Nine Star Burden

Li Weiyi held onto the hammer and lit up his Burning Flame Star Technique. The flames on his hammer were brighter than the torch in Jiang Xiao’s hand.

There were some changes in the terrain in front. There was a hole in the middle of a stone wall, which resembled a door.

The people seemed to realize that they had been discovered, or that the team that just arrived had slowed down and kept their guards up. Hence, the figure hidden behind the stone wall came out.

The person filled the gap in the wall, and the road also became a dead end.

Is there a special room behind this person? Or is there some mysterious passageway? Or is it a forbidden area of the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum?” 

“This road is blocked. Go back using the same route that you took to come here,” the person in black said in a hoarse voice. He was wearing a hooded cloak, and the brim of the hood was rather low. He also hung his head low, making it impossible for any of his features to be seen except his chin.

Under the flickering light, the person looked and sounded rather sinister and gloomy.

Of course, that would only frighten children. It didn’t work on Jiang Xiao at all.

Clad in black? A mysterious and blurry figure? A hoarse and insidious voice? 

Those are Second Last’s standard characteristics! 

I’ve known her for such a long time, yet she’s still trying to scare me with such tactics? 

You’re nothing compared to Second Last.

You’ve only learned some of her tricks, but you haven’t learned the essence. 

You’ll never be able to acquire her cold and hair-raising aura. 

“Are you a guardian?” Li Weiyi asked with uncertainty.

The person in black did not respond and simply repeated, “This road is blocked, return using the same route.”

Li Weiyi’s face grew dubious. He had clearly discovered their presence. The three of them were still hiding behind the wall, and they seemed to be a participating team and not the guardians. They didn’t seem to be the Star Warriors officers scattered around the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum.

Han Jiangxue frowned slightly, and Xia Yan was also a little surprised. This…

At this moment, Jiang Xiao suddenly said, “We’re allowed to move freely from level 1 to level 18. What rights do you have to make us return?”

Everyone panicked. If they were really the guardians, Jiang Xiao’s tone and words would be rather unfriendly.

“I repeat one last time. Get out,” the person in black said in a deep voice while lowering his head.

Jiang Xiao retorted, “How old are you? Why are you pretending to be profound and wise? Do you think you look extra formidable by keeping your voice low?”

The person in black suddenly raised his head, revealing a young face.

Han Jiangxue and the others were stunned, and they wondered, Is he really someone of the same age? Is he a high school student and a contestant? 

Seeing that they could no longer pretend, two figures appeared from the hole in the wall, and the trio formed a triangle. The remaining one did not come out from behind the wall and seemed to be a Rules Awakened or a member that played a supportive role.

“I told you to scram, don’t you understand!?!” the young man clad in the black hood said.

Jiang Xiao found him to be extremely familiar, and he thought, Isn’t this that Eurasian?

Howard Lee? 

These people belong to the team from Beijing. What are they doing here?

Jiang Xiao continuously brainstormed and thought, If this is a dead-end, then their approach is pretty retarded. Any Ancient Warrior squad will definitely be able to kill them. 

So, what’s behind this broken wall?

Obviously, this is an important entrance. Otherwise, they wouldn’t stay here. 

The problem was that everyone entered the Ancient Imperial Mausoleum for the first time. Why did they know that they ought to stay here? Could it be that they had found out about the terrain in advance?

The more Jiang Xiao thought about it, the more he felt that something was amiss. After thinking about the harmonious way they behaved during the registration, it felt that they seemed to have formed an alliance back then. However, it seemed now that…

Jiang Xiao had an ominous speculation. After recovering from the shock, he heard the fierce verbal confrontation between the young man and Xia Yan.

Xia Yan had been feeling particularly frustrated. Xiaoqi sneak-attacked them before, and yet, a team was now getting in their way?

Xia Yan gibed. “I almost got scared by you guys. Are you committing a robbery here? Do you guys have what it takes?”

The young man in the cloak barked coldly. “Cut the crap and scram! Stop trying to compete here. You’re asking us if we have what it takes? If you’re looking to die, just say so!”

The trio in front of the wall lit up their Star Maps one after another and looked like they were ready to attack.

Jiang Xiao suddenly raised his hands and said, “Back off.”

Xia Yan was infuriated, and she also lit up her sword-shaped Star Map, blinding everyone with her 28 star slots.

Han Jiangxue hesitated for two seconds before saying, “Retreat.”

While speaking, she pulled Xia Yan back by her arm while Li Weiyi held up his shield. The four of them stayed in formation and retreated.

