merely to make the Fluorescent Vine Still, while his other two cards continued to deal damage to the opponent.

And so, the Crow Warrior was taken out in the second round before it could even unleash its Stun to break Defense.

“Junior, please don't forget, your goal is just to last as many rounds as possible.”

The senior reminded him with a smile.

In his opinion, playing a card like the Crow Warrior was completely irrational.

As for wanting to defeat him and win, he shouldn't even dream of it.

If it were that Platinum 9 kid from before, there might be some hope, but you're just a Platinum 7.

With this thought in mind, the senior revealed his third card.

It was a Wise card with Stun. The freshmen's task was to last as many rounds as possible, while his task was to end the battle as quickly as possible.

Except for the first front-row card, which was a sturdy city wall, all other cards prepared were Brute Force output cards.

“Hmmph~”

However, the card Shi Li revealed made the senior slightly stunned.

Not because of the eye-catching card projection, but because of its card face.

Lotus Succubus

Rage System, 30 points, Two-star attack 30, 100/100

Joyful Whip - Characteristic: Lotus Succubus's attack is converted to Healing, consuming an equal amount of HP (T5)

Narcissism - Passive: Lotus Succubus gains 10 Healing each round (T5)

Kiss of Betrayal - 30 HP: Lotus Succubus grants 1 target the 'Defection' effect for 1 round (T0)

(Defection: Forcibly attacks the adjacent target behind it)

“Damn it, what the hell.”

The senior's face immediately changed.

How did this freshman get such a rare skill effect as Defection?!

As the owner of the Giant Sky Clan Child, he naturally knew which things countered his card.

One of the most effective counters to the Giant Sky Clan Child was this T0 Defection.

Because although Stun had a T2 priority, due to triggering Defense, it actually took effect at T1 of the next round.

And T0 Defection would wash away the Stun effect before T1's Defense took effect.

This effectively completely nullified the Characteristic of the Giant Sky Clan Child.

Actually, it wasn't that critical at this point.

After all, attack effects like Stun and Flaw could also achieve the same result.

But what was most critical? The Giant Sky Clan Child had high attack!

This guy could turn around and smash a child to death with one punch!

Eight ducks!

How was one supposed to play like this!

The key was that Shi Li even specially equipped the Lotus Succubus with the Fluorescent Vine, a Healing card, making it even more reckless in using its skills.

Helplessly, the senior could only make a choice.

That was to have his second-row Wise card unleash a Stun on the Giant Sky Clan Child, thereby preventing it from Defectioning his own second-row card.

This scene was witnessed by the other student council members in the room, who couldn't help but start whispering.

“So in the end, the Giant Sky Clan Child Still suffered Stun this round.”

“And with this back and forth, it's like he wasted another 30 points of output to suppress the Giant Sky Clan Child. What a loss.”

“With the opponent's current formation, even if the Giant Sky Clan Child has enough energy to use an AOE skill, it won't be profitable. At most, it can only hit one target, either the Tiao Tiao Guard or the Fluorescent Vine.”

Overall, Shi Li only consumed 30 HP from the Lotus Succubus to achieve such a situation, which was definitely a huge profit.

The key was that the Lotus Succubus was now at 80/100 HP, with the Tiao Tiao Guard blocking in front.

The senior was truly at a loss against Shi Li for a while, and his Wise cards couldn't always have enough energy to use Stun.

The 4th round arrived, and the senior reluctantly revealed another Wise Stun card.

“I just need to waste one 30-point Stun to continuously control the Giant Sky Clan Child.

Other cards Still need to output as usual. Anyway, once Shi Li defeats the Giant Sky Clan Child, I'll be free. It's just a difference of lasting a few more or a few less rounds.

It's better than getting one-punched by a child.”

The senior thought this to himself, but Shi Li spoke up.

“Why would I help you output damage to the Giant Sky Clan Child?”

“You can read minds?!”

“Of course not, I just happen to know a bit about micro-expressions. Your expression clearly says, ‘I just need to waste one 30-point Stun — it's just a difference of lasting a few more or a few less rounds.’”

“You call that not reading minds?!”

Facing the senior's questioning, Shi Li just smiled.

“Senior, please don't forget, my goal is just to last as many rounds as possible.”

He returned the original words... The senior's expression became strange from being comforted by this sentence.

So you just wanted to last a few more rounds? Why do I feel like you were aiming to kill me?

Mainly, putting aside winning or losing, this playstyle of constantly wasting output to hard-control one's own front-row card seemed to make oneself look very foolish.

With the Lotus Succubus's restraint, the senior's deck simply couldn't deal much damage.

And Shi Li didn't truly just play defensively as he had said.

A new round arrived, and he revealed the Red Blade Maiden.

A wave of powerful output was unleashed one after another.

To protect himself, the senior could only start revealing Recovery cards to slow down his card loss rate and buy himself time for output.

Fortunately, after the Giant Sky Clan Child left the field, his pressure finally greatly reduced.

