The Anomalous Creatures Card Master: Myriad Ghosts Night Parade at the Start

The Key Reason for a Card Spirit's Star Ascension

1. Card Spirits must be intelligent. The higher their spiritual essence, the faster they ascend.

2. Let Card Spirits act on their own accord, doing what their nature dictates.

3. During battles, it's best to let Card Spirits perform and make their own decisions.

Chen Xiao Diao snapped her fingers. "Got it! It's about letting Card Spirits be themselves!"

Lin Chen nodded in agreement. Simple people often summarized things more concisely.

"We can even add a fourth point: 'Cater to their preferences. The Card Master actively provides things the Card Spirit likes.'"

Lin Chen felt increasingly convinced, his voice growing louder.

"Who says Card Masters must always command their cards like a superior? Who says Card Spirits must always serve the Card Master!

We can be like loving parents or comrades with a deep bond, nurturing Card Spirits with good food and drink. Service-oriented card mastery, feeding-style card cultivation!

Others train their cards like dogs; I treat my Card Spirits like brothers!

'Who says we have no clothes? We share the same tunic with our cards; sharpen our spears and shields, and march alongside our cards!'"

After hearing Lin Chen's speech, Chen Xiao Diao grabbed his belt and shook it wildly, as if cheering him on.

"Ahhh! So passionate, so touching! Brother Chen, I knew I wasn't mistaken about you. You've spoken straight to my heart!"

Chen Xiao Diao was an orphan who grew up with only cards for company. She genuinely felt a deep connection to Card Spirits and strongly agreed with Lin Chen's approach.

The card mastery philosophy Lin Chen proposed was indeed a very novel perspective.

Currently, most Card Masters treated cards as tools, technological products, or servants.

This was a very utilitarian, superior attitude, which made it difficult to unleash a Card Spirit's true nature.

His thoughts had wandered too far; it was time to return to practical matters.

So, following this card cultivation method, how would Lin Chen allow his Card Spirits to act freely?

The nature of the Door Gods was loyalty to the lord, protection of the master, guarding the gate, and exorcising evil.

Currently, there were no Anomalous Creatures for the Door Gods to fight, so he would let the two Door Gods stand guard at his doorstep tonight to their heart's content.

Another card, [Qinghe County Exile Fighter Wu Song], was still at a low star level with great room for growth, making it worth investing in his cultivation.

To cater to Wu Song's preferences was simple: let him drink to his heart's content!

Drinking was Wu Song's greatest lifelong hobby.

The original text of Water Margin quoted Wu Song saying, "For me, one measure of wine brings one measure of skill; if I drink ten measures, I don't know where my strength comes from!"

For Wu Song, alcohol was the essence of grain; the more he drank, the more energetic he became!

Therefore, finding a material or item card with the [Alcohol] attribute to help Wu Song advance or equip would boost his spiritual essence.

Lin Chen turned to Chen Xiao Diao. Coincidentally, Lu Zhishen was also a heavy drinker.

Lin Chen's plan was very clear:

"Chen Xiao Diao, we need to go buy alcohol!"

As heroes, how could they be without wine to accompany them!

The author, with himself, requests votes and follow-up reads!

For the author, votes are the essence of grain; the more you cast, the more energetic it becomes!

Wishing everyone a happy Qingming holiday. Today, our family also performed a sacrifice to the Door Gods. It's fitting that this book began with summoning Door Gods. Traditional culture is no longer a decaying and boring thing here; instead, it has gained a different charm through my writing. This is perhaps the role of writing. Let's share this realization together~

Thank you to Kai Xin Chui Chui, Book Friend 20210301104144344050, Qing Jing Wu Ai, Hong Hei Lan Jin, and Zui Qiang Zhi Long for their monthly votes!

Chapter 23: A Strange Bar, a Handsome Bartender

Lin Chen first searched the card shop but found no card materials with the [Alcohol] attribute.

He looked at Chen Xiao Diao, urging her to find a channel. As a Card Master from the official Security Bureau, she must have some resources, right?

Chen Xiao Diao pondered for a moment, her eyes lighting up. "I've got it!"

"When I was on patrol before, I discovered a bar whose owner was also a Card Master and brewed his own alcohol!"

"His shop should be able to brew materials with the [Alcohol] attribute. Even if not, he should be quite knowledgeable about [Alcohol], so we can go ask him!"

Chen Xiao Diao was decisive and was about to pull Lin Chen along.

Lin Chen asked doubtfully, "Wait, wait. It's early in the morning, is the bar open yet?"

Chen Xiao Diao retorted, "Bars don't open at night, do they? Who would be there at night?"

Lin Chen then realized that with the rampant anomalies in this world, people generally didn't go out at night, so there were no such things as nightclubs. Therefore, bars opened during the day.

Before leaving, Chen Xiao Diao transferred the reward the Security Bureau had allocated to Lin Chen—a total of fifty thousand yuan, plus an official "Act of Bravery" medal.

With this medal, if Lin Chen encountered other Security Bureau personnel in the future, they would know he was an orderly Card Master who had assisted the authorities. Presenting it would at least earn him goodwill.

Furthermore, most Card Masters who received such medals were eventually recruited by the Security Bureau, serving as a form of "invitation to join."

With a bulging wallet, he felt even more motivated to go out and spend!

