The Card Cultivation System
CCS-251

Xika smiled inwardly. Seeing Tian Li's furious expression and helplessness on Zhen Fang's face, it seemed like this was enough. He just wanted to talk so as not to look like a lowly person who would directly approve any cooperation proposed.

Then what about his nonsense about past complaints? Heh. He doesn't care much. The Immortal Pearl Pavillion had already been his enemy for a long time. Speaking of the Immortal Pearl Pavillion, he became reminded of his fight with Tian Yin the damned bastard.

After the fight was over, he had briefly pondered over the incident for a while. That fight, and some previous events. One of them was the moment when he was at the Immortal Pearl Pavilion. At that moment, Gong Tao the Branch Chief who was curious about Xika's identity finally had his men investigate Xika.

And Huo Bing managed to read the report that Gong Tao received by spreading his aura. From that bird, Xika came to know how much information Gong Tao knew. The incident that Gong Tao knew made Xika wonder.

He learned information about Xika when he lived in his uncle's clan. Nobody should have known about it. Wh why? He was not allowed to walk to a neighboring village. Fa Daihai said, he will only bring disgrace if his existence is known to the next village. It is impossible from the village next door.

In addition, only one person survived the attack. His uncle Fa Diala. Unless his uncle tells Gong Tao's men information about him - which is impossible - there is no other way for Gong Tao to know about it.

Except..there is one more person who knows this. Hey Bao. The loyal dog Tian Yin. Xika remembered that Hei Bao knew his identity. Other than Hei Bao, Xika could not think of anyone else who knew of his identity. So, it is possible to conclude that Gong Tao got such information from Hei Bao.

Which meant, Gong Tao had teamed up with Hei Bao. Also, he had previously seen Hei Bao heading towards the Immortal Pearl Pavillion, but had found him nowhere even though he had searched the entire floor of the Pavilion. It was most likely that Hei Bao and Tian Yin had cooperated with Gong Tao or the Immortal Pearl Pavillion long ago.

That is, the Immortal Pearl Pavillion was his enemy as well. The friend of my enemy is my enemy.

So from the start he had indeed no intention of mending ties with the Immortal Pearl Pavillion. He just said those things just for fun. He wanted to make Zhen Fang's impression of him even more faint. Moreover, Zhen Fang still did not know he was from the Academy to date.

Perhaps, his response to Xika would be different if he knew Xika was from the Academy. To be sure, Xika wanted to let things stay like this, where her enemy did not know her true identity.

"Hmm.8 big sounds good too. Alright, Young Master Zhen Fang, I hold your promise that will take me to the top 8. But please remember, if you fail to get me into the top 8, then I will make you accompany me." said Xika gave a gentle smile that added to the impression on her threat.

"Hahahaha. You don't have to worry. Then do you agree to cooperate with me?"

"certain."

"Then may I know your name?"

For a moment, Xika's mind worked very quickly. He faced two choices. Should he answer with his real name? Or just lie? There was a possibility that his identity from the Academy would be known if he replied with his real name.

But after he thought again, there was actually no problem even if Zhen Fang knew he was from the Academy. So Xika answered,

"Xing Xika's."

Zhen Fang nodded with a polite smile. In his heart, he tried to remember Xika's name. He had heard the name, but he had forgotten where. Instead, Tian Li had precisely given a reaction. His eyes widened when he heard the name Xika. But he quickly hid it.

In her heart, the desire to defeat Xika grew even greater. The reason for that was not because the man had interfered with his fight, but because the man was Xing Xika.

"Brother Xing, then. No need to be too formal, you can also call me Brother Zhen. How about we find the other finalists together?"

Tian Li was just silent indifferently. But seeing that he was not giving a protest, Zhen Fang took it as an agreement. He glanced at Xika and got the nod as approval.

So, the three went together to find a worthy finalist while eliminating those who were unfit. While walking, Xika asked him something that made him curious.

"Brother Zhen, if you may know, how many finalists have you gathered besides us?"

"Hm, besides you guys I just invited a. You guys must know his name, Han Feng from the Burning Abyss Clan."

"Ho? You managed to persuade an arrogant person like him?" Tian Li asked with his eyebrows raised and a smug smile.

Xika looked at Tian Li and thought that actually Tian Li had no right to bully others. But, he was also quite surprised by the fact that Zhen Fang had managed to get Han Feng to join. He had to admit, Han Feng was indeed arrogant, on par with Tian Li more or less.

