Nine Star Burden

“So, what’s your family’s decision?” Li Weiyi asked with his arms folded. Under the surge of Star Power, he put up a major “defensive shield”.

The Defensive Shield was very much like the shields used by the police. They were large, thick and black, and were all stacked together to block Jiang Xiao’s punch.

Jiang Xiao knew that Li Weiyi was not talking to him. Xia Yan entered through the door and said, “My family has agreed.”

“Hey!” Jiang Xiao suddenly showed up with the Big Dipper Star Map, on which the second star slot suddenly lit up, signifying that he had already used all of his energy.

Bang!

He punched his Green Glow-covered fist against the Defensive Shield forcefully, causing Li Weiyi to stagger backward and hit his back against the wall, though the shield did not shatter.

“Is this black shield really strong?” Jiang Xiao said excitedly. “It’s so safe.”

Li Weiyi moved his body and looked straight at Jiang Xiao’s for a long time without shifting his gaze at all.

Had he not witnessed it with his own eyes, he would never admit that he only had nine star slots.

However, the truth could not be changed and Li Weiyi could not help but feel sympathetic towards Jiang Xiao because it was a huge pity.

Jiang Xiao continued, “I know about Flame Arc. Xia Yan has used it before. How about your ‘Scorch’?”

“This is an indoor training room, and I dare not use it here.” Li Weiyi shook his head and said, “If I use it, I might break the floor and the flames might destroy everything.”

Jiang Xiao’s eyes lit up and he wondered, The floor is going to explode once he steps on it? 

Exploding on the spot? 

However, it was different from the god of explosions because Li Weiyi had to step on the ground.

Meanwhile, the bombers could explode on the ground immediately.

Li Weiyi’s Star Map was a large kite-shaped shield.

The Knight’s shield that was shaped like an inverted triangle was very similar to the kind of shield used by European knights.

There were a total of 25 star slots, amongst which seven were emitting a faint glow. There were two Brass Quality and five Silver Quality Star Techniques.

Just like Xia Yan, he had ignited seven Star Techniques, but in reality, they could have been up to eight Star Techniques because they were already in the Nebula Stage. Jiang Xiao had no idea why they both chose to leave one star slot empty.

His Brass Quality Star Techniques were Green Glow and Endurance.

His Silver Quality Star Techniques were Flame Arc, Burning Flame, Bursting Flames, Scorch, and Black Shield.

Li Weiyi’s family was not very affluent. His mother was a civil servant and was morally upright. Hence, she was not involved in any corrupt practices. On the other hand, his father belonged to the nation’s secret forces.

The salary of civil servants was rather mediocre. Although Li Weiyi’s father may earn more, the amount he could earn was still limited. They belonged to the working class.

Hence, most of the Star Techniques in Li Weiyi’s star slots could be bought with money. The classic Green Glow, Endurance, Burning Flame and Bursting Flames were all basic Star Techniques from the White Ghouls and Lava Ghouls.

Flame Arc and Scorch came from a Dimensional Space near a volcanic group and were cultivated by a creature of another dimension known as a Lava Ghoul General.

Although the Lava Ghoul and Lava Ghoul General had similar names, they were worlds apart in terms of abilities and rarity.

Until now, Xia Yan had only absorbed one Flame Arc from the Star Beads given by the school and had yet to acquire the Star Technique Scorch. She would occasionally splurge on Star Beads from the business firms, but even after absorbing a Lava Ghoul General Star Bead, she still did not acquire that Star Technique. Hence, Xia Yan was infuriated, because Li Weiyi had already acquired both Lava Ghoul General Star Techniques: Flame Arc and Scorch.

Scorch, in particular, was capable of doing damage to a group of people, for the ground would shatter with just one step. Hence, it was extremely domineering. Xia Yan had always been coveting that Star Technique.

Black Shield was not a Beijiang Star Technique and was given to Li Weiyi by his father.

Previously, Jiang Xiao specially searched for information about it on the internet and discovered that it originated from Russia…

Although it was a Silver Quality Star Technique, it was extremely rare and precious. It also had a strong Defensive Power that would allow the user to exhibit a large defensive shield to resist damage.

The amount of damage it could resist would depend on the Star Power and Star Technique level of the user.

A Melee Shielder, a Melee Swordswoman, a remote Rules Awakened, and a Medical Healer.

It was a perfect combination of team members.

Although Li Weiyi’s Star Map was a large shield, the weapon he used the most was a sledgehammer.

According to Li Weiyi, his father hoped that he would be able to have a Star Pet which he could ride on in the future.

Jiang Xiao didn’t have much knowledge and he found Xia Yan’s giant sword to be extremely heavy. Hence, he was extremely astonished when he heard Li Weiyi saying that his father wanted him to go on the path of becoming a cavalry.

To Jiang Xiao, there was only one profession, and that was the Melee Infantry. What could a cavalry do during a battle?

Would a team of four really need a cavalry?