Chen Xiao Diao arrived on a motorcycle provided by the Security Bureau, while Lin Chen had no means of transportation.

He could only sit on the back of Chen Xiao Diao's motorcycle, feeling somewhat awkward.

Lin Chen made another mental note: 'I need to make another vehicle card, this is too inconvenient!'

After a high-speed ride with many twists and turns, they arrived at a hidden alley, their destination.

It was an old, low-rise building. Although it was bright daylight, due to its location deep within a secluded alley, it was surrounded and blocked by tall skyscrapers, preventing sunlight from entering, giving it a dark, nighttime atmosphere.

Climbing vines and grapevines covered the exterior walls of the bar, with neon lights hanging from them, flashing with a psychedelic glow.

A neon sign hung on the storefront of the first floor, reading: "Enjoy yourself to the fullest, getting drunk is like being reborn."

Even before entering, the rich, intoxicating aroma of wine could be smelled.

Chen Xiao Diao led Lin Chen inside.

The interior was a typical bar setup, with dim lighting, an ambiguous atmosphere, and a few patrons scattered around.

The walls inside the bar were adorned with many oil paintings of scantily clad women leaning against wine barrels, adding a touch of decadence.

Lin Chen understood; bars were originally places for men and women to get drunk and meet up. Having decorations and paintings that enhanced the mood was considered conducive to "passion."

The bar counter was at the far end. A strikingly handsome young man, wearing a crown woven from grapevines, was mixing drinks. Behind him, the liquor cabinet was filled with amphorae and various barware.

The young man noticed the two guests and smiled, nodding.

Chen Xiao Diao walked over, climbed onto a high stool in front of the bar, and called out, "Amber, I want to introduce you to a friend."

As he got closer, Lin Chen realized the young man had a Western appearance, with a high nose bridge, amber eyes, and soft facial features. He was so beautiful he looked like a woman!

He had a naturally androgynous appearance, and just a glance made one's desires stir involuntarily.

Chen Xiao Diao continued the introduction, "This is Amber, the owner of this bar."

Then she pointed to Lin Chen, "This is Lin Chen, my friend, a Card Master."

The handsome young man proactively extended a hand as delicate as jade: "Hello~"

Lin Chen snapped back to attention and shook his hand in greeting. Uncharacteristically, his face flushed involuntarily, as if his desires had been forcefully ignited.

Amber spoke first, "Officer Chen, what brings you to my establishment? I recall you don't drink~"

Chen Xiao Diao replied, "I don't drink, but Lin Chen and I need materials with the [Alcohol] attribute for card advancement, so we came to inquire here."

Amber's delicate eyebrows relaxed slightly, "My wine cellar can indeed brew [Alcohol] with high spirituality. However, it's unfortunate that every batch is very popular, and the last batch was already ordered by regular customers."

Chen Xiao Diao jumped up, "Ah, I didn't expect your business to be so good! We're too late!"

Amber chuckled, "It's not that good, I just have a few regular customers."

Then he glanced at Lin Chen and added, "But you can pre-order the next batch. It's already brewing and should be ready in a few days."

Chen Xiao Diao happily stood on the stool, "That's great! Thanks to you, we'll pre-order two portions of [Spirit Wine] then!"

She then prepared to pay a deposit, but seeing her account balance, she sheepishly tugged on Lin Chen's sleeve and said, "Brother Chen, I haven't received my salary yet. Can you cover it for me first..."

Lin Chen had ample savings and no pressure, so he immediately transferred the deposit for two white cards at market price to Amber.

Amber produced a registration book and said, "Please, both of you, register your basic information."

Lin Chen asked curiously, "This needs to be registered too?"

Chen Xiao Diao helped explain, "According to the regulations of the Card Association Security Bureau, any shop trading card materials with spirituality must register order information and buyer identity channels for easier tracking and control of the card materials."

Since it was an official regulation, Lin Chen naturally complied. They each wrote down their names and addresses.

"All done! I didn't expect it to go so smoothly. Brother Chen, tell me, didn't I bring you good luck!"

Chen Xiao Diao immediately began to claim credit.

Lin Chen, however, was very curious about the production of [Spirit Wine] and asked, "Mr. Amber, if you don't mind me asking, how are you able to consistently produce [Alcohol] with high spirituality here?"

Amber explained, "My family has hundreds of years of brewing craftsmanship heritage. In addition, the wine cellar beneath this establishment is a century-old cellar, rich in foundation and spirituality. Most importantly, the 'raw materials' I use for brewing are also of high quality. When these factors are combined, the chance of producing [Spirit Wine] is very high."

Chen Xiao Diao chimed in, "Indeed, long-standing traditional crafts like these easily create spiritual creations. Several people in our Security Bureau's card-making team also have family inheritances."

Lin Chen nodded, beginning to understand the logic behind it:

A long-standing craft must contain the hard work and beliefs of several generations.

In Lin Chen's previous life, there were many artisans who elevated ancestral techniques to art, viewing them as a path, even revering them as gods. Artisans who pushed the spirit of craftsmanship to its extreme were even respectfully called "Saints," like the Sushi Saint or the Rice Cooking Saint, showing the admiration people had for those with profound skills.

According to the world's rules that Lin Chen deduced, belief converges to create spirituality. Long-standing inherited skills are a convergence of beliefs, thus capable of producing spiritual materials.

"Thank you for the explanation!"