Nine Star Burden

Chapter 267: Please Don’t Die?

Buzz…

After Jiang Xiao was done washing up and came out of the bathroom, he saw a text message from Han Jiangxue, which popped up on his mobile phone screen: “Get up and go wash up.”

He reckoned that she should have discovered that he had just woken up because of the timing that he replied to her comment on Weibo.

The team of four gathered at the door of the room and went to the cafeteria for a meal.

At 6:50 am, the hotel cafeteria was already full of students having their meals. Their youthful faces were all full of hidden emotions like excitement, anxiety, fear, and restlessness.

Jiang Xiao ran into the jealous girl again and also heard her name. Her team members called her “Xiaoqi”.

Jiang Xiao didn’t specifically check up on her. Clearly, she wasn’t considered outstanding among the 800-odd contestants. Otherwise, he would definitely have studied and researched about her continuously.

In the crowded cafeteria of the hotel, there happened to be a vacant seat beside Jiang Xiao. While packing up, the waiter gestured for him and his team to sit.

The Xiaoqi girl seemed to want to go to the front of the cafeteria to get some snacks for breakfast. Upon sight of Jiang Xiao’s team, particularly Han Jiangxue and Xia Yan who were walking over with their trays, Xiaoqi sat down abruptly.

After Jiang Xiao’s team members took a seat, Xiaoqi stood up to get some food…

To be honest, her height was within the normal range, and she was rather good-looking. She was adorable, and Jiang Xiao reckoned that she should be very popular in school. He couldn’t figure out the reason for her strange mentality.

Is she jealous and resentful towards everyone who has longer legs than her?

How are you supposed to live for the rest of your life? Even the contestants dining in the cafeteria now are much taller than you. You are…

Jiang Xiao was holding a small spoon in his hand and drinking some boiling hot soy milk. He tilted his head and secretly sized up Xiaoqi, only to discover that she was really ruthless!

When she was greeted with a leggy person, Xiaoqi hung her head low and walked away.

When she saw two long-legged people, Xiaoqi looked away and pretended to look around.

When she saw a group of long-legged people, Xiaoqi quickly took a random seat. She even picked up her chopsticks and pretended to eat…

“Psht…” Jiang Xiao spat out a mouthful of soy milk and hurriedly lowered his head.

Han Jiangxue frantically patted his back and took out a napkin. She said with concern, “Slow down, easy does it.”

“Wow…” Xia Yan looked at Han Jiangxue’s peculiar expression and watched as she behaved gently. Her eyes were full of stars and envy was written all over her face.

Jiang Xiao knew that he had succumbed.

The vast world is full of wonders and interesting souls, as well as peculiar ones.

All of a sudden, Jiang Xiao felt a little relieved. Who in this world doesn’t have any quirks?

Jiang Xiao felt like he was the pot calling the kettle black!

Don’t I have a bold idea too?

Jiang Xiao raised his head to look at Han Jiangxue before turning to look at Xia Yan on his right. Ah… it’s hard to explain, but it’s a long story!

Everything shall be settled with a glass of soy milk!

I’ll toast while you two suit yourselves.

Jiang Xiao tossed his spoon away and gulped his soy milk down in one go.

His only thought was, It’s so damn hot!

“Do you want more? Should I get you another glass?” Han Jiangxue didn’t know what was wrong with her brother. It was just a glass of soy milk, and yet, he seemed to be drinking it exaggeratedly.

The Zhu brothers had all seen Jiang Xiao’s peculiar drinking habits. Regardless of what he was drinking, be it soy milk, fruit juice, or mineral water, Jiang Xiao would drink it with passion.

After chugging an entire serving of soy milk, Jiang Xiao felt that he was full of energy.

Under Hai Tianqing’s lead, the team boarded bus No. 3 at the entrance of the hotel and headed to the designated place for the competition.

The venue for the National High School League was located 40 kilometers away from Chang’an City. When Jiang Xiao and the others arrived, they not only saw rows of students with different expressions, but they also saw the solemn-looking military barracks.

Under the military officer’s lead, the students got into their teams and stepped into the barracks.

Since they were going to enter the unique Ancient Imperial Mausoleum soon, how could they remain calm?

However, it was worth noting that a portion of the teams had self-aware members. Under the objective rules, only the top eight teams could enter the semi-finals. Although they were a bunch of students who refused to succumb to anyone, a portion of contestants clearly knew that they were just there for the sake of taking part and would never win.

Hence, they had relatively better mentalities than their peers. But it was only relative. After all, even if they weren’t aiming to get into the top ranks, they were still about to face the terrifying creatures in the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum. A careless slip-up would very likely cause them to die.

