The essentials of Card Making flowed gently through Lu Chenxing's mind like water.
First, prepare a blank card, then pick up a special tracing pen, subtly control the output of magic and spiritual power, and draw the energy circuit stroke by stroke according to the original card, without interruption during the process.
The whole process was very similar to Lu Chenxing's work as an electrician in his previous life; the lines drawn by the tracing pen were like wires, forming the basic process of Card Making.
Because the original card required real-time communication with the Card Maker's spiritual power, it could not yet be mass-produced using crystal core technology.
"Since that's the case, I still have to use the tracing pen..." Lu Chenxing pondered for a moment, then began to conceptualize in his mind.
"If I need to communicate with spiritual power, then can I view the original card as an information input port, my spiritual power as the information transmission channel, and my right hand holding the pen as the output port, acting and operating entirely according to the received information, with the magic output also determined by the information transmitted from the original card?"
"I will treat my Card Making right hand as a copier, magic as ink, the tracing pen as the needle for outputting ink, a blank card as white paper, and the original card as the material to be copied!"
When the logic became clear and all the logical chains connected, a brand new spell emerged!
Lu Chenxing could clearly feel that this spell had been completed and could be used at any time!
With an excited heart and trembling hands, Lu Chenxing once again sat at his Card Making workbench, holding the pen, looking at the blank card, and then connecting his spiritual power to the original card!
When the direction and method of the first energy circuit appeared in his mind, Lu Chenxing immediately used the spell he had just created! At the same time, he completely relaxed his control over his right hand and the output of magic.
He watched with his own eyes as his right hand moved on its own, drawing lines that were identical to the energy circuit in his mind!
After about twenty minutes, an energy circuit for the Burst spell, identical to the one on the original card, was drawn. When the last stroke was completed, the energy circuit glowed, and then with a "click," it developed the exact same crack as on the original card!
Subsequently, both the crack and the energy circuit vanished, disappearing from sight, and the copier-like spell also automatically stopped.
Lu Chenxing eagerly flipped the card to its front, revealing an unknown liquid encased in a Wind Element airbag, with a red light flickering in the center!
"It's done!" Lu Chenxing smiled happily, "From now on, this spell will be called the Art of Copying!"
He felt it briefly; during the twenty minutes of Card Making, about one-fifth of his magic had been consumed, meaning he could only make five cards at most before his magic would be depleted.
On the other hand, his spiritual power was also consumed by about one-fifth simultaneously, and it was also tempered during this process, giving him a double benefit.
Therefore, he could actually only make four cards before needing to rest, otherwise, spiritual power depletion would be much worse than magic depletion.
Lu Chenxing was quite satisfied with this efficiency; after all, being able to earn money while cultivating was a good thing many people couldn't achieve!
"Again!"
Another hour passed, the sky gradually darkened, and night was about to fall. Lu Chenxing sat in his seat, pale-faced, not wanting to move.
The consumption of four-fifths of his magic and spiritual power made him feel extremely tired now, and his temples throbbed, reminding him it was time to rest.
But despite his extreme fatigue, the smile on Lu Chenxing's lips did not diminish. Feeling his spiritual power, which had clearly grown considerably, a sense of satisfaction surged within him!
The feeling of watching himself grow stronger bit by bit was simply too exhilarating!
"It's a pity that while my spiritual power is stronger, my magic hasn't increased; it just feels smoother to use. This total magic amount is indeed a problem..." Lu Chenxing clicked his tongue, stroking his chin in thought.
His Weaving and Compensation effects meant that he had to constantly keep his magic full. Lu Chenxing put away the finished cards, then returned to his bed and began to meditate.
While using visualization to restore spiritual power and magic, slowly expanding his spiritual world, he also thought about how to keep his magic constantly full.
"Since that's the case, couldn't I just get a power bank?" Lu Chenxing stroked his chin, thinking it was feasible. Although a power bank couldn't increase his total magic, it could be useful for emergencies.
However, he still had to choose whether the power bank should be internal or external. After much thought, Lu Chenxing decided external was better; an internal one would require reaching the realm of inner vision and being able to arrange magic arrays, which would be at least Tier 3.
But an external one was also a bit tricky. If he were to set up a spell for it, maintaining that spell would constantly consume magic, which might not be worth it.
So, if he were to go with an external solution, it would be best to get a magical artifact with such an effect, but ordinary magical artifacts didn't have this effect. He would have to make one himself, but making one himself would again require mastering array carving at Tier 3.
It felt like he was caught in a dead loop.
Lu Chenxing decided to put this matter aside for now; he might have other ideas later.
As the night's cultivation ended, his spiritual power and magic were full again. His spiritual power had made significant progress, already not far from late Tier 1, but his magic hadn't improved much, still remaining at mid-Tier 1.
"I still need to find a way to get some crystal cores for cultivation. After going to the Card Maker Association later, I'll buy some on the way. The money Mom and Dad left is still enough." Lu Chenxing opened his balance and took a look. The money from his parents and the compensation from the military, combined, amounted to over three hundred thousand.
It wasn't a lot, but it wasn't a little either.
Because his parents were only missing and not yet confirmed dead, and the disappearance period was less than three years, no pension would be issued, only compensation to maintain their children's normal lives.
Dressed and out the door, Lu Chenxing first went to eat breakfast. He hadn't eaten much yesterday, and he was still Tier 1, so he couldn't abstain from food.
Arriving at the breakfast stall, people were bustling, and the atmosphere was lively.
He ordered a bowl of tofu pudding and a fried dough stick. The aroma of the food awakened his appetite, making him involuntarily swallow.
But just as he was about to start eating the tofu pudding, an uncle eating nearby suddenly began to cough violently, seemingly having a cold. The sound of phlegm rattling with each cough made Lu Chenxing's throat feel uncomfortable.
He moved a little further away from the uncle, afraid of getting infected, but the aunt on his left suddenly started blowing her nose...
After a slight hesitation, he waved to the owner and said, "Boss, to go, I'll drink it on the way."