Master of Nine Stars

Methods were irrelevant. Public opinion, even more so. The only thing that mattered was the result!

And Ji Qingmei was only after one thing: results!

Si Huan Nian glanced at Ji Qingmei’s team. He knew full well they were the team that had placed second in Shilou and Shilan’s group, barely missing the cut to advance.

Even though Shilou and Shilan were just a duo, their coordination was flawless. They were the former top middle school students from Chang’an City, with a fierce and aggressive Sword Technique. The fact that these three could clash with the Shi Family Sisters for dozens of rounds meant they were, of course, exceptionally skilled.

After all, while they were students of the Martial Arts Class, they were still members of the Junior Class—the best of the best.

”Hey! Juanjuan!” Shi Lan’s voice suddenly rang out. She squeezed through the crowd, jogging onto the field with a Great Xia Dragon Sparrow in hand.

”Thanks.” Rong Taotao slung the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow across his waist. Right after the challenge had been set, he had asked Shi Lan to fetch the blade from the training hall.

”Don’t mention it. Go get ’em! Wreck them!” Shi Lan said, shooting Ji Qingmei a blatant look of contempt before turning to leave.

Seizing the opportunity, Xia Fangran suddenly called out, ”Li Ziyi! Lu Mang!”

”Here!” ”Here!”

Li Ziyi and Lu Mang stepped out from the crowd of spectating students, hands raised high.

Lu Mang even felt a flicker of excitement. ’Is he going to let me go help Rong Taotao?’

For the usually taciturn and even somewhat aloof Lu Mang, only three words echoed in his heart: ’I! Am! Willing!’

Without a doubt, Lu Mang and Rong Taotao shared a ride-or-die friendship.

Back during the entrance exam in the vast Snowfield, Jiao Tengda had suggested abandoning the injured Lu Mang to increase the team’s mobility and secure a higher score.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Rong Taotao had flatly refused and made it clear he would protect Lu Mang. From that day forward, the tone of their friendship was set.

Lu Mang was still imagining fighting side-by-side with Rong Taotao, helping him out so he wouldn’t get pushed around by the students from the Martial Arts Class. But then...

Xia Fangran turned to Lu Mang and Li Ziyi and said, ”Watch carefully and learn!”

Lu Mang: ”...”

Li Ziyi: ???

It was... so infuriating!!!

In front of this huge crowd, you call me out by name just to tell me to watch and learn? Li Ziyi just about fell apart on the spot!

”Pfft... Hahahaha...” From beside him, Sun Xingyu’s irrepressible laughter burst out. Seeing Li Ziyi’s mortified expression, she just couldn’t help herself.

Instantly, Li Ziyi’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red.

”TWEET!” Si Huan Nian blew his whistle.

The match began!

Although night had still fallen over Pine Soul Soul Martial, the Martial Arts Arena was brilliantly illuminated. Huge searchlights lit the area as bright as day. Combined with the light campus winds, the conditions were perfect for a duel.

Ji Qingmei and his teammates didn’t think much of it, as they were on campus every day. But for Rong Taotao, who was used to appearing amidst wind and snow, these fighting conditions were practically a luxury.

SWOOSH!

Ji Qingmei and his two teammates immediately crouched down, forming their respective weapons out of the thin layer of snow on the ground.

Rong Taotao instinctively moved to summon his weapon, but then had an idea. He also crouched down, ”picking up” a weapon from the ground.

Xia Fangran and Si Huan Nian wore odd expressions. In fact, all the students from the Soul Class looked puzzled. Because... long before Rong Taotao had left for his training expedition, he was already capable of creating his own frost and snow.

”Who the hell are you pretending for? The whole Junior Class knows your Soul Technique is already at the two-star level!” Ji Qingmei, on the right and wielding a Snow-made Longsword, charged toward Rong Taotao. His female teammate Shen Bing, who was on the left and also holding a sword, moved with astonishing synchronization—even their steps were identical.

Behind them, the slightly taller Chen Hongbo followed half a step behind, carrying a snow-made long spear. The three of them formed a V-formation as they bore down on Rong Taotao!

”What did you just say!?” Rong Taotao’s expression darkened. He pulled a Heaven-piercing Halberd from the thin layer of snow and, instead of retreating, charged forward to meet Ji Qingmei!

Si Huan Nian’s brow furrowed slightly. Ji Qingmei certainly had a foul mouth, but he probably hadn’t meant to directly insult Rong Taotao’s mother; it was likely just a habit.

But with things like this, intent didn’t matter. What mattered was how the person on the receiving end took it.

And Rong Taotao had clearly shown his reaction!

CLANG!

With a sharp ring of metal, Rong Taotao took advantage of his long-poled weapon, stepping forward into a horse stance and thrusting fiercely at Ji Qingmei on the right side of the formation!

Ji Qingmei immediately parried, speaking again. ”Are you deaf?! Or do you just not get it? I! SAID! WHO! THE! HELL! ARE! YOU! PRETENDING! FOR!”

’Perhaps... this is his tactic? To make Rong Taotao angry and lose his cool?’

If that was the case, then he would have to take full responsibility for whatever happened next.

Ji Qingmei’s trio held their formation. The instant Rong Taotao thrust with his long halberd, the female teammate to his front left, Shen Bing, decisively lunged forward with her sword.

Rong Taotao, however, paid her no mind at all. He even abandoned his halberd and charged forward?

In the split second he charged, he not only dodged Shen Bing’s lunging sword, but the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow at his waist was already unsheathed in a reverse grip!

Fast!

So incredibly fast!

Ji Qingmei didn’t even have time to react before he heard a sharp CLANG!

From the back of the V-formation, Chen Hongbo’s reflexes were lightning-fast. With all his might, he thrust his long spear forward to block the attack aimed at Ji Qingmei.

The Great Xia Dragon Sparrow clashed with the snow-made long spear, but Rong Taotao’s eyes remained locked fiercely on Ji Qingmei!