Master of Nine Stars

"Alright. Next time, it'll be Gao Lingwei and Rong Taotao applauding for you." Yang Chunxi walked back to the lectern. "I look forward to that day."

The hearts of the young are always full of fighting spirit.

Yang Chunxi's words were few, but each one hit its mark.

But Jiao Tengda had to be a wet blanket. "Coach Yang, that's not right," he said. "We'll be the ones applauding them next time, too, won't we? The national tournament is about to start! The next Outer League isn't until the year after next!"

Yang Chunxi: "..."

Rong Taotao: "Oh, you're such a smooth talker, why don't you say some more!"

"Hehe." Jiao Tengda turned around and gave Rong Taotao a thumbs-up.

To achieve good results in the national tournament, the "tools" of a Soul Martial Artist—their Soul Pearls and Soul Skills—were undoubtedly a crucial factor.

Just how much support was the Outer Region Division offering?

As Rong Taotao pondered this, he reached into his silk pouch and took out a Soul Pearl swirling with frosty mist.

His breath caught in his throat. !!!

'What is this?'

Rong Taotao jumped in surprise. Inside the Soul Pearl, how could there be a miniature... uh, ghost?

The tiny ghost, formed from frost and snow, stared intently at Rong Taotao with its small, crimson eyes, making his hair stand on end and a chill run down his spine.

"Soul Pearl discovered: Snow Realm: Snow Grudge Spirit (Elite Grade, Potential Value: -)

Soul Pearl Soul Skill:

1. Resentful Spirit Entanglement: Stimulate the eyes with ice and snow Attribute Soul Power to release a Snow Grudge Spirit to attack a target. When the entangled target casts any Soul Skill, there is a certain probability they will be affected by the Snow Grudge Spirit, resulting in a casting failure.

Additionally, the entangled target's mood will continuously decline. (Elite Grade, Potential Value: -)

Current Soul Slots are full. Unable to absorb."

GULP. Rong Taotao's Adam's apple bobbed. 'This... This is fucking...'

'Just how badly does the Outer Region Division want to win? How desperate are they for their kids to place in the national tournament?'

'A Snow Grudge Spirit?'

Rong Taotao calmed himself down. After all, Yang Chunxi was still teaching, so he couldn't make too much of a scene.

And so, during Chinese Language class, Rong Taotao pulled the *Snow Realm Soul Beast Encyclopedia* from his desk, furtively flipped through it, and found the entry for the Snow Grudge Spirit.

'Tsk, tsk...'

'Its Complete Form is a King Grade to Legendary Level creature?'

'To obtain a Soul Pearl from a Soul Beast that hasn't even reached its mature stage, the organizers of the Outer Region Division must have spent more than just manpower and resources—they must have had incredible luck!'

"Snow Grudge Spirit: a rare, solitary creature. In humanity's limited encounters with them, Snow Grudge Spirits are mostly found accompanying Frost Beauties, for whom they serve as loyal slaves."

Reading the description in the book, Rong Taotao licked his lips.

'Loyal, my ass!'

'Only a Frost Beauty can control this kind of creature, which is why they appear together. You think it wants to be a slave?'

'A prime example is Xiao Ziru. He's a dignified Soul School, a Great God in the top tier right below Soul General. Would he be willing to be a slave to a Frost Beauty?'

'What a joke...'

'Then again, Frost Beauties are quite intelligent. If they can only control one soul and they have Xiao Ziru, they would definitely replace the Snow Grudge Spirit.'

'Soul Skill: Resentful Spirit Entanglement: A chance to interfere with the target's casting and continuously lower their mood.'

'At Elite Grade, the interference probability is probably very low, and the mood-lowering effect remains to be seen.'

'Still, tsk, tsk...'

'The organizer of the Outer Region Division is an official Huaxia department—the Outer Region Soul Martial Association. How badly do they want to win? Or... are they trying to use this opportunity to get on good terms with me?'

'Probably both, right?'

Any fool could see the future prospects of a rising star like Rong Taotao.

Not to mention Rong Taotao's mother was a Soul General...

Rong Taotao carefully placed the Soul Pearl back into the silk pouch. Although he had requested an Illusion Technique Type Eye Soul Pearl, this one was more than enough!

Next, Rong Taotao reached into the other silk pouch, but he couldn't help but blink.

'I requested two Soul Pearls in total, and neither one is what I asked for.'

'The Eye Soul Pearl wasn't an Illusion Technique Type. And this forehead Soul Pearl isn't an offensive type either...'

'But it's understandable. After all, finding a low-level, Elite Grade offensive Soul Skill for a forehead Soul Pearl is indeed quite difficult.'

