Chapter 1 An Uprising

"Ding! Ding..." The sound of blades clashing echoed in the dimly lit Ruins of Calamity Shadow.

Two figures were engaged in a fierce battle, using the purest techniques of greatswordsmanship, without the aid of any star techniques.

Four Flame Puppets served as torches, outlining a square. Within this square, flashes of swords and shadows of blades mingled, accompanied by sparks from the friction of steel giants.

Not far away, Xia Yan hugged her knees, sitting on a grass mat, watching the two fighting figures with almost obsessive eyes.

One was Jiang Xiao.

The other was also Jiang Xiao.

For Xia Yan, this was perhaps the most precious hands-on greatsword combat training in the world. Even more terrifying, such lessons were held every day, and Xia Yan became the exclusive student, receiving private tutoring every day.

On the first day that the Jiang Xiaos started fighting, there was another spectator - Han Jiangxue. But Han Jiangxue only watched the excitement and then went to cultivate her star power on her own. Xia Yan, however, was extremely reluctant and unwilling to give up any detail.

Greatswords and giant blades always have common ground.

Completely shutting off telepathy, the two became independent individuals and each other's best sparring partners.

However, their greatsword techniques were inherited from the same source, even identical. If they wanted to determine a winner, there had to be an x factor.

This so-called "x factor" might be star techniques, or it might be a Star Chart.

The rule that Jiang Xiao set for himself was that he was not allowed to use star techniques, so the Star Chart seemed to be the key factor in determining the outcome.

Jiang Xiao's Star Chart was the Big Dipper.

But the bait Jiang Xiao's Star Chart was the "Fancy Blade," or "Hua Ren" for short.

As Xia Yan wished, the bait Jiang Xiao really drew out that deep red Hua Ren!

Moreover, he did not abandon the steel giant blade in his hand. At this moment, the weapon that should have been held with both hands was now held with one hand. The bait Jiang Xiao held two giant blades, and his skills were becoming more and more refined.

Turning two-handed weapons into one-handed weapons, holding one in each hand, was something neither Xia Yan nor Jiang Xiao had ever imagined.

The bait Jiang Xiao was also forced into a desperate situation. In the past half month, the two had almost always fought to a draw.

Finally, there was one time when the original Jiang Xiao seized the initiative and almost killed the bait Jiang Xiao. At the critical moment, the bait Jiang Xiao drew out the Star Chart giant blade from his body to block, and from that moment on, the bait Jiang Xiao began to study this unexpected product.

"Xia Family Blade Technique upgraded! Platinum quality Lv5!"

A message suddenly came from Jiang Xiao's Inner Vision Star Chart, making Jiang Xiao, who was in the midst of a bitter battle, overjoyed!

Could it be that the path that the bait was taking was correct? The diamond-quality Xia Family Giant Blade was playing the dual-wielding giant blade route?

"Ding!"

Jiang Xiao suddenly held his blade in front of him, and a deep red mist lingered. The bait Jiang Xiao's Hua Ren slashed horizontally on the steel giant blade.

Under the enormous force, Jiang Xiao's figure slid back. Still in the midst of a difficult block, before he could make his next move, the steel giant blade in the bait Jiang Xiao's left hand came loose and flew spinning over!

Jiang Xiao was shocked. So close, how the hell did you spin the blade?

Uh... No, how the hell did I spin the blade?

Am I that strong?

The cold tip of the blade landed on Jiang Xiao's shoulder. Diamond-level Endurance was not to be trifled with. The steel giant blade tore through Jiang Xiao's thin short sleeves and collided with Jiang Xiao's shoulder, making a crisp sound.

The original Jiang Xiao concentrated his attention, preparing to seize the opportunity. Once the opponent threw the giant blade again, Jiang Xiao was prepared to take it away, because he knew the mystery of it.

Although the senses of the two Jiang Xiaos were disconnected, they were still the same Jiang Xiao. How could the bait use blade-flicking as a "conventional method?"

Jiang Xiao was being beaten back steadily. With the bait's Hua Ren as the main weapon and the giant blade as the auxiliary weapon, even among thousands of White Ghosts, Jiang Xiao could defend tightly, but against another version of himself, Jiang Xiao couldn't hold on!

"Xia Yan! Sword, let me use the greatsword!" Jiang Xiao shouted as he retreated.

"Eh?" Xia Yan was stunned for a moment, and quickly picked up the greatsword that was placed beside her.

"Xia Yan! Don't give it to him!" The bait Jiang Xiao shouted loudly, "I'll treat you to red bean shaved ice! Just like the one we ate yesterday, red beans, crushed peanuts, crushed ice, and a little osmanthus sauce. One bite, and you'll die of pleasure!"

Xia Yan's palm froze slightly.

Jiang Xiao was immediately unhappy, panting heavily, sweating profusely, and shouting at the bait, "Shameless! I'm the one who's treating! I'm paying, what's it to you?"

