The Card Cultivation System
CCS-247

Xika is surrounded from three directions. And he could not dodge perfectly because of the lightning swimming at his feet. Can he just survive? But looking at the three attacks that came, it seemed that he would receive a non-light wound.

Suddenly Xika remembered the technique she rarely used. Glance Star. The last time he used that technique was just to make Xingli stay put. Unfortunately he failed. It seems that he rarely uses this technique.

But if he was not mistaken, he had previously used the technique and the wounds on his body were almost healed. He doesn't remember how to do that. Only the memories with Xingli did he recall, which certainly re-awakened the pain in his heart.

He immediately dismissed that thought. Right now, if he managed to use Star Glance again, perhaps he could eliminate the lightning in his legs, or at least create some sort of barrier to glare at the attacks he received.

As the three attacks drew closer, Xika closed her eyes. He tried to concentrate and recall the sensations of that time. If redesigned, he then received Xingli and Heiliao's attacks to prevent the two from killing each other.

Not a minor injury, of course. But after that he spoke to Xingli. Promise to be together and not leave each other. He believed even to this point, Xingli still held that promise in his heart, even though he was currently gone.

And then, his body started to glow. Just like that time, when he held Xingli's hands together and said that promise. His body began to emit starlight. He felt the same sensation as back then even though this time there was no Xingli.

Xika glanced at her feet. He did not feel the tingling sensation as before, and there was no more small lightning swimming at his feet. Then he lifted his head and saw only a fraction of a second until the attacks hit him.

There's no more time. Xika jumped up and performed a spinning kick that managed to destroy the two birds that attacked her. The impact of the ivory-robed man that made the ground shake could be avoided by jumping up. But the problem is, sharp thorns from the ground he did not manage to avoid.

In a short time, Xika reflexively raised both of her hands to hold back those thorns. Perhaps his hand would be injured, but at least the spines did not hit his vital point.

But what Xika didn't know was that those thorns touched her hand while she was still shining, in other words when Star Glance was still active. And those thorns instantly shattered as soon as they touched Xika's hand.

CRUST!

A BLAR!

"What?!"

"No way!"

"Eh?" Xika looked at her hand in confusion. Both are still shining with their whole bodies. Although not very understanding, but Xika was sure this was because of Star Glance. Somehow this time the technique lasted longer than before. He should make the most of it as possible.

"Be careful! His body suddenly glowed! He must have used some sort of body strengthening technique!" The ivory-robed man shouted in warning to his friends. It seemed that he knew a lot regarding body strengthening techniques.

"Huh! Then just attack from far away!" Mei Xu shouted. While leaping backwards, he swung both of his hands and two small but dangerous pieces of lightning shot out from his hands.

Xika clenched her right hand. Star Glance managed to remove the lightning on his feet. He wondered if this time could also block the lightning. So he didn't avoid. When the little lightning came, Xika swung her hand and struck the lightning.

THE BZZT!

SHUSUH!

"Eh?"

"Imust be!"

Xika expects a bit of pain or tingling. But it's not both that he feels. In fact, he didn't feel like hitting something. It felt as if he was practicing hitting, just a blank blow to the wind. Not about anything.

While Xika was surprised to see her fist that could resist the girl's lightning, Mei Xu widened her eyes in disbelief. Until now, no one had been able to withstand his attacks, let alone destroy them that easily. Everyone who faced him would choose to dodge.

"Huh! You can withstand Mei Xu's lightning, but can you withstand my attack?" The ivory-robed man stepped forward while swinging his arm.

"Heh. I'm curious too." Xika smiled. He ran towards the man. When the distance was close, he raised his leg and met the man's fist.

BUKS!

WHUSHES!

BRACKET!

The outcome? The ivory-robed man crashed into a tree behind him. The other three looked at the ivory-robed man with a look of disbelief. Each of them did have their own abilities and roles, but the ivory-robed man had the most strength among them.

Seeing him being defeated in just one strike like that made them hold their breath. It seems they are looking for the enemy this time.

