Chapter 146 One Step Forward

A month later, May 5th.

Dragon Boat Festival is a lunar festival, and this May 5th of the Gregorian calendar seems to be just another day. But for the Star Flame Squad, they received a special gift.

At this moment, the six members of the Star Flame Squad were wandering in the area of the so-called "Fengdu Ghost City," at the junction of Bayu City and the Sichuan Province.

Xiao Chongyang was still in the lead, riding Xiao Tan Hong, with a small star dragon that had starry sky skin, mysterious and dazzling, wrapped around her body.

In this dark and gloomy abandoned castle, she saw a dark ghost figure beside the stone bridge ahead, waving to beckon the team forward.

"Eh? She looks friendly," Xiao Chongyang muttered softly, slowing down her speed and turning her head to look at the archer cavalry, Jiang Gong, behind her.

Jiang Gong nodded lightly and smiled at the cute-looking Xiao Chongyang.

Don't be fooled by her innocent look, she was already a Starry Sky Stage Great Warrior!

After Jiang Xiao obtained the book *Xing Wu Ji* (Chronicles of Star Warriors), five members of the Star Flame Squad had greatly improved their star power realms and physical fitness: Xiao Chongyang, Marta, Baze, Jiang Ke'li, and the Blind Woman.

Neither Jiang Gong, the bait, nor Chen Lingtao had been modified by Jiang Xiao.

Jiang Xiao did this because, after carefully studying the *Xing Wu Ji* and constantly experimenting, he had reached several conclusions.

First, the opportunity to use the human anatomy diagram to provide star warriors with the benefit of modifying their bodies was only available once.

After one modification, it seemed that all the remaining potential in the human body had been stimulated, and repeated modifications were impossible.

Second, the Star Manifestation into Weapons modification, which was the page of the human anatomy diagram from the *Xing Wu Ji*, had a limited number of uses!

After Jiang Xiao modified Marta and Xiao Chongyang, the page with the human modification diagram became slightly worn, like an item with "durability." He didn't know how many more times he could use it before it broke.

Jiang Xiao knew what was more important. His mecha was, of course, the most reliable and had to be in the first batch to be modified.

So, he then approached the Blind Woman, Baze, and Jiang Ke'li.

After modifying one person and two mechas, Jiang Xiao fell asleep. At this stage, Jiang Xiao couldn't be like the old man, who could benefit a star warrior and still continue to fight north and south unscathed.

The degree of improvement after Jiang Ke'li and Baze were modified was different, which also caught Jiang Xiao's attention.

Back then, when Jiang Xiao was modified by the old man, Jiang Xiao went from Star Sea Stage lv.6 to Star Sea Stage lv.9, and then, he only took 2 days to enter the Starry Sky Stage.

And the mecha Marta, if you put it in terms of data, was upgraded from Star Sea Stage lv.4 to lv.9 after being modified by Jiang Xiao!

This made Jiang Xiao wonder if the intensity of the modification varied from person to person?

Or was it impossible to directly break through the Great Realms through modification, and you could only be capped at the peak of the Star Sea Stage?

The second guess was broken by Xiao Chongyang.

Jiang Xiao's modification of her directly raised her from Star Sea Stage lv.7 to the early Starry Sky Stage. She crossed the Great Realm during the modification process!

According to Xiao Chongyang, she should have been stuck at the threshold of the early Starry Sky Stage.

Jiang Ke'li entered the middle Starry Sky Stage, while Baze, who was at the peak of the Star Sea Stage, overtook them, directly reaching the threshold of the middle Starry Sky Stage. At this time, the Blind Woman had even broken through the early Star Exhaustion Stage and reached the threshold of the middle Star Exhaustion Stage.

This also made Jiang Xiao completely understand that the effect of the modification did vary from person to person.

The more star slots one had, the more potential was stimulated, and the better the modification effect. He and Marta, Jiang Ke'li and Baze were living examples.

From this perspective, Jiang Ke'li, Baze, and the others really shouldn't be people.

Being a mecha under Jiang Xiao's command was obviously faster and stronger than growing on their own...

Jiang Xiao, who had the *Xing Wu Ji*, also deserved the title of "Starry Sky Creator"...

Jiang Xiao hoped that the Blind Woman could advance quickly, the faster the better.

