Nine Star Burden

Chapter 197: Sword

Far away in Zhongcheng County, the ones whom Su Rou wanted to use for clout had already had their breakfast long ago. They were gathered in Han Jiangxue’s and Xia Yan’s room to analyze the information about the other teams.

Although the lineup of fights was not revealed, the winners of the preliminary round should be going against the team in eighth place to compete for the qualification to enter the top four that would go on to compete in the quarterfinals, according to the usual rules.

Although it was the champion team going against the team in eighth place, there was still great uncertainty even though it was very likely for the stronger team to advance to the next round.

Maybe a dark horse would be born. After all, the winner would be decided after one round.

Li Weiyi looked at the list of teams for the semi-finals and said with a frown, “Gao Junwei is going to cozy up to someone powerful again. Indeed, they are quite competent. We took away their medals and yet, they could still enter the quarterfinals.”

“Had they not encountered us, they would have probably been able to come in the first place.” Xia Yan pursed her lips and seemed to be a little bit upset.

Han Jiangxue said softly, “Xiaopi made the correct decision. Sitting out and reaping the spoils later would be the ideal situation. At that time, the situation was too confusing. We should ensure that all members of the team are unscathed and the top goal would be to retreat safely. The preliminary round is nothing. The semi-finals are more important.”

“I wasn’t blaming him, anyway,” Xia Yan muttered. She then turned to look at Jiang Xiao and said, “Say something, Little Icicle.”

Jiang Xiao was speechless.

Xia Yan humphed and said, “Those two bun-girls seem to quite like you. Let me see. Geez… they’re in third place. We probably won’t encounter them.”

Jiang Xiao said softly, “Enough, stop being jealous.”

Xia Yan glowered at Jiang Xiao and retorted. “What are you talking about? Me? Getting jealous?”

Li Weiyi looked at the two of them acting like elementary school students that were about to argue again. “Wu Haoyang and Gao Junwei should be battling it out. Why did both of them end up in the semi-finals…”

Xia Yan answered, “You should be more surprised that Zhang Hui led his team to seventh place.”

Li Weiyi remained silent.

Zhang Hui’s performance was indeed rather shocking. At the thought of Zhang Hui’s skinny and petite figure, Jiang Xiao immediately thought of the word “carry”.

“Zhang Mingming, the commander of Jiangbin High School No. 3, decided to give up all his spoils and leave with Zhang Weiliang, the Shield Warrior.” Han Jiangxue frowned and continued, “This person is not to be belittled. Few people have such strong willpower to sacrifice for the greater good.”

Li Weiyi was slightly stunned and asked, “Has Gao Junwei been abandoned?”

Han Jiangxue nodded and said, “Okay, I have to say that these people are indeed much more competent than the other members of the same cohort. Zhang Mingming and Zhang Weiliang managed to rob four teams on their way to the teleportation portal even though it was just the two of them. Although Gao Junwei was abandoned and ended up suffering defeat, their team still managed to enter the top eight.”

Jiang Xiao asked in surprise, “Wu Haoyang won against Gao Junwei? Where did you get this news from?”

Han Jiangxue gestured at the notebook on the table and said, “The teacher sent us the video yesterday. Go take a look at it with Li Weiyi.”

Jiang Xiao and Li Weiyi frantically inched over and opened the laptop to find the video.

Not only did the teacher meticulously annotate the respective names of the people whom the cameras belonged to, he even trimmed the clip.

The battle between Gao Junwei and Wu Haoyang seemed to have begun with them competing for the louder voice.

Gao Junwei yelled, “Scram!”

—Gold Quality Star Technique, Roar of Fear!

Through the screen, Jiang Xiao could feel the panic and fear within the twin sisters who had turned pale and began quivering uncontrollably in their limbs while retreating.

Wu Haoyang barked. “Atrocious!”

—Gold Quality Star Technique, Howl!

Through the screen, Jiang Xiao could feel the sisters’ urge to fight. They regained their balance and panted heavily while the veins on their foreheads began to bulge. Their blood boiled and they wished they could fight him!

“Hah, the paper tiger has met his real match. This should be the Star Technique, Howl, from the Ghost Tiger?” Jiang Xiao remarked.

Li Weiyi said, “Judging from its effects, it seems to be it. I remember it now. When we met the other two teams, I’ve once felt and experienced that Star Technique.”

Han Jiangxue answered firmly, “Yes, it’s Howl.”

She felt heartened to see that Jiang Xiao could recognize and identify Wu Haoyang’s Star Technique.

Li Wei nodded and said, “The Ghost Fox meets the Ghost Tiger. They’ve indeed found their match.”

Jiang Xiao said with a sigh, “Dameng Province is indeed very vast.”

Upon sight of Gao Junwei being blown away by the sword, he said with a sullen expression, “This Wu Haoyang is very strong. There are very few high school students in Beijiang who can fight Gao Junwei head-on.”

Han Jiangxue said, “Okay, just take it that you’re gaining a brief understanding of them. Their team is in third place. They’re in Group B. We won’t touch his team for the time being. Gao Junwei’s team is what we should focus on.”

