Lei Zi had finally finished the script for the second episode of The Legend of the Mecha Master, which meant Chen Mu had to spend the vast majority of each day making Card Films.
Although he had no idea just how advanced the Perception training method recorded in the Mysterious Card was, Chen Mu could clearly feel his Perception advancing by leaps and bounds these past few days.
Where had this card come from? That remained the biggest question weighing on Chen Mu's mind. This miraculous Perception training method did not even have a name. It was simply labeled: Perception Training Method.
The greatest benefit of his improved Perception was that he could make more Illusion Cards each day. His daily output had now doubled, and that was after only a month of using the new Perception training method. How could he not be overjoyed?
Encouraged by these tangible results, he devoted himself even more earnestly to his training. Even while working on the Card Films, he kept up his training every day.
Sales of the second episode of The Legend of the Mecha Master were excellent. With demand still outstripping supply, Lei Zi raised the price again. Aside from making the Card Films, Chen Mu put little thought into the business and could barely be bothered to pay attention to it. All his attention went into training his Perception.
With his improved Perception, Chen Mu could produce Card Films using One-Star Illusion Cards that met their requirements without relying on the token structure. After discussing it, the two decided to stick with traditional cardmaking structures. Although this would raise their costs, it was safer. Attracting unwanted attention would only bring trouble.
The first stage of this Perception training method required him to extend his Perception five meters beyond his body before he could pass, but Chen Mu could currently manage only three meters.
The first stage of training was not complicated, but it was an extreme test of willpower. Chen Mu privately gave this stage's training method a name: the Limit Training Method.
Each training session had practically no effect unless he pushed himself to his limit. There was not the slightest room for shortcuts in this training.
Fundamentally, Perception was a wondrous ability derived from the human mind. As a result, this training at his limits left him with piercing pain in his head after every session. His nerves were like a drumhead stretched impossibly thin. The slightest rustle around him became a deafening roar inside Chen Mu's head.
In this state, never mind doing anything else-he could not even sleep. He could only wait for it to recover naturally, a process that took exactly one hour. To Chen Mu, that hour was nothing short of hell. Apart from enduring it, he could think of no other solution.
During that hour, Chen Mu basically counted the seconds as they passed.
Strangely enough, the duration of these aftereffects was so precise that it seemed to run on a stopwatch. Chen Mu could puzzle over it a hundred times and still find no answer, but he had grown used to it. The Mysterious Card had brought him far too many things he could not explain. Take the twelve cards he had made, for instance. In theory, eleven of them were merely One-Star Illusion Cards, so why was this "Simple Water World" more than just an illusion?
Whenever he encountered a question he could not explain, Chen Mu could only make a mental note of it. He knew that his knowledge simply had not reached the necessary level yet.
He gently stretched his limbs. He still practiced the Body-Strengthening Exercise every day. Something good deserved unwavering persistence.
Just then, Lei Zi returned. Seeing Chen Mu performing his strange movements, he was long past being surprised. He plopped down on the sofa, waved what he was holding, and asked a question.
"The Low-Level Illusion Card Club. Interested, Blockhead?"
Chen Mu ignored him. Although he was much more practiced at this movement than before, it still depended entirely on maintaining his breath. Speaking would break it, making him more likely to injure himself instead.
He performed the Body-Strengthening Exercise with meticulous precision, without so much as looking directly at Lei Zi, let alone answering him. Lei Zi took no offense. If Chen Mu had spoken, he would probably have been startled instead.
After finishing the set, Chen Mu was lightly coated in sweat but felt wonderfully refreshed. He took what Lei Zi was holding and looked it over as he asked, "The Low-Level Illusion Card Club? What do they do?"
Lei Zi sat up straight and dropped his joking manner. "I've heard of this club before. I think it could be useful to you. I saw them recruiting members on the street, so I picked up an application form for you."
"How so?" Chen Mu asked curiously. Although Lei Zi usually acted like a joker, he was extremely serious and cautious about important matters. He also had far more experience of the world than Chen Mu. If he thought something was useful, then nine times out of ten, it really was.
Lei Zi explained, "The Low-Level Illusion Card Club hasn't been around very long, only about five years. But it's very well known in Card Film circles. Every member they accept is skilled at making low-level Illusion Cards, and there's no shortage of experts among them. Low-level Illusion Cards are generally used for Card Films and advertisements. As far as I know, some members of this club are fairly famous Illusion Card advertising designers and Card Film makers. They meet regularly to exchange ideas-not just their insights, but industry information too."
He glanced up at Chen Mu, saw that he was listening attentively, and continued, "Although I don't know much about cardmaking, I still think you should exchange ideas with other people more often. That would be a big help to your cardmaking skills."
"Besides," Lei Zi added, "with your skills, it would be easy to establish yourself there. You'll have to make a living in the future, and this is another way forward. Having another path open to you isn't a bad thing."
Chen Mu nodded in agreement and asked, "How do I join?"
"Just make a One-Star Illusion Card. Or you could simply send them that Flame Dragon Illusion Card of yours. But don't make anything too eye-catching. It wouldn't be good to stir up trouble," Lei Zi reminded him.
"Oh. Then I'll make a new one."
Chen Mu got straight to work. A short while later, he had finished a new One-Star Illusion Card. It could project the illusion of a goldfish, exquisitely detailed and lifelike, its swimming movements vivid and full of spirit. He had deliberately avoided using the token structure for this Illusion Card. Ever since his last conversation with Lei Zi, Chen Mu had paid particular attention to this point.
Lei Zi helped Chen Mu fill out the application form, then mailed it together with the goldfish Illusion Card.
Zuo Tingyi had been very busy lately. After such a major incident at the school, the higher-ups had imposed much stricter requirements on the Discipline Office. The murdered student had always run with Alagon. His sudden, violent death on the street had left everyone in Alagon's crowd fearing for their own safety. They had used every resource at their disposal to investigate the incident, but had made no progress whatsoever.
Moreover, the murdered student had done so many wicked things and made so many enemies that they had no idea where to begin investigating.
Fortunately, the incident had quieted down all those fellows at school who were usually so overbearing. This allowed Zuo Tingyi to turn his attention to Wang Ze and his companions.
Wang Ze and his companions had been going out frequently lately, often dragging Hong Tao along as their guide. Hong Tao was a Card Adept and knew the surrounding terrain better than Zuo Tingyi did.
Zuo Tingyi could always find out where they had gone on each outing simply by asking Hong Tao.
He grew increasingly certain that his father's conjecture was correct. They really were plotting something! On the map, even the entire ring around Dongshang Guard City was covered in red areas. These marked the places Wang Ze and his companions had visited, and they almost completely encircled Dongshang Guard City.
Wang Ze and his companions had scouted practically the whole area surrounding Dongshang Guard City.
What exactly were they trying to do? Zuo Tingyi's mind was filled with questions.
(End of chapter)