242: Advance to [Jade 16]

After completing the Star Ascension missions for the [Moonlight Werewolf] and the [Fennec Fox Girl], only two cards remain.

[Exploding Zombie] and [Snail Walking Lady].

The appearance rate of these two cards in Shi Li's deck is extremely low.

There is no helping it; due to their relatively unique mechanisms, they can only be played in specific situations.

However, once these two cards complete their card-making Star Ascension, his entire deck can be considered to have completed all currently feasible Star Ascensions.

The remaining cards, such as [Cicada Wing Patrol], all require post-action missions to complete their Star Ascension.

[Writing up to this point, I hope readers remember our domain Taiwan Novel Network is super awesome, with a vast library]

They probably cannot be completed in the Divine Realm; he must wait until he leaves.

For example, [Cicada Wing Patrol] requires finding Fel Energy Card Players at the [Emerald] rank.

Those guys won't be kind enough to help you with a Star Ascension mission; once encountered, it's usually a life-or-death situation.

Moreover, those guys from the Blacklight Society hide very deeply, and their Movements are strange. If they keep hiding, it would be genuinely difficult for Shi Li to find them proactively.

For instance, [Abyss Slime] requires defeating 20 evolved Abyssal Kind.

The only place Shi Li can think of where this thing might exist is the Abyssal True Realm.

He doesn't know if that place will be open after he leaves the Divine Realm.

As for the three cards: [red dragon beast master], [Breaker], and [Fleeing Ink], their action missions can be performed during duels in the Divine Realm.

But first, the number of cards played in duels here is small, and to win, he must choose more advantageous cards, meaning they might not get a chance to appear.

Furthermore, card collisions in duels are not very frequent, and the required counts for the action missions of these three cards are very high, making the progress negligible.

“Let's first look at the [Snail Walking Lady].”

Temporarily putting aside the other cards, Shi Li refocused his attention on card-making.

It can be said that the [Snail Walking Lady] card primarily focuses on Martial Arts synergy.

Moreover, through the manipulation of the [Abyss Slime], Shi Li can indeed barely put together a full Martial Arts card deck.

[Red Blade Maiden], [Flower Cudgel Leader], [Snail Walking Lady], [Demon-Defeating Dark Hunter], [Fleeing Ink], [Breaker], [Black Angel], [Lightning Flash], [Full Moon Werewolf (Momentum, Chasing Wind version)], [Abyss Slime].

Exactly 10 cards, which is indeed extremely strained.

As for the [Snail Walking Lady]'s terms, they are focused, targeting Martial Arts cards.

But they are also mixed, touching on various effects, yet none are particularly outstanding.

Only the two terms, [Striking Later] and [Last-Position Support], one substituting for attack and the other for Defense, are relatively useful.

The strength of the other terms seems quite insufficient when placed in Shi Li's current deck.

The term strength is that of a general term, yet it can only be triggered once every 2 rounds through Movement, and requires sufficient space on the field.

However, since it is a unique card, letting it remain at three stars without keeping up with the main force makes Shi Li's OCD slightly uncomfortable.

So, after spending 2 million to refresh, he obtained the new card panel.

Emerald-colored light swept over his entire body, and his personal panel was strengthened once again.

[Rank]: Emerald 14 → Emerald 15

[Stamina]: 1010/1010 → 1040/1040

[Energy]: 1010/1010 → 1040/1040

In addition, a Resonance update popped up.

[Wind Chasing System Resonance]: 120% → 130%

Among Shi Li's Resonance levels, the situation for the Wind Chasing System is actually similar to that of the Listening Wind System.

Both systems only have 2 unique cards, making it difficult to increase the level to 200%.

This is impossible to achieve in the short term, unless he acquires another unique card of that system.

Let's look at the new card panel.

[Snail Walking Lady]

Chasing Wind, 20 points, Four-Star Attack 20, 100/100 HP, 0/40 Energy

[Snail Step - Characteristic]: Snail Walking Lady's [Movement] is increased to T0. She can perform 1 space of [Movement] by consuming 20 → 10 Energy.

[Bear the Brunt - Passive]: In the round Snail Walking Lady enters the Front Row Area, she grants 10 [Shield] to adjacent allied Martial Arts cards.

[Backbone - Passive]: In the round Snail Walking Lady enters the Middle Column Area, she grants 10 [Healing] to adjacent allied Martial Arts cards.

[Snail Power - Passive]: In the round Snail Walking Lady enters the Right Column Area, she automatically enters [Defense].

[Ox Power - Passive]: In the round Snail Walking Lady enters the Left Column Area, she grants herself +10 Attack Power.

[Striking Later - Passive]: In the round Snail Walking Lady enters the Second Row Area, she allows 1 allied Martial Arts card to substitute her attack. [Last-Position Support - Passive]: In the round Snail Walking Lady enters the Last Row Area, she substitutes 1 allied Martial Arts card to endure an attack. [King's Row - Passive]: In the round Snail Walking Lady enters the King's Row Area, she grants 10 [Encouragement] to allied Martial Arts cards.

