Master of Nine Stars

August 4th, Aihui City, morning.

Rong Taotao changed his clothes inside the airport. Dressed in a thick down jacket, he strode out of the exit.

The moment he stepped outside, a blast of cold air hit him, and Rong Taotao couldn’t help but shiver.

His Snow Realm Soul Technique Heart was already at the three-star level, providing excellent resistance to the cold. But this sudden, head-on gust of wind still taught Rong Taotao a lesson...

"Haaa..." Rong Taotao breathed out a puff of white air and looked up at the winter sun, veiled by a cold mist.

’Hometown, I’m back!’

’Still the same familiar feeling...’

"Hello?"

"Hm?" Rong Taotao turned his head and saw two young women who looked to be in their early twenties.

"Are you... Rong Taotao? You must be Rong Taotao, with that head of naturally curly hair..." one of the girls said, seemingly answering her own question.

"Yeah." Rong Taotao nodded, looking at the girl with curiosity. ’I need to be on high alert.’

There was no doubt that ever since he had used the Lotus Petal in the Outer League, he had become more of a "target." Many people would covet his Snow Realm Treasure.

Of course, saying that was just fooling himself. Using the Lotus Petal in the Outer League had merely revealed its existence to the general public. Even if Rong Taotao hadn’t used it, the people who were meant to know about his possession of the Lotus Petal already knew.

He had already used it unintentionally twice at school, in full view of everyone. The news had spread long ago. He must have been on the radar of certain interested parties for a while, which was why Xia Fangran had been personally appointed by Principal Mei to act as Rong Taotao’s full-time bodyguard.

"This is great! It really is Rong Taotao! Wow, you’re so tall! You looked so small on TV, I almost didn’t recognize you." The young woman stomped her foot in excitement. "Can I have your autograph?"

Rong Taotao: ???

’Me? Small?’

’Is it because my opponents were all so huge? Or is it because... ugh, I was standing next to Gao Lingwei?’

’I’m not that much shorter than Gao Lingwei, am I? I’m almost as tall as her...’

’Can’t you people give a 16-year-old some time to grow!?’

"Alright." Rong Taotao took the pen and notebook the girl offered.

There was nothing written on the blank page, but as Rong Taotao’s pen touched the paper, he seemed to see Gao Lingwei’s calligraphy in his mind’s eye.

Just like that, following the strokes he remembered, he sketched out his name in large script.

The signature, "Rong Taotao," was a work of powerful, fluid calligraphy, with strokes like iron and hooks like silver.

It was a complete mismatch with his harmless appearance.

"Wow..." the girl breathed in admiration. If she hadn’t seen him write it with her own eyes, she would never have associated such handwriting with Rong Taotao.

CLICK~ As Rong Taotao was writing, he heard the sound of a phone camera.

He handed the notebook back to the girl, then smiled at the other one. He struck his signature pose, grinning and giving a thumbs-up.

CLICK~

"Keep it up, Rong Taotao! We’re waiting for you to shine in the national competition!"

"Taotao! All of us Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists are proud of you. Keep pushing forward!"

"Mhm." Rong Taotao waved goodbye and watched the two girls walk away, finally shaking his head with a smile.

"Practiced for so long just to finally put it to use?" A teasing voice came unexpectedly from his side as an arm wrapped around his shoulders.

Rong Taotao turned to see Gao Lingwei with a playful smile.

He chuckled. "Ah, it was my name, but it was your handwriting."

Gao Lingwei froze for a second. She really hadn’t expected Rong Taotao to say something like that...

’Why does my heart feel... a little, um, sweet?’

"Tsk tsk~ Look at you, all famous now~" A voice full of Yin-Yang Strange Qi came from behind.

Rong Taotao turned and retorted with a pout, "Well now~ Mr. Great Soul School is so fast. Finally done changing your clothes, are we~"

Xia Fangran: "..."

It just goes to show, you have to use magic to defeat magic!

Before Xia Fangran could say anything else, Yang Chunxi at his side summoned a Snow Night Shock and said with a smile, "Let’s go. Home."

’Home?’

