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n

nSword Card Master Association.

nWith the flash of the lightning cracks, the Original Card came back to reality. Endless light from the lightning cracks burst from the Original Card, projecting a three-dimensional scene above it.

nThere seemed to be a lake.

nThe lake was sparkling.

nIt looked beautiful and surreal.

nA man who seemed to have come out of a painting, with an almost perfect figure and exquisite features, lay in the lake.

nLu Ming was speechless.

nXiaobai was silent.

nThe young and old looked at each other, speechless.

nObviously…

nNo one had expected to see such a scene in the Original Card!

n“Who’s this?”

nLu Ming became solemn. This was the first time he saw someone almost as handsome as himself!

n“I don’t know.”

nXiaobai shook her head.

nShe had never seen this person before.

n“This is strange.” Lu Ming was doubtful.

nHowever, as he looked at the man, he swept his gaze over his hair. When arriving at the pinch of green in his fringe, he suddenly understood…

nGreen bangs? Oh. Crap! Damn it! Isn’t that Xiao-Xiaojian?

nThe card seemed to have fantasized its appearance in the Original Card!

nXiaobai was speechless as she looked at the green bangs. She lowered her head to look at Xiao-Xiaobai who was next to her. It stared silently at the screen as well.

nIt was hard to explain in a few words.

nXiao-Xiaobai was speechless.

nSuddenly, the scene changed. Xiao-Xiaojian stood up and cast its cold gaze at the scoundrel in the lake.

n“Scoundrel!

n“Lu Ming!

n“Why didn’t you kneel after seeing me?!

n“Humph!

n“A few days ago, I read in a biological textbook that humans are mammals too. To put it plainly, they are merely advanced animals. They are worlds apart from spirit bodies!

n“You are an animal!”

nXiao-Xiaojian said in a loud voice, “Kneel down! Call me father!”

nXiaobai was silent.

nLu Ming became sullen.

nOh.

nThis was what Xiao-Xiaojian was thinking about all the time.

nHahahaha.

nAfter a while.

nXiao-Xiaojian looked at the goldfish in the water.

n“Xiaobai!

n“Send your daughter to me as fast as possible!

n“You should consider yourself blessed that I fancy Xiao-Xiaobai! One day I will make Xiao-Xiaobai a queen and you will rise through the ranks. Lu Ming will not be a problem anymore!”

nXiao-Xiaojian said proudly.

nLu Ming was speechless.

nXiao-Xiaobai was speechless.

nXiaobai’s tender face became sullen.

nShe suddenly felt that she had been too nice to Xiao-Xiaojian.

nAt that very moment in the Sea of Consciousness, a black cat revealed a satisfied smile.

nThe next instant, on the card’s screen, Xiao-Xiaojian patrolled the lake smugly. It behaved like a king. However, just when it started feeling proud of itself, there was a crack in the sky.

nA shadow descended quietly.

nXiao-Xiaojian floated away and merged with the shadow.

n“What was that?”

nLu Ming was shocked.

nShush!

nThe screen froze.

nLu Ming enlarged the shadow to take a closer look. He was surprised to find that it was an iron sword! A rusty iron sword!

nSwoosh!

nThe iron sword flashed and suddenly disappeared into the sky.

nAt that moment.

nThe screen disappeared.

nThe Lightning Original Card resumed its calm.

n“The sword…”

nLu Ming suddenly understood now.

n“Was Xiao-Xiaojian taken away?”

nXiaobai was surprised.

n“No.”

nLu Ming shook his head.

nIt’s impossible that someone took Xiao-Xiaojian away!

nIf Xiao-Xiaojian could leave the Original Card freely, it would have left long ago! No one is able to silently remove a card spirit from an Original Card!

nFurthermore… that sword!

nLu Ming sensed a familiar aura, it was similar to Xiao-Xiaojian’s! Well… there was only one possibility!

nThat sword…

nIt was Xiao-Xiaojian’s body. It was the place where Xiao-Xiaojian was originally born! And now, because of its summoning, Xiao-Xiaojian had returned to it!

n“It has gone back.”

nLu Ming sighed. “It has returned to its rightful place.”

n“Huh?”

nXiaobai was dazed.

n“Went back? Was I too harsh in my experiments?”

n“It has nothing to do with you,”

nLu Ming sighed. “Perhaps, it belonged to there.”

nXiao-Xiaojian was after the sword!

nPerhaps, it felt too aggrieved in the Original Card. It could sense that the sword had returned and left!

nWould Xiao-Xiaojian have left one day anyways?

nYes.

nLu Ming knew that one day it would.

