Weakling

The White Ghost charged straight at him without the slightest fear, viciously tearing apart the person in front of it.

But the scene that followed not only left the White Ghost stunned—it also made Xia Yan's brain crash completely.

Because the person the White Ghost had torn apart really was Jiang Xiao, advancing fearlessly with the glow of a Silver Quality Star Slot flashing on him. Yet this Jiang Xiao was merely an illusion.

Whoosh. The illusory yet lifelike figure was instantly ripped apart by the White Ghost. The White Ghost then fell forward, rolling to dissipate the force, while a knee flashing with blue light slammed toward it from ahead.

Bronze Star Skill: Decoy! Silver Star Skill: Green Glow! It was a combination attack.

The White Ghost's forward roll came to an abrupt stop. Still crouching and not yet steady on its feet, its dark, ghostly face was smashed squarely by Jiang Xiao's knee.

The knee carried immense force. Combined with the Silver Quality Green Glow Star Skill, it sent the White Ghost flying. Its body formed a spread-eagled shape as it flew backward for at least four or five meters.

Jiang Xiao followed up at once, kicking off the ground and sending snow flying everywhere.

His entire body leaped sideways, and his right elbow viciously drove toward the dark ghost face lying on the ground and sliding backward.

Bang! Although Jiang Xiao had put all his strength into the blow, his power still wasn't enough to kill the White Ghost outright.

But the Green Glow Star Skill was simply too powerful. Its upgraded-quality knockback effect directly smashed the White Ghost's head into the snow.

The White Ghost's head even broke through the thick layer of snow and was driven straight into the earth.

In an instant, the ground caved in, snow whirled wildly, and shock waves surged through the air.

The next moment, a massive blade descended from the sky. It scraped past Jiang Xiao's waist and plunged straight into the ground, piercing through the poor White Ghost's abdomen.

Xia Yan had indeed chosen an extremely tricky angle. Jiang Xiao had been lying on top of the White Ghost and elbowing it, but his body hadn't completely covered the White Ghost. He had pounced at an angle.

"I lack an effective finishing move. My strength isn't enough, so I relied entirely on the Star Skill's special effect to get this far." Jiang Xiao spoke as he climbed to his feet.

But one hand suddenly seized his tattered collar! Xia Yan pulled Jiang Xiao up in front of her and said sternly, "Are you willing to explain what just happened?"

Feeling her sharp gaze and the hot breath brushing against his face, Jiang Xiao felt extremely uncomfortable and a little awkward.

At sixteen, he was full of energy, and a young body was easily stirred up. Jiang Xiao instinctively moved backward, but Xia Yan didn't allow him to do so.

Helplessly pulled back, Jiang Xiao could only use a joke to ease his embarrassment. "Hello, Xia Yan. I'm your new teammate, Jiang Xiao."

Xia Yan raised an eyebrow and tilted her head slightly, her heated gaze fixed firmly on Jiang Xiao's eyes. "Jiang Xia? Not being naughty anymore?"

Jiang Xiao: "Uh..."

Xia Yan: "Cut the nonsense! Your second Star Skill is Bronze Quality. How did it become Silver Quality just now?"

Jiang Xiao leaned his face as far backward as he could and said, "Hello, Xia Yan. I'm your new teammate, Jiang Xiao."

Xia Yan grabbed Jiang Xiao by the collar and shook him back and forth, her voice filled with excitement and curiosity. "Also, your first Star Slot is fitted with the Blessing Star Skill, but what did I just see? The Decoy Star Skill?"

Jiang Xiao pursed his lips and began, "Hello, Xia Yan. I'm your new—"

Xia Yan casually threw Jiang Xiao into the snow and stomped her foot furiously. "Are you a broken record?"

At her feet, the White Ghost, barely breathing, let out a whimper and finally ended its life of suffering.

Xia Yan swiftly harvested the White Ghost's Star Pearl, grabbed Jiang Xiao, who was dusting off his clothes, and quickly left this troublesome place.

"What exactly is going on?" Xia Yan urgently questioned him as they walked.

Jiang Xiao sighed. "You know, the road to protecting Han Jiangxue is long and arduous. But I firmly believe that as long as I have perseverance and determination, I will eventually complete my great dream of becoming her boyfriend."

Xia Yan was clearly on the verge of losing control. She forced the words out through clenched teeth. "If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll nail you to this tree. Do you believe me?"

"Then stay farther away from me. My ears are itchy," Jiang Xiao hurriedly said.

