Master of Nine Stars

...

In the Huaxia Main Channel studio, Su Wan gazed at the large screen with a worried expression. "Is it about to end?

Contestant Gao Lingwei seems to have been heavily injured. Although she put her life on the line for one last counterattack and managed to pierce Guan Cang’s palm, she failed to incapacitate him."

"Perhaps it’s over," Dai Liunian said with a deep sigh. "They’ve already done an incredible job."

Su Wan added with genuine admiration, "That’s right. Gao Lingwei has given it her absolute all. From beginning to end, she never retreated or showed any fear. She’s already a true Warrior."

Dai Liunian shook his head with a sigh of resignation. "At the end of the day, Starfield Soul Skills are just a natural counter to Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists. Plus, compared to other Soul Skill systems, the Starfield system is far more refined.

This match has been incredibly difficult for Gao and Rong... Oh? It’s not over yet?"

「On the field...」

"If you won’t surrender, then don’t blame me for being ruthless," Guan Cang said. Without giving Rong Taotao any chance to react, he thrust a hand in his direction.

To be more precise, his target was Gao Lingwei, who was still lying on the ground, her Frost Snow Armor shattered to pieces.

Rong Taotao suddenly clapped his hands together, overlapping two thin Frost Flower Snowcakes as he aimed one hand at the surging Star Wave Stream.

WHOOSH...

Each Frost Flower Snowcake had a unique, hollowed-out filigree pattern.

If he only used one to block, the column of the Star Wave Stream would inevitably pass through the open spaces in the pattern and blast his palm.

’So would two Frost Flower Snowcakes be enough to avoid that?’

HISS... Rong Taotao sucked in a sharp breath of cold air. No, the situation hadn’t improved.

Even with two Frost Flower Snowcakes, there were still gaps in the design.

In an instant, Rong Taotao’s palm was a mangled mess of flesh and blood, and the force of the blast sent him sliding backward.

"Move!" Gao Lingwei’s voice suddenly came from behind. One of her hands was covered in frost as she pressed it against her own abdomen, freezing the wound. Gritting her teeth against the excruciating pain, she wrapped an arm around Rong Taotao’s waist and pulled him stumbling to the side.

Nearby, Guan Qiong suddenly threw his hands open, and a massive, brilliant star came crashing down!

Rong Taotao quickly yanked Gao Lingwei’s arm, leaping aside with her.

CRASH!

The falling star gouged a deep crater in the grassy field, sending shards of starlight flying in all directions.

"Still resisting?" By now, the younger brother, Guan Qiong, had recovered somewhat. His face was still twisted in a snarl and his body still ached, but the pain only seemed to fuel his viciousness.

Guan Qiong waved his hands again and again, sending a barrage of smaller falling stars crashing down toward them.

Rong Taotao staggered into a run, dragging the unsteady Gao Lingwei with one hand. With his other, he waved repeatedly, hurling a volley of small falling stars right back at Guan Qiong.

’He’s still fighting back!?’

’He’s dragging an injured teammate and he’s *still* fighting back!?’

Seeing this, Guan Cang wiped a hand across his face. Blood still streamed from the wound on his palm, smearing across his skin.

A smile suddenly stretched across Guan Cang’s face. Stained with blood, it looked utterly deranged.

He stopped trying to interfere with Soul Skills. Instead, he strode forward, charging straight at Rong Taotao.

"As you wish, Rong Taotao!" Guan Cang surged forward with incredible speed. The moment he closed in on the pair, he shoved both hands forward, unleashing two powerful Star Wave Streams.

BANG!

With a deafening blast, the Snow Burst Ball in Rong Taotao’s hand detonated. The two of them were sent flying once more, rolling into a heap on the ground.

’Da Wei, can you still hold on?’

’Should I keep buying you time, or should I get you out of the arena right now... I... ’

"All right, that’s enough. Just give up. This is pointless." In the distance, starlight gathered in the younger brother Guan Qiong’s palm as he thrust it toward Rong Taotao. "Did you think you were fighting Ocean Soul Martial Artists? That you’d have such a high margin for error?

After we focused our fire on her a few times, it doesn’t matter how strong Gao Lingwei’s defenses are. She can’t withstand Starfield Soul Skills."

His head spinning, Rong Taotao ignited another Snow Burst in his hand, using the blast to forcefully propel both of their bodies to the side. It didn’t matter where they landed; the only thing that mattered was getting away from that spot, fast.

They were a mess, but they managed to dodge.

"Your school should have just let the Yuan Brothers into the finals! At least the Yuan Brothers have a speed advantage and enough experience. They might have actually been able to compete with us for the championship."

Sprawled on the ground, Rong Taotao whipped his head toward the voice, his eyes landing on the sneering face of Guan Qiong.

Rong Taotao’s voice was low and heavy. "You earn your spot in the finals through a real fight, not by having it handed to you like charity!

You have no right to lecture us, and you have no right to tell us to give up on victory."

"Heh, I’m just telling the truth. The Snow Prison Arena might have given you the ability to pull off an upset, but unfortunately for you, we’ve studied you thoroughly."

Guan Qiong continued, "Your upperclassmen at least had the physical conditioning and a definitive speed advantage. They could have actually given us a bit of trouble."

"No one has the right to blame us for advancing, and no one can deny her effort or mine." Rong Taotao pushed himself to his feet, pulling a Long Halberd into his hand as he stared darkly at Guan Qiong. "You can take your victory and show it off to the world, but don’t stand here spouting bullshit."

Guan Qiong strode forward, closing in on Rong Taotao. The war of words had reached its peak, and the insult had clearly stoked his anger. "The reality is, you blocked Pine Soul Soul Martial’s only path to the championship!"

’It’s not enough to defeat us... he has to crush our spirits, too...’

’So this time, it’s not Tang Xiaoxuan and Tang Xiaoyu. Now it’s me who owes Pine Soul Soul Martial a championship, is that it?’