044: Combination Card Set: Heart of the Gale Sword Demon

Candlelight flickered.

A lone lamp glowed faintly.

Tang Jian walked up to a table with a single candle on it and saw a very simple Card Crafting setup already laid out: a seemingly ordinary Sketching Pen, a mat, a Heating Furnace, a bottle of Energy Ink, and a bottle of Rare Energy Water.

Other than that, there were no Card Crafting materials whatsoever.

However, a line of text silently appeared on the white mat.

"You must craft at least one One-Star Blank Card before the candle burns out. The card type is not limited. Any materials you require will appear before you in unlimited quantities simply by conceptualizing them in your mind.

Note: This assessment will be graded based on multiple factors, including the efficiency, function, rarity, completeness (if a Combination Card Set), and completion time of the card(s) you ultimately craft.

If you fail to craft a single card before the candle burns out, the assessment will be deemed a failure."

After this text appeared, it slowly began to fade with time.

Tang Jian quickly read through the rules, then glanced at the candle on the table.

It was a candle about the thickness of a thumb and half an inch long. As the flame burned, wax dripped continuously. Based on this, the candle would likely burn out in about an hour.

One hour to craft a One-Star Blank Card.

This standard wasn't actually strict; even at school, anyone with slightly above-average Card Crafting skills could manage it.

For example, Tang Jian knew that if Yang Mao chose Card Crafting, given his progress over the past ten-plus days, he could definitely craft at least one One-Star Blank Card within an hour.

However, crafting at least one One-Star Blank Card in this assessment was merely the minimum standard.

There would certainly be masters who crafted two or even three cards, or whose One-Star Blank Cards were extremely difficult to craft. These would ultimately become crucial factors in determining success or failure.

Tang Jian glanced at his 9 points of mental energy.

After a quick mental calculation, he sat down at the table, calming his mind and Card Energy, trying to approach the professional mindset of a Card Maker, the Unperturbed Mindset.

The Unperturbed Mindset is merely the most basic mental stage for a Card Maker, and a key distinguishing factor between Card Makers and non-Card Makers—the factor of mindset.

Even though Sun Yiying was a Five-Star Card Apprentice, as long as she couldn't grasp the Unperturbed Mindset, she wouldn't truly cross the threshold into becoming a Card Maker.

To achieve the Unperturbed Mindset, two conditions are required: 1. Mental energy value exceeding 50 points; 2. Comprehension of the spiritual essence of the Unperturbed Mindset.

The former, mental energy value, can be achieved through cultivation or taking various mental strength-enhancing drugs. However, the latter requires personal effort and comprehension, depending on one's talent.

In his previous life, as a Three-Star Card Crafter, Tang Jian had naturally achieved the first layer of the Unperturbed Mindset.

However, his current mental energy was too weak to maintain that state.

But at this moment, he simply calmed himself, reaching a state similar to a great scholar bathing and burning incense before writing—a state of peace and quiet, which would make his thoughts clearer and sharper, and his line drawing and perception more fluid and natural during Card Crafting.

In this hour, Tang Jian intended to perfectly exert his abilities within reasonable limits, completely exhausting his 9 points of mental energy to craft a Combination Card Set.

"Two standard model cards made from Wind Cat Bone powder, 30 milliliters of Wind Crystal Fluid;"

"Two standard model cards made from Green Fox Scentwood, 10 grams of Sword Qi Jam;"

"Two standard model cards made from White Falling Stone, 30 milliliters of Demonic Tiger Blood;"

Tang Jian conceptualized each Card Crafting material in his mind, then immediately called them out.

Immediately, the materials Tang Jian requested began to appear on the table out of thin air.

At this moment, not only was Tang Jian beginning to enter his Card Crafting state, but other students who had chosen Card Crafting were also starting to conceptualize materials, racing against time.

In the science museum conference room, dozens of teachers, including the school leadership, were all intently watching the students on the screens, observing their performance.

Compared to the majority of students who chose the survival challenge, the minority who chose the Card Crafting challenge were more likely to attract the attention of teachers and leaders.

After all, the survival challenge only required students to endure for a period in a terrifyingly silent environment with increasing gravity. Although some special trials might be arranged during this time, it was relatively monotonous.

The Card Crafting challenge, on the other hand, was much more exciting and better at identifying talent.

"Hmm, Wu Chun chose three standard model cards made from antelope horn, three standard model cards made from savage bull horn, and two standard model cards made from Myna tree bark.

It seems he plans to craft three One-Star Blank Cards. Two will likely be One-Star Blank Pet Cards: an antelope and a savage bull. The last one goes without saying."

Jiang Zhendong looked at the cards Wu Chun had chosen, feeling slightly satisfied.

If Wu Chun could complete these three cards within the hour, he would likely stand out among the majority and take first place.

After all, they were just high school students, and their Card Crafting abilities were quite limited.

Students like Wu Chun, who boldly chose to craft two or even three cards in an hour, were already exceptional.

Observing other students, most basically chose to start with a One-Star Blank Energy Card, crafting one first before considering other cards.

"Hmm? Teacher Sun, this student of yours is interesting. Looking at the materials he's chosen, it seems he wants to directly craft a One-Star Blank Support Card, a healing card."

A teacher noticed Yang Mao and was slightly surprised.

Immediately, many people looked at Yang Mao. Seeing him already grinding ink, his expression calm and his mind unperturbed, they all nodded slightly.

Sun Yiying, however, was frowning as she watched Tang Jian, who was also grinding ink in another screen.

Some teachers immediately began to pay attention to Tang Jian as well.

When they saw the materials Tang Jian had chosen, they couldn't help but be astonished. Some even froze, frowning and pondering what kind of card Tang Jian intended to craft with those materials.

Vice Principal Zhou Dongbo observed for a moment, his expression surprised. "Interesting. It seems this student, Tang Jian, intends to craft three Cards?

Wind Cat Bone and Wind Crystal Fluid together—is he making a Gale Card? Green Fox Scentwood and Sword Qi Jam—is he making a Sword Qi Card? White Falling Stone with Demonic Tiger Blood—is he making a Low-Level Demonic Heart Card?

This..."

Zhou Dongbo looked at Sun Yiying with a strange expression. "These three Cards are all quite niche, and not easy to make."

"Heh heh heh, commendable courage, but it's just too unrealistic. Can he really craft these three types of Cards in an hour? Difficult..."

Jiang Zhendong shook his head. "Sometimes, even if people have some ability, they need to be humble and steady. Don't be too ambitious. What this student is doing is clearly too risky."

Sun Yiying, however, completely ignored Jiang Zhendong's lecturing tone, her gaze fixed on Tang Jian. She replied to Zhou Dongbo, "Vice Principal, these three Cards aren't as simple as just three separate Cards.

A Gale Card and a Sword Qi Card can combine to form the combination skill Gale Sword Qi.

And if Gale Sword Qi is then combined with a Low-Level Demonic Heart Card, it can form the combination skill Heart of the Gale Sword Demon! This is a Combination Card Set."

Zhou Dongbo's eyes narrowed, his expression even more astonished.

"It's true that for three Cards like Heart of the Gale Sword Demon, even if I were making them, there'd be a certain failure rate if I tried to complete them all at once." Jiang Zhendong shook his head, looking even less optimistic.