"Wow." Xika looked at the crashing ivory-robed man in astonishment. Even he himself was shocked by his strength.  "alright. Who's next?" ask with a smile on your face. Unfortunately, the smile was successful in making my enemy's hair goosebumps.

"Wait a minute...how about we make peace? Ah, no! Let us be your team, not your subordinates! Yes, let us be your subordinates! We can be of use to you! Our ability is not too bad either, is it?" The man in the fur coat spoke nervously.

"He? Make peace? Subordinates? Did you give me a chance to bargain when you attacked me?"

Gluey!

"A-anu.that's.actually we were forced...."

"Oh? I've never seen anyone face up in spirit like you."

"Ukhs...W-we didn't lie! We did this because it was forced by Han Feng." Mei Xu spoke.

"Han Feng?" It feels like Xika has heard his name, but doesn't know where.

"Right, Han Feng from the Burning Abyss Clan."

"ah! She's." Xika nodded her head. Huo Bing had mentioned that name before in the list of participants to look out for. He had not expected Han Feng to succeed in making others work for him in this short amount of time.

"So you guys forced Han Feng? Then why are your faces so excited when attacking me?"

"A-anu, in fact, despite being forced, but Han Feng also promised us a reward if it succeeded in satisfying him."

"Then? What did Han Feng promise and what do you guys have to do to earn that reward?"

"Yes....." The fur-coated man glanced at the man who used the stone technique earlier and nodded. "He promised cooperation with the Burning Abyss Clan. If our work satisfies him, then he says that the Burning Abyss Clan is willing to overshadow our clan."

"And you believe him? Are you sure he won't break his promise? You can't do anything if he breaks his promise. Also, what do you have to do to get that cooperation?"

In Xika heart felt somewhat confused by the thoughts of these four people. They were forced to work under the Burning Abyss Clan, and the reward was to become a subordinate of the Burning Abyss Clan. What good is that?

"We have no other choice. After all, if we refuse, we will be immediately kicked out of this round. You who come from a great power like the Academy will not understand. Our goal for the small and medium sects to enter this competition is to forge cooperation. If there is one great power that is willing to overshadow us, then that is more than enough."

For a moment, the three looked. And they reached an agreement in silence. "We. were asked to seize as many pearls as possible. He said it would provide benefits, so Han Feng tried to get as many pearls as he could for himself."

"Hm...." Xika nodded pretending to understand. Collecting pearls? It's nonsense. Han Feng could do that by himself. Something they're hiding. Moreover, the view when the three looked at each other implied that they agreed to hide something.

And also, too hasty to collect that many pearls even though they do not know what benefits will be obtained. The Burning Abyss Clan was not a small sect that would be tempted with just the word 'benefit'.

Slowly, the rays on Xika's body disappeared. The three remaining people heaved a sigh of relief in thinking Xika would let them go.

"Hey."

A SWUSH!

Xika disappeared and appeared behind the man in a fur coat, then floated his legs.

THE DUAK!

"Do you think I'll just believe it?"

After she finished speaking, Xika disappeared again. He appeared next to the man who used the stone technique. The man was quite agile by making a huge stone as a barrier. But Xika enveloped her hand with a whirling wind so that it divided the stone at a speed that the eye could see.

JLB!

WHUSHES!

BRUK!

Xika managed to punch a hole in the man's stomach and made him crash while spinning. The torn scar can be clearly seen on the man's body.

"Hey." Xika turned to Mei Xu, the only one left among the four. "You better answer me honestly if you don't want to be worse than your friends. I won't be merciful just because you're a girl."

Mei Xu nodded his head quickly.

"What does Han Feng want? Why would he force you to work under him?"

Mei Xu swallowed his saliva. He hesitated to hear Xika question. He should not have said this, even if he would have been excluded from this round. But looking at the condition of his other colleagues.it was more terrible than coming out in this round.

He knew Xika was not the one who discriminated between men and women. And he could sense that Xika was not messing with his words. If he refused to talk, he would not be able to cultivate forever.

"I-he knows how to take a pearl without making the treasure on this mountain disappear."