For Xia Fangran and Yang Chunxi, who were stationed in the Snow Realm year-round, Songjiang Soul Martial University was their home.

Four people, three mounts. They set off at once, heading for Pine Soul Soul Martial.

It was a nearly eight-hour ride from Aihui City to Pine Soul Soul Martial. By the time they got back to the school, it would likely be dark.

The journey was uneventful, but it’s worth mentioning that as the group of four galloped through the wilderness, traveling through the vast wind and snow, the Snow General Candle inside Rong Taotao’s body could no longer contain itself.

To the Snow General Candle, Rong Taotao’s body was indeed its "home," a home where it felt it belonged.

Having been nourished by the Lotus Petal, it had been very peaceful during the Outer League. But upon returning to the Snow Realm, its spirits livened up.

Feeling a faint restlessness from the Soul Slot on his elbow, Rong Taotao summoned the Snow General Candle.

The moment this little fatty appeared, its body of Shuangxue HUMMED, seeming very excited!

The small cape on its back fluttered in the wind. As the steed galloped, the cape flapped right in Rong Taotao’s face...

’Has it grown again in the half-month I haven’t seen it?’

Rong Taotao held the little fatty, cupping its armor in his hands and turning it over to look at it from left and right. The Snow General Candle must be about 40 cm tall now, right?

Feeling the Snow General Candle struggle, Rong Taotao passed it forward. "Da Wei, let it sit in front. This is probably its first time riding a horse; it’s very excited."

"Okay." Gao Lingwei took the little fatty with a backhand grab and placed it in front of her.

However, the Snow General Candle’s view was blocked by Hu Bugui’s neck. It struggled to climb up, its semi-corporeal Frost Snow Palm solidifying to grip Hu Bugui’s beautiful, smooth mane as it scrambled upward.

Finally, the little fatty climbed onto Hu Bugui’s head and stood there proudly.

Dressed in white armor and a white cloak, it stood tall in the fierce wind.

Because of Hu Bugui’s incredible speed, the Snow General Candle’s pair of candle-like eyes even left a trail of Ice Candle fire in the air. The lines of flame drifted through the vast snow, lingering for a long time—it was devastatingly beautiful...

’Is it really okay to be this cool at such a young age?’

Gao Lingwei looked back with a smile and said, "You still haven’t given it a name."

Rong Taotao hid his head behind Gao Lingwei’s back, letting her block the wind and snow for him. "Snow General Candle is already a beautiful name."

Gao Lingwei: "That’s the name of its species."

"Oh... then how about General-General? Or Candle-Candle?"

Gao Lingwei: ???

’For such an awe-inspiring general, you’re going to give it a name like that?’

"It could take my surname and your name. For example, Rong Ling? Or Rong Wei? ’Wei’ as in ’mighty’ might be a bit better, right?" Rong Taotao continued.

Gao Lingwei: "Rong Ling, Rong Wei... those two have a certain gravitas. You choose."

Rong Taotao: "Let’s let our Little General choose. After we get back to school, we’ll write both names in the snow and see which one it likes."

Gao Lingwei: "It doesn’t know Chinese. How could it possibly know which one it likes?"

Snow General Candle: "Da Wei."

Gao Lingwei: ???

Up ahead, standing on Hu Bugui’s head, the Snow General Candle’s semi-corporeal Shuangxue body HUMMED again, and it uttered another strange sound: "Taotao."

Rong Taotao’s heart leaped with joy. "Holy cow... Its intelligence is no worse than Xu Taiping’s, is it? It’s been inside my body all this time, listening to our conversations. It even knows what we call each other!"

Although the Snow General Candle was only sputtering out words one by one, it was clear that it knew what it was saying and wasn’t just spouting nonsense.

The beautiful lines of fire trailing from the Snow General Candle’s eyes swept over their heads as its Shuangxue body vibrated once more. "Rong Taotao. Gao Lingwei. Rong Ling."

Up ahead, Xia Fangran turned to look at the Snow General Candle standing on the horse’s head, filled with emotion. ’Comparisons are the thief of joy!’

A humanoid creature as a Soul Pet was something most people wouldn’t even dare to dream of. And yet, Rong Taotao had somehow managed to scoop up such a precious and rare Soul Beast...

