Even though comprehending Star Skills wasn’t Secretary Hou’s most pressing matter at this stage, he couldn’t actively give up on this opportunity. That Lu Lin really tricked me! Secretary Hou cursed inwardly as he walked around, searching for the chance to comprehend Star Skills. He naturally knew that Lu Lin was of the Natural School. However, in this Star Power Domain, there was nothing but yellow sand, with occasional sandstorms. Secretary Hou was unhappy but could only press on.
A gust of yellow wind blew over. Unable to dodge, Secretary Hou raised his hand, and a crystal-clear Ice Shield appeared before him. He initially thought he could easily block it, but soon discovered that endless sand particles were striking the Ice Shield, causing fine cracks to appear.
Lu Lin was just a student who had recently awakened his Talent. Secretary Hou, on the other hand, was a Third Level Star Core Warrior. A Martial Artist who hadn’t even reached the First Level had managed to crack the Ice Shield constructed by a Third Level Martial Artist! This... such an overwhelming disparity shouldn’t be possible!
Secretary Hou channeled more Star Power into the Ice Shield. At the same time, he unleashed his second Star Skill, Snow Dance. Snow Dance didn’t actually require Secretary Hou to dance in the snow; if it did, it would be detrimental to both friend and foe in combat. Secretary Hou’s hand swept in a circle through the air, and snowflakes began to fall into the dust-filled world. Yet, even Snow Dance couldn’t stop the onslaught of the yellow wind. The crystal-clear snowflakes were buffeted and scattered everywhere.
Secretary Hou felt helpless. Having reached Third Level perfection, he possessed a total of seven Star Skills. Apart from Ice Shield and Snow Dance, he also had Ice Arrow, Delay, Ice Crack, Ice Armor, and Ice Escape. Of his remaining Star Skills, only Ice Armor could help him resist the yellow wind’s assault. But if a mere gust of yellow wind forced him to use three Star Skills, Lu Lin would inevitably look down on him later. If only I had a Star Skill that could locally change the weather, Secretary Hou mused, then suddenly halted.
Lu Lin, his face full of laughter, watched as another skill was successfully engraved on an eyeball. It seemed he had easily passed the City Lord’s test this time. But just then, another eyeball rolled to Secretary Hou’s feet.
Star Skill engraving in progress...
Lu Lin’s mouth fell open. This... this has to be a coincidence, right? He had anticipated Secretary Hou comprehending the first Star Skill, but a second one left him astonished.
[Star Skill: Ice Seal]
[Description: Wherever Star Power reaches, an ice and snow world is formed (Active Skill)]
[Note: Let it go! The Queen of Arendelle]
[Star Skill: Snowman]
[Description: In the ice and snow world, the Snowman Army is eagerly preparing for deployment (Active Skill)]
[Note: The three functions of a snowman: portable refrigerator, portable air conditioner, and portable ice maker.]
Lu Lin was speechless. Are you serious with this description? However, why was Secretary Hou experiencing the same thing as Cao Xiaoming? Cao Xiaoming had first comprehended Forest, then Elf. Secretary Hou had first comprehended Ice Seal, then Snowman. Both received a domain-type Star Skill and a Summoning System skill. If it had happened only once, Lu Lin could have dismissed it as a coincidence. But for it to occur twice in less than twenty-four hours, he couldn’t help but ponder. There must be something strange going on here.
Secretary Hou opened his eyes. Seeing Lu Lin still in the Star Power Domain, he got up, walked out of the room, and headed to the Monitoring Room next door. He took off his mask, revealing himself inside the room. Most of the people present had figured it out. It turned out that the one being tested this time was Secretary Hou himself.
"City Lord, I have successfully comprehended Star Skills, and also..."
"Don’t rush. First, show everyone the Star Skills you’ve comprehended," Song Qianjun interjected, waving his hand dismissively.
"This Star Skill of mine has a rather large area of effect. The room is too small to demonstrate it properly."
