In another world, Lu Mingfei is learning card making.

Although no one in the world has formally brought it up yet, the dangers of power-based cliques have already begun to manifest themselves.

The most typical example is that everyone aspiring to promotion must establish a relationship with them—as teachers and students, through marriage, or as sworn brothers…

Only by establishing connections with them can individuals acquire the resources to further enhance their capabilities.

Although there were no families like Yuan Shao's during the Three Kingdoms period, whose descendants held high office for four generations, there had already emerged super aristocratic families with "disciples and former officials all over the world".

As for the Holy Church? That's another matter. Lu Mingfei hasn't figured out what's going on with it yet, so he chooses to put it aside for the time being.

"Let's get back to your matter—it's clear that this was actually the personal act of that 'Sargent.' Or perhaps not, but that doesn't stop his family from using this as a reason to distance themselves from him." Stella clapped her hands, pulling Lu Mingfei's wandering thoughts back.

"On the bright side, those nobles won't confront you over this matter yet; on the dark side, your real enemy is still lurking in the shadows..."

"Also, don't expect any other help from the club. A club is a club; it won't do anything for your personal grudges. It's just a platform."

Lu Mingfei nodded, said goodbye to Stella, played with Zhan Qingxue for a while, and then left the club.

Regardless of who was behind this person, Lu Mingfei felt that the matter should be considered closed at that point.

What he needs to do now is improve himself, instead of dwelling on this issue.

"But if we're talking about improving ourselves... what areas are there that we can improve in?"

Lu Mingfei began to ponder.

"Wand combat, swordsmanship, music, card making... it seems like there's potential to improve in every area, but it also seems like something's missing in every aspect..."

"Or rather, every skill now requires slow and steady progress, and there's no way to see results quickly—wait, it seems like there's one exception."

Lu Mingfei summoned the panel again and looked at the card-making process.

"If the general change at level 2 is that it starts to involve the mind—then how should card-making level 2 be upgraded? Should cards be made using a portion of the mind?"

So how should we define this part of the mind? Knowledge certainly doesn't count. He used his limited swordsmanship to become Miyamoto Musashi, but his skill level was still 99%...

Do I really have to use my emotions to craft cards? What if I draw too many cards during the crafting process, leading to emotional detachment or even the permanent loss of a connection?

"But I can't not try... Hmm, so far, I haven't mastered anything. Equipment card or ritual card, I'll choose one to try, and tonight will be the time..."

……

Of course, in addition to choosing the type of card, Lu Mingfei also bought two identical sets of materials.

The reason for this is that Lu Mingfei plans to conduct a special card-refining experiment in addition to creating equipment cards:

Two cards were created specifically for 'Fusion'.

As is well known, besides the ordinary summoning method that directly uses magic power to form spell power and then summons, there are several other summoning methods:

Sacrifice Summoning, Fusion Summoning, Ritual Summoning, Reverse Summoning...

Sacrifice summoning refers to using specific spells or rituals to destroy a summoned creature and then using its magical power to summon it.

This method often has other benefits. For example, Lu Mingfei's "Leap into the Fire" can convert the spell power of the summoned creatures into red spell power, which is its benefit.

Fusion Summoning refers to two or more Spirit Cards or Item Cards. Each card has a certain function when taken out individually, and they have even more uses when they are combined.

For example, there is a set of cards that already exists in this world, 【The Sealed Archmage】 and the Sealed Left Hand, Right Hand, Left Foot, and Right Foot: The Archmage himself is a level 3 card, and this set of cards can summon the level 10 super spirit 【Dark Archmage Weznan】, which can directly end the game.

Ritual summoning is a summoning performed using ritual cards. Its advantage is that the ritual cards themselves contain spirits participating in the ritual, and their energy levels can be extremely low.

While they are not very practical when summoning high-level units of energy level nine or ten, many duels don't drag on long enough to require such high-level units to engage in combat.

If a fast break can resolve the game early on, there's no need for high-energy, high-scoring exchanges.

Another special feature of ritual cards is that they can be performed repeatedly. In other words, if a ritual card is crafted with the purpose of "creating a certain item", then the summoner can essentially obtain that item infinitely, as long as he can still afford the cost of the raw materials.

—As for Reverse Summoning, it is the most special type. It specifically refers to the reversal of the 'Fusion Summoning' summoning method, which reverses the already summoned finished product and disassembles it into its 'basic materials'.

"So, how do I craft the material cards for Fusion Summoning? And what will their 'finished cards' look like? No, I should say: How do I design and craft the corresponding finished cards based on the material cards?"

Lu Mingfei fell into thought.

Regarding materials, Lu Mingfei chose 'musical instruments'—not that Lu Mingfei didn't want to forge weapons, but because neither of the two weapon-related skills had a level higher than music theory.

Even if you fail to craft the target card for Fusion Summon, at least you should craft the Equip Card.

Many of the musical instruments in St. Mary's are different from those that Lu Mingfei has learned, but although the forms are different, the music theory and scales are universally applicable.

For Lu Mingfei, all he needed to do to play them was to familiarize himself with their fingering and operation methods.

So, in just one afternoon, several more musical instruments appeared under the music theory skill on Lu Mingfei's skill page, and he also received several invitations to vocal clubs.

"Never mind, let me see what kind of material cards I can craft first—"

The process of inscribing the transmutation circle, infusing magic, and placing the materials is ingrained in Lu Mingfei's bones; he could do it with his eyes closed without making a mistake.

As with previous attempts at alchemy, the first thing to appear wasn't the card art, but rather a webpage from the general internet:

【Sound Spirit: Heavenly Jewel】

[Type: Equipment/Attached Creature]

[Quality: Excellent (Blue)]

[Level: LV1]

【characteristic:

Tian Dian Nü Ming: Goddess of dance and performing arts, assisting her master in showcasing the beauty of dance and performing arts. When her user resonates with her, she receives a boost in dance and performing arts.

Sound Form: The talent of the Sound Spirit. By altering voices and guiding vocalization, the Sound Spirit can produce the sounds of all musical instruments for solo or ensemble performances.

[PS: Wait, isn't the order reversed? Shouldn't we summon Luo Tianyi first and then Tian Dian?]