Mythical Card Maker: Starting with the Mountain Spirit

Just as Lin Mo was immersed in the narrative of card making, the two mentors on the high platform had already started discussing in hushed tones.

"If I'm not mistaken, he just chose the following four materials: [Grim White Bones], [Triple Transformation of a Remnant Soul], [White Jade Hairpin], and [Netherworld Soil], right?"

"What kind of cards can this make? Skeleton Spirits or Zombie Wraiths? They probably won't be strong enough?"

"I remember that among the given creature materials, there were also [Lantern Monster] and [Headless Tiger Corpse], which seemed much stronger than those [Grim White Bones] and [Triple Transformation Remnant Soul]."

"They might have their own ideas, so don't always try to understand others based on your own perspective. You might not even be as capable as they are at their age."

"Haha, you're right..."

……

at the same time,

Inside the hall, many candidates were scratching their heads, racking their brains to pick out four cards from the twenty materials to create a combination.

However, this is not an easy task.

Not only must a logically coherent and cohesive narrative background be constructed within a limited time, but it must also be made to fit the selected materials.

This requires candidates to have strong narrative skills and excellent logical thinking ability.

It's like being given a theme and asked to create a poem or an article based on that theme.

Compared to free creation, the difficulty of creating cards with such many restrictions is undoubtedly greater.

Of course, some test takers did try to refer to the four materials selected by Lin Mo.

However, after examining them for a long time, they still couldn't figure out what kind of cards could be created by combining these four seemingly unrelated material cards.

In the end, they had no choice but to give up and continue to explore on their own.

They are, after all, professional card makers.

After a brief period of confusion, they quickly found a suitable entry point to begin constructing the narrative.

While many candidates were beginning to conceive the narrative background for their card creations, Fang Chuchu had already completed the selection of materials.

The materials she chose were [White Jade Ring], [Centennial Wild White Lily], [Netherworld Soil], and [Temple Incense Ash].

After her last conversation with Lin Mo, Fang Chuchu gained a lot of insights into card design.

After much deliberation, I finally decided to adapt a strange anecdote I had read years ago.

This story comes from Volume 417 of the Taiping Guangji, titled "Guests at Guanghua Temple".

The original text reads: "A guest was under the eaves of Guanghua Temple when he encountered a beautiful woman in white, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with extraordinary beauty. They made love, and she gave him a white jade ring. Later, he searched for her in the grass and found a lily seedling with magnificent white flowers. He dug it up and found that its roots were like an arch, and the ring was inside."

These four material cards perfectly match the narrative background she constructed.

With her mind made up, Fang Chuchu did not hesitate. Her spiritual power spread out, carrying the selected material cards along with her consciousness into her mental space.

the other side,

Yang Shuang'er and Yang Xue'er have also completed their material selection and started trying to make cards.

……

Time passed by, second by second.

Within the space of the mind.

As the last line of the design was completed, the entire card suddenly emitted a bright blue aura, which then slowly faded away.

A bright blue-edged card floated prominently in front of Lin Mo.

He looked up and saw that the background of the card was White Tiger Ridge, where bones were scattered everywhere.

A young woman of about sixteen, dressed in coarse cloth, with a delicate and gentle face and a pitiful look in her eyes, stood quietly.

Behind her, two figures were faintly visible and moving about.

They are a hunched old woman leaning on a cane and an old man with white hair holding a white bone cane.

"It's done!"

Lin Mo exhaled a slight breath and looked at the cards in front of him.

Card Name: [White Tiger Ridge Corpse Demon - Lady White Bone]

Personality: Fairy

Type: Assassin/Summoner/Source Card

Spirituality: Rare, Bright Blue Edges, Black Iron

Star rating: ★★★★★★★★★

characteristic:

【Deciphering Corpse Remains】When Lady White Bone's physical body is destroyed, she will not die immediately, but this effect can only be used three times.

【Illusory Bone Thousand Faces】Lady White Bone is proficient in the art of illusion, and ordinary units cannot see through her true form.

【Bone-Melting Stealth】Lady White Bone is skilled in stealth techniques and can turn into bone powder to escape.

skill:

【Three Transformations to Bewitch the Mind】Lady White Bone can transform into three different forms.

【Bone Blade Soul Eater】Lady White Bone conjures a bone blade, dealing damage to enemy units in a fan-shaped area in front of her.