Subsequently, Shi Li didn't play any more main cards, just some one-star and two-star miscellaneous cards to entangle with the opponent.

When he was down to only one regular card, his ace card was finally defeated.

And with such a battle result, all the student council members in the room had strange expressions.

What kind of monster was this? A 6+1 deck almost took down a 9+1.

“Junior, please come with me outside to rest and wait.”

Finally, a senior sister recovered and led him to the sports field.

“How was it, how was it?!”

As soon as they arrived at the sports field, Gong Ping eagerly asked.

“Pfft, I almost won.”

Shi Li spread his hands.

“You're just bragging.”

Gong Ping clearly didn't believe him.

A Ya Jun, however, knew that Shi Li was telling the truth.

Finally, after another hour, everyone had completed their tests.

“All juniors, you've worked hard. Now, let me announce the order of academy selection for this time.

Students whose names are called, please come up directly and choose the academy you wish to attend.”

Under Fu Hui's moderation, all the newcomers quieted down.

“First up to choose is — Chi Xi.

Her completion time was — — — — 13 rounds.”

As soon as these words came out, there was a flurry of whispers below the stage.

“What's going on? I lasted 15 rounds, and the first place is only 13 rounds?”

“Idiot, she obviously won in the middle of the match.”

“That fierce? An 8+1 beating a 9+1?”

“The seniors' decks aren't weak either; everyone has unique cards.”

“It can only be said that she's too strong.”

Several names were announced consecutively, all of whom had won in the middle of the match, just with more rounds used than Chi Xi.

“I heard that guy with the S-rank agreement didn't attend the welcoming party, and he hasn't even reported yet.”

Gong Ping took the opportunity to gather some information.

“How many rounds did you all last?”

A Ya Jun then asked his roommates, "I lasted 22 rounds."

Shi Li: "Me too, 22."

Chang Zhun: "I lasted 18."

Gong Ping: "I lasted 13."

Only Gong Ping lasted the least amount of rounds due to having fewer deployed characters.

Hearing Shi Li's score, A Ya Jun felt a little relieved.

At least this time, he hadn't lost to Shi Li.

"Alright, those are the students who won in the card battles.

The next announcement of rankings will be based on the number of rounds sustained.

Therefore, the ninth person to make a choice is Shi Li."

When Shi Li went up, there was an uproar from the audience.

What was going on?

It should be known that there were Still many Platinum 8 and even Platinum 9 students whose names hadn't been called yet.

"Here, I want to specifically commend Shi Li."

Fu Hui held the microphone, her face showing admiration.

"He adopted a strategy different from most people: offense as Defense."

Hearing her say that, everyone instantly understood.

With offense as Defense, the more cards you destroy on the opponent's side, the slower their output naturally becomes.

Naturally, you can sustain more rounds.

However, everyone understood the principle; the key was that they couldn't do it!

Moreover, there were several people who lasted 22 rounds, so why was Shi Li ranked first?

It was clear that he had destroyed many character cards of the senior student he dueled, otherwise, his rating wouldn't be so high.

"Shi Li, which academy do you choose?"

On the large screen behind Fu Hui, the remaining quotas for each academy were displayed.

Kuangbao Academy: 70 / 76

Steadfast Academy: 73 / 76

The four freshmen before, including Chi Xi, all chose the two most popular academies.

"I choose Po Shi Academy."

Shi Li was decisive.

"Hmm?"

Even Fu Hui was slightly startled when she heard this answer.

"Did I hear that right? He chose Po Shi Academy?"

"Po Shi Academy, which has the lowest overall rating among the Seven Academies?"

"With such a high rank, he could easily choose Rampage or Persistence—"

Everyone was quite puzzled by Shi Li's choice.

However, Shi Li himself was quite open-minded; this decision was not made on a whim.

It's better to offer help in times of need than to add to what's already good.

Admittedly, he had achieved Rage System resonance before the college entrance exam, and even without an agreement, he could Still apply to Qingchuan University.

But Hu Lan had extended an olive branch to him before he had even achieved card resonance.

He had to repay this kindness.

Since Po Shi Academy's rating wasn't high, he would just raise it.

What's more, he had a cheat, so where he developed didn't matter.

Following this, the remaining students successively came to the stage to make their choices.

When Kuangbao Academy and Steadfast Academy were almost full, other academies gradually began to be chosen.

After all choices were made, the freshman welcoming event concluded.

In the evening, a freshman welcoming party was held, with food, drinks, and various cultural performances.

After a day of activities, Shi Li Still felt quite energetic when he returned to his dorm.

After the other three had fallen asleep, he began his simulated missions.

He now had 730,000 cubic coins in hand, and there were a total of three missions he could undertake.

The first was the Rampage Trial, where he could collect the Star Ascension token card for Lotus Succubus to ascend to three stars.

The cost of refreshing the trial tower was much cheaper than directly purchasing the token card.

The second was the Lotus Succubus's innate hand card mission, "Abyssal Lover," and Demon-Defeating Dark Hunter's innate hand card mission, "Forbidden Bloodline."