She could help Jiang Xiao solve many doubts, and let him see what the realm above Star Exhaustion was like.

Jiang Xiao also hoped to unlock the secret behind the old man's so-called "Overlord Body" and "Immunity" effects, and whether it was related to the star power realm.

The Blind Woman was obviously the one who would pave the way and clear obstacles for him.

Jiang Xiao did not modify Chen Lingtao because he was only a mid-Star River Stage cultivator. In Jiang Xiao's view, he had to wait until his disciple entered the Star Sea Stage before modifying him.

In the process of improvement, if Chen Lingtao stepped into the threshold of Star River rising to Star Sea and was stuck by the Star Manifestation into Weapons, then the master and disciple would really have to cry to death. This rare opportunity might be wasted.

It is worth mentioning that,

Jiang Xiao, who was at the peak of the Star Sea Stage after being modified by the old man, had also followed in Marta's footsteps and entered the Starry Sky Stage.

Everything was as the old man had said, Jiang Xiao's internal star map closed and readjusted once again.

This once again confirmed that the old man was telling the truth, that the old man really had an internal star map.

Everything Jiang Xiao was experiencing at this time was likely the path he had walked 50 or 60 years ago.

In the past month, Jiang Xiao, whose star techniques were sealed, could only transform from a "mage" back into a "fighter."

What Jiang Xiao was unwilling to admit was that although the internal star map was closed and adjusted, and no information on the upgrade of combat skills was given, at this time, Jiang Xiao's archery skills, halberd skills, and combat knife skills had made considerable progress.

Forced to fight in close combat, his gains in the past short month were far greater than his previous gains in fighting north and south in the alien planet.

In a way, that old man... was indeed helping him.

Of course, Jiang Xiao's journey of conquest was even more thrilling and exciting. Losing his Endurance, Jiang Xiao returned to the ranks of mortals. Losing his other star techniques also allowed Jiang Xiao to pick up his weapons again and become the "attack kaleidoscope" once more.

......

"Jiang Xiao, Jiang Xiao~ She looks friendly, should we hit her?" Xiao Chongyang's voice came again, awakening Jiang Gong, who was thinking deeply in the back.

"No, no need," Jiang Gong hurriedly said, turning his eyes to see Xiao Chongyang riding on the huge Black Ridge Fire Feather, the tip of the heavy Fang Tian halberd resting on the shoulder of a humanoid creature.

The humanoid creature standing by the bridge was hunched over, but it couldn't hide her huge size.

Even with her back hunched, she was still at the same shoulder height as the Black Ridge Fire Feather.

Her appearance was very close to that of a human female, with an old face and long white hair tied in a bun at the back of her head with a straw rope.

Xiao Chongyang obediently moved the Fang Tian halberd away, and the old woman also smiled kindly, not minding Xiao Chongyang's actions just now, but waving repeatedly, beckoning the people behind the team to come forward.

While the giant old woman waved, an old, withered left hand, like tree bark, appeared with a tattered bowl, handing it to Xiao Chongyang.

"Hmm? Are you really going to give it to me to drink?" Xiao Chongyang looked wary. The little star dragon wrapped around her body curiously stretched its head forward and curiously watched the red soup inside.

What Jiang Xiao said before was true? Are there really such friendly creatures in this gloomy and terrifying area?

Behind her, Jiang Gong reined in his horse, tilted his head to look at the color of the thick soup, and said, "Drink it."

"Oh, help me bring it over," Xiao Chongyang patted the star dragon's skin and said.

The little star dragon opened its mouth wide, grabbed the tattered bowl, and pulled it back.

But the old woman held on tightly, not letting go. Not only that, as the star dragon pulled back, the old woman's body further expanded, and her arms kept stretching.

Jiang Gong looked at this scene, shook his head and smiled, and said, "You know, there is a saying in China about medical star warriors in Sichuan and Chongqing: The top prescription in Sichuan and Chongqing, if you let go, you will lose Meng Po's soup (Drink of Forgetfulness)."

Behind her, Chen Lingtao, riding a war horse, also smiled.

This saying summarized the plight of auxiliary star warriors in Sichuan Province and Bayu City.

Meng Po's soup comes in various colors and types.

