Chapter 1 Time Flies, Sun Rises

Time flowed, and the red sun rose.

The dark clouds in the sky had long since dispersed, and the stars had gradually faded into obscurity. On the distant mountain peaks to the east, the fiery red sun slowly ascended.

On the southern side of the mountain, halfway up, within a sparse forest and a dense sea of flowers,

stood a small, semi-open stone house. Gu Shi'an knelt on the ground, slowly placing the box he had held all night into the small stone pit. He casually picked up a neatly cut stone slab from the side, covering it tightly, ensuring a seamless fit.

Gu Shi'an picked up a spirit tablet from the left, placed it in front of the stone pit, and as he looked at the words carved on the tablet, his eyes gradually blurred.

Outside the small structure, Jiang Xiao, cloaked, hovered in the air, surveying the terrain, when he heard a few muffled thuds.

Before long, Gu Shi'an came out, raised his head, and saw Jiang Xiao in the air through the sparse leaves.

Jiang Xiao floated down, but waved his hand, stopping him from speaking, and said, "Remember this location? When I'm not around, you can also find Florist Pi. Although his Space-Time Gap can't carry people, you can first enter his Calamity Shadow Ruins, and then have him send you here."

Gu Shi'an nodded silently, his voice low, and said, "I understand."

Jiang Xiao paused, and still said, "Leave now? Or do you want to stay here a little longer?"

Gu Shi'an: "Now. I have many questions."

"Mm." Jiang Xiao placed a hand on Gu Shi'an's shoulder, and their figures flickered again.

When they reappeared, they stood before a towering, majestic ancient city building. On the massive city gate were written three large characters: Ye Ancient Pagoda.

Jiang Xiao began to explain: "This is Ye Ancient Pagoda City, located 200 kilometers southwest of the Calamity Shadow World entrance.

In the Other Ball, I encountered a group of highly intelligent ghost-faced monks, beings from the Other Dimension space at the summit of the Ancient Pagoda in Zhongyuan Province.

In the Other Ball, their rank was high, their strength was great, and their intelligence was also high. They built a city around the ancient pagoda. I lived there for a while. Later, I took them as disciples and began teaching them skills.

But their city was destroyed by the Doomed clan of Yan Zhao Province, those skeletons from the Doomed Cave.

So... this is the new home I built for them. If I have the chance, perhaps I'll send them here."

Gu Shi'an stared blankly at Jiang Xiao, as if listening to a fairy tale.

The next moment, Gu Shi'an's vision blurred, and he found himself in a forest.

Around him were wooden houses, and occasionally a few tree houses, built high upon the *shu li* trees. The roads were also neatly planned.

Jiang Xiao said, "This is located 200 kilometers northwest of the Calamity Shadow entrance. I wanted to call this place the Birch Forest, but in reality, it's a *shu li* forest. I can't create a birch forest.

In the Other Ball, I encountered a savage tribe, the savage clan from the Armory Other Dimension space.

Similarly, I took them as disciples, teaching that group of male swordsmen, male gunslingers, and female archers skills for about half a year. This is the forest tribe I prepared for them. Their home wasn't destroyed, and it's still very safe, but it's better to be prepared.

You and I both know the current state of this world, and I've also seen the general trend of the Other Ball merging with Earth.

If one day, the two worlds really merge, the positions they occupy are currently held by humans. To avoid conflict, I have to give them another home."

Gu Shi'an was not yet numb, still receiving the information Jiang Xiao was pouring into him, but this time... the so-called fairy tale seemed somewhat believable?

If a lie is repeated often enough, will it become the truth?

Then, Gu Shi'an felt his vision blur again.

This time, however, it was no longer a stone town with walls.

Jiang Xiao introduced, "Town Number One, 200 kilometers northwest of the *shu li* forest tribe. This is a shelter I built for humans. Another 50 kilometers further northwest, there's Town Number Two.

I'm currently researching how to provide electricity to this area.

My stone villa has a generator for power, enough for a few of us to live here, but for a city like this... using a generator isn't a long-term solution. I'm still researching solutions.

As for my overall plan for this Calamity Shadow World, the next step is to find a place to build a few orchards, and then plan out a few fields, plant some delicious food. It's the same old saying: better to be prepared."

As he spoke, Jiang Xiao grabbed Gu Shi'an's arm, and their figures flickered, returning to the lakeside, in front of the stone building surrounded by external forests.

"Let's go, let's go inside and chat." Jiang Xiao patted Gu Shi'an's shoulder, and suddenly said with a smile, "There are many rooms here. I'll pick one for you. Before you reach the Star Ocean stage, you'll be stationed here."

Gu Shi'an looked at the Void Scarecrows standing on both sides of the villa gate, and finally couldn't help himself, but instead of asking about the origins of the Void Scarecrows, he asked, "You've been exploring the Other Ball?"

