Nine Star Burden

Chapter 268: Look How Joyous His Smile Is

It seemed that finding a place to hide for 72 hours and avoiding fights with other human teams was the best choice.

Yes, Jiang Xiao wanted to avoid getting into fights in the upcoming conflict with the Ancient Warriors because they were menacing and the students might really end up as prey.

Perhaps, only a very few powerful teams would take on the roles of the “hunter”.

Jiang Xiao knew that he had plenty of responsibilities. If he could use the Star Technique Sound of Silence well, he would be able to become a hunter. However, if he were to fail, his team would be immediately wiped out.

How could this damned organizer set this place as the venue of the High School League…

Wouldn’t it be better to look for a Dimensional Space where the creatures are of lower levels?

Only then will you be able to see the battle tactics employed by the teams, the students’ abilities, and everything that they learned in school!

By making this place the examination venue, you’re making it impossible for the students to even keep themselves alive. What are you testing them on?

Could it be… that you’re testing the human heart?

What the heck!?!

The more Jiang Xiao thought about it, the more terrified he felt. After all, the venues of the National High School Leagues in the past few years had never been as scary as this year.

However, the students were from elite teams of various provinces and areas, after all. It was no exaggeration to say that all of them were young talents and future pillars of the nation. The government, schools, and parents had raised and cultured them for so many years. Was it really appropriate to let them just die in here?

However, the next thing that the man in the suit said almost made Jiang Xiao curse his heart out.

The man in the suit raised three fingers and said, “Rule No. 3: Silver Quality Ancient Archer General and Ancient Melee Warrior Star Beads are worth 10 points each; Gold Quality Ancient Archer General and Ancient Archer General Star Beads are worth 50 points each; Gold Quality Soul of the Ancient Warrior Star Beads are worth 80 points each. And the final ranking of the competition is determined by the number of points scored by the team.”

Damn it… you’re using Star Beads as points?

Do you have any misunderstandings about our strengths?

We’re the prey! The prey!

The Ancient Warriors are the hunters! You want us to hunt and kill them? You even want us to use the Star Beads in their heads as the points for the National League?

During the provincial leagues, the monsters were at least equipped with weapons and there were medals inlaid in their backs, which were used for tabulating points. Yet, you guys want us to use these Star Beads as points?

Is it because the creatures inside are too menacing? Do you guys not dare to go in there and inlay medals on their backs?

Jiang Xiao cursed inside and almost voiced his thoughts.

However, from an objective point of view, the provincial league did not come with the advantages of the national league. In other words, the provincial league could not use the Star Beads of the creatures in the Arsenal as points.

Why?

Because there were plenty of arsenals in the three northern provinces. Once the students flouted the rules and entered the arena with the weapons and Star Beads from the creatures of other dimensions, cheating would likely occur.

However, there would be no such concerns during the National High School League.

Chang’an City was the only place in the entire world with three ancient imperial mausoleums that were all guarded by the national armies. The special Dimensional Spaces had never been open to the public, and after the official competition venue was confirmed last year, they had been guarding it with even stricter regulations. Hence, it was unlikely for anyone from the outside world to obtain the Star Beads of the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum.

Of course, there were no absolute certainties in this world.

There were hidden talents amongst the students and there was definitely no lack of competent contestants. That was the reason for the late announcement of the rules. Hence, before entering the arena, the students would have to undergo very strict inspections.

That was nothing much to Jiang Xiao because he couldn’t cheat.

Jiang Xiao thought, It doesn’t matter how many points we get in the competition. The point is, will you allow us to sell you our Star Beads for money?

Do you use the Star Beads we collect as a criterion of judgment, or do you use them to exchange for points? It better not be the case where we have to exchange our Star Beads for points, lest we fail to make it to the semi-finals and end up losing the Star Beads too…

Jiang Xiao’s thoughts were rather interesting. He seemed to have forgotten that he was just clamoring about being the prey just now.

The man in the suit raised four of his fingers and said, “Rule No. 4: There’s a weapon specially made by the organizers on every floor of the underground Ancient Imperial Mausoleum. They come in various forms, but they are all exquisite and of high quality. There’s a clear difference between them and the weapons used by the Ancient Warriors, which is clear enough for you guys to see.

