Chapter 1 This New Year Has Some Flavor

This new year had some flavor, at least there was some festive atmosphere.

Unfortunately, Er Wei wasn't someone who could settle down. She slept in the cabin for a morning, experimented with star techniques with Jiang Xiao for an afternoon, barely managing to get through the first day of the Lunar New Year. On the evening of the first day, she informed Jiang Xiao that they would depart at 6:00 AM on the second day, heading for the armory in Da Xi City.

As for what star techniques she and Jiang Xiao experimented with... well, more on that later.

Regarding Er Wei's teaching plan, Jiang Xiao had some thoughts in his mind. He felt that he had worked hard for a year, and taking two days off was only right. It was important to combine work and rest.

However, Han Jiangxue strongly supported Er Wei's decision. That was just how the Star Warrior community was; like sailing against the current, one either advanced or retreated.

Han Jiangxue also made it clear to Jiang Xiao that she would also be leaving for the Imperial Capital City in the next day or two, as the Pioneer Army planned to start classes on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.

Because Jiang Xiao's hometown had a strong New Year atmosphere, some traditions were still followed, such as "breaking five" (破五, pò wǔ).

Only after the fifth day, after setting off firecrackers and cleaning the house, could the "year" be considered to have been sent away.

Unfortunately, no one was sending away the Han family's "year". The siblings were both very busy and couldn't wait until the fifth day, as they both had to start training.

Of course, this was just a custom, just a symbol, representing some beautiful wishes for warding off evil and disaster and welcoming good fortune. It was good if one could do it, but it didn't matter if one couldn't.

Jiang Xiao still didn't see Xia Yan. At 5:00 AM on the second day, he was woken up by Han Jiangxue and got up to wash up and eat.

At 6:00 AM, Jiang Xiao and Er Wei slowly drove away from the garden community, watched by Han Jiangxue.

Jiang Xiao had always believed that Er Wei was in such a hurry to leave probably because highway tolls were waived during the Spring Festival.

If the two of them could return to Jiangbin City, to the Snow Plains for training, before the eighth day, they wouldn't have to pay the tolls for the round trip...

There was another benefit to traveling with Er Wei, which was that Jiang Xiao could drive. He was still under the legal age to get a driver's license, but Er Wei's documents really did have certain privileges. At least in ordinary times, some checkpoints wouldn't make things difficult for them.

Of course, this was also a drawback, because Jiang Xiao was driving...

Jiang Xiao always felt that high-speed rail was a very good choice, but Er Wei didn't seem to like noisy places or places with a lot of people.

It's worth mentioning that on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Jiang Xiao took out 10 Earth Hibiscus Star Beads (地槿者星珠, Dì Jǐn Zhě Xīng Zhū). After putting the remaining 7 with Han Jiangxue for safekeeping, he absorbed all 10 Earth Hibiscus Star Beads.

And his last three star techniques: Earth Light, Star Concealment, and Vice Appearance, all reached platinum quality!

At that time, Jiang Xiao looked at the information in his Inner Vision Star Chart and was overjoyed.

As Jiang Xiao had expected, the negative effects of Earth Light and Star Concealment had really been eliminated!

The silver-quality Earth Light and Star Concealment used to have this sentence: "If other star techniques are used during the activation of this star technique, it may cause a star power riot."

After upgrading to gold quality, the star technique description in the Inner Vision Star Chart changed the last word "riot" to "disorder".

Obviously, its negative effects had been reduced by a whole level.

And on this first day, when Jiang Xiao upgraded the three star techniques to platinum quality, "disorder" didn't change, because... this whole sentence disappeared directly!

Platinum Earth Light: When the star map vibrates violently, it is always accompanied by a strong light. Condenses star power, vibrates and changes the original appearance of the star map. Continuously consumes star power when activated.

Platinum Star Concealment: Hides the star power fluctuations in the body. Continuously consumes star power when activated.

Platinum Vice Appearance: Second Appearance. Continuously consumes star power when activated.

The use of the first and second star techniques no longer had any side effects.

However, Jiang Xiao didn't think that the effects of Platinum Earth Light and Platinum Star Concealment were only that. There should be some hidden special effects waiting for him to discover.

On the other hand, the description of the third star technique, Vice Appearance, had changed again.

Silver was Second Face, Gold was Second Appearance, and Platinum became Second Image.

Jiang Xiao always felt that the Inner Vision Star Chart was playing word games with him. These words didn't seem to have much difference?

However, Jiang Xiao realized that he was wrong.

When he discovered that he could switch between fat and thin at will, and transform at will between 174~184 cm in height, he truly realized the horror of Vice Appearance!

Although his voice still couldn't be disguised, everything on the surface, within a range of plus or minus 5 cm in height, and as long as the fat and thinness wasn't too extreme, could almost be disguised to the extreme.

Magical star power, magical star techniques, could almost reshape his entire form, changing his appearance and skin color.

In fact, it wasn't just limited to human form. He tried to transform into a Lava Ghost Wizard, and then... well, he succeeded.

The disheveled "Lava Ghost Wizard" sang and danced in the master bedroom, shaking his head and making a strange "嘎嘎 (gā gā)" laughter sound, which was very, very vivid...

When Han Jiangxue held a mirror in front of Jiang Xiao, Jiang Xiao almost killed himself.

It was too damn similar!

