Elemental Card King.

Chapter 165 Contract Eight Cards, Secret Cards, Pre-Bound
"Team competitions can be seen as drills for small-scale battles."

"Each match will have a different battle environment and terrain, which is much larger than a super-standard arena. It is a small world in itself. Every member needs to cooperate and adapt flexibly. At the same time, a core commander is needed to coordinate the overall situation, and you are the one who will shoulder the heavy responsibility."

Yao Yi's energetic face was very approachable, and his words of advice were also very kind.

After his brief explanation, Su Chen also learned that the Masters rule was used in this year's team competition.

One of its features is to speed up the pace of the game. When the match reaches one and a half minutes, or three minutes, both substitutes will have the opportunity to cut in and provide reinforcements.

but.

When a substitute comes on, reinforcements are needed at the teleportation point. To ensure everything goes smoothly, both sides will fight for their respective teleportation points, which will test their strategic thinking.

"Whether to ensure our own teleportation point is correct or to first capture and destroy the other side's points, that requires on-the-spot judgment from the commander," Yao Yi said with a smile.

Under such masterful rules, it is entirely guaranteed that neither side can avoid fighting, and the battles for control of points will become extremely exciting and entertaining.

of course.

There's no rush.

The global practical competition is scheduled for mid-August, which is almost half a year from now, giving all the players plenty of time to continue developing and refining their skills.

After the awards ceremony, it was time for a group photo.

After the three winners of the grand prize, the first prize winners, the second prize winners, and the third prize winners took their photos in turn, they took a group photo together.

"Everyone look at the camera, don't be tense, show a smile," the cameraman shouted from the front.

Su Chen, as the champion, stood in the center of the first row, with Xia He to his left.

Captured by the click of the shutter, this tall, elegant young woman reveals a captivating smile, as serene and radiant as the warm winter sun.

After the end.

"Can we take a photo?"

Some individual contestants even came to take a photo with the champion alone.

"no problem."

Su Chen was easygoing and did not refuse.

Among them were both men and women. Perhaps because it was taking too long, Xia He, who was waiting quietly to the side, suddenly spoke up to remind them: "There are still secret cards to choose from later."

Her words and cool demeanor caused a girl who was about to take a photo to feel awkward under her gaze. She immediately pulled her best friend away to excuse themselves.

"I have to go now, I need to do a short interview first."

At this moment, He Yun, who had come from outside the stage, signaled to Su Chen and the other person to leave.

The first floor of the venue has a media area.

As the champion of this national competition, Su Chen was interviewed for five minutes and answered more than ten questions from two reporters.

Q: What are your dreams for the future?

A: 'Go as far as possible, and reach the level of a god-tier card master.'

Q: As the captain of the team heading to the World Championship, what are your expectations for their performance at the World Championship?

A: 'Naturally, it's number one.'

Q: How do you maintain your competitive edge? Do you have any training secrets?

A: 'Watch more and practice more.'

All the answers were very formulaic, mostly just going through the motions.

However, when a reporter asked, "With such generous rewards for this national competition, what would you like to say?", the question was abruptly cut off by a member of the association who was listening in.

He shook his head, and the reporter tactfully skipped over the question.

Not long after, Su Chen's short interview officially ended.

In his view, the National High School Card Game Competition is naturally related to and similar to the Olympic Games in his previous life. Its impact on the outside world is not as great as imagined. To be honest, even high school seniors of the same age are not very clear about who the champion of this year is.

However, upon closer examination, there are significant differences.

Mathematics, physics, and chemistry were not everything to people in the past, so it's normal that they didn't pay attention to them.

Cards, however, are everything in this world, permeating a person's entire life.

This is why the impact is relatively small and the message cannot be widely disseminated.

Firstly, it's due to the overall reduction of burdens in the environment; secondly, the Card Masters Association intentionally downplayed its influence.

Because the event involved minors fighting and killing each other, it was held behind closed doors to avoid external criticism.

In a sense, this is also a great tragedy.

The progress of civilization and the prosperity of society have, however, forced card players to become less and less courageous with each generation.

"Let's go and choose a secret card."

