Chapter 1 Triumphant Return!
“Victory! Victory! After twelve years, a championship at last!”

“If you don’t see us in the individual competition, it’s because... we are a team!”

“Renowned CCTV Commentator: The pressure is all on Jiang Xiaopi now!”

“China Wins Another Championship, Xiangnan Military Academy Shines on the World Stage! A championship path forged with blood and tears...”

July 9, 2017, was no ordinary day. The land of China was in an uproar.

Normally, the team competition, being the main event, should be held after the individual competition. Although there were a large number of participants in the individual competition, as many as 652, the organizers had managed the time well, ensuring that the team competition concluded before the individual competition.

However, an accident occurred during the 11th to 7th place matches. The 7th, 8th, and 9th places all had the same score, which led to a rematch, which in turn delayed the 6-into-3 round of the individual competition by two days.

That is to say, the individual championship match, which was supposed to be held before the team competition, was postponed until after the team competition.

Because the organizers didn't want the competitions to be too dense, the schedule was adjusted again, and the individual championship match, which was supposed to be held on July 10th, was postponed again to July 11th.

This led to the sentence uttered by the host Ma Ke, "The pressure is all on Jiang Xiaopi now."

The pressure was indeed on Jiang Xiao, but not entirely. At this time, Ma Ke was also under a lot of pressure...

Ma Ke's fate, like Jiang Xiao's, would be revealed in two days.

At this time, Jiang Xiao couldn't even watch the awards ceremony and interviews of the championship match. After watching the official match as an exception with everyone, the coaching team, especially the two analysts, dragged Jiang Xiao away.

Everyone wants to win a championship, but championships aren't so easy to come by.

Niel Muller, known as the "Shield of Europe," had a rather complete system of Star Techniques, a veritable iron bucket with thorns. As a Shield Warrior-Power Warrior, he had almost maximized the combination of his Star Technique list.

Jiang Xiao sat in the meeting room, looking at the list in his hand, marveling at Niel's Star Technique list.

Undoubtedly, Niel, like all other contestants, had the same problem, which was that some of his Star Techniques were "useless."

Looking around, at least 4 or 5 Star Techniques couldn't be used during the competition.

Of course, every Star Technique is useful, as long as it is used properly in the right place, it will have a magical effect.

But if you put it into the competition, some Star Techniques are "useless."

For example, this "Starry Sky Warmth," which can increase the temperature of the surrounding environment. Is it useful? Of course, it is. Put it in the cold winter, and Niel can become a savior...

This "Starry Sky Warmth" should be the price of absorbing "Starry Sky Brilliance."

Jiang Xiao had reason to believe that Niel needed the purification Star Technique "Starry Sky Brilliance," but there were other Star Techniques stored within that Star Orb. When Niel absorbed it, he first absorbed "Starry Sky Warmth," but he could only helplessly accept the result.

In addition to this "Starry Sky Warmth," there are a few Star Techniques that are difficult to use in individual competitions, but this doesn't matter. Among the remaining Star Techniques, Niel has been able to form a complete system.

Jiang Xiao flipped through the data paper and saw a series of S's and A's.

Of course, the so-called ratings are also made among the players of the same session, not based on the rating derived from the reference population of all human Star Warriors.

Just like the "Sun Never Sets Mage" and the "Neon Sword God," they are all titles given based on the comprehensive evaluation of the participants in this World Cup as a reference group.

This is a very easy principle to understand. If Fang Xingyun was randomly thrown into this year's magic system, I'm afraid no one would dare to call himself a god except for Fang Xingyun.

Jiang Xiao murmured softly, "Output: A..."

Such high ratings mostly appear on the magic system. As a big shield, it is rare to be judged as "A" in the output field.

An analyst next to him said, "Two Star Techniques infinitely raised his output ability, 'Fall of the Gods' and 'Twilight of the Gods.'"

"Hehe." Jiang Xiao grinned and said, "Foreigners really give artistic names."

Fang Xingyun looked at the information seriously, her eyes fixed on the paper, and said, "Why don't you say that China's translation is very good?"

"Eh?" Jiang Xiao scratched his head awkwardly.

Fang Xingyun smiled and said, "Your English is good. Now let you translate from Chinese to English. Do you find that the meanings of these two names are similar?"

Jiang Xiao nodded silently. It seemed that "Twilight of the Gods" was more artistic. The word "Twilight" was simply amazing!

Jiang Xiao thought to himself, and also saw the defense rating on Niel's information sheet: "Defense: S+..."

No problem, defense is the opponent's housekeeping skill. Whether it is the defensive Star Technique used, or the defensive Star Technique contained in his body, the effect is first-class.

The analyst said, "Remember, Xiaopi, the Shield of Europe doesn't refer to the shield in his hand, but to him, his body after being combined."

"Steel Body." Jiang Xiao curled his lips and said, "I'm very familiar with this Star Technique, old friend. But with my Star River Stage strength attribute, I can smash it flat."

The analyst said helplessly, "He won't stand still and let you hit him."

Jiang Xiao blinked and said, "What if?"

Analyst: "......"

Jiang Xiao continued to look at the Star Technique list and said, "That is to say, my Silence will lose its effect."

The analyst added, "It may even include your Tears of Woe Star Technique. The rain may be blocked by the shield that is propped up. Even if he steps on the grass and dew, the effect of Tears of Woe to reduce the opponent's emotions may not work."

