Master of Nine Stars

On July 29th, the Outer Region quarter-finals officially began.

Since the Starfield arena had been selected, Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei returned to Fengtian City’s Olympic Sports Center.

The massive stadium, which could hold sixty to seventy thousand people, was packed to the brim. In a world that revered Soul Martial Arts, there was nothing more exciting for the audience than the biennial university league.

At this moment, staying in the locker room, Rong Taotao felt as if he had returned to that ocean-themed arena—the old Peace District Stadium.

Why?

Because even from inside the locker room of this well-equipped stadium, he could faintly hear the clamor of the crowd outside.

The quarter-finals... were on a completely different level.

This marked the final stage of the Outer Region qualifiers, drawing in a massive audience. And it wasn’t just the live crowd; even more people were watching on their TVs and computers.

After all... win or lose, everyone still competing was a future representative of the Outer Region in the national tournament.

Strictly speaking, everyone left in the competition was now considered one of their own.

Rong Taotao sat on a bench, leaning against the lockers, swiping rapidly through his phone. He saw a flood of comments.

There were messages of congratulations, consolation, schadenfreude, and strategic advice...

"You’re up against seniors from your own school~ Taotao, these opponents are good. At least they’re fellow students, so they won’t go for the kill."

"Exactly! It’s okay if you lose, just put on a good show~ We, the Glory Gang, are already satisfied~!"

"It’s no disgrace to lose to seniors from your own school, after all, they’re sooooo strong..."

"Hehe, you’re gonna lose now, huh~ Run out of luck? Can’t get matched with cowards like in the third round anymore, right? Hehe, I say you should just give up. Save yourself the pain."

Rong Taotao’s expression was strange. ’Glory Gang?’

’Is that my fan club’s name? It’s a bit too grand, isn’t it? Can my humble self even handle a fan club with a name like that?’

Rong Taotao looked at the gloating comments, tried his best to ignore them, but finally gave in. His fingers flew across the screen with a TAP-TAP-TAP as he edited his Weibo post. And... send!

"Nourishing People

Just now from a Daogu C8500

I’m not much, I’m just good at bullying my own kind."

"Taotao."

"Hmm?" Rong Taotao looked up and saw Yang Chunxi sitting beside him.

Yang Chunxi spoke with a hint of exasperation, "There’s no need to get into a pointless argument right now. Or, you could have at least waited until after the match to post something like that."

"Ah, haha," Rong Taotao scratched his head. "It’s fine, it’s fine. If I lose, I’ll just stay off Weibo. As long as I pretend I don’t see their comments, they can’t call me out~"

Yang Chunxi: "..."

Xia Fangran said, "Be careful. Those two brothers have excellent Martial Arts."

But Rong Taotao just smiled. "Coach Xia, if you told me they’d crush me with their level or physical strength, I’d accept that. But Martial Arts?"

’You’re talking to *me* about Martial Arts?’

’In this entire competition, name one person—just one—who can beat me in pure skill. Who am I afraid of?’

’When I bring my five-star Heaven-piercing Halberd down on them, who wouldn’t be stunned?!’

’Remember that First-class contestant, Tang Yang?’

’If he hadn’t been wearing that Water Rhinoceros Armor, I would have poked him full of holes like a honeycomb briquette!’

’Did you really think I was just barely holding on, that it was a 50/50 fight with Tang Yang?’

’Think about it! During that fight alone, how many times did I strike his heart?’

Seeing the way Rong Taotao was sizing him up, Xia Fangran paused for a second. "Are you itching for a beating? It’s been a while since I last smacked you around, hasn’t it?"

"Hmph, all you know is how to bully kids. You’re so impressive~" Rong Taotao said, inching closer to Yang Chunxi.

Seeing Rong Taotao’s cowardly little act, Yang Chunxi couldn’t help but shoot him a reproachful glare.

She reached out, straightened his naturally curly hair, and said, "Come on, it’s time to go on stage."

"Let’s go!" Rong Taotao scrambled to his feet, deliberately taking the long way around to avoid where Xia Fangran was sitting. He pulled Gao Lingwei, who was still stretching her legs, and hurried out of the locker room.

"The match is about to start, Coach Xia won’t hit you," Gao Lingwei said, trying to hold back a smile.

Rong Taotao pouted. "With that brute, anything is possible."

Gao Lingwei also smiled. "Then why do you still provoke him?"

"I can’t just swallow this!" Rong Taotao stomped his foot. "Even though the public rates my Martial Arts highly, I still don’t think they have a deep enough understanding of my abilities."

Gao Lingwei pursed her lips. "That’s just the reality of the situation.

A single Water Rhinoceros Armor is enough to nullify all your Martial Arts. No matter how much of an upper hand you have, you can’t actually hurt your opponent.

As long as there’s no blood, it will always feel like something is missing from the audience’s perspective."

Rong Taotao chuckled. "The Yuan Brothers have Frost Snow Skeletons. And while you can’t pierce or shatter their bones, their flesh is still fair game."

"Mm," Gao Lingwei nodded. "We’re finally back to our most familiar combat style. Let’s give it our all."

Compared to fighting "Mages" like Ocean Soul Martial Artists, Rong Taotao definitely preferred fighting "Warriors" like Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists.

Generally speaking, most Soul Martial Artists are strong on offense and weak on defense. That’s why Soul Pearls and Soul Skills for the chest area are so precious.

If you have a defensive shell, then I, Rong Taotao, must admit that I’m just a scrub!

All my Martial Arts are rendered useless by your one Soul Skill.

But if you don’t have a defensive shell...

Then I’ll fucking show you what they call the "Little Marquis Wen"!

All it takes is one chance, and the match is decided.

Rong Taotao wasn’t greedy. He only needed one chance.