These two missions were doable and had no prerequisites.

The third was Snail Walking Lady's ascension to two and three stars.

It required two Star Ascension token cards, which he had already bought.

The area where Qingchuan University was located was District 11 of Hua Du City, and there was a branch of the Show Card Hall there.

He had placed an order through the Card Hall's internal system in the morning, and it was delivered in the afternoon.

It cost him 120,000 cubic coins.

"Why don't I try the innate hand card missions a few times first, to see how difficult they are."

After thinking for a moment, Shi Li made his decision.

Each mission was very tempting to him, but he wanted to see what the innate hand card mission, which could be unlocked at two stars, entailed first.

So he clicked to use the card.

"This mission is titled: Abyssal Lover."

"Lotus successfully completed her clan's external mission and received a long vacation."

"During her vacation, an Abyssal Minotaur Auntie initiative approached her, wanting to arrange a blind date for her."

"Lotus believed this might be her chance to find true love."

"Thus, three blind date profiles were laid out before her."

"Please help her make a choice."

"A. Mr. Werewolf A, love declaration: I will mark the entire Abyss as my territory for you."

"Werewolves habitually mark their territory with urine, and Mr. A's prostate seems to be in poor condition."

"B. Mr. Gluttonous Monster B, love declaration: I want to taste the flavor of first love."

"It is said that the Gluttonous race eats everything; the meaning of 'taste' needs further consideration."

"C. Mr. Fly Count C, love declaration: I possess a thousand pounds of sewage and ten thousand acres of dung fields."

"Compared to the others, Mr. A seems quite normal."

"What kind of rotten mission is this? Is it even making fun of itself?"

Shi Li couldn't help but exclaim.

My lovely little Succubus, you want her to eat dung?

Or let Mr. Gluttonous Monster go eat at the Count's house, so he chose A.

"After a tangled and careful consideration, Lotus chose Mr. A as her first blind date."

"Don't talk nonsense, it wasn't tangled or careful at all."

"She believed that out of courtesy, she should prepare a meeting gift for the other party."

"So Lotus came to an Abyssal city to choose a gift."

"But there were simply too many things to buy, making her dizzy."

"Please help her make a choice."

"A. Abyssal Chocolate"

"Abyssal Chocolate is extracted from Abyssal sludge, with a rich flavor; one bite feels like eating sludge."

"B. Seasonal Jade Ink Grapes"

"Produced from fertile Abyssal soil filled with potent toxins, each grape is plump and nutritious, reportedly non-toxic to survivors."

"C. 'If you are willing to peel it layer by layer' brand onion"

"The taste is unforgettable, but it can temporarily cause loss of vision and is sometimes used as a hidden weapon."

"As expected of the Abyss."

After reading these three options, Shi Li chose A.

Subsequently, the blind date unfolded, making him feel like he was playing a bizarre dating game.

Undoubtedly, this blind date was bound to end in failure.

Immediately following were three more blind date profiles to choose from.

The previous werewolf was removed, but the Gluttonous Monster and the Dung Count were Still there.

Shi Li had a premonition that, judging by the character settings and story progression, no matter how Lotus's blind dates went, they would all likely fail.

So, it seemed to him that the choice didn't really matter, and then he chose Mr. Gluttonous Monster B.

What he didn't expect was that while the name Gluttonous Monster didn't sound promising, the individual himself was remarkably handsome and courteous.

Even more unexpectedly, the blind date was actually successful.

Then Lotus was eaten.

"This mission has ended."

"Can be retried in 30 days."

"Yes/No to reset this mission for 6500 cubic coins."

"Not bad, this mission doesn't have the three-star standard refresh fee."

Shi Li continued to grind.

He kept grinding until dawn, and even when Chang Zhun woke up, punctual for his bowel movement and punctual for his leg cramps, he Still hadn't completed the mission.

However, it was said that there were no school arrangements for the next two days, so Shi Li asked his roommates to help him get food and continued to grind.

After grinding for a day and a night, he finally completed the mission.

"It wasn't easy."

Shi Li felt like he was going to go insane if he kept grinding.

He had tried almost every option and every path before finally finding the correct one.

"Although all her blind dates failed, Lotus Still believed in the existence of true love."

"She will not give up on finding love and has become even more persistent."

"This mission has ended."

"Can obtain hand card 'Power of Love' x1"

"Can be retried in 30 days."

"Yes/No to reset this mission for 6500 cubic coins."

It cost him nearly 100,000 cubic coins in total, but he finally got it done.

"Comfortable."

"Comfortable about what?"

Gong Ping's head popped up.

"None of your business."

Shi Li was startled, making a 'V' sign and poking him in the eye.

"Ah ah ah ah ah!"

Ignoring Gong Ping, who was rolling on the ground, he pulled out this innate hand card.

"Power of Love: Lotus Succubus selects 1 target, and when providing a Recovery effect to it, she does not consume her own health."