The Card Cultivation System
CCS-138S

After telling her father's name, Xika no longer spoke to the creature. He tried to merge with the chatter of Heiliao and the others. It was not too difficult, because what they were talking about was not far from this place, the mysterious creature he had just talked to, and the pile of spatial stones that would cause bloodshed when it was known to the outside world.

"I'm sure once, the entire world of cultivators will be stirred up once more when it knows the existence of this mine. The ruling order will also change a lot. We have to keep this place a secret."

"I agree. But if we don't let anyone enter this place, then it will definitely attract the curiosity of many wolves. Who should we let in?"

"I feel like we should make two kinds of lists. One for those who will guard this gap, the other for those who are allowed into this mine."

"That's a good idea. But how should we choose from so many wolves?"

"We do as usual. Don't tell them. Observe carefully when they are training. Encourage them with temptation. We'll know who's really worth it."

Lang Yan and Xuehao nodded in agreement. It is like that they used to choose or see the true nature of a wolf. They won't tell them, of course. If they knew that a selection was being held, they would be kind on purpose, so they could not distinguish what was truly worthy and what was not.

"ah! This guard we're putting here can't be an ordinary wolf. They have to stand facing each other. One facing this gap another facing the opposite direction. So if there's an attack from the rift then we'll know, and even if there's an attack from the forest we'll know."

"The ridiculous idea. But I agree enough. It's the only way to keep an eye on both directions. How much do you think we should put the wolves to guard this mine?"

"My count is about four to six. But that number can change. We'll observe them first. Once the list is collected, then we determine which will enter the mine and which will guard."

"Heh. What a stupid idea."

"Eh? Why do you think so?"

Xika was quite surprised to hear the voice speak again after being silent for quite a while.

"There will be no attack from this mine. They just need to put guards to limit who will enter the mine."

"Why are you so sure?"

"Why aren't you sure?"

Xika shut up for a moment. After a while, he spoke again.

"Ehh. If not, about seven thousand. Who knows what creatures will enter through that gap?"

"I know."

Xika was surprised to hear the answer to that voice. His voice sounded very confident, as if he would know all the creatures that entered this place right without any fault.

"How do you know?"

"Because I am this mine. I control this mine, the rope, and the card, too. I control every gap that's in here. I let them explode after being old enough and I made a new crack to suffice the amount. I close the gap to those who don't deserve to come in and I let those who deserve to come in."

"Then....why did you kill the Purple Hand? You let him in because he's worth it, right? Then why did you kill him?"

"He has his own role. And his role has been fulfilled. Besides, it's against the rules. So I can kill him."

Xika sat on top of Heiliao while frowning slightly. He thought the words of the creature well. The words sound like they have another meaning. What do you mean by role? What does Purple Hand do? And what do you mean by rules? After thinking for a while, Xika only discovered the conjecture regarding the last question.

"Eh, senior. What is the parallel to the previous card game?"

"Yes. And don't call me senior."

The answer to the voice again confused him. Instead of focusing on Xika's questions regarding card games, the voice focused instead on how Xika called her.

"Then how should I call you?"

"Call me Uncle Kong Yu ( ⁇ ). And don't be so formal with me. You can ask me what you don't understand."

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

This time Xika was completely confused. The voice claiming to be Uncle Kong Yu was turned 180 degrees. His cold attitude earlier was like a silent yawn. He even asked Xika to be informal and allowed him to ask questions that he did not understand. There's only one reason why all of this happened.

Her dad.

"Ehh, why should I call you Uncle?"

"Your father would have wanted that. Same with. And I told you, don't be so formal with me."

"My dad? Do you, ekhem, uncle know my father?"

"More than know. But I'm not gonna talk about it. You won't know about me."

"Eh? Why?"

"Because I can't tell you destiny. So too with the future."

"But what I ask is not the future. That's my own father, why can't I know? He was my father, now my father, and in the future will still be my father. That includes the past, the present and the future."

"I'm not going to argue with you. But I won't talk about your father either. You can ask me something else."

"Then tell me about my mother."

"It can't either."

"What?! You said I could ask you something else. It's not about my father, why can't it be?"

The voice coughed a few times.

