Chapter 264: 264 Renqing_1
The SSR Card Spirit isn’t small, and the lightning tribulation it summons will also be immensely impressive.
After determining the route, the next step was to investigate the various factions currently in Ceylon City.
Presently, Ceylon City only had two overt factions.
One was the Illegal Spirit Card Master Group, causing trouble worldwide.
The other was the Fiend Organization.
On the surface, Ceylon City was controlled by the Fiend. Wen Jiang estimated that the current Fiend leader was likely one of a few individuals, including the Blood Emperor, with Yu Jian being the probable candidate for the so-called Celestial Maiden.
As for UR Rank Spirit Card Masters in Ceylon City, Wen Jiang sensed there were two. It’s possible that one is with the Fiend and another within the illegal group. Otherwise, the two factions wouldn’t be contending with each other on equal footing in Ceylon City. But when it comes to economic lifelines, the Fiend holds slightly more control.
As for Ah Li, who kidnapped Xie Lingyu, he should be an insider of the Fiend, but his exact position remains unclear. Having been here for so long, she has yet to see Xie Lingyu. It’s still unknown what methods the other party used against Elder Mrs. Xie. Spirit Cards or other strange things were all possibilities. If Yu Jian didn’t do it, then Ah Li most likely did.
In her mind, the SSR Card Spirit was flickering faintly. This entity could not only leave her side to move around but also stay away for long periods. In the past, even a mere 30-second absence would cost her 10,000 Points. With no fluctuation in Points now, just how dense must the emotional energy in Ceylon Cemetery be?
No sooner had she stepped out the door than she received a communication from Hua Zhuo.
Hua Zhuo wouldn’t call her unless it was an emergency. However, Wen Jiang currently had considerable freedom and could communicate with Hua Zhuo directly through the System without worrying about eavesdropping.
Walking along the main street, Wen Jiang answered Hua Zhuo’s call, her expression unchanged.
"One piece of good news and one piece of bad news. Which do you want to hear first?" Hua Zhuo’s tone wasn’t urgent.
Wen Jiang said, "The good news."
"Someone at the Mount Flower factory has created a new card, the B-Level Infant Nourishment, based on the Liao Zhai materials you previously sent."
Indeed, this was good news. Once someone in the factory started producing cards similar to hers, it meant her plan was taking shape. At least the burden of producing low-rank cards would no longer be solely on her shoulders, allowing Mount Flower to establish a beneficial cycle.
Wen Jiang agreed, "That is indeed good news. Is the bad news about me?"
"Pretty much." Hua Zhuo pondered for a moment before saying, "You gave new cards to Yan Moling, and now the military can no longer suppress the news about you. The cards you’ve created... can enhance one’s spiritual power."
This was a sensitive topic that had already aroused suspicion. Cards made by others were ineffective; only those crafted by Wen Jiang had immediate effects. The Red Child family card set Yan Moling took back, after a period of training with the army, resulted in varying degrees of spiritual power enhancement for the soldiers. Those with strong combat abilities experienced more noticeable improvements. While upgrading ranks wasn’t possible yet, with long-term use, who knew what changes might occur? After all, it was still early days.
And a Card Maker who could enable people to level up... The significance of her existence to Yunxia was self-explanatory.
"Although it’s bad news, your disappearing for a while might not be such a bad thing," Hua Zhuo continued. "At this critical juncture, everyone’s trying to figure out who this Card Maker is. At most, they suspect a close relationship with you, Wen Jiang, since Yan Moling secretly took the cards. The only collaborators you’ve partnered with for your cards were Tang Qian and Yan Moling. As long as they stay silent, no one will know. It’s just uncertain how long this can be kept secret. Even with how incredible it sounds, some have guessed it’s you. Otherwise, how could you have advanced to A-Level so quickly? But the frequency of you producing A-Level cards is too high. I estimate that by the time you reach S Rank, your identity as a Card Maker will be more or less public. No one can rise through the ranks so swiftly except for a heaven-defying Card Maker."
Hua Zhuo casually asked about her recent activities in Ceylon City, "You haven’t had any problems there, have you?"
Wen Jiang acknowledged with an "Mm," "No problems for now."
She had only mentioned that she joined the Sixth Division in Ceylon City, becoming a Card Maker within the Fiend Organization, but said nothing about the cards she had created.
However, Hua Zhuo knew the name Helena. Wen Jiang believed it wouldn’t be long before Hua Zhuo found out what she had been up to there.
"Recent activity by the Illegal Spirit Card Master Group has increased even more frequently at major Empire border cities," Hua Zhuo shared some intelligence not yet public knowledge. "The military has suffered many sacrifices at the Border Cities; your cards have come like timely rain. Powerful cards can ensure the superiority of our Spirit Card Masters, and at this stage, the cards you’ve made are indeed a boon for the military."
Wen Jiang furrowed her brows. "What exactly are those people after?"
She had considered this question before. The wars had ended so many years ago, yet these Spirit Card Masters were still tirelessly engaged in destructive activities, shattering the present peace. What exactly were they plotting?
"They’ve always believed Spirit Card Masters and ordinary people shouldn’t be of the same class," Hua Zhuo explained. "They want to turn the world into a lawless one like Ceylon City, a true world where the strong prey on the weak." He sighed. "A perverse idea. Worse still, as long as Spirit Card Masters exist, such people will continue to appear indefinitely; they can never be truly stopped. Once a person possesses extraordinary powers, they develop many thoughts they shouldn’t have."
That’s why someone like Wen Jiang was all the more precious. This was also why Hua Zhuo felt she was different from Yu Jian.
Wen Jiang was silent.
Hua Zhuo continued, "There’s one more thing. The Card Maker who created the Black Tortoise Card, Gong Shu—do you know him?"
Wen Jiang: "Mm?"
"He has visited me, and it looked like he was trying to find you, but you weren’t around. Recently, after he advanced to UR Rank Spirit Card Master, many Nobles have been trying to recruit him, but he seems uninterested in such matters."
It wasn’t essential for a Spirit Card Master to maintain good relationships with the Nobility.
Hua Zhuo, in mentioning this, naturally had some thoughts in mind. "Should we...?"
Ever since Jimo Xiao left, the Jimo Family now relied solely on Hua Zhuo, an S Rank Spirit Card Master, to hold the fort. If a UR Rank Spirit Card Master were supporting them now, situations like the previous ones would not occur so overtly. However, to entice a UR Rank Spirit Card Master, a price must naturally be paid, or a deal agreed upon. Hua Zhuo didn’t know what Gong Shu wanted, so she naturally came to inquire about Wen Jiang’s opinion.
Wen Jiang said, "It’s up to you." For her, whether the Jimo Family had a UR Rank Spirit Card Master backing them wasn’t particularly important. "His repairing the Black Tortoise Card is somewhat related to me," she explained. "Because of that, he owes the Jimo Family a favor. If he’s unwilling, there’s no need to force it."