Nine Star Burden

Chapter 260: Silver and Gold

Xia Yan spent a total of 498,000 yuan on the four Lava Ghoul Witch Star Beads.

After Jiang Xiao asked about it, he bore the price in mind and thought to himself that he had to return it in the future.

Jiang Xiao had already been in this world for more than half a year.

Logically speaking, the past six months had been struggling times for him.

Jiang Xiao initially had nothing and worked extremely hard. Now, he was in debt and felt a huge sense of fulfillment.

The two of them, like elementary students, were brought home by Han Jiangxue. Compared to the rest who were preparing for the college entrance examination, Jiang Xiao’s team had to take part in an important competition before the college entrance examination—the National High School League.

Before Xia Yan called Jiang Xiao out, he was holding onto some research materials and information about the teams taking part in the National High School League.

200 teams were participating in the competition, two of which were from Beijiang Province while 13 were from Beijing...

Beijing had sent the most number of teams, followed by Shanghai’s 11 teams.

As opposed to them, the relatively backward Northeast, Southwest, and Northwest regions of China had only sent about two or three teams.

The province that sent the least number of participating teams this year was Gan Province that only sent one team.

Logically speaking, even Beijiang Province could produce a relatively competent team like the one from Xindan Creek High School No. 11. However, the nation only allowed them to send two teams for the competition. What else could they do?

However, regardless of the number of teams, the quality of the teams selected by the various provinces, cities, and regions was top-notch.

Just like the numbers that Jiang Xiao was reading off the information sheet—27, 28, 25, 26...

What was he reading? It was the number of star slots of the participants.

Among the 200 teams that consisted of a total of 800 contestants, it would be rather difficult to find contestants with less than 25 star slots.

Of course, there were definitely a few. For example, Jiang Xiao wondered how the contestant with 24 star slots managed to get into the competition.

In the competition of the highest level in China, the 800 young talents represented the most competent batch of high school students in China in 2016.

According to the information about the students on the information sheet, there were a total of 80 participants who reached the peak of the Nebula Stage, accounting for one-tenth of all participants.

There was a large number of students in the late and middle stages of Nebula, representing the overall level of the students in this session.

The number of students in the early stage of Nebula was also around 80. The students definitely had a skill that they mastered since they could participate in the competition in the early Nebula Stage.

Among the participants of the early Nebula Stage, there was a significant number of Medical Awakened.

It was a very interesting phenomenon, and one would have to accept it regardless of how much they refused to!

There were too many Shield Warriors, Melee Fighters, and Rules Awakened. The competition was extremely stiff.

What? You’re a combat-type Awakened? Your Star Level is not high? Your Star Techniques are not strong enough? Your abilities are lacking? In that case, scram! Send a powerful student for the competition!

What? You’re a Medical Awakened? Your Star Power level is not high enough and your Star Techniques are not strong enough? You’re not competent enough? In that case... stay there and learn! Work hard together with your seniors in school!

Stay strong, you can do it!

...

Han Jiangxue was famous in China for having 30 star slots, and just a few days ago, another piece of news that shocked all of China circulated.

The piece of news was from the Southern Guangdong Province.

That province was a little amazing because of a godly figure with 30 star slots that appeared more than ten years ago. Today, another Awakened student of the Galaxy Stage appeared!

Since it was unprecedented, it was hard to happen again! (Han Jiangxue: Hehe)

She had a nice name, Yuan Qinghua.

She was a strong melee warrior who could even be considered an “assassin”.

There was also a huge uproar in her Weibo account. She had plenty of fans that continuously expressed their love for her and sucked up to her.

Previously, Yuan Qinghua was rather famous in Southern Guangdong Province. Due to her fighting style, she had been nicknamed a “scheming player” by her competitors of the surrounding schools.

Her classmates had given her nicer nicknames, such as “Little Scheming Flower”, “Timid Flower” and “Flower Who Only Attacks Sneakily”...

She was a scheming assassin who was recognized as the public enemy. However, she had an outgoing personality. When she was not fighting, she was cheerful, joyous, and enjoyed having a good laugh. She was particularly optimistic, and others once thought that she had a dissociative identity disorder.

To people, she should be at the peak of the Nebula Stage. Although her abilities may not be the first amongst the people in the Southern Guangdong Province, she was at most a member of the first echelon.

However, just three days ago, during an undisclosed training session, a student sneaked into the training ground and secretly shot a short video of their training session.

In the end, the student managed to shoot Yuan Qinghua’s outstanding Star Map, which was in the shape of a dagger. She should have had eight star slots lit up, but at this moment, she already had 16 lit up!

Next, the video and the girl who liked smiling caused an uproar in all of China.

It suppressed Han Jiangxue.

Having 30 star slots was a talent that Han Jiangxue’s parents had given her.

Yuan Qinghua reached the Galaxy Stage at the age of 18. It was no longer an issue of talent.

The student who filmed the video was dubbed as a traitor by the Southern Guangdong Province and suffered harsh criticism. The possible opportunity for the participating team of Southern Guangdong Province to win the championship was all ruined by a stupid student.

Yuan Qinghua, which should have become a secret weapon, was now completely exposed to everyone.

It could be said that except for her clothes, everything else had been stripped away by the media.

Regardless, the High School students of the entire nation had been thoroughly hyped up and the people from Huaxia were already extremely eager.

Jiang Xiao was both excited yet nervous for the 5th of May, the day of the National High School League.

It was already April 20th, and yet, until now, no one knew where the venue of the competition was. The organizer had strictly kept the news under wraps.

