The Card Cultivation System
CCS-254

Morning time......

"alright. Then according to yesterday's plan, Brother Xing will go with Brother Li, while Brother Di is together with Brother Tian. I will try to find Brother Han Feng. Ah, one more. Please return to this place at the same hour tomorrow morning, okay? I've already made a mark on this tree," Zhen Fang pointed to a tree with an 'x' mark on its trunk, "Soal, we don't seem to have much time. The longer we delay this plan, the more likely it is to be discovered. Then please help!"

A SWUSH!

When Zhen Fang finished speaking, the four of them instantly shot out in different directions with a 2-2 formation. Only Zhen Fang remained. He smiled and looked towards the two groups leaving, looking forward to what kind of finalists they would bring.

"Well, then, I should go too."

SHUSUH!

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A few moments passed after they split up. Xika now lives alone with Li Tang. During that time, no one spoke between the two. Xika herself, deliberately did not speak out for fear that her relationship with Li Tang was discovered. As for Li Tang, it seemed like it was indeed that man who did not like to talk.

Finally, after being sure they were far enough apart with the others, Xika opened her mouth.

"Yo, Brother Li! How are you doing? Sorry to say it too late."

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

Li Tang did not answer Xika's greeting. Thinking of the events yesterday, when Zhen Fang came to ask him to cooperate, it seemed like it was the right course of action to not be hostile to Xika. Before, he had already realized Xika's existence. But because they had promised, Li Tang did not bother with the existence of Xika.

But things changed when Zhen Fang, Di Lang, and Tian Li came. If he had previously decided to fight with Xika instead of making a deal with her, and suppose he had succeeded in defeating Xika, then it seemed like he would have been instantly finished off by the three.

It seemed that Zhen Fang's invitation to him was related to Xika. He could sense when Xika and Zhen Fang were talking on top of the tree that time despite not knowing what they were talking about.

"So, Brother Li? Do you have a friend's recommendation or perhaps an ally for us to recruit?"

Li Tang looked at Xika strangely for a moment. Didn't he say he didn't have any recommendations? Then he shook his head.

"Hm, what can you do then. Looks like we have no other choice but to watch one fight at a time."

".............the academy's representatives........how?"

"Hm? Uh! How ya?" Xika scratched her head in confusion. It seemed that even Li Tangpun did not know he was the representative of the Academy in question.

"Do you.....know it?"

"Ng..anu, it seems like 'knowing' is not the right word," Xika was silent for a moment. Whether he wants to reveal his identity or not. He finally chose to reveal it. After all, out of the five others who were among the finalists made by Zhen Fang, he trusted Li Tang the most. "You could say, I'm the Academy representative you're looking for."

Li Tang widened his eyes while looking at Xika in disbelief.

"Ahahaha.......do I look very unconvincing?" xika asked while scratching her non-itchy head.

"So..the person that Zheng Fang talked about......"

"That's me." Xika nodded.

Li Tang was silent. ".........Then........Your friend.....?"

"Hm? A fella? If you mean anyone else who comes from the Academy as well, it doesn't exist. The Academy representative this year is just me."

Once again Li Tang widened his eyes. Naturally, the thing that Xika had just said was not a common thing for any sect to do so far as this competition had ever taken place.

"Ah, that's right! Speaking of friends, you must have some friends from the Dark Shade Abyss right? How about we just recruit them? Easier and more trustworthy, right?"

Li Tang shook his head.

"Eh? Don't tell me you don't have any friends?"

Somehow Li Tang looked annoyed.

"We can't bring friends from the same clan with us."

"Try you think. If you manage to gather 16 finalists like Zhen Fang's plan, two of them are from the same sect. Aren't you gonna feel threatened?"

"Ah, right too. The two of them could have cooperated before this round ended up according to Zhen Fang's expectations right? Or at least they can reduce the number of finalists there once we're done sweeping the other participants."

Li Tang nodded. "In addition, getting people from the same clan with us can ruin the balance."

"What do you mean by balance?"

"Finalis that has been collected at this time there are 6. Me, you, Zhen Fang, Tian Li, Di Lang, and Han Feng. Each of us is from a different sect. If one of us invites a friend from the same clan, then the other will automatically feel threatened. At that time, then the others would definitely be vying to invite as many of their clan mates as possible and this finalist concept would probably be destroyed."

