My Stubborn Soul Card Follower

Shen Sui drew a card from his deck, directly destroying the top that You Wenqi had controlled for him.

Looking at the [Cyan Wood Snake Badge] in his hand, Shen Sui was slightly taken aback.

"Not good." Tan Song, who had been meditating with closed eyes, suddenly opened them, "Shen Sui has fallen into a trap."

Tan Song had personally experienced the [Cyan Wood Snake Badge],which could be considered one of the most underworld cards in You Wenqi's deck.

This card would automatically reveal and activate when entering the hand of a non-holder.

Without paying any cost, the activator could return this card to their opponent's deck top, and at the end of the turn, they could draw three cards.

If the effect of this card had already been activated during this turn, the activator must send their highest-starred follower on the field to the graveyard.

Is it another effect targeting the player?

Moreover, this time it's stuffed into Shen Sui's hand.

Looking at the condition for the second effect activation, You Wenqi was clearly determined not to let Shen Sui make a second move.

"It shouldn't be like this." Tan Song murmured, "Shen Sui should have prepared before the duel, right? If You Wenqi rarely used the Legendary Cockroach card and he wasn't prepared for it, this card should at least be a classic of You Wenqi's, right? Why would he still draw a card; he could have just given up the second move? It would be better to transform Qishala into the Dragon of Conquest rather than being sent to the graveyard."

But on the duel field, Shen Sui quickly regained his composure.

The [Cyan Wood Snake Badge] was one of You Wenqi's classic counter cards, specially used to suppress high-intensity decks that required top-deck manipulation.

Decks that required inspections often included some top-deck control cards in their build, and at this time, You Wenqi would use this card to return the top control. If the opponent greedily drew, he might even profit from a wave of self-restriction.

As soon as this card entered Shen Sui's hand, its effect activated. While returning to the top of You Wenqi's deck, it also popped up an option for Shen Sui to choose his highest-starred follower on the field to send to the graveyard.

His highest-starred follower on the field was undoubtedly [Star Abyss White Dragon·Qishala].

Shen Sui had no choice.

"There it goes, resolved again." Shen Sui scratched his head, showing a regretful expression.

You Wenqi, on the other hand, was pondering what Shen Sui's actual plan was.

Could it be a real mistake?

After this duel ends, I must criticize him thoroughly for not even doing the most basic duel preparation properly.

As a professional Life Card Master, although it's not required to remember all the Life Cards used during an opponent's career, classic ones should always be remembered, right?

Even though You Wenqi never announced himself the country's number one, as the most famous professional Life Card Master in Huaxia at the moment, much of his information is available online, and this [Cyan Wood Snake Badge] is among the most classic of them all. If Shen Sui hasn't even researched this card's effect, he needs a good lecture on professional attitude.

But as an experienced veteran, You Wenqi quickly walked away from the inherent impression of a newcomer.

Throughout his career, he encountered numerous newcomers, even losing in the World Championship finals to a newcomer who debuted just that year. However, Shen Sui was, in his experience, the most terrifying newcomer.

This guy shouldn't make such a low-level mistake.

If he's willing to draw even under the badge effect, he must have a backup plan.

This expression of frustration is definitely an act.

You Wenqi suddenly became vigilant.

"When Qishala is sent to the graveyard, Dragon Witch Alice's effect activates." Shen Sui suddenly declared, "In my battle phase, when a [Dragon] follower is sent to the graveyard, Alice's Spirit Value increases by the Spirit Value of that follower."

Alice's Spirit Value reached 8000 points.

"Even without a second move, this duel has already ended." Shen Sui declared another attack, "Alice, direct attack."

After Qishala's first move, You Wenqi's Life Value had already dropped to 4000, while Alice's Spirit Value was 8000.

Alice's magic landed on You Wenqi indisputably.

However, the victory text did not appear.

Shen Sui's mind sank.

The effect of the Wandering Dragon?

Shen Sui vaguely remembered that the closest You Wenqi came to a World Championship win was by using the effect of [Starry Zodiac God·Wandering Dragon] to block the most lethal attack.

Sure enough, You Wenqi then said, "When I'm taking fatal damage, I activate the effect of [Starry Zodiac God·Wandering Dragon] from the exclusion zone, banishing all [Starry Zodiac God] followers in my graveyard to restore my Life Value to the number corresponding to the banished followers times 500. Then I can special summon the Wandering Dragon."

You Wenqi banished three Zodiac Gods from his graveyard, restoring his Life Value to 1500 points, successfully locking his Life Value.

"The Wandering Dragon summoned this way will return to the exclusion zone at the end of the turn." You Wenqi said again.

In his heart, Shen Sui recalled Wandering Dragon's effect and declared another attack, "When Spirit Value changes, Dragon Witch Alice can discard a hand card to make an additional attack."

Saying this, Shen Sui discarded a hand card, allowing Alice to launch another attack.

The Wandering Dragon, having the highest initial Spirit Value among the Starry Zodiac Gods—6000 Spirit Value, could even trade one-for-one with Qishala. Unfortunately, he encountered the 8000 Spirit Value Alice, and was naturally destroyed in battle.

2000 battle damage fell upon You Wenqi, whose freshly recovered Life Value returned to zero.

This time, You Wenqi didn't activate any card.

As the timing passed, the victory text for the duel appeared.

Shen Sui won.

But he felt something was off; what about that last timing point?

He looked up, somewhat puzzled, at You Wenqi.

"Indeed, your dueling standards worry me the least." You Wenqi genuinely exclaimed, "The champion of the national tournament is none other than you."

"You were hiding a card." Shen Sui stared at You Wenqi, "What was up with the last timing point?"

"Just a useless effect; it wouldn't have helped me win even if activated. This time, you won." You Wenqi did not directly answer Shen Sui.

This made Shen Sui even more uncomfortable.

Winning, yet not really winning.

"You, with no Soul of Duels." Shen Sui complained bitterly, "No wonder there are so many runners-up; you're at this stage and still hiding a card."

You Wenqi rolled his eyes and said, "Isn't it normal to hold back in a training match? If I show all my cards, I'd be doomed in official matches."

"But you're the coach now, and I'm the player! It's not a training match between players."

You Wenqi was silent for a moment, then clapped his hands, suddenly realizing, "Oh, right!"

Shen Sui's blood pressure rose higher.

You Wenqi ultimately didn't agree to Shen Sui's proposal for another duel, making Shen Sui very frustrated but left with no choice.

Of course, it mainly started because Alice's selection began; otherwise, Shen Sui would probably have blocked the door.

This duel wasn't satisfying!

Even winning didn't feel satisfying!

"You didn't use that card again?" Tan Song walked up to You Wenqi, seeming to have guessed something, "How many duels have you lost because of this reason? What does the matter of the Soul Card World have to do with you?"

"..."

"I can only say." Facing You Wenqi's silence, Tan Song spoke again, "A Life Card Master who never uses their Soul Card in a duel will never get far on the dueling path, You Wenqi."

"As my defeated opponent, you have no right to speak." You Wenqi taunted, "How many times have you won against me?"

Tan Song opened his mouth.

Damn!

There was no way to refute.

"Moreover... Even if I activated the Soul Card effect." You Wenqi sighed, "Winning isn't certain. Shen Sui is very cunning; you wouldn't believe he was using all his strength, right?"

During You Wenqi's turn, while summoning a fifteen-star Zodiac God, timing points were continuously being triggered.

This timing was too frequent, and at that moment, You Wenqi could only think of one card:

[Bound Holy Artifact Puppet·Naphitaya].

This guy has been waiting for my crucial Zodiac God the whole time.