Chapter 38: Three-star Spiritual Apprentice

The black armored beetle car arrived at Snakehead Town, and Duke returned to Little Sam's card repair shop.

Regarding the inevitable expansion war, he currently had no particular thoughts. Even if he did, it wouldn't matter much. Once the expansion war started, it was like a torrent; individual influence was minimal.

"Boss, with the rise in raw material prices, should we also increase our prices?" Sally asked.

"Keep an eye on Bast Repair Card Shop... well, never mind, don't bother with Bast Repair Card Shop. Starting from next month, we'll increase our prices in line with the material price increase," Duke said.

"Understood, Boss."

At lunchtime, card maker Delanco suddenly approached Duke, "Boss Duke, Sanet has asked me to inquire if he can return to Little Sam's card repair shop."

"Sanet?"

Sanet was a card maker previously hired by Little Sam's, but he had been poached by Bast Repair Card Shop.

Delanco smiled, "Yes, Sanet. He's having a hard time at Bast Repair Card Shop, with no work to do and not even getting any commissions."

"But with the upcoming expansion war, won't Bast Repair Card Shop have plenty of business?" Duke inquired.

"While they say it's coming, it hasn't arrived immediately. Sanet probably doesn't want to suffer and wait any longer." Delanco's mood seemed quite good. "No one could have predicted that after you took over Little Sam's, the business would be even better than it was in Old Sam's time."

"Luck, it's all about luck." Duke also chuckled. "Well then, Delanco, please tell Sanet that he's welcome to come back. The fourth workstation has been empty most of the time."

"You're a kind boss, Duke."

"But I also hope Teacher Delanco makes it clear that while I can give Sanet another chance, if there's a next time, I hope he won't bother me again."

"Haha, I think if there's a next time, he'll feel embarrassed himself."

And so, card maker Sanet returned to Little Sam's and became the fourth external card maker. Lately, many mercenary groups had entered Snakehead Town, and the number of cards to be repaired had been steadily increasing. Having Sanet back would help alleviate the manpower issue.

"Did Bast give you any trouble?" Duke asked.

Sanet shook his head, "Not at all. In fact, another card maker and I informed Bast about our intention to leave. Bast didn't object. I think he's planning to turn Bast Repair Card Shop into his own independent repair shop in the future."

Delanco commented, "That's not a bad idea. Bast only has a few acquaintances on the street. Running his own shop and repairing cards should provide enough income to support his household expenses."

Duke didn't pay any more attention to it.

Bast was already a thing of the past and not worth expending more energy on.

In the evening, after closing the shop, Duke returned to his familiar fourth workstation. He took out the 0-ring spiritual card he retrieved from the scrap card station yesterday - the Temperature Stabilization Card.

The Temperature Stabilization Card could create a constant temperature zone. Paired with a container, it became an otherworldly version of a refrigerator. Of course, the effect of the Temperature Stabilization Card was not limited to cooling; it could also provide heating.

Flicking off the damaged seal, he placed it on the card detection machine, and soon, the 0-ring spell model inside was revealed. It consisted of two intertwined closed energy circuits nested together, entangled like a complex braid. It was difficult to distinguish which circuit was which with the naked eye.

At least to Duke, the 0-ring spell model before him looked like a mess.

"Xiaoyi, my eyes are playing tricks on me."

"Rest assured, Master. Xiaoyi has already deciphered the two circuits of the Temperature Stabilization Card and formulated a complete and feasible repair plan."

Taking a deep breath, Duke took off the Temperature Stabilization Card. "Then let's begin."

Repairing a spiritual card was a patient task. With the ring-pulling apparatus, he carefully pulled the complex 0-ring out of the card's core. Under Xiaoyi's guidance, Duke began the meticulous process of repairing the energy pathways.

Fusing with the spiritual pen, sharpening with the cutting spiritual knife.

The seemingly chaotic repair work proceeded methodically under Xiaoyi's guidance. Duke acted as the laborer, while also constantly asking for the underlying principles of each step.

He was both working and learning.

As the repairs continued, countless short circuits on the energy pathways were successfully fused together, and spiritual energy flowed back and forth within the repaired pathways.

Unbeknownst to Duke, his Sea of Spirit was undergoing changes.

The previously straight energy lines seemed to tremble and began to extend to both ends, as if wanting to curve.

The curve didn't form immediately.

However, as time passed and Duke's understanding of energy pathways, spiritual magic, and rings deepened during the repair process, a qualitative change was triggered.

After countless vibrations, the energy lines finally curved a small arc.

With the birth of this small arc, Duke seemed to enter a realm of profound mystery, losing awareness of everything around him and immersing himself entirely in the 0-ring spell model of the Temperature Stabilization Card.

He didn't notice.

When he held the spiritual pen and cast spells, manipulating spiritual energy felt more natural.

Sections of energy pathways that previously required adjusting the pen tip's angle for fusion. Now, with subtle control over spiritual energy, he could complete the entire fusion process in a single stroke without altering the motion. The cutting spiritual knife in his hand moved like an art form.

He felt like an experienced master who had immersed himself in card craftsmanship for decades, creating an artistic masterpiece through the process.

Meanwhile, the curving energy line in his Sea of Spirit followed his repair actions. It would curve, extend, and contract from time to time.

This energy line, representing his understanding of spiritual magic, was like a flexible little snake.

Time passed, but he couldn't tell how long. The repair work in his hands had been completed, and the 0-ring spell model that had been extracted by the ring-pulling apparatus shone like exquisite porcelain.

"Ah!" Duke snapped back to reality.

Xiaoyi promptly sent feedback, "Congratulations, Master, for achieving the level of twisting and winding energy lines, and officially advancing to a three-star spiritual apprentice."

One star: Gather Qi Elixir. Two stars: Condense Liquid into Threads. Three stars: Twisting and Winding Energy Lines.

Originally, the progress chart Xiaoyi provided showed he was still more than two hundred days away from advancement, but due to his momentary realization while repairing the 0-ring spiritual card, he had directly advanced.

"I've become a three-star spiritual apprentice... it turns out my aptitude isn't that bad after all. The speed of a genius arcane mage's cultivation is probably just like this."

Duke smiled faintly, his anticipation of the future growing stronger.

Controlling the ring-pulling apparatus, he reinserted the now-repaired 0-ring spell model back into the card's core, then repaired the card material and resealed the damaged cover.

Thus, a refurbished 0-ring civilian spiritual card - the Temperature Stabilization Card - was successfully restored.

"Double happiness!"