Blood

Xiao Yi's computational power is beyond doubt. The unknown changes brought about by time travel have forged it into an unprecedented Ninth-Ring Arcane Artifact, comparable to a supercomputer.

However, limited by Duke's own knowledge, Xiao Yi's database is pitifully small.

Without enough big data, computing power alone is useless.

But.

As Duke continuously collects information from the outside world, Xiao Yi's database will inevitably explode. At that time, Xiao Yi's terrifying computing power will truly be revealed.

Late at night.

After showering, Duke called out, "Xiao Yi, I'm going to sleep. You continue idling Field Meditation. If you have any extra computing power, keep improving the Desert Eagle."

"Okay, Master. Sweet dreams."

In Snakehead Town, June has already entered the sweltering summer.

Duke, who woke up early, didn't go to buy steamed buns for breakfast. Instead, he took a detour and bought a bowl of the local famous "Shredded Soup" from a small alleyway breakfast stall.

The shredded soup uses a powder ground from a 0-Ring Spirit Insect as one of its ingredients.

This 0-Ring Spirit Insect is called the Slender Inchworm.

Hence the name Shredded Soup.

Just as he bought the shredded soup and sat down to eat, he saw an acquaintance also carrying a bowl of shredded soup squeezing over. Upon seeing Duke, the other person clearly frowned.

But since all the other tables and chairs were already occupied, he had no choice but to sit there.

"Ah, good morning, Boss Best," Duke said, looking up with a bright smile.

"Heh heh," Best replied with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, sneering, "Isn't this Boss Duke, who just got a card repair shop for free? How's your card repair technique coming along? If you have any questions, you can come to me for advice. After all, you're my apprentice, so teaching you is no problem."

"No need to trouble you. I recently heard your business isn't doing too well and you're worried about it."

"A business's ups and downs don't mean much. Making money requires longevity. I'm telling you, Duke, don't get cocky. I don't believe you can keep this up!"

Judging by Best's tone, he was clearly unconvinced by Duke's actions.

He believed Duke's actions were just a way to gain popularity at a loss.

Duke suddenly had an inspiration. He quickly dropped his smile and adopted a cold tone: "My shop might be struggling a bit for now, but if I can outlast you, that's a victory!"

"Heh heh, we'll see who outlasts whom!"

"Then let's wait and see."

"Don't come crying to me, kid!"

They glared at each other for a moment before falling silent, each focusing on their own bowl of shredded soup.

After eating his fill, Duke ignored Best and paid before leaving. On the way, he glanced back at Best, who was still eating his soup, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction.

"I hope Best has some backbone and fights me head-on. That way, when his shop goes bankrupt, he'll suffer even more!"

He had wanted to provoke Best just now, making him believe that Little Sam's Card Shop was also struggling, giving Best the idea to just hold on a little longer and he could drive Little Sam's Card Shop out of business. This way, the longer Best's Card Repair Shop lasted, the more Best would lose.

He killed the chicken to scare the monkeys.

This would also make anyone considering opening a card repair shop weigh the pros and cons and decide if it was worth it.

In short.

There could only be one card repair shop on Second Vertical Street, and that was Duke's Little Sam's Card Shop.

Not taking the competition with Best too seriously, Duke returned to his shop and began quietly studying discarded spirit cards. With Xiao Yi helping to collect data, each study session yielded a lot of experience.

This allowed his card repair technique to accumulate continuously.

What he lacked was the transformation of Spirit Liquid into energy lines within the Spirit Sea. Once that happened, his control over Spiritual Power would greatly increase, and he could truly begin repairing spirit cards.

"I'll get a Card Master certificate on the way."

Life had settled into a routine, and Duke was very satisfied with his current situation. Transmigrating into a bottom-tier apprentice in a world of the extraordinary had not limited his pursuit of power.

He comfortably studied spirit cards until evening.

"Boss, I'm heading home," Sally said, after organizing the day's accounts, bidding Duke farewell.

"Mm."

After locking the shop, Duke returned to his warehouse-converted residence, clutching a newly purchased book, and continued to study knowledge in an orderly fashion.

"Xiao Yi, how's the progress with Field Meditation idling?"

"Reporting, Master. Xiao Yi can now allocate 85% of its computing power to maintain the cultivation of Field Meditation, saving 15% to improve the Desert Eagle."

"Over the past few days of cultivation, what are the comparison results between Field Meditation and Blank Paper Meditation?"

"Field Meditation has an absorption speed approximately 10% faster than Blank Paper Meditation, and its Spirit Liquid condensation efficiency is over 7.5% higher... Based on Xiao Yi's experience with cultivating Field Meditation, it has not been able to fully utilize the effects of this meditation method. The missing part might be an issue of comprehension."

"Comprehension, huh..."

Duke put down his book and pondered.

The assistant of Willgang had introduced it before. Field Meditation is suitable for geniuses with high comprehension. Spirituality is never rigid power; it is full of fluidity, and Field Meditation starts from the fluid nature of spirituality to seek compatibility with spiritual power, thereby improving the effectiveness of the meditation method.

A moment later, he made a decision: "Field Meditation is named 'Field' because it requires going outdoors to seek enlightenment. I'll make time to wander in the wilderness and see if I can complete this deficiency."

Xiao Yi is an artificial intelligence with powerful computing power, but her comprehension is another matter.

Some things needed to be handled by him personally.

Knock, knock, knock.

Suddenly, he heard a knock on the back door of the warehouse.

Duke immediately got up and went to the door, asking, "Who is it?"

"It's me," a weak voice replied from outside the door. "Rony."

"Mister Rony? Is something wrong this late?" Duke didn't open the door.

Rony's weak voice replied intermittently, "I'm injured and need your help, Boss Duke... Don't worry, I won't... help for nothing. I... will pay you enough... gold dragon."

Although he didn't want to get into trouble, Rony had already arrived at his door.

Duke prepared to draw his First-Ring Arcane Artifact, the Desert Eagle, at any moment. After waiting a moment and detecting no suspicious activity outside or anyone pursuing Rony, he opened the door.

Rony stumbled in, wearing a pitch-black trench coat.

As soon as he entered, he fell to the ground. Simultaneously, a package he was holding also fell and rolled on the ground.

"Mister Rony!" Duke closed the door and cautiously crouched down to check Rony's injuries.

Upon inspection, he discovered Rony's trench coat was soaked in blood. His face was so pale it was devoid of any color, and he lay on the ground, gasping intermittently.

"Water..." Rony was on the verge of losing consciousness.

Duke quickly brought a cup of cooled boiled water and fed it to Rony sip by sip.

After drinking the water, Rony regained a little clarity. He looked at Duke weakly and said, "Do you... have a Healing Card?"

"No."

"I'm going to die... Help me..."