Nine Star Burden

Chapter 41: Bell and Imprint

“Hey, you two, what are you whispering about!?!” Xia Yan exclaimed in displeasure while staring at the pair of siblings.

Han Jiangxue placed a hand on Jiang Xiao’s shoulder and brought him into the cave. “You can totally trust Xia Yan much as I do. In fact, the profession of an Awakened is not safe. If anything happens to me one day, she will be the only person you can rely on in this world.”

Jiang Xiao was dumbfounded.

Why did she say those words all of a sudden?

Xia Yan was just as stunned. She stared at Han Jiangxue and asked, “Why are you saying this to your younger brother?”

Han Jiangxue patted Jiang Xiao on the shoulder and tilted her head towards Xia Yan. “That’s her Star Bead.”

Jiang Xiao hesitated for a moment before saying, “I can sense that this Star Bead contains a Medical Star Technique.”

Xia Yan’s eyes widened and she questioned, “What do you mean?”

“I mean what I said, literally.” Jiang Xiao shrugged his shoulders.

Xia Yan asked, “You can extract Star Techniques from the Star Beads of humans?”

Jiang Xiao answered, “I don’t know, I’d like to try.”

“I’ve really found a great person to latch on.” Xia Yan leaned back and looked into Jiang Xiao’s eyes with an intense gaze.

“I’m just particularly sensitive towards Medical Star Techniques. I hope you can let me try,” Jiang Xiao said anxiously.

“I know. I relied on you two to make it this far. I’ll do my best to complete the task that you’ve given me and become one of the members of the squad, and make us a cohesive team that’s closely-knit and share the same goals,” Jiang Xiao said, making a statement that would help from another perspective.

Xia Yan put her hands on her waist and stared at Jiang Xiao before lamenting. “Oh, Xiaopi, Xiaopi, I hope you won’t be able to acquire any other Star Techniques apart from the Medical ones…”

“Are there other Medical creatures of other dimensions in Beijiang?” Jiang Xiao asked.

“Yes…” Han Jiangxue frowned and began to think.

Han Jiangxue immediately answered him without thinking. It seemed she had already done her research and come up with a concrete plan for Jiang Xiao’s future and the Star Techniques that he would acquire.

“Lava Ghoul,” she answered.

Xia Yan nodded and agreed. “Yes, they’re the only conventional Medical creatures of other dimensions. There are some doors of Dimensional Spaces of other dimensions in the group of volcanoes near the other side of Wuchi. There are Lava Ghouls in there, and I obtained my Star Techniques Burning Flame and Bursting Flames there too.”

Jiang Xiao asked, “Lava Ghoul?”

Xia Yan nodded and explained, “Yes, Lava Ghouls. They’re disgusting creatures that maximize the Star Technique effects of healing comrades. Whenever a treatment is applied, plenty of Lava Ghouls surface.”

“Cluster Medical Star Technique?” Jiang Xiao asked.

“Yes, the Medical light condenses into an entire patch that connects from one Lava Ghoul to another. It then forms a treatment web that resembles a spider web that has clear healing effects.” Seemingly having realized something, Xia Yan asked excitedly, “You mean?”

“I can feel that it contains Medical Star Technique, but it’s different from the White Ghoul Witch’s Star Technique. So, I wanted to ask if we have any Medical creatures in our hometown.” Jiang Xiao shrugged his shoulders.

“Yeah, you can’t think. This Awakened seems to be in his forties. He’d inevitably be the kind that travels and intrudes everywhere. There are plenty of Medical creatures in Huaxia.” Seemingly still a little worried, Han Jiangxue continued, “If it’s a low-quality Medical Star Technique that isn’t too domineering, and you only have 9 star slots…”

“He can upgrade the quality of his Star Techniques. What are you afraid of?” Xia Yan interrupted, undermining her concerns. She continued, “Look at his upgraded Green Glow and compare it to the previous Brass Quality Green Glow. The difference is huge.”

“That makes sense.” Han Jiangxue nodded, seemingly deep in thought. “If it’s the Lava Ghoul’s ‘Bell’, it should be considered very ideal. After all, it’s a cluster Medical Star Technique.”

So it’s really called Bell?

What’s going on in this Star Map? Why is the information given exactly the same as what is known to the general public?

“Bell?” Jiang Xiao asked in bewilderment.

“When the medical light is connected to the target’s body, a clear and melodious jingle will be heard. It will ring once whenever it’s connected to a target, and the sound is pleasing to the ears,” Han Jiangxue explained.

