186: Advance to [Platinum 12], the best listening wind card

Chapter 186: Promoted to Platinum 12, Excellent Listen to the Wind Card

Shi Li immediately took out the [Fox-eared Mongoose Girl] and started a simulated card battle.

He then came to a pleasing conclusion.

"It doesn't take up a regular card slot, which means it can be revealed with other regular cards in any round."

"And 'number of deployed cards + 1' means that as long as I add it to my deck, I can deploy 11 regular cards, making it a 10 + 1 deck."

"The only drawback right now is that it has no attack power, so revealing it is like revealing nothing."

However, Shi Li wasn't in a hurry, because he knew that the current [Fox-eared Mongoose Girl] was only one-star and didn't yet possess combat power.

In fact, he believed this card had immense potential, excellent potential.

Because it was a Listen to the Wind card, it cost 0 points, and could be revealed in the safest position in the first round.

What did this mean? It meant it had enough time for Charge, and its [Still] wouldn't result in a loss of output.

He heard that An Zihu had already reached the rank of Emerald 1.

Since Qingchuan University could offer him S-rank treatment, he didn't rule out the possibility that An Zihu, like himself, used an all-unique deck, and perhaps even had a comparable number of signature hand cards.

Therefore, the appearance of the [Fox-eared Mongoose Girl] was absolutely what he needed most right now.

Thinking of this, he prepared to go to the procurement area to see if there were any usable token cards.

After all, with 2.3 million cubic coins in hand, he could do whatever he wanted.

However, before he could even leave, Director Hou's call came in.

After ending the call with Director Hou, Shi Li couldn't help but sigh, feeling that Director Hou was truly his thoughtful little helper.

He had already prepared the unique Listen to the Wind system's one-to-two and two-to-three token cards for him in advance.

Of course, the money Still had to be paid.

150,000 cubic coins were handed over, and the two cards were delivered directly into his hands.

"There's not much time left, let's depart first."

The school's ranking competition was tomorrow, so Shi Li could only slowly do his simulation tasks on the way.

He contacted Director Hou again and asked him to arrange a flight to Huadu District 11 for him.

By the time the aircraft landed, Shi Li had already completed the one-to-two simulation task for the [Fox-eared Mongoose Girl].

[You can obtain character card [Fox-eared Mongoose Girl (Two-star)] x1.]

[You can obtain hand cards [Healing (LV2)] x1, [Counter (LV2)] x1, [Shield (LV2)] x1.]

[Do you want to reset this task for 7500 cubic coins? Yes/No.]

"No."

After clicking, text appeared.

[Listen to the Wind Resonance]: 80% → 100%

"Finally... the [Listen to the Wind Trial] has also opened."

Shi Li couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

Just a year ago, he was a third-year high school student with no resonance in any of the seven systems.

And now, halfway through his first semester of university, he had already achieved resonance in four systems.

"I'll strive to achieve seven-system resonance before the next semester begins."

His current resonance status was as follows:

[Momentum]: 130%; [Wisdom]: 80%

[Persistence]: 110%; [Momentum]: 40%

[Chasing Wind]: 60%; [Listen to the Wind]: 100%

[Balanced]: 130%; [Wither]: 60%

"No, if I upgrade the [Withering Dragon] to four stars and complete the signature hand card task, I might even achieve eight-system resonance."

But that was for later; for now, he would look at the card itself.

[Fox-eared Mongoose Girl]

Listen to the Wind, 0 points, Two-star Attack 0, 100/100, 0/40

[Anywhere Stand - Characteristic]: Fox-eared Mongoose Girl can be placed in the Ace Row, increasing the number of allied regular cards deployed by 1.

[Small Animal - Passive]: Fox-eared Mongoose Girl does not occupy a reveal slot when acting as a regular card. [Show of Force Scream - 20 Energy]: Fox-eared Mongoose Girl casts [Dispel] on 1 target, ignoring obstruction. "Good entry."

This was definitely a good entry.

Typical Dispel-type skills cost 30 energy and would be an attack on 1 target with an attached Dispel.

The [Fox-eared Mongoose Girl] had no attack threat, so it directly skipped the attack action, and 20 energy for 1 [Dispel] was quite a bargain.

What's more, it also came with an additional effect of ignoring obstruction, specifically designed to Counter enemies who hide in the back row and aggressively apply positive buffs to themselves.

This was absolutely a good entry.

"With this, my [Purification] and [Dispel] are complete, finally giving me a deck that can be called fully functional."

Shi Li was very satisfied with the addition of this entry.

