After several days of explosive card sales, the Card Shop's business gradually stabilized, and Lu Chenxing once again earned several million, his strength also reaching the second-tier mid-stage.
Of the one hundred second-tier perfect crystal cores sent by the military department, only a small portion remained, a consumption rate that was simply astounding.
However, for Lu Chenxing, he had long anticipated this situation, so he wasn't surprised.
He had also used all the natural treasures that enhanced mental strength and various other potions, so he had grown quite a bit taller and his muscles had become stronger, no longer appearing thin; his strength was not far from the second-tier late-stage.
In the mental world, the entire Huaguo Mountain was about to fully materialize, and many monkeys would go to watch the immortal stone on the mountaintop when the weather was good, playing and frolicking around it.
While Lu Chenxing's overall strength was improving, some minor troubles also came knocking.
"Boss Lu, please tell me! I beg you!" A tall man, with a pleading expression and hands clasped together, looked at Lu Chenxing expectantly, seemingly wanting to know something.
Lu Chenxing, however, looked helpless, "I already told you, the character on this card was just something I made up casually. Why don't you believe me?"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" The tall man immediately became agitated. "This is definitely not something casually fabricated! I can see that there's a unique spirit within that phantom! Boss Lu, saying that is an insult to my professionalism as a believer!"
This tall man, named Guan Yang, was a student in the Faith Department at Super Martial University. The number of students in this major each year was pitifully small because most believers would join a sect rather than attend university.
But Guan Yang was very different; he didn't believe in gods or immortals, so after going to a sect, he didn't sense any response from any immortal or Buddha. Now, he was already a sophomore, and he still hadn't found his patron deity.
For a believer, not finding a patron deity meant having no cultivation method, so Guan Yang's combat power was very low. He had already failed four assessments. If it weren't for his special circumstances and his never showing fear towards exotic beasts, he would have already been advised to leave!
Just then, he accidentally saw a blade-wielding martial artist using Lu Chenxing's card. That majestic, domineering aura of one man holding off ten thousand men caused an extremely strong palpitation in his talent!
So he quickly ran to Lu Chenxing, wanting to ask him who that phantom exactly was, what his story was, and if he could be his patron deity?
Lu Chenxing was also having a massive headache now. He remembered that card; it was custom-made for a martial artist who used a Yanyue Saber. It was truly something he had casually created, just that due to the influence of memories from his previous life, he subconsciously made it a bit like Guan Erye.
(Note: "Yanyue Saber" is a type of weapon, also known as "Yanyue Saber," similar to other weapons like "Xiuchun Saber" or "Eight-Sided Han Sword.")
He never expected someone to come asking him who this person was, and even asking about his life story and so on, which truly left him speechless.
After Guan Yang's unreasonable persistence, seeing Lu Chenxing unmoved and even somewhat impatient, his eyes suddenly became resolute. Then he gritted his teeth and steeled his heart!
With a "thud," he knelt before Lu Chenxing. "Boss Lu, I am willing to become your disciple. Please teach me!"
This startled Lu Chenxing quite a bit. He quickly waved his hand, using Wind Element to lift him, and frowned, "What are you doing? Trying to force me with this? I'm telling you, I don't fall for that!"
The commotion even made Guo Jiahao, who was focused on making cards nearby, look over.
Seeing that he couldn't even kneel down, Guan Yang felt bitter in his heart, "So, without strength, one doesn't even have the right to beg."
Seeing Lu Chenxing watching him coldly from the side, Guan Yang had no choice but to explain the whole story, including his current awkward situation.
"So if Boss Lu isn't willing to help me and take me as his disciple, I'll likely be advised to leave and never be hired again," Guan Yang said dejectedly.
After understanding the whole story, Lu Chenxing could understand why Guan Yang was so anxious. Although he didn't know what his talent was, anyone who could get into Super Martial University had extraordinary qualities and certainly wouldn't be willing to leave just like that!
Moreover, in this world, only professionals could have a future. If Guan Yang never found his patron deity, he might not even be able to find a job in the end.
After all, most jobs now required at least second-tier strength. He was still in the first-tier early stage, no different from an ordinary person—unable to carry heavy things, unable to lift, and unable to stay up late. Who would want him?
So if Lu Chenxing could truly help him find his patron deity, it would be akin to his rebirth parents, and he could certainly set some conditions.
Having figured this out, Lu Chenxing turned his gaze back to Guan Yang, and after some thought, said, "How about this, I promise to tell you this person's name and all his experiences..."
"Really!?" Guan Yang's eyes widened instantly, joy evident on his face.
"But!" Lu Chenxing quickly added, "If you don't find your patron deity, then it'll be as if you never came, meaning we have no fate. But if you do find him, then you must promise me one thing!"
The reason for making Guan Yang promise him something was mainly considering the guild. When the guild unit went to the battlefield, he couldn't be the only president charging forward, right? And the regular tasks and upgrade tasks required for guild upgrades, he couldn't always do them personally, could he?
Although he had already decided to pull in Guo Jiahao, the Little Fatty, that was still only two people.
So if Guan Yang could truly make Guan Erye his patron deity, his strength should not be low, and he would definitely be a good hand! At that time, he could just be asked to join the guild, and he probably wouldn't refuse.
Another reason was an ancient saying from his original world, "The Dharma must not be lightly transmitted"; to transmit the Dharma, one must always agree to certain conditions.
Additionally, there were some personal reasons, such as feeling a sense of familiarity seeing someone whose patron deity was Guan Erye.
"Good! It's a deal!" Guan Yang agreed without hesitation, while at the same time, he began to feel a bit nervous, even scared, wondering what if his feeling just now was wrong?
But Lu Chenxing didn't bother with his thoughts. He directly took him out, told Guo Jiahao to watch the shop, and then headed straight for the martial arts hall he had visited last time when he first awakened.
"Welcome... Oh, it's you!" The person at the martial arts hall's reception was still the same young lady from last time. She recognized Lu Chenxing at a glance, after all, he was the first person to blow up the training room and almost injure herself.
"Don't misunderstand, this time I'm not here to test a technique," Lu Chenxing said with a smile.
The young lady quickly said, "I didn't mean that. Even if you come to test, we welcome you."
Saying that, she took a room card from the side and said formulaically, "This is your room card. If you need anything, you can press the service bell in the room to call me... Upgrading the room is also possible."
You still say you didn't mean that! Lu Chenxing secretly complained in his heart, took the room card without saying much, and just waved to Guan Yang behind him, "Follow me."