[The Corpse Demon is Born] Lady White Bone reveals her true form as a skeleton and unfolds a "White Bone Domain" with a radius of ten meters.

All enemy units within the area have their movement speed reduced, while the user's own strength is temporarily boosted.

"A nine-star blue card in Black Iron rank, not bad!"

Lin Mo nodded in satisfaction.

This card isn't high quality, it's just a blue card, but its star rating, characteristics, and skills are quite remarkable.

No wonder she was a demon who could withstand three blows from Sun Wukong before dying; she really had something special.

With a thought, he immediately withdrew from the mental space, and Lady White Bone appeared in his palm along with it.

"Is it finished?"

The middle-aged man, who had been observing everyone in the room, suddenly noticed that Lin Mo had exited the card-making state, and a bright blue card was floating in front of him.

I couldn't help but take a few glances at it:

"A blue source card? That's not bad, but I wonder what the final rating will be."

After muttering a few words, he turned his gaze to the other candidates.

Time passed slowly.

More and more test takers are withdrawing from the card-making process.

Soon, the last grain of sand quietly slipped out of the huge golden hourglass on the side of the platform.

The exam has officially ended.

The female instructor immediately stood up, her gaze sweeping across the room, and saw that all the candidates had finished making their cards.

He immediately nodded slightly, smiled, and said:

"Dear candidates, the theoretical examination is over. First of all, congratulations to everyone for completing the card production."

Next, we will conduct card testing.

Having said that, she raised her hand and waved it.

A huge rectangular cabin suddenly rises between the first row of white jade tables and the three high platforms.

It is about four meters long and two meters high, and is made entirely of an unknown metal.

Its body is surrounded by a flowing light, exuding a strong sense of technology.

There is a row of card slots on the front of the cabin, with a huge crystal display screen embedded above it.

Its design is somewhat similar to the virtual combat device that Lin Mo had seen in Baiyu Square.

"This is a card testing device. It can detect the strength of the cards you create, and will evaluate them based on a comprehensive range of indicators such as card star rating, version, quality, and special skills."

The female instructor pointed to the instrument in front of her and explained it, then added:

"Now, please come forward in an orderly fashion from each row and insert the cards you just made into the slots of the machine."

As soon as the words were spoken, the candidates in the first row looked at each other in bewilderment.

After a while, he got up and slowly walked towards the card testing device.

After a moment's hesitation, everyone immediately inserted their cards into the corresponding slots.

hum!

A slight vibration sounded, and white light flashed rapidly on the screen.

The next instant, a complete image of the Card Spirit was generated.

Below Kaling, lines of text continued to scroll for several seconds before finally freezing.

The card's final rating was clearly displayed.

Many people were seeing this testing scene for the first time and couldn't help but look at it with curiosity.

Card Name: Skeleton Warrior

[Spiritual Quality: Rare, Bright Blue Edges, Black Iron]

Star Rating: Seven Stars

Overall Rating: C-

Theoretical score: 2366 points

……

The testing was proceeding smoothly.

The vast majority of candidates' cards were ultimately rated C, barely passing.

A small number of meticulous and well-prepared candidates achieved a grade of B.

Of course, some candidates were too eager to succeed, resulting in numerous logical flaws in their narratives and awkward integration of materials, ultimately only receiving a D grade.

The moment the ratings appeared, their faces turned deathly pale, realizing that their chances of passing the district exam were slim.

……

On the high platform, the two mentors calmly surveyed the entire audience and exchanged hushed conversations.

"The overall level of this year's candidates is relatively stable, with most taking a solid and steady approach. Unfortunately, there are no outstanding works."

"There is a limit to the combination of conventional materials, and achieving a B-level rating is already top-notch."

"I have high hopes for the top ten candidates in the practical assessment; I think they should be able to get high scores."

……

Before the two finished speaking, it was Lin Mo's turn to go forward for testing.

There were ten people in his row.

Besides Lin Mo, Fang Chuchu, and the Yang sisters, there are four boys and two girls.

Their abilities are all quite good.

In previous practical assessments, they were all ranked in the top 30.

This time, Yudu Tianfu only recruits sixty students. Those ranked in the top thirty, as long as nothing unexpected happens in the subsequent theoretical exams,

It's basically a sure thing.

It should be noted that there were nearly 600 applicants for the Yudu Tianfu exam this time.

Among these people are many top students from major universities, and being ranked in the top thirty is already quite impressive.

