Nine Star Burden

Chapter 178: Bragging

At 7 AM on the third day, at the sports hall in the southern suburb of Zhongcheng County.

The teams entered the venue for inspection. The competition would be beginning at 9 AM sharp and it was extremely noisy and crowded at the venue, resembling a market.

Staring at the youthful and excited students, Jiang Xiao remained composed and was not in the least bit flustered at all.

Okay.

Fine, he was a little nervous.

“Kid, I remember that you’re a Medical Awakened. It says so on your registration card,” said a middle-aged man holding onto the steel giant sword and observing it.

Jiang Xiao was playing with the headband which resembled the kind that was usually worn by basketball players. However, it actually had a pinhole camera and a listening device. Once Jiang Xiao wore it, everyone would be able to see from his first-person perspective.

Jiang Xiao turned to look at the middle-aged man and lamented. “Ah... I can’t help it either. I accidentally obtained a Medical Star Technique, but in reality, I desperately want to be a Melee fighter. There’s a maniacal Melee Warrior within me.”

The middle-aged man was speechless.

Staring at him, Jiang Xiao wondered, Is this uncle... feeling empathetic and hurt?

“Not many people use ancient Chinese weapons nowadays. This is a good sword, don’t let it go to waste,” said the middle-aged man as he handed the giant sword back to him after having completed the inspection.

Jiang Xiao held the giant steel sword behind his back and said, “Thank you for the compliment. Do you also like the ancient Chinese two-handled sword?”

The middle-aged man smiled slightly as his lanyard swayed back and forth in front of his big belly. He said, “When I was young, I would have a double-handled sword in my right hand and a double-handled dagger in my left while fighting the savages and Ape Ghouls in the Arsenal...”

Jiang Xiao was speechless.

You’re actually better at bragging than me, eh?

“Ah, that can’t do. Time really waits for no man.” The middle-aged man lamented.

Jiang Xiao initially thought that he could tease and brag to the man, but he had met his match.

He’s blowing his trumpet too excessively.

Double-handled sword in his right hand and a double-handled dagger in his left?

There’s a reason they’re called “double-handled”, okay?

“Your team does have plenty of weapons. Since I have nothing to do, I’ll help you guys inspect them all,” said the middle-aged man as he turned around and picked up Xia Yan’s sword. He then remarked with raised brows, “This sword is pretty heavy.”

Jiang Xiao said, “Hey, I don’t want to have Medical attributes either, but I can’t help it at all. There’s a wild melee warrior living within me. Yes, you’re right. I love handling double-handled swords.”

The middle-aged man chuckled and remarked, “Seems like we’re the same.”

Jiang Xiao cupped his fist in his hand and said, “Pardon me.”

The middle-aged smiled and said, “You flatter me.”

...

“Check if the backpacks given to you guys contain the full set of resources. No need to inspect the signal pistol, they’ve been through several rounds of rigorous inspections prior to this in order to ensure that they can be used normally.” At the front of the sports hall, one of the staff members was announcing the instructions into the microphone, making others feel uncomfortable because of his voice.

“The mission is going to be announced,” said the staff.

All of a sudden, the noisy crowd fell silent and the cameras panned across one after another. Jiang Xiao suddenly felt like he was filming a reality show.

Ah, there are so many ways to earn money in this world.

In fact, Jiang Xiao had always felt that there was something wrong with the competition of the system. Compared to fighting each other, fighting the creatures of other dimensions was definitely more dangerous.

Jiang Xiao felt that the preliminary round should be for teams to go against each other, after which the top eight teams would then enter the Dimensional Spaces for the semi-finals. At last, the winning teams would be decided. After all, that would ensure that the top eight teams were truly the strongest while the eliminated members were safe.

Why don’t they let the human students do the elimination?

Why did they hand it over to the creatures of other dimensions?

Are they afraid that the strongest teams will meet prematurely and then go to waste after they get eliminated? Why don’t you tamper with the lots for drawing, then?

How did the superiors stipulate the system? The system is the same for both the provincial league and the national league.

Jiang Xiao couldn’t understand the rationale, but plenty of people had already called for a reform of the current system.

The system was indeed a problem left behind by history. Five years ago, there was no such thing as semi-finals during the provincial league and the national league.

Back then, the team that came in first place in the Dimensional Space would immediately be crowned as champion.

