The Inspector paid no mind to Chi Yun Su’s subtle attempt to speak well of herself. Instead, she focused on Chi Yun Su’s mention of making Cards self-powered.
‘Guo Ruofan’ knew nothing about card crafting and had no concept of this technology, but the Inspector did.
In truth, self-powered Cards were somewhat impractical when used in Fixed Cards for daily life or equipment.
The stored energy was too limited. For household appliances, it might last ten days to half a month, but in a factory like the Cleaning Company, such energy might only be enough to start an instrument once before running out.
Even for household use, replacing the energy block was simpler than replacing the Card itself.
Thus, external energy sources remained the most suitable option.
But Spirit Cards were different.
Spirit Cards were Cards that ‘Guo Ruofan’ could wield directly, changing their shape through psychic energy manipulation, producing various extraordinary effects.
In this world, Cards were broadly divided into Spirit Cards and Fixed Cards. Spirit Cards were flexible and changeable, while Fixed Cards remained static in form.
Spirit Cards were already unpredictable. Adding a small energy source to these inherently versatile Cards would make their effects even more remarkable.
For example, the small silver knife in ‘Guo Ruofan’s’ hand could transform into a firearm, firing energy bullets, turning close combat into long-range attacks.
The entire Spirit Card system would become even more enigmatic.
This could be a new system.
The Inspector pondered deeply but remained silent. Instead, she reached out and took the homemade Ink from Chi Yun Su’s hand, observing the clearly visible floating particles of energy block powder. Calmly, she remarked, “If you could grind them into finer powder, it wouldn’t be so difficult to use.”
The Inspector remembered how envious Chi Yun Su had been of her low-configuration Ink during her first card repair attempt.
In truth, it wasn’t that the Ink she used was particularly good, but rather that Chi Yun Su’s homemade Ink contained many miscellaneous additives.
However, the Inspector couldn’t judge whether Chi Yun Su’s approach was good or bad based on this alone. After all, her unconventional methods had genuinely opened up new possibilities for card crafting. She simply looked at Chi Yun Su with a slightly peculiar gaze, as if already seeing a catfish about to be tossed into the ship’s hold.
“The machine I have can only achieve this level while preserving the energy in the powder,” Chi Yun Su said cautiously, somewhat puzzled by the Inspector’s expression.
The Inspector said nothing more about it.
She had no solution to this problem either.
She had come down to inspect various Cleaning Companies under Mirror while recuperating from her injuries. She hadn’t expected to engage in card crafting during this time, nor had she anticipated gaining an assistant who required her guidance. She hadn’t brought any card crafting instruments with her.
The items on her card crafting desk were merely what she carried out of habit as a card maker.
“Tell me how you thought about and designed these Circuits,” the Inspector said to Chi Yun Su.Chi Yun Su meticulously combined the knowledge points from Card Making Fundamentals and explained the entire circuit design approach to the Inspector in great detail. She also… taking into account the titles of the books on the Inspector’s card crafting desk, expressed some confusion about several circuit points in her design that were based on trial-and-error attempts using the exhaustive method.
Chi Yun Su’s gaze at the books was unmistakably obvious. Hearing her questions, the Inspector rolled his eyes.
After these past few days of interaction, the Inspector had already recognized Chi Yun Su’s tendency to push her luck. Pretending not to notice her blatant hints, he seriously considered her questions and offered suggestions for circuit modifications.
Card Making Fundamentals was foundational, and its content was correct, but it was inevitably cumbersome. Having understood Chi Yun Su’s idea of attaching an energy source to the Card, the Inspector did not hold back on sharing commonly used simplification techniques among card makers, as well as many card crafting methods.
Sensing the Inspector’s willingness to answer all her questions, Chi Yun Su, after filling her head with card making knowledge, began subtly inquiring about how Spirit Cards should be made.
The Spirit Cards in ‘Guo Ruofan’s’ possession, which Chi Yun Su had never seen before, left a deep impression on her. Additionally, her own unsuccessful attempts at creating a second green Absorption Card elevated the status of Spirit Cards in her mind to a higher level.