nXiao-Xiaojian had kept increasing its power to become all powerful! Therefore, Lu Ming was already mentally prepared. However he never thought that Xiao-Xiaojian would leave so abruptly!

nPerhaps…

nThe Original Card really was unsuitable for it.

nPerhaps…

nThis was why it could not wait to leave.

nHence…

nLu Ming opened “Baidoo1 ” to search for information regarding spirit bodies that have left by themselves. He wanted to know if spirit bodies would really leave of their own accord…

nHowever…

nAt this very moment…

nBuzz—

nHis wristband communication device vibrated and Lu Ming opened it instinctively.

n“Hello, is this Lu Ming?”

nThere was a hoarse voice at the other end.

n“That’s me.”

nLu Ming’s voice was low.

n“Your spirit body is with me. Get one million yuan to pay the ransom now. Send it to the designated place before this afternoon or you will bear the consequences…” the other party said coldly.

nBam!

nHe had yet to finish but Lu Ming ended the call.

nWhat the crap!

nHe had done one search on “Baidoo” and his information was already being sent out!

nIt was too much!

nLu Ming knew of many unscrupulous search engines that relied on the sales of personal information to gain money but he did not expect them to be that unscrupulous!

nBesides, he was searching for a spirit body!

nHe did not know they would start kidnapping things!

nThat was so stupid!

n“Xiaobai! Remember. When using search engines in the future, don’t give out real information,” Lu Ming instructed her.

n“Okay,” Xiaobai replied obediently.

nHowever, she was confused. “Master, do you think it might be real?”

n“How is that possible?!”

nLu Ming sighed.

nKidnapping…

nBoring scam calls!

nThey clearly saw that Xiao-Xiaojian had returned to the sword! It was a sword spirit. It was impossible to kidnap!

nBuzz—

nThe wristband vibrated once again.

nLu Ming took a glance. It was the same number.

n“Your spirit body is with me. Retrieve one million yuan, otherwise…”

n“We will go ahead and kill it,” the other party said fiercely.

nLu Ming pursed his lips. “Don’t you know that we are associated with thousands of spirit bodies?”

nBam!

nLu Ming hung up the phone again.

nThis is crap! How dare he lie to him?! How is this possible?! I have never heard of a spirit body being kidnapped!

nThis time, not only did he end the call but he also blocked the caller!

nCome to think of it…

nThe call did seem to come a little too fast?

nLu Ming squinted.

n“Brother Cat… I remember that you can tell what is on Xiao-Xiaojian’s mind. Perhaps… We can look at it in the Sea of Consciousness?”

n…

nSomewhere in the mountain range many beams of lights shot up into the sky as if they were going to cut across it. There were many thunderbolts in the sky. They seemed to be angry at the incoming light!

nHowever, when the beams of lights reached the clouds and thunder rang, they suddenly stopped and faded.

nThe event kept repeating itself.

nOnce…

nTwice…

nIn the end…

nThe light that was directed into the sky dissipated in the sky.

nThe dreadful thunder and dark clouds loomed in the sky for a long time. They seemed to be clueless about what had just happened and slowly dissipated.

nOf course, if the thunder had had a consciousness, then the dark clouds might have formed an idiotic shape…

nUnder the dark clouds, in the area where lights and shadows attacked, an old man sat cross-legged. He looked at the fading lights with a bitter look on his face.

nIn the end…

nIt still failed.

nThis was his 2337th attempt to break through to seven-star! The only thing he had been doing over the past ten years was trying to break through to seven-star! Over and over again!

nHowever…

nThe threshold of seven-star was like a towering mountain!

nIt could not be moved!

n“Why… Why can’t I break through?”

nThe elder clenched his fists.

nTalent… Is talent that important?!

nThose past two days, he had been watching Qiu Shuyi’s live broadcast. He had listened to other people’s stories in which they saw the light and broke through overnight. However, he had never felt that feeling!

nI can’t understand what Qiu Shuyi is talking about! That’s right. I do not understand at all! Understanding… Talent… What would I do if I lack both? Give up? That’s impossible!

nFor decades, I used all means possible to become stronger and more powerful. I enhanced my talents and comprehension skills and finally reached where I am today! How could I give up now? I am only a step away from seven-star!

nAfter a while…

nHe got up.

nHe rested his gaze on a place not too far away. There on a not-so-clean boulder was a rusty iron sword that occasionally shimmered.

nSky Water Sword. An ancient legacy Excalibur!

nAccording to legends, this sword was psychic. If one controlled it, they would be able to control water! There was once an elder who wiped everyone out with the sword. He was invincible! All rivers and lakes were within his control!

nThe elder…

nThe sword…

nThey were part of an ancient legend!

