The candlelight flickered.
A lone lamp glowed like a bean.
Tang Jian walked over to the desk and chair where a candle had been placed, and saw that an extremely simple set of card-making equipment had already been laid out on the desk.
An ordinary-looking Sketching Pen, a Drawing Board, a Heating Furnace, a bottle of Energy Ink, and a bottle of Rare Energy Water.
Other than that, there were not even any card-making materials.
But soon, a line of writing silently appeared on the white Drawing Board.
"You must create at least one white-grade one-star card before the candle burns out. The category is unrestricted. For any materials required, simply envision them in your mind, and they will appear before you in unlimited quantities.
Note: your score in this assessment will be evaluated based on multiple factors, including the energy efficiency, function, rarity, whether the cards form a set, and completion time of the cards you ultimately create.
If you fail to create even one card before the candle burns out, the assessment will be deemed a failure."
After the line of writing appeared, it gradually began to fade with the passage of time.
Tang Jian swiftly scanned the rules, then glanced at the candle on the desk.
It was only as thick as a thumb and roughly half an inch long. As the flame burned, wax continuously dripped from it. By his estimate, it would burn out in about an hour.
One hour to make a white-grade one-star card.
This standard was not particularly harsh. In fact, anyone at the school with even slightly decent card-making skills could complete it.
For example, Yang Mao. Tang Jian knew that if the guy had chosen card making, then given his progress over the past dozen days, he would definitely be able to make at least one One-Star Blank Card within an hour.
However, making at least one One-Star Blank Card in this assessment was merely the minimum requirement.
There would certainly be experts who made two, perhaps even three cards, or who made exceptionally difficult cards among the One-Star Blank Cards. All of that would ultimately become key factors in determining victory or defeat.
Tang Jian checked his 9 points of Spiritual Power.
After a brief calculation, he seized the time and sat down before the desk. He calmed his emotions and card energy, attempting to approach the professional state of mind of a Card Maker—the mindset of "Unperturbed Mindset."
Unperturbed Mindset was merely the most basic state of mind for a Card Maker, but it was also a key factor distinguishing Card Makers from non-Card Makers: one's mental state.
Although Sun Yiying was already a five-star Card Apprentice, as long as she failed to comprehend the mindset of Unperturbed Mindset, she would never truly cross the threshold into becoming a Card Maker.
To attain Unperturbed Mindset required two conditions: first, a Spiritual Power value exceeding 50 points; second, comprehension of the spiritual conception of Unperturbed Mindset.
The former could be achieved through cultivation or by taking various medicines that strengthened mental power, but the latter required personal effort and comprehension. It depended on talent.
As a Three-Star Card Crafter in his previous life, Tang Jian had naturally attained even the first level of Unperturbed Mindset.
However, his current mental power was still too weak. He simply could not maintain that state of mind.
But at this moment, he only needed to calm himself, reaching a state like a great scholar bathing and burning incense before writing—a peaceful, focused state that made his thoughts clearer and sharper, and his linework and sensory control smoother and more natural when making cards.
During this hour, Tang Jian intended to fully display his abilities within reasonable limits. He would completely squeeze out the potential of his 9 points of Spiritual Power and make a Card Set.
"Two standard cards made from Wind Cat Bone powder, 30 milliliters of Wind Crystal Fluid."
"Two standard cards made from Green Fox Scentwood, 10 grams of Sword Qi Jam."
"Two standard cards made from White Falling Stone, 30 milliliters of Demonic Tiger Blood."
Tang Jian envisioned the card-making materials one by one, then directly stated them aloud.
Immediately, batches of the materials Tang Jian had requested began appearing out of thin air on the desk.
At this moment, not only was Tang Jian beginning to enter a card-making state, but the other students who had selected the card-making test had also begun envisioning their materials, racing against every second.
Inside the science museum conference room, dozens of teachers, including school leaders, were all staring intently at the students on the screens, observing their performances.
Compared to the majority of students who had chosen the survival test, the small number who chose the card-making test were more likely to attract the attention of teachers and school leaders.
After all, the survival test merely required students to endure for a period of time in a terrifyingly silent environment with ever-increasing gravity. Although special trials might be arranged during that time, it was relatively dull.
The card-making test, on the other hand, was far more exciting and best at uncovering talent.
"Mm, the materials Wu Chun selected are three standard cards with antelope horn texture, three standard cards with wild bull horn texture, and two standard cards with Mina tree bark texture.
It looks like he intends to make three One-Star Blank Cards. Two are probably One-Star Blank Pet Cards for antelope and wild bull, and there is no need to say what the other one is."
Jiang Zhendong looked at the cards Wu Chun had selected and felt rather satisfied.
If Wu Chun could complete those three cards within an hour, he would very likely stand out from the crowd and take first place.
After all, they were only high school students, and their card-making abilities were truly limited.
Someone like Wu Chun, boldly choosing to make two or even three cards in one hour, was already outstanding.
Looking at the other students, most had basically chosen to start with One-Star Blank Energy Cards. They would first make a One-Star Blank Energy Card, then pursue other cards.
"Mm? Teacher Sun, this student from your class is quite interesting. Judging from the materials he selected, he seems to be planning to directly make a One-Star Blank support card—a Healing Card."
One teacher noticed Yang Mao and was somewhat surprised.
Many people immediately turned to look at Yang Mao. Seeing that he had already begun grinding his ink, with a calm expression and steady mind, they all nodded slightly.
However, Sun Yiying was frowning as she watched Tang Jian grinding ink in another feed.
Some teachers also immediately began paying attention to Tang Jian.
When they saw the materials Tang Jian had selected, they could not help but be stunned. Some even froze, frowning as they considered what kind of cards Tang Jian intended to make with those materials.
After observing for a while, Vice Principal Zhou Dongbo said with surprise, "Interesting. This student named Tang Jian seems to be planning to make three cards?
The combination of Wind Cat Bone and Wind Crystal Fluid means he is making a Gale Card. Green Fox Scentwood and Sword Qi Jam means he is making a Sword Qi Card. White Falling Stone with Demonic Tiger Blood means he is making a Low-Level Demonic Heart Card?
This..."
Zhou Dongbo's expression turned strange as he looked at Sun Yiying. "Those three cards are all unpopular, and none of them are easy to make."
"Heh, his courage is commendable, but this is far too unrealistic. Can he really make all three kinds of cards in an hour? Difficult."
Jiang Zhendong shook his head. "Sometimes, even if someone has some ability, they still need to be humble and prudent. They should not aim too high. This student's approach is clearly too risky."
Sun Yiying did not pay any attention to Jiang Zhendong's lecturing words. Her gaze remained fixed on Tang Jian as she replied to Zhou Dongbo, "Vice Principal, these are not simply three separate cards.
When the Gale Card and Sword Qi Card are combined, they form the combination skill Gale Sword Qi.
When Gale Sword Qi is combined with the Low-Level Demonic Heart Card, it forms the combination skill Heart of the Gale Sword Demon! This is a Combination Card Set."
Zhou Dongbo's pupils contracted, and his expression became even more astonished.
"They really are the three cards of Heart of the Gale Sword Demon. Even if I were making them, there would be a certain chance of failure if I tried to complete them all at once." Jiang Zhendong shook his head, looking even less optimistic.
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