Master of Nine Stars

"If it needs replacing, we’ll replace it," Rong Taotao said, standing up. He walked behind the Snow Lion Tiger and grabbed its thick, long tail. "I don’t know much about the competitions in the Outer Region, but the Soul Pearl Principal Mei gave us is definitely top-quality."

As he spoke, Rong Taotao began dragging the Snow Lion Tiger by the tail toward the mouth of the cave. He’d only pulled it half a meter when he turned to Gao Lingwei with a look of mock complaint. "Aren’t you going to get down?"

Gao Lingwei was still lost in thought. At his words, she quickly jumped off the Snow Lion Tiger, strode to Rong Taotao’s side, and grabbed the tail.

Rong Taotao: "Coach Xia, Coach Li, let’s rest here tonight. We can get something to eat first."

As he spoke, the two coaches emerged from the deep forest.

Xia Fangran: "Not a bad performance. You executed your tactics and teamwork well."

Rong Taotao: "If you want to eat, just say so. Don’t feel like you have to praise me for it."

Xia Fangran: "..."

About ten minutes later, the group had settled down inside the natural cave and started a bonfire.

Interestingly, though both were Snow Realm Soul Beasts, the Snow General Candle and the Snowball Cat had very different reactions. The Snowball Cat snuggled in Gao Lingwei’s arms to warm itself by the bonfire, whereas the Snow General Candle kept its distance, unwilling to approach the flames.

"Go on, take this to your master." Gao Lingwei handed Rong Ling a branch skewered with a piece of roasted meat.

Rong Ling hefted the "large meat skewer" with both hands and ran toward the cave entrance.

At the mouth of the cave, Rong Taotao sat cross-legged in the snow. A cluster of White Lantern Paper Cages floated above his head, a breathtakingly beautiful sight.

"Master, Taotao," Rong Ling called out, scampering over. It looked at Rong Taotao with curiosity.

In front of Rong Taotao... hm, was a hand made of snow?

The snowy hand emerged from the ground. Though it was made entirely of frost and snow, it was otherwise identical to a human hand.

The arm was slender, the hand even more so, with long fingers. Faintly visible were the shallow lines of its palm and the subtle outlines of fingernails at its tips.

’How magical. Is this the hand of a Snow Charm Demon?’

Rong Taotao casually patted Rong Ling’s little floating helmet. "You eat first."

As he spoke, he reached out and gently pinched the pads of the snowy fingers.

’Hmm...’

’This snow hand really is beautiful. You could even look at it as a sculpture, a work of art.’

’But the frost and snow is packed so tightly, it’s completely solid. Not soft at all. Not as nice to squeeze as Da Wei’s fingers...’

’And compared to a human hand, the Snow Charm Demon’s is a bit large. The fingers are much longer, too.’

’Longer is good, though. Yes, longer is good...’

’It’s more convenient for grabbing things, of course.’

’Look at the Snow Lion Tiger’s limbs, they’re so thick. If it were Sun Xingyu’s little hands trying to use this Soul Skill, it’d be useless. They wouldn’t be able to grab on at all.’

Rong Ling tore off a strip of meat and ran over to the Snow Charm Demon’s hand. It strained to look up at the arm and hand that had burst from the ground.

An idea struck Rong Taotao. The snowy hand in front of him swiftly lowered, its arm sinking section by section into the snow. The hand clenched into the shape of a tiger’s claw and tilted back.

’A Snow Hand Throne?’

Rong Taotao picked up the majestic little fatty and placed it in the Snow Charm Demon’s hand.

’Ah, perfect!’

While munching on the meat, Rong Ling shifted its bottom, curiously examining its special new seat.

"Rise..."

Rong Taotao raised his palm, and the snowy hand shot toward the heavens. Its arm extended endlessly, carrying the little fatty, who was still taking huge bites of meat, up into the sky...

"Hm?" Rong Taotao’s eyes lit up. He suddenly felt the Soul Power within him begin to stir, and the Lotus Petal in his Dantian grew restless as well.

’Am I about to advance?’

For a moment, giddy with the wonderful news, Rong Taotao completely forgot that Rong Ling was still sitting on the Snow Hand Throne, flying higher and higher into the night sky...

Meanwhile, on the snowy hand, Rong Ling was ecstatic. It gazed up at the night sky, its Shuangxue humming with power, as it cheered loudly, "Taotao! Taotao! Taotao..."

...