The Card Cultivation System
CCS-195

"That kid......." Elder Fen could not continue his words in shock at what he had just witnessed.

".......realize our existence." Lan Shui finished Elder Fen's sentence.

The rest of the Elders nodded in agreement. Just like Elder Fen, they also could not believe a disciple had managed to realize their existence.

A Head of the Academy and Four Academy Protectors. There is no other position higher than them. For most disciples, they were almost on par with gods. Even if they were not gods, it must be something they could not accomplish.

And seeing the appearance of one of them alone can already be considered very lucky. Although they held the highest position in the academy, most of the affairs were done by the elders below them. So you could say his fifth appearance in one place simultaneously is not a sight that can be seen every day.

But just now a disciple had realized their existence? Those who were almost the same as gods in the eyes of the disciples did not manage to hide themselves from a brat who had just entered the academy a few days ago? Of course they did not know that the 'child' they were calling was actually the spirit of the hundred-year-old Cygnus bird.

"No. Not just that kid. The other boy also realized our existence. It's just that he's ignoring us."

"What's? Master Bai, you're not kidding me, are you?" The yellow-robed man looked at the bald-headed man as if looking for signs he was lying.

"It's just a quick glance, but I'm sure the other kid looks right into my eyes." The bald-headed Master Bai confirmed.

"First a boy who mastered the four elements and challenged the Great Hundred, then there was another boy who realized our existence and gave a smile, saying, now there is one more boy who is aware of our existence but dares to ignore us?"

"Who are they?"

"Mr Bai, my premonition is getting more and more unpleasant. We must crack down on them immediately" Yan Xiaolu said.

"Yes," Master Bai nodded, "We should give the disciple robes and Inner Disciple pins to them as soon as possible."

"What?! Master Bai, you're not kidding me, are you?" repeated the yellow-robed man for the second time, only this time he looked even more surprised.

"Why is that?"

"Master Bai, we already know the child's element, but it doesn't bring us to a bright spot. Rather than a bright spot, it is more appropriate to call us blind. We are now aware that it may not be the child with the four elements that is the most dangerous.

And we don't know what their purpose is. We don't know where they came from, who their identity really is. You could say we know absolutely nothing about them. Don't you think it's too risky to let some people with unclear origins and goals settle in the academy?" Lan Shui spoke carefully.

Previously he suggested to wait and see further developments. But right now he himself could not calm down after seeing Xika, Huo Bing, and Heiliao.

"It's precisely because we don't know about them at all, we should let them stay in the academy. If they were bad intentions, it would be easier for us to monitor those children in the academy. Getting them out of the academy was much worse. No one knows what they'll do outside the academy and we can't stop them."

"Then we banish them from the academy as well as the capital." Yan Xiaolu proposed.

"And make other forces question what we are doing? No, that's bad advice Elder Yan." said the bald-headed man.

"So we should leave them alone for a while, Master Bai?"

"Yes, that's best for now. Also, send someone to watch him but don't make him alert. We need to know the purpose."

After saying that Master Bai immediately left and did not allow the remaining Four Protectors to speak. So the four of them only looked at each other for a moment before each of them shot towards a different direction.

Meanwhile, Xika and the others were currently walking back towards his (seized) borrowing room.

"They finally left" Huo Bing said after looking back carefully.

Heiliao nodded in agreement.

"They? Who do you mean they are?"

And Huo Bingpun began to tell that there were quite a few people watching them since Xika took out her element. There were indeed some elders watching them from the shadows before, but those elders were too weak so both Huo Bing and Heiliao both ignored them.

But this one is different. Their auras were much different compared to those weak elders. Huo Bing was sure that they were from the academy, definitely one of them was the leader of this academy. He deliberately turned his head before to give a mysterious impression, also a smile that contained the message 'do not mess around'.

So at least whoever is watching them will be more careful in their actions.

"Well, then we're really successful fishing for 'big ants' this time."

Huo Bing and Heiliao immediately laughed at Xika's words.

"You're right. It's just maybe this time the ants are too big? Hahaha........"

Xingli turned to look at the three laughing. Of course he didn't understand what they were talking about, but he kept quiet. Because that's how he is. Get used to being silent on something that is not 'himself'.

But Xika's attention level was apparently higher than Xingli expected. The young man realized that he did not understand what he was talking about. So he patiently told her the outline of the current matter. He gave a nod of thanks which of course made no difference to Xika with other nods.

"Well....."

"A-what are you.......Xing Xika's....?" ask the boy stammering.

"Yes, I'm Xing Xika. Why?"

"W-can I ask for your wooden knife.....?" The child looked at Xika with anxious expectation.

Xika frowned at the strange request of the child. "Why should I give you a wooden knife?"

"W-uh!"

Suddenly the boy looked wrong. He looked around as if he was looking for help but in the end found no help.

"A-anu........" The boy did not dare to look at Xika for more than half a second.

"Huh? I still don't understand....."

"Eh, uh......Your H-letter in Mu Zhan Academy means wood.... Do you know about it?" ask the boy carefully.

"Yes, I think I know." Xika recalled the shape of Xingli's pin that read Mu the same as the MU ZHAN ACADEMY's nameplate in front. And your letter does mean wood. "But what does that have to do with wooden knives and awards?"

"Well.begini.....Mu which means wood it...taught us to love nature..and learn from nature.........but even nature can be harsh when man is willing to. for example they give various disasters..... j-so a hard knife combined with soft natural wood is used as a symbol of appreciation.." said the child explained in stammering.

"Yes, I understand the philosophy behind the wooden knife and its meaning. But I still don't understand why you're asking me to give you a wooden knife that means you're honoring."

Xingli took a step forward about to explain, but before he opened his mouth Xika had already opened her mouth and said,

"Xingli, if you don't intend to explain in words you can back off first."

Xingli took a step back.

"Eh, uh, a-anu..it.....p-wooden knife usually....given by popular students......"the boy was embarrassed at the end of the sentence.

"Popular disciples? Me? A fan? You must be kidding."

The boy instantly lost his spirit the moment he heard Xika's reply. Xika felt a bit bad about it.

"Hey, listen. I don't have any knives made of wood. But if I had I'd give it to you sometime, okay?"

"A-you're serious?"

Xika gave him a reassuring nod and instantly the spirit of the boy returned.

"Well, then I'll go first. See you soon." Xika waved her hand while walking further.

"ah! A-anu!"

"Hm? Especially?" Huo Bing was somewhat annoyed with the child due to his stammering and time-consuming manner of speech.

"If you may know.....Where are you going.....?"

"Room. Playing cards." Huo Bing replied presumably representing Xika who was still a bit confused.

"A-what.....I can come......?"

Huo Bing gave him a look as if staring at the suddenly living dirt and was about to join them. But he could not bear to see the face of the boy who was now about to cry so he gave an annoyed grunt while nodding.

"Thank you!"

"By the way, what's your name?

"W-uh! S-I'm In He."

Moments earlier, in the Main Building, after the four protectors had huddled up to determine who was suitable to watch over Xika and the others.

"In He, are you sure you can complete this mission? Most likely they came from other great powers and spying on them meant death" Yan Xiaolu said.

"I'm sure, Elder Yan."

"Then go. Dig out as much information as possible and don't get caught."

"Okay, Elder!"