Playing cards, I am your ancestor!-Chapter 301: Mountain Ghost Training Match 2_1

"The match has started."

Sheng Hongying stated flatly, intending to remind Song Yi to stop discussing others.

Unfortunately, Song Yi was always a bit of a loose cannon. Competition matters were one thing; despite his noble background, he wasn’t one for airs and graces and was extremely curious about others’ gossip. He even directly asked Sheng Hongying, "Captain, what do you think those four were thinking back then?"

He was probably trying to provoke Sheng Hongying.

Yet, female players of such caliber were rare in the card game arena, and Sheng Hongying was not only a star player but had also risen through the ranks with Mount Flower.

The fame of all four combined couldn’t match Sheng Hongying’s, so the Mount Flower higher-ups hadn’t taken long to decide: drop the four to keep Sheng Hongying.

If the current four teammates aren’t up to scratch, we can just replace them with four who are!

It was precisely because of this ’kick out four’ maneuver that the fanbases of those four players deeply resented Sheng Hongying. Many of the online trolls currently cursing Sheng Hongying could be traced back to these factions.

Song Jue spoke indifferently, "Little brother, talk less. The training match is important."

Song Yi shook his head nonchalantly. Looking at Wen Jiang, he said with a sneer, "What’s there to fear? We have Immortals with us today. A mere Mountain Ghost, a single training match—what’s that to us?"

Unexpectedly, Wen Jiang looked at him and actually revealed a smile of approval. "You’re right."

Song Yi was speechless. Do you think I’m complimenting you?

"Mountain Ghost mentioned they want to play a standard battle. What do you all think?" Coach Guo Shu interjected, his head aching as he tried to divert everyone’s attention.

Each of these players was a diva to manage. He felt his lifespan would shrink by ten years from coaching this year alone.

Last year had already cost him ten.

His fellow sufferer, Dong Shao, had already ’gloriously retired.’ Now, he was the only one left to bear this hardship.

The mere thought plunged Guo Shu into despair.

"A standard battle?" Du Zhaiyue was somewhat surprised. "What are they thinking?"

A so-called standard battle meant no banned cards, unlike in a proper match. Mountain Ghost wanted to play freely.

Without banned cards, everyone in Mount Flower could use their signature cards.

The same applied to Mountain Ghost, of course.

But Mountain Ghost wouldn’t be that foolish. Mount Flower hadn’t released any new cards this year. It seemed Mountain Ghost’s suggestion was aimed at debuting their own new cards.

They could also maintain their Association’s air of superiority. Knowing Mount Flower had no new cards this year, not banning cards was their way of ’going easy’ on them.

As for how they knew Mount Flower lacked new cards, the release of an SSR Card always made waves. While the specific card details might remain unknown, the fact of a new release was hard to conceal. A few inquiries would easily reveal whether Mount Flower had any.

Typically, the Card Makers from these associations didn’t reside in the heart of Imperial City but were scattered in other locations.

Despite the Tan Heming incident, word was that Mountain Ghost had released two new SSR Cards this year.

"Are they using us as guinea pigs?" Song Yi scoffed, almost amused. "They look down on us that much, huh?"

New cards would inevitably lack the synergy of established ones. Mountain Ghost fielding new members and directly using new cards clearly showed they were relying on the power of these novelties.

Sheng Hongying, who had been quiet, suddenly interjected, "Since Wen Jiang’s ’Myths and Legends’ series emerged, new card releases have become more frequent than in previous years."

She glanced at Wen Jiang and continued, "Broken Heart and Holy Beast seem to have new cards as well."

The information Wen Jiang had provided was indeed valuable. For an ordinary Card Maker, creating a new SSR Card from scratch wasn’t realistic. However, it was hard to say whether the great Nobility hidden behind the associations possessed ancient texts or legends. Previously, they hadn’t understood the meaning within such resources. But after Wen Jiang’s ’Myths and Legends’ series was released, things changed. Even if her stories differed slightly from traditional myths, the character names—like the Fire God Zhurong and the Water God Gonggong—were undoubtedly authentic.