nIt was a pity that there had been a drought recently…

n“Up!” he said while slightly waving his hands.

nThe Sky Water Sword floated and landed in his hands.

nHe had obtained the sword ten years ago on a legacy site. He studied the sword daily before he finally uncovered its secret. Apart from its original abilities, the sword also enhanced a person’s talents! It was because of this secret skill that he kept on improving!

nHe was once a loser whose highest cultivation level was three-star, but ever since he had broken through to peak six-star!

nHowever…

nIt was far from enough!

nHe needed more talent to break through to seven-star!

nSince ordinary methods did not work, he pinned his hopes on the Sky Water Sword!

nThe sword is able to increase one’s abilities even when in its original form. If I can activate it by waking the legendary sword spirit, I might become stronger!

nHence…

nFrom that day onwards, he had fed the sword with his blood. Now, because of his blood, it finally recognized him as its master!

nHowever, to his surprise, the Excalibur seemed to be different from what he had imagined.

nIt did not have the power he imagined it would have. It seemed to have lost much of its memory. It could not remember anything from ancient times!

nIt was clueless about ways to enhance abilities!

nThis sword spirit turned out to be a loser!

n“How does one improve their abilities?”

nThe elder was cold and aloof.

n“I don’t know.”

nXiao-Xiaojian had tears in its eyes.

nEnhancing talent…

nIt really was clueless.

nIt was thrilling when Xiaobai electrocuted it and it fell into a trance. It did not expect that someone would activate the sword and summon it back forcibly!!!

nThe sword…

nIt had become useless a long time ago.

n“Are you really clueless?” the elder asked coldly.

n“I don’t really know,” Xiao-Xiaojian said honestly.

n“Then you are useless,” the elder replied gloomy.

nI went to great lengths to wake Excalibur! Ten years! I fed it my blood daily! Does it know how tough it was? After all, I am a man…

nHe did not have the advantage of mastering the dark arts of losing one liter of blood monthly. He had to keep making himself bleed and feeding himself. It was very tough for him.

nIn the end, it turned out to be for nothing?

nHence…

nIn a pique of anger, he placed the Sky Water Sword on the grill.

nBang!

nThe flames burned.

nThere were sounds coming from Sky Water Sword.

n“Ouch! Ouch! Ouch…”

nXiao-Xiaojian had tears in its eyes.

nWhy are all of them like this? It truly is clueless! To hell with it! Whatever happened to its memory of ancient times… It has been so many years yet how can it not remember anything? If it had a useful memory, it would not have scored seven marks on the exam! However… Speaking of talent… wait a minute!

n“I know who has it!” Xiao-Xiaojian shouted.

n“Speak.”

nThe elder was emotionless.

n“Lu Ming.” Xiao-Xiaojian betrayed him without hesitation.

n“You are courting death!”

nThe elder was furious so he sprinkled some cumin on the sword.

n“Scoundrel!”

nAfter being activated, it said that it was Lu Ming’s card spirit and nagged me to contact Lu Ming. This is why I sought Lu Ming out! In the end… it was a lie. In fact, thinking about it… the Sky Water Sword was with me all these years. It cannot be related to Lu Ming! Back when I obtained the sword, Lu Ming was still running around with his pants open! This so-called sword spirit is indeed full of lies!

nSnort!

n“That’s okay!

n“I will make you tell the truth!”

nCheez—

nCheez—

nHe burned the sword until it became red. Since the Sky Water Sword had water properties, it was terrified of the heat. He wanted to know how long the sword spirit could stand it!

n“Ah… that’s painful,

n“It really is!”

nXiao-Xiaojian said, “Haven’t you wondered why Lu Ming’s talent increased at such a fast speed?”

n“Oh?”

nThe elder narrowed his eyes.

n“I am Excalibur!”

n“I can make deductions!” Xiao-Xiaojian sounded very confident.

n“Although I have never seen Lu Ming, Excalibur has another property and that is deduction. Therefore, I know that the real one is with Lu Ming!”

n“Really?”

nThe elder sneered!

n“It really is!”

nXiao-Xiaojian sounded serious. “Let me deduce… Uh… Lu Ming… cultivation… uh, it seems to be called the Art of Equalization…”

nBang!

nThe elder’s expression changed drastically.

nThe Art of Equalization?!

nAs someone who had gone through all the ancient books to find ways to increase his talents, he was very familiar with the Art of Equalization…

nHe had seen the relevant information in countless ancient books. In addition to the secret skill he used to enhance his talents, he also used the Art of Equalization!

nOf course. The skill has long been lost. This was why I gave up long ago. I did not expect Lu Ming to have a copy with him!

