Master of Nine Stars

”Fengtian TV Station, Fengtian TV Station! Good morning, viewers! It’s July 23rd, and we’re live from the Fengtian City Olympic Sports Center! I’m your host, Li Gang!”

”And I’m your host, Yang Xiaoyang.”

A pair of excited male and female voices rang out from the TV. The simple broadcast announcement was surprisingly enough to get Rong Taotao’s blood pumping a little.

”The biennial Outer Region University Ranking Tournament kicks off today! Who will have the last laugh, and who will secure a top-eight spot to earn a ticket to the national tournament?”

The female host, Yang Xiaoyang, was dressed in a white pantsuit that made her look sharp and professional. She smiled at her colleague beside her and said, ”Li Gang, the opening match we’ve prepared for everyone today is an absolute feast, packed with talking points. Especially with Rong Taotao, a student from the Junior Class of Pine Soul Soul Martial University, who has recently shot to fame.”

”That’s right!” Li Gang pushed up his black-framed glasses and glanced at the notes on his desk. ”This opening match is different from previous years. We aren’t broadcasting the traditional three-person team competition. Instead, we’ve prepared a two-person team battle for everyone!

It’s the undisputed leader of the Outer Region, Pine Soul Soul Martial University, versus Liao Camp Sea Doctor.

This student, Rong Taotao, is incredible. He’s one of the very first students in the Junior Class program across all Soul Martial High Schools in Huaxia.

You have to understand, it’s only been a year since he awakened, yet his current achievements are simply unimaginable.”

”Indeed,” Yang Xiaoyang couldn’t help but sigh softly, an elegant smile on her face. ”Sixteen years old, with six Initial Soul Slots! One of the nation’s first Junior Class students, and ranked second in the Pine Soul Soul Martial entrance exam.

He survived an encounter with the Snow Realm Army during the once-in-sixteen-years Extreme Night blizzard, and his very presence became a crucial turning point in the Battle of the Three Cities.

In the newly compiled *Northern Snow Realm History*, within the Chapter on the Battle of the Three Cities, in the section describing the Songjiang Soul City theater of operations, we can even find the name ’Rong Taotao’ clearly written!

It’s truly incredible. The student who is about to compete has already, through his own efforts, carved his name into the annals of history!

And his forward march hasn’t stopped. Without a doubt, his name is about to be included in Soul Martial Textbooks!

Although he only awakened a year ago, his Snow Realm Soul Technique has already reached the three-star level, and he’s even created his own Defense Soul Skill: Frost Flower Snowcake!

And he accomplished all of this in just one short year...”

This female host from Fengtian Channel had clearly done her homework. She was thoroughly prepared and recited Rong Taotao’s resume as if she knew it by heart.

Yang Xiaoyang’s words also gave the general public their first comprehensive and clear look at Rong Taotao’s history.

As Yang Xiaoyang’s words reached the ears of the public, the vast majority of people were completely stunned...

This... This is Rong Taotao?

’The same Rong Taotao who was getting flamed by the entire internet just a while ago?’

’This kid actually participated in the Battle of the Three Cities? And he was a crucial turning point? You’ve got to be kidding me...’

It’s no exaggeration to say that what most Soul Martial Artists struggle to achieve in a lifetime, Rong Taotao accomplished in the single year since his awakening!

In the stadium locker room, Rong Taotao, who was in the middle of stretching his legs, watched the TV with a strange expression. ”They’re broadcasting this live? A provincial station broadcast, that’s a big deal. By the way, is it on the national station?”

”Don’t know.” Xia Fangran sat in a chair, casually picked up the remote, and flipped through the channels. He found the national station was indeed live, but they were broadcasting a match from the North China Region, not the Outer Region Division.

”Looks like the national station knows what it’s doing. No matter how popular you are, they won’t broadcast your match so easily,” Yang Chunxi said with a smile as she massaged Gao Lingwei’s shoulders.

”Huh?” Rong Taotao turned to look at Yang Chunxi. ”What do you mean?”

Yang Chunxi explained, ”It’s probably because your status is too special. If you lost the opening match, it would have a very negative impact, especially since the national station broadcasts to the whole country.

Aside from the highlight reels the school released, no one has seen any of your other fights. And highlight reels can be very misleading; not everyone buys into them.

Once you’ve fought a few more matches and shown what you’re really made of, maybe they’ll start broadcasting your games.”

Xia Fangran switched the channel back to Fengtian Channel, and the two hosts appeared on screen again.

The male host Li Gang’s voice was truly fiery and infectious. ”What kind of match will such a talented young man present to us? We’ll find out right after this commercial break!”

”That’s enough, Chunxi. You don’t have to,” Gao Lingwei said softly, her head lowered.

”Relax a little. Your body is so tense.” Yang Chunxi, however, kept massaging Gao Lingwei’s shoulders, giving her shoulder blade a firm squeeze.

Gao Lingwei: ”...”

Xia Fangran crossed his legs, dangling a flip-flop from his foot. ”Go out there and make it a good show. Earn some more respect for yourself, for Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists, and for Pine Soul Soul Martial.”

”Yeah, yeah.” Rong Taotao nodded repeatedly. He had been at the center of a storm of controversy recently, and Pine Soul Soul Martial University was fiercely protective of its own, which had also led to the university facing its own share of criticism.

”KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK~” A knock came from the locker room door. ”Pine Soul Soul Martial, doubles match, Gao Lingwei and Rong Taotao’s team, please follow me to the entrance now.”

