97: A surprising opening move

Fang Jinghai raised his hand and played a card, and the first row card on the right flipped over.

“Chop them all to pieces!”

A hulking Barbarian Warrior, wielding a giant axe and wearing leather shorts, emerged from a purple light pillar.

Barbarian Warrior

Rage, 30 points, Three-star

Attack 30, 130/130

Abundant - Passive: Barbarian Warrior’s maximum Health +30

Fighting - Passive: When Barbarian Warrior attacks a humanoid card, Attack +10

Brutality - 20 Health: Barbarian Warrior attacks 1 target, with 100% Lifesteal (T5)

(Lifesteal: Gains Healing equal to the corresponding value)

It was still Fang Jinghai’s usual Three-star Rage card, but one Characteristic had been changed.

As soon as this card appeared, the host began to analyze it.

“Good card! Student Fang Jinghai immediately takes the initiative!”

“This first row card possesses high Health, special attack against humanoids, and self-sustain!”

“It can both deal damage and take damage!”

“Although his trump card is likely not among these, this card serves very well to draw fire!”

“If left unchecked, it will definitely deal a high amount of damage that will make one regret it!”

“Good Characteristic,” Shi Li said, never stingy praising his opponent.

Breakthrough-type character cards also had similar Lifesteal Characteristics, but the limit was generally 30 Energy, while in the Rage-type, it only required 20 Health.

In the case of the Barbarian Warrior, if it attacked a humanoid card, it could spend 20 Health and gain 40 Health, essentially a net gain of 20 points.

“Hmph, just keep watching.”

Fang Jinghai continued to reveal his second first row card.

“Origin rises, origin falls.”

Purple light surged on the card face again, and a Daoist-robed man holding an oddly shaped Shield emerged.

Yuanshan Deputy Sect Leader

Steadfast, 30 points, Three-star

Attack 30, 100/100, 0/50

Mountain-like - Characteristic: Yuanshan Deputy Sect Leader will not take more than 50 damage from a single attack.

Protection - Passive: In the turn Yuanshan Chief Disciple reveals a card, gains 30 Shield (T1)

Origin Flow - Passive: When using a Defense hand card on Yuanshan Deputy Sect Leader, it does not consume a hand card slot.

Mountain Soul Protection - 40 Energy: Yuanshan Deputy Sect Leader performs Defense and gains 20 Shield.

Seeing this card, the host immediately became even more excited.

“Another Three-star character card! And a Three-star character card with a Characteristic!”

“The strength of this Three-star card is completely comparable to a Four-star card!”

“With the existence of the Origin Flow Characteristic, it means that besides playing Defense for Yuanshan Deputy Sect Leader, Fang Jinghai can play 1 more hand card!”

“As long as there are enough Defense hand cards, placing this card in the first row is an extremely sturdy wall!”

“And Student Fang Jinghai’s approach is very clever!”

“Because he knows that Yuanshan Deputy Sect Leader will be countered by Red Blade Maiden’s Fixed Damage, he simply gave up on the idea of making it a trump card!”

“I know your unique card counters me.

But I can put Yuanshan Deputy Sect Leader in the first row; you can’t possibly put Red Blade Maiden in the first row, can you?”

Fang Jinghai smiled triumphantly.

Placing Yuanshan Deputy Sect Leader in the first row to absorb more damage was definitely a gain.

And once it lost the trump card's 100 bonus Health, its vulnerability to Red Blade Maiden's percentage-based damage was no longer as severe.

This Movement was not only recognized by the host but also by the other spectators.

It could indeed be said to be quite clever.

“Come, it’s your turn to reveal a card.”

Fang Jinghai made a “please” gesture.

“Your two cards aren't good; I’ll let you have this one.”

Unexpectedly, Shi Li shook his head and casually revealed the first row card on the right.

And then, nothing happened.

Because what he revealed… was an empty card!

“What?!”

The host was even more surprised now than before.

And in the audience, there was an uproar.

“Is this kid joking?! He actually left the first row card slot empty!”

“Is he really planning to give the opponent a free turn?”

“This is the finals; how can he be so childish!”

“I think he knows he can’t win and just wants to save face with this kind of trick.”

Under everyone’s questioning, Shi Li quickly flipped over the first row card on the left.

Fortunately, this time it was no longer an empty card.

“Jump!”

It was still that Bouncing Guard.

The Characteristics it carried were Stasis and Taunt.

“…”

Fang Jinghai stared intently at Shi Li’s face, trying to discern something.

However, Shi Li folded his arms, his expression normal.

A trick, there must be a trick.

From what he knew of Shi Li, there was definitely something wrong here.

This guy would never give up easily.

Nor was he the kind of person who would resort to face-saving tricks for so-called dignity.

Fang Jinghai couldn't be sure what dirty trick the opponent was going to pull, but he believed he wouldn't be affected.

Focusing fire on Bouncing Guard this turn was the wisest and safest choice.

Regardless of the strategy, he would first chip away at its Health and seize the initiative.

It was foolish not to take advantage of an opportunity.

What’s more, Bouncing Guard was also a humanoid card, which could trigger the 10-point special attack from Fighting.

“Hmm, a devious trick.”

Thinking this, Fang Jinghai made up his mind.

The action confirmation phase arrived.

He made both cards choose to attack; anyway, one of them would be affected by Taunt.

And he also had the Barbarian Warrior activate its skill.

This was a basic attack skill, so it would still take effect even if affected by Taunt.

Yuanshan Deputy Sect Leader had 30 Shield this turn, so it definitely wouldn't be an attack target.

So if Bouncing Guard were to attack, it could only attack Barbarian Warrior.

This way, Barbarian Warrior would take 30 damage, then recover 20 Health after activating its skill, meaning the opponent only dealt 10 damage.

If it were a 100/100 character card, becoming 90/100, it might be instantly killed by three evenly distributed cards.

But don't forget, Barbarian Warrior had 130/130 Health.

And the opponent only had one first revealed card, so what was there to fear?

This turn, he believed he had calculated everything perfectly.

But honestly, there wasn't much to calculate.

So, after both sides confirmed their actions, the action turn officially began.

“Tiao Tiao Jump!”

First, Tiao Tiao turned its back and made a butt-slapping gesture at the Barbarian Warrior.

“You damned corpse!”

The roaring Barbarian Warrior immediately turned red-faced, and the word “Taunt” popped up above its head.

“Hmph.”

Fang Jinghai snorted, secretly delighted.

Because the T2 action had already occurred, it meant the T1 action had passed.

Shi Li did not play a Defense hand card, so his two cards focusing fire would knock out a bar of Bouncing Guard’s Health.

With one less bar of Health, Bouncing Guard’s threat would be greatly reduced.

However, just as this thought arose, Fang Jinghai saw Shi Li slowly pull out a hand card from his pocket.

“LV1 Movement: Movements one of your cards 1 card slot. (T3)”

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