Surely, it required highly skilled card makers or some secret of card crafting.
But in reality, it wasn’t.
The Inspector briefly explained to Chi Yun Su, “The difference between Spirit Cards and other Cards lies only in the material of the Card. There’s no other distinction.” Otherwise, there wouldn’t be just one Card Making Fundamentals, but separate volumes like Fixed Card Fundamentals and Spirit Card Fundamentals.
“Different materials produce different effects. The Card Bases for ordinary Cards are uniformly mass-produced, while the Card Bases for Spirit Cards also need to be customized according to the Card.”
Chi Yun Su began to understand.
When she restored the Neck Ring around her neck into a Card, she hadn’t paid close attention to it. However, her Absorption Card had indeed accompanied her for a long time.
The texture of that Absorption Card was indeed different from other Cards.
This was also why, when she handed both Cards to Hong Guang, he immediately sensed something was off upon touching them and discovered the Absorption Card.
It was just that Chi Yun Su had previously thought the difference in texture was due to it being a special Card.
After all… among the blank Cards in Chi Yun Su’s possession that hadn’t been drawn yet, although most felt similar, there were quite a few that had slightly different textures.
“The process of making Spirit Card Bases isn’t something I can explain to you in a day or two,” the Inspector said calmly, offering a suggestion to Chi Yun Su. “In a week, the other card makers from the company will arrive. After I complete the handover with them, I’ll be heading to Maquan Star. You can come with me.”
This was essentially a formal offer to take Chi Yun Su as his student.
What teacher wouldn’t be moved by the prospect of having a student like Chi Yun Su?
She learned whatever was taught, possessed exceptional hands-on skills, could apply knowledge creatively, and occasionally came up with new ideas worth pondering.
It was as if she were born for card crafting.Hearing this, Chi Yun Su admitted she was tempted for a moment.
Although the Inspector was strict, speaking bluntly without considering Chi Yun Su’s feelings, she was never stingy in teaching her. When Chi Yun Su shared her ideas, the Inspector listened seriously, pondering their feasibility, without the arrogance of an elder insisting she should be obeyed.
Chi Yun Su had always loved this pure environment of learning and research, something she had yearned for since crossing over more than a decade ago.
However…
“Teacher, I’ve already booked a flight back for my rotation break in five days,” Chi Yun Su said softly.
As for whether this “rotation break” meant she would actually return, both Chi Yun Su and the Inspector knew the truth.
The Inspector looked at Chi Yun Su, not angry at the refusal. After a moment of thought, she said, “If it’s because of my Spiritual Energy Damage, I can introduce you to other card makers.”
“Even a Four-Star Card Maker—I can find one for you.”
People develop feelings over time, and the Inspector genuinely valued Chi Yun Su’s talent. She didn’t want Chi Yun Su to take a detour.
And…
She couldn’t be the only one startled by Chi Yun Su’s actions!
Chi Yun Su sensed the Inspector’s goodwill and fell silent. Finally, dropping all pretense, she showed a helpless expression. “I’m sorry, Teacher. I have something very important to do.”
The Inspector noticed the faint, unrestrained hint of killing intent in Chi Yun Su’s tone when she said “very important.”
She could guess what it was.
Near the Cleaning Company under Mirror, there were many such Black Ports, all with similar stories. In her youth, the Inspector had been curious, but now she was used to it.
Having never experienced such things herself, the Inspector refrained from comment. She twirled the air conditioner Card in her hand, thought for a moment, and finally said to Chi Yun Su, “Then you should go to Changhe Star.”
“Hmm?” Chi Yun Su looked up slightly.
“The Card Cleansing Technique originated from Changhe Star seven years ago. It sparked a lot of discussion at first but was quickly banned afterward,” the Inspector explained briefly.
The air conditioner Card in her hand was clearly a discarded Card whose Circuit had been cleansed, turning it back into a blank card base before being redrawn.
This made sense.
Otherwise, where would so many unused blank card bases in the Black Port come from for Chi Yun Su to use?