The bait Jiang Xiao was happy, speaking from an interesting angle, and said, "Am I scolding myself?"

Jiang Xiao: "......"

Xia Yan thought for a while and said, "You two... stop fighting. You've already achieved the purpose of exercising. You both look like you've been fished out of the water. Go take a shower, it's time to sleep."

Jiang Xiao immediately stopped and nodded, "Okay, no more fighting, it's settled."

The bait Jiang Xiao's face stiffened, and he slammed the Hua Ren into the ground, grinning and saying, "I just realized, why am I so shameless..."

Xia Yan covered her mouth and giggled, but urged, "Go take a shower quickly, go, it makes me feel so uncomfortable."

Jiang Xiao touched his wet forehead. Actual combat sparring was indeed very exhausting and could indeed achieve the purpose of exercising, especially in the Ruins of Calamity Shadow, where the star power was so rich. Exercising was even more effective.

Every breath he took, every movement of his body's muscles, was being nourished by the rich star power.

Jiang Xiao casually opened the Space Gate, and Xia Yan's voice came from afar, "Bring back some red bean shaved ice... two servings, and one for your sister."

Jiang Xiao turned around and closed the Space Gate... I was wondering why you were so kind, it turned out there was a little conspiracy.

Jiang Xiao returned to the house in the Half-Mountain Maple Forest, the house Xia Yan had rented, flashed directly to the bathroom, took off his wet vest and short sleeves, and wrung out a stream of water...

Jiang Xiao thought for a while, and directly turned on the shower, and while taking a shower, he washed his clothes inside and out.

Twenty minutes later, Jiang Xiao walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a bath towel, returned to the small bedroom, put on long clothes and trousers, looked at the clock on the wall, half past ten... Jiang Xiao thought for a while, took the key from the coat rack by the door, and pushed the door out.

He could wear short sleeves in the Ruins of Calamity Shadow, but not outside. Although it was April, the temperature in the Imperial Capital was not high.

Jiang Xiao walked in the dim yellow streetlight of the residential area, and a gust of breeze came, and he couldn't help but wrap his coat tighter.

Today was their team's rest day. After all, it was a system of one day on and two days off. Even if the students of the Imperial Capital Star Warriors College had classes during the day, Jiang Xiao still had a lot of free time.

Qin Wangchuan had already given definite information that the day after tomorrow would be the day they would set off for the Shadow Cave of Jinmen. It was indeed a blessing that the Xia Family Blade Technique had reached Platinum quality Lv.5 before the expedition.

Jiang Xiao was also thinking about whether this dual-wielding giant blade that was developed unintentionally was the diamond skill of the Xia Family Blade Technique.

"Ha..." Jiang Xiao took a deep breath. In fact, he still had one confusing thing.

Since the bait was chewed up by the big fish half a month ago, he did not rush back to the Northern River Province at the first time, nor did he go to the snowy field to send off his bait.

Jiang Xiao had a clear understanding of himself: his strength was too poor.

Even if Senior He Yun was willing to help and protect him, a simple and sudden incident could take his life.

Jiang Xiao's physical fitness was unqualified. Half a second was enough to determine life and death.

You must know that Jiang Xiao had the star technique of Perception, but he still couldn't escape the giant mouth of the big fish. Although part of the reason was He Yun's misjudgment, the main reason was still Jiang Xiao himself.

The blind girl and He Yun jumped out half a second earlier and jumped higher, surviving unharmed.

Jiang Xiao sighed in his heart and walked down the road dejectedly.

Of course, the earth was also full of crises, but it was not at the same level as the alien ball. The bait Jiang Xiao appearing on the alien ball was a dish, and it would also implicate Senior He Yun.

The He Yun in the alien ball was not a bait. Jiang Xiao was afraid that one day, Senior He would really die because of protecting the bait Jiang Xiao.

So Jiang Xiao worked harder and trained more diligently, sweating like rain, and practicing like a dead dog every day and night, wanting to reach the threshold of the Star Sea stage as soon as possible.

Not to mention the sudden big fish, even the ice soul of the tyrant of the Icebound Clan, if it hadn't been unwilling to bully the weak, the bait Jiang Xiao would not have seen Senior He Yun and would have died directly in the hands of the ice soul.

He felt like he was a stubborn younger brother, a thin primary school student who insisted on breaking into the adult world to stir up trouble.

Damn it!

Why did I come into contact with such a high level of existence in my sophomore year?

I'm bearing burdens that I shouldn't be bearing at my age...

If the original body went up, I'd kill whoever the hell it was with my heals!

But this kind of thinking was just to relieve his anger. There was no way Jiang Xiao's original body could go up to the alien ball. He wasn't that impulsive.

Jiang Xiao kicked away the small stone on the side of the road angrily. After this Shadow Cave experience, he would find an excuse to go to the snowy field again.