"Hmph." Xia Yan shook Jiang Xiao off. Her curious gaze drifted over, signaling him to start talking.

"I have nine Star Slots. In the eyes of ordinary people, the moment they saw my Star Map, they had already judged my aptitude and potential," Jiang Xiao said.

Xia Yan: "Hmm?"

Jiang Xiao explained, "But that isn't the truth. These two Star Slots of mine both have One Star Double Technique."

Xia Yan's mouth fell slightly open as she stared at Jiang Xiao in shock and said incredulously, "Blessing, Decoy, Green Glow, and Endurance—all of them?"

Jiang Xiao nodded. "Yes, all of them."

Xia Yan was slightly stunned. This mischievous child who had once seemed hopeless in her eyes was actually this formidable? One Star Double Technique was extremely rare, but it wasn't unheard of.

What truly concerned Xia Yan was the upgraded-quality Star Skill.

Jiang Xiao spoke at the right moment. "In fact, when I awakened my Star Skills, I already sensed that I could increase their strength. I discussed the matter with Han Jiangxue, though she didn't really believe me at the time. As it turned out, I did it."

Even after seeing and hearing it with her own eyes and ears, Xia Yan still asked again in disbelief, "You can really increase the quality of your Star Skills?"

Jiang Xiao stopped wasting words and directly activated his Big Dipper Nine Stars Chart.

Under the rippling, thin stardust, the second Star Slot, which should have radiated a bronze glow, had truly become Silver Quality.

"This really is..." Xia Yan murmured in shock, her face filled with disbelief. "Incredible."

"Han Jiangxue seriously warned me not to reveal One Star Double Technique easily. But we're on the same side, right?" Jiang Xiao said.

"After you've shown all this, we're even more on the same side." Xia Yan praised him. "Even if you hadn't shown any of this, your sister's reputation alone would have been enough for you to benefit from me for the rest of your life. She even came to me to discuss arranging a job for you after graduation."

Jiang Xiao: "..."

I'm only in my first year of high school, and you're already planning my job? Couldn't you help me find a girlfriend while you were at it?

Xia Yan asked again, "How do your Star Skills increase in quality? Is there anything you need? Can that healing-type Blessing Star Skill also be upgraded?"

"Yes." Jiang Xiao answered with a single word, and Xia Yan's beautiful eyes instantly lit up.

This world was scattered with stars and possessed a resplendent galaxy. Yet the pair of bright, starry eyes before Jiang Xiao were undoubtedly even more beautiful and captivating.

"What are the conditions?" Xia Yan hurriedly asked.

"Training and Star Pearls of the same type." Jiang Xiao's answer was clean and direct, without any unnecessary hesitation.

You give me Star Pearls, and I'll escort you and Han Jiangxue through the final push of your Third Year of High School and onto a relatively brighter path in life. That's the most urgent matter.

Of course, Jiang Xiao didn't consider this an equal exchange that was only natural. He had already engraved Xia Yan's kindness toward him in his heart. If he could really help her enter a university in the future, that would also count as repaying her.

Ultimately, Jiang Xiao cared even more about Han Jiangxue's future.

According to what Xia Yan had said, obtaining a spot at a prestigious university required one to shine brilliantly in various competitions.

A better school meant better resources, better faculty, and more opportunities.

If the decisive Xia Yan was destined to choose disbanding the team to preserve the lives of the two of them, Jiang Xiao was willing to help her—and also to repay Han Jiangxue, who had given everything for him.

Xia Yan's spoiled rich-girl temper suddenly flared up. She asked domineeringly, "How many do you need?"

Jiang Xiao considered his wording. "I don't know how many I need either. With Star Pearls of the same type, plus my constant training and fusion, I estimate that should be enough to upgrade the quality, right?"

Xia Yan nodded thoughtfully and asked again, "Is there an upper limit to the quality increase? Can Green Glow be raised to Gold Quality?"

"It can, but if I increase the quality any further, I won't be able to withstand it." Jiang Xiao said something that left Xia Yan dumbfounded.

Xia Yan: "Hmm?"

"My Star Power is weak. When I used a Silver Quality Green Glow just now, it consumed nearly half the Star Power in my body," Jiang Xiao said gloomily.

Xia Yan was still immersed in a beautiful dream when Jiang Xiao suddenly dragged her back to reality.

She stared at Jiang Xiao in astonishment for a full three seconds before fiercely rubbing his head and snapping angrily,

"You weakling!"