The Mysterious Card Maker: Starting with Zhang Jiao's Deification

Lin Fan put the remaining cards back into his pocket, but he wasn't in a hurry to start making cards right away.

He picked up his phone and dialed Zhao Zhong's number.

The phone rang for almost half a minute before it was finally answered.

"Mr. Lin?"

Zhao Zhong's slightly amused voice came from the other end of the phone, interspersed with a lot of noisy voices and clinking glasses.

But soon, the sounds faded away, clearly Zhao Zhong had deliberately gone to a quiet place.

"Wanqing should have already sent over those material cards, right?"

"Um."

"What's wrong? Is there a problem with the card production? If you need anything, just tell me."

Lin Fan didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "I heard that Mr. Zhao has a kind of 'talisman' that can reduce the card's transformation value?"

There was a brief moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

"That talisman is called the [Purification Talisman]. It does reduce the level of demonic possession, but it shouldn't have anything to do with card crafting, right?"

"The materials I sent over were all purification cards with their mutation values ​​reduced to zero, so there's no problem with them."

Lin Fan's eyes flickered slightly.

He had originally planned to use the excuse that "a strange backlash would occur during card production," but Zhao Zhong's words completely blocked his path.

Clearly, although Zhao Zhong was not a card maker, he was not completely ignorant about card making.

Lin Fan paused for a moment before speaking, "Mr. Zhao, we... haven't discussed compensation yet, have we?"

"What, Mr. Lin, are you starting to negotiate with me? I've already contacted your supervisor; all you need to do is make the cards for me!"

Lin Fan didn't respond, but continued, "These customized cards aren't something just anyone can make. Besides, the risks involved in making these cards are quite significant."

After a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, Zhao Zhong said calmly, "So, Mr. Lin wants the [Purifying Talisman] as payment?"

"What, Mr. Zhao, are you reluctant to part with it?" Lin Fan asked in return.

"It's not that I'm reluctant to part with it."

"But there are too many people eyeing that thing right now. If I suddenly take it down, it might cause a lot of trouble."

He paused here, then continued, "Besides, Mr. Lin, you haven't even shown your true skills yet. We can discuss payment after you've produced 'He Jin'!"

Lin Fan understood Zhao Zhong's implication: he hadn't offered anything yet and wasn't qualified to negotiate with him.

But Lin Fan also gleaned some information from her words: the deadline he and Zhao Zhong had agreed on for making the cards was after the auction.

But Zhao Zhong said, "We'll talk about the reward after the cards are made."

This also shows that he was not worried at all about not having the [Purification Talisman] after the auction ended.

This means that Zhao Zhong has more than one [Purification Talisman] in his possession, and he can even acquire more!

That old fox really did hide something!

Lin Fan held his phone but didn't directly expose him. Since Zhao Zhong wouldn't admit it, there was no need for him to take the initiative to reveal it.

"Mr. Lin, as long as you produce the 'He Jin' card, everything else is negotiable!" Zhao Zhong's words reassured Lin Fan.

"it is good"

"Then I'll look forward to Mr. Lin's cards."

Zhao Zhong smiled and hung up the phone.

Lin Fan put down his phone. He knew very well that some things couldn't be pushed too hard, like this [Cleansing Talisman].

If he were to directly point out that "you have more than one," Zhao Zhong would never admit it, and might even become wary.

At that time, let alone taking the [Purification Talisman] as payment, they probably won't even mention it again. The current situation is actually the best outcome.

Both sides knew the truth, but neither dared to reveal it.

Zhao Zhong's final statement, "Everything else is negotiable," was actually an implication.

If He Jin really manages to create it, then the "Purifying Talisman" might not be out of the question.

Thinking of this, Lin Fan let out a breath and then turned his gaze back to the table.

On one side was General He Jin.

On one side is the famous sword "Cheng Ying".

Lin Fan looked back and forth between the two piles of cards in front of him, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

If he creates "He Jin" now, and succeeds, he will most likely be able to obtain the [Purification Talisman] from Zhao Zhong.

At that time, the problem of Zhang Jiao's "deceptive value" will be solved.

However, the moment "He Jin" is actually completed, his value to the New World Foundation will instantly be greatly reduced.

After all, Zhao Zhong sent him here, even disregarding the orders of the All Souls Society, with the ultimate goal of getting He Jin.

Once you get the cards, you, as a card maker, become just like any other card maker—not that important anymore.

In fact, Zhao Zhong will most likely send him back directly, at which point he will have to face the strange creatures attracted by the mark of the Ghost King.

In contrast, his current residence is filled with defensive cards, making it an extremely safe place for Lin Fan.

At least for now, we don't have to directly confront those strange things.

Thinking of this, his gaze fell on Cheng Ying's pile of material cards again.

This was his first attempt at making weapon cards. If he failed, it could not only backfire on his mental energy, but also affect He Jin's card-making ability.

Lin Fan quickly made up his mind.

"Is there even a need to choose? It's bound to be a shadow, and my mental strength will be damaged. At worst, I can just use the last bottle of mental recovery potion."

"But if these materials are destroyed..." Lin Fan paused, "...I don't think I can afford to buy more!"

If he fails here, he can simply ask Zhao Zhong for more materials.

He had already thought of a reason: he would say that he failed when trying to make the card.

Presumably, Zhao Zhong is wealthy and powerful, so he wouldn't care about these few cards.

Thinking of this, he immediately felt much more relaxed.

"Using other people's money to make cards... I really don't feel any psychological pressure."

He then reached out and put away the materials related to "Ho Chun" again. He looked at the four cards on the side, picked them up, but felt that something was missing.

"Oh right, blank cards!" Lin Fan slammed his hand on the table. "Zhao Zhong didn't even prepare blank cards, how are we supposed to make cards?!"

As Lin Fan spoke, his hands didn't stop moving; he took out a blank card from his pocket.

Lin Fan placed the blank card in the center of the card-making table, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and adjusted himself to his best state.

In my mind, the outline of a sword slowly emerged.

Cheng Ying, whose shape and shadow are both hidden, is not known for its sharpness, but rather as an ancient sword that is almost invisible.

It hides between light and shadow, killing without a trace. Lin Fan continuously constructs and perfects its image in his mind.

The Blood Pact of the Sword is the pact, the Sword Tassel woven from blood-red hair is the ornament, the Dawnlight Corrupted Iron Sword Embryo is the form, and the Shadow-Eating Ghost Box is the scabbard; this is Cheng Ying.

What he wanted to create was not just a sword to wield, but a sword that was invisible and formless.