Xia Yan was trembling with anger, but she had nowhere to vent her frustration. She stomped her feet forcefully and yelled, “Ah!!”

Since when had she ever had to suffer such grievances?

She didn’t take life too seriously and would attack whenever she felt upset!

Throughout all these years, who have I ever been afraid of? How could this damned Jiang Xiaopi be so cowardly? Why should we retreat!?! 

Jiang Xiao was much gloomier deep down than he looked on the surface. Just like he mentioned before, he didn’t bring his teammates out to let them feel aggrieved.

What kind of society is it now?

This is an outrageously fast-paced society where people fight hard over a simple conflict. 

If I say that I want to beat you up, I’ll kick you immediately. 

If I say that I want to kill your family, I must do so by tonight. I won’t wait until the next day. 

It’s never too late to take revenge? 

That’s the mindset that powerful figures should have.

Jiang Xiao would usually take revenge on the spot. If he couldn’t, he would wait for a short while.

Most importantly, the eight or nine teams from Beijing had already formed an alliance, and they were obviously aiming to advance to the semi-finals.

The existence of this alliance harmed the interests of all other teams, especially for teams like his. Jiang Xiao had never made it known, but he was rather ambitious and really wanted to fight for a place in the semi-finals.

If they could seize this opportunity to defeat one of the teams, they would not only help reduce the strength of the Beijing Alliance but also win a place in the semi-finals!

However, before taking revenge, they had to confirm their conjecture.

Jiang Xiao yelled at them, “Things must be bad for you in Beijing, huh? You’re following others around and helping them keep a lookout like a watchdog. While they’re reaping benefits, do you stand to gain something?”

With fury written all over his face, the young man in the cloak questioned loudly, “What!?!”

Seeing his reaction, Jiang Xiao felt more certain about his conjecture. He said softly, “Get your Chain Lightning ready.”

Xia Yan was stunned.

Jiang Xiao raised his head and continued to yell, “We’re all young and at the age where no one is willing to admit defeat. Doesn’t everyone want to be the main character? No one wants to be someone else’s watchdog, right?”

Jiang Xiao’s voice drifted far away, causing the team of four opposite them to be dumbfounded.

Is this… a provocation!?! 

The hooded man barked in exasperation. “Screw you. I dare you to repeat yourself!”

Jiang Xiao responded loudly and clearly, “I said that you guys are incompetent greenhorns and watchdogs!”

The young man retorted, “Damn it… cough… cough…”

The young man’s face was flushed, and he couldn’t go on anymore, as if he was about to vomit blood. The Star Power in his body was surging, and he could only cough strangely.

—Gold Quality Star Technique, Sound of Silence!

Han Jiangxue threw out the shot of Chain Lightning with both hands!

The sound of the burst of electric current made everyone shudder, and the chain of lightning was instantly connected to the group of four in the distance. It shuttled back and forth in a frenzy, lighting up the dark corner.

“Enough, enough. Two shots are enough,” Jiang Xiao hurriedly interjected to stop her. He knew what Han Jiangxue’s output was like. Besides, it was a Gold Quality Star Technique, and the highly destructive lightning Star Technique.

If Han Jiangxue were to throw out another shot, trouble might really entail.

“Oh, wow? Isn’t this the Eurasian? What a coincidence to run into you here… Kid! What’s wrong? Say something!” said a voice that spoke in a special local accent.

Everyone turned around and looked at them with their guards up, only to see the Tianjin ruffian Liu Yang and his team.

The beautiful Medical Awakened, Cai Yao, had a serious expression, and she was keeping her eyes fixed in front, seemingly rather arrogant. However, when others were not noticing, she suddenly winked at Jiang Xiao.

Jiang Xiao wasn’t sure what she was trying to do. Why does she keep winking at me? 

Could it be that…

Was she kidnapped? 

Is she asking me for help? 

Liu Yang, the ruffian from Tianjin, did not care about others at all. He walked past Jiang Xiao’s team and stopped in front of Howard Lee. “Fine, we’re all Chinese descendants. You have to wake up.”

Liu Yang squatted down and stuck his hands into Howard Lee’s pocket while saying, “You really dare to touch anyone’s team, huh? Do you know who he is? He’s the mighty toxic healer! Also known as the thug from Beijiang!”

Jiang Xiao scratched his head with a look of bewilderment. “Do I need your support?”

The situation was tense, and they were full of murderous intent. Why did everything change after this kid arrived?