Chapter 1 Awe

"Whoa~" Beneath the billowing smoke of the volcano, Jiang Xiao exclaimed in amazement.

It wasn't because of the spectacular volcano, but because of the white "net" halfway up its slope.

The crisp, melodious sound of chimes rang incessantly, leaving even Han Jiangxue dumbfounded.

Facing the clamoring, crazed swarm of lava ghosts rushing towards them, Jiang Xiao flung a Bell at the lead lava imp.

Ding-ling-ling~

As the leaping wave of healing light landed on the lava imp, it split into three, scattering outwards. This was nothing new, as Bell could already do this at the Platinum level.

But what happened next shocked the siblings.

The three healing beams, showing no signs of diminishing, each split into three again... transforming into nine rays of healing light, scattering in all directions.

After that, the nine rays finally stopped dividing, continuing to weave back and forth within the lava ghost horde.

No matter how much Bell upgraded, the number of six jumps never changed, but the final few flickering leaps of those nine rays had woven a dense, intricate net!

Beneath the hazy sky, the shimmering white waves of healing light darted about, the bell sounds ringing out!

Clear and melodious!

The onrushing lava ghost horde seemed to be draped in a net woven from shimmering white light, rapidly advancing, complete with its own formation and background music, making for an incredibly spectacular scene!

Jiang Xiao directly cast a Chen Yin (Imprint) on Han Jiangxue beside him.

Some of the healing light waves had already completed their jumps, as the lava ghosts were close together, making it easy to hop between them.

But some hadn't finished their jumps, and they turned around, guided by the Imprint. Six rays of healing light, at different angles, crashed into Han Jiangxue's embrace.

In that instant, Han Jiangxue felt her mind become exceptionally clear, calm, and collected.

The volcanic environment and temperature were extremely hot and irritating.

This sudden mental clarity was extremely comfortable for Han Jiangxue.

The next moment, a Platinum Ice Roar erupted!

To Jiang Xiao's surprise, Han Jiangxue raised her left hand, a deep blue scepter appeared, and a bolt of lightning struck almost immediately after the Ice Roar. The lightning seemed to have calculated the lead lava ghost's trajectory, striking the leaping lava ghost directly...

In an instant, a chorus of wails erupted. The lava ghosts, leaping about just moments before, had become piles of corpses. Those few that hadn't been caught by the Ice Roar screamed in agony and turned tail to flee.

Jiang Xiao asked, "How does it feel?"

Han Jiangxue thought for a moment and said, "Calm, collected, sharp-minded, and clear."

Jiang Xiao: "Huh?"

Han Jiangxue confirmed, "A very good support effect. Refreshing and clarifying, it can be applied to teammates before a battle. It makes my thinking sharper and my ideas clearer."

Bell could already provide a calming effect, which was terrifying enough. On top of that, it could make the brain work faster, react quicker, and process information faster?

Jiang Xiao's hand shimmered with light as he pressed Bell against his chest.

As it turned out, Bell still couldn't jump when pressed against himself.

"Tsk, tsk..." Jiang Xiao clicked his tongue in amazement.

Interesting. It could be used for exams in the future, especially when the exam time was halfway through, and your brain was a jumbled mess from doing the questions. One Bell and the effect would be amazing!

But this effect overlapped somewhat with the "coolness" of the Black and White Candle Flame Star Technique. If Jiang Xiao wore the Black and White Candle Flame as a hat, he could probably do very well on exams, right?

But Bell had a group effect, making it very suitable for the battlefield.

Jiang Xiao said, "No wonder those few lava ghosts ran so decisively."

Han Jiangxue "Mm"ed and said, "Let's go back."

Jiang Xiao nodded gently. Then, Han Jiangxue held up a black, rippling sphere in both hands, and a Black Void Teleportation Shield instantly opened...

The siblings had completed their mission plan and were in a very good mood.

This semester, Jiang Xiao's goal was the Shadow Cave. He really wanted to experience the taste of Diamond Silence. He wondered if Qin Wangchuan could contact a Shadow Cave for them to train in.

In fact, the students were also looking forward to the second semester of their sophomore year because the school would be increasing the proportion of Star Studies courses and conducting more research and discussions on Star Studies.