"Mm." Jiang Xiao gestured for Gu Shi'an to follow, and said, "Florist Pi is building the forest today, Companion Pi is building the flower fields, and there's also an Explorer Pi. Right now, he's in the Other Ball, leading a small team to explore unknown territories.

My Star Chart is very powerful, especially after touching the threshold of Star Transformation into Martial Prowess. The Jiu Xing Tu can enhance the quality of my Star Techniques. The other Jiang Xiaos are all decoys."

Gu Shi'an frowned and said, "Decoys? The Decoy Star Technique from the White Ghost Witch Star Bead? You have the Decoy Star Technique?"

Jiang Xiao nodded and smiled, "What you currently know about all the Star Techniques I possess is incomplete. My Star Chart is very special. With the help of the Star Chart, I have all the Star Techniques contained in a Star Bead."

Gu Shi'an: "All of them!"

Jiang Xiao affirmed: "Yes, all of them! For example, you know I can cast Blessing, but I have the Decoy, which I've never shown.

For another example, you know I have Cleansing Tears and Wounding Tears, but I also have Domain Tears, which I've never shown.

You can just think of it this way. Whatever Star Techniques I've shown, you fill in all the Star Techniques in that Star Bead, and that's my real list of Star Techniques."

Gu Shi'an: !!!

As they spoke, the two walked into the stone villa, but Jiang Xiao stopped.

The next moment, a "Gu Shi'an" who was over 1.9 meters tall, with a mischievous smile, stood in front of Gu Shi'an, even with the same voice.

"Jiang Shi'an" said, "The only Star Technique I haven't shown is the Earth Hibiscus Practitioner Three-Star Technique we absorbed during the Jindalai mission. Remember to fill that in."

Gu Shi'an didn't know what kind of expression to use to face Jiang Xiao. He was stunned for a long time and couldn't say a word, like a puppet, only knowing to follow Jiang Xiao forward.

In his confusion, Gu Shi'an felt that something was wrong. He suddenly stopped and took two steps back, tilting his head to look into a stone room.

Why is there someone receiving an IV drip here?

Isn't this Jiang Xiao?

Isn't this a woman?

Jiang Xiao said, "She is Marta Merida."

Gu Shi'an frowned. His head was receiving a lot of information at this time and was a bit overloaded. After a few seconds, he turned his head to look at Jiang Shi'an and said, "Your opponent in the individual competition, the one who was kidnapped by a Star Transformation member on the field?"

"Heh, Star Transformation." Jiang Shi'an sneered and changed back to his original appearance, "You only saw the first half of the story."

Gu Shi'an watched Jiang Xiao change back to his original appearance, unable to accept this fact in a short period of time.

He thought Jiang Xiao was strong enough, but the facts proved that what he saw was just the tip of the iceberg...

These short few minutes completely subverted his understanding of everything about Jiang Xiao.

Jiang Xiao waved his hand and led Gu Shi'an to the living room, saying, "Come on, let's sit down and chat. About me, about Star Transformation, we have a lot to talk about."

Gu Shi'an plopped down on the sofa, looking at the ancient stone architectural style but modernly furnished living room. He nodded slightly and said, "Indeed, we have a lot to talk about."

Jiang Xiao smiled and said, "Florist Pi will be here soon. I'll go pick up those two people. They'll be worried if they can't find me early in the morning."

As he spoke, Jiang Xiao's figure disappeared in a flash.

Gu Shi'an sat in the empty living room, silently looking around. After a while, he heard footsteps coming from outside the door, from far to near.

A Jiang Xiao wearing a fisherman's hat walked in, holding two glasses in his left arm, pressed against his chest, and carrying a small plastic bucket in his right hand.

Florist Pi shook the plastic bucket and said, "Want milk?"

Gu Shi'an: "......"

Jiang Xiao also felt that his words were a bit ambiguous, and added, "Milk, produced by Hua Pan cattle."

Gu Shi'an leaned forward and said, "Are you Florist Pi?"

Jiang Xiao put the glasses and plastic bucket on the coffee table, reached out his finger, and tapped the front of his fisherman's hat, saying, "I can tell myself apart. I dress like this so you can tell me apart."

Gu Shi'an: "We?"

Jiang Xiao poured milk while saying, "Mm, Xia Yan, Han Jiangxue, and you."

"Thank you for your trust, thank you for everything you've done for me and my mother." Gu Shi'an pursed his lips and said, "I understand what I should..."

Jiang Xiao grinned, directly interrupting Gu Shi'an's words, and handed the glass to Gu Shi'an, saying, "Come on, drink milk, drink milk, a special product from your hometown, especially pure..."

......