The Card Cultivation System
CCS-55

After splitting up, Xika went to a remote alley and had Huo Bing strengthen the Space Shifter with the Spirit Beast body parts she had.

"A, Xika. I have to seal your dantian again. You just got on the level, right?"

"What's? Why?"

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

"Alright."

Then Huo Bing touched a few spots on Xika's body with her wings, but her activities stopped because of Xika's sudden question.

"About how long until my dantian is as big as an ordinary person?"

"Stop that. Maybe 6 months? That includes fast too. Looks like it'll be longer than that. It could be a year or more."

"......................Why can it be that long?"

"Well....the higher your cultivation level the longer you go up the level."

"Why? Isn't my dantian the same as before? Different from other cultivators whose dantian was growing bigger."

Huo Bing thought for a while then replied,

"Hm......right also.......why? Ah already. Is that your body-hm? Wait a minute.............."

Huo Bing suddenly snapped his words and was silent.

Xika waited for a while before Huo Bing finally spoke again. Huo Bing's expression was quite serious this time.

"Xika."

"What's? How come? Aren't you the one who said that Ultimate Deck is the cultivation technique that suits me best?"

"That's not what I meant. It seems I misunderstood Ultimate Deck."

Xika just silently listened.

"The previous understanding of you filling the first dantian when the Qi Gathering then the second dantian of the Qi Forming and so on is wrong."

"Then?"

"It seems....you must fill all four dantians simultaneously......."

"What's? Wait-wait. Please explain more details to me."

"As I said, the previous understanding was wrong. Having four dantians means that you are four times stronger than ordinary cultivators, but it also means that you have to work hard four times more than other cultivators."

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

"So it looks like you still can't be considered a Qi Forming. When your fourth dantian has reached the Qi Gathering 9 stage and broken through to the next level, then you can be considered to reach the Qi Forming level. To the next level is also like that."

"................. Didn't I previously have broken through to the level of Forming Qi 2?"

"It seems wrong. Maybe not your first dantian to go up a notch. Just try checking."

Xika followed Huo Bing's direction and checked all of his dantian.

He closed his eyes for a while and then opened them again.

"Looks like you were right. It was already at the Qi Gathering level 3."

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

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

Xika and Huo Bing were both silent.

They don't know if they should be happy or sad. Especially Xika. He was quite happy when he knew that he would be four times stronger than others, but he was also quite surprised to know that he had to try four times more than others.

It was not that he was unwilling or unprepared to have to try four times as much as anyone else, it was just that it was so shocking and he was not sure if it could help in the tomb later. In that tomb would definitely be many other cultivators stronger than the four of them. Plus he who was still at the Qi Gathering stage, it was possible that he would only become a burden.

"But I still have to seal your second dantian.

Although there are four dantians, but the new size is equivalent to one normal dantian when the four are combined."

Xika nodded, then Huo Bing again sealed Xika's second dantian.

After finishing sealing her dantian, Xika decided to go to the herb shop and buy some pills that could speed up her cultivation.

After that he went to the city gate and waited for the others to come.

He was about to tell about his dantian and ask if they would mind if he went along with his current cultivation.

Xika sat waiting while cultivating. But he had not used the pill he had just bought.

A few hours passed and the three men arrived.

"So? Is everyone ready?" qin Mo asked in spirit.

"Anu....Brother Qin? There's something I need to talk to you about."

Seeing the serious gazes in Xika's eyes, the three people decided to speak in a deserted place.

"What's wrong?"

"Anu....because of one thing or another, I."

Xika stopped to look at their expressions, and found the eyes of the three people widening. No one asked and interrupted the story.

"I have to cultivate four times more than everyone else, well on one hand it makes me four times stronger but on the other hand I'm four times slower than everyone else.

So do you mind if I come to the tomb? I just reached Qi Gathering 9 as it turned out. My previous words were wrong."

A DUAKKK!!!

And this time the three men hit Xika's head simultaneously.

"Is your head in trouble? Or is your hearing a problem? Or both?

Didn't I tell you before that we're the Stellar Joker?"

"really. You're part of the Stellar Joker. Like it or not. Weak or strong. You're not allowed to refuse or leave."

"So no matter what happens to you, we'll face it together."

"With your combat abilities? With all four elements of yours? With a talent for drama?"

