Who said this card is outrageous?

As a mage, Yu Renjia was exceptionally sensitive to fluctuations in spiritual power. He could sense that Zhang Che's spiritual power was stronger than his own, but not by much, at most one or two minor levels higher.

Therefore, under normal circumstances, maintaining a second-tier blue summon card for more than an hour should consume a considerable amount of mental energy.

unless……

Unless Zhang Che's second-tier blue card has the same low cost characteristic as the previous first-tier blue cards!

Thinking of this, Yu Renjia's heart suddenly raced. If that were really the case, the situation would be completely different.

He dared not use a regular second-tier blue card because the consumption was too great, but if the consumption could be reduced to one-third or even half of the original, then with his current level of mental strength, he could definitely handle it!

"Zhang Che," Yu Renjia suddenly spoke, his tone becoming serious, "You just said that it can be made into a second-tier blue card, right?"

Zhang Che nodded: "Yes, what's wrong?"

"I want to buy one." Yu Renjia said without hesitation, "Any type is fine, but preferably an ice or water attribute summoning card. Can you make one?"

Fu Xing was stunned for a moment, but after realizing what Yu Renjia meant, he immediately understood and a look of realization appeared on his face.

“Okay.” Zhang Che thought for a moment and then nodded. “But it will take time, about a week. You can still come to Uncle Wang’s shop then.”

"No problem," Yu Renjia answered readily. "As for the price..."

"Let's talk about it after it's finished," Zhang Che waved his hand. "It's too early to talk about the price now; we need to see how the quality of the finished product is first."

“Okay, it’s settled then.” Yu Renjia didn’t hesitate. “We’ll come pick up the card in a week.”

"Walk slowly."

After the two left, the card shop became quiet again.

Zhang Che looked down at the six-tailed creature in his arms. The little guy looked a bit bored, its six tails wrapped around itself tightly, like a fluffy snowball.

"Little Zhang."

Wang Guofu's voice came from behind, but it was different from usual, carrying a complex emotion that Zhang Che had never heard before.

Zhang Che turned around: "What's wrong, Uncle Wang?"

"You mean... you can really make second-tier blue cards?" Wang Guofu's voice was a little unsteady, as if he hadn't recovered from the shock just now.

Zhang Che paused for a moment, then laughed: "Uncle Wang, didn't you see it? It's the Six-Tailed Fox."

He raised the little fox in his arms as a gesture.

Wang Guofu stared at the little fox for a long time, his lips moved, and after a while he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence: "I thought... that was the snow fox that Lao Cheng left for you."

Zhang Che shook his head: "No, I made it myself by referring to the materials left by the teacher."

He used the same excuse he had given to Fu Xing and the other man, but was met with a long silence.

How old was Chang Cheh?

An 18-year-old card maker, who was struggling to sell Tier 1 green cards just a few days ago, is now suddenly told that he can make Tier 2 blue cards, and even the most difficult summoning cards.

This leap is beyond what can be described as "rapid progress"; it's like riding a rocket!

Wang Guofu wanted to ask something, but hesitated for a long time and ultimately didn't dare to speak.

Zhang Che noticed his unusual behavior, but thinking that he was an elder and meant well, he offered a brief explanation to reassure him.

"Actually, there's nothing special about it. It's just about practicing more and trying more. I've been studying my master's notes diligently. They contain a lot of his experiences from his failures. I've simply found my own path based on those experiences."

This was said in a way that was half true and half false, but Wang Guofu found it to be quite reasonable.

If Zhang Che truly possesses talent, coupled with Lao Cheng's meticulous guidance over the years, it's not impossible for him to accumulate knowledge and skills and eventually achieve great things.

"Old Cheng, oh Old Cheng, you really are..." Wang Guofu murmured to himself, his eyes suddenly stinging.

They've known each other for over twenty years. Little did they know that the hurdle the old friend had never overcome in his entire life would be conquered by his apprentice.

“Uncle Wang.” Zhang Che’s voice pulled him back from his memories. “I promised Yu Renjia that I would give him a second-tier blue card in a week. I’ll need your support in terms of materials.”

“No problem, take whatever you like in the store, I’ll charge you the cost price.” Wang Guofu was very generous at this moment, and then he didn’t forget to remind him, “Xiao Zhang, don’t blame Uncle Wang for being nosy, but don’t go around showing off your skills. These days, there are a lot of people who are envious.”

"I know."

Zhang Che did not refute, but his true thought was how to help Fu Xing and Yu Renjia shine in the upcoming assessment.

Once you've made a name for yourself at Binhai University, you'll naturally attract the attention of some high-level individuals.

Only in this way can he sell his talent for a good price and obtain more resources to grow.

Through this period of understanding, Zhang Che clearly understands that if a card maker wants to go far in the profession, going it alone is definitely not an option.

Even with exceptional talent, without protection, one can easily perish prematurely.

Collecting his thoughts, Zhang Che looked at the materials Fu Xing and the others had brought, and already had a general idea for card creation in mind. He just wondered what kind of surprise this card fusion would bring him.

Chapter 9 The Adventurers' Guild Arrives

When Zhang Che came out of the card shop, he was carrying a large box of materials. This familiar scene made him feel strange.

Wang Guofu's card shop's main customers are still a large number of low-level superhumans, and in most cases they mainly buy first-tier cards.

Therefore, when Zhang Che returned this time, apart from the second-tier blue card he promised to make for Yu Renjia, he would mainly focus on first-tier cards.

Zhang Che found a car and drove home. Before he even reached the door, he saw two people standing on the steps in front of his house.

He paused, glancing over warily.

The two were dressed casually and looked to be in their early twenties.

