Nine Star Burden

Chapter 214: Obtaining New Star Technique

“What is the highest temperature in the Dimensional Space of the Hongshan Basin in Dajiang?”

“In what year was the famous Yeyu River Bank Dimensional Space in Cainan Province officially opened to the public?”

“How many types of creatures of other dimensions are there in the Beimang Wasteland? What are their levels? Which Star Techniques do they possess?”

“Which city is the Ancient Army Dimensional Space in?”

“China Red Rock Park is located in the southern Guangdong Province of China. Is there any Dimensional Space in the China Red Rock Park? If so, what is it called?”

Jiang Xiao scratched his head in frustration. Unfortunately, he had a buzz cut and couldn’t grab his hair.

However, that did not stop Jiang Xiao from feeling distressed.

What kind of damned questions are these?

Am I sitting for the Star Examination or social encyclopedia?

Just as Jiang Xiao sighed, Su Ruo, the live-stream host, pressed her right elbow against the script and moved it towards the right.

Wow!

Su Rou! I didn’t nurse your tummy aches for nothing. You’re really a grateful child.

Jiang Xiao struggled to see the answer of the script on the table in front, only to feel the leg of his chair being kicked.

Han Jiangxue said coldly from behind, “Look at your own script.”

Jiang Xiao was dumbfounded.

Are two invigilators not enough? Are you going to supervise me too?

Jiang Xiao leaned back, gritted his teeth, and said, “Just answer the questions, what are you looking at me for?”

Han Jiangxue pressed the paper against the table and looked at Jiang Xiao’s back. “I’m done answering the questions. I’m waiting for you to turn in your script for us to go home together.”

Jiang Xiao was speechless.

Han Jiangxue turned her head to look out of the window. It was a snowy world and the sky was full of snow.

The sky would turn dark rather early during wintertime in Beijiang Province. Although it was only 5 PM, the sky was already rather dark and there were plenty of dim yellow lamps along the streets in the playground reflecting the beauty of the snowflakes.

Jiang Xiao didn’t have time to appreciate those things. At this time, he was competing with the exam questions.

Yes, it was the last segment of the final exam of the first semester of Year Three, the “Star Study” written test.

After taking this paper, Jiang Xiao would be able to debut... um, go home for the new year.

Jiang Xiao looked at the exam questions and felt that he would have a hard time this year.

“Hurry up and do the test.” Han Jiangxue urged from behind. Jiang Xiao could also sense that she was kicking the leg of his chair.

Jiang Xiao, who couldn’t answer the questions, was incredibly vexed in the first place, and he wished he could shoot her with “Sound of Silence” and then tell her to shut up!

Hmm...

However, Jiang Xiao didn’t dare to do so.

There was something interesting about “Sound of Silence”.

The description of Sound of Silence was: Consumes a large amount of Star Power and causes all sounds to cease. Prevent all targets in a specific area from using Star Techniques.

Jiang Xiao initially thought that “causes all sounds to cease” was just a figure of speech and that the main function of that Star Technique was to prevent everyone from using Star Techniques.

However, when Jiang Xiao really applied the “Sound of Silence”, he discovered that the description of that Star Technique was relatively accurate. It was really difficult for those in the affected area to speak...

Of course, it was not because they had turned mute or because the environment had become a vacuum.

Instead, it was because the special physical state that the Star Technique had caused the target to be in made it difficult to speak. Even if one tried to speak, they would just stutter.

It was like an astonished person struggling to speak.

At the thought of the Sound of Silence, Jiang Xiao opened his internal Star Map again and smiled foolishly while looking at his fifth gold star slot.

Jiang Xiao had absorbed the “Fallen Shadow Witch” Star Bead on the train back.

Two weeks ago, after winning the championship, Jiang Xiao and others got on the train under the school’s arrangement and hurried back to Jiangbin City.

Xia Yan, the heir of a wealthy family, once again upgraded everyone into a better cabin, causing the poor Hai Tianqing to sleep elsewhere.

After turning off the lights on the train, Xia Yan did not let Jiang Xiao warm her feet. Instead, she lied on the upper bunk and chatted with Han Jiangxue. Clearly, she was pleased about winning the championship.

Li Weiyi leaned against the wall of the cabin and spoke to Li Qingmei softly over the phone affectionately, as usual.

Jiang Xiao was lying alone in the lower bunk, holding three “Fallen Shadow Witch” Gold Quality Star Beads while struggling slightly.

Sound of Silence was an incredible technique and no matter what, there was absolutely no harm in having that Star Technique.

The problem is the big cat...

Should I tell Second Last about it in advance?

Before coming to the competition, Second Last mentioned this very sternly.

She wanted me to discuss it with her before acquiring any Star Technique.

Jiang Xiao hesitated for a long while and got up in frustration. Listening to the sounds of the train, Jiang Xiao rubbed his head and thought, What a joke, how can I, a mighty healer, allow a big cat to manipulate and control me?

After careful consideration, Jiang Xiao made up his mind and immediately absorbed a Fallen Shadow Witch Star Bead.

1. Enmity: When attacked by an enemy at close range, there is a 1% chance of causing the enemy to end up in a random and slightly negative state. (Brass Quality, Upgradeable)

2. Counter-current Light: Releases a continuous beam of light that shares vitality and Star Power with the connected target. (Silver Quality, Upgradeable)

3. Sound of Silence: Consumes a large amount of Star Power and causes all sounds to cease. Prevent all targets in a specific area from using Star Techniques (Gold Quality, Upgradeable)

He acquired all three at once!