There are those that restore life, those that restore star power, and those that increase attack speed or even increase damage to ghost-type creatures. It can be said that they are complete and very powerful.

But... the biggest drawback of this star technique is that the bowl of soup cannot be released.

That is to say, no matter what kind of Meng Po's soup it is, once it leaves the hands of the medical star warrior, the bowl and soup made of star power will instantly shatter and disappear.

This has caused great trouble for medical star warriors in Sichuan and Bayu. Under normal circumstances, medical star warriors who go to the battlefield will not learn this star technique.

Not all support personnel are like Jiang Xiao, who can charge forward. Most medical star warriors are in the back of the team, heavily protected!

Medical star warriors cannot follow shield warriors and agile warriors to charge into battle, standing by the side of the battle system, holding a bowl of soup at all times and handing it to their companions' mouths, adding, "Da Lang, it's time to take your medicine."

The little star dragon drank most of the red soup while taking the bowl back.

"Hey, you rascal," Xiao Chongyang patted the star dragon's skin in dissatisfaction, leaned down, stretched out her little hand, and held the tattered bowl.

"Glug, glug, glug..." Xiao Chongyang took large sips, expressing complete trust in Jiang Xiao. While drinking the soup, she couldn't help but look at the fingers of the old woman who was holding the broken bowl.

Her hands were as dry as tree bark, but they were very clean, and her nails were neatly trimmed, which did not interfere with her appetite.

On the contrary, it could remind people of their grandmother's hands...

However, compared to human hands, this old woman's hands were a bit too big.

"Tsk, so delicious!" Xiao Chongyang let go of her little hands, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, looking satisfied, and even hiccupped, "Hic~"

The soup tasted very good. Not only that, Xiao Chongyang felt that her body was particularly light, as if her agility, speed, and other attributes had been strengthened.

Jiang Gong joked, "Don't just focus on tasting the flavor. You have to know that she is the only friendly creature in the Fengdu Ghost Zone. Her existence is more like a signal.

After drinking the soup and walking on this bridge, it will be difficult for us to turn back. We may not be able to return.

Since its appearance, no one has been willing to set foot in the Fengdu Ghost Zone."

Even the Huaxia army had to wait for Jiang Xiao to clear the evil ghosts before stepping into this place. Although Jiang Xiao's star techniques were sealed, his star pets were still there, and he was indeed more suitable as a "vanguard" than other teams.

"Hmm?" Hearing Jiang Xiao's words, Xiao Chongyang blinked and turned to look at the stone bridge ahead.

On both sides of the wide stone bridge were bottomless abysses.

The stone bridge was very wide, but also very long. From the depths of the abyss on both sides, there were faint screams like those of fierce ghosts.

And on the edge of both sides of the bridge, occasionally a few black mist-shrouded heads would peek out secretly, observing everyone.

Then they would retract their heads and hide under the stone bridge...

It seemed that they were waiting for everyone to step on the bridge.

Xiao Chongyang thought for a while and said, "Don't worry, Jiang Xiao, although you are nothing now, and all your star techniques are sealed, I'm here, and I will always protect you!

If we both die, I'll take you to find your mother."

Jiang Xiao: ???

Chen Lingtao was also stunned, not knowing whether he should drink the soup or not.

In his astonishment, the old woman's withered big hand pinched Chen Lingtao's cheeks and poured the bowl into his mouth...

Xiao Chongyang didn't think there was anything wrong with her words. She looked at the stone bridge that stretched as far as the eye could see, not knowing where it led, all the way connecting to the dark area.

But Jiang Xiao had told her before that in that darkness, there would be a magnificent and gloomy city. There, all kinds of dead souls and monsters would be present.

The old woman continuously made Meng Po's soup, handing it to everyone to drink in turn.

The members of the Star Flame Squad were like elementary school students lining up in front of the cafeteria window, obediently stepping forward in turn and drinking the white, blue, or red soup.

Jiang Xiao specially got off his horse, stood in front of the old woman, and held the huge broken bowl with both hands. He identified the color of the soup, hesitated slightly, raised his head and poured it down.

Come, come, come!

Drink this bowl of Meng Po's soup, and you won't be afraid to wander in Fengdu at night!

Before death, everything is a battlefield, after death, every place is home!

Which yellow earth doesn't bury people?

"Glug... glug... glug... hic~"