’Sigh... His parents sure picked a good name. Why else would you be called Rong Taotao...’

Of course, this was just what Xia Fangran was thinking; he didn’t say it out loud.

Looking at the little Snow General Candle, although it was young, its intelligence was impressive. Judging by its personality, it also seemed quite calm and steady. If nurtured properly, it would surely become a great general in the future.

Most importantly, the Snow General Candle was said to possess "bloodline suppression."

Within the Snow Realm Army, the Snow General Candle was a commander that led armies of Snow Corpses and Ghosts!

Of course, Rong Taotao’s Snow General Candle was on the human side. It couldn’t just go and directly command the Snow Corpses and Ghosts from the Snow Realm Army, turning enemies on the battlefield.

And wild, unowned Snow Corpses and Ghosts wouldn’t just bow their heads and obey the Snow General Candle upon first meeting.

But there was no doubt that the Snow General Candle’s presence could intimidate the armies of Snow Corpses and Ghosts.

Given some time for the Snow General Candle to flex its power and establish its dominance, the subservient genes hidden in the very bones of the Snow Corpses and Ghosts would slowly begin to emerge.

...

Night fell, and Rong Taotao’s group finally returned to Songjiang Soul Martial University.

Looking at the familiar streets and the familiar snowy night, Rong Taotao was truly filled with emotion.

So much had happened in the past half-month.

When he left Songjiang Soul Martial University, he was still a villain plagued by doubts, a charlatan who had deceived the world.

Now, upon his return, he was a socially recognized Snow Realm Soul Martial Artist, and even more so, the respected and beloved number one of the Outer Region.

"Principal Mei wants us to go to his office the moment we return," Yang Chunxi said, turning to Rong Taotao. "Principal Mei wanted to see you last time, but he had to cancel because he was too busy. This time, you have to go."

Yang Chunxi knew that Rong Taotao didn’t want to face Principal Mei Hongyu. In fact, every single student at the school was extremely deferential toward Mei Hongyu—or rather, more fearful than deferential.

This included some of the teachers. After all, the "Death Qi" emanating from Principal Mei Hongyu was too heavy, his presence too oppressive.

"No problem!" Rong Taotao nodded.

’I have to see him! Even if I have to grit my teeth!’

’I still need the old principal to reward me with Soul Pearls!’

"Oh?" Xia Fangran looked at Rong Taotao with considerable curiosity, letting his steed walk through the gates of Songjiang Soul Martial University. He laughed, "The kid’s finally gotten a clue?"

Rong Taotao waved his hand magnanimously. "The principal loves me!"

"Rong Taotao is a badass!"

"Whoo-hoo~! Our juniors are amazing! You’ve really brought honor to our Pine Soul Soul Martial!"

"Rong Taotao!!! You’re the... uh, no doubt about it! The undisputed King of Guanwai!"

Rong Taotao turned his head. Under the snowy night sky, the streetlights illuminated the fluttering snowflakes and a few dedicated students guarding the gate of Songjiang Soul Martial University.

They were shouting loudly at Rong Taotao, and the once-quiet school entrance suddenly became lively.

Among them was a senior who looked like he had been standing guard at the gate for a long time, his whole body covered in Shuangxue.

The senior raised his right fist high, aiming it in Rong Taotao’s direction. "I am from the Snow Realm! From the short days, and the long nights!"

Rong Taotao also made a fist, nodding with a smile and bumping fists with the unknown senior from across the distance.

Unknown, but it didn’t matter.

They all shared a common name: Snow Realm Soul Martial Artist.

...

Thank you to brother Kazach for the massive ’Silver Alliance Leader’ one-million-point reward! I’m a little stunned... uh, thank you for your love for this book, and thank you for your support of Yu. Please join the group chat; the link is in the book’s description page.

Yu’s attitude toward writing is clear for all to see. As for my writing ability, well, I’ll keep working hard! I hope I can live up to everyone’s expectations and love, and bring you all more interesting stories. Thanks again for the big shot’s support. *[cupped-fist salute]* (´▽`)ﾉ