That Kick's Charm

Chapter 35: The Charm of That Kick

Seven days later, deep in the Snowy Plains, Southeast Route.

"Ptooey." Jiang Xiao spat out a mouthful of snow, struggling to push the White Ghoul corpse off him. A sharp dagger was still stuck in the dark, ghastly face of the White Ghoul.

In just seven short days, through countless life-and-death struggles, Jiang Xiao's "Unarmed Combat" had not only risen to Bronze Quality Lv.8, an increase of two minor levels, but his newly learned "Dagger Proficiency" had also reached Bronze Quality Lv.5, a jump of four minor levels!

Such results in a mere seven days were truly cause for celebration.

Of course, these were both Basic Skills of lower quality and in their initial learning stages. Once one got the hang of them, leveling up was relatively fast.

Jiang Xiao crawled to his feet, covered in snow. A peculiar thought suddenly popped into his head: if only he could shake his body like a dog.

When dogs emerge from water or finish a bath, they always use the divine skill of "shaking."

It not only effectively shakes off water but also inflicts great "damage" on those around them.

Jiang Xiao needed this skill right now. Crawling out of the snow was incredibly uncomfortable, especially with his tattered Camouflage Uniform that allowed the pervasive snow to seep into his body, leaving him shivering from the cold.

Jiang Xiao skillfully began to cut off the White Ghoul's head, his gaze drifting into the distance. In this somewhat dim world, the woman holding the Flame Great Blade in the distance was incredibly striking.

Xia Yan's true profession was probably not a warrior, but a lumberjack.

Her Flame Great Blade swept out layers of Flame Arcs, ferociously tearing apart the surrounding trees to create an ideal combat environment for herself.

Jiang Xiao suddenly raised his right hand, and at that very instant, deep within the Snowy Forest, an aged figure also raised their right hand.

Two Light Pillars enveloped the combatants almost simultaneously.

Xia Yan let out an excited cry. In a state of extreme comfort and exhilaration, she licked her blood-stained lips with the tip of her tongue, swung her Great Blade, and aimed it at the towering White Ghoul that was also charging forward with full force.

These two were certainly enjoying themselves. As for who would enjoy it the most in the end, that would depend on their strength.

Jiang Xiao's gaze shifted to the figure standing in a small clearing behind him. Spatial ripples emanated from around her body. The so-called "Shattered Space" coffin already contained several corpses.

The sudden disappearance of their companions caused the White Ghouls' steps to falter slightly. Han Jiangxue calmly observed the surroundings, seizing the opportunity to blow away a few of the closest White Ghouls. Her icy voice carried a hint of anger, "Xia Yan! This is a mission, not a game."

"Sorry, sorry, Xiao Pi's Star Techniques are just too good, I couldn't control my emotions," Xia Yan retreated rapidly, continuously closing in on Han Jiangxue, her voice still filled with excitement. "It's so! F***ing! Fun!"

"Watch your language, I'm still a minor." Jiang Xiao returned to Han Jiangxue's side even earlier than Xia Yan, his shoulders covered in a cyan glow, charging headfirst into a White Ghoul.

Xia Yan snapped, "Stop spouting nonsense!"

"It's like I've been injected with chicken blood." As Jiang Xiao flipped over a White Ghoul, another not-too-deep gash appeared on his shoulder.

Normally, no matter how fiery Xia Yan's temper was, she wouldn't act like this.

Perhaps his Blessing had been too much?

Jiang Xiao pondered inwardly.

"I can't count on her. I'm going to blow the White Ghoul Witch over," Han Jiangxue said, looking at Jiang Xiao, who was staggering towards her.

Jiang Xiao trusted Han Jiangxue's judgment almost blindly.

Over the past seven days, her consistently calm analysis and grasp of the overall situation had shown Jiang Xiao what qualities a competent commander should possess.

Indeed, if they couldn't take down the White Ghoul Witch, these White Ghouls were truly fearless warriors. The siblings were like small boats tossed about in a storm, liable to capsize at any moment.

"Blow her over, head-on?" Jiang Xiao inquired.

"Sure, you guard here," Han Jiangxue replied quickly. Her Golden Star Technique, "Shattered Space," could only be used at close range, but when combined with the Silver Quality Star Technique "Barren Wind," the effect of the combined Star Technique would be amplified tenfold.