"Here it comes!"

I don't know who said it.

In an instant, everyone in the room turned their gazes toward them.

Of course, the vast majority of eyes were focused on Lin Mo.

After all, they were all very curious about how this candidate, who had performed exceptionally well in the practical assessment, would fare in the card-making process.

They compared Lin Mo's four material cards repeatedly, but couldn't think of any good cards they could make.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, the ten people almost simultaneously inserted their cards into the slots.

In an instant, a burst of light appeared on the instrument.

The light on the crystal screen rolled rapidly, eventually coalescing into figures with different appearances.

"Wow, nine out of these ten characters have beautiful girl characters as their Kalinga figures! Looking good is definitely the key!"

"Why do I feel that Lin Mo's Kaling has a sinister aura, and its art style is obviously different from others? Is it just my imagination?"

……

Amidst the discussions, the ten people's Kaling ratings were revealed one after another.

【Card Name: Guanghua Temple Guest - Lily Spirit】

[Spiritual Quality: Rare, Bright Blue Edges, Black Iron]

Star Rating: Eight Stars

Overall Rating: A+

Theoretical score: 4653 points

……

Card Name: Crimson Pearl Fairy - Lin Daiyu

[Spiritual Quality: Rare, Bright Blue Edges, Black Iron]

Star Rating: Eight Stars

Overall Rating: A+

Theoretical score: 4865 points

……

【Card Name: Chrysanthemum Spirit - Huang Ying】

[Spiritual Quality: Rare, Bright Blue Edges, Black Iron]

Star Rating: Eight Stars

Overall Rating: A+

Theoretical score: 4715 points

……

When seeing the card ratings of Fang Chuchu, Yang Shuang'er, and Yang Xue'er...

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

"Three A+ grades? Is that really necessary to scare us?"

"This row is full of experts! Besides three A+, there are four A's and two B+'s. Impressive!"

"The allusion to Yang Shuang'er is so ingenious! How come I didn't think of the Crimson Pearl Fairy and Lin Daiyu?"

……

On the high platform, a hint of approval flashed in the female instructor's eyes:

"The narrative is solid, the allusions are almost perfectly matched, and the combination of special skills is consistent. Not bad."

"It seems there's no doubt that these three girls will make it into the top ten this year!"

After the initial amazement, everyone's attention returned to Lin Mo.

Because... only his card spirit assessment results haven't come out yet.

"Why is the testing taking so long? Are we about to get the first S-rank rating?"

"You never know, I've noticed that the lower the rating, the faster the evaluation process. You can think back on it if you don't believe me."

"That's true! If it's an S-rank rating, then the score must be over five thousand, right?"

"Definitely. Each level up grants an extra thousand points. A D-level rating guarantees at least a thousand points, and breaking five thousand points for an S-level rating is a piece of cake..."

……

Amidst the intense scrutiny of the world.

The text below Lin Mo's card finally froze, and everyone stared at it, immediately stunned.

【Card Name: White Tiger Ridge Corpse Demon - Lady White Bone】

[Quality: Rare, Bright Blue Edges, Black Iron]

Star Rating: Nine Stars

[Spiritual Rating: S]

[Potential Rating: S-level]

[Feature Rating: S]

Skill Rating: S-Tier

[Narrative Rating: S]

Overall Rating: S

Theoretical score: 5265 points

"5S rating!"

The entire assessment hall fell into a deathly silence; you could hear a pin drop.

Immediately afterwards, a deafening clamor erupted:

"I was right, it really is S-rank!"

"That's outrageous! I looked at those four material cards for ages and couldn't figure out what kind of card they could make, but this person just casually made an S-rank card. The difference between people is truly greater than the difference between a person and a dog!"

"I have to admit, they really have some skills to get first place in the practical assessment. Just their card-making ability alone makes me feel ashamed of myself."

"What's the big deal? What's so special about S-rank?"

"You know nothing! I don't even know there are SS-rank, SSS-rank... But can an S-rank created with a bunch of high-quality materials be the same as an S-rank created with four blue materials? Joker!"

……

Lin Mo stared quietly at the rating on the screen, showing no surprise whatsoever.

How could a demon survive three times under the cudgel of the Monkey King?

Soon, Lin Mo and the others returned to their original positions.

The candidates in the next row continued to move forward.

Before long, all the candidates in the hall had finished their tests.

Although other test takers subsequently created S-rated cards, Lin Mo's S-rated card set an example, so it didn't cause much of a stir.