n“Very good, very good!”

nThe elder was excited.

nHe knew that if he could obtain the Art of Equalization, perhaps he could become a seven-star in one go! The Art of Equalization was his last chance!

n“Lu Ming…”

nThe elder looked through Lu Ming’s earliest data. Before Fruit Ninja became popular, Lu Ming was deemed a burden to his elder sister… He was good-for-nothing.

nOf course, as Lu Ming became popular, people assumed this was a joke or rumor. Nobody would have expected that it was true!

nThe elder looked at Lu Ming’s data and was jealous.

nTalent! That is what talent looks like!

nLu Ming was a good-for-nothing Card Creator. But he was who he was today all because of the Art of Equalization!

nIf I obtain this secret skill and combine it with myself… Seven-star? Eight-star? I might even reach higher realms!

n“You can’t obtain it through normal means.”

nXiao-Xiaojian suggested, “Do you know why the Art of Equalization was long lost? This is because it is only inherited through the Sea of Consciousness. The legacy takes shape there and if the person dies, the legacy is destroyed!”

n“The legacy has taken shape?”

nThe elder frowned.

n“It is in Lu Ming’s Sea of Consciousness.”

nXiao-Xiaojian did a deduction and pondered for a while. “The Art of Equalization has taken the shape of a black living creature. I can’t tell clearly. It might be a castrated and ill-tempered eunuch cat…”

n“Anyways, if you want the Art of Equalization, killing Lu Ming is useless. You have to enter the Sea of Consciousness to get it!” Xiao-Xiaojian instructed.

n“I see,” the elder understood.

nAccording to rumors a top-notch Swordsman’s legacy could transform into a living creature. The same could happen to Lunar Shadows’ legacies. He did not expect the Art of Equalization to be the same!

nNo wonder I could not find it for decades! The Sea of Consciousness…

n“I understand now.”

nThe elder nodded slightly.

nLu Ming has an extraordinary background.

nIf I want to best him, I might need more information…

nHe’s staying in Tian Du City. If I enter the city by force, I might be caught by the police!

nWell….The elder searched for information regarding Lu Ming on the Internet.

nOo…

nIt was said that he was not only handsome but also kind-hearted…

nHe had an idea!

nIt was easy to deal with so-called kind-hearted people. They were easily fooled. He could come up with some sad story to fool him and then make his move.

nShush!

nHe stood to leave.

nSky Water Sword followed in his trails.

nA man and a sword disappeared in the sky.

nHowever…

nThey were unaware of something.

nJust when they had decided to fool and kill Lu Ming, somewhere, a person and a cat, had been looking at the screen in the Sea of Consciousness without any expression.

nWell….

nThanks to the strong connection between Brother Cat and Xiao-Xiaojian, Xiao-Xiaojian’s every thought had been displayed with subtitles on the screen.

nIt was a good thing that Xiao-Xiaojian had not run away!

nIt was a good thing that Xiao-Xiaojian had been thinking of returning.

nHowever…

nLu Ming felt it would be better if it did not come back.

nHe was serious.

n“Meow!”

nThe black cat was furious.

nIts fur was taut. Its four claws were outstretched and cold lights flashed behind it. A chilling, suffocating feeling of murderous intentions swept over the Sea of Consciousness!

n“Calm down!

n“Brother Cat, calm down!”

nLu Ming hurried to stop the black cat, and wiped away his cold sweat.

nWhat a joke! It would be a lot of trouble if Brother Cat went charging out!

nAlthough Lu Ming did not really know how powerful the black cat was since it was able to obtain the bell from reality and go back and forth between the World of Darkness and Shadows and reality…

nWell…. it was capable of leaving the Sea of Consciousness!

n“Calm down! Brother Cat!”

n“They will come looking for us,” Lu Ming reminded the cat. “By then, we can wipe them all out !”

nThe black cat could not wait to kill them, but finally calmed down after hearing Lu Ming’s words.

nLu Ming broke into a cold sweat at Xiao-Xiaojian’s predicament.

nBrother, best of luck… serves it right for talking nonsense! However, come to think of it, to deal with a peak six-star… Although Xiao-Xiaojian mentioned the Sea of Consciousness, I reckon that given the fact that the other party is wary of Xiao-Xiaojian and impatient with it, they might not listen to it! This will be a fierce fight! Besides, this concerns the Art of Equalization, Sky Water Sword and Xiao-Xiaojian, as well as another secret skill that could also increase my talent!!! I have to fight this battle myself! Peak six-star?

nI will wait for you!

n…

n1 Baidoo is a similar name for Baidu, one of the companies specializing in Internet-related services.

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