The Card Apprentice
/ The Card Apprentice Chapter 2
Chen Mu felt something in his heart; his flexible fingers immediately took out a one-star energy card and put it in front of him to get a closer look.
From the structure on the surface of the card, this one-star energy card not surprisingly used the standard Bacchus structure. However, Chen Mu could still perceive a trace of something strange in this card.
Weight —— this card is slightly heavier than the average one-star energy card. Having created several tens of thousands of one-star energy cards, the feeling of the weight of a one-star energy card has become very familiar. No matter what kind of structure it uses, as long as it is a one-star energy card, the weight will not go beyond a specific range.
Clearly, the weight of this card is not in this range.
Closing his eyes, using the thumb and forefinger to gently rub the card’s surface, Chen Mu carefully felt the faint protruding lines of the structure.
The structure is too simple, impractical and weak, this sort of feeling…… this feels like…… Chen Mu frowns, recalling where have he encountered this feeling before.
Then it came to mind…… Chen Mu eyes shines —— this feels like painting a thin layer on top of another.
What if it’s wrong, Chen Mu can’t help but feel doubt in his heart. Rechecking the feel, this one-star energy card is made of extremely good quality material. It felt thick and heavy, which as a general rule, the pattern on the construct should be more powerful.
Why have I got this kind of feeling? Really strange!
Once again carefully checking the energy card in his hand, Chen Mu couldn’t, in the end, discover what the cause of this peculiar phenomenon is. The construct’s lines did not have any error, also from the exquisite and smooth brush strokes this is a creation of a master. Even though he has been making one-star energy card for three years, with his craftsmanship ability there is no way to draw such graceful lines.
This also leaves Chen Mu puzzled. Master-rank one-star energy card, this statement in itself is rather absurd. Which Card
Thinking again, he took this rather strange card and one he discovered before, the one with the new structure that goes well with the one-star energy card.
Finally finishing his job, Chen Mu exhaled a long sigh of relief.
Continuously concentrating on the job leaves him somewhat exhausted.
“I will take these two cards.” Chen Mu raised his hand and showed Xiao Hei the pair of one-star energy card.
“No problem, no problem.” Xiao Hei laughingly says. Today’s profit is not small, Chen Mu helped him find 5 not yet empty energy cards, his mouth already forms a crooked smile.
In Xiao Hei’s heart, he thinks that this Chen Mu is rather eccentric. Looking at his clothing, one can determine that this is a child from poor families. Looking like a child from a poor household, where every point of energy was saved and economized, there is no way they will let any of it slip by. These still working energy cards in their eyes are a lot of money! Chen Mu, strangely enough, facing these still usable energy cards did not set his heart on it, on the contrary, he is interested in those high-ranked energy card and empty energy card.
Of course, these were only a though in his heart, he still is hopeful. If Chen Mu is a normal person, then these 5 energy cards, which mean a lot of money, may not drop into his hand!
While Xiao Hei was praising himself about his foresight in his heart, Chen Mu laughs and walk away.
Returning home, it is already ten in the evening. After having dinner, unable to hold himself back, Chen Mu took out the two one-star energy card he obtained today to study.
He put the first one-star energy card in front of him and shine lights on it.
This is a type of structure he never encountered before. Heavy and complicated construct composed of light blue lines filled the entire surface of the card. This card is as big as a playing card, made of silk-like flexible material with a smooth surface, yet if carefully examined, the raised lines can be felt.
Even if it is an educated person, seeing such complicated pattern, it’s very likely that they’ll feel dizzy, do not know left from right.
Chen Mo’s eyes shine brightly. The past three years, he faces similar pattern every day, though the structure slightly differs, the level of complexity is roughly about the same. Those 12 types of structure he learned allowed him to collect quite a bit of experience.
To determine the type of construct on a card, one must find the starting point of the first brush stroke, the point where the brush first touched the card. Then, follow the lines down to where the lines deepen, and then it will be relatively easier to understand.
Although one-star energy card is complex, nevertheless, from all the cards, it is the simplest one. Even so, three hours later, Chen Mu finally grasped the meaning and purpose behind every brush stroke. However, to produce a copy of this one-star energy card he’ll need a large amount of practice. Still, he doesn’t have that intention, since a large amount of practice means a large amount of consumption. Although he has quite a savings, it is still not enough for him to squander.
Most importantly, he had already calculated that the cost of making the new structure to what he is already making is still a bit higher. To spend a large amount of money to practice a new type of structure that did not have any significance for him is not his way of doing things. However, this one-star energy card still can be used as reference. The Circle Form Compression on this card might be worth assimilating into his own one-star energy card structure.
Chen Mu pondered, his fingers unconsciously glided towards the other one-star energy card. His gaze fell into the second one-star energy card he obtained.
The technique used to paint this piece of card is not unusual. It used the standard, most widespread and used drawing technique present. However, what caught Chen Mu’s attention are the strokes of the lines on the card.
Gracefully flowing lines, extremely skillful writing style, each curve is round and full, really shows the writing skill on the level of master.
It looks like this card is quite obsolete and has seen some years, most likely one of the Master’s early works. The first things that caught his attention, though, are not these two points, but its weight and thickness.
This old one-star energy card compared to the common energy card is a tenth heavier. The weight of a one-star energy card in itself is extremely light, even an increase of a tenth is very difficult to perceive. Nevertheless, Chen Mu has manufactured a large amount of one-star energy card, and as a result, the first time he picked up that old one-star energy card, he can sense the difference in weight. The same applies true for the thickness, this old one-star energy card is a little thicker than the common ones.
