The Card Cultivation System
CCS-129

"What........what does all this mean? Whatdoes thatmean? Why.......why is everything the same?"

Xika did not understand all this. He looked at Huo Bing and all he got was a mysterious smile.

"Before I tell you the meaning, try to remember again the cultivation method you learned before. Remember carefully every picture, every line, and every word."

Xika closed her eyes doing as Huo Bing asked. He recalled a technique called Ultimate Deck Method. That method requires 52 energy containers and four main support poles. Up to that part nothing matters. The whole thing contained only strange patterns that he did not understand.

Waitaminute! Those patterns don't feel strange now. Yes, it was the same pattern that Huo Bing had drawn on the ground. But Xika still did not understand what this all meant. He turned his head back and the bird knew he was still confused.

"I knew. Hold still. Before you ask, answer my question. What are you looking at?"

"The same pattern you drew."

"Where did you see him?"

"In the technique you gave me."

"And what is that technique for?"

"Cultivated. Don't tell me those patterns have anything to do with how I cultivate?"

Lang Jin and Shu Mang who were at the side raised their eyebrows and widened their eyes when they heard what Xika said. They looked a bit confused and surprised.

"Of course." replied Huo Bing. "It's a cultivation method. What's the point other than to guide you into cultivating?"

"Alright, alright. That pattern is related to the way I cultivate. So what pattern is that really?"

"Maybe your friend by the side knows the answer." Huo Bing said as he returned a mysterious smile.

Xika. He did not know whether Huo Bing meant Shu Mang or Lang Jin, but it seemed that he did not need to guess because one of them had stepped forward. He looked at the pattern drawn on the ground by Huo Bing.

"What pattern is that?" ask Xika curiously.

"It's.....the patterns that make up the elements." Shu Mang replied somewhat confusedly explaining.

"Eh, can you explain in more detail? I've only started cultivating for a few years, if you don't know."

Shu Mang widened his eyes. But he did not have time to give a surprised reaction to being interrupted by Huo Bing, anymore.

"Our world is composed of various elements. And each element is rearranged from various patterns. And what you see here," Huo Bing said as he pointed at the pattern beside the fire element, "is the pattern that composes the fire element. So is the other pattern."

Xika looked at Shu Mang and the young man nodded confirming Huo Bing's words. He also spoke, too,

"Our clan arranged a formation based on these patterns. They are the most basic patterns. And by using that pattern as a basis, we're developing it again into other, more complicated patterns that we call formations."

"Okay, I get it. It is the pattern that composes the elements that make up the world. But what do those patterns have to do with my cultivation method? And why is that pattern in my cultivation method?"

Shu Mang frowned in confusion as a reaction to Xika's question. While Huo Bing the Cygnix still continued to smile mysteriously. Xika promised herself that she would hit the bird very hard when she knew the pattern's relationship with the Ultimate Deck Method.

"The cultivation method is a way of how you flow your qi in your body. There were very many cultivation methods in this world because there were diverse cultivators. Generally, they tell which nerves must be supplied with qi in order to absorb it effectively.

Because of the many cultivation methods that exist, experts divide them again into several categories. That's why you should choose your cultivation method well. Because not all cultivation methods are suitable for you. There are those that are suitable for children and should be replaced when mature, some are suitable for women, some are suitable for sword users, some are suitable for cultivators of certain elements.

But unfortunately, you don't have to bother choosing a cultivation method that suits you. Because there is someone who has created one special method just for you. And that cultivation method was named the Ultimate Deck Method.

Instead of teaching you to flow qi to certain nerves, this method teaches you to flow qi to the dantian in a certain pattern. Supposedly, you chose the cultivation method when reaching the Qi Forming. But since you live in a lowly clan where every time you break through the next stage you change methods, so I gave it to you despite just being in the Qi Gathering."

"Wait, wait. You said you were pouring qi on dantian? Wh-wh-what for? Didn't you say the wrong thing? And again.........What are you?" shu Mang asked in confusion.

WHOOS!!!!

Instead of answering, Huo Bing flew in front of Shu Mang then spread both wings. One was smoldering and gave a fierce heat while the other froze and gave a bone-chilling chill.

"You better take good care of what you heard today. Or I will make you experience a torment more terrible than death." Huo Bing said with her face very close to Shu Mang. The young man only nodded stiffly, scared as well as shocked by the change the bird had shown.