Moreover, Han Feng's strength should not be underestimated. After all, he managed to get some people to work for him, even though it was only a while after the exam began. Right now, I don't know how many people he managed to conquer.

"Ahaha.......Brother Tian was too complimentary." Zhen Fang said in passing. He only gave a dry smile in response to Tian Li.

"Does brother Zhen already have a name to join?"

"Brother Xing did respond quickly huh. You're right, I have one name, for now, that I think is worth joining us."

"Heh. At Lang of the Di Clan. Don't you?" It seemed that Tian Li did not want to look more stupid than Xika, so he answered quickly before Xika replied.

"Absolutely. Besides the Di Clan, I actually also want to invite representatives from the Academy. However, I don't know his identity."

"Even the Immortal Pearl Pavillion was unable to figure out the identity of the Academy's representative?" tian Li asked curiously, but still in her arrogant style.

"Ahaha.......Actually for the business this time I did not involve the Pavilion. I just investigated it with my own abilities."

"That's it..just right." Tian Li nodded in understanding.

Xika just silently listened to the conversation of the two. Unlike Tian Li who seemed to not want to lose, Xika preferred to absorb as much information as possible. It seemed that this Zhen Fang was planning to invite those from the big sects to begin with.

Then, for the rest, then he observed the battles of each sect one by one. Well, if they managed to bring Di Lang along, then in fact all the big sects had already gathered, if he had not mistakenly remembered the number of big sects. But that meant, Zhen Fang still did not know he was from the Academy, hearing his words just now.

I don't know if Tian Li knows or not. Xika caught Tian Li widening his eyes when he heard his name, although he did not know why. But even if Tian Li knew Xika was from the Academy, at least he did not tell Zhen Fang.

Moreover, he also found a hint of arrogance in Zhen Fang's tone. Well, it seems arrogant is a natural thing to be found in geniuses. He sensed Zhen Fang's arrogance when Tian Li was surprised that the Pavilion did not know the identity of the Academy's representative.

That Tian Li's words sounded as if he was underestimating the Immortal Pearl Pavilion. Zheng Fang immediately refuted Tian Li's words and said that all of this was only the result of his own investigation. From that it was clear that Zhen Fang was not willing to be underestimated by his clan. Well, Zhen Fang's arrogance was already visible from the clothes he was wearing anyway.

"By the way, Brother Zhen intends to bring along how many people?"

"Hm, let me count. Right now the three of us, plus Han Feng, then if Di Lang also agreed that there were five people in total. And if we manage to find and invite representatives from the Academy then the result is six people. I think I only need 16 people. It means we're just looking for ten more decent people, assuming Di Lang and the Academy Representatives agree."

Xika and Tian Li both nodded upon hearing Zhen Fang's count. Although in her heart Xika found it rather amusing to hear the Representative of the Academy called over and over again.

They had been walking for several hours, but had not found a decent person. They passed by and heard some fighting. But without the need to be observed with sex, even the three know that their levels are different from such a fight. So they just continued their journey quickly.

The sun was already getting lower when they heard the sound of a fight. And the battle this time, the level was clearly different from the previous battles they had gone through. So the three rushed closer.

Xika walked behind Zhen Fang because she wanted to see how the man was settling into his fight earlier. While Tian Li, he walked behind Xika. Seeing how unwilling she was to lose to Xika it felt strange at this moment she wanted to be behind Xika silently without protest.

It seemed like Tian Li had another purpose to be behind Xika. Perhaps he also intended to observe Xika, just as Xika was observing Zhen Fang? Who knows.

Fortunately, the fight they heard was a fight from the person they were looking for, namely Di Lang from the Di Clan. Well, there are not many participants who can make a battle impact like this. Other than those from the big sects, only a handful of people were able to do so.

Around Di Lang, the thorns of plants grew around him, then elongated and pierced his own body. For a moment, both Xika, Tian Li, Zhen Fang and his opponent were both shocked. Then his body that was filled with thorns suddenly disappeared.

Di Lang appeared behind his opponent in an instant and from his hand came out a thorny root that directly pierced his opponent's stomach.

"Ohokay!"

His opponent looked at his chest in shock. Then he turned around and found Di Lang with a gaze that would finish him off if he did not give up immediately. So quickly he lit up his talisman and immediately came out of the second half.

"Oi'm you! Still not going out? Should I go there?"

It seemed like their whereabouts were also already known by Di Lang. As expected of someone who came from a big sect.