Wow, how comfortable!

Jiang Xiao still had two Fallen Shadow Witch Star Beads in his hands. Should he absorb them and upgrade his Star Technique?

Wait a minute.

Jiang Xiao suddenly thought of something.

Enmity is of Brass Quality, but this Star Bead is of Gold Quality!

Since the Star Bead is of Gold Quality, would Enmity be upgraded according to the highest quality conditions?

After absorbing a Gold Quality Fallen Shadow Witch Star Bead, will the Brass Quality Enmity slowly upgrade by one small level or instantly rise to Silver Quality?

Will it advance to Silver Quality Level 0 while the excess is negated, or will it continue to upgrade until Level 9?

1 Gold Quality = 10 Silver Quality = 100 Brass Quality = 100 Skill Points.

The difference was more than 90 Skill Points!

Or maybe Jiang Xiao thought too much, and Brass Quality was simply Brass Quality. Would absorbing the same type of Star Bead simply upgrade Brass Quality Level 1 to Brass Quality Level 2?

Uh...

Jiang Xiao discovered that he shouldn’t take such a precious Gold Quality Star Bead lightly no matter what.

Hence, he must upgrade Enmity using his Skill Points!

Jiang Xiao spent nine Skill Points on “Enmity”. To be precise, it was the fifth star slot.

Due to the fact that there were three Star Techniques in one Star Bead and every Star Technique would be in Level 1 at the time of absorption, there were some changes in the three Star Techniques.

–

Enmity, Silver Quality Level 0 (Brass Quality Level 1 -> Silver Quality Level 0)

Counter-current Light, Silver Quality (9/10)

Sound of Silence, Gold Quality (9/100)

Skill Points: 36

–

Jiang Xiao glanced at the description of Enmity and found that something was amiss. After carefully reading it several times, he discovered what the difference was.

The word “slight” was gone!

Enmity: When attacked by an enemy at close range, there is a 1% chance of causing the enemy to end up in a random and slightly negative state.

The original description was “causing the enemy to end up in a random and slightly negative state” but the word “slightly” was gone!

What did that mean?

Jiang Xiao was elated.

A first-degree burn was definitely different from a third-degree burn.

Motion sickness and vomiting blood were definitely not the same too...

Overwhelmed with excitement, Jiang Xiao’s eyes lit up. Enmity had already been upgraded to Silver Quality and he felt that he should try absorbing another Star Bead.

Hence, Jiang Xiao, in the lower bunk, as the train jerked, acquired the fifth, sixth, and seventh Star Techniques of his life!

–

Character: Jiang Xiao.

1. Star Map:

Big Dipper, Nebula Stage Level 0

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Star Technique:

1. Blessing, Silver Quality Level 2 (6/10)

2. Decoy, Silver Quality Level 2 (6/10)

3. Green Glow, Gold Quality Level 3 (6/100)

4. Endurance, Gold Quality Level 3 (6/100)

5. Bell, Silver Quality Level 1

6. Imprint, Silver Quality Level 1

7. Nostalgia, Gold Quality Level 0 (1/10)

8. Dawn, Gold Quality Level 0 (1/10)

9. Enmity, Gold Quality Level 0

10. Counter-current Light, Gold Quality Level 0

11. Sound of Silence, Gold Quality Level 2 (9/100)

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Basic Technique:

1. Freehand Combat, Silver Quality Level 4

2. Star Power Abundance, Silver Quality Level 1

3. Dagger Mastery, Silver Quality Level 4

4. Xia Family Swordsmanship, Silver Quality Level 8

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Skill Points: 36

–

Oh my god!

The frightened Jiang Xiao broke out into cold sweat.

Facts had proven that a small improvement in quality would be reflected in the data.

Sound of Silence was originally Gold Quality Level 1 (9/100). After Jiang Xiao absorbed a Gold Quality Star Bead, Sound of Silence became Gold Quality Level 2 (9/100).

However, if it was a qualitative improvement, the zero was actually erased?

Enmity and Counter-current Light immediately became Gold Quality Level 0.

There were still nine Skill Points on Counter-current Light. Were they gone just like that?

Jiang Xiao was really scared afterward. Fortunately, he had used nine Skill Points to upgrade Enmity to Silver Quality. Otherwise, after he absorbed the Star Bead, Enmity would only be upgraded from Brass Quality to Silver Quality. That would be a waste of Skill Points.

What a ripoff!

This internal Star Map is such a ripoff!

Jiang Xiao thought to himself.

In the next moment, there was a 180-degree change in his attitude.

Look at the description of Gold Quality Enmity!

Enmity (Gold Quality): When attacked by an enemy at close range, there is a 3% chance of causing the enemy to end up in a random negative state.

During the first upgrade, “slight” was removed, and during the second, the probability is increased?

Interesting, eh?

The introduction of the Gold Quality Counter-current Light didn’t change. Its description was still “Releases a continuous beam of light that shares vitality and Star Power with the connected target”.

However, Jiang Xiao knew that there would be qualitative changes in this Star Technique.

Since the number of light rays has not changed, it is likely that there will be a change in speed.

Perhaps, the transmission speed of vitality and Star Power from the connected target would be faster?

Maybe, the black ray of light cast would be darker, thicker, and bigger...