Green Glow

Xia Yan led the way, Han Jiangxue and Jiang Xiao stayed in the middle, and the soldier Pi Keqiu brought up the rear. The four-person team gradually closed ranks, less than a meter apart. After trudging forward with difficulty for nearly half an hour, Jiang Xiao finally saw a flag flying high in the distance.

In such a harsh, desolate Other Dimension Space, after wandering aimlessly for half an hour and finally seeing traces of human civilization, the feeling was something ordinary people could hardly understand.

Jiang Xiao finally understood why Han Jiangxue had not let him get up early for morning exercises. This trip would probably require a great deal of stamina.

Ahead, the Red Star Flag flying high was made of some unknown material, radiating a dazzling red glow. Like a lighthouse in the dark night, it guided people toward home.

Up ahead, Xia Yan stopped, turned around, and shouted, "Do we need to go in and rest for a while?"

Naturally, Jiang Xiao and Pi Keqiu had no say in the matter. They waited for Han Jiangxue to decide.

Han Jiangxue shook her head, covered her mouth and nose, and called back, "We only came here a few days ago, so the information won't have changed much. Let's head northwest. Human teams have explored that route more thoroughly, so it suits our current team objective."

Along the way, Jiang Xiao had formed a few guesses of his own. The four-person team had walked for a full half hour without seeing any signs of Different Dimension Creatures. Thinking it over, the Guardian Team had probably swept this area completely clean.

Beneath the fluttering red flag ahead was a natural Mountain Cave, a human outpost that provided human teams with a place to rest, food supplies, and shared information.

Only by continuing deeper into the Snowfield could they possibly encounter the so-called Different Dimension Creatures.

The northwest route was one relatively well-explored by human Awakened teams. There was no shortage of Different Dimension Creatures there, but it would not put this team in excessive danger.

"Fine, let's pick up the pace. We're moving too slowly. My feet are practically frozen stiff," Xia Yan shouted as she turned and walked on.

Jiang Xiao's heart stirred, and he looked inquisitively at Han Jiangxue beside him.

Behind her dark blue goggles, the girl naturally could not understand what Jiang Xiao was trying to convey.

Jiang Xiao shouted, "Maybe I can warm you up a little. At least get your blood flowing."

Han Jiangxue hesitated for a moment, then nodded gently. Letting Jiang Xiao contribute to the team was not a bad idea either.

The next moment, a white Light Pillar descended onto Xia Yan's body ahead.

Xia Yan abruptly stopped. Amid the howling wind, her slightly darkened, frostbitten lips released a drawn-out sound. "Ah~"

Jiang Xiao could not help shuddering.

Mm, it was from the cold. He had definitely shuddered because of the cold.

The white Light Pillars continued to fall. Han Jiangxue clenched her teeth tightly and endured without making a sound.

But Pi Keqiu behind them was far more imposing, letting out a deep throat sound. For a moment, the scene was incredibly strange.

"Tsk, tsk, Little Pi! Your sister told me long ago that you were a Medical Awakened. I didn't expect you to be so proficient at using Star Skills," Xia Yan shouted without looking back.

"Oh." Jiang Xiao replied politely.

Xia Yan's face was full of teasing as she said, "My body feels all warm now. After this expedition, how about I take you home to warm my feet?"

Jiang Xiao: ??? I'm a man destined to conquer the stars and the sea, and you want me to go home and warm your feet? You must have some misunderstanding about me, Jiang Xiao. Behind them, the soldier Pi Keqiu silently watched Jiang Xiao, a trace of envy in his eyes.

Medical Awakened were simply too rare. Jiang Xiao had only used a lowest-tier Bronze Quality Medical Star Technique, yet it had already warmed Pi Keqiu considerably. If Jiang Xiao could obtain higher-quality Medical Star Techniques in the future, he would probably become highly sought after.

If only he could recruit Jiang Xiao into his army. He truly hoped there could be soldiers with medical attributes among his comrades.

Their simple exchange livened up the little team. Fifteen minutes later, the howling cold wind finally began to die down, and they reached the edge of a Snowy Forest.

"Eleven o'clock," Xia Yan suddenly said.

As they walked, everyone looked ahead. At the edge of the Snowy Forest lay several unidentified objects, sprawled haphazardly across the ground.

As they slowly approached, Jiang Xiao saw clearly what they were.

Corpses!