"Son, let me kuralat. You can ask me anything that has nothing to do with destiny."

Xika made a confused and annoyed face that was mixed into one until it became a strange expression. Unfortunately, Huo Bing and the others were still not paying attention to him. Xika was silent for a moment, thinking about what question she could ask this voice claiming to be Uncle Kong Yu.

"What is this place?"

"Unfortunately, the question still has to do with destiny. Any other questions?"

"Ohhhhhh! Fucking destiny! Who is destiny? I don't know. I hate fate." said Xika scowled.

If Xika could see it, Kong Yu was giving a bitter smile to Xika. But unfortunately the young man could not see it, so his face still frowned.

"Don't be so angry. I'll tell you a little about my experience with your father. We often play cards together. But unfortunately I never won. Huahahaha........Fucking Taiyang.." said Kong Yu while laughing at the last sentence.

"Huh! Just like that. I also played with my father a lot. And I never won from him either. There's nothing special. It's just that if you can beat him I'm shocked."

Instead of being offended, the voice laughed. Laughter reminds me of old memories.

"Alright, alright. I'll tell you one more thing. Do you remember the map on your card? I've added some parts. You can check it later."

"Ah, right. Where's that stone monument? I attached the card to him after it shone and disappeared. Then why are there pictures of my parents? Do you know my mother?"

"Yes, I also know your mother as I know your father. But like I said, it also has to do with destiny. So I won't discuss it further. And for your first question, the answer is in your hands."

Xika furrowed her brows in annoyance after which it changed to be confused. Is it in his hand? He looked at his hands in the pocket of his robe. His left hand held nothing, while his right hand held his father's card.

He took out his right hand while still holding his father's card. Then he looked at her.

"This? Dad's card? I don't get it. Where's tu?"

Kong Yu did not answer. But the pile of cards in Xika's hand changed. Black color appears out of nowhere and continues to rise to cover the entire card. Xika widened her eyes. He was about to protest, but then he realized what black actually was.

That black color was the stone monument he had been looking for earlier. He could tell from the surface that it was a little rough and cold, exactly the same as the cards he played when he was first in this mine. Its surface also had the same pattern as spatial stones. And the stone monument is now enveloping his card, becoming a box where he has never had a card.

He once bought several packs of cards to put his father's cards, but he never found a suitable box. Some are great, some are small, some are mediocre, but Xika does not use it because it looks to be torn in a few seconds. So he gave up looking for a box that fit his father's card. But this time, the stone monument wrapped his father's card very precisely as if it was a stone monument that was the box where his father's card was stored.

"Heh. That stone monument is indeed a box of cards that you hold. Taiyang refused to take her. He said it would make him unique. What a strange thought. Think of it as a gift from me. Previously you used the card as a defense as well as an attack, right? This time you can use your cards completely for an attack. That stone monument will be your protector. You can use it to coat your whole body.'"

Xika stared at the card box in her hand in amazement. Now he can give a full attack using his cards without having to worry about his defense. Sometimes, he likes to worry about his defense when using all his cards to attack. But not anymore.

"thank you. Uncle Kong Yu."

"Together."

For some reason, the voice sounded happy. Maybe because Xika called him uncle.

"One more thing. Never give the card or box to anyone. If you can, don't show it either. If you want to play cards, use other cards as much as possible. Use this card only in desperation and in front of people you trust."

"Yes, I get it. These are the people I trust. Well, less properly called people because they are wolves and bird spirits. Can I reveal your whereabouts to them?"

"Yes. But which one do you believe? There are three wolves here."

"The largest and the whole black. But the other two are not bad either. They shouldn't have put me in danger either."

Kong Yu was silent for a moment. Xika thinks she is thinking.

"Son, do you know which way the tree fell?"

"Eh?"

"Jawab it."

"Emmm..... downward?"

"Wrong. The tree fell on its back. Don't trust anyone beside you. You never know what they're thinking. The world is cruel. Don't let you fall. You should be able to tell which ones you can really trust and which ones you can't."

"Yes, I get it. Thank ye. But I believe them." Xika said as she looked at Huo Bing and Heiliao who were arguing.

"They're my family."