Nine Star Burden

Hai Tianqing looked at Jiang Xiao smilingly and said, “I’ve seen a Silver Quality Green Glow before. I know how powerful it is.”

Expressionless, Jiang Xiao thought, What should I do?

Back when they were in the Holy Ground of the snowfield, the situation was too dangerous, and since his life was at stake, Jiang Xiao had no way to hide his strength. The best he could do was to not open his Star Map.

Indeed, Jiang Xiao didn’t open his Star Map and managed to hide it from the inexperienced Li Weiyi.

However, he clearly couldn’t fool the expert, Hai Tianqing.

While Jiang Xiao rapidly brainstormed for a strategy and response, Hai Tianqing said, “Mud Marsh is a Gold Quality Star Technique that can’t be exploded just with the Star Power that comes out of our fists. It can only be done with the repelling effects of Green Glow. The effects of your Green Glow are too overbearing.”

Jiang Xiao remained silent without denying it.

Hai Tianqing stared at the silent Jiang Xiao and took a deep breath. “You don’t have to do this. Your parents are no longer around and your Star Technique is not going to affect them.”

Jiang Xiao was dumbfounded.

His Star Technique could be upgraded, obviously because of the Internal Star Map.

However, why did Hai Tianqing say those words?

Affect my parents? 

Hai Tianqing patted Jiang Xiao’s shoulder gently and said, “Your parents really love you. You must treasure this Star Technique.”

Slightly touched, Jiang Xiao pretended to be upset and miserable. He said gently, “Yeah, they do love me very much.”

Hai Tianqing opened his mouth but did not say the words that he wanted to. Instead, he thought, Maybe that’s the reason that they got lost in the Dimensional Space and never came back. 

However, he clearly didn’t think it’d be appropriate to say those words to Jiang Xiao.

Hai Tianqing’s heart grew soft and he said, “You’re very competent yourself. You’ve really managed to absorb that Gold Quality White Ghoul Star Bead and changed your Star Technique. The price to pay for obtaining this Star Bead is indeed huge, but it’s also very difficult to acquire the Star Technique in this Star Bead. Believe me, your parents will be proud of you.”

Jiang Xiao was flabbergasted.

What in the world is Hai Tianqing saying? 

Jiang Xiao asked, “They’ve never told me about what they had to give up and the efforts they had to put in. Teacher Hai, can you tell me? I really want to know what my parents have done for me…”

Hai Tianqing froze for a moment and asked, “You don’t know about it?”

Jiang Xiao shook his head, looking at Hai Tianqing with a pleading look. He said, “Teacher Hai, please tell me. They always tell me not to ask too much because I’m young. Now that they are gone, I really wonder if they’re dead or alive. They’ve already gone missing for three years…”

Hai Tianqing’s face stiffened a little. “Um…”

Jiang Xiao asked, “What exactly have they done? How did they get the Gold Quality White Ghoul Star Bead?”

Hai Tianqing hesitated for a moment before smiling helplessly and shaking his head. “I thought that Silver Quality White Ghoul Star Bead of yours was also obtained by your parents after hunting in the Holy Ground. It seems that that’s not the case. They should have obtained it from a higher level snowfield. The White Ghouls in the conventional snowfields would never be Gold Quality.”

Jiang Xiao suddenly thought about what Second Last said to him previously—”The upper dimension!”

Second Last had also said that Jiang Xiao’s high-quality Star Techniques could have come from the strong creatures in Holy Ground or maybe from a higher dimension.

Jiang Xiao remained silent and continued trying to fish for more information from him. “A higher level snowfield?”

Hai Tianqing nodded and said, “Have you ever thought about what is behind the portal of the Holy Ground?”

Jiang Xiao thought about it rapidly and he seemed to be able to hear the sounds of his neurons connecting. “I asked Second Last. She wanted me to remember that the portal to the Holy Ground is one-way and she told me that I should never try to break in there…”

Hai Tianqing nodded and said, “She’s right. Too many people have entered there to investigate the situation and eventually failed to return.”

As Jiang Xiao looked at Hai Tianqing, he almost had the words “Curious to find out more” written on his face.

Hai Tianqing said, “The Dimensional Space first appeared in the middle of the last century. So far, it has been more than 60 years and generations of people have paid a painful price for the relatively safe environment that we have today.

“At the end of the 1960s, the Awakened had explored the Dimensional Spaces and gained a significant amount of knowledge about them. Since then, they’ve begun to take steps towards finding the world behind the Holy Ground.” Hai Tianqing’s voice was gentle and mellow. He continued, “That’s the very same mission that caused many soldiers to lose their lives.

“The Holy Ground has always been there, but it’s also a one-way journey. Everyone thinks that after you open a door and enter, the door behind will still exist. Once you barge in, whether or not you can come out will depend on your fate.

