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

Lin Fan looked at the card in his hand. The words had already appeared on the blank card, and the portrait of Guan Yu in the center of the card was also lifelike, with phoenix eyes and a long beard hanging down to his chest. Everything was clear.

But what about the temporary phantom image after the card is successfully made?

"Buzz~"

A low, deep wave of energy emanated from the card. Lin Fan's hand, which was holding the card, was jolted by the sudden wave, and the card slipped from his grasp.

A figure emerged from the card, holding the Green Dragon Crescent Blade in his right hand. His phoenix eyes were half-open, yet they exuded a majesty that made people afraid to look directly at him.

He glanced at Lin Fan and said, "So, you're the one who awakened me?"

Lin Fan opened his mouth, his throat tightened, and he managed to squeeze out only one word: "Yes!"

Guan Yu didn't reply. He looked towards the window as if sensing something, then suddenly opened his half-closed eyes. A white figure slowly appeared by the window.

"Evil spirit." He said calmly, raising the Green Dragon Crescent Blade from the ground. A beam of green light burst from the tip of the blade, shooting straight towards the white figure.

Before Lin Fan could see what it was, the white shadow turned into a wisp of green smoke and disappeared into the air.

Lin Fan's pupils constricted upon seeing this. He was instantly killed? In a bizarre turn of events, without even a struggle, he was instantly killed by a single blade of light from Guan Yu's phantom?

Guan Yu sheathed his longsword, his phoenix eyes half-closed again, and then his phantom light flashed, transforming into a stream of light and returning to the card.

Card Name: [Martial Saint Guan Yu]

Type: Summoning Card

Quality: Purple Domain 1 Star

Characteristic: Illumination of the Subtle (Sees the world with divine eyes; any concealment techniques used in his presence automatically become ineffective and their true nature is seen through).

Skill: [Azure Dragon Crescent Blade - Slashing the Void] The Azure Dragon Crescent Blade cuts through both the real and the illusory, and the target struck cannot hide for a short time.

[The Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals - Severing Thoughts] The words in the book transform into golden chains that fly out, temporarily severing the connection between humans and the supernatural.

【Guardian of the Beard】 Guan Yu gently strokes his long beard, and the units enveloped by it can share Guan Yu's "Illumination of the Subtle" vision, seeing through all disguises and spirits.

Overview: His soul, though undisturbed, transformed into a Martial Saint, enjoying eternal offerings; with a single strike, none could withstand his might.

Lin Fan looked at the [Martial Saint Guan Yu] in his hand, his fingers trembling slightly. With the help of the mental recovery fluid, he created the Purple Domain Card once again.

"If I have enough money to buy the Spirit Recovery Fluid, can I make an unlimited number of Purple Domain Cards? And then make money from the card-making profits?"

Lin Fan pondered this thought for a while, then slowly shook his head.

"Mental recovery fluid?" Lin Fan thought for a moment. "Is there any limitation to this stuff?"

He picked up his phone, opened the official forum of the Card Masters Association, entered a few keywords in the search bar, and soon found what he wanted.

Instructions for Use and Risk Disclosure Regarding Mental Health Recovery Solution

Mental Recovery Fluid, officially known as "Temporary Mental Strength Stimulation and Recovery Agent," works by stimulating the mental sea with drugs, causing it to produce an excessive amount of mental strength in a short period of time.

This type of stimulation is considered an overdraft, depleting the self-recovery potential of the mental sea. After a single use, the mental sea needs at least 24 hours to recover.

If used again during the recovery period, the overdraft effect will accumulate, causing irreversible damage to the mental state.

Lin Fan frowned and continued reading:

According to Document No. 774 of the Card Dealers Association, mental recovery solution is a controlled drug, with a limit of 5 bottles per year and 1 bottle per purchase. Furthermore, it can only be purchased again after 2 months.

(Note: Do not take more than 5 bottles per year, otherwise it may be life-threatening.)

Lin Fan continued scrolling down, and the latter half of the post contained several pictures, which were scans of the mental sea of ​​a card master who abused mental recovery fluid.

A normal mental state should be clear and bright, but the mental state in the picture is shrunken and dim.

The image is accompanied by the text: "Due to long-term abuse of mental recovery fluid, the card maker's mental sea has shrunk by more than 60%, and he has completely lost his ability to make cards."

Lin Fan placed his phone face down on the table and looked up at the ceiling.

Five bottles! Lin Fan did a quick mental calculation. He had drunk two bottles when he was making Zhang Fei, one bottle was forced to drink by Qin Muyao in the secret realm, and another bottle when he was making Guan Yu.

"Only one bottle left on my quota," Lin Fan muttered to himself, as if reminding himself.

The next morning, Lin Fan knocked on the door next door.

When Qin Muyao opened the door, her eyes were swollen, her face was pale, and even her hair was very messy, indicating that she hadn't slept all night.

When she saw Lin Fan, she seemed to be stunned for a moment, and then subconsciously turned her head away, not wanting Lin Fan to see her haggard appearance.

"So early?" she said in a hoarse voice.

Lin Fan sat in his wheelchair and did not enter the room. He reached into his pocket and took out the "Martial Saint Guan Yu" statue he had made the night before.

Qin Muyao looked at the card in Lin Fan's hand, which was glowing with purple light, and a look of surprise appeared on her face: "What is this?"

"Consider this Zhang Fei's after-sales service!" Lin Fan forced a smile, speaking in a deliberately relaxed tone, "Purple Domain One Star, Martial Saint Guan Yu. More stable than Zhang Fei, won't lose control."

Qin Muyao didn't take the card. She turned to look at Lin Fan, and like Lin Fan, she forced a smile, which looked very fake.

"What's wrong? Didn't you say you were going to repair Zhang Fei?" Qin Muyao asked, looking at him.

"You can't live without Kaling's protection, can you? What if..." Lin Fan paused, "...what if you don't live to see Zhang Fei's restoration? Then Guan Yu will have to protect you!"

"You can't wait... Is it because of that Demon King's mark on me, and you're worried I won't live to see that day? Is this an attempt to sever ties with me?!"

After saying this, Qin Muyao leaned against the door frame and remained silent for a long time.

Lin Fan sat in his wheelchair, still holding the Guan Yu card in his hand, and did not answer.

"Say something!" Qin Muyao finally spoke, her voice so hoarse it was almost inaudible. "Is it because of that mark? Do you think I'll drag you down with me?"

Lin Fan opened his mouth, but his throat felt like it was blocked by something.

He wanted to say: No, the mark isn't on you, it's on me. Zhou Chen's bride died because of me, and all the strange things you encountered were because of me. You did nothing wrong; you were just unlucky to run into me.

But he couldn't bring himself to say it.

If he tells Qin Muyao the truth, and she stays because of it, she might be the one who dies the next time the strange event occurs.

Lin Fan lowered his head, looking at the Guan Yu card in his hand, a resolute look in his eyes.

"Yes," he said.

"So, the reason you asked me to go back wasn't because you were worried about me, but because... you were afraid I'd drag you down with you?"

Her voice trembled, but she tried to control it. "You helped me play Guan Yu because of this? Get rid of me as soon as possible, so I don't attract any trouble for you here?"