...

"Oh? They’re taking the field! It’s a Pine Soul Soul Martial civil war! The brothers, Yuan Tianri and Yuan Tiancheng, versus the team of Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei!" Li Gang announced loudly. "If I’m not mistaken, both sides should be very familiar with each other. Xiaoyang, who do you think will win this match?"

Yang Xiaoyang had clearly done her homework. She looked down at the notes on her desk and said, "I gathered some information before the match. According to the official news from Pine Soul Soul Martial...

During the four selection tournaments, the Yuan Brothers distinguished themselves in the very first on-campus qualifier. The value of that achievement is unquestionable."

"Meanwhile, Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei’s team caught the last train, fighting their way out of the final selection tournament. Mmm... their achievement should also be considered quite valuable, since we all know the final qualifiers always have the most desperate group of students."

Li Gang, however, sighed. "But... the first three tournaments had already selected three teams. Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei didn’t have to face those three."

Yang Xiaoyang: "Well, each has their advantages. Let’s turn our attention back to the match. Oh? The two sides are exchanging a few words before the start?"

Just then, Rong Taotao, already on the field, saw the Yuan Brothers from the west side of the arena actually walking toward them.

After a moment’s thought, Rong Taotao decided not to stand there and act aloof, instead stepping forward to meet them.

The four of them met at the center circle. The elder brother, Yuan Tianri, extended his right hand with a slight smile on his face.

Rong Taotao raised an eyebrow slightly, reached out, and firmly shook the other’s large, strong hand.

"For Pine Soul Soul Martial, for our alma mater," Yuan Tianri said.

Rong Taotao was taken aback by the Yuan Brothers’ sudden words, but he quickly nodded. "For Pine Soul Soul Martial."

The Yuan Brothers smiled and nodded, speaking in unison, "We are all Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists. On the field, blades and spears have no eyes. Let’s leave it to fate. Junior brother, junior sister, take care."

From behind, however, Gao Lingwei spoke up. "I could beat the Qi Brothers, I could beat the Bai Brothers, and I can beat you, too."

And most importantly, during the on-campus qualifiers, Gao Lingwei didn’t have her Iron Snow Armor or her Snow Prison Arena.

The elder brother, Yuan Tianri, was also not one to back down verbally. He nodded in agreement and actually issued a challenge, "I’m looking forward to experiencing our junior sister’s Snow Prison Arena. I’ve already made full mental preparations."

Gao Lingwei smiled and nodded. "Good."

The Yuan Brothers gave a friendly nod and then turned to leave.

Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei also turned to leave. He said with a smile, "Interesting."

Gao Lingwei said softly, "Their meaning is clear. We share the same goal. No matter who wins or loses, there should be no hard feelings."

"As if," Rong Taotao pouted, adding silently in his head: ’I’m not that arrogant, domineering rich kid, Ye Nanxi...’

"Are both teams ready?" The referee turned to ask just as Rong Taotao got into position.

Rong Taotao’s response had already become his signature starting move. He grinned, revealing a set of pearly white teeth, and gave the referee a thumbs-up.

"CLICK! CLICK! CLICK..."

What Rong Taotao never expected was that after this one gesture, he heard a barrage of camera shutters. From all corners of the stands, camera flashes went off, startling him!

’Are the quarter-finals... really this different?’

As Yuan Tianri raised his hand high, the referee’s small flag dropped swiftly. "TWEEET~!"

The match begins!

Instantly, roars erupted from the audience: "Get ’em!"

"There are no cowards this time! Let’s see a real fight! Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists, show the other students what a true Martial Artist is!!!"

"Aww~ How disappointing. Rong Taotao’s chickening out~"

"Tch! If this isn’t being a wimp, what is? He’s obviously a bully who picks on the weak and fears the strong. ’Go all out against Ocean, but act all meek and submissive against Snow Realm?’"

Indeed, on the field, Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei, who were always the first to strike, did not charge forward this time.

They abandoned their usual "fine tradition," and the duo stood firmly on the eastern half of the field.

Rong Taotao held a Heaven-piercing Halberd in his hand, watching his opponents with a wary expression.

Gao Lingwei stood behind Rong Taotao, her Long Halberd also resting on his shoulder.

On the substitutes’ bench, Xia Fangran couldn’t help but nod repeatedly upon seeing this familiar "spiked iron barrel" formation.

It was a wise choice. The opponents didn’t have a full-body armor-type Soul Skill. If Rong Taotao could use his formidable Heaven-piercing Halberd techniques to sneak in an attack while defending, the situation would look much better.

At this thought, Xia Fangran suddenly stood up. With his hands behind his back like an old man out for a stroll, he stood outside the sideline and asked the linesman nearby, "Hey, I haven’t coached much before. Let me ask, am I allowed to instruct the students during the match?"

The linesman, his eyes fixed on the field, replied, "You can, but you cannot enter the field of play, nor are you allowed to interfere with the match using any form of Soul Skill. If discovered, your students will be disqualified from this match."

Xia Fangran chuckled. "There’s a loophole in your rules, you know? Everyone on the field is a student of our Pine Soul Soul Martial. Officially, I’m the team leader for both sides.

So if I were to help the Yuan Brothers by using a Spiritual Attack on Rong Taotao, wouldn’t that be reverse-assisting, getting the Yuan Brothers eliminated?"

The referee: "..."

As if he’d just discovered a way to rage-gift his apprentice a pass to the next round, Xia Fangran turned to Yang Chunxi and said, "Wanna give it a try?"

Yang Chunxi: ???

’You’re supposed to be a prestigious Great Soul School! Can you have some shame?!’

’Why... why am I grouped with this kind of person as one of the Pine Soul Four Seasons...’

...