Xika nodded. "Ah, then why didn't Zhen Fang form a group consisting of Immortal Pearl Pavilion people alone from the very beginning? That way it would be easier to defeat opponents like Han Feng, Tian Li and the others right? I see it seems like there are some small and medium-sized sects doing just that."

Li Tang shook his head again. "That's not what Zhen Fang's goal is. What Zhen Fang wants to pursue is a good relationship with us, the successors of our respective sects. Victory was not Zhen Fang's goal. It does not need popularity. After all, where else would you buy cultivation materials if not for the Pavilion? Neither small, medium, nor large sects knew that."

"Then why did he bring so many people? Other sects such as the Burning Abuss Clan and the Di Clan also brought in many people. Why don't they come together to defeat another strong opponent, but instead gather with us?"

"According to your first question, the people Zhen Fang brought along also had the same purpose as him. They want to build a good relationship, not a victory. If we say everyone has their own social status, then Zhen Fang's job is to establish relationships with those of high status like Di Lang, Han Feng, Tian Li and others.

The people Zhen Fang brought in were in charge of forging relationships with those who were considered second or third class. It seems like the Pavilion intends to establish a relationship with everyone. Otherwise, it could be that those of low status would turn around and look for another source of supply.

For your second question, did you know that each sect has a superior disciple?"

Xika nodded.

"The task of those second-rate and third-grade people was to bring superior disciples like Tian Li, Han Feng, and others to the final round. Indeed, what you said is true. When they gathered together with the subordinates, then their chance of defeating the lone superior disciple was greater.

But, Zhen Fang had gathered the seeded disciples in an alliance. The alliance had a chance to advance to the final round even greater than when they were with their subordinates. They can observe the strength of the opponent and know who will advance to the final round. It's better than continuing to wander alone and slaughter the other students we meet, then being surprised to find out who we face in the final round."

"So that's why you joined Zhen Fang?"

Li Tang nodded.

"But you asked my friend, a representative of the other Academy, if you were going to ask him if there was one? Wouldn't that ruin the balance like you said before?"

"That doesn't apply to you. Because Zhen Fang and the others thought you were from a small or medium-sized sect, not from the Academy, so if we invite the Academy representatives then they won't be suspicious."

"so." Xika nodded. In other words, you intend to help me huh? Inner Xika in the heart. It seemed like he had found another friend in this competition. Also, he was surprised Li Tang could talk that much. It seems he is indeed talented to make quiet people talk a lot.

After that, the two remained silent throughout the journey. It seemed like quiet people like Li Tang, Heiliao, and Xingli did have a limited period of speech.

Suddenly, a voice sounded in the distance.

"Hey, what the hell is this?! The sword you sold me is fake! I'm asking for my money back!"

Xika frowned hearing that scream. When it comes to sales, it must be the Immortal Pearl Pavilion right? Actually this was not the case, but somehow he was interested to see what happened.

"Brother Li, how about we see what happens in front? We still have a lot of time, don't we?"

Li Tang simply nodded in silence. It seems that the nod applies to Xika's first and second questions. Really stingy people talk.

After running for a while, the two found a group of people who were besieging a man. Surprisingly, the man was not wearing the typical attire of the luxurious and arrogant Pavilion. Instead, he was wearing clothes that looked unique yet elegant.

Both stopped a few meters away. They sit in the trees to see well. Xika raised one of her eyebrows when she saw the man standing at the very front. It seems to be the man who yelled for his money back earlier.

Then, then the besieged man must be the sword seller. But he did not appear to be from the Pavilion. Apparently there were still those who dared to sell in the middle of a competition like this other than the Pavilion? Or does the man have his own reasons so he sells?

But judging from his clothes, the man was not a fraud seller like Xika often saw in the Capital. Did he also come from a power that specialized in trading like the Pavilion? But why had Xika never heard of him?

A smile was engraved on Xika's lips. If that man was indeed from a power that specialized in trading like the Pavilion, then that was a good thing for him. He can sell pills that are no longer useful to him, and buy something that might benefit him from that power. So he no longer needed to be in contact with the Pavilion.

"Brother Li, let's take a closer look."