Nebula Legion, Card-making Department.
When Xiao Xuan arrived, he was suddenly met with the gaze of a dozen pairs of eyes.
They were all interstellar refugees whose homes had been destroyed, living without a place to settle. Some were caught by the patrol team, while others voluntarily sought refuge in the Nebula Legion.
At this moment, the refugees were all leaning on their desks, and at that moment, Xiao Xuan felt like he was back in a classroom.
Xiao Xuan found an empty seat in the back corner and looked over to the girl sitting next to him.
This girl had fair, delicate skin, a straight nose, almond-shaped eyes, long hair tied into a single ponytail, exuding the vitality of youth.
The mole at the corner of her eye added a touch of indescribable charm.
Xiao Xuan was slightly stunned. It was hard to imagine that such an exquisite girl was also a refugee.
This girl's name was Ruoxi.
At that moment, Ruoxi, her jade hand supporting her chin, suddenly raised her head slightly and their gazes met.
She then curved a smile at the corner of her lips, a polite and light smile.
The momentary brilliance made Xiao Xuan's heart feel warm.
Xiao Xuan looked at the table and saw a pen that shimmered with fluorescent light, containing a special energy wave.
If you were to ask what the most important part of making a Star Card was, everyone would say three words, Star Source Pen.
All Star Cards required the use of a Star Source Pen as a medium to allow the designs to have unique energy.
In addition, there were about five cards laid out on the table.
These cards were like parchment, bronze in color, shimmering with dots of light, and were indeed essential for making Star Cards, the Star Source Paper.
At that moment, the head of the card-making department, Feng Yenbei, walked in.
This man was slender and looked gentle and refined. In his deep and profound eyes, there was a reflection of wisdom.
Feng Yenbei's profound eyes swept across the room and he said, "I know that your homes were destroyed by the star beasts, and out of desperation, you have come to seek refuge in the Nebula Legion."
"However, in this world, no one has an obligation to help the weak."
"My Nebula Legion does not keep drones. If you can prove your talent for card-making, you can naturally stay."
The crowd bowed their heads, showing anxiety on their faces. They couldn't cultivate source energy and couldn't become prestigious Star Card Masters.
Therefore, becoming a card maker was their only chance.
Xiao Xuan's brows furrowed slightly, unable to help asking, "So, how do you make a star card?"
As soon as this was said, it immediately provoked laughter. This guy must have never seen a pig run before.
In the entire Tianyuan Star Domain, probably no one is unaware of how to make a star card, right?
Feng Yebei looked slightly surprised by the question, but he patiently explained, "Making a star card, in simple terms, is actually similar to drawing a picture. First, you need to draw the pattern on the starry paper."
He fell silent for a moment, then lightly flicked his fingertip, and a star card flew out.
"Roar!"
At the next moment, a thunderous tiger roar echoed, followed by a flaming fire python tiger, appearing before the eyes of everyone present.
An astonishing momentum emanated from it.
"This is my battle card - the Fire Python Tiger." Feng Yebei pointed at the fire python tiger and said, "If you want to make a Fire Python Tiger star card, you first need to have the image of the fire python tiger in your mind, and then draw it on the starry paper according to that image."
"When drawing, you can't just draw the outline. You have to detail it, down to its fur, body shape, and patterns."
"The more detailed and refined the drawing is, the better the quality of the star card will naturally be."
"Is it enough to just draw it down?" Xiao Xuan asked curiously. Drawing for him, being an art major, was not difficult.
The others looked at him as if he were a fool.
Feng Yebei shook his head and said, "That's just the first step. After drawing it, you need to start setting the star card skills."
He held the star pen in his hand and lightly tapped the upper left corner of the starry paper.
Instantly, a screen-like projection appeared in the empty space in front of them.
Xiao Xuan raised his eyebrows and saw that the top of the screen was written: "Please set the star card skills."
Feng Yebei said: "The skills set for the star card cannot be arbitrary and must match the image of the star card. For example, for my Fire Python Tiger, I can set it to tiger roar and fireball magic, but not ice freeze or dragon breath, and so on."
"After setting the skills, it still needs to undergo evaluation by the Star Domain Alliance Data System. Only after passing the evaluation can the star card be generated."
"The so-called Star Domain Alliance Data System is not artificially composed; it is extremely mysterious. You can understand it as the system incarnate of the heavens."
"Evaluation?" Xiao Xuan was puzzled.
Feng Yebei patiently explained as he lightly ran his fingers along the fire python tiger's fur, "First, the evaluation system will modify unreasonable skills to ensure balance."
"In addition, not just in our Tianyuan Star, but the nine major star domains, the copyright for star cards is highly valued."
"For example, if I make the Fire Python Tiger card, then the Fire Python Tiger is exclusively mine. You can't just go and draw another one that looks like the Fire Python Tiger."
"Even if you change its appearance, creating a four-winged Fire Python Tiger, a one-eyed Fire Python Tiger, or a three-legged Fire Python Tiger, that's not allowed either."
