Master of Nine Stars

’It’s a shame, Da Wei...’

’If only you were here with me.’

Amidst the deafening roar of the crowd, Rong Taotao felt dazed, and even his vision began to blur.

This newly crowned King of Guanwai had a vacant look on his face, looking for all the world like a complete goof...

Suddenly, a hand rested on Rong Taotao’s shoulder.

Rong Taotao turned to see Yang Chunxi’s smiling face, a look that held both admiration and heartache.

She wrapped her arms around Rong Taotao, pulling him into a hug, and whispered in his ear, "She’ll be proud of you."

’He? She?’

’Xu Fenghua? Rong Yuanshan? Rong Yangyang? Gao Lingwei? Mei Hongyu?’

’Whoever, I guess...’

"Mm."

"Your hand is still bleeding," Yang Chunxi said.

As she spoke, a flurry of Shuangxue emanated from her palm, encasing Rong Taotao’s blood-stained hand in ice. "Let’s go get that treated."

Led by Yang Chunxi, he acknowledged the cheering crowd before making a swift exit.

"Rong Taotao! Rong Taotao!" Zhang Muyu cried out, microphone in hand, as she and her cameraman hurried over. Keeping pace with him, she asked, "What were those two Lotus petals? Is that the legendary Snow Realm Treasure?"

Rong Taotao didn’t break his stride or turn his head. "No comment."

Zhang Muyu pressed on, "A lot of people are curious about the Snow Realm and what happened there. They really want to know what you went through in that battle."

Rong Taotao replied nonchalantly, "No comment."

"Wait..." Seeing that Rong Taotao was about to enter the player tunnel, Zhang Muyu spoke quickly. "I know you’re worried about your teammate and not in the mood for an interview.

I just asked the medical staff, and they said Gao Lingwei is fine! No life-threatening injuries. She just needs some time to rest and she’ll be okay. Please, just let me ask one question! Just one!"

Hearing this, Rong Taotao hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay."

Zhang Muyu’s face lit up. "The first time I interviewed you, you said you wanted people to hear your story," she said eagerly. "Well, now you’re number one in the Outer Region! You can shout it from the rooftops! What is it you want to tell everyone most?"

Rong Taotao didn’t stop walking, but he leaned forward, close to the microphone.

As Zhang Muyu watched with breathless anticipation, Rong Taotao put on a serious, earnest expression and said, "Songjiang Soul Martial... is a great university."

Zhang Muyu: ???

"Pfft..."

"HAHAHAHA! What an advertising genius! Songjiang Soul Martial really hit the jackpot with him!"

"A walking admissions ad, hahaha, I’m dying! I was waiting for some tough talk, but this joker... how did those words even come out of his mouth? Hahaha!"

"Stop, stop! You’ve sold me! I’ll apply next year! I’ll apply, alright? Sheesh..."

In an instant, a flood of bullet comments once again filled the screen, obscuring the view of Rong Taotao’s dead-serious expression...

Blocked by the staff, Zhang Muyu could only stand there, dumbfounded, watching as Rong Taotao disappeared into the player tunnel.

She never would have imagined that for her post-finals interview, that one sentence would be all she got from Rong Taotao...

Led by a staff member, the master and disciple, along with a healer, soon arrived at the door of a special medical room within the stadium.

In the hallway, Xia Fangran was perched on a windowsill, head down, scrolling through his phone.

Yang Chunxi asked anxiously, "Is Ling Wei alright?"

Xia Fangran chuckled. "She’s fine. No fatal injuries, nothing too serious."

As he spoke, Xia Fangran’s gaze shifted to Rong Taotao, whose hand was being healed. "So young, yet so aggressive?"

Rong Taotao let the healer hold his hand, mending the wound with Sea Prayer Radiance.

He was also peering through the narrow glass pane on the room’s door, but unfortunately, he couldn’t see anything. All he could hear was the faint sound of singing.

Hearing Xia Fangran’s comment, Rong Taotao pursed his lips. "Well, consider whose disciple I am."

"Oho?" Xia Fangran raised an eyebrow, but then he broke into a laugh. "Alright, kid! Keep it up! That’s the spirit!"

Rong Taotao asked, "Huh? What spirit?"

Xia Fangran replied, "Hunger! Anger!"

Rong Taotao: "..."

After speaking with a staff member, Yang Chunxi walked over and said quietly, "The award ceremony is about to start on the field. There’s a trophy and a certificate.

Also, you can now fill out the reward application form for first place. As the Outer Region Division’s representatives in the National Competition, you’re now eligible to apply for your Soul Pearl rewards."

Rong Taotao pressed his lips together and glanced at the narrow glass pane on the door again. "Let’s wait for Da Wei to wake up before we decide on the Soul Pearl. As for the award ceremony, I..."

"If you’re not in the mood, I can accept it on your behalf," Yang Chunxi said. "It’s quite common for teachers to do so. Finals are almost always brutal, and it’s inevitable for students to get injured."

With that, Yang Chunxi glanced at Xia Fangran, gave him a small nod, and turned to leave.

It wasn’t until that afternoon that Rong Taotao and the others were finally allowed into the room.

When he entered, Gao Lingwei was already sound asleep. The thought of her repeatedly activating the Snow Prison Arena made Rong Taotao’s heart ache.

Yang Chunxi confirmed with the doctors multiple times that Gao Lingwei was not in any serious danger; she just needed a few days of quiet bed rest.

Afterward, the group returned to their hotel, where they had the lead instructor from Songjiang Soul Martial examine and treat Gao Lingwei one more time. Barring any surprises, their return trip would be delayed by a day or two.

Thanks to the doctors’ meticulous and continuous healing throughout the afternoon, Gao Lingwei’s mangled abdomen had been completely restored by the Sea Prayer Radiance, with new flesh already grown back. Even so, she would still need a few more days to recover properly.