[Shape Shift - 20 Energy]: Snail Walking Lady can perform a [Replacement] with 1 Martial Arts card.

([Replacement]: Cards swap positions)

“Amazing.”

Seeing this card panel, Shi Li couldn't help but praise it.

Instantly, the market value of the [Snail Walking Lady] soared.

Advancing from three stars to four stars can be considered a qualitative change.

First, the Energy required for the [Characteristic] was halved, which is definitely great news.

Moving once for 20 points was honestly a bit clunky.

After all, Listening Wind cards only recover 10 Energy per round. Previously, to allow it to move continuously, he had to pair it with [Charge] hand cards.

Now it's better; 10 Energy [Movement] means she can perform Movement every round.

This greatly increases the probability of triggering the terms.

It can be said that the return rate of the [Snail Walking Lady] instantly doubled.

Previously, it only triggered once every 2 rounds; now it can trigger every round.

Unfortunately, it doesn't have a term allowing it to cross over allies for free like the [Moonlight Werewolf], or else it would be heaven-defying.

Alternatively, giving this free Movement mechanism to the [Moonlight Werewolf] would make its Charge extremely easy as well.

The two added terms are also very powerful.

First is the term triggered upon entering the King's Row: 10 [Encouragement] for all Martial Arts cards. When all 9+1 cards are Martial Arts cards, this is equivalent to instantly adding 100 Attack Power to his deck.

Furthermore, it can be triggered again simply by leaving the King's Row and re-entering.

This means he can increase his side's Attack by 100 every other round.

However, this term is mainly useful in PVE. In PVP, considering factors like the reveal limit and the number of remaining cards on the field, the benefit won't actually be that significant.

At least it's not as exaggerated as it looks on the surface.

The other term added is an active skill term.

Actually, the previous [Snail Walking Lady] was somewhat unconventional as a Chasing Wind card.

Because it had no active skill terms; it was entirely passive.

If it weren't for the fact that the [Characteristic] required Energy consumption, this card would be indistinguishable from a Balanced card.

And this active skill term is also very strong: [Replacement], which allows position swapping.

With the help of [Replacement], she can directly cross multiple positions, achieving instant arrival.

However, considering that the target must be a Martial Arts card and the limitations of the board grid, Shi Li believes 20 Energy consumption is reasonable.

After all, honestly, 20 Energy allows for 2 Movements, which is equivalent to walking from the Last Row to the Front Row.

And the absolute maximum distance for [Replacement] is just moving from the bottom-right or bottom-left corner of the King's Row to the top-left or top-right corner of the Front Row.

In reality, the difference is not significant.

But its advantage lies in being more flexible and only taking up 1 action round.

Walking up one square at a time is still time-consuming.

Moreover, [Replacement] is not just her own Movement, but also the Movement of another Martial Arts card.

If necessary, it can be used to protect an allied Martial Arts card by moving the target to a relatively safer position.

“I should also do the Fate Card mission.”

After advancing to four stars, [Snail Walking Lady] provided her Fate Card.

Shi Li spent 2 million cubic coins on the simulation mission for this card's Fate Card.

[Wind Chasing System Resonance]: 130% → 140%

Now, after this back and forth, he only has 6 million cubic coins left; the spending is truly fast.

His money wasn't blown in by the wind, but it seems to be blown away by it.

The [Snail Walking Lady]'s Fate Card is somewhat similar to [Lightning Flash].

It is also equivalent to a one-time active skill.

[Stars Shifting and Moving]: Snail Walking Lady consumes 40 Energy, selects 2 Martial Arts cards, and swaps positions with them. Shi Li pulled up the simulation card table and tested it, getting the result.

The actual tested effect is that this Fate Card skill is essentially an upgraded version of [Shape Shift].

Selecting two Martial Arts cards, plus the [Snail Walking Lady] herself, allows for arbitrary position swapping among the three cards.

Another key point is that it is not limited to revealed cards.

Even if the card is face-down, as long as it is a Martial Arts card, the position replacement can still occur.

This point is quite outstanding.

Especially when combined with the face-down mechanism of [Fleeing Ink], it can sometimes achieve unexpected results.

Moreover, the 3-card swap greatly provides Shi Li with ample maneuverability to adjust the current formation.

“After advancing to four stars, the usage of the [Snail Walking Lady] seems to have shifted.”

“Before, the emphasis was on changing positions to trigger passive terms.”

“But now, it feels like changing positions to trigger passive terms is merely a bonus, and adjusting the formation has become its greatest function—”

Shi Li fell into deep thought.

However, mere contemplation is insufficient now; the most genuine understanding must come from actual combat against other Card Players.

The last card is [Exploding Zombie].