Xiao Xuan sighed, expressing his appreciation. This evaluation system is really conscientious, preventing piracy, following trends, and plagiarism.
Feng Yebei continued, "However, what's most needed in making a star card is actually creativity."
He showed a hint of admiration in his eyes and said, "Before, we couldn't travel across the stars, unable to visit other planets, until one day, a star card master dreamed of a ship flying in the void."
"So, based on the memories of his dream, he created a battleship card, which enabled our human race to traverse the galaxy and soar through the stars."
Feng Yebei spoke at length, and Xiao Xuan understood.
The position of a star card master, in plain terms, relies on creativity.
The more talented the star card master, the greater the creativity.
Feng Yebei said, "Also, you can't use human features as a prototype. If you want to create a character, it has to be an original character."
Xiao Xuan nodded, finding this understandable. This limitation should be there to maintain human dignity.
Otherwise, if someone has a grudge against someone, and they make them into a star card, or if someone is too pleased with someone and they make them into a star card, wouldn't that be...?
Xiao Xuan looked at Feng Yebei gratefully, realizing that this explanation was actually educating him alone.
If it was someone else, such as the patrol team captain, they probably would have become impatient and kicked him out by now.
Buzz...
Just then, the center of everyone's tables suddenly sank, and then, a set of armor appeared before their eyes.
Feng Yebei said, "The test is very simple, which is to mend this armor. The two who mend it the most perfectly will be allowed to stay."
Xiao Xuan looked at the armor, and his pupils couldn't help but slightly shrink.
The armor was full of cracks and in tatters everywhere, and it seemed that a little force would tear it apart.
With the damage to this degree, can it still be fixed?
Not just him, everyone's faces were filled with worry, except for Ruo Xi, who looked calm and composed.
Seeing the troubled expressions of everyone, Feng Yebei said lightly, "Although it's severely damaged, with the help of a needle card, it can still be repaired."
With a wave of his hand, a star card materialized and turned into a silver needle under the gaze of countless eyes.
Beside it, a screen appeared, displaying the attributes of the Source Star Needle:
Source Star Needle.
Category: Life Card.
Quality: Bronze.
Skill: [Sewing]: Automatically repair damaged armor.
"This is a functional card, Source Star Needle, just follow it and draw."
"Each person only has five sheets of star source paper, be sure to cherish them."
"Half an hour later, I will come to inspect the results."
As the voice fell, he walked straight out.
Xiao Xuan looked at the Source Star Needle floating in the void, puzzled, "Isn't it impossible to draw existing star cards?"
"In general, it's not possible, but if you get authorized by a star card master, naturally it's possible."
Just then, a man from the front row turned the corner, elongated his tone, and leisurely said.
He turned around slowly, lazily twirling the Source Star Pen in his hand, and looked at Xiao Xuan with a mocking smile, saying, "You know nothing about star cards. How backward is your hometown, after all?"
The smile at the corner of his mouth was tinged with ridicule.
Xiao Xuan smiled at him, and retorted without hesitation, "Since you feel so superior, you must come from a more advanced civilization."
"But if your planet is so advanced, why did you become a interstellar refugee?"
Han Xiang's face suddenly turned ashen.
Xiao Xuan sneered, "We are all refugees, facing a bleak situation. What are you pretending to be superior for?"
Ignoring Han Xiang's contorted and discolored face, Xiao Xuan lowered his head and looked at the armor.
He understood Feng Yebei's intention. These damaged armors were meant to test the quality of the star cards they made - the Source Star Needle.
If the armor was repaired well, it naturally meant that the star cards they made were of high quality, indicating that they had the talent to make cards.
Drawing a shape is the first step in making star cards.
Xiao Xuan held the Source Star Pen and slowly copied the Source Star Needle floating in the void.
Don't be fooled by the small size of the needle, the simpler something is, the more difficult it is to draw.
Not to mention, there were some special symbols on these needles.
Xiao Xuan couldn't understand those symbols, so he could only follow a pattern.
The tip of the pen passed over the star card, leaving a faint, simple trace that seemed to exude a certain charm, alluring people.
Before long, the Source Star Needle was finished.
Xiao Xuan lightly touched the upper left corner of the star source paper, and the screen popped up. He input the skill: Sewing.
After entering the skill, he clicked submit at the bottom of the screen.
"The system is verifying the data, please wait."
Xiao Xuan's heart was at a critical point.
"The pattern does not match the pattern of the Source Star Needle. The star card production failed."
Xiao Xuan was not surprised by this, and then picked up the second sheet of star source paper and started over.
After the first lesson, this time he carefully observed the Source Star Pen, pondered for a long time, and then started to draw.
"Star card production failed..."
Xiao Xuan continued to seriously observe.
"Failure..."
In a short time, four star cards had failed.
"What's going on?"
Xiao Xuan frowned, and now he only had one left, and he had observed carefully!
There was only one chance left. This time, he didn't start drawing right away, but stared at the Source Star Needle, almost trying to see through it.