Jiang Xiao shook his head and said, "Reducing the opponent's emotions cannot be classified as a negative effect Star Technique. It is classified as an output Star Technique and cannot be purified. I have tried it with Pure Tears."

"That's not what I meant." The analyst said, "Look at his thirteenth Star Technique."

"Nah." Jiang Xiao grinned and said, "You mean, he will use Star Techniques with inspiring effects to eliminate the effects of Tears of Woe."

The analyst nodded: "Very likely. I have watched all the video data on his growth path, and I have carefully analyzed this Star Technique. Although it has never collided with Tears of Woe head-on, in all likelihood, the effect should be good."

"Perfect." Jiang Xiao threw the information on the table and said, "Except for the medical Star Technique, he has everything he should have. Did you mark it wrong? This is not a Shield Warrior-Power Warrior, this is clearly a Shield Warrior-Defense Warrior..."

Fang Xingyun: "He has no movement skills, and the so-called charging is also very slow."

Jiang Xiao shrugged: "He is a Star River Peak level player. All the physical attributes are above the average level. How slow can the speed be? The hard indicators are there."

Fang Xingyun nodded solemnly. She thought for a long time and couldn't help but look at Jiang Xiao worriedly.

But he found that Jiang Xiao still looked eager to try, and said: "Worthy of the final battle."

Fang Xingyun: "What?"

Jiang Xiao turned to look at Fang Xingyun and said, "The Star Technique name Twilight of the Gods is good, I'll use it."

Fang Xingyun looked at Jiang Xiao's high-spirited look and couldn't help but smile dumbly. She reached out and gently rubbed Jiang Xiao's head. This is the kind of spirit!

She looked at Jiang Xiao quietly, lost in thought, and suddenly had an idea: This may be the reason why she got fourth place, and this may be the reason why he was able to break into the final.

Back then, Fang Xingyun, who was at the peak of the Star River Stage, was also not weak. Why did she fail repeatedly in the final? The final two-game losing streak directly ranked her fourth. Many years later, after reflecting again, it should be a problem with her mentality.

It's not that she is afraid or retreats, she is also strong and extremely eager to win the championship, but in comparison, maybe the other three players are better.

As long as a Star Warrior can get to this point, what is lacking is definitely not strength, but a firm and powerful heart.

Jiang Xiao certainly felt Fang Xingyun's strangeness. He shook his head from side to side, shook her palm down, and changed the subject: "Let's fight a war of attrition."

"Yes." Fang Xingyun came back to her senses, quickly retracted her palm, looked at the data paper in her hand, and agreed, "Yes, yes."

The two analysts nodded one after another: "A war of attrition is the best tactical choice. Give play to your characteristics, Reverse Current Light, Yearning, Dawn. Always remember your strengths. Your skills are far beyond all the players in this session, but be careful of his strength in close combat!

Another analyst added: "You don't have any summoned creature Star Techniques. This was not a big shortcoming, after all, you only have 9 Star Slots. Your Star Technique combination is good enough, but on the World Cup arena, your shortcoming will be infinitely magnified."

Jiang Xiao nodded secretly. The so-called shortcomings are not too big. After all, Jiang Xiao has the Calamity Shadow Territory, and he can store as many weapons as he wants. However, the analyst is right. Jiang Xiao did not report the Calamity Shadow Territory Star Technique to the country, so this shortcoming was infinitely magnified.

The analyst said, "Actually, I think..."

Jiang Xiao: "What?"

The analyst said helplessly: "Your Giant Blade may be useless and will soon shatter. His defense may not be able to break your Giant Blade, but based on his defense, his power is there."

The Giant Blade won't work, but my fist will!

Diamond Great Perseverance, watch me kill that mere golden steel body!

However, the analyst also made sense. If it is targeted, the Giant Blade may shatter.

If he could have a platinum-level summoned weapon Star Technique like Erwei, there wouldn't be so many things to worry about.

Of course, how could everything in this world be yours? Jiang Xiao's Star Techniques can be upgraded, but the Star Slots are so few.

This is an individual competition after all, a one-on-one match between support and combat systems. If it is a team competition or a normal battlefield battle, all the shortcomings mentioned just now are not shortcomings at all, and Jiang Xiao is still the perfect support.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xiao said, "If I decide to fight a war of attrition, I can use Tears of Woe and auxiliary arrows. Even if Tears of Woe is greatly weakened by the enemy's shield formation, arrows will make up for it."

Jiang Xiao continued without waiting for others to speak: "Another option is for me to flash quickly and throw Reverse Current Light, but this can only weaken the opponent's Star Power, not the opponent's physical strength, and it has a certain risk, after all, Reverse Current Light can also be dodged."

Jiang Xiao: "Unlike Reverse Current Light, Yearning Halo weakens not only Star Power, but also vitality. If the Giant Blade is easily targeted, then let's formulate this plan: Tears of Woe as the main force, auxiliary arrows, how about that?"

But whether it was the analyst or Fang Xingyun, they were all staring blankly at Jiang Xiao.

"Uh..." Jiang Xiao scratched his head.

Analyst: "You can also use arrows? How come we don't know?"

Jiang Xiao grinned: "Compared to the Giant Blade, my arrow skills are much worse, and there is no matching arrow Star Technique support, only Yearning Halo as an auxiliary, but the effect of weakening the enemy's physical strength and Star Power should be very good..."

One of the analysts stood up directly and said: "I'll go find you arrows! What type do you want, what standard? To fight this kind of shield warrior without movement, you should pour rain on him and shoot him in the face!"

Jiang Xiao: "......"