"What?!"

The pearls that became the goal in this round were scattered everywhere. From what Xika knew, most were in spiritual plants or other rare treasures present on this mountain. The pearls were not placed without reason. When the participants took the pearl, the treasure it guarded would disappear automatically, so the participants could not take the treasure.

But Han Feng knew how to take a pearl without making the treasures on this mountain disappear? In other words, he can take the treasure as well as his pearl who guards it. It was only fitting that he forced these people to work under him. Rather than focusing on the pearl that is not clear what the benefits are, it is better to focus on the treasures that are already clear about the benefits.

Then the actions of these four people.it seemed that they were attacking him not because of Han Feng's orders. Han Feng must have taken their pearls. They attacked him for wanting to collect pearls as well.

"Tell me how."

Mei Xu flinched. But he had expected Xika to say that. Anyone would want the same thing. He glanced at his friends once more before sighing.

"When you find a treasure or a rare plant, don't take the pearl. Take the treasure with qi. When the treasure or plant has been separated from their habitat, the pearl will not work anymore. But you have to pick it up with your hands covered in qi, or the plant will disappear as soon as you touch."

Xika did not expect it to be that easy. But the person who applies this trick is pretty smart. In this round, the main goal is to get as many pearls as possible. When looking at treasures and pearls, instinctively we will definitely take pearls first new treasures. Because pearls are a top priority for now.

"Wait here. I'll try it. Don't expect you to escape even if I leave."

Mei Xu nodded quickly. For some reason, the aura Xika emitted felt the same as Han Feng. Or even stronger. In the face of such an aura, he felt helpless and unable to do anything.

Not far from the place of their battle, Xika found a rare flower. He did as Mei Xu said. And he managed to pluck the flower without making it disappear. A smile appeared on Xika's face. This way, the harvest of this round will be more.

He returned and found Mei Xu still in his place. In fact, it seemed that the girl did not move at all.

"Heh. It's good you didn't lie."

"La-anu.....This secret.....can you not tell others? And if Han Feng sees you, please don't tell me you know this from me." Mei Xu looked at Xika with a pleading gaze. If other men would agree.

After all, even though Mei Xu was not as beautiful as Xingli to be able to be categorized as the Most Beautiful Girl, she still had a charming face. For self-conscious men, they would prefer to pursue Mei Xu over the Four Most Beautiful Girls who were far out of reach. Unfortunately, Xika had already set Xingli as her goal. He will not be tempted even if all the Most Beautiful Girls seduce him.

"I promise to shut my mouth. But you should also keep your mouth shut."

"Of course-" Mei Xu's remark stopped seeing the sinister smile on Xika's face. He was late to realize something was wrong.

Xika waved her hand and Mei Xu's talisman glowed. It remained a few seconds before Mei Xu came out and was declared dead in this round.

"You lied! You said you'd let me go if I spoke!" said Mei Xu growled.

"I never said that. I said you'd suffer worse than your partner if you didn't answer my question. I never said I'd let you go. Besides, if you want this secret to be safe, enough people know. Letting you wander around and be defeated and divulging this secret is a foolish move."

Mei Xu gritted her teeth. What Xika said was indeed true so she could not reply at all. But he felt so stupid, easily leaking secrets just like that.

"Don't put on a look like that. You should be grateful I just got you out of this round. If you meet another depraved man you may lose something more important than your life. Also, you didn't get any severe injuries. Just one kick. It's better than your friend."

Mei Xu looked still upset. But he had no other choice. The girl opened her mouth and seemed to be about to pose a threat, but her talisman shone even brighter and carried her out of this mountain without letting her finish speaking.

Xika also did the same to the other three people. If Mei Xu knew the secret, it meant that these three people also knew. It's too dangerous to just let them go. It could have been that they were beaten up by others and leaked this secret as well.

SHUSUH!

The less people who know this secret, the better. That way, he could obtain treasures on this mountain. He only needed to race with Han Feng.

After sending the three away, Xika walked away to collect more pearls and treasures.