“This weapon might be hidden in a certain corner, or in the hands of the Ancient Warriors. Or perhaps, they may have been damaged. You need to explore and find them yourselves. There’s one on every floor and each one is worth 200 points.”

After the man spoke, the students below began to discuss again. Each one is worth 200 points!?! Isn’t that too much?

The Star Bead of an ordinary Ancient Warrior is only worth 10 points while that of a Gold Quality Ancient Warrior leader is only worth 50 points! The Star Bead of the Soul of the Ancient Warrior is worth only 80 points, which is the most. Yet, this weapon is worth 200 points?

If you want to get into the top ranks, you have to find some weapons! If you find any that has been hidden or left somewhere, you will become rich!

The man in the suit spoke again, “Also…”

Whenever the man said that Jiang Xiao felt that nothing good was going to come out of his mouth.

The man in the suit continued, “Besides, due to the special characteristics of the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum, the guardians were stationed at the entrance of each floor. The organizers of the competition requested and the military has also sent some powerful and elite military officers. They are distributed in every corner of each floor and you can always look for them for help and aid.

“You have to note that apart from when asking for help, you are not allowed to stay in the guardians’ supply point, regardless of your excuse. Anyone found to be deliberately wasting time will be considered to be cheating, and 100 points will be deducted as penalty. Under serious circumstances, the consequence will be immediate disqualification.

“Regardless of whether you choose to seek help from the guardians or the Star Warriors military officers, you cannot ask for help more than thrice. When a team seeks help for the fourth time, the team will be recalled and be considered to have withdrawn from the National High School League.”

The man clad in a suit and leather shoes stood on the stage, watching the participants whisper to one another below. With a look of displeasure, he said in a louder voice with some austerity, “Thrice is the maximum. If you ask for help for the fourth time, it means you are too weak to participate in the competition and we shouldn’t waste too many resources on you.”

The noise in the military barracks gradually softened and the students fell silent.

The man in the suit finally said, “Floors 1-18 are the areas where you can move about freely. Anyone who’s found on the 19th floor will be immediately disqualified.”

18 floors below ground?

Damn it, I don’t believe that anyone would dare to go that deep! Jiang Xiao thought.

Are you going 18 floors below the ground?

You’re going to the 18th floor of hell…

Jiang Xiao felt rather sad for the Star Warriors military officers stationed on the 18th floor below ground, so much that he even laughed out loud.

This group of people should be having it the worst, right?

They probably won’t receive any “guests” in these three days and three nights, right?

This is so infuriating. They’re soldiers, so they have to obey orders, stand alone on the 18th floor of the underground Ancient Imperial Mausoleum, and face all sorts of teams that might hunt them down…

Wait a minute!

To be fair, these powerful Star Warriors military military officers were selected from their respective squads. What kind of soldiers would be the most suitable for this kind of work?

It should be the Guardians Of The Night, right?

Jiang Xiao suddenly discovered that he seemed to be a future Guardian Of The Night.

I’ll have to go?

Jiang Xiao felt like he had seen his future.

Will I one day be selected from the Guardians Of The Night, to stand alone in the quiet corner and wait to receive guests… Uh, I mean, wait to help the students in trouble?

What a spiritual job. A melancholic smile formed on Jiang Xiao’s face.

“What’s the matter, Xiaopi, why are you so dejected?” asked Xia Yan when she spotted the forlorn look on his face.

Jiang Xiao forced a lopsided smile and said, “No, you don’t understand. This is a smile full of hope for the future.”

Xia Yan was dumbfounded.

On the stage, the middle-aged man dressed in a suit and leather shoes spoke again and mentioned a crucial rule. “Take note, if any guardians or Star Warrior military officers assist or participate in the battle, the battle spoils will go to the organizers.”

The students below the stage immediately wailed out of nowhere. The more terrifying rules had been announced!

The middle-aged man once again said, “The guardians and the Star Warrior military officers have the right to take the initiative. If they think you need help, they can take the initiative to give you aid unilaterally. In other words, they can help you even if you do not voluntarily ask for aid. Your battle spoils will be handed over to the organizers and your team will also be considered to have asked for help once.”

Jiang Xiao’s eyes widened and he thought, Damn it… the organizers of the National High School League are so shameless!

What if they run into a cheap Star Warrior military officer like me in the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum?

What if they run into those who’d actively patrol and force them to accept the aid?

And those who give them aid four times and send them home?