The bird came back and perched on Xika's shoulder. He was still staring intently at Shu Mang. Xika asked again to catch Huo Bing's attention.

"Ehh....why is my dantian arrangement the same as the pattern arrangement that makes up the elements?"

"I don't know the answer. But there's something else I know."

"What?"

"How did you absorb your qi all this time?"

"Ehh.......I absorbed it using Heiliao's black hole and flowed it according to the first image the Ultimate Deck Method showed. Passing through several nerves then towards the first dantian. After the first dantian was full, I repeated it at the second dantian. So onward."

Shu Mang did not understand what Xika was talking about. First dantian? Both? Next up? But before he could ask, Huo Bing had already stared at him so sharply that he paused his intention to ask. Huo Bing recalled the image that Xika had spoken of.

Then he nodded. Xika is not wrong. Ultimate Deck did ask him to stream the qi according to that image. But only as long as its user was at the Qi Gathering. Once the user broke through to the next stage, there was no further explanation. But Huo Bing guessed that the next stage was the constituent patterns of that element. Because that's the only other picture there is.

"Because now that you are already at the Qi Forming stage, then there is a slight change. Drain your qi according to these patterns."

"Eh, which one?"

"Everything."

"Okay..... Which one was it?"

"You can already create two patterns in your body right? This time try four."

Xika fell silent. Think for a while before confirming his conjecture.

"So you mean......... I have to absorb qi and drain it to four different dantians simultaneously?"

"Fright."

"Then........."

"really. Your speed is four times faster than before. It might already be on par with ordinary people." Huo Bing said with a smile.

Xika widened her eyes before smiling. Previously he thought it was impossible to cultivate four times faster than now. Even with Heiliao's black hole, it was still impossible. But not anymore.

He opened his eyes and his gaze changed. A look full of determination. This way, he could cultivate four times faster and he could catch up to Tian Yin faster. Then he sat down and tried to form four patterns in his body.

While at the side, Shu Mang and Lang Jin were staring in bewilderment. They did not understand the conversation at all. But Lang Jin hid his confusion, unlike Shu Mang who was blatantly showing how confused he was. Maybe it was because he felt this was his home, so there was no need to pretend anymore.

"Eh, anu..actually ap-"

"There are a few things," Huo Bing said cutting Shu Mang somehow for how many times. "That better not know. Sometimes, it can save your life."

Shu Mang could only open and close his mouth without making a sound. Lang Jin next to him, walked a few steps away before sitting down and cultivating. He doesn't care much. Since Huo Bing did not intend to tell, then he would not force it. After all, he had a target to achieve. And he won't just shut up. He will surpass Xika.

Shu Mang looked at Xika and Lang Jin alternately before taking a seat. He also cultivated. But unfortunately he failed to do so because a turbid bowl had been in front of his mouth and the liquid was dripping little by little. Lang Yao, the wolf that disappeared in the middle of the conversation due to being ignored by Lang Jin, had returned with a bowl filled with the same liquid that Shu Mang had drunk earlier.

Previously, he gave the liquid too much, until Xika had to help her patients absorb its medicinal properties. Therefore, this time he gave it away little by little. He let (force) Shu Mang swallow a few sips of his medicine and then let him absorb the medicinal properties.

After Shu Mang finished absorbing his medicinal properties, he again gave (hit Shu Mang's stomach until his mouth opened, then forced him to take) his medicine. The incident took place many times until all the plants he carried were exhausted.

The only time for Shu Mang to rest was when Lang Yao went to pick up the plants. He used those moments to quietly absorb the free air. But damn, the wolf is fast. Even the late ones are faster than humans. So Lang Yao came back not long after and again asked (forced) Shu Mang to take his medicine.

A few weeks passed. Xika had managed to form three patterns on her body and stayed one step away towards the fourth pattern. Lang Jin next to him, seemed to have made a new achievement even though Xika did not know what it was. And Shu Mang, who had been going through hell for these few weeks, his injuries had almost fully recovered. It seemed that there was no need for Huo Bing to make Shu Mang tormented.

Xika wakes up to clean herself up and just clear her mind. He had been sitting and cultivating for several weeks. Indeed, he had cultivated for longer than that, but still he needed entertainment. So he decided to take a walk.

And incidentally, a wolf came when he was about to walk.