Five years ago, the nation organized a corresponding reform of the system and added the semi-finals.

The emergence of the semi-finals was also a safety measure that would ensure that the genuinely competent teams would come in the first place as much as possible.

All systems had to be improved continuously through refining and exploring better alternatives. Since Jiang Xiao was faced with such a system, he had no choice but to accept it.

Just like how he had met Second Last in his life...

There was no way he could retort or change.

Hence, his only option was to accept it.

Soon, Jiang Xiao’s attention was diverted to the staff member at the front.

The rule... didn’t seem too friendly.

“All members of each team have to follow the route that we have just distributed, starting from the entrance. You will have to go to Resource Point 1 and 2 to collect your mission items before returning to the entrance. Be as fast as you can. The fastest team will obtain 300 points.

“The first runner-up will be awarded 80 points while the second runner-up will be awarded 55 points, and the fourth runner-up will be rewarded 40 points. The detailed scores are clearly recorded in the information booklet given to you.

“The maximum time you can take is five days. Those who don’t return by five days will be given 0 points.”

Jiang Xiao was slightly stunned. He wondered, Why is the difference between the first and second place so great?

The difference is 220 points!

The staff member continued, “We will be randomly selecting some individuals from the savages in the Arsenal and distribute eye-catching bright yellow swords, spears, and bows to them. Every bright yellow weapon is worth 10 points.”

“Of course, they’re beasts with low IQ, after all. Maybe you will realize that they can’t be bothered to use the high-quality weapons we give them and throw them onto the ground. As for whether or not you can pick them up, it’ll depend on yourselves.

“We’ll also randomly select individuals from the Ape Ghouls who are easily distinguished. You will see some burn marks on their spines. There are bright yellow medals hidden in their backs and every medal is worth 25 points.”

Jiang Xiao licked his lips and thought, 30 weapons and 12 medals are equivalent to the number of points that the champion will be awarded. Seems like I have to use my brains for this competition.

Disarming weapons should be relatively easy. We can shoot, defeat, and drive the savages away.

If we’re lucky, we might chance upon the savages who can’t be bothered to use the weapons and throw them away.

However, if we want to retrieve the medals, it seems that we’ll have to kill the Ape Ghouls since the medals are embedded in their backs.

So that’s why there’s such a huge difference in points.

The staff member continued, “There are three special red medals in the Arsenal, each of which is worth 300 points. They’re in the backs of three Ape Ghoul Kings. I hereby remind you to do your best. The signal piston is going to be your best teammate.”

Impressive.

You guys actually managed to embed the medals in the backs of the Ape Ghoul Kings?

How strong must the person who managed to do it be?

Thinking of the previous time the Ape Ghoul King smacked him away, Jiang Xiao began to feel a little flustered...

The staff member continued, “Each of you is wearing a camera on your head, please pay attention and take good care of it. You’re not allowed to remove it without permission. Otherwise, your points will be deducted according to the severity of the offense. In addition, once the equipment is damaged and we cannot receive the footage of your first-person-point-of-view, 100 points will be deducted directly.”

Everyone was flabbergasted after hearing these words.

In order to get more points, a battle would definitely ensue. It would indeed be difficult to protect one’s equipment during such a high-intensity battle. Some of the children could barely protect themselves, let alone the equipment.

The staff member continued, “I’d like to especially clarify that if your camera and recording devices are damaged, we also have the right to recall you. Everyone, please adhere strictly to the rules. Any violation may affect your final college entrance examination.

“Please study the exam rules carefully and enter the arena for the test in half an hour’s time. During this period of time, the sports hall will be closed and no entry or exit is allowed.”

The staff member finally switched off the microphone.

Jiang Xiao turned around to see his team members’ different expressions.

Xia Yan looked rather eager. Due to the fact that her short, chestnut-colored hair would cover the camera, she was wearing her headband on her neck.

Jiang Xiao tugged her headband and said, “This thing has become the most important.”

Han Jiangxue nodded and said, “It’s for keeping the students as safe as possible.”

Jiang Xiao scratched his head and said, “No, what I mean is, this thing is a good item we can use to destroy the others. There isn’t a rule that forbids fighting between teams.”

Xia Yan was slightly stunned. Jiang Xiao’s perspective had given her an eye-opener and opened the door to greater possibilities.