"I'm sure no one will think you're weak. In fact, you may be considered more threatening than the three of us" said Lin Zhu with a face made to look like heartache.

"Well, if you think so......."

"By the way, how can you have four dantians?" asked Lin Zhu suddenly.

Xika was speechless hearing Lin Zhu's question.

"W-Well, if you don't want to answer, there's no need to answer. This Silly one does like to ask unnecessary things" Qin Mo said as he hit Lin Zhu on the head after seeing Xika's pretty much changed expression.

"It's okay............When I was a kid, my dantian broke into four large pieces and the rest of the small parts were scattered all over my body........"

The three others who were listening to Xika's past fell silent.

For a long time they were silent, but the first to speak was Lin Zhu.

"Well....since you've shared the story, then I also have to share the story, right?"

He stopped for a while and then spoke.

"A few years ago, when I was the same age as Xika or a little younger, my lover died before my eyes and there was nothing I could do. The incident continues to repeat itself in my head. I still remember it as it happened yesterday.

Maybe that's the reason I don't mind robbing up to gambling. I'm trying every means possible to get stronger so that such an event doesn't happen again."

Qin Mo and Lian Minjie were quite surprised Lin Zhu could have a lover and wanted to mock him. But this is not the right time.

Huo Bing formed his physical form and accompanied Lin Zhu who was now sitting leaning against the seedy wall.

"I suffered the same fate as you, my friend."

Lin Zhu looked at Huo Bing while opening her mouth, but did not say anything.

Huo Bing only had a small smile which Lin Zhu then followed, but their eyes both emitted a great amount of sadness.

Lian Minjie sat down next to Huo Bing then came along to tell her story.

"I never knew my parents.

They died at the hands of a band of robbers who massacred my village. I don't know why I survived.

A few days later I was found and taken care of by a hermit who lived on the mountain. He taught me many things, especially weapons and forging. He also taught me a little about cultivation.

Several years passed and when we descended to the village, the same group came and slaughtered the village again. And I did the cruelest thing I've ever done in my entire life.

I ran away from the hermit who raised me. He screamed for help, but I ignored him. I ran and found a place to hide. From there I peeked, and the sight I saw was the head of the hermit who asked me for help before, now lying not far from where I was hiding.

The reason I don't mind robbing is because I want to meet that band of robbers again. Maybe if I rob them enough and my name sounds broad maybe I'll meet them..........."

Lian Minjie's gaze did indeed emit the same grief as Huo Bing and Lin Zhu. But there was another look in his eyes. A look of anger filled with vengeance.

Qin Mo was also sitting next to Lin Zhu.

"I was born into a very wealthy family.

My Qin Clan is quite famous for producing various talented cultivators.

But my birth was a disgrace to my family. I am not talented enough that I am not worthy enough to be a part of the Qin Clan.

I was only taken care of until the age of five because at that time I was considered to be able to take care of myself. I was kicked out of the clan and lived on the streets.

Only my servant comes with me. He remains loyal even though I am not part of the famous Qin Clan anymore.

Since then I have lived as I please. I don't have too many rules.

Unlike the Silly Lin and the Strange Lian, I have no special reason to rob.

I just did it."

After each narrated their story, no one spoke anymore and there was a long silence.

And this time, it was Xika who first broke the silence.

"But we're together now.

We are the Stellar Joker.

We won't let each other suffer anymore.

We will not let our fate repeat itself.

So let's face the problem together.

As part of the Stellar Joker."

Then the four of them stood up and clashed with each other.

Lin Zhu also punched Huo Bing slowly.

"You're part of us too" he said with a smile.

Huo Bing did not say anything, but she also smiled.

Xika looked at the dervish Heiliao just silently listening on her shoulders.

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

The wolf closed its eyes for a while and then opened them.

"Nothing to say."

His mouth did say something that sounded resolute, but his eyes emitted the same grief as the other five creatures.

After that they went to the inn closest to the city gate to make it easier if something happened, but the inn was full because many thought the same.

So they looked for another inn and rented a room that was located some distance away from the city gate.

That day, the Stellar Joker further strengthened its foundations after knowing each other's past. In the future, there will be no more doubt in acting, or acting that changes faithfulness.

Because they both have a bitter past, and feel a very strong sense of fate.

Later, in the future, the Stellar Joker will become a powerful group that will support each of its members.