Chapter 21: Blood

Xiaoyi's computational ability was beyond doubt. The unknown changes in the space-time traversal had transformed it into an unheard-of 9-ring Arcane Artifact, comparable to a supercomputer.

However, limited by Duke's own knowledge, Xiaoyi's database was pitifully small.

Without enough big data, even with computational power, it was useless.

However.

As Duke continued to gather information from the outside world, Xiaoyi's database would eventually skyrocket. At that time, Xiaoyi's terrifying computational power would truly be showcased.

Late into the night.

After taking a bath, Duke called out, "Xiaoyi, I'm going to sleep. You can continue running 'Field Meditation Technique.' If there's any extra computational power, work on improving the Desert Eagle."

"Of course, Master. Sweet dreams."

...

In the Snakehead Town of June, the hot summer had already arrived.

Duke, who woke up early, didn't buy buns for breakfast as usual. Instead, he took a long route to a local eatery in a small alley to have a serving of the famous "Shredded Strip Soup."

One of the ingredients in the Shredded Strip Soup was a powder made from grinding a 0-ring spiritual insect.

This 0-ring spiritual insect was called the Thin Strip Inchworm.

Hence the name Shredded Strip Soup.

Just as Duke sat down after buying the soup, he saw a familiar face approaching with a bowl of Shredded Strip Soup. When the person saw Little Duke, his brows visibly furrowed.

However, the tables and chairs around were already occupied, so the person had to sit down here.

"Ah, Mr. Bast, good morning," Duke raised his head and displayed a bright smile.

"Heh heh." Bast's face wore a wry smile, tinged with sarcasm. "Isn't this Boss Duke, who just bought a card repair shop with nothing? How's your card repair technique coming along? If you have any questions you don't understand, feel free to come to me for advice. After all, you're my apprentice. Teaching you is no problem."

"No need to trouble yourself. After all, I've heard that your business hasn't been going well lately, and you're worried."

"Temporary ups and downs in business don't mean much. It's the longevity that leads to real earnings. Let me tell you, little Duke, don't get too proud. I don't believe you can keep going like this and hold out!"

Bast's tone clearly showed his dissatisfaction with Duke's actions.

He believed that Duke's actions were a loss-making publicity stunt.

Duke's heart suddenly filled with delight, and he quickly wiped away his smile, adopting a colder tone. "Although my shop is facing a tough time for now, being able to withstand your challenge is a victory in itself!"

"Heh heh, who outlasts whom remains to be seen!"

"Then let's wait and see."

"Don't cry later, kid!"

The two exchanged glares, fell silent, and focused on their respective bowls of Shredded Strip Soup.

After eating their fill, Duke paid no more attention to Bast, settled the bill, and left. On the way, he glanced back at Bast, who was still eating the soup, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction.

"I hope Bast has some backbone and stands up to me. This way, when his shop goes under, he'll suffer even more!"

He had wanted to provoke Bast a bit just now, making Bast think that Little Sam's card repair shop wasn't doing well either, so that Bast would grit his teeth and hold on a bit longer, thinking he could outlast Little Sam's shop. This way, the longer Bast's card repair shop held out, the more he'd suffer.

Set an example with one, deter the rest.

This way, people who wanted to enter the card repair shop business could weigh the pros and cons.

In any case.

There could only be one card repair shop on the Second Vertical Street, and that was Duke's Little Sam's Card Repair Shop.

Not taking the competition with Bast too seriously, Duke returned to the shop and began quietly studying old spiritual cards. With Xiaoyi helping to collect data, each study session yielded a lot of experience.

This constant accumulation was improving his card repair skills.

What was lacking was the transformation of spiritual liquid to energy lines within the Sea of Spirit. Once that transition was made, control over spiritual power would greatly increase, and he could truly begin repairing spiritual cards.

"Maybe I'll go get a card repair certification along the way."

With his life on track, Duke was very content with the present. Although he had become an apprentice in the bottom rungs of the transcendent world, it didn't restrict his pursuit of power.

He immersed himself in studying spiritual cards until evening.

"Boss, I'm heading back," Sally finished tallying today's accounts and bid Duke farewell.

"Alright."

After locking the shop's door, Duke took a newly bought book and returned to his residence in the converted warehouse, continuing his systematic pursuit of knowledge.

"Xiaoyi, how's the progress of 'Field Meditation Technique' while it's running?"

"Master, Xiaoyi can allocate 85% of the computational power to sustain the practice of 'Field Meditation Technique,' saving 15% of the computational power for improving the Desert Eagle."

"In the past few days, how does the progress of 'Field Meditation Technique' compare to 'Blank Slate Meditation Technique'?"

"The absorption rate of 'Field Meditation Technique' is approximately 10% higher than that of 'Blank Slate Meditation Technique,' and the efficiency of spiritual liquid condensation has increased by over 7.5%... According to Xiaoyi's experience in practicing 'Field Meditation Technique,' it hasn't fully exploited the effect of this meditation technique. The lacking part might be related to aptitude."

"Aptitude, huh..."

Duke put down the book and pondered in silence.

Back then, Willgan's assistant had mentioned that 'Field Meditation Technique' was suitable for geniuses with high aptitude. Spiritual power was never a rigid force; it was full of agility. 'Field Meditation Technique' stemmed from this agile nature of spiritual power, seeking to align with the power of spirituality, thus enhancing the effectiveness of the meditation technique.

After a moment, he made a decision. "Given that 'Field Meditation Technique' is named after 'fields,' I need to seek understanding in the wilderness. I'll find time to take a trip and see if I can make up for what's lacking."

Xiaoyi was an artificial intelligence with formidable computational power, but aptitude was hard to predict.

Some things had to be handled by him personally.

Dang dang dang.

Suddenly, he heard a knock on the back door of the warehouse.

Duke immediately got up and went to the door, asking, "Who's there?"

"It's me." A weak voice sounded outside, "Ronnie."

"Mr. Ronnie? Do you have something at this late hour?" Duke didn't open the door.

Ronnie's weak voice intermittently replied, "I'm injured and need your help, Duke, sir... Don't worry, I won't... ask for your help in vain. I... will pay you enough... Silver Dragons."

Though he didn't want to invite trouble, Ronnie was already at the doorstep.

Duke prepared to take out the 1-ring Arcane Artifact Desert Eagle at any moment. He waited for a moment, and didn't notice any movement outside, nor did he see anyone chasing Ronnie, so he opened the door.

Ronnie stumbled in, wearing a pitch-black windbreaker.

As soon as he entered, he fell to the ground, and a package also fell from his arms, rolling on the ground.

"Mr. Ronnie!" Duke closed the door, knelt down cautiously, and examined Ronnie's injuries.

Only when he checked did he realize that Ronnie's windbreaker was soaked in blood, and his complexion was so pale that there was no trace of color. He lay on the ground, gasping intermittently.

"Water..." Ronnie was close to losing consciousness.

Duke quickly brought a glass of cold water and fed Ronnie small sips.

After drinking the water, Ronnie gradually regained a bit of clarity. Weakly, he looked at Duke and said, "Do you... have a Healing Card..."

"No."

"I'm going to die... please help me..."