”Let’s go~” Xia Fangran stood up immediately.

Seeing Xia Fangran dressed in flip-flops and a white T-shirt, Yang Chunxi couldn’t help but say, ”Coach Xia, maybe you should just stay here and watch on TV.”

”Huh?” Xia Fangran paused, noticing Yang Chunxi’s gaze fixed on his flip-flops. He couldn’t help but laugh. ”What’s with you, kiddo? Afraid I’ll embarrass Pine Soul Soul Martial?”

Yang Chunxi: ”...”

’It’s been so many years since I graduated, and two years since I started working here. It’s been a long time since my former teacher called me that...’

Xia Fangran was very casual and waved his hand dismissively. ”It’s fine. What I wear doesn’t matter. Wherever I stand, that’s where the prestige is.”

With that, Xia Fangran strode out, his flip-flops making slapping sounds—SLAP, SLAP—against the soles of his feet with every step...

”Sigh...” Yang Chunxi gave a helpless smile, completely powerless against Xia Fangran.

Rong Taotao watched Xia Fangran with an envious look. ”When I get stronger, I’m going to wear flip-flops to competitions too. It’s so cool! It’s the ultimate display of contempt for your enemies!”

”You dare!” Yang Chunxi’s eyebrows shot up as she glared at Rong Taotao with her beautiful eyes.

Rong Taotao flinched, shrinking his shoulders. He lowered his head and hurried out, humming softly, ”Eyes glaring like bronze bells, shooting out lightning-like cunning...”

Gao Lingwei couldn’t help but cover her mouth with her hand to stifle a laugh. ”Hehe... Ahem, right.”

Yang Chunxi gave Gao Lingwei a long, meaningful look but didn’t say anything. She just silently tightened Gao Lingwei’s ponytail and said, ”Let’s go.”

”Mhm.”

Rong Taotao followed Xia Fangran down the slightly dim player tunnel. He stared at the light at the far exit and could faintly hear the buzzing from the stadium.

”Hah...” Rong Taotao took a deep breath. Looking at the bright light of the exit ahead, he felt as if he were about to enter another world.

And sure enough, when he stepped out, he did enter another world.

The scorching sun, the waves of heat, and the cacophony of noise from all directions struck Rong Taotao to his core.

On the green fields of Pine Soul Soul Martial, the crowd was at most one or two thousand people. But here, in Fengtian City’s Olympic Sports Center, there had to be at least fifty or sixty thousand, right?

The audience wasn’t applauding or cheering yet. They weren’t waving flags or shouting. They hadn’t yet focused on Rong Taotao as the center of attention. But even so, the buzzing din of their chatter was enough to make his blood boil with excitement.

He was only sixteen. He didn’t want to play it safe.

He wanted to make a name for himself, to become the focus of the entire world.

He wanted to seize every honor, every title, every halo of glory, to pave the path beneath his feet, a path leading ultimately to the distant, frozen, bitterly cold Dragon River...

The carefree Xia Fangran didn’t notice anything unusual about Rong Taotao. He didn’t even realize Rong Taotao hadn’t followed him and was just standing at the entrance, lost in a daze.

From behind, a figure walked up, reached out, and gently took hold of Rong Taotao’s hand, which was hanging naturally at his side.

”Hm?” The dazed Rong Taotao snapped back to his senses. He turned his head and saw Gao Lingwei’s captivating face.

Gao Lingwei gently squeezed the pads of his fingers and asked softly, ”Are you used to it yet?”

”Mhm,” Rong Taotao nodded lightly.

”It’ll be fine once the fight starts. As soon as the battle begins, we’ll ignore a lot of the external factors,” Gao Lingwei comforted him softly, sharing her experience from major competitions.

”Actually, I don’t dislike these external factors. I don’t dislike the audience,” Rong Taotao replied. ”On the contrary, I’m grateful they came to watch my match. They’ll all be my witnesses, won’t they?”

”Mmm... yes.” Gao Lingwei pondered for a moment, a smile spreading across her face as she nodded lightly. ”Let’s go. Let’s claim our victory.”

”Let’s go.”

This lovely atmosphere, however, was broken by a staff member.

Just as a confident Rong Taotao was about to step onto the green field, he was stopped by a staff member, who clipped a miniature microphone to his collar.

Rong Taotao grimaced. Looking at the young crew member in front of him, he said, ”Won’t this interfere with my trash-talking?”

The crew member, who had a buzz cut, seemed to have seen it all. He said, ”In a doubles match, who doesn’t have a Soul Pearl on their forehead? You can say the nice things out loud and send the bad stuff to your partner through your thoughts.”

Rong Taotao: ”Oh? You’re quite experienced, huh?”

The young man with the buzz cut finished attaching the microphone and patted Rong Taotao on the shoulder. ”Good luck, Rong Taotao. I know a lot of people doubt you, but there are also a lot of people like me who are quietly supporting you, believing in you, and waiting for you to give the world your answer.”

”You...” Rong Taotao was taken aback, slightly surprised by the sudden encouragement. He looked at the young crew member and couldn’t help but ask, ”Thank you. What’s your name?”

”That’s not important. I’m just one of millions of Martial Artists.” The young man with the buzz cut placed his hands on Rong Taotao’s shoulders, gave him a gentle push toward the field, and said:

”Get out there, Rong Taotao. May more people hear your story.”