“According to the lucky ones who managed to return, many soldiers disappeared in the chaos of time and space before they could even enter the higher dimension.” Hai Tianqing sighed and continued, “As for why it’s called ‘higher level’, it’s because the creatures of other dimensions there are more powerful than the ones we normally come into contact with.

“For example, the White Ghouls in the snowfield that you entered are all of Brass Quality. If you’re lucky enough to cross the gate of the Holy Ground and enter the higher level snowfield, you will see Silver Quality and Gold Quality White Ghouls.”

“I don’t know why, but when these creatures of other dimensions enter the Space-time tunnel, their strength will be greatly reduced.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiao suddenly said, “If we call the place where we train in low-level snowfields, the White Ghouls must have entered the low-level snowfields through the Space-time tunnel.”

Hai Tianqing nodded and gave a positive answer.

Jiang Xiao said, “So the Holy Ground in the lower-level snowfields are not one-way passages.”

Hai Tianqing shook his head and said, “Yes, it’s indeed a two-way door. But why is it known as a one-way passage? That’s because once you enter the portal of the Holy Ground and enter the higher-level snowfield, the location of the place you land on will be random. If you want to return, you’ll have to find the portal.

“To this day, no one knows how vast the snowfield is. You may never find the portal in your lifetime.

“Even if you really find the portal, you won’t know if it will send you back to the lower-level snowfield or… teleport you to the higher-level snowfield.”

Hai Tianqing said solemnly, “This is called being lost. Second Last is right, don’t take your life lightly. You have to remember that the portal of the Holy Ground is one-way for all of us, don’t touch it ever.

“So, you rarely see any Silver Quality Green Glow or Gold Quality Green Glow in Beijiang,” Hai Tianqing said with a slight sigh.

Jiang Xiao managed to catch the keyword. “Rarely?”

Hai Tianqing nodded and said, “The first batch of dauntless warriors decided to explore the place, and even though there were countless deaths and injuries, there were also lucky ones who returned by chance. They’re all old now, but the Gold Quality Green Glow in their Star Maps are all the medals of their lifetime achievements.”

Jiang Xiao’s Adam’s Apple moved and he muttered, “They…”

Hai Tianqing answered, “Yes, they have the same name as your parents. They’re the Wasteland Reclaimers.”

Jiang Xiao thought to himself while secretly feeling flabbergasted, Today, Hai Tianqing has opened the door to a new world for me. 

How many secrets are there in this world that I don’t know of? 

So now, the problem is, is there a Holy Ground in the upper dimension of the snowfield? Is it possible to go to a higher level of snowfield through the Holy Ground there?

How many layers of snowfields are there?

There are upper dimensions to the snowfields, just like the other Dimensional Spaces. How many layers are there in all? 

Are the highest levels of all these Dimensional Spaces from the same dimension?

Otherwise, why did they all choose to thrive on Earth? 

Hai Tianqing continued, “We’ve lost too many soldiers. This is a painful lesson. The gap between paying and gaining is too large. Under the mandatory requirements by the government, troops and individuals are strictly prohibited from entering the upper dimensions of snowfields for exploration.

“Do you think that the purpose of the Guardians Of The Night is to protect the Holy Ground from being destroyed by the opposing forces?” Hai Tianqing asked.

Having understood, Jiang Xiao said, “The Guardians Of The Night are strictly controlling the Holy Ground and the other Space-time tunnels. This also prevents the practitioners from entering and losing their lives in there.”

Hai Tianqing murmured softly, “Or maybe, we are waiting for the lost Wasteland Reclaimers to come home.”

Jiang Xiao’s heart tingled when he heard those words.

Hai Tianqing smiled bitterly and said, “I shouldn’t say ‘we’. I’m no longer one of the Guardians Of The Night.”

Hai Tianqing leaned against the window and changed the subject. “Second Last has a good impression of you.”

Jiang Xiao was a little confused. His Star Technique was upgradeable, but he was misunderstood by Hai Tianqing, leading to an important message to appear in his mind.

He seemed to be helping Jiang Xiao change his view of the world.

Seeing that Jiang Xiao did not respond, Hai Tianqing continued to ask, “Are you interested in becoming a Guardian Of The Night?”

Jiang Xiao snapped back to reality and asked, “Huh?”

“Second Last will never give up until she reaches her goal.” Hai Tianqing looked up and whispered, “Her character is the same as her fighting style.”

Jiang Xiao thought about it and felt that Hai Tianqing’s words made him respect the Guardians Of The Night even more.

However, Jiang Xiao seemed to have developed a greater interest in the Wasteland Reclaimers.

Everyone merely thought that his parents were dead, but Jiang Xiao knew that they were perhaps just lost in the Dimensional Space.

There was still hope for everything.

Jiang Xiao said, “She’s a national soldier, after all. She has to follow the national laws and military regime. Surely she can’t kidnap me?”

A peculiar smile formed on Hai Tianqing’s face.

Jiang Xiao panicked when he saw that smile.

What!?! 

That big cat can really do something like this!?!