Perhaps, Mr. Li was extremely knowledgeable and perhaps, Li Weiyi might eventually turn into a combat warrior who owned a round shield and a sledgehammer, holding a high status in the teams in China.

Xia Yan walked towards Han Jiangxue and naturally held onto her arm. While watching the two people who were fighting on the battlefield, she said, “All the Star Beads that we obtain within those fifteen days will belong to us. The school will not take any.”

“Well, this is a good thing, maybe we can all break through the middle of Nebula Stage,” Li Weiyi said while exchanging strikes with Jiang Xiao. “I think the school’s initiative is great because they’re constantly pushing us to the limits in order to breakthrough. Training in school is not challenging enough because we know each other’s tactics and fighting styles all too well. Hence, fighting is going to be boring.”

Oh? 

Boring? 

Is he poking fun at me? 

Jiang Xiao raised his hand and gave Li Weiyi a Blessing. While Li Weiyi was stunned, Jiang Xiao punched him.

Li Weiyi and Jiang Xiao gasped at the same time. Li Weiyi was on the verge of tears, as he was overwhelmed with excruciating pain in his nose.

On the other hand, Jiang Xiao was worried that the handsome Li Weiyi might become disfigured. If Li Qingmei were to find that her boyfriend’s high nose bridge had collapsed, she would definitely deal with Jiang Xiao.

Li Weiyi raised his hand and continuously waved it, hinting for him to stop.

At this moment, Jiang Xiao had no idea if Li Weiyi was in pain or feeling a great sense of pleasure. The feeling of having an injured nose while bathing in sacred light was a miraculous feeling.

“Try to get used to it. There are indeed some side effects to Xiaopi’s Silver Quality Star Technique, Blessing. You’d better get used to it as soon as possible. I hope you won’t get distracted when facing the White Ghouls,” Han Jiangxue said.

Li Weiyi put a hand on his nose and sat on the ground while moaning in pleasure. He then said in a shaky voice, “Okay, Commander…”

Han Jiangxue turned to look at Jiang Xiao and instructed, “Go ahead.”

“Okay.” Jiang Xiao scratched his head and healed Li Weiyi again.

While Li Weiyi was basking in the miraculous sensation, Han Jiangxue turned to look at Xia Yan who was beside her. “Xiaopi has already told me about it. If he continuously uses White Ghoul Star Beads to replenish his Star Power during the competition, he’ll be able to upgrade Green Glow and Endurance to Gold Quality very quickly.”

Xia Yan’s face lit up with joy before turning sullen again. “This is good news for us now. But, a Gold Quality Green Glow has yet to surface in this world, so it’s hard to explain.

“I’m also afraid that he might seem too shocked, but I’m even more afraid that he might be in danger. His abilities can definitely make up for his weakness of only having nine star slots. No country would be willing to see a rising star in China.

“There are Star Beads in Korea that can disguise Star Maps. In fact, even their faces can be changed too. Those Star Beads cost a bomb and are too difficult to reserve. Besides, it’s of Gold Quality and would be difficult for Xiaopi to absorb it,” Xia Yan said with a frown.

Han Jiangxue said, “He has very few star slots. Why waste it on this? He might as well just not light up his Star Map.”

“Have you talked to him about this?” Xia Yan thought about it and persuaded. “He’s become much more mature now. Don’t be deceived by his glib tongue. Look at the way he performed during the school tournament. He really is very mature and reliable.”

Han Jiangxue opened her eyes and glanced at Jiang Xiao who was rather far away, after which she expressed assent.

“Don’t be like this. Xuexue, talk to him.” Xia Yan held Han Jiangxue’s arm tightly.

Han Jiangxue suddenly turned around to look at Xia Yan. “Three years ago, my parents left and I thought I’d be able to give Xiaopi a stable life no matter how recalcitrant, incompetent, and insensible he is. I thought that I’d be able to protect him.

“But for the first time, I feel really incompetent. If my parents are still around, Xiaopi might not have to be so restricted. I… I… still… ” Han Jiangxue said in a soft voice that was rather distressing.

Xia Yan pursed her lips and comforted her. “Don’t say that, if it weren’t for your guidance as his guardian for the past few years, he would have been beaten or starved to death.”

Han Jiangxue looked at the extremely comfortable and sluggish Li Weiyi. She then turned to look at the heavily panting Jiang Xiao. “Xiaopi.”

Jiang Xiao stopped and turned around.

“Come here,” Han Jiangxue said while waving at him.

“Oh.” Jiang Xiao walked towards them and looked at Han Jiangxue in bewilderment.

Han Jiangxue looked down at Jiang Xiao. With complicated emotions in her gloomy eyes, she put a hand on his head and rubbed it gently. “It’s been hard on you,” she said softly.

Jiang Xiao was completely stunned.

It was the first time that Han Jiangxue had ever been so gentle with him since he traveled to this world. It was also the first time she had ever encouraged and affirmed him.

No matter how hard Jiang Xiao worked before, Han Jiangxue would never bat an eyelid.

What happened? 

Could it be… that I’ve progressed in tackling Han Jiangxue?