Master of Nine Stars

”They’re making their entrance! The student competitors from both sides have entered the arena!” Li Gang’s commentary booth was directly to the north, offering a clear view. The noisy audience members around him would occasionally lean over and flash a ”V” sign at the camera.

Li Gang continued, ”Rong Taotao looks to be in high spirits. According to competition rules, both sides will have about five minutes of prep time. Let’s listen in and see if the two sides have anything to say to each other...”

Even though there were four competitors in total, Rong Taotao was still the center of attention.

Even the renowned high school King of Guanwai, Gao Lingwei, was being overlooked by the host.

It couldn’t be helped. While she had plenty of accolades herself, her light was completely eclipsed when standing next to Rong Taotao.

As Li Gang listened in, his expression turned a little strange.

On the live audio feed, the older brother of the Liao Camp Sea Doctor team, Zhang Shen, seemed to be... apologizing?

The man who should have been standing on the west side of the field had instead walked over to the east side, right up to Rong Taotao. The first words out of his mouth were, ”My brother’s words were inappropriate. Please accept my apologies.”

Rong Taotao: ???

He had assumed the opponent was coming over to provoke him up close, but he never expected an apology.

’What’s this about? Is this some kind of pre-match tactic?’

However, the older brother, Zhang Shen, looked completely sincere as he continued, ”I am very sorry. Win or lose, this is just a competition, and it absolutely shouldn’t detract from the contributions you’ve made to Soul Martial Artists. My younger brother failed to show you the respect you deserve.

I already disciplined him for it last night.”

”Uh...” Rong Taotao scratched his head. Zhang Shen was being a little too sincere, a little too earnest. He hadn’t apologized in private. Instead, he said all this on the field, where everyone was mic’d up and knew it would be broadcast.

”It’s fine, it’s fine. Pre-match trash talk is just another tactic, after all,” Rong Taotao said, quickly waving his hand.

”Alright. We’ll let our skills do the talking. See you in the match.” Zhang Shen offered a fist-and-palm salute, his bearing neither humble nor arrogant, before turning to leave.

But the younger brother, Zhang Hai, who had been silent the entire time, waited for the exact moment his brother turned to