Perception

Sometimes, Chris would think about the card with a starry, complex black background lying in his drawer. Just the thought of the fifteen thousand Oudi price tag for a three-star energy card would immediately cool his enthusiasm. Handling that mysterious and intricate card had become a daily habit for him, and now, he kept it casually placed on his desk.

Chris was filled with curiosity about the silver-lined black card, but he resisted the urge to purchase a three-star energy card. This decision was made after careful consideration. Beyond the factor of the expensive three-star energy card, the main reason for his decision was rooted in himself.

His foundation was weak—so weak that he considered himself inferior even to an ordinary low-level card maker. Spending time on this mysterious card now wouldn't do much to aid his development. He understood that without a solid foundation, the higher he climbed, the more precarious and narrow the path would become. While he wasn't one for grand philosophies, his childhood as a wanderer had taught him this simple yet profound truth.

These days, he had been immersed in the exhilaration of rapid progress. After years of improvement, he had never stopped thinking and reflecting, though certain key issues, difficult to unravel, had hindered his advancement. Once those obstacles were removed, the overwhelming rush of progress, brought him an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

He believed that he was now ready to start attempting to create one-star illusion cards.

Illusion cards are a traditional strength of the Sky Federation. The founder of card theory, Rosenberg, was particularly skilled in creating illusion cards. The initial stage of an illusion card involves producing a phantom image, while the advanced stage reaches the level of simulating real objects. At the basic level, illusion cards aren't particularly useful; they can only project illusions. Though these illusions appear realistic, they are merely images and cannot cause harm. Experienced individuals can easily distinguish them at a glance.

Advanced illusion cards are incredibly powerful. They can harness the energy from energy cards and, through special arrangements, simulate objects, making them representative of high-end weaponry and the specialized tools of card cultivators. These advanced illusion cards are known as phantom skill cards. Generally, when people refer to illusion cards, they are typically talking about the basic, low-level ones.

The process of creating illusion cards differs significantly from that of energy cards. For energy cards, as long as the card maker understands the structure and has the necessary drawing skills, they can produce the card. Illusion cards require something more—they necessitate that the card maker possesses a certain level of "perception." This perception refers to the card maker's ability to communicate with and understand the energy involved.

Energy and material properties are the core skills that a card maker must master.

Perception can be enhanced through special methods, making it a mandatory skill for every card maker. In today's card maker assessments, perception is one of the most crucial and fundamental abilities, with very strict grading levels.

Of course, perception isn't exclusive to card makers. Certain professions, such as card cultivators—who are experts in using cards—also require a significant level of perception.

In the early development of the card system, during Rosenberg's time, there was no profession known as card cultivators. At that time, card makers, being the creators of the cards, were also the most familiar with them. They were adept at both creating and using the cards, and manipulating cards came naturally to them. This era primarily featured card masters, who were skilled in both card making and card techniques.

It wasn't until the era of Haina Vicent, three hundred years ago, that the number and variety of card makers reached a significant level due to over two hundred years of development. This expansion allowed more cards to be distributed beyond the card makers themselves. As the card system became increasingly complex, the knowledge required for card makers grew substantially compared to the Rosenberg era. Consequently, card makers began to focus more on research and study.

It was from that time onwards that a new profession emerged—card cultivators. These specialists dedicated their efforts entirely to maximizing the power of cards. As a result, they became far more proficient in using cards than the card makers themselves. Since human energy is limited, card makers who split their focus between card creation and usage often struggle to excel in both areas. Over time, the distinction between these two professions became increasingly clear.

However, there were exceptions, such as Haina Vicent. He was not only a genius card maker but also one of the top card cultivators of his time. He became the last recorded card master, bridging both professions with exceptional skill.

In modern times, card makers and card cultivators focus on different aspects of perception training. Card makers primarily emphasize sensing energy, while card cultivators focus on controlling energy.

There are many methods for training perception, but they all share a common feature: the need for a medium. The choice of medium directly affects the characteristics of perception, which in turn influences the cards created by the card maker. The nature of these cards then impacts the card cultivators who use them. As a result, in many traditions and schools, card makers and card cultivators often coexist. Cultivators using cards from their own school can often unleash the maximum potential of those cards because they share the same perception training. For example, the renowned Kuji Temple produces various heart cards; those not from Kuji Temple typically find it nearly impossible to use them effectively, and even if they can use them, they cannot fully harness their power.

Compared to card makers, card cultivators are more numerous. The prestige of being a card maker is well-known, but this only applies if one reaches at least a mid-to high-level status. In contrast, card cultivators are far more adaptable, finding roles as private bodyguards, explorers, mercenaries, and more. For instance, a card cultivator skilled in controlling water cards can move freely underwater, making them the ideal choice for underwater exploration and surveys. Similarly, cultivators proficient in using detection cards are essential not only for local law enforcement but also as key members of any expedition team.

The variety of cards is vast, and the card cultivators who use them are just as diverse and unique.