Anyway, he was going to die, so he might as well hang around in the Northern River Province area of the alien ball and not implicate He Yun. Then he would let Jiang Xiao go to Fen City to see the border of the country and see if there really was a so-called Dragon Cave there.

Thinking this way, star technique matching was also a difficult task.

Jiang Xiao thought again and again, and simply let the bait go up with the Hua Ren Star Chart, fully equipped with combat star techniques, and not needing any sustainability.

For Jiang Xiao's level, most of the creatures he encountered there were destined to be killed with one blow, so there was no such thing as healing.

Jiang Xiao stopped. The Imperial Capital Star Warriors College was a university town with one commercial street after another. Jiang Xiao looked up at the signboard and walked into a milk tea shop.

Although it was late, there were still couples sitting at small tables, talking and laughing intimately.

Their state was indeed out of sync with Jiang Xiao.

As a person who was constantly walking on the edge of death, Jiang Xiao's mentality was indeed not the mentality that a college student should have.

Jiang Xiao's appearance made the students in the milk tea shop slightly stunned, but as students of the Imperial Capital Star Warriors College, they did not shout out loud, but whispered and took out their mobile phones to take pictures.

A couple even took the opportunity while Jiang Xiao was queuing up and came up to ask Jiang Xiao for autographs in a low voice.

Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Xiao walked out of the milk tea shop with a paper bag containing three cups of red bean shaved ice.

He looked back at the warm atmosphere and warm people in the milk tea shop... Life is so beautiful!

Buzz... Buzz...

His pocket vibrated. Jiang Xiao took out his phone, his face slightly stunned.

This was a message from Hai Tianqing, five big characters: "I'm getting married."

So, good things were all coming together?

Jiang Xiao edited the text and sent it: "So fast?"

Hai Tianqing: "It's not fast. I've been proposing for more than half a year. If I delay any longer, your Teacher Fang will forget about my proposal, and I'll have to propose again."

Jiang Xiao: "......"

Hai Tianqing: "Last time you won the World Cup, I borrowed your light to successfully propose. What would the scene be like if I proposed again? Wait until you win the World Cup team competition next year?"

Jiang Xiao's face was strange, and he edited the text: "That's okay too. The team competition championship next year will definitely be mine."

World Cup team competition?

Go, why not go?

It was a rare opportunity to earn skill points, so of course he had to go.

And if Jiang Xiao didn't go, he would be letting down Vice President Yang Chen. The old principal was so good to him, giving him the green light all the way through school, contacting star pets and finding star beads. Jiang Xiao couldn't justify not participating.

What's more, Gu Shian and Xia Yan were waiting here. Having such a title would be beneficial to everyone's future in the team.

To put it more broadly, being able to win honor for China, or even win the championship for consecutive years, would also be Jiang Xiao's honor.

Hai Tianqing: "Go away, let's talk about serious business. Your Teacher Fang is not preparing a big banquet. We are preparing a small private wedding. Come and be a witness."

Jiang Xiao was slightly puzzled: "Teacher Fang is from a big family, is she preparing to do it small? Will her parents agree?"

This time, Hai Tianqing did not speak.

Jiang Xiao was even more puzzled, walking home while waiting for his phone.

All the way until he walked into the Half-Mountain Maple Forest residential area, Hai Tianqing's message came: "Her family doesn't agree with us, and her parents have also given her orders, absolutely not to let her interact with me again."

Jiang Xiao: "What's going on?"

Why wouldn't they agree with Hai Tianqing, such a gentle, refined, and accomplished person with good character, appearance, and strength?

Hai Tianqing sent a text message: "They finally found out about my record of being expelled from the team. Because of me, Xingyun hasn't contacted her family for a long time."

Jiang Xiao pursed his lips, looking at this message, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Jiang Xiao's heart was very chaotic. He put the red bean shaved ice on the ground, leaned against the door of the unit building, and slowly slid to the ground: "Because of that person... do you regret it?"

Hai Tianqing: "Let's not talk about these things. I just want to seize the present. This is the choice that Xingyun and I have made together. I believe I can take care of her. One day, her parents and her brothers will accept me."

Jiang Xiao: "If you want, I can help you plead. Whether it's my direct superior or my Northwest top superior, I can put in a good word. Making amends is a good term."

Hai Tianqing: "What do you mean?"

Jiang Xiao: "Want to rejoin the team, Siwei?"

On the other end of the phone, there was silence again...

Jiang Xiao thought for a while and typed: "This might make their family accept you better."

Hai Tianqing finally replied: "If the team needs me one day, I will not hesitate. But I'll pass on pleading to go back."

"Okay." Jiang Xiao picked up the red bean shaved ice, stood up, and directly pressed the voice button, "Tell me the time and place, I'll go be a witness to your wedding."

Hai Tianqing replied with two words: "Thank you."

Jiang Xiao pursed his lips and put his phone in his pocket. You... shouldn't have said that.