After intensive training during the first semester of their freshman and sophomore years, the students had passed the necessary thresholds of thought, politics, history, form, and policy, handing in a good report card.

With a certain level of quality, this top-notch Huaxia university was finally bringing Star Studies to the forefront.

Of course, it wasn't as if they hadn't learned anything about Star Studies in the previous semesters. For example, Star History, Star Technique Overview, and the use and matching of Star Techniques were all required courses.

In the second semester of their sophomore year, the techniques that were supposed to be taught by practice teachers would be formed into relatively professional and obscure theories for students to refer to.

For example, in-depth development and use of Star Techniques, and how to maximize one's professional effect in a team.

Interpretations and analyses of classic combat cases, as well as research on several major types of typical professional Star Charts, etc.

Jiang Xiao was certainly interested in courses on Star Chart research. However, this subject didn't seem to be of much use to him. A simple understanding would suffice because people were discussing "representative" Star Charts, such as the blades and swords of the Battle System and the staffs of the Magic System. This was the knowledge that the vast majority of students needed.

As for Jiang Xiao wanting to research his Nine-Star Chart, he would probably have to find the exception among exceptions.

Due to Han Jiangxue's influence, Jiang Xiao was very interested in Star Pet Studies. Unfortunately, this course would not be offered in the second semester of his sophomore year. This subject would not be available until the first semester of his junior year.

However, according to the time Han Jiangxue advanced to the Star Sea stage, it seemed that the course would be just right for the siblings when it opened in their junior year?

It was undeniable that those who could enter the Imperial Capital Star Martial University were all the pride of the heavens.

Most of the students entered with the Star Cloud mid- to late-stage or the Star Cloud peak stage. Students like Han Jiangxue and Ying Xi, who entered at the Star River stage, could indeed be described as rare as phoenix feathers.

After a year and a half, by the second semester of their sophomore year, the top batch of students with extremely high talent, as well as the first-class students belonging to the second batch, should have crossed the threshold of the Star River. The school's decision to increase the proportion of Star Studies subjects at this time was also based on its own considerations.

The siblings returned home, cleaned up properly, changed their clothes, and embarked on their journey of study again.

So far, the Imperial Capital Star Martial University was not so much a school to Jiang Xiao as it was a springboard, a place that could give Jiang Xiao endless opportunities and possibilities.

The Imperial Capital Star Martial University allowed Jiang Xiao to come into contact with more top Star Warriors, qualify to participate in the World Cup, have the opportunity to go to other-dimensional spaces that ordinary people could not enter, and join teams that ordinary people could not join.

Of course, Jiang Xiao had no objections to this, but was very grateful.

But in this sophomore semester, according to the trend of teaching direction tilting, the Imperial Capital Star Martial University was probably going to return to the orthodox "school."

Well... these words were actually biased. The courses taught by the Imperial Capital Star Martial University in the first and second years were about teaching and educating people. That knowledge should also be the knowledge and qualities that students in such a university should know and be able to do.

This was the foundation of the foundation. Indeed, one should first learn how to be a person.

Since ancient times, there had been many people with talent but without virtue. The greater the ability, the greater the scourge.

The siblings arrived at the Imperial Capital Star Martial University before the start of school. Xia Yan, on the other hand, had asked for leave and missed the start of school. Since the two of them were going to practice in the Shadow of Calamity Ruins, they didn't live in the dormitory but lived off campus, in the residential house in the Banshan Maple Forest community that Xia Yan rented.

Whether or not they had the key didn't matter. Both Jiang Xiao and Han Jiangxue had the skill of "trespassing on private property." They didn't need to unlock the door at all. They could teleport in...

From this point of view, Space System Star Techniques really needed to be reported to the Star Association.

The siblings started class, not to mention it for the time being, but in the upper dimension, in the snowfield...

Jiang Xiao and Senior He Yun finally arrived in a snow forest, where giant trees stood tall and snow covered the ground.

From afar, Jiang Xiao felt that a White Ghost population lived here.

He Yun's body hid behind a giant tree and said, "A few more kilometers ahead, you will see a cliff, and you will see a cave."

"Mm-hm." Jiang Xiao nodded repeatedly.

He Yun instructed, "That cave tunnel is crisscrossed, you just need to make sure you go all the way down, otherwise, you may fly dozens of kilometers and fly out of the other snow forests."