Xia Yan pursed her lips and seemed to have recalled some bad memories. She said in displeasure, “Come on, melodious? That sound makes my head hurts. This Star Technique is disgusting.”

Han Jiangxue looked at Xia Yan sympathetically. Only the two of them knew what this gaze meant.

It seems that the two of them had some horrid experiences in that Dimensional Space.

Xia Yan looked at Jiang Xiao and said, “Absorb it, Xiaopi. Give your sister an eye-opener. If it’s successful, I’ll earn myself a competent teammate. It’s been so many years and people have always been the ones to suck up to me. It’s really annoying.”

Jiang Xiao looked at Xia Yan’s long and beautiful legs before saying abruptly, “Actually, I’d like to suck up to you too. I’m just scared that you won’t let me do it.”

“Huh?” Greatly stunned, Xia Yan turned to look at Han Jiangxue and asked, “Can I kick him?”

Han Jiangxue responded calmly, “You’re his mentor now. It’s up to you.”

“Okay.” Xia Yan nodded and glowered at Jiang Xiao menacingly. “Hurry and absorb it! Stop wasting time! Regardless of whether you succeed or not, your training will have to be intensified. How does that saying go? Oh right, spare the rod and spoil the child.”

Jiang Xiao scratched his head and wondered, Is she taking advantage of me?

I must get my pride back.

Jiang Xiao glanced at Han Jiangxue and asked, “Sis?”

“Once a mentor, always a father,” Han Jiangxue answered calmly.

“Yes, I’m Daddy,” Xia Yan said while nodding firmly.

Damn it, you…

Jiang Xiao raised his hand and gave her a Blessing.

Xia Yan moaned. “Mm…”

Basking comfortably under the Sacred light, Xia Yan was filled with immense pleasure that made her body quiver slightly while she enjoyed the wonderful sunlight and wind.

Just as she enjoyed it, she seemed to hear a crisp jingle from Heaven.

Ding-ring-ring…

A white ray of light condensed and appeared in Jiang Xiao’s hand. It passed more than a meter and connected to Xia Yan’s body.

The light that was full of sincerity didn’t seem to want to stop. It was still looking around for signs of life. It then connected itself to Han Jiangxue, who was beside Xia Yan, turned around and surged into Jiang Xiao’s body again.

“I…” Xia Yan opened her eyes abruptly and looked at the Medical ray of light that was surrounding the trio and shuttling through them. She could not help but be shocked.

In Jiang Xiao’s internal Star Map, the third star slot suddenly lit up, emitting a dazzling silver light.

In the Star Technique tab, there were not only just two more Star Techniques but also an upgrade in all of his Star Techniques.

–

Blessing, Brass Quality Level 5

Decoy, Brass Quality Level 5

Green Glow, Silver Quality Level 3 (4/10)

Endurance, Silver Quality Level 3 (4/10)

Bell, Silver Quality Level 1

Imprint, Silver Quality Level 1

–

Even the strongest Awakened would have at most only four Star Beads and four Star Techniques embellished in their Star Map during the Stardust Stage. However, Jiang Xiao already had six Star Techniques…

Each of his star slots contained two Star Techniques.

However, Jiang Xiao did not choose to absorb Burning Flame and Bursting Flames. Logically speaking, the two Star Techniques that contained fire elements were rather practical too.

When surviving in the wild, igniting a fire and warming one’s body were very practical skills, and they could even be used for adding flames to weapons.

However, Jiang Xiao really had too little star slots, so he had no choice but to give up absorbing both the Silver Quality Star Techniques that belonged to the same star slot.

What made Jiang Xiao a little miserable was that there was no change in his Star Map.

It seemed that he couldn’t absorb Star Maps from human Star Beads or use them to increase the number of star slots.

Han Jiangxue said gently, “Tell me it’s what I think it is.”

Jiang Xiao nodded smilingly and his Big Dipper Star Map appeared.

The silver light of the third star slot was rather eye-catching.

“Yes, one, two Star Techniques in one star slot. Bell and…”

“Imprint?” Xia Yan remarked in awe. “I really don’t know if I should feel fortunate for the Medical Awakened or sad for you. You only have nine star slots.”

“Oh, so it’s called Imprint. From now on, I’ll be able to leave an imprint on your bodies before the battle begins. That will prevent me from accidentally treating the enemies,” Jiang Xiao said pretentiously.

Han Jiangxue asked, “This Medical light shuttled through the three of us and circled twice around us. Can the refraction of this light be controlled?”

Jiang Xiao thought about it and answered, “I’ll try.”