"But I wonder if there's enough time now to do the two-to-three simulation task, or should I go take a look at the [Listen to the Wind Trial] first?"

He landed at the Card Hall in District 11 but did not immediately return to school.

The ranking competition was tomorrow, so he could stay at the Card Hall tonight to do some tasks, as it was quieter there.

So, after quickly settling in, he opened his system panel.

[Enter Listen to the Wind Trial.]

[This trial can only use Listen to the Wind cards.]

[Accumulating 4 [Still] counts for deployed cards in each game is considered a pass.]

[Trial 0-1 is about to begin. Please select your deployed character card.]

"The [Listen to the Wind Trial]'s challenge is truly tricky—"

Shi Li could imagine that this Listen to the Wind Tower would not be easy to clear.

Taking 1V1 as an example, an opponent's 30-attack card.

Hitting your [Still] for 4 rounds would be 120 health.

This didn't even account for the opponent's skill damage, special attack damage, and other bonuses; a regular card really couldn't withstand it.

Therefore, Listen to the Wind cards needed to take action while [Still].

Whether attacking the opponent or sustaining themselves, the goal was to maximize the [Still] allowance for their side.

However, this first small stage presented no difficulty for Shi Li.

Because he had [cloud river].

[Static Armor - Passive]: When cloud river is [Still], damage taken from attacks -10.

It came with Damage Reduction; an opponent's 30-attack card would only deal 80 damage over 4 rounds, which was perfectly manageable.

However, as the stages gradually increased, Shi Li quickly began to feel the strain.

Because his two unique Listen to the Wind cards were not very good at "combat."

The [cloud river] was because it had lost [bo shan], so its [Characteristic] was essentially nonexistent.

And as for the [Fox-eared Mongoose Girl], it had no offensive power at all.

So, relying on a rather weak Listen to the Wind deck, Shi Li barely managed to clear [1-8].

He couldn't clear [1-9].

"Forget it, it seems I don't have the ability to climb too high in this Listen to the Wind Trial right now."

He quickly accepted reality.

He would Still continue with the two-to-three upgrade for the [Fox-eared Mongoose Girl].

The next day, inside the Qingchuan University campus stadium.

The stadium was almost completely full today.

Although the sophomores, juniors, and seniors were also holding their respective grade's ranking competitions, it was generally assumed that not much attention would be paid to a mere freshman ranking competition.

But after all, these were the semifinals and finals, and freshmen who reached this stage in previous years were often no less skilled than their senior classmates.

So, many people were willing to come and watch.

This included various clubs from the upper grades.

Generally, clubs would only start recruiting new members after the freshman ranking competition concluded.

The top 4 freshmen would naturally become key targets for various clubs.

In a certain area of the audience seating, there was a team dressed in very distinctive attire.

They were all wearing red biker-style windbreakers, and their hair was also dyed red.

Passion Club, one of the top three clubs in terms of overall strength at Qingchuan University.

Next to the Passion Club was a group of well-mannered students.

They were also uniformly dressed, and all wore glasses, regardless of whether they were nearsighted or farsighted.

Scholar Club, also one of the top three clubs.

As for the last top three club, it didn't have a fixed formation.

They dressed casually and were scattered throughout various parts of the audience.

Freedom Club, emphasizing freedom.

At this time, the leaders and vice-leaders of the three major clubs were not in the regular audience seats.

Instead, they were gathered in an exclusive VIP box.

Having reached the high rank of Emerald, their influence in certain areas could even rival that of a vice-dean.

"Everyone, who do you think will win?"

The president of the Scholar Club pushed up his glasses, which had no lenses.

"Of course, An Zihu. I heard that in less than two weeks, he has already been promoted to Emerald 3.

If I'm not mistaken, his three four-star character cards should all be unique [Characteristic] cards.

The strength of 5 entries is not something any three-star character card can compare to."

The president of the Passion Club was a red-haired woman, dressed very passionately.

"Shi Li has already been promoted to Platinum 10. I think these two might have a good match.

After all, I heard that this freshman from Po Shi Academy has many signature hand cards."

The president of the Freedom Club said, crossing his legs.

"As long as these two don't run into A Ya Jun, they both have a high probability of advancing to the finals."

The vice president of the Scholar Club was dressed like a glamorous secretary.

"No need for assumptions, the draw results are already out."

The Freedom Club president's gaze drifted towards the field.

A Ya Jun VS Duan Xinxin, Shi Li VS An Zihu.

The first match wasn't very exciting; everyone knew who would win.

