Master of Nine Stars

"Damn you, Rong Taotao!!! I’ll never forgive you for stealing my woman!!!"

...

On the arena floor, Rong Taotao and the Guan Brothers parted ways, each returning to their side of the field.

The five-minute break passed in a flash. The referee stood in the center circle, looking from one team to the other.

Guan Cang raised a fist. His eyes turned incredibly sharp as he stared daggers at Rong Taotao.

On the eastern side of the field, Rong Taotao struck his signature pose. Ignoring the Guan Brothers’ glares, he flashed a wide grin and gave them a thumbs-up.

"TWEET~!" The referee waved his flag, and the match began!

"Oh? The match has begun," Dai Liunian said. His commentary style clearly wasn’t the passionate, high-energy type.

He spoke at a calm, measured pace, his voice smooth and gentle. "Strictly speaking, from on-paper strength alone, Gao and Rong are at a disadvantage. After all, the difference in their years of training is significant. The experts were unanimous in their pre-match predictions: it would be very difficult for Gao and Rong to win.

But regardless, they are now standing in the finals of the Outer Region Ranking Tournament—on the region’s grandest stage.

Winning or losing isn’t what’s important. Let’s look forward to the fighting spirit and flair that Gao and Rong will display!"

Clearly, Huaxia Main Channel had chosen to broadcast this final for various reasons.

However, along with the broadcast, they had specifically instructed the two commentators to temper the audience’s expectations. They were to be clear about the real power disparity between the teams and guide the viewers to focus on things like fighting spirit and flair.

"Indeed, the difference in strength between the two teams is plain for all to see," Su Wan chimed in at the right moment. "Gao and Rong have already qualified for the national tournament. At their age, that’s already an incredible achievement."

"They’ve engaged!"

On the field, both teams surprisingly chose to charge forward. Just as they were about to clash, Gao Lingwei suddenly slowed, dropping to one knee and pressing a hand to the ground.

Taking advantage of the Snow Realm environment, an ice pillar suddenly shot up from the ground, right in the charging Guan Brothers’ path!

Gao Lingwei’s prediction was perfect. Guan Cang, leading the charge, planted his foot right on the newly formed ice pillar.

"Petty tricks. You’re just delaying the inevitable," Guan Cang snorted. A complete departure from his friendly pre-match demeanor, his words were ice-cold as he stumbled back several steps to regain his footing.

His younger brother, Guan Qiong, didn’t stop, however. He suddenly flicked out a Star Trace Whip, lashing it toward the incoming Rong Taotao!

With a casual wave of his hand, Rong Taotao summoned a Heaven-piercing Halberd from a swirling cloud of frost and snow.

Instead of retreating, Rong Taotao pushed forward, instantly activating Snow Dance and abruptly surging in speed.

"Huh?" Guan Qiong’s face filled with astonishment as his twelve-to-thirteen-meter-long Star Trace Whip swept past.

Rong Taotao stomped, launching himself forward to a point inside the whip’s arc. But instead of continuing his charge, he planted his Heaven-piercing Halberd in the ground?

"SWISH..."

Rong Taotao ducked. The middle of the Star Trace Whip struck the Halberd Shaft. Pivoting around the shaft, the whip was redirected, swinging right back toward Guan Qiong?

"Whoa, nice move!"

"Very creative, huh?"

"He must have activated Snow Dance. That’s why he suddenly got so much faster!"

"No matter how fast he is, he’s still just a Soul Warrior. He can only barely keep up with a Soul Captain’s speed... Whoa, what’s this?"

Amidst the audience’s gasps of surprise, Rong Taotao summoned another Long Halberd into his hand while leaving the first one planted. He shot forward, thrusting it straight at Guan Qiong’s legs!

Rong Taotao’s movements were frighteningly fluid. At the same moment the Star Trace Whip swung back around the planted Halberd Shaft, the Long Halberd in Rong Taotao’s hand was already aimed at Guan Qiong’s thigh!

At that very moment!

"Battle!!!"

The challenge thundered through the arena, so rousing it made one’s blood boil with excitement!

Guan Qiong’s expression turned grim. He sprang backward, retreating rapidly. "A fight you want? A fight you’ll get!"

Clearly, Guan Qiong was fully prepared. Inside the Snow Prison Arena, he took off at a run.

Inside the Snow Prison Arena, Gao Lingwei’s eyes narrowed. ’What’s his plan?’

