Master of Nine Stars

New Year’s Eve was supposed to be a time of celebration and peace, but on this bustling night market street, a life-or-death battle was unfolding right in front of a small beef noodle shop!

Amidst the crowd scattering in a panic, Rong Yang and Yang Chunxi shot into the air, chasing after Rong Taotao. But as they moved, Rong Yang’s eyes caught sight of a rather familiar figure.

That person was hiding within the crowd, pretending to be a panicked civilian, trying to fish in troubled waters.

On the chaotic and crowded street, even as the man fled, his route led toward the beef noodle shop. Though not as conspicuous as the other criminals who had stormed the shop, this man was undoubtedly the most insidious snake!

Rong Yang’s expression changed slightly. ’A Poacher... code name Mi Tu?’

Here in the northern Snow Realm, under its unique weather and geographical conditions, poaching was a rampant problem that could never be fully stamped out. Although the Snow Burning Army and the Soul Police cracked down hard on criminal activities, the lure of immense profits always led some to take the risk.

Within the lands of the Snow Realm, the network of Poacher teams alone was intricate and vast.

Setting aside the smaller Poacher teams and the international Poacher Organizations running rampant, there were at least three well-established and large-scale Poacher teams operating within the northern territory alone!

And this guy, code-named Mi Tu, was a high-ranking member of an organization named ”Money.”

Money. A single word, simple and clear. They were telling the whole world exactly what they wanted.

Well... very honest of them!

’How could a high-priority target like him have snuck into Songbai Town?’

’Even if Mi Tu’s disguise was perfect...’

Without a second thought, Rong Yang charged straight at Mi Tu. A Soul School-level fighter was not someone others could handle!

Mi Tu, still disguised as a civilian, quickly moved toward the side of the street. Though his face wore a look of terror, his ears twitched slightly from time to time, as if he were listening intently for something.

Then, as if he had made up his mind, Mi Tu clutched his head, looking like he was scared senseless, and broke into a run, heading straight for the noodle shop.

BANG! Carrying a swirl of wind and snow, Rong Yang brandished his snow-white Great Saber and smashed down from the sky.

Mi Tu’s body stiffened abruptly, and he rapidly retreated!

As he backed away again and again, he shielded his eyes with his forearms, covertly observing his attacker.

”Mi Tu!?” Rong Yang roared, charging forward.

Mi Tu lowered the arms that had been hiding his face. The panic was gone, replaced by a strange, twisted smile. ”Brother,” he said, ”we’re all just trying to make a living...”

Rong Yang immediately understood what he meant!

Gao Lingwei’s existence—or more precisely, the existence of her Soul Pet, the Snowball Cat—was cutting off the Poacher teams’ source of income!

The Snowball Cat’s ability to see through blizzards and share its vision with its master had not only changed the way Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists fought Snow Realm Soul Beasts, but it had also completely upended the Poachers’ way of life!

Poachers, who had once used the cover of night and snowstorms to hide their movements, now had nowhere to hide under Gao Lingwei’s watchful eyes.

For this band of desperados who cared only for money, a being that could so completely disrupt the ”status quo of their industry” was someone who had to be eliminated!

To block someone’s path to wealth is like killing their parents.

And for a Poacher, you could kill their parents, but you could never, ever block their path to wealth!

”This street is full of civilians. You’d better think this through,” Mi Tu said, his voice dripping with menace. The feigned panic was gone, his expression now grim and dark.

”He has,” a soft female voice said from beside Rong Yang.

Mi Tu subconsciously glanced to the side, only to see a northern Beauty with bright eyes and pearly teeth, and... her pitch-black eyes, which swirled with an eerie light.

Yang Chunxi’s eyes met Mi Tu’s. In that instant, both their expressions changed drastically, as if they had met their match. No one knew what they were experiencing in each other’s Illusion Techniques.

Seeing this, Rong Yang immediately charged!

Meanwhile, inside the noodle shop...

The scalding noodle soup Rong Taotao had thrown earlier might have been effective against other Soul Martial Artists, but for a Snow Realm Soul Martial Artist, it was a trivial matter to deal with.

A wave of frost spread out, and no matter how hot the soup was, it was instantly chilled.

But for Rong Taotao, while the soup could go cold, their lives... absolutely could not!

CLANG!

The snow-forged Great Xia Dragon Sparrow smashed against the Poacher’s Great Saber.

The opponent came with overwhelming force, sending Rong Taotao sliding back two meters. A layer of frost instantly coated the noodle shop’s tiled floor where he passed.

”Destroy your Soul Pets, and I won’t kill you!” a sharp female voice shouted. It was the only woman among the four Poachers who had rushed into the shop.

WHOOSH...

A Shuangxue Vortex slowly rose from beneath Rong Taotao’s feet, increasing both his movement and attack speed by a notch!

The Great Xia Dragon Sparrow in his hand instantly transformed into a Heaven-piercing Halberd, which he swung in a wide arc before him.

The Poachers in front of him hastily retreated...

At this very moment, the small noodle shop seemed to transform into the Snowfield Cave from months ago.

Back then, Gao Lingwei had held the pass alone. Today, it was Rong Taotao’s turn!

”Hiss... urgh...” Gao Lingwei sat on the floor, her back against the noodle shop’s counter. She clutched her head with both hands, her eyes wide and bloodshot, apparently suffering from immense Mental Damage.

Her slender fingers pressed so tightly against her head that her knuckles had turned white, making one worry that she might crush her own skull.