Nine Star Burden

Chapter 234: Double Happiness!

The siblings put up lanterns, auspicious decorations, and set off firecrackers. They enjoyed a very festive Lunar New Year.

In the beginning, Jiang Xiao had no idea if they were allowed to set off firecrackers or not, but on that night, the crackling sounds of firecrackers were incessant in the estate.

While carrying a small string of firecrackers, Jiang Xiao urged Han Jiangxue to go along with him and went downstairs.

Most girls did not enjoy setting off firecrackers, but thinking that this hanging firecracker was particularly meaningful, she accompanied Jiang Xiao downstairs to set them off.

Three years had passed. Although it had always been the two of them, it was particularly lively this year and Han Jiangxue did get in the festive mood.

She was not good at expressing herself, but she would occasionally look at Jiang Xiao with a gaze that would betray her.

In the night, Han Jiangxue prepared a sumptuous feast. There was so much food that Jiang Xiao almost bit his tongue.

To Jiang Xiao’s surprise, after the countdown at midnight, Han Jiangxue sat on the couch beside him and handed him a red packet when he was watching the ending of the Lunar New Year television program.

Han Jiangxue said, “There you go, your money for the Lunar New Year.”

Jiang Xiao was a little bewildered because it had been a long time since he received any red packets for the Lunar New Year. He hurriedly opened the red packet, only to discover… that it contained 8.88 yuan.

Jiang Xiao was momentarily stunned and it took him a long time to recover from the shock. While holding onto the loose change, he turned to look at Han Jiangxue beside him and said, “We have each other’s accounts on WeChat. You don’t have to especially give me a physical red packet. You probably had a hard time finding these coins, eh?”

Han Jiangxue lied down on the couch with her legs curled up and watched the television program quietly. Without even turning around, she said, “Yeah, remember to do the dishes.”

Jiang Xiao was speechless.

Little! Jiangxue!

I’m telling you, I’m only doing this because it’s the Lunar New Year!

If this were any other day, I’d definitely slap you!

Jiang Xiao thought about it for a while and decided to go do the dishes, anyway. Han Jiangxue glanced at his back and couldn’t help but smirk, seemingly finding his behavior to be rather interesting.

In that case, give me 6.66 yuan next time…

The year is considered to have ended.

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

The news about the Dimensional Space that opened on Central Street was only reported for one or two days and then there was no longer any news about it. The commercial street had already been reopened and everything was calm again, as if nothing had happened at all.

Jiang Xiao was still waiting for the Victors Legion and the Star Warriors Armed Police Force to give him rewards. However, he never got any news from them.

School is about to reopen soon after the Lunar New Year. Did they forget about me?

There was no news about the rewards, but something serious was about to happen at home.

On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, which was also the day before school reopened, Han Jiangxue suddenly announced to Jiang Xiao, “I want to break through the late Nebula Stage and enter the peak of the Nebula Stage.”

Jiang Xiao was overjoyed. Of course, he knew Han Jiangxue well. She was extremely reliable and often kept a low profile. Since she had chosen to share the news with him, she must have already reached the bottleneck of the late Nebula Stage.

Even if she did not succeed in breaking through the realm, it would not necessarily be her problem.

Yes, how can there be any issue with my dear sister?

If she doesn’t succeed, it must be because that damned Mrs. Gao’s Star Beads did not make the cut!

While thinking about it, Jiang Xiao tidied up the training room where Han Jiangxue was going to breakthrough in.

Why did she tell Jiang Xiao about it? It was mainly because she wanted him to gain some clout too. When she crushed the Star Bead, she would definitely attract a large amount of Star Power. She wanted to let Jiang Xiao have some of the benefits too.

Xia Yan quickly rushed over after receiving the call.

At the thought of breaking through the late Nebula Stage with Han Jiangxue back then, Xia Yan felt that she was still much worse, but Han Jiangxue had already reached the bottleneck.

Ah, that’s the difference in talent.

Xia Yan resigned to fate and protected Han Jiangxue. She did not enter the house and instead got ready to go out for some food with Jiang Xiao.

Xia Yan did not come empty-handed. She had bought a red woolen sweater for Han Jiangxue and a white woolen sweater for Jiang Xiao.

Jiang Xiao was rather embarrassed because he didn’t prepare any Lunar New Year gift for Xia Yan.

Jiang Xiao didn’t feel guilty for long, because after Xia Yan removed her coat, he discovered that she was also wearing a red woolen sweater…

Hypocrite!

She actually resorted to such means to don a couple’s outfit with Little Jiangxue!

The point was, the clothes were indeed festive and auspicious-looking. It also gave off Lunar New Year vibes. Han Jiangxue couldn’t turn down Xia Yan’s requests and she did not want to let Xia Yan’s good intentions down. Hence, she had no choice but to go back to her room and change into the red woolen sweater.

Clad in a white shirt and the red woolen sweater, Han Jiangxue looked beautiful and flushed because of the bright colors.

When Xia Yan saw Han Jiangxue walking out of her room, she was so exhilarated that she almost began rolling on the ground. She immediately handed her mobile phone to Jiang Xiao in a bid to get him to help the two of them take a photo together.