The Frost Fearful Face that Mei Hongyu had given Rong Taotao was already an incredibly precious and rare terror-type Soul Skill, enough for Gao Lingwei to dominate during her Soul Captain phase.

"Soul Pearl discovered: Snow Realm Bailing Tree Maiden (Elite Grade, Potential Value: -)

Soul Pearl Soul Skill:

1. Bailing Barrier: Gather ice and snow Attribute Soul Power and channel it through a special path within the body to stimulate the head, emitting a special Spiritual Ability to create a Mental Barrier that resists Mental Attacks. (Elite Grade, Potential Value: -)

2. Bailing Vine: In the form of thought materialization, create a spiritual vine to sever the intangible Spiritual Soul Power Threads and rescue a target trapped in a Spiritual World.

Current Soul Slots are full. Unable to absorb."

'This...'

Rong Taotao raised an eyebrow slightly. 'In other words, back when Gao Lingwei had the Snow Prison Arena Soul Skill, if she had dragged an opponent into the Arena...'

'I could have used the Bailing Vine Soul Skill to forcibly interrupt the spiritual battlefield between them, sever the intangible Spiritual Threads connecting them, and pull them both out?'

'But the Snow Prison Arena is said to be impossible to close once activated, unless both sides agree to a truce or one party concedes!'

'If I really used an external force to forcibly sever the Spiritual Threads and shut down the Snow Prison Arena, how would the outcome be judged? Who would be the winner, who the loser, and how severe would the injuries be?'

His heart filled with questions, Rong Taotao searched through the *Snow Realm Soul Beast Encyclopedia*. When he saw an image of an exquisitely beautiful Tree Maiden, he was completely taken aback.

'She's too beautiful...'

It was a female Tree-man with limited mobility and a slow movement speed. She had a human face, but her entire body was that of a cypress tree. Even her hair consisted of green branches dotted with bits of frost and snow, creating an image of extreme, ethereal beauty.

Although her human-like face was made of tree bark, it didn't detract from the unique charm she exuded.

The Creator truly is miraculous.

But a line highlighted in the book also made Rong Taotao's heart clench.

Neutral Creatures!

"Bailing Tree Maidens are gentle, kind, and loving. They often use their vines and branches to shelter weak creatures lost in the snowstorms. Whether it be humans or Snow Realm Soul Beasts, they are willing to use their own bodies to create a small sanctuary, sending them on their way only after the storm subsides."

'Neutral Creatures! They aren't meant to be killed!'

And the Soul Pearl in Rong Taotao's hand had come from an official channel; it was a reward from the Outer Region Soul Martial Association for winning first place in the Outer League. This meant the Soul Pearl must have been confiscated from Poachers!

'Son of a bitch!'

'These Poachers... they've truly lost all conscience!'

'How many people get lost in the blizzards? How many freeze or starve to death, utterly exhausted?'

'She asks for nothing in return and willingly offers you shelter, and not only do you not thank her, you turn around and stab her in the back???'

'Are you even human!?'

It was undeniable that Rong Taotao already had a blood feud with Poachers. Anything related to them was like a lit fuse to a powder keg; he could explode at any moment.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and for a moment, Rong Taotao completely forgot he was in class.

"Taotao..." Gao Lingwei's soft call came from his side. Seeming to notice that he was lost in some intense emotion, she raised her voice slightly. "Taotao!"

"Huh?" Rong Taotao snapped back to his senses and looked at Gao Lingwei, only to realize the atmosphere in the classroom was off.

Yang Chunxi had stopped teaching, and the other students had all turned to look at Rong Taotao.

When Rong Taotao met their gazes, a few of the students looked away uncomfortably.

Gao Lingwei whispered, "Rein it in. We're in class."

"Sorry," Rong Taotao said quickly.

Yang Chunxi frowned slightly, looking at Rong Taotao thoughtfully. "Go to the back and stand for the rest of the lesson."

Rong Taotao lowered his head and walked over to the blackboard at the back of the room with his book.

Seeing Rong Taotao standing obediently at the back of the classroom, with his head bowed and a submissive look on his face, Yang Chunxi wasn't fooled.

'He... he's really changed...'

'I don't know what just happened, but... I hope he doesn't cause any trouble during the national tournament.'

Thinking of this, Yang Chunxi sighed deeply and continued, "Let's resume. Recite the second paragraph..."

Gao Lingwei thought for a moment, then took a Little Rascal candy from her pocket. Unwrapping it with one hand, she read the text aloud with her classmates while discreetly reaching back to pass it to him.

Rong Taotao silently took the candy and popped it into his mouth.

Yang Chunxi saw this exchange but didn't say anything...