On the surface of the Source Star Needle, there were some strange symbols. He had been drawing on the table nearby for a long time, making sure he could almost replicate it perfectly before he started drawing.
Tsk.
Production failed, the star card burned into nothingness.
Xiao Xuan's face slightly darkened at this moment, because this was the last sheet.
Moreover, it wasn't just an issue with the sheet of star source paper he had just used.
The last one, being an art major, he was certain and sure that he had drawn almost identically to the reference.
But it still failed.
He couldn't figure out the reason.
This was bad.
Suddenly, there were looks of delight and mockery cast at him.
Although the people in the field had never crossed paths in their lives, they had all become competitors, and now only two of them could remain, making it a struggle for supremacy.
Therefore, even if they had spare Star Source Paper, they would not give it to Xiao Xuan.
Despite not having crossed paths before, they were still opponents. Who would help?
The commotion here also caught the attention of Han Xiang. He smirked, shook his sleeve, and a source star needle appeared in the empty space before him.
He deliberately elongated his tone and said in a strange manner, "Although we are all interstellar refugees, there are still some differences among us."
As the crowd's eyes turned to him, they stirred when they saw the floating source star needle.
They hadn't even finished designing their patterns, and yet Han Xiang had already succeeded in making one?
Xiao Xuan glanced sideways and saw Ruo Xi, who was quietly repairing her armor with the source star needle in front of her.
The source star needle moved in and out of the armor as if an invisible hand were manipulating it.
Xiao Xuan's face turned pale. Feng Yebei had said that each person only had five sheets of Star Source Paper, and failing meant no chance.
Was he about to become the earliest casualty in the history of time travel?
Just then, a fair hand reached out and quietly handed him a sheet of Star Source Paper.
Xiao Xuan was taken aback and looked over to see that the person offering the paper was Ruo Xi.
Ruo Xi blinked her clear eyes and said, "I'm done with my source star needle, so I probably won't need this sheet of Star Source Paper. I'm giving it to you. Good luck."
A warmth filled his heart. Sometimes, offering a helping hand in a time of need was more touching than adding to one's success.
Xiao Xuan didn't overreact but gave her a grateful look. If he could survive today, he would find a way to repay her in the future.
As time passed, everyone in the field, except for Xiao Xuan, had gradually created their star cards. But that was just the first step.
Practice was the only criterion to test the quality of the star cards.
At the moment, practice undoubtedly meant seeing who could perfectly repair the armor.
Xiao Xuan was troubled. He had repeatedly failed to make star cards and now only had the one given by Ruo Xi.
If he failed again, it would be all over for him.
He mulled it over. The problem lay in the symbols on the source star needle. These symbols were perhaps a language from the native civilization of Tianyuan Star.
However, he had no concept of the native civilization. Even if he tried to depict the symbols, it would be like drawing a tiger and ending up with a dog.
A sidelong glance revealed that others had begun to manipulate the source star needles and repair the armor.
Xiao Xuan stared at the armor in front of him and suddenly had a thought.
Did repairing the armor necessarily have to involve drawing with the needle?
He had a wild idea. Could he draw a tailor instead?
Since a tailor was a human, and Feng Yebei had said not to draw existing figures, could he draw an original character?
He had never heard of the Galactic Alliance on Earth, and the people here had never heard of Earth either.
So, did it mean that historical and animated characters from Earth were unprecedented original characters here?
It sounded absurd.
However, once this idea emerged, it lingered in Xiao Xuan's mind like an obsession, refusing to go away.
As this idea took hold, Xiao Xuan's eyes gradually lit up. Since Yan Wanheng had not heard of Earth, perhaps the characters from Earth's manga did not exist in this world too!
The Third Chapter: Iron Man (Revised)
Xiao Xuan closed his eyes in contemplation. When it came to tailoring, the first person that came to his mind was Iron Man.
As a dedicated Marvel fan, the sound of Iron Man creating his armor was still lingering in his ears.
Iron Man was a superhero in the Marvel Universe, a technological genius known for creating equipment. He had provided many of the Avengers' equipment, such as Captain America's classic suit, the electromagnetic induction shield, Black Widow's batons, Spider-Man's Iron Spider suit, and the Hulk's stretchy pants...
With a deep breath, he calmed his slightly ruffled emotions.
Clearing his mind, Xiao Xuan looked at the Star Source Paper on the table, knowing that this was his last chance.
If he continued to make the source star needle, he might continue to fail as before.
In that case, he might as well take a chance!
In his mind, Iron Man wielded a hammer and struck the armor, making a crisp sound.
So, Xiao Xuan picked up the source star pen and sketched everything he had in mind on the Star Source Paper—Iron Man, the hammer, the armor, and the nearby forge.
Recalling the scene in his mind, the pen tip flowed smoothly without any stagnation.
The pen tip flowed, and after a few minutes, the image of Iron Man creating his battle suit leaped onto the paper.
Next was to set the skills.