Cooperation

Li Jinxuan stopped her steps, turned back into the room, and pulled up a chair to sit beside Song Lin's bed.

"Are you the one who blended the Zijin Ink that can self-absorb energy?" Li Jinxuan asked, her gaze not hiding her re-evaluation of the young man before her.

"Yes. And currently, I exclusively supply this card ink to Xingxiu Academy and the Ink-Blender Association. If you want, I can make some more for you, free of charge," Song Lin said, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Can you blend card ink based on the technical specifications I provide? I will pay a high price," Li Jinxuan asked, her tone carrying a hint of anticipation.

Song Lin's face froze, his pride from a moment ago instantly vanishing, replaced by embarrassment. He hadn't expected Li Jinxuan to ask that. One had to know that blending a suitable card ink based on the technical specifications of a pattern was extremely difficult, requiring the ink-blending master to have a broad and incredibly solid foundation of knowledge. Up until now, Song Lin had only blended card ink based on pre-existing formulas; now, being asked to blend based on technical specifications, to be honest, he didn't even know what technical specifications looked like.

In truth, Song Lin didn't need to feel embarrassed, because most ink-blending masters, even four-star or five-star ones, might not be able to do it. Only ink-blending masters of six-star and above, along with a small portion of outstanding individuals, possessed this capability. It was hard to blame Li Jinxuan for asking; a four-star card maker wanting to obtain custom card ink according to their wishes was very difficult. She probably thought that since Song Lin had blended such a special high-energy card ink, he must be a genius. But without a doubt, she was bound to be disappointed.

"Uh... that... Actually, I haven't tried it yet, but don't worry, I will do my best..." Song Lin smiled awkwardly.

"If you can't, then never mind," Li Jinxuan said softly; she hadn't expected much anyway. Then she changed the subject: "How many bottles of high-energy card ink can you supply me?"

"Five bottles a week, no more. These five bottles are three-star high-energy card ink, with properties much better than Zijin Ink," Song Lin said after some consideration. Her words just now had sounded a warning bell in his mind. He realized that if he wanted to become an expert in the field of Ink Blending, merely following pre-existing paths would never lead to success.

"Alright," Li Jinxuan replied. Looking into Song Lin's bright eyes, she felt the blood in her own body warm up. Card makers, like ink-blending masters, could not do without research, study, and creativity. She had a feeling that the young man before her might become a great ink-blending master in the future.

At the same time, in the area where Song Lin had been rescued, a group of four-star card cultivators was turning the entire place upside down. If Li Jinxuan hadn't taken Song Lin away early, they would have met with disaster.

"Dammit, he escaped again," Zheng Wen was furious. He didn't dare to openly capture someone in a crowded area; if he was hauled into the police station, even with his father stepping in, he would have to lose a layer of skin.

Being humiliated by Song Lin today made him feel incredibly disgraced. He had originally planned to capture Song Lin and torture him to vent his anger, but he hadn't expected to fail.

"Hmph, Song Lin, just you wait. This is far from over!" Zheng Wen growled.

***

At nine-thirty in the evening, District A of Chaihe City was brightly lit. In the hospital room, only Song Lin remained. Li Jinxuan had left early, but his heart was still filled with an indescribable joy. He hadn't expected to have the chance to talk to the girl of his dreams, let alone cooperate with her in the future.

Thinking of Li Jinxuan's expectant tone, Song Lin grew serious again. If she faced such difficulty in finding suitable card ink, he had to work even harder.

Then he recalled the critical situation this afternoon, and a cold shiver ran down his spine. He had escaped not only due to luck, but also thanks to the cards Chen Ling had made for him.

First was the Eagle Card, a three-star energy card. Its energy capacity reached 9,500 points, much higher than ordinary ones. Furthermore, it could absorb ambient heat and solar energy to self-recover at a rate of 2 points per minute. This was undoubtedly an incredibly overpowered feature.

Next was the Fanbu Card. This two-star airflow card had a unique principle, relying on Song Lin's leg muscles to combine charge and intermittent release, giving him the speed of a mid-grade three-star airflow card, albeit only for a short duration.

As for the defensive card, it was called the Weisuo Card. One had to acknowledge Chen Ling's talent. Instead of creating an energy shield enveloping the entire body, the Weisuo Card utilized a method of condensing an extremely high-density energy shield, sacrificing comprehensive protection to exchange for a defensive strength reaching the three-star level. Chen Ling had also integrated a sensor pattern, allowing the energy shield to automatically rush to block the opponent's attack with precision. Because the sensor pattern was highly complex, he had to simplify it significantly, yet it still made the Weisuo Card infinitely powerful, bordering on the three-star level.