Master of Nine Stars

”Nan, what does your Star Fragment do?” Rong Taotao asked curiously.

Nan Cheng thought for a moment, then said, ”If I were to use it as an offensive weapon, anyone who touches it would have their body break apart into shattered stars.”

Rong Taotao jumped in alarm and quickly retracted his finger.

Nan Cheng gave Rong Taotao a reproachful look. ’How could I possibly harm him?’

She wished her daughter would stick by Rong Taotao’s side for the rest of her life, so he could iron out all her spoiled and willful ways.

Rong Taotao stared blankly at Nan Cheng. ”It’s that powerful? You’ll shatter into stars just by touching it?”

”Well, it’s not quite that dramatic. It still takes some time.” Nan Cheng smiled. ”Strictly speaking, this isn’t an offensive-type star, but a support-type. For the right person, the benefits are endless.”

Puzzled, Rong Taotao asked, ”What do you mean?”

Nan Cheng said, ”I named it ’Quenching Star’—’quench’ as in tempering steel. It can drastically increase a person’s physical toughness. After being nourished by it for many years, a person’s body of flesh and blood can even transform into a Star Body.”

Rong Taotao blinked. ’A Star Body?’

’That sounds so cool!’

”But the physical requirements are incredibly high,” Nan Cheng sighed. ”Only when your constitution is powerful enough, when your physical strength has reached the absolute peak of human potential, can you withstand the tempering of Quenching Star and truly benefit from it.”

Understanding dawned on Rong Taotao. ”So... with physical requirements that high, an ordinary Soul Martial Artist’s body can’t withstand it, which is why they shatter into a pile of stars if they touch it?”

”Yes, you’re very clever.” Satisfaction filled Nan Cheng’s eyes. ”I was very lucky. When I first got it, it was ownerless, so it wouldn’t actively try to temper anyone’s body.”

”But after possessing it for several years...” The Star Fragment in Nan Cheng’s hand vanished, and the color of her fair palm suddenly transformed.

Her human flesh and blood vanished completely, and her right hand was enveloped in what looked like the night sky itself.

To be precise, her right hand had transformed into its own universe.

Against a profound, black backdrop, it was studded with myriad glittering stars.

A brilliant galaxy stretched along her slender ring finger. On the back of her hand, Rong Taotao even saw a sublime nebula, an ethereal wisp of thin gas and dust!

All sorts of celestial bodies appeared within her hand, dreamlike and fantastical, and stunningly beautiful.

Rong Taotao grabbed Ye Nanxi’s arm. ”Quick, you got your phone? Take a picture!”

Although Ye Nanxi was also captivated by her mother’s ”Star Palm,” she was too proud to show it, putting on a disdainful front. ”Hmph. What’s the big deal?”

Nan Cheng’s palm returned to normal. She let it fall naturally to her side and smiled at Rong Taotao. ”After you advance to the rank of Soul General, wait a few more years until your body is well-nourished by your Soul Power. Then you can come find me. Perhaps I can help you advance even further.”

’Holy cow. Is she talking about Becoming a Saint in the Flesh?’

Rong Taotao looked at the kind, gentle woman before him. From his current perspective, it was truly difficult to imagine just how immense Nan Cheng’s physical strength really was...

’Ordinary Soul Skills probably don’t even work on her, do they?’

’What was once just a joke had probably become reality.’

’My dad, Rong Yuanshan... I’m afraid Nan Cheng could really smash him to bits with a single slap...’

The first fragment was Quenching Star.

’Hmm, so now the question is... does the first petal of the Nine-Petaled Lotus also have the effect of tempering the body?’

’She has a Star Body, so does that mean I’ll have a Lotus Body?’

’Case closed! So in the end, I’m supposed to become Nezha?’

Of course, this was all just Rong Taotao’s speculation. After all, every Supreme Treasure had different functions. If none of the Nine-Petaled Lotus’s petals could modify his body, then there was nothing he could do.

Nan Cheng spoke up. ”Your father and I were just talking. We think your current abilities could be strengthened. That Iron Snow Forearm Soul Skill on your elbow is at odds with your combat style.”

”No, no, no.” Rong Taotao shook his head vigorously. ”I have to have a Defense Soul Skill. It’s what gives me the confidence to take risks.”

Rong Taotao’s reasoning was exceptionally clear. ”I may not use it, and I hope I never have to, but I absolutely must have it.”

Rong Yuanshan and Nan Cheng exchanged a look. Neither of them had expected Rong Taotao to be so adamant.

Rong Yuanshan said, ”Are you sure? Slotting an Excellent Level Starfield Soul Skill would be a huge help in the upcoming tryouts.”

”The Soul Skills from my two-star Starfield Soul Technique are plenty,” Rong Taotao said. ”I’ve got the defensive Star-Stepping Split, the offensive Star Trace, and Star Seal, which makes stars pop up all over the place when I get hit. That’s enough.”

As he spoke, Rong Taotao shot Ye Nanxi a look of disdain. ”And then there’s you. You have six usable Soul Slots, but not a single Soul Pearl in them right now. And yesterday, when I wasn’t paying attention, you shattered your Star Trace Whip?”

”Yep.” Ye Nanxi nonchalantly ran a hand through her short hair. ”There are plenty more Soul Pearls where that came from. They’re just tools for my use. If I feel like shattering one, I shatter it.”

Rong Taotao’s mouth twitched. ’Must be nice to be so rich! What a big shot!’

Seeing Ye Nanxi’s indifferent expression and hearing her casual words, Rong Taotao sighed inwardly.

In the young woman before him, Rong Taotao saw the bearing a true Soul General ought to have.

Rong Taotao had worked his fingers to the bone to get a Snow Fury Soul Pearl, which he adored and treated like a priceless treasure.