What do you mean?

Such bright and beaming colors. Do you think we’re taking wedding photos?

Jiang Xiao grabbed the mobile phone that Xia Yan handed to him and thought, Take a photo together?

Haha.

Jiang Xiao took numerous photos in a row, and the sounds of the shutter clicking incessantly made Xia Yan feel overjoyed.

When Xia Yan grabbed the mobile phone, she discovered that Jiang Xiao wasn’t even taking photos of them. Instead, he had been taking selfies. Hence, a commotion broke out in their home again.

On this day, it was rather crowded and lively in Apartment 701…

The commotion was quickly stopped by Han Jiangxue. After all, they had to get down to serious matters.

Jiang Xiao and Xia Yan, like two elementary school students, sat in front of the door and popped their heads out to peep into the house.

The tall and slender Han Jiangxue was standing in the training room and appearing rather pleasing to the eye.

The red woolen sweater added a touch of color to her style, and she looked like a beautiful girl-next-door who was much more personable and grounded.

As the White Flames Star Map appeared on her body, Jiang Xiao and Xia Yan held their breaths, not daring to breathe at all. They secretly prayed that Han Jiangxue would succeed.

After preparing for a while, Han Jiangxue absorbed the Star Bead that she was holding onto.

That Star Bead belonged to Gao Junwei, and it was also of the peak Nebula Stage. Han Jiangxue seemed to intend to absorb a large amount of Star Power during the influx.

At the end of the day, she was still a little bit reluctant to use the Star Bead belonging to Mrs. Gao. It was at the peak of the Galaxy Stage, after all. It would be more than enough to break through the Galaxy Stage.

Of course, Jiang Xiao also understood and he was continuously absorbing Star Power at the door.

A large amount of Star Power continuously surged into Apartment 701 and Han Jiangxue’s White Flames Star Map seemed to have instantly become a menacing beast and a black hole that was maniacally biting at everything and devouring all the Star Power on earth.

Logically speaking, Gao Junwei’s Star Bead contained plenty of Star Power and it was of high level too. However…

There was no sign of breakthrough even though Han Jiangxue had absorbed all the Star Power in the Star Bead.

“Did you fail?” Xia Yan asked, sensing that the fluctuations of Star Power in the apartment had gradually stabilized. After hearing Han Jiangxue’s sigh, she frantically comforted. “Don’t be disheartened, Xuexue, we’ll definitely succeed next time.”

Jiang Xiao said, “Try again now that you’ve started.”

“Huh?” Xia Yan blinked and thought to herself, How did this pair of siblings get so many Star Beads? Did they get it from the bald man’s team in the Arsenal?

Jiang Xiao did not tell her about the death of Gao Junwei and his mother. Even though they were extremely close, there was no need to mention some things.

Han Jiangxue tried to feel it for a while but did not end up absorbing Mrs. Gao’s Star Bead in the end. Instead, she took out a late-Nebula-Stage Star Bead from the Sky Smasher which had indeed come from the bald man’s team they met in the Arsenal.

It seemed that Han Jiangxue was bent on using that Star Bead to break through to the Galaxy Stage.

While making conjectures secretly, Jiang Xiao thought to himself, Although she has never mentioned it before, she should have a plan. She probably wants to break through the Galaxy Stage during the National High School League.

If this is the case, should I prepare for it?

Jiang Xiao thought about it secretly. After all, there would be eight more available star slots during the Galaxy Stage, which proved that Han Jiangxue could come up with more Star Technique combinations for the battle.

Should I prepare more high-quality Star Techniques and Star Beads for her?

Not only must I prepare good ones, but I must also prepare suitable ones that can give her the ability to come up with tactical combinations.

Jiang Xiao was pondering while absorbing the Star Power surging in.

To Jiang Xiao’s surprise, a message popped up in his internal Star Map.

“Star Power Level Upgrade! Nebula Stage Level 1!”

Uh-huh?

I was just absorbing some Star Power too and I’ve broken through just like that?

Wow! Awesome!

Jiang Xiao was elated!

Unlike others, breakthroughs for Jiang Xiao meant that he had really entered the Nebula Stage where his physical qualities had increased and caught up with his pace.

Previously, he was not truly in the Nebula Stage because he managed to upgrade using his Skill Points.

However, it was great now that he could finally tell everyone that he was also an Awakened in the Nebula Stage!

Just as Jiang Xiao was feeling incredibly excited, a wave of air caused him and Xia Yan to fall onto the ground.

The two kindergarten children sitting together climbed up and turned around to look into the apartment, only to discover that Han Jiangxue was extremely domineering, majestic, and breathtaking!

Even though she was dressed in a red and fancy woolen sweater, she still couldn’t be pulled off the pedestal.

Indeed, her adorable, personable, and girl-next-door vibe was just an idealistic imagination of Jiang Xiao’s. She would forever be a cold, aloof, and unfeeling goddess.

At the next moment, Han Jiangxue slowly opened her eyes.

Jiang Xiao seemed to have seen layers of Nebula floating past in her beautiful eyes, appearing vast and magnificent.