At least the [Snail Walking Lady] appeared a few times when Shi Li first obtained her, back when he couldn't put together 9+1 unique cards.

However, [Exploding Zombie] was obtained in the Chess Domain.

By that time, his unique cards had already hit the 9+1 limit, and he truly couldn't recall this guy appearing much.

Just like its sense of presence, this guy's refresh cost was surprisingly low.

Although the refresh costs had jumped several levels consecutively, it only took 1 million to complete its card-making.

Of course, Shi Li deserves some credit for this.

The high intensity of recent contact has caused his card-making level to advance by leaps and bounds.

Honestly, most teachers at Qingchuan University probably haven't personally created as many four-star unique cards as he has.

Based solely on this experience, he is even qualified to serve as a relevant instructor.

[Exploding Zombie] is also of the Chasing Wind System, so completing its Star Ascension raised Shi Li's Resonance level another notch.

[Wind Chasing System Resonance]: 130% → 140%

At the same time, his personal panel was also improved.

[Rank]: Emerald 15 → Emerald 16

[Stamina]: 1040/1040 → 1070/1070

[Energy]: 1040/1040 → 1070/1070

As for the [Exploding Zombie]'s panel, it received a significant upgrade.

[Exploding Zombie]

Chasing Wind, 30 points, Four-Star Attack 30, 100/100 HP, 0/100 Energy

[Pain and Joy - Characteristic]: Exploding Zombie gains 10 Energy for every 10% of its initial HP lost. [Acute Hyperplasia - Passive]: Exploding Zombie gains 10 stackable [Blessing] every time its Energy is fully Charged.

[Fearless Attack - 10 Energy]: Exploding Zombie performs 1 attack. [Localized Explosion - 10 Energy]: Exploding Zombie loses 30 Max HP and deals 40 [Fixed Damage] to 1 target.

[Flesh Bomb - 60 Energy]: Exploding Zombie immediately retires and deals [True Damage] equal to its current HP to 1 target.

[Flesh Explosive Bomb - 100 Energy]: Exploding Zombie immediately retires and deals [True Damage] equal to its current HP to 2 targets.

([Blessing]: Increases the target's Max HP by the corresponding value for this match)

“Hmm—”

Shi Li didn't know how to evaluate the upgrade of the [Exploding Zombie].

It was definitely strengthened, but it was just—

First, an active skill term with 10 Energy cost was added. This skill doesn't come with any special effects; it's just a normal attack.

Its only purpose is to consume 10 Energy when the [Exploding Zombie] has maximum Energy.

Then, because the round ends, the 10 Energy consumed is replenished.

This means it can trigger [Acute Hyperplasia] once for free, gaining 10 stackable [Blessing].

In other words, under ideal conditions, the [Exploding Zombie] can gain 10 Max HP every round, and this growth is infinite.

The longer the rounds last, the more HP it has.

Based on this mechanism, Shi Li refers to it as the minor [The Diner].

The advantage is that the HP stacking is stable and can be considered cost-free.

The disadvantages are that the stacking is slow, and [Blessing] can be [Dispel]led by the opponent.

Therefore, the drawbacks are more pronounced compared to the advantages, which is why it is the minor [The Diner].

The other added active skill term is a high-Energy consumption output skill.

It is essentially double the original [Flesh Bomb], though it saves some Energy consumption.

Under ideal conditions, [Flesh Explosive Bomb] is naturally more cost-effective.

But the problem is that in a card game, the situation sometimes doesn't develop exactly as one wishes.

For the Chasing Wind System, which only gains 10 Charge per round, accumulating 60 Energy is certainly easier and less risky than accumulating 100 Energy.

Of course, [Exploding Zombie] itself possesses a relatively unique Charge mechanism.

But utilizing this mechanism for rapid Charge would drastically reduce its HP, significantly lowering the damage of both Bomb skills.

If this were before, Shi Li truly wouldn't have had a perfect way to solve its Charge problem.

But now it's different; the skill [Wind Irrigation] brought by the [Fennec Fox Girl]'s Fate Card happens to solve this problem.

The Charge rate of [Wind Irrigation] is 50%, and the Fennec Fox Girl recovers 30 Energy per round, which means she can Charge 15 Energy.

Combined with the [Exploding Zombie]'s own 10 Charge per round, this equates to gaining 25 Charge per round.

In this way, it can reach full Charge in 4 rounds.

Of course, this calculation does not include the extra rounds required for the [Fennec Fox Girl] to activate the skill and consume Energy.

Nevertheless, even accounting for that, the Charge efficiency of the [Exploding Zombie] is still greatly increased.

Brothers, I won't be writing in a few days.

With only a few yuan in income per chapter, this meaningless persistence has gone on for a long time. Please understand.

The next few chapters will mainly focus on introducing card panels, trying to finish writing all the S-rank cards in the deck.

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