Chapter 276: 276 control_1
Combat Angel Gabriel, a card from Xi Zhou.
Wen Jiang gazed at the noble and elegant, golden-haired Angel Card, already understanding what Xing Wu intended to do. He had made a deal with someone. This deal required someone to distract the current Shui Linglong, as well as other high-ranking members of the Fiend Organization. This is a dangerous undertaking.
But he was right about one thing: she hadn’t been creating SSR Cards, not because she was procrastinating, but because she lacked the stimulus she felt was necessary for her to advance. In the past, during her cultivation, reaching a new realm always required a stimulus. Her journey in this world had been too smooth so far. Even though her cultivation base was increasing, its progress was now extremely slow. Moving from B to A-Level was just a minor hurdle, but ascending from A to S Rank was a true challenge. She was nearing her limit. Cultivation wasn’t a smooth and easy path; each step was laden with danger, and only by overcoming these perils could one reap future rewards. This was, after all, a card of national-treasure level. In terms of faith, it was comparable to the Divine Beasts of the Eastern Continent.
Wen Jiang’s eyes flickered. "Where did this card come from?"
"It was obtained from someone else. He paid the price of this card to gain my assistance." Xing Wu was smiling. At that moment, he seemed not like the deity who tempted others to corruption, but rather a benevolent god who pitied mortals.
According to the System’s data, Xing Wu’s card was still actively pulsating. He still needed to rely on himself, but here in Ceylon City, he had an opportunity to act independently. And he was making deals with others. Who could he be making deals with?
Time was of the essence. The roar of the Wind Dragon drew closer, and Wen Jiang could already hear buildings collapsing. The consultation between her and Xing Wu, though it seemed lengthy, had actually only taken a few seconds.
Ultimately, she raised her hand, and the card smoothly flew towards her. Wen Jiang’s features gradually blurred, her freckled Xi Zhou face transforming seamlessly into the visage of a strikingly beautiful woman from the Eastern Continent.
Of course, this wasn’t her original face either; she had merely switched to another one. Naturally, she couldn’t use Helena’s face for misdeeds; the task she was about to undertake was quite hazardous.
Wen Jiang knew her own strength. She wasn’t afraid of ordinary S-Rank Spirit Card Masters. However, after her previous encounter with the Blood Emperor, she was extremely wary of him. Shui Linglong had caused quite a stir by now, yet he hadn’t intervened. Moreover, she didn’t yet know who Shui Linglong was targeting.
This card seemed to have been obtained by Xing Wu through some special means. As it neared Wen Jiang, it suddenly transformed into a burst of brilliance and was absorbed by her. Instantly, Wen Jiang felt Gabriel’s presence.
She was A-Level now, after all. The moment the card manifested, she immediately sensed the difficulty in wielding an SSR Card. Especially since this card was unlike ordinary SSR Cards. She recalled that even if Xi Zhou’s angels could be deployed in battle, very few Spirit Card Masters could directly wield an SSR Card like Gabriel.
In just a fraction of a second, the Spiritual Energy within her surged wildly.
As Xing Wu had said, she could, at most, struggle to command Gabriel for a brief period.
And this card...
"Has this card suffered damage?"
Damage to a Card Spirit manifests on its spiritual body. The Card Spirit wouldn’t be as cohesive as a normal one—a distinction any Spirit Card Master could perceive at a glance. This Gabriel had suffered damage and had not been fully repaired.
Xing Wu’s voice was languid yet alluring. "This card only has a hope of being repaired in your hands."
This remark made Wen Jiang feel a bit uneasy. A thought suddenly struck her. He was the God of Desire. He traded with people. What he should desire wasn’t something like a card; after all, he craved the most profound emotional energy. A card, unless it was as bizarre as the Dancer card, would be useless to him. It seemed he was well aware of the terms for a fair trade. Without this card, she would absolutely not help him. Others wouldn’t easily relinquish such a card. It appeared the other party also knew they couldn’t repair Gabriel and had decided to trade it away instead.
Although she was curious about who had given him the card, time was pressing. She had been coasting for too long and indeed needed to exert herself, especially since it involved causing chaos in Ceylon City. Wen Jiang did not refuse.
Upon summoning the damaged card, obtained through unconventional means, Wen Jiang felt immense resistance during the initial invocation.
The Qi and blood within her body began to roil—a sensation she hadn’t experienced in a long time, the feeling of a true battle. The internal turmoil made her breathing labored, yet Wen Jiang felt a long-absent thrill of battle.
This excitement caused her fingertips to gradually start trembling.
BOOM—
She raised her hand. A towering Combat Angel, nearly half the size of the city, suddenly materialized, searing itself into everyone’s perception. The angel, with six pairs of immense wings, a compassionate expression, golden hair cascading to its waist, and clad in golden armor, suddenly appeared within the city.
Ceylon City is a circular metropolis, with all buildings spread around Ceylon Castle at its center. The battle erupted on one side of the northeastern corner.
The Angel Card Spirit was so immense, its presence was suffocating.
The appearance of Gabriel stunned the crowd.
"SSR Gabriel?"
"How could Gabriel possibly appear here?!"
"Gabriel is the signature card of Divine Punishment; none of them are ever circulated externally! How could Gabriel appear here? Are people from Divine Punishment present?"
"Is there a UR-Rank Spirit Card Master?"
Around the city, onlookers screamed and scattered in all directions.
This was precisely why high-ranking Spirit Card Masters were forbidden from fighting within the city. Their mere appearance could cause immense destruction. Only when a true Card Spirit manifested did ordinary people realize the vast disparity between Spirit Card Masters of different levels.
Summoning an SSR Card across ranks for the first time—especially Gabriel, who surpassed typical SSRs—made even Wen Jiang gasp inwardly. The sensation of being drained was all too apparent as Spiritual Energy from the surroundings continuously poured into her. It had been a long time since she’d pushed herself to such a limit. With the surrounding Spiritual Energy cycling through her, she could probably hold on for another half minute at most.
This would definitely not work in a competition.
But Wen Jiang was different from ordinary S-Rank Spirit Card Masters. Very few in the world could wield Gabriel, especially since she was summoning it across ranks. She now had no spare energy to summon other cards.
Xing Wu pointed in a direction.
And through Gabriel’s eyes, Wen Jiang’s gaze locked with that of the distant Wind Dragon.
It was a pale green Western Dragon, its massive body surging with flowing green light. Despite its size, its aura seemed slightly diminished in Gabriel’s presence.
The moment Gabriel appeared, the restless Wind Dragon seemed to freeze for an instant.
Then, it unconsciously took a step backward.
The one controlling the Wind Dragon was Shui Linglong—a high-ranking member of the Fiend Organization, and a woman.