At every critical moment, the guides would arrive on time.

The golden guide might be late, but never absent.

When the team of four huddled up in the training hall and were all filled with anxiety while working hard on their battle tactics, Hai Tianqing entered with a smile.

Whenever Jiang Xiao saw his eyes that turned crescent-shaped, he would feel particularly relieved.

Xia Yan fiddled with the giant sword and looked at him. “You’re smiling so happily, eh?”

Hai Tianqing pushed the gold-framed glasses up his nose bridge and said smilingly, “I’ll be in charge this time and accompany you guys to Chang’an.”

Slightly stunned, Xia Yan asked, “The National High School is going to be held in Chang’an!?!”

Hai Tianqing nodded smilingly and exclaimed, “Yes, Chang’an! It’s the center of Huaxia. Do you guys have anything to say about this?”

Xia Yan’s pair of eyes glistened and she exclaimed, “Fenmin Street! Lamb soup! Meat sandwiches! Sour plum soup, oily noodles, barbecued meat, and Ice Peak[1]!”

Jiang Xiao swallowed his saliva and asked, “What’s Ice Peak?”

Xia Yan looked at him in disdain and said, “The Chang’an version of Big White Pear and Little Bee.”

Jiang Xiao looked at her in a dumbfounded manner and thought to himself, Isn’t this chick born in 1998? Why does she know about such an old soda brand?

Besides, I’ve been educated by a girl all my life.

The old saying is right, foodies come in all ages.

Hai Tianqing’s lips twitched awkwardly and he asked, “Is that what you wanted to say?”

On the other hand, Han Jiangxue said, “If we assemble in Chang’an City, that means the examination venue will be in a Dimensional Space around Chang’an. Have the officials announced which Dimensional Space it will be?”

Finally, a reliable person had come.

Hai Tianqing shook his head and said, “No, it will only be announced two or three days before the competition.”

Han Jiangxue nodded. The national competitions had always been the same. The official would only announce the examination venue in the last two days leading up to the competition.

“So, we have a few days to guess.” Hai Tianqing continued smilingly, “There are many Dimensional Spaces near Chang’an, but many aren’t special.”

Jiang Xiao’s eyes lit up and he asked, “Could it be the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum?”

He immediately mentioned a famous Dimensional Space.

It was akin to answering “panda” when someone asked about the symbolic animal of China.

With a sullen expression, Li Weiyi analyzed. “The Ancient Imperial Mausoleum is indeed the most distinctive Dimensional Space in Chang’an, and a one-of-a-kind one in the entire world. However, the creatures of other dimensions there seem to be really overpowering?”

Han Jiangxue frowned and said, “That place is definitely hell for the students in the Nebula Stage. The Silver Quality creatures are equipped with weapons and live in groups. Some of the Gold Quality creatures appear in teams.”

Li Weiyi chimed in, “We’re just a team, but they’re real troops. It’s too dangerous there. I don’t think the examination venue is going to be in the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum.”

Hai Tianqing said, “In the next few days, I will accompany you guys to analyze the information about the Dimensional Space in detail. I will come up with respective plans and strategies for you to deal with the various creatures in the Dimensional Spaces. There are many types of Dimensional Spaces and creatures of other dimensions around Chang’an, and we also have plenty of strategies. You must be psychologically prepared.”

Clapping, he became the focus of the four of them. He said smilingly, “Our training camp will start tomorrow, so don’t complain about being tired~”

“Of course.” Everyone nodded and agreed, making Hai Tianqing feel rather heartened. Even Li Weiyi, who had managed to land himself a place in the military academy, was extremely enthusiastic.

After seeing Hai Tianqing off, the four of them packed up and left the training room as the afternoon practical class came to an end.

Li Weiyi proceeded to go on a date with Li Qingmei.

While Han Jiangxue was washing her hands, Xia Yan took advantage of the opportunity and raised a request to Jiang Xiao.

Xia Yan said softly, “Xiaopi, let me look at your Star Map.”

Jiang Xiao raised his eyebrows and asked, “Why?”

She grabbed her short chestnut-colored hair and said, “I feel so upset just hearing about the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum. I need some confidence.”

“You want confidence? You’re so strong and yet you want to gain some confidence from me?” Despite having said so, Jiang Xiao still looked around. In the empty training room, he secretly lit up his Star Map.

“Wow...” For a moment, Xia Yan’s eyes glistened.

The first half of the spoon of the Big Dipper had already been lit up, and apart from the first star slot which was silver, the rest was gold!

Xia Yan stretched out her fair and slender fingers and gently moved them on the looming Big Dipper Star Map in front of Jiang Xiao. “Silver Quality Blessing and Silver Quality Decoy.”

She moved her finger to the star slots, one by one, like they were treasures. “Gold Quality Green Glow, Gold Quality Endurance, Gold Quality Bell, Gold Quality Imprint, Gold Quality Nostalgia, Gold Quality Dawn, Gold Quality Enmity, Gold Quality Counter-current Light, Gold Quality Sound of Silence.”

Xia Yan licked her lips, looking even more excited than when she was talking about the mutton buns earlier on. She looked like she had just seen some delicious food.

“Enough?” Jiang Xiao quietly retracted his Star Map, still feeling a little uncomfortable.

Xia Yan reluctantly looked away and said, “From now on, whenever I don’t feel motivated to fight, show me your Star Map and let me count your Star Techniques.”

Jiang Xiao was speechless.

[1] A Chinese soda brand

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