Jiang Xiao and Han Jiangxue stood back-to-back. Since guarding had become the primary mission, Jiang Xiao quickly sheathed his dagger by his leg, clenched his fists, and both his fists emitted a dense cyan glow as he warily watched the eager White Ghouls surrounding them.

Han Jiangxue leaned against Jiang Xiao's back. For a fleeting moment, she felt an unprecedented sense of relief.

There was no sense of stability or safety, for she knew Jiang Xiao's capabilities.

Yet, at this moment, Han Jiangxue felt so relieved.

If someone had told Han Jiangxue half a month ago that her useless younger brother would stand behind her, protecting her and taking on the encirclement of over a dozen White Ghouls for her, she would never have believed it.

Now, if someone told Han Jiangxue that her brother not only had the courage to stand behind her but could also fight off this group of White Ghouls, would she believe it? Han Jiangxue's Star Chart flickered faintly, her Star Power like a dreamlike, ethereal Star Cloud Stage, distributed across the Star Chart, entwined with shining Star Slots, unfolding a pattern imprinted with White Flame.

She waved her left hand, and spatial ripples surged before her. Reaching out with her right hand, she spread her fingers, and a vortex suddenly erupted from beneath the White Ghoul Witch far in the distance. Carrying wind and snow, it formed a snow tornado, twisting the White Ghoul Witch's body and drawing her in.

The White Ghoul Witch let out a panicked shriek, her tragic wail sounding like the final charge horn, driving this pack of White Ghouls into a frenzy. They charged madly towards their prey before them.

"Damn it." Xia Yan's path was blocked. The White Ghouls, who had been awed by her power moments ago, now charged forward desperately as if they had lost their minds.

With no other choice, Xia Yan swung her Flame Great Blade, carving out arcs of Fire Red.

These arcs of Fire Red illuminated her path and seemed to light up the dim sky. Snowflakes danced, Star Power surged, and she shattered several White Ghouls along the way, but ultimately couldn't break through the encirclement of White Ghouls in the distance.

At the center of that encirclement were Jiang Xiao and his sister.

"They've gone mad." Jiang Xiao pulled out a Star Bead from his pocket and crushed it. Speckles of light emerged around him, flowing into his body. At the same time, a beam of Holy Light descended from the heavens, landing on Jiang Xiao's head.

Jiang Xiao shivered with comfort, gripping his fists tightly and assuming a standard fighting stance. He suddenly took a step forward, charging towards the White Ghoul leading the charge to his front left.

Feeling a chill on her back, Han Jiangxue tilted her head slightly, catching a glimpse of Jiang Xiao's actions with her peripheral vision. She raised her left hand, and a Fireball appeared in her icy palm.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! And behind Han Jiangxue, a series of impactful punches resonated, stirring the blood.

Facing the roaring White Ghouls, Jiang Xiao didn't say a word and met them head-on.

With both hands covered in Cyan Glow, Jiang Xiao weaved and dodged, advancing left and right.

One punch, one big White Ghoul, One kick, one howling monster! Even though he couldn't heavily injure them, the repelling effect added by the Silver Quality Star Technique, Cyan Glow, was enough to drive away the rabble.

He didn't know the situation ahead, but behind Han Jiangxue, the swarms of White Ghouls that wanted to pounce on the young lady were all intercepted by Jiang Xiao. Not only were they intercepted, but they were all kicked away.

Jiang Xiao met a White Ghoul's pouncing Claws with a punch, blasting it back again. He then casually took a Star Bead from his pocket and crushed it.

Now is not the time to be stingy! The muffled thuds behind him sounded quite pleasant to Han Jiangxue's ears.

In the sky, the White Ghoul Witch, blown over by the snow tornado, was about to plunge headfirst into the Space Coffin.

Han Jiangxue's right hand struggled to control the wind's direction, while the Fireball condensed in her left hand was pushed forward.

And to her right, a White Ghoul was violently blasted away by a fist wrapped in a rich Cyan Glow.

"2 seconds," Han Jiangxue uttered a word.

As she spoke, only 1 second remained.

Jiang Xiao didn't have time to retreat. He spun around and delivered a spinning kick, letting out a strange cry: "Rua!"

"Star Power upgraded! Star Dust Stage Lv.4!"

"Barehanded Combat upgraded! Bronze Quality Lv.9!"

Thanks to Rexxxx for the generous reward, (▽`)