The final rankings were determined, with Lin Mo taking first place with 4971 points.

Fang Chuchu ranked seventh.

Yang Xueer and Yang Shuanger ranked eighth and tenth respectively.

Almost the instant the top ten on the fluorescent panel froze, a clear and melodious bell tolled suddenly.

Immediately afterwards, a golden light shot into the sky from the direction of the main hall of Hanyuan Hall, exploding above the square.

It transformed into countless specks of light, scattering down in a flurry.

Many curious people, upon hearing the commotion, rushed towards the source of the sound.

Suddenly, a towering, jet-black stone tablet, several meters high, rose from the center of the plaza. Golden patterns flowed across its surface, eventually converging into magnificent characters of light.

Next to the character for "light," there are also vivid and lifelike faces.

The crowd was stunned for a moment, then burst into a lively commotion.

"A memorial stele has appeared, heralding the emergence of a new generation of the 'Ten Outstanding Talents of Tianfu'!"

"Go and see who's there!"

……

Countless people rushed to the stone tablet, instantly surrounding it completely.

"Who is this Lin Mo? I've never heard of him! He scored over a thousand points more than the second-place finisher, amazing!"

"To be honest, this kid is really handsome, he's got some of my looks from back in the day!"

"Tsk tsk, this year's boys are no good. There are six girls among the Ten Outstanding Students of Tianfu. Back in my year, there were only two girls..."

……

Countless people were discussing and commenting on the new generation of "Ten Outstanding Talents of Tianfu" inscribed on the monument.

Regardless, Lin Mo and his friends have become famous.

Of course, Lin Mo and the others were completely unaware of this. They were sitting upright in their seats, listening to the female instructor explain the precautions to be taken next.

"This district exam has now concluded. Thank you all for registering to participate in this year's Yudu Tianfu district exam."

The top 50 candidates will automatically become academies of this year's Yudu Tianfu Academy, and relevant certificates will be issued to you later.

Candidates who were not admitted should not be discouraged. District exams for other universities are starting one after another. We wish everyone the best of luck in getting into their desired schools.

The top ten students will automatically be named among this year's "Ten Outstanding Students of Tianfu" and receive an exclusive identity card.

Because the prizes for the top ten winners are specially made and require a certain production period, they will be distributed on the day of enrollment. We hope for your understanding.

After saying that, she looked at everyone in the room: "Does anyone else have any questions?"

A tall boy in black hesitated for a moment, then immediately asked, "Didn't you say the corresponding GPA points would be distributed later? I don't seem to have seen it?"

The middle-aged male instructor immediately smiled and said, "The GPA will be credited to your ID cards after the university verifies it. Don't worry about that; it will basically be credited to your account when you enroll!"

After waiting a while longer, and seeing that no one else asked any questions,

The female instructor immediately announced that everyone could leave by airship.

In an instant, the crowd in the hall scattered like birds and beasts, surging out of the hall in a massive wave.

After leaving Hanyuan Hall, Lin Mo, Fang Chuchu, Yang Shuang'er, and Yang Xue'er traveled together towards the location where the airship was docked.

As he walked, he suddenly noticed a large crowd gathered in the center of the square.

He immediately looked in that direction, and his gaze suddenly froze.

His image was clearly engraved on the black stone tablet surrounded by the crowd.

"What's going on? Although I am indeed very handsome, there is no need to carve my image on a stone tablet, is there?"

What will the other male students at the academy think of this?

Lin Mo subconsciously made a sarcastic remark.

The Yang Shuang'er sisters beside her immediately covered their mouths and chuckled.

"That's the inscription stele of the Imperial Capital Heavenly Palace. The appearance and name of each of the 'Ten Prodigies of Heavenly Palace' are reflected on it."

Look down further, there are my sisters and Chuchu too!

Lin Mo looked closely and exclaimed, "It really is!"

Fang Chuchu couldn't help but smile.

The group walked and talked, and soon arrived at the platform where the airship was docked.

Since Yang Shuang'er and her sister came from Xinjin City, which is next to Yunhai City, they did not travel the same way as Lin Mo and his sister.

Therefore, they boarded another airship.

After waving goodbye to Yang Shuang'er and her sister, Lin Mo and Fang Chuchu boarded the airship bound for Wushan City.

About half an hour later, Lin Mo and his companion arrived in Wushan City.