And not human corpses, but White Ghost corpses.

He had never imagined that his first encounter with Different Dimension Creatures would be three corpses. Xia Yan took the lead and reached the frozen White Ghosts. She crouched down, bit off the glove on her hand with her small mouth, then reached down and touched the congealed blood.

"The heads haven't been cut open yet. These were probably prey from another exploration team that didn't have time to collect their spoils," Xia Yan said as she directly drew a dagger from her waist and skillfully began cutting into a White Ghost's head.

Xia Yan had made it very clear that the two White Ghost corpses were likely the prey of another team, but her actions made things even clearer: she was planning to pick them clean.

As the wind and snow weakened, Jiang Xiao could not help lifting his goggles. He quickly stepped forward and lowered his head to inspect this wondrous Different Dimension Creature.

They had thick white fur, and one could imagine how effective it was at keeping out the cold.

They were around 170 centimeters long, broad-bodied, with Fangs and Claws and enormous paws.

There was not a single stray hair on their bodies. Their fur was beautiful, but they had small black faces, slightly sunken noses, and extremely ugly features that carried an indescribable sense of wrongness.

"Tsk, tsk, lucky. There's a Star Pearl." Xia Yan took a bloodstained Star Pearl from the White Ghost's severed head, casually tossed it to Jiang Xiao, and said, "It's yours."

"Ah." Jiang Xiao had been carefully examining the White Ghost and was caught off guard. He hurriedly caught the bloodstained Star Pearl, and a string of information immediately entered his mind.

White Ghost Star Bead (Bronze Quality)

Contains Star Skills:

1. Green Glow: Powerfully strikes the enemy, increases damage to the Green Glow area, and adds a slight knockback effect. (Bronze Quality, upgradeable)

2. Endurance: Passive Star Skill. Increases one's defense. (Bronze Quality, upgradeable)

Merge and absorb?

"Xia Yan, you know he only has 9 Star Slots," Han Jiangxue said somewhat hesitantly.

Xia Yan merely smiled indifferently and waved her hand. "Didn't you already give him three White Ghost Star Beads?"

Han Jiangxue said, "That was before he showed the potential of a Medical Awakened."

Xia Yan's smile faded slightly. "I know he has few Star Slots, but on North River Land, you won't find better foundational Star Skills than those from White Ghost Star Beads. Whether it's the active skill or that passive skill, Little Pi will use them most frequently throughout his future school life and combat career."

Han Jiangxue fell silent. Of course, she wanted Jiang Xiao's limited Star Slots to be filled with high-quality Star Skills.

But Xia Yan was right. Although White Ghost Star Skills were only the lowest Bronze Quality, they were extremely practical.

Especially the active skill, "Green Glow." It was practically an essential Star Skill for training and actual combat.

Huaxia was vast, but at least on North River Land, generation after generation had relied on "Green Glow" to leave school, enter society, and rise to prominence.

This included the three people present. Whether it was the exceptionally gifted Xia Yan and Han Jiangxue, or the soldier Pi Keqiu, two of their Star Slots were occupied by White Ghost Star Beads, holding "Green Glow" and "Endurance" respectively.

"During the next three years of high school and four years of college, the Different Dimension Creatures Little Pi encounters most often will probably be White Ghosts. Just like you and me, even if we don't want them, we have to take them. After all, we need White Ghost Star Beads to increase our Star Power limit and replenish our losses." Xia Yan looked at the still-silent Han Jiangxue and explained. Her logic was clear, and her words were simple and direct.

"This really is the most cost-effective skill during the growth stage." Han Jiangxue sighed and shook her head. Ever since learning that Jiang Xiao had the potential to absorb Medical Star Techniques, her mindset had indeed changed. She wished she could fill his remaining eight Star Slots with Silver, or even Gold Quality Medical Star Techniques.

But people needed to grow, and they needed to survive even more. Generation after generation of North River people had proven through their actions that "Green Glow," this Bronze divine skill, deserved its dominant position beyond all doubt.

Miss was still quietly worrying over Jiang Xiao's remaining eight Star Slots.

But white radiance flickered in Jiang Xiao's hand, energy flowing through it.

In the Big Dipper Nine Stars constellation diagram, the second star lit up as well.

To Jiang Xiao, quality was not important! What mattered was that nothing was important! Even if it was stubborn Bronze, he could upgrade it to Brilliant Diamond!