Could even other-dimensional creatures be disguised?

Jiang Xiao tried to disguise himself as Xiao Xiao, well... Jiang Xiao failed.

He didn't know if it was because of the excessive difference in body size, or if it was beyond the scope of "human form", but Jiang Xiao failed miserably.

Two pairs of wings didn't grow on his back, and his hands and feet didn't turn into hooves.

Jiang Xiao also tried to disguise himself as other other-dimensional creatures, White Ghost Wizard, Savage, Giant Demon Flame Master... Jiang Xiao succeeded in all of them.

However, White Ghosts and Ape Ghosts, although they stood upright in human form, were creatures whose body size differed too much from humans, and Jiang Xiao failed miserably every time.

Everyone finally figured out where the current limit of Vice Appearance was.

And Jiang Xiao's whimsical ideas also allowed him to play tricks with star techniques.

When he transformed into a Lava Ghost Wizard, he actually summoned a lure.

What's even more terrifying is that after the lure came out, it really descended in the form of a Lava Ghost Wizard!

However, the original Jiang Xiao could transform back, but the lure didn't have any transformation ability. It was just a Lava Ghost Wizard!

Er Wei's thinking was obviously different from that of the siblings. She saw the great value of Jiang Xiao's Vice Appearance star technique!

Er Wei had repeatedly told Jiang Xiao that with his star chart characteristics, attending classes at university was really a waste of time.

And Jiang Xiao used his actions to prove Er Wei's point of view again and again.

Time returns to the present:

Second day of the Lunar New Year, 6:30 AM.

Jiang Xiao, driving to the armory in Da Xi City, was discussing something with Er Wei.

While driving, Jiang Xiao said, "I think we can restart the Upper Layer Snow Plains plan."

Er Wei: "Say."

Jiang Xiao thought for a while and said, "Because of the large difference in body size, although I can't transform into a White Ghost, I can imitate a White Ghost Wizard very realistically."

Er Wei raised her eyebrows, seeming to realize what Jiang Xiao was going to say.

Jiang Xiao licked his lips excitedly and said, "My lure can't use star techniques and relies purely on its martial power. It's always been miserably abused by the White Ghosts in the upper layer dimension, but if I summon the lure in the White Ghost Wizard state, then the lure will also be in the White Ghost Wizard form."

Er Wei nodded thoughtfully, "You think the White Ghosts in the upper layer won't slaughter the White Ghost Wizard you transformed into."

Jiang Xiao nodded uncertainly and said, "The only drawback is that I'm too short."

As he said that, Jiang Xiao turned to look at Er Wei, then shook his head and said, "Even you won't do, you're too short too. Humans can't reach that height."

Er Wei nodded and said, "You said that the White Ghosts there are huge and at least three meters tall. What about the White Ghost Wizards?"

Jiang Xiao said helplessly, "The White Ghost Wizards are the same, they are all over three meters tall. At most, I can transform into a 184 cm White Ghost Wizard. If I walk in the upper layer Snow Plains, I don't know if I will be bullied."

Er Wei thought for a while and said, "You can try to enslave the White Ghosts. The racial characteristics of the White Ghost Wizards allow them to enslave them."

Jiang Xiao sighed and said, "That's the problem. I'm not a White Ghost Wizard in essence. I can imitate its appearance very well, but where can I get the racial characteristics of a White Ghost Wizard?"

Er Wei was silent for a long time and said, "Try it. Even if you can't enslave them, as long as you drive them away and prevent them from attacking you, you will have a lot of room to maneuver. But you have to be careful and don't run into other White Ghost Wizards."

Jiang Xiao thought carefully and finally said, "I hope those White Ghosts don't come to abuse me. What do you think... what will be their reaction when they see a low-dimensional White Ghost Wizard suddenly appear?"

Er Wei glanced at Jiang Xiao. How would she know?

Jiang Xiao suddenly opened his mouth and said, "If possible, can you find me some thermal weapons? That would greatly increase my chances of survival."

Er Wei frowned. The White Ghosts in the upper layer dimension could be compared to the Ape Ghost King in the lower layer dimension, and might even be stronger than the gold-level Ape Ghost King in terms of physical fitness.

Ordinary thermal weapons have no effect on the thick-skinned Ape Ghost King.

Er Wei thought for a while and said, "Have you ever touched a gun?"

Jiang Xiao: "......"

This wasn't a problem. Could he unlock the Firearms Proficiency skill?

After unlocking it, he could directly use skill points to force it to silver quality. Using a gun shouldn't be a problem.

Er Wei said, "This time, let's try going up in the form of a White Ghost Wizard first. I'll study your plan."

"Okay, sure." Jiang Xiao responded casually, pondered for a long time, and asked the last question, "If, I mean if, my lure's White Ghost Wizard form can really move freely in the upper Snow Plains, and I really find a pioneer or night watchman, what should I do next?"

At this point, Er Wei fell silent.

The car fell into silence.

Jiang Xiao clearly felt that Er Wei's mood was a little off and said, "You don't have to rush to answer. There's always a way. Let's focus on the armory first. After this training, all the star slots on my body will be of platinum quality."

Whether this would be effective for Er Wei was another matter.

But Jiang Xiao's self-talk was obviously very effective for himself.

Seven stars, 16 skills, a body of platinum!?

Just thinking about it was exciting!