Jiang Xiao clicked his tongue secretly and said, "You're not going with me?"

He Yun shook his head and said, "I've already pointed out the way for you, and you can transform into a crow and fly directly in. You don't need to push your way in like I did back then, which was time-consuming and labor-intensive."

Hearing this, Jiang Xiao nodded thoughtfully. He Yun not accompanying him was, in a way, protecting him.

He Yun said, "Don't worry, the cave tunnel is very spacious, very large, enough for you to fly over the White Ghosts' heads, but you know the biological characteristics of the White Ghost population, they are always fighting each other, so I suggest you fly close to the top of the tunnel, and don't 'caw caw' randomly."

Jiang Xiao: "..."

He Yun said, "I can't leave, I still have unfinished tasks here, remember, you have to go all the way down. If you find yourself flying higher and higher, then you've gone the wrong way and are heading to the other side of the forest.

Although this underground tunnel is crisscrossed and complicated, the correct route is not easy to find, but it is easy to judge, because this underground tunnel has no ups and downs, it's just a slope, up or down."

Jiang Xiao: "Okay."

He Yun continued, "That space door is no different from the Holy Ruins in the lower dimension, you'll recognize it at a glance. Also, your appearance in the different ball after entering the door is random."

Jiang Xiao: ???

You said you would bring me! You said you would protect me!

Now you're giving me a random teleport? I'm a Star River newbie, if I randomly teleport into a Level 5 Star Abyss, wouldn't that be suicide?

He Yun saw the look in Jiang Xiao's eyes and couldn't help but smile and explain, "Don't worry, it's just a random teleport within the snowfield, and the snowfield in the different ball is mostly in the Bei'jiang province, which means you'll appear in a certain area of the Bei'jiang province."

Jiang Xiao: "..."

He Yun continued, "After you come out, transform into a crow directly, fly in the air, reduce the probability of encountering ground creatures, and fly southwest all the way.

Since the different ball is also winter now, the topography of the Weaponry Depot in the Zhong'ji province is not a green forest as you imagine, it will be a snow forest like the snowfield, but you can determine which province you are in by the creatures living on the ground."

Jiang Xiao had a questioning look on his face, was there such an operation?

Determining which province he was in by looking at the creatures?

He Yun explained, "Their territorial awareness is very, very strong, and their range of activities also has very distinct regional characteristics, so don't worry.

There are also very few Weaponry Depots in Bei'jiang province. Seeing savages doesn't mean anything, but if you find more and more Ape Ghosts and savages, then you've entered the Zhong'ji province in the different ball.

Once you find more and more Ice Demons and Ice Souls, then it means that you may have flown to the Liaodong province..."

Damn!?

Jiang Xiao was dumbfounded.

He Yun instructed, "If you see a series of creatures under the starry sky, that's Da Meng, you're too far west. Da Meng is a forbidden area for you, there are many flying other-dimensional creatures there, be careful. If you see a series of creatures like Celestial Flowers and Vajra, that's the Jindalai Republic, you're too far south.

My task for you is to fly southwest, cross the Zhong'ji province, fly over the Liaodong province, and go straight to Liaolian city. Five kilometers southeast of Liaolian city, there is a small island - Bang Island. Go there to find us."

Jiang Xiao: "Uh..."

He Yun: "Isn't your main body on Earth? Find a topographic map and fly according to the map, it's clear at a glance, you won't get lost."

Jiang Xiao grinned and said uncertainly, "Okay..."

He Yun's face became serious and he said, "Remember! Don't set foot in the territory of Yan Zhao province! Don't go in! If you accidentally enter, turn around immediately."

Jiang Xiao blinked, the old man was so serious.

He Yun said, "On the different ball, the creatures of the Outlaw series in Yan Zhao province are definitely not something we can provoke. I can take you on a tour of the different ball continent, but we have to go by sea, or from Da Meng, or from within Lu Dong.

On the different ball, the territory of Yan Zhao province is a restricted area for us."

Jiang Xiao said with a smile, "Then I'll fly higher."

He Yun said angrily, "Have you really never died before!?"

Jiang Xiao scratched his head and after a long while, squeezed out a sentence, "What if... I just want to buy some lessons with my life?"

He Yun suddenly felt his forehead veins throbbing, his blood pressure was a little high...