The comics featured hundreds of figures who appeared god-like. Once the Nobility matched the information they possessed with these names, understanding the underlying meanings became much easier. Consequently, creating new cards naturally became far smoother than before.

Just like the ancient tomes of Hou Yi shooting the sun and Changer flying to the moon that the nation had unearthed before.

These matters weren’t straightforward. The actual copyrights for cards made from this material should belong to the Yunxia Empire, as Wen Jiang had handed over the information as a bargaining chip. Since the Empire chose not to pursue this, a deal was clearly involved.

Wen Jiang had considered this when she handed over the information, but she wasn’t concerned about such matters.

The others had apparently thought of something as well, and their gazes simultaneously fell on Wen Jiang.

When Wen Jiang admitted she could make cards, everyone had already guessed: the author of the ’Myths and Legends’ comic causing such a stir in Yunxia was probably Wen Jiang.

Song Yi remarked, his tone ambiguous, "Some people are just born to do good deeds."

If it were him, he would have hidden the information, absolutely ensuring no one else got a chance.

This stuff, frankly, was like holding a ’nuclear weapon.’ Possessing it meant having the power to dominate the world—who would willingly give that up?

The Jimo Family, from top to bottom, right down to this Wen Jiang, did things in a way that was utterly unfathomable.

She clearly didn’t look like a ’good person,’ so why was she willing to do such selfless things for others?

Knowing what they were thinking, Wen Jiang merely gave a slight smile. She glanced at Guo Shu, who stood rooted to the spot in utter desperation still awaiting an answer, and said, "Then let’s have a standard battle."

Guo Shu hesitated. He, too, had guessed Mountain Ghost wanted to use Mount Flower to test their two new cards. "Are our chances good?"

He could accept a loss.

His team had zero synergy, relying purely on individual skill. Using old cards against an opponent’s new ones—winning under these circumstances would truly be defying the heavens.

The Mountain Ghost Association was, after all, their equal in strength.

Yet Wen Jiang seemed utterly devoid of modesty. "Ninety-nine percent, I’d say. The remaining one percent is to account for any unexpected mishaps on your end. I can’t do anything about those."

She had managed to control Gabriel for a short while even at A-Level; after reaching S Rank, manipulating it would be effortless.

An SSR Card a tier below Gabriel would naturally pose little challenge.

The others were speechless. Damn, she’s so arrogant.

Guo Shu wiped his face. Well, if their star player said so, he, as the coach, had no objections.

Since it was to be a standard battle with no card restrictions, Guo Shu offered a suggestion. "You all decide the specifics. Hongying, which card do you want to play?"

Sheng Hongying possessed two signature SSR Cards: the offensive Cloud River of Stars, and the Control Card, Soul Severing the Other Shore.

What defined a signature card?

It meant that once these star players deployed their signature cards, it signified they possessed the strength to turn the tide of battle.

Others might be able to draw out one hundred percent of such a card’s power, but in their hands, it could unleash two hundred percent of its potential.

Sheng Hongying had become famous thanks to these two cards. However, since entering the competitive circuit, she rarely had the chance to use them.

Even Temple of the Gods, the top-ranked association, wasn’t arrogant enough to dismiss another team’s signature cards lightly.

It was the same for Tan Heming of Mountain Ghost; he had cards he excelled with but rarely got to use them either.

Since this was their first training match against Mountain Ghost, and the opponents clearly intended to test their new cards against them, Sheng Hongying, now in an offensive role, certainly wasn’t going to be polite. She scanned her teammates before saying, "The offensive card Cloud River of Stars would be best, but it still depends on your input."

Her gaze, however, ultimately settled on Wen Jiang.

It all depended on what Wen Jiang chose to play.