Standing on the left was a young man with a buzz cut, his hands in his pockets, occasionally shaking his leg, glancing at the sky, making a lot of small movements, clearly looking impatient.

The man on the right, however, is a completely different story. He wears black-rimmed glasses, has a faint smile on his lips, stands ramrod straight, and appears calm and unhurried.

Although they were waiting for someone with their companions, they looked as relaxed as if they were having tea in their own living room.

Just as Zhang Che was sizing them up, the man with glasses also noticed him.

The man's gaze lingered on Zhang Che for a moment, then he tilted his head slightly and whispered something to his companion. The man with the buzz cut followed his gaze, glanced at Zhang Che from head to toe, and stopped shaking his leg.

Then the two walked over.

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Zhang Che?" the man with glasses asked first, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, carrying a gentle and pleasant quality.

"Yes, I am." Zhang Che nodded, his gaze falling on the badges on their chests. "You're from the Adventurers' Guild?"

"Yes." The other person smiled and introduced himself, "My name is Shen Yan, and I work as a clerk in the guild. This is my colleague, Zhou Meng."

Zhou Meng nodded to Zhang Che as a greeting, then resumed his hands-in-pockets posture, his eyes sweeping over Zhang Che before he seemed to come to some conclusion, muttering under his breath, "Doesn't seem particularly special."

The sound wasn't loud, but all three people present could hear it clearly.

Shen Yan did not respond, maintaining his smiling expression.

Zhang Che didn't pay much attention, but he was a little puzzled as to why the Adventurers' Guild would suddenly come to his door. Could it be that they were here to buy cards?

But then I thought about it again and realized that something was wrong. My master had been gone for more than two months, and the Adventurers' Guild couldn't possibly not know.

Then they can only come looking for themselves.

"Please come in, both of you." Zhang Che snapped out of his thoughts, took out his key, opened the door, and stepped aside to make way for him.

"Excuse me." Shen Yan nodded politely and stepped inside.

Zhou Meng followed behind, glancing around as he entered, but the ordinary house clearly failed to capture his interest, and he quickly looked away.

After entering the house, Zhang Che invited the two to sit down in the living room and poured them a glass of water: "There's not much to offer, please make do."

"You're too kind." Shen Yan took the water glass, holding it with both hands, but didn't drink it right away. Instead, he waited until Zhang Che sat down opposite him before slowly speaking, "Mr. Zhang Che, we've come here today to inform you of something."

Zhang Che nodded: "Please go ahead."

"Regarding the card album that Mr. Cheng Shu rented from the guild, we need to retrieve it according to regulations."

Zhang Che was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, but quickly frowned: "That picture book was clearly bought by my master, so why are you taking it back?"

His tone became somewhat harsh, as if the Adventurers' Guild was coming to steal his money.

It was not only his master's keepsake, but also contained his notes and insights from years of card-making. Otherwise, Zhang Che would not have been able to make second-tier cards so quickly.

Now that someone has suddenly come to his door saying they want to take it away, how could he possibly agree to that?

Upon hearing this, Zhou Meng gave Zhang Che a strange look.

"Buy?" He scoffed, his tone laced with mockery. "Brother, that card album has been in your master's hands for over a decade, and you, as his apprentice, still don't know its origins? All you do is laze around and wait to die?"

That was quite a blunt remark.

Zhang Che's face darkened, but now was not the time to dwell on that. He turned his gaze to Shen Yan—compared to Zhou Meng, who spoke without thinking, this one seemed more reliable.

Shen Yan sighed almost imperceptibly, speechless at Zhou Meng's antics.

But work must go on.

“Mr. Zhang Che, the guild’s card catalog can only be rented; there has never been such a thing as purchasing it.” His tone was calm, as if he were stating something perfectly ordinary.

The specific rules are as follows: As long as you pass the assessment of a Tier 2 Card Maker, you can sign a lease agreement with the Adventurers' Guild, which stipulates that you will pay the guild 20 Tier 2 Green Cards of any type or two Tier 2 Blue Cards every year for ten years.

Of course, you can also use higher-tier cards to calculate the conversion, such as one-fifth of the number of Tier 3 cards of the same quality, as long as the total number is sufficient.

After the ten-year term expires, the card maker can continue to hold the book. Until the owner dies, or fails to pay the required number of cards in a certain year, the guild will send someone to reclaim the book.

Of course, there are corresponding benefits as well. After the card maker is promoted to Tier 3, the guild will provide more ways to make Tier 3 public version cards.

Zhang Che's master was only a second-level card maker, so his card album only contained the most basic Tier 3 public version cards: four green cards and two blue cards. He would only get more after advancing in rank.

"These are all written in the guild's bylaws, in black and white, open and transparent. If you don't believe me, you can investigate it yourself." After Shen Yan finished speaking, he picked up his water glass, took a sip, and his expression had returned to its usual calm and composed state.

Seeing that Shen Yan had finished speaking, Zhou Meng immediately chimed in, "You've said everything you needed to say, brother. Take out the card album now."

He glanced at his watch, his impatience almost overflowing: "We've wasted enough time here today; we need to rush back to report."

Shen Yan didn't speak, but just looked at Zhang Che quietly, clearly conveying the same meaning.

Zhang Che sat on the sofa, forgetting to put down his water glass.

He knew very well that since the other party had even laid out the details of the charter and dared to let him verify it himself, it was definitely not a lie made up on the spot.

But that picture book was an important keepsake left to him by his master, carrying his deepest memories of his master. How could he just hand it over like that?

Zhang Che awakened his innate wisdom, rather than simply experiencing a soul transmigration. The days when he and his master depended on each other for survival were real, firsthand experiences for him.

Something seemed to be burning inside his chest, and his mental energy began to surge uncontrollably.