Those are the biggest reason why this card caught Chen Mu’s attention. One-star energy card is the oldest card to be created, it is also the most widely used, and early in its inception it was used to draft a standard. Up until now, the so-called standard structure and material originates from this source and not much was changed.
This one-star energy card made by that Master, why is there such differences?
Could it be……
Naturally Chen Mu associates the difference with the material aspect. Is this unknown Master found a new material combination to make a one-star energy card? For the sake of his livelihood, Chen Mu continuously dedicated himself to cut down the cost of making one-star energy card, and so this card aroused a strong interest from him.
Taking the energy card out from the meter, the room immediately went dark.
Hesitating a little, Chen Mu gritted his teeth and inserted the strange energy card into the energy meter.
Wa, no light! The room is still dark, not even a trace of light.
Chen Mu was dumbfounded, how is it possible there’s no light?
Impossible! This is the first thought that came into Chen Mu’s mind. There is no trace of being used on this card, and Chen Mu can determine if an energy card is empty or not with just a glance. He can guarantee that, although this energy card is an obsolete model, it has never been used.
The structure on the card’s surface is flawless, there is no error. Compared to the card Chen Mu made, it is much more outstanding. There is absolutely no damage at all to the card’s energy channel.
But now, the fact is it really is incapable of providing even a tiny bit of energy.
Inserting the previous card back into the meter, the room grew bright again. Since the meter is not broken, it is not because of external causes.
If that is the case, then where is the problem?
Under the light, Chen Mu carefully checked the details of the energy card.
Caressing the card in his hand, a guess rises from his mind. Is this card a defective card?
A master making a defective one-star energy card? This thing is highly unlikely, Chen Mu mutters to himself.
Carefully removing the factors, the structure is drawn properly, there is no trace of usage, no indication of energy loss/leakage, but it can’t provide energy.
Material? A flash of light lit Chen Mu’s mind. He thought that this card felt a little thick, and was convinced that the feeling and the material is related.
Chen Mu put the card thin side down and upon closer scrutiny, discovered a peculiar point. This card is less than 1 mm thick, but there are three extremely thin lines of two different colors. This card originally are composed of three different materials bonded together, and because the colors are extremely similar, without examining it very closely, it would be very hard to notice.
Failed experimental product? It seems that is the biggest possibility. A long time ago, a master tried to improve the one-star energy card, but ultimately failed and this failed product unknowingly circulated down and ended up in Chen Mu’s hand by chance.
It seems that this is the most likely explanation.
He was a little disappointed. If it is like this, then this defective card does not hold any value.
Subconsciously stroking the edge of the card, suddenly, his finger felt something unusual.
Chen Mu hurriedly brought the card closer to his eyes. It is unknown how old is this card, but the edge has already begun to peel off. He who has begun to lose interest suddenly felt curious. If the result and his speculation coincides, then long ago that master must have decided that combining these three materials can improve the one-star energy card. Chen Mu possessed the ability to understand those things, though his level when compared to the common beginner student is lower since he have never been taught any formal card-making lessons.
Still, he has something he is confident in, the one-star energy card! From the beginning, he continually studied about one-star energy card, to the point where he couldn’t be more familiar with it. Since then, he has begun to fine-tune the one-star energy card, but hadn’t had any breakthrough at all. Today this card has given him another inspiration. Since the structure aspect could be changed to a better one, why not try changing the material?
Since having this thought, he has paid more attention to the material of this test card. Although this experimental card is a defective product, it still is a product of a great master’s craftsmanship, in which the knowledge and skill couldn’t be compared to himself. It is because of this divide that attracted his attention. He is going to research these three bonded layers of material carefully.
Gingerly revealing the slightly peeled outer layer, he can’t help but sight with emotion. Regardless of how sturdy the material is, after years of erosion, it is difficult to preserve its former splendor.
When Chen Mu completely revealed the layer behind the outer layer, he was completely struck dumb, staring rigidly at the card, feeling like he has just been struck by lightning.
On a surface as black as night, hundreds to thousands of silver lines as fine as hair, covered the surface of the card like cobwebs. Though it seems chaotic and disorderly, on some small, random sections, can be seen some graceful arcs and curves, and rigorous structure, giving the impression of some incredibly complex inlay.
Although the silver lines are as thick as hair, a great effort is needed to distinguish it with the naked eyes. It appears to be similar to the capillaries in the human body, producing an illusion of silver liquid flowing slowly through the vein.
What is this? What kind of card is this?
Chen Mu unconsciously mutters to himself, his brain went into a semi-standstill.
No less than 10 minutes has passed, when he finally recovered from that chaotic state. Energetically rubbing his eyes, he makes sure that he is not seeing things.
The situation deviates completely from his prediction. What failed experimental product, this is obviously a disguised card. Whit his limited knowledge, naturally he couldn’t recognize what card is this at all. In fact, this card’s level of complexity surpassed Chen Mu’s knowledge by far. The fine lines, the superb craftsmanship, all of it are something he never saw, even to the extent that it never crosses his mind.
In the stores, he has never seen any of the high-grade cards, though there is some that ended in the discarded product section, he never saw any card that is this complicated and fine.
In the end, what is this card? Chen Mu’s curiosity has risen to an unprecedented height.
Chapter end
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