’Is he running? Avoiding the fight?’

’In a small Arena like this, where can he run? He’s just stalling for time... Wait!’

In the Snow Prison Arena, Guan Qiong fled as fast as he could, trying to stall for as much time as possible. Meanwhile, on the physical field, he rapidly retreated, dodging Rong Taotao’s attacks.

But the older brother, Guan Cang, was charging straight for Gao Lingwei!

His long whip swept out, lashing viciously!

Of course, Rong Taotao couldn’t just let Guan Cang brush past him. He halted his pursuit and swung the Long Halberd in a wide arc.

"Get lost!" Guan Cang roared. Since the match began, the brothers’ demeanor had been the polar opposite of their pre-match friendliness. Their actions were wild, and they even exuded a faint, imposing aura.

"BANG!"

Guan Cang stomped his foot, and in an instant, the snow on the turf swirled up as starlike fragments burst in all directions!

Star-Stepping Split!

Rong Taotao was shocked. He threw an arm in front of his face, forced back several steps by the powerful shockwave.

At the exact moment the older brother, Guan Cang, closed in on Gao Lingwei, the younger brother, Guan Qiong, abruptly stopped running inside the Snow Prison Arena. He spun around and charged headfirst at Gao Lingwei!

Inside the Snow Prison Arena, Gao Lingwei’s expression stiffened as her Great Xia Dragon Sparrow clashed violently with Guan Qiong’s fist.

"Hsss..."

"Ugh." On the physical field, both of them grimaced in pain, their movements growing stiff.

It didn’t matter that Guan Qiong’s body stiffened—on the physical field, he had already retreated far away. For Gao Lingwei, however, this sudden sluggishness was fatal!

The older brother, Guan Cang, had just reached her.

"Ever been insta-killed, Snow Realm Soul Martial Artist!?" Guan Cang roared. "Those Ocean Soul Martial Artists have made you two soft!!!"

Guan Cang didn’t punch, kick, or even swing his whip. Instead, he simply thrust both palms forward, unleashing two pillars of Star Wave Stream!

"Is that so?" Gao Lingwei tried to leap backward, but the excruciating pain still hampered her movements.

Gao Lingwei threw up a wall of Ice Glass with one hand as Iron Snow Armor instantly materialized on her body. She tried to spring to the side, but the sudden jolt of pain caused a slight delay.

"SHATTER~"

Gao Lingwei dodged one Star Wave Stream, but the other slammed squarely into her.

Ice Glass truly couldn’t be relied upon. Against a Starfield Soul Skill like Star Wave Stream, it could be described as something that "shatters on contact"!

In an instant, the dense Star Wave Stream slammed into Gao Lingwei’s chest, the immense force sending her flying!

"WHOOSH~" A Heaven-piercing Halberd shot through the air!

Guan Cang showed astonishing combat instincts. With a sharp tilt of his head, he narrowly dodged the Snow-made Heaven-piercing Halberd.

As he continued his charge toward Gao Lingwei, he shot a cold glance at the nearby Rong Taotao, leaving him with a look of utter disdain. "Hmph."

An act like that was a blatant insult!

But Rong Taotao didn’t lose his cool or act rashly. After running interference on Guan Cang, he immediately resumed his charge toward Guan Qiong.

Before the match, Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei had already decided on their strategy: target the younger brother, Guan Qiong, and take him down!

Unfortunately, the Guan Brothers had a counter-strategy of their own. They too had used the Snow Prison Arena to create an opening.

"You can’t even get near me!" Guan Qiong’s face was savage. In the Snow Prison Arena, he started running again. On the physical field, as Rong Taotao’s Long Halberd thrust toward him, he viciously stomped on the ground!

’Star-Stepping Split?’

’No, not Star-Stepping Split... Is it Chaotic Star Shock?’

Rong Taotao’s charging figure suddenly faltered. The ground wasn’t actually trembling, but for him, it felt like he was experiencing a genuine earthquake.

A turbulent current of Soul Power was churning madly beneath his feet, and Rong Taotao’s expression changed abruptly.

He immediately thrust the Long Halberd in his hand into the ground, using it to pole-vault forward. Riding his momentum, he launched a kick at Guan Qiong.

"A joke! You think I can’t get near you???"

’In my hands is the Heaven-piercing Halberd!’

’HEAVEN! PIERCING! HALBERD!’