Jiang Xiao watched the one-on-one fight silently. Although he despised Gao Junwei, he had no choice but to admit that Gao Junwei was really an elite amongst the high school students of Beijiang Province.

He was very skillful in using the Chinese sword and he would advance and retreat appropriately. Combined with his special Star Technique, he was definitely on par with Wu Haoyang.

That also reflected Wu Haoyang’s abilities.

“Is the slight redness of the blade, the effect of Blood Fangs?” Jiang Xiao asked as he pressed the pause button.

Feeling slightly stunned and surprised, Xia Yan remarked, “Tsk, tsk. Not bad, kid. You have good judgment.”

It was mainly because she didn’t recognize what Star Technique it was when she first watched the video.

It was not she couldn’t identify it, but rather, she didn’t really think about it.

The Star Technique, Blood Fangs, was from the Ghost Wolf’s Star Bead from Below the Stars Level 3 in Dameng Province.

Although its name sounded tyrannical, it was actually a low-quality Brass Quality Star Technique.

Blood Fangs would result in some ripping effects and cause slight damage to human skin, defensive equipment, and weapons.

The damaging effects of this Brass Quality Star Technique were indeed minimal.

Under normal circumstances, equipment and weapons would barely be damaged by the slight ripping effect, so long as they were of good quality.

Although they were all of Brass Quality, Blood Fangs was definitely not comparable to Green Glow in terms of functionality alone.

However, the particularly interesting thing was that although Blood Fangs would take effect on individuals, it was a peculiar “cluster” Star Technique.

It was because Blood Fangs had a special attribute:

Within a certain range, the more creatures that used the Star Technique Blood Fangs, the stronger the effects would be.

The effects of the Star Technique would be enhanced and strengthen each other!

As rare social creatures in Below the Stars Level 3, the Ghost Wolves tended to appear in herds.

The special thing about the Star Technique was that, although it was only of Brass Quality, the effects that would be exerted during actual use may even reach Gold Quality because of the Ghost Wolves that lived in clusters and hunted together!

That was also why Xia Yan didn’t think Wu Haoyang would acquire such a Star Technique at all.

Wu Haoyang was an individual, and he was the only melee fighter of his team. Without a group of Ghost Wolves as his teammates, what would he need such a Star Technique for? No one would be coordinating with him, anyway.

Even if there were Rules Awakened and Medical Awakened willing to waste their star slots for him, there would only be four people in a team altogether. Even if all four of them activated Blood Fangs, how great of an effect could it amount to?

The Star Technique would only be effective when there were at least tens of people activating them together.

The other reason for her failure to recognize it was because Blood Fangs was not actually a Basic Technique even though it was of Brass Quality.

It was due to the fact that the Ghost Wolf originated from Below the Stars Level 3 in Dameng Province which was truly a dangerous region that was not open to the public.

That place contained mysterious Ghost Foxes that come and go without a trace and knew how to use Roar of Fear.

There were also the invincible and superior Ghost Tigers that could use Howl.

There were Ghost Wolves that lived in clusters, as well as all sorts of peculiar creatures of other dimensions.

Apart from the official teams that could enter and resources, any “Below The Stars” regions that had a danger rating of 3 could not be opened to the public.

Jiang Xiao’s eyes lit up and he said, “I finally know why he feels domineering and better than everyone else.”

Xia Yan tilted her head and asked, “What is it?”

“The three Star Techniques of the Ghost Wolf: Roar, Razor-sharp, and Blood Fangs. This kid has Blood Fangs and he could very likely have the other two as well.” Jiang Xiao speculated.

Jiang Xiao continued, “Does he always speak with an added “Roar” effect during every critical moment? Is that why we feel a little afraid and flustered? So that’s why we think he has a special domineering aura that makes him formidable and invincible to the extent that we dare not incur his wrath.”

Li Weiyi nodded and seemed to have thought about Wu Haoyang’s efforts to make the two teams of Jiangbin High School and Jiangbin High School No. 3 stay behind.

The Brass Quality “Roar” was indeed different from Gold Quality “Roar of Fear”.

One shot of “Roar of Fear” was enough to frighten everyone into fleeing.

However, one shot of “Roar” definitely didn’t have such effects. However, it was a gentle and soft type…

“Wow! This feels terrible. I knew it. I kept feeling like Wu Haoyang was tall, muscular, and formidable. I even had a strange admiration and respect for him. Damn it, this kid has been fooling me,” Jiang Xiao said with displeasure.

“Didn’t you leave him behind in the snowfield? You’re making it sound like you didn’t fool him too,” the thrilled Xia Yan said with a smile.

Jiang Xiao scratched his head and smiled awkwardly before pressing pause all of a sudden because the scene on the screen showed that Wu Haoyang had already lit up his own Star Map!

Jiang Xiao carefully scrutinized Wu Haoyang’s Star Map and said, “25 star slots, two Brass Quality, five Silver Quality, and one Gold Quality Star Techniques. Is the Star Map… in the shape of a crescent sword?”

Xia Yan smirked and said, “Keep watching. The sword is great.”