Star Power rising from Star Dust Stage Lv.2 to Lv.3 did not actually bring any qualitative improvement. There was barely even any increase in quantity.
Within Jiang Xiao's "Big Dipper Nine Stars" Star Map, the lines connecting the two bright Star Slots still carried that thin, dust-like Star Power.
But this was good news for Jiang Xiao. Had he absorbed many Star Pearls?
Very many! So he was not lacking in Star Power.
But why had his Star Power remained at Star Dust Stage? Why had it stayed at Lv.2? It was all because of his fragile body.
Now that his Star Power level had increased, even if it was only by one small level, it proved that within these short seven days, Jiang Xiao's physical fitness had improved to a certain extent, and his body had grown stronger.
That was why Jiang Xiao could become a larger bucket and hold more Star Power.
An increase in his total Star Power meant that Jiang Xiao had more "magic" and could use Star Skills more frequently within a short period.
When Jiang Xiao had been at Star Dust Stage Lv.2, using Blessing nine times in succession would completely drain the Star Power within his body.
Now, Jiang Xiao could last a little longer, right? Reaching the heavens in a single step naturally filled Jiang Xiao with wild joy.
But this kind of steady, tangible, small-scale improvement made him feel even more grounded.
Under the protection of two great experts, Jiang Xiao was not lacking in Star Pearls. If possible, his total Star Power would have taken off long ago.
During these seven days of training, Jiang Xiao had worked incredibly hard, following a strict routine and persevering without pause. He had sweated and expended tremendous energy to train his body and improve its strength.
He had finally seen a hint of results, and the feeling truly put Jiang Xiao in a wonderful mood.
At the dining table, only Jiang Xiao and Xia Shanhai were present. Coach Lei Jin and Zhou Yi tactfully chose not to join them.
Jiang Xiao stuffed himself with food while listening to Xia Shanhai tell stories about his parents.
Xia Shanhai had a rather stern appearance, but he was fairly amiable toward Jiang Xiao. Perhaps because they were discussing his former close friends, his words were especially sincere, and Jiang Xiao could feel how genuine his feelings for his parents were.
It was also here, from Xia Shanhai, that Jiang Xiao heard the term "Dragon Cave" for the first time.
It was not the famous Huaxia tourist attraction Longmen Grottoes, but a place in a small border city standing in the east of North River Land, bordering Russia. It lay deep in the mountains along the border where the two countries met.
Han Jiangxue's father, Han Cheng, and her mother, Jiang Hongye, had disappeared inside the so-called "Dragon Cave."
Xia Shanhai did not explain the specific circumstances within this Different Dimension World. Besides, that place had already become a jointly stationed and defended Other Dimension Space point for the combined forces of Huaxia and Russia.
It was absolutely unlike the Snowfield space point in Jiannan Village. "Dragon Cave" was not open to the public. A military base had even been built in the mountains beyond that border city, and the entire area had been thoroughly sealed off.
Jiang Xiao had gained a great deal from that meal. He had also heard a new term: "Pioneers."
His parents, Han Cheng and Jiang Hongye, had been members of a Pioneer team.
"Pioneers" were a profession unique to this world.
Because Other Dimension Space Gates often opened on this planet, and behind every Space Gate was a strange and fantastical world.
Pioneer teams had to investigate the interior of newly opened Other Dimension Spaces at the earliest possible moment, assess their danger levels, organize and summarize their general conditions, and classify the creatures within them by level.
Did humanity have the ability to develop this newly opened Other Dimension Space? What resources were inside? Would the various substances and creatures within benefit humanity? Were the creatures inside too ferocious, exceeding the limits humanity could withstand? Should the space be destroyed completely, or should the surrounding civilians be organized and evacuated as quickly as possible? Just like the Snowfield in Jiannan Village, that base had supposedly opened in the last century. After countless expeditions, the Pioneer team had paid endless sweat, blood, and even lives to understand that Other Dimension Space thoroughly.
Only then had official development and public access followed.
It was no exaggeration to say that Pioneer teams were the most dangerous teams—and also the greatest.
Most members of these teams kept a low profile. After all, joining such a team required lofty faith and a sense of mission, as well as strong organization and discipline.
Pioneer teams were basically military forces. Even if some of the experts among them were not soldiers, they were outside reinforcements who had been "assimilated," and they still followed the organization's regulations in their social lives.
They silently devoted everything they had to this nation, and even to all of humanity. Like firefighters, they were unquestionably heroes.
Jiang Xiao truly had not expected Xia Shanhai to tell him all this. However, his parents were gone now, and Xia Shanhai had withdrawn from the Pioneer team because of his injuries. Between the two of them, it was something they could talk about.
Seeing Jiang Xiao's eyes gradually brighten, Xia Shanhai secretly nodded.
He knew how attractive a sense of honor was to a young boy. He also knew, of course, how deeply an example—especially the image of one's father—could influence a boy.
Seven full days of disciplined training without seeing daylight had given Xia Shanhai a new understanding of Jiang Xiao, along with a hint of anticipation.
If the noble image of his parents could make the boy more steadfast on the path ahead, then Xia Shanhai would have done a good deed and lived up to his former close friends.
Looking at Jiang Xiao's eyes, Xia Shanhai felt a stir in his heart as well. Over the past few years, with his parents gone and his upbringing neglected, the boy had indeed become somewhat of a mess. But now, he seemed to have truly changed. After all, he was slowly growing up, wasn't he? Xia Shanhai reminded Jiang Xiao not to tell anyone about their conversation, then brought up his own family matters.
After all, Xia Shanhai was Xia Yan's father. Naturally, he cared about his own child.
"Yan Yan is too strict with you. You should moderate your training a little, too." Xia Shanhai skillfully changed the subject.
"Xia Yan really treats me well, and this training is good, too. After all, with Star Power, our bodies can withstand high-intensity training." Jiang Xiao hurriedly offered an explanation.
Xia Yan had helped him so much. No matter how mischievous he was, he could not possibly slander Xia Yan in front of her father.
Jiang Xiao knew when he could joke around and when he needed to be serious.
"Oh? It seems you really think she's great. Yan Yan and I have been poor at communicating. She's a girl, after all, and fathers and daughters have a generation gap. Sigh." Xia Shanhai pretended to sigh, then said, "Speaking of which, it's a little sad. The two of us basically never interact. I can only follow her updates online to show my concern."
Before Jiang Xiao could respond, Xia Shanhai continued, "I can tell she has a very good impression of you. She replied to every Weibo post you made over the past few days right away."
Jiang Xiao scratched his head. "Huh?"
Xia Shanhai did not get the embarrassed reaction he had expected from Jiang Xiao, nor did he get the chance to teach him to behave himself and focus. He did not even get to tell Jiang Xiao to prioritize training—or even his studies—because he realized that Jiang Xiao was already dumbfounded.
Jiang Xiao scratched his head. "I fall asleep the moment I lie down after training every day. Where would I get the energy to play with my phone?"
Xia Shanhai froze for a moment and asked in confusion, "That Jiang Xiaopi Pi Bu Pi person isn't you?"
You've liked my daughter for eight days, and now that I've shown up, you're refusing to admit it? You chickened out?
Jiang Xiao said, "It's me. Jiang Xiaopi Pi Bu Pi."
Xia Shanhai was nearly amused to death by his anger. He looked at Jiang Xiao like a child who was playing dumb and making excuses. "These past few days, all that stuff about love and romance—wasn't that posted by you?"
Jiang Xiao scratched his head out of habit. "Xia Yan confiscated my phone ages ago. She took it on the very first day I came here."
Xia Shanhai: ???
Before you continue