In the huge military barracks, 200 teams stood by waiting below the makeshift stage. A middle-aged man clad in a suit and leather shoes stepped onto the stage.

The man did not introduce himself or even conduct an opening speech. Instead, he cut straight to the chase and said, “At 9:30 am, collect, wear, and check the equipment for your team. At 10 am sharp, each team will follow the staff into the venue.

“In addition, the participants Yingxi from Beijing High School No. 32, Wen Renmu of the High School affiliated to Haisu Normal University, and Han Jiangxue of Beijiang High School must undergo additional checks for their storage Spatial Star Techniques. There should be no prohibited items. Otherwise, the violators will be immediately disqualified.”

Even though the other students knew that those three students had Spatial Star Techniques after reading their information and watching the videos of them in action during combat. However, when those instructions were announced, the 800-odd students got into an uproar and began discussing actively.

What is considered a person favored by God?

An Awakened? Indeed, Awakened students are much rarer compared to ordinary children. But that isn’t enough.

When you participate in the competition of the highest level for high school students in the country, and you’re still being singled out because of your special abilities, you’re considered to be favored by Heaven.

On the stage, the man extended his finger and said, “The rules of the competition are as follows. Rule No. 1: You are to survive for 72 hours, and those who withdraw from the competition midway will be disqualified. Reasons for withdrawal include, but are not limited to, students requesting the referee for a withdrawal, the teacher in charge declaring the withdrawal, the referee recalling the camera equipment from a team due to damage, and the voluntary or passive withdrawal from the competition due to injuries.

“In addition, the organizers have the right to forcibly recall any team or student. The party requested to withdraw must obey the command. The organizers will provide a corresponding explanation after the competition. Should there be any violation, the participating student will be barred from the national college entrance examination for three years. The participating school is not allowed to participate in the provincial and national high school leagues for five years.”

All of a sudden, a huge uproar ensued.

Damn it, this is too tyrannical! Do they not take us as humans?

We have to stop and withdraw from the competition for no reason, just because you say so?

Wouldn’t that make it too easy to pull dirty tricks on a particular individual or team?

Of course, dirty tricks were relatively uncommon during such elite competitions in the nation. After all, people all over the world were watching it. Besides, the National Star Warriors Association was not a weakling, and the people had always had a good impression of them.

Most importantly, the government had already conducted vigorous rectification ever since a scandal occurred during the National League 15 years ago, and since then, such incidents didn’t occur again.

Jiang Xiao thought to himself, In order words, this competition has nothing to do with speed. Do we have to survive for 72 hours in the presence of powerful enemies in order to be qualified? Only then will we be eligible to compete for the top ranks?

“Rule No. 2: If the miniature camera worn by the contestant is damaged, 100 points will be deducted regardless of the reason, and that might also result in the team being forcibly recalled to Earth. The final score will directly affect the team’s final ranking.”

Regardless of the reason?

Isn’t that the same as the provincial league? However, the competition doesn’t prohibit fighting between teams?

Everyone in Jiang Xiao’s team looked at each other. They had enough reason to believe that a team similar to Gao Junwei’s team was very likely to appear in the competition again.

People changed, not the targets, the mentalities, the battle tactics, and the character.

In other words, not only do we have to resist the Ancient Warriors’ attacks, but we also have to be wary and guard against the dirty tricks pulled by our competitors?

The man in the suit suddenly added, “Also, the killing of fellow humans is strictly prohibited. Those who flout the rules will not only face the punishment given by the organizers but also be sanctioned by the law. All contestants, please pay attention to your behavior and act appropriately.”

Jiang Xiao was bewildered by those ridiculous words.

Act appropriately? That’s a complete joke.

They should encourage fighting and prohibit killing.

This organizer is almost the same as that of the provincial league. Do you guys really think these kids are ordinary students getting into a fight?

Even ordinary students wouldn’t restrain themselves during a fight.

This group of Awakened students has been specially trained to kill creatures of other dimensions every day. If they really meet someone of comparable strength, how can they stop themselves?

Am I supposed to kneel on the ground and beg Gong Yuge not to die after stabbing him and causing him to vomit blood?

I have to… Huh?

Wait…

I’m a healer, aren’t I? It seems I can save them?

I can attack him until he’s at his last breath and then save him?

Slash him forcefully and give him a helping hand?

Slash him until he’s on the brink of death and then give him some healing?

How does that song go?

Jiang Xiao scratched his head and suddenly remembered the lyrics. He couldn’t help but sing it out softly, “I’m going to just let you stay on the edge of reincarnation and wait for a ray of light? Let’s look at the bouncing ray of Bell and Nostalgia between us someday…”