Song Qianjun chuckled and led the way out of the Monitoring Room.
June in Tongyuan was one of the hottest times of the year... and the following months of August and September were also quite hot. It was indeed rather inconvenient for a Martial Artist with an Ice Attribute Talent to demonstrate Star Skills in such temperatures. However, Secretary Hou didn’t say anything.
With a wave of his hand, the Star Skill Ice Seal manifested. The scorching hot environment immediately became much more refreshing. Ice beads even clung to the blades of grass on the ground. Not far away, the decorative fountain was also instantly frozen solid. Crystal-clear ice beads rained down on the frozen water’s surface, making PINGING and PONGING sounds.
Zuo Yiming and Cao Xiaoming watched in astonishment, their mouths agape. Two plumes of cold air escaped their lips.
"A domain-type Star Skill. Not bad." Song Qianjun nodded with satisfaction. Domain-type Star Skills were relatively difficult to acquire among the various Star Skill categories. The most common types of Star Skills were still Offensive Type, Defensive Type, Auxiliary Type, or strengthening types.
Song Qianjun recalled that he was due to be reassigned to his original unit soon, which happened to be located in a colder northern area of the Alien planet. Secretary Hou would be an excellent fit there.
"City Lord, I comprehended not only the Ice Seal Star Skill, but also this..." As Secretary Hou spoke, he squatted down and touched the ice beads and frost on the ground with his hand.
As if imbued with life, the tiny ice beads leaped up from the ground, transforming into Ice People with only arms and heads, all under everyone’s watchful eyes. After these Ice People appeared, they automatically formed ranks without any command from Secretary Hou. They lined up in neat and orderly rows and columns. They formed a miniature Army Formation.
Everyone present couldn’t help but widen their eyes at this scene. Is this a movie? This has to be a movie! They could understand ice beads transforming into Ice People. But for these Ice People to autonomously form an Army Formation was almost inconceivable.
"Double Star Skills?" Song Qianjun raised an eyebrow; this wasn’t the outcome he had hoped for. Song Qianjun had hoped Lu Lin would guide Secretary Hou to comprehend just one Star Skill, or better yet, fail to guide him to any Star Skill at all. Only then might Lu Lin temper his exuberance. From Secretary Hou’s recent reports, Song Qianjun knew Lu Lin was a talented young man. Song Qianjun didn’t want such a genius to have an entirely smooth journey. It wasn’t that Song Qianjun harbored any resentment towards geniuses. Seeing Lu Lin reminded him of himself in his younger days—possessing the same exceptional talent and fearless demeanor. Consequently, in a battle on an Exotic Battlefield, Song Qianjun had paid the price for his arrogance and conceit. Upon seeing Lu Lin, he instinctively didn’t want him to have such an easy path. Yet now, Lu Lin had actually guided Secretary Hou to comprehend Double Star Skills. Song Qianjun feared it would be difficult to suppress this genius now, even if he wanted to.
Forget it, forget it. Song Qianjun shook his head. Lu Lin isn’t my son or nephew, so why am I worrying so much?
Song Qianjun fell silent, but Jiang Yueming stepped forward. His brow was furrowed in deep contemplation. Yesterday, Cao Xiaoming had comprehended the Forest and Elf Star Skills. Especially Elf; it was the first time in history that a Wood System genius had comprehended a Summoning System Star Skill. Although it was later confirmed to be Enlightenment rather than summoning, the same phenomenon had occurred again today. With the domain-type Ice Seal and the Summoning System Snowman, is Lu Lin some kind of genius-making machine? Jiang Yueming wondered.
"City Lord, it’s not just Double Star Skills, and also..." Secretary Hou stammered. "And I’ve been promoted to a Fourth Level Star Core Warrior!"
As Secretary Hou spoke, he raised his right hand. Everyone looked and saw that Secretary Hou’s right index finger had turned to frost, emitting waves of cold air.