The Card Cultivation System
CCS-136

"That's........"

Huo Bing stared at the skull lying beside the spatial stone pile. He never knew what Purple Hand looked like, but it should be him because no one else could come here. Despite that, Huo Bing did not know why the poison master that many feared was now turning into a pile of old bones.

The bird turned to Xika asking for an explanation but Xika did not know either. He gave a head bobble. While Heiliao stared at the bones carefully. It was as if he was investigating something. His forehead was wrinkled deep enough.

"What's wrong?"

"It. This bone emitted an aura that made it seem as if it had been in this place for a very long time. How long will it take from Shu Mang to come until we go to this mine?"

"About one month. It shouldn't be more than that."

"Impossible. There's no way a human corpse turns into bone in just one month."

"You forgot the flow of time in this different place? It could have been in this place for hundreds of years while in our place just passed a month."

"I knew. But the flow of time is not that seceoat either. It's about 10:1 in this place. Although times 30 days also still can not make a corpse into a bone."

Heiliao was silent again. He tried to think of an answer to this. But not Huo Bing. The bird likes to think less and prefers to act. So he went forward and touched the bone.

Yoke!

Cracks! Cracks!

Huo Bing only touched him slowly, moreover he was only a spirit so his touch should not be strong enough to be able to shatter that bone in an instant.

"............"

"............"

"Do you feel what I've felt since I first entered this place? It felt as if there was a great power that was much stronger than me even in its heyday. That power makes me want to bow in respect."

"Hmm, yeah. Not that strong, but I feel it too."

"Eh? I don't feel it at all. I feel comfortable in this place. Reminds me of childhood."

"....................Xena."

"?"

"It seems like there is a great power controlling this place. Remember the rope and the card that moved before? It seemed like the creature that moved the cards and ropes was the same as the creature that caused the Purple Hand to become like this."

Huo Bing's facial sharpness worsened. He spread his wings and looked around him closely.

"But it looks like the creature will not attack us. At least for now."

"Why?"

"Because of you" Heiliao said as she looked at Xika right in her eyes. The one being stared at instead raised one eyebrow and gave a puzzled look.

"Maybe the creature had a good relationship with you so it didn't attack us, or because you won the game earlier. I don't know which one. But one of my guesses must be right."

Xika scratched slowly her head. In fact, he was indeed aware of the existence of the creature Heiliao mentioned. He could faintly feel another consciousness. It was that consciousness that told him about the map and the location of the Purple Hand. But somehow the consciousness seemed to refuse to talk further with him. So he chose to keep it a secret from Huo Bing and Heiliao for a while.

"That means for a while this place is safe. Is it okay if we take this spatial stone?"

"I'm sure such a powerful being would not care about stones like this. Maybe for us it's worth something, but for him it's nothing more than a pile of trash."

"Then let's go back. We have to tell them."

Heiliao nodded. Xika went up to her waiting and they walked away. Unbeknownst to Xika, Huo Bing and Heiliao were communicating through souls.

"In a place like this........would you make another gap? Or run away at least?"

"I'm not sure. But even if I could, I'm sure I can't escape."

"What do you think the Purple Hand was killed in?"

"Vile ways. That thing sucked his life force out."

"My guess is so."

"If such a powerful being is on our side, then it will be a great help."

"Yes. But I'm not sure he'll help us. Even though we won't be needing his help anytime soon."

"You're right."

And they came in front of the gap where they had arrived. For some reason, the trip this time felt faster than before. It may have something to do with the existence of the mysterious creature.

Heiliao was about to step her foot towards the crack, but Huo Bing stopped her.

"Wait first. If we go out now, what will we tell them? 'Purple Hand had died by a mysterious existence. This place is safe. Surprise!'?"

"yes too. What do we tell them?"

So Heiliao paused her intention to step over the gap. He took a few steps back and thought about what to say together with Xika and Huo Bing. In the end it took them an hour to determine what to say.

"We'd better not tell the whole thing. It was probably only at Lang Yan and Xuehao. The rest we corals in part."

"Yes, I think it's better too. Who's gonna talk?"

"Of course you are. You're the leader of the wolves. You expect a human or a bird spirit to speak in place of the wolf leader to the wolves?"

"Ah, yes. All right, then."

Then they put together words to convey. After he was ready, Heiliao stepped over the crack and returned to the place where the wolves were waiting for him.

WHUSHES!

Taps!

The appearance of Heiliao along with Xika and Huo Bing gave rise to a puzzled look mixed in shock. Just a minute passed. Why are they out? Is there any danger? But there was no way they would come out with such a face if there was any danger behind the gap. What the hell's going on?

There were many questions in the minds of the wolves including Lang Yan. But they don't talk. They waited for Heiliao to speak first.

The big black wolf looked around him, then turned to one of the wolves.

"How long have I been gone?"

"Eh? Ba-it was only one minute." replied the wolf in shock at Heiliao's sudden questioning.

Heiliao was silent for a moment. He shifted his gaze to arrange the words he had to say. He took a deep breath before opening his mouth.

"I know why you're curious I got out so fast. Is there any danger? Yeah, ada. But not anytime soon. What about the Purple Hand? We've already met him. And he's lifeless."

And at once there was also a cheering from the wolves. They cheered over the troublesome death of the Purple Hand. But Heiliao's next remark stopped their cheers.

"No. Don't cheer. We didn't kill him. He was dead when we found him. The danger I mentioned earlier, it seems like it was the creature that killed him. But I guess he also spent a lot of energy. So when we got to the mine, the creature was sleeping to recover its power.

His sleep will last long enough. Although I'm not sure how long. And one more thing that's still a question for you guys, why would I get out so fast? I can't do all that in a minute.

And the answer is, the flow of time in the mine is different from in this place. Time goes faster there. To be honest, I've been walking for over an hour. Plus investigating the mine and searching for the corpse of Purple Hand, it might have been more than two hours. But for you guys, I've only been in for a minute.

Right, we can train in that mine and get stronger faster. But I forbid you from doing that. Not even entering it. Because of the existence of dangerous creatures, you can not carelessly enter the place. You can only enter with our permission.

Now, let's go back and have a celebratory feast because of the increase in our treasures!"

Heiliao's last words again caused cheers. This time it was even bigger than before. They rushed back home. Someone told this news to his relatives, there were also those who immediately prepared a party. But no one noticed Heiliao, Xika, or Huo Bing.

Amidst the crowd, Heiliao walked past Lang Yan. His face was serious, unlike before when asking to hold a party. And the wolf said,

"Call Xuehao."

After that he left and left Lang Yan who realized there was something else Heiliao had not said.