Master of Nine Stars

Days at the school passed one by one. The students of the Junior Class attended their academic and Martial Arts classes every day. Though it was tedious, their lives were full.

Li Lie returned, so Zhao Tang, Lu Mang, and Jiao Tengda once again had a teacher for their practical classes. Their morning and evening training sessions also had a dedicated instructor.

However, Gao Lingwei and Rong Taotao's practical class teacher, Xia Fangran, had gone off fooling around somewhere and still hadn't shown his face.

But the two of them didn't look for Xia Fangran. Their self-training was going just fine. Besides... what they needed now wasn't training, but to quiet their minds.

And so, whenever it was time for training class, Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei would always go to the north side of the Martial Arts Hall. There, in the deserted Snow Forest, they used their Heaven-piercing Halberds as brushes to practice calligraphy in the snow, calming their hearts.

Sometimes, after eating dinner at 6 p.m., the pair would stay in that small forest, writing until the lights in the Martial Arts Hall went out at 10 p.m....

Finally, Rong Taotao stopped writing just his own name. He followed the poems Gao Lingwei wrote, matching her pace and tracing her characters.

Setting aside how his calligraphy was progressing, he had certainly memorized a lot of ancient poetry.

Da Wei seemed to be very fond of frontier poetry. But one time, after being spotted by Si Huan Nian, who was watching from a second-floor window, Gao Lingwei was forced to change the poems she was writing.

The whole point of their school life was to let the two of them find some peace. But Gao Lingwei's lines like "A hundred battles on the sands shatter iron armor" and "Mountains crumble and ghosts wail, hating the general" made Si Huan Nian repeatedly call for them to stop.

Afterward, Gao Lingwei switched to writing, "Goose, goose, goose, you crane your neck and sing to the sky..."

Well... although it was very wholesome and relaxing, her calligraphy style, with its sharp, aggressive strokes, was a complete mismatch for the content!

'This is killing me! Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to just copy these characters?'

If this kept up, Rong Taotao felt like he was going to lose his mind.

For over a week, Rong Taotao had felt that he was on the verge of advancing to the Peak of Soul Warrior, but he was always just a little bit short. Just a tiny bit.

The school's decision had also been passed down. As the team that had qualified from the Outer League, the brothers Yuan Tianri and Yuan Tiancheng would be led by their original staff to compete in the national league.

Similarly, Gao Lingwei and Rong Taotao would still be led by Xia Fangran and Yang Chunxi.

With only a week left before the competition began, Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei were ready. They packed their bags, planning to first visit Gao Lingwei's parents in Songbai Town before heading to the Imperial Capital City to compete.

However, on the day before they were to leave school, Rong Yang contacted Rong Taotao.

At that moment, Rong Taotao was still in the small forest practicing calligraphy with Gao Lingwei, and the voice that suddenly rang out in his mind gave him a start.

"Taotao."

"Huh?" Rong Taotao's hands froze. He straightened up, leaning on his Long Halberd with one hand.

Rong Yang: "I heard the Outer Region Soul Martial Association is giving you a lot of support. They rewarded you with two very good Soul Pearls."

"Ah, yeah," Rong Taotao replied in his mind. "Da Wei's Ice Crystal Evil Face Soul Skill was a bit redundant with her Frost Fearful Face, so I had her swap her eye slot's Ice Crystal Squirrel Soul Pearl for a Snow Grudge Spirit Soul Pearl."

Rong Yang asked, "What about the Bailing Tree Maiden's Soul Pearl?"

Rong Taotao: "I'm keeping it. I put it away with the Outer League trophy."

Rong Yang was silent for a moment before speaking, "Chunxi called me yesterday. I got a general idea of your opponents in the national competition. Many of them have Spiritual Soul Techniques and Illusion Soul Skills."

"Mhm," Rong Taotao said, his expression turning serious. "Since we've made it to the national competition, it means my opponents are all top-eight contestants from the major tournament regions."

This is a real concentration of geniuses. Of course, many students will have Soul Pearls and Soul Skills in their forehead and eye slots."

"Here's what I'm thinking." Rong Yang gathered his thoughts. "Since the competition hasn't started yet, you can change your Soul Pearl and Soul Skill configuration."

Rong Taotao's heart stirred. "Did you find another good Soul Pearl for me?"

Rong Yang: "For the national competition, you can first swap out the Soul Pearl in your forehead slot and replace it with the Bailing Tree Maiden's Soul Pearl."

That way, you'll have some resistance against enemies' Spiritual and Illusion Technique Type Soul Skills."

"Uh..."

Rong Yang: "Soul Pearls are a Soul Martial Artist's weapons. You have to know how to use your resources wisely. You only get to participate in a competition like this once in your life, and I don't want your journey to end at the nationals.

As for our Songxue Wise Elder Soul Pearl, we can embed it again after the competition is over.

Besides, your Soul Technique level is advancing quickly. You're about to reach the fourth star, so we'll need to switch to a master-tier forehead Soul Pearl soon anyway.

When you leave the Snow Realm to compete in the Imperial Capital, you'll be back in normal society. You'll also have a team leader and teachers protecting you, so I'm not too worried. It's fine to temporarily sever the connection between us."

Rong Taotao picked up his Heaven-piercing Halberd, plunged it forcefully into the snow, and leaned his body against the Halberd Shaft, falling deep into thought.

To his right, Gao Lingwei also stopped writing. She looked at Rong Taotao curiously, wondering what he was thinking. 'Since he's taking a break...'

Gao Lingwei took the opportunity to walk over to the snow where they had been writing. Waving her hand, she scattered sheets of frost, filling in and smoothing out the snow, tidying up her "draft paper."

After a short while, Rong Taotao suddenly spoke up. "Da Wei, my brother wants me to swap in the Bailing Tree Maiden Soul Pearl."

Gao Lingwei nodded. "Of course, that's a good idea."

Rong Taotao: "But then... I won't be able to connect with you telepathically during battles..."