Teacher He Yun led Su Chen to the next event.

"By the way, I just received some good news."

At this moment, Teacher He smiled broadly and said, "If you want, you can even bind the secret card to the contract in advance, so you don't have to carry it around in your pocket and run around, and wait for who knows how long before you can bind it to the contract."

"There's another benefit?" Su Chen was also surprised.

“Remember Pei Xingwei? He was able to bind the contract ahead of time and achieve the effect of ten contract cards by relying on some mysterious resources,” He Yun said.

That's something I really remember.

In theory, apart from the meditator Mo Chenyi, who cultivates at an extremely fast pace, it is impossible for anyone to occupy all the contract slots at this stage. This must be due to the use of some kind of resources or means.

In the backstage logistics service area, Senior Researcher Duan Lianqing was already waiting for a while.

"The event organizers are willing to give you a resource called 'Tears of the Divine Phoenix' to help you bind the secret card in advance, but it depends on your wishes."

With her further explanation, Su Chen also understood that binding in advance did not mean that he could contract a four-star secret card with a minimum requirement of 650 energy when his mental energy was 570.

That's impossible.

This will narrow down the range of choices.

After pondering for a while, Su Chen nodded directly after careful consideration: "I'll take it, the Elemental Dragon Spirit Card."

"Great!" Duan Lianqing's face lit up with joy; this was also a secret card she highly recommended.

If it's possible to bind and enjoy the benefits in advance, then the sooner the better.

After some communication, a celadon jade bottle was presented to them, in which a highly condensed drop of divine phoenix tear floated under the light.

Don't underestimate this teardrop just because it has some minor flaws and can only be bound to intermediate card masters in advance. Even this tiny drop is a carefully selected item from internal channels. It was previously priced at 195 points internally and was not sold to the public.

"It was Chairman Yao who suggested giving it to you, so you wouldn't have to carry a secret card around. It would be such a hassle if you lost it," an organizer said with a laugh.

It is often said that the benefits and treatment of the national team are beyond imagination. Even before the official training camp, Su Chen has already received a considerable amount of preferential treatment.

Teacher He Yun tried her best to keep a calm expression, but to be honest, she was naturally surprised.

"That's incredibly extravagant."

After all, let alone the small city of Donghua, even the Qingyun Provincial Association, with its average economy, has very limited resources to allocate.

"The national team is really awesome."

Boo!
The sound of a bottle being opened rang out.

Su Chen held the celadon jade bottle and poured the drop of Divine Phoenix Tear into his palm.

"You can absorb it through meditation," Duan Lianqing advised.

This is indeed very simple.

After entering a state of mental introspection, Su Chen used a meditation technique to absorb all the spiritual power contained in the Divine Phoenix Tear in his palm.

I'm getting into the swing of things.

In the depths of his being, he immediately sensed an empty contract slot appearing in his mind.

"I've got it." Su Chen was overjoyed.

Phoenix, as expected of the master of the mind, can even bind the contract card in advance.

"We can begin." After finishing his internal inspection, Su Chen noticed a beautifully crafted card box on the table in front of him.

"The unpacking ceremony must be attended in person," Duan Lianqing said.

In a way, it can also be considered a kind of card culture.

After carefully tearing off the outer plastic seal, Su Chen opened the magic seal on the card box, revealing a gorgeous and exquisite Dragon Spirit Card.

On the card, a lifelike water dragon leaps into view, as if rising from the deep sea. Its body has both pure water element and a pale blue, translucent ethereal glow, without any hint of flesh and blood.

The card outline is inlaid with a red outline, which undoubtedly symbolizes the red quality level.

"The Elemental Dragon Spirit Card is practically tailor-made for you."

Duan Lianqing gently pushed up her delicate red-rimmed glasses and sighed, "The possession of a spirit will grant you terrifying and considerable elemental control and dragon power enhancement, both of which will further amplify your existing advantages." "Furthermore..."

"Besides you, Xiaoling can also use this to fuse and transform into the elemental magic type 'Dragon Mage' and the physical strength type 'Dragon Warrior'."

"in addition."

