Master of Nine Stars

"What’s wrong? Nervous?" Gao Lingwei tilted her head to look at Rong Taotao, a teasing smile on her face.

She seemed completely used to such grand events, utterly composed.

"Nah, I’m fine," Rong Taotao said casually. After clipping on his microphone, he followed Gao Lingwei onto the turf.

The venue was the Starfield arena, a standard soccer field with no other flashy elements. This put the Ocean Soul Martial Artists at an even greater disadvantage.

In fact, Ocean Soul Martial Artists were at a great disadvantage even in an ocean-themed arena. After all, their true home turf was underwater, or even in the open ocean.

As powerful as Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei were, how could they possibly fight in a boundless ocean?

To take it a step further, even if they were Olympic-level swimmers, that was still just at the level of an ordinary person. How could they compare to this group of "Water Ghosts"? The two of them couldn’t breathe underwater, nor did they have the fish-like agility and speed to dart through the water.

The Ocean Soul Martial Artists were different. In their true home turf, the ocean, they didn’t need any advanced techniques. All they had to do was drag their opponents into the sea, and it wouldn’t be long before they drowned them...

As a Cloud Peak Soul Martial Artist, Rong Taotao had no Attributes that clearly countered or were countered by others, so of course he could learn the Soul Technique: Heart of the Ocean.

’I should head to a coastal city and learn a trick or two later. It never hurts to have more skills.’

A one-star Heart of the Ocean could be paired with two very practical Soul Skills: Little Bubble Water Lung (Underwater Breathing) and Water Element (Walking on Water). These two skills had benefited countless lifeguards and firefighters, greatly reducing the danger of rescue operations. They could truly be called a gift from the heavens.

"They’re entering the field. The contestants from both sides are finally making their entrance," Su Wan said in a soft voice. "Let’s all get ready to enjoy this spectacular feast."

"Indeed. Friends in the audience, look at these talented young people! Most of them are outstanding juniors and seniors," Dai Liunian said, his voice filled with emotion. "Before long, they will be entering society, joining various professions, and becoming the pillars of our Huaxia’s Soul Martial enterprise."

While Dai Liunian was waxing philosophical, Su Wan was clearly more interested in the contestants themselves.

She quietly sized up the contestants on both sides, comparing their looks and auras, but in the end, her gaze inevitably fell upon Gao Lingwei.

It couldn’t be helped. Faced with Gao Lingwei in her all-white athletic wear, Su Wan found it truly difficult to lock her eyes on anyone else.

Su Wan spoke, "Contestant Gao Lingwei is arranging her long hair. Is this her unique way of de-stressing?"

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Dai Liunian also looked toward the eastern half of the field.

He saw Gao Lingwei holding a red hair tie in her mouth, her hands behind her head, unhurriedly gathering her hair into a long ponytail.

Her snow-white clothes, accented by the long red hair tie, were indeed a striking sight.

Rong Taotao, however, was gazing at his opponents on the western half of the field.

Uh... Not only was Gao Lingwei wearing a ponytail, but the man and woman on the opposing team were also sporting them.

The woman’s was understandable, but the man’s...

’Tsk tsk. He has such sharp facial features, yet he insists on growing his hair long and tying it in a ponytail. Is that supposed to be stylish?’

As if sensing Rong Taotao’s gaze, the tall male student on the western half of the field, Gao Zehua, let the corners of his lips curl up into something of a roguish smirk. He gave Rong Taotao a slight nod in acknowledgment.

Rong Taotao: "..."

’Is... is this guy trying to hit on me?’

’Is he for real with that style? It’s terrifyingly cool.’

"Your Martial Arts are impressive, Rong Taotao," Gao Zehua’s voice drifted over from the distance. "I’m a great admirer of your Heaven-piercing Halberd."

Rong Taotao nodded. "What a coincidence. I’m a pretty big admirer of my Heaven-piercing Halberd, too."

Hearing this, the smile on Gao Zehua’s face only grew wider. A combat knife shrouded in mist materialized in his hand, and he began twirling it between his fingers. "Don’t disappoint me."

Rong Taotao: "Hm?"

Gao Zehua: "Just like you, I’ve never lost."

Rong Taotao paused, confused. "Aren’t you ranked seventh in Southern China?"

Gao Zehua crushed the Water Blade in his hand with a disdainful air. "In terms of pure Martial Arts, no one has ever truly defeated the two of us. No one."

Rong Taotao blinked. "Huh?"

Gao Zehua tilted his head back slightly, gave it a little shake, and ran his hands over his ponytail. The sequence of moves left Rong Taotao staring, dumbfounded. ’There are probably a ton of young girls cheering in front of their TVs right now, huh?’

Then he spoke. "My opponents possess all sorts of bizarre Soul Pearls and Soul Skills. They’re degenerate, like a bunch of children holding guns.

All they know is how to pull the trigger, winning through cheap tricks, and they’ve forgotten how to cultivate their own abilities.

I never acknowledge that kind of victory; in fact, I find it rather pathetic. But you’re different, Rong Taotao. You’re different."

Rong Taotao scratched his head. ’This is... uh, what kind of logic is that?’

Gao Zehua: "I have a lot of respect for the way you compete. I’ve watched your second match in the Outer Region more than ten times, and I get something new from it every time."

’Oh-ho?’

’Did I just run into a fanboy... uh, a fan-bro?’

Gao Zehua: "Your Heaven-piercing Halberd knocked your opponent down again and again, and you stabbed at their heart again and again.

But... each time, you came away with nothing. Because your opponent had Water Rhinoceros Armor.

That’s tragic, isn’t it?

Someone who, relying on a Soul Skill that isn’t inherently theirs—one whose principles they don’t even understand—completely negated all your bitter training, day and night. It made all your blood, sweat, and tears worthless."