The latter match, however, was considered an early final.

A Ya Jun playing Duan Xinxin, in terms of rank, they were quite similar.

Both had already been promoted to Platinum 11; after all, the better one performed in the ranking competition, the more resources their academy would allocate to them.

The match ended with A Ya Jun winning by 0.75 cards.

What did it mean to win by 0.75 cards? It essentially meant that his ace card was revealed, hit the opponent's ace card once, and he won.

[Next, please welcome Student An Zihu and Student Shi Li!]

At the host's signal, the two contestants walked into the center of the arena.

"Oh?"

Shi Li's rank caught the attention of the various club presidents.

It wasn't Platinum 10 as they had thought, but—Platinum 12.

"His rank, isn't it increasing too fast?"

The vice president of the Passion Club frowned slightly.

An Zihu, it was said, had been in the exotic (Otherworld) ever since the college entrance examination ended, accumulating a profound foundation during that time.

After leaving the Otherworld, he had a burst of growth, rapidly advancing three Emerald ranks, which was completely understandable.

In contrast, Shi Li had also rushed up two Platinum ranks in two weeks, which made people feel a bit unstable.

"Actually, it's not surprising. If it's just for the sake of purely raising one's rank, with the resources he can acquire now, getting two ordinary three-star character cards isn't difficult."

"But unless they are certain ordinary three-star character cards with special effects, they Still can't compare to [Characteristic] three-star character cards, so there's not much point."

Evidently, everyone was not very optimistic about Shi Li's rank increase.

Of course, to be fair, they weren't very optimistic about Shi Li's performance in this match either.

It was true that Shi Li had many signature hand cards, but who knew if An Zihu did too?

After all, An Zihu hadn't shown them yet.

In fact, the main reason the club presidents came to watch was for An Zihu; if such a freshman were recruited into a club, the tripartite balance of power would likely undergo a change.

The side that recruited An Zihu would very likely dominate.

In the center of the arena, An Zihu and Shi Li faced each other across the table.

"Shi Li, I've heard of you."

An Zihu's smile had a polite yet condescending feel.

When I don't believe you can pose any threat to me, I will naturally be very friendly to you.

"I've heard of you too, An Huzi."

Shi Li was Still very confident in this battle.

Ever since he crossed the peak line of Platinum, it was as if he had opened his two main meridians.

His rank was increasing faster and faster.

It seemed that only the threshold of Emerald would become his obstacle.

An Zihu's eyebrow twitched slightly: "Set your cards."

"Alright."

Soon, both sides had set their cards.

Shi Li took the initiative, revealing his 3 front-row cards.

They were [Withering Dragon], carrying [Exit Charge] + [Exit Wither] + [30 points Wither].

[Wither Magic] and [Wither Curse] were actually quite similar, but [Wither Curse] was 10%, and unless the target's health was greater than 300, the benefit of [Wither Magic] was higher.

In a typical PVP card game, character cards with 300 health were very rare.

Of course, he also knew that this 30-energy active skill would likely not have a chance to be used.

"What?! An Xenomorph (Alien) card?!"

"This freshman is not simple; he actually managed to get an Alien card!"

"Is this the final reward from that great escape? It's that Bone Dragon!"

"A Wither card, as far as I know, this is the first one among the students in our school."

"This is getting interesting—"

The appearance of the [Withering Dragon] immediately caused quite a stir.

Alien cards were not unheard of, especially after the story of the Bone Dragon had spread almost throughout the entire freshman class after the top 32 returned.

This was mainly because Fernando and Gong Ping had been widely publicizing Shi Li's "despicable actions," which naturally brought out information about the Bone Dragon.

Then Shi Li revealed the [Jumping Guard], carrying [Stasis] + [Little Tiao Tiao] + [Taunt].

The reason for carrying [Taunt] was simple: to absorb one instance of initial output and protect the [Withering Dragon] as much as possible.

[bo shan], carrying [Defense] + [Damage Reduction] + [Shield].

In a single-card rule, the ability for cards to autonomously [Defense] is very important.

Along with it, [cloud river] was also revealed.

The entries it carried were [Link] + [Quantum Entanglement] + [Revival].

To be honest, in order to combine early, the latter two entries were rarely used in PVP matches.

But you could choose not to use them, but you couldn't choose not to bring them.

"I've actually studied your card games; these two Link cards often give you a great advantage."

An Zihu was not surprised at all by Shi Li's reveal.

"But if I nullify that advantage of yours, how will you respond?"

He smiled and then revealed his—ace card.