"Although this dragon spirit has no intelligence, the violent aura it possessed in its previous life still exists in its spirit body. Its compatibility with humans is extremely low, and generally speaking, it is very difficult for humans to control it comfortably."

"But you are different. You have received the Dragon's Legacy, and the Dragon's Blessing Secret Technique is enough to allow you to control the Dragon Spirit without any problem."

No matter how you look at it, it's a perfect match and fits the positioning perfectly.

At this moment, Su Chen picked up the Dragon Spirit Card, tore off the inner protective film, and the brand-new card surface shone with a lively luster under the light.

"here we go."

At his prompting, the people around him spontaneously quieted down.

The contract process had a few minor hiccups.

Su Chen, who was completely at ease with everything, actually felt a trace of resistance, and a violent dragon roar even echoed in his mind.

Before this struggle could grow any further, it began to flee this mental space at will. The dazzling star ring hanging high above the sea of ​​consciousness also stirred up a dragon's might wave. The manifestation of the Dragon Blessing Secret Technique's consciousness ultimately resolved this little episode.

"It's done."

When a soul imprint was completely solidified on the Dragon Spirit Card, Su Chen knew that he had succeeded.

With a thought, the newly acquired Contract Card 8 appeared in the sky above his sea of ​​consciousness.

"Check the card information."

next moment.

[Name]: Water Dragon Spirit

[Quality]: Red

[Level]: ★★★★
[Attributes]: Dragon, Undead, Water
[Category]: Summoning Cards

[Race]: Elemental Dragon (Ghost Dragon)

【talent】:
Spirit possession: Allows a specific target to be possessed by a spirit, making it a host that controls the dragon spirit.

Ghost Form: Ghost life forms are immune to physical damage and can freely switch between physical and ghost forms after being attached to another entity.

Water Dragon Soul: Possesses the immense dragon power and water manipulation ability of an elemental dragon. In its spirit form, the host will gain unparalleled power and the ability to control water, as well as unique advantages in ghost form.

Dragon's Might: Unleashes the dragon's unique spiritual power, slowing down the movements of surrounding enemies, reducing their attack and defense, and to some extent causing a stun effect and some environmental damage.

【Skill】:
Dragon Breath: Unleashes a water elemental shockwave imbued with the power of a dragon, dealing massive damage to enemies in a fan-shaped area in front, while also inflicting a wet effect that slows enemies.

Ghost Claw: In ghost form, the dragon claw transforms into invisible ghost energy, penetrating part of the enemy's defenses and directly damaging the target's soul.

Dragon Shadow Stealth: Instantly enters ghost form and gains a speed boost, ignoring all terrain obstacles and restrictions during the duration.

Tidal Fury: Uses the fluctuations of water element to create continuous shockwaves, dealing multiple hits to enemies in a straight line.

Water Dragon's Fury: Unleash the full power of the ocean overlord, transforming the surrounding environment into aquatic terrain. As the terrain changes, whirlpools and waterspouts will be generated within it.

[Bond]: Not yet activated.

[Synopsis]: The essence of the ocean dragon, transformed through a mysterious ritual, wanders the boundary between matter and immateriality, becoming an existence that transcends the laws of life and death.

"Wow, that's impressive!" Su Chen exclaimed.

This panel is undeniably strong.

The ghost form is somewhat similar to the elemental form.
'Dragon's Might' can destroy some field effects; while the skill 'Water Dragon's Fury' can even create its own advantageous field.

The scene involves destruction and creation, demonstrating a high degree of coordination and collaboration.

The 'Ghost Claw' has armor penetration and can damage the souls of others.

'Dragon Shadow Stealth' is also good, as it effectively adds an extra acceleration card.

Besides that.

If we're talking about things that aren't immediately apparent, then it's the enormous boost that comes with spirit possession: the immense and vigorous dragon power, and the high level of water elemental power that will be bestowed upon the host.

As expected of a secret card, its effects are truly extraordinary.

"How is it? Very good, isn't it?"

As soon as Su Chen finished his internal examination, everyone turned to look at him expectantly.

“That’s definitely possible.” Su Chen nodded.

"The lineage of elemental dragons shows no signs of dying out and continues to multiply in outer planes, so they are not particularly rare overall."

Duan Lianqing spoke slowly, her words as gentle as a drizzle: "The reason why a secret card is created is due to the harshness of the transformation ritual and the opportunity. Shedding flesh and bones greatly reduces strength. A ghost dragon of ordinary strength does not have such a high bonus and panel data."

As she recounted her story in detail, even the officials standing nearby were slightly surprised.

His gaze lingered on the researcher for a moment. Because a female member of the Qingyun Provincial Team had obtained a large number of Dragon's Blessings from the Ancient Dragon Nest, and her travel route was extremely suspicious, the organizers suspected that there might have been an internal leak.

So she was the expert all along?
"You know a lot about dragons?" he asked.

"Just a little bit." Duan Lianqing smiled gently.

The other party didn't continue the discussion. He looked at Su Chen and said, "There's no time for you to test the new card now. We need to have the photographer take some official photos of you for the World Championship later. After that, we'll have a preliminary discussion about the custom-driven weapon you want."

"Understood." Su Chen wasn't in such a hurry.

soon.

They moved on to another location.

Inside the photography studio, Su Chen also met his future teammates for the World Championship.

Xia He, Tang Nianwei, Pei Xingwei, Qi Hanhai, Cao Zheng, and Qi Jinglong.

“Two from Qingyun, two from Jiangnan, two from Beiluo, and a lone survivor from Tianfu Province.” Everyone’s eyes met as they sized each other up.

"Judge Gao Junzhen wasn't selected?"

Qi Hanhai was slightly surprised. Among the top eight, the only one who was eliminated was the King of the Civil War.

No one knows what the evaluation criteria are. Perhaps it's because the other party's reputation and impression are too bad that they couldn't even get a substitute position.

"You have connections?" Cao Zheng, the clone, looked at Qi Jinglong with a wicked smile.

The tall, slender, and refined man with glasses was not annoyed. He calmly said, "The organizers must have been interested in my ability to disrupt and clear the field. If the team needs it, I can do even more."

This wasn't just boasting; as a fantasy fusion user, he could create powerful mythical beasts to wreak havoc on the field and clear out mobs with incredible efficiency.

As a substitute player, he can be a very powerful game-changer.

of course.

The speculation about connections is not entirely unfounded.

The surname Qi is considered the most common surname in the Xuanhuang Kingdom.

Among them, the Qi family of Tianfu and the Qi family of Jiangnan are the most famous.

The history of the 'Tianfu Qi' family can be traced back even further, with their revised family tree even reaching the prehistoric era.

Their clan existed during the barbaric era of foreign enslavement, they existed during the imperial era, and they still exist now in the era of the Glorious Great Alliance.

According to social commentators' sarcasm about this clan, even if the alliance collapses and they are enslaved by another prime plane one day, this great clan will still continue to exist.

Cao Zheng did not dwell on this point.

His gaze fell on Su Chen, his expression somewhat complicated, and he said, "Right after the national competition, your strength saw a surge."

"This pressure has certainly been put on us," Qi Hanhai sighed inexplicably.

The prize money for the champion is incredibly generous.

The Cross Star Card Back, a Secret Card, truly adds a combat advantage to the opponent.

While they were waiting here, they heard that the other party wanted to bind the secret card they had acquired to a contract in advance. As a result, Su Chen became even stronger not long after he left the stage.

Although the eight slots of the contract were used up ahead of schedule, it still left people feeling disappointed.

"Don't mind it, it's like using up some of my strength in advance," Su Chen said modestly.

How could they not mind? Many people thought to themselves.

Makes no sense.

It's too outrageous.

Especially Pei Xingwei, who personally redeemed the Divine Tear with points. He never expected that the other party would receive such kindness so soon after joining the national team.

In a sense, it can also be attributed to the psychological gap between oneself and others.

In the provincial team, the entire coaching team revolved around them. Now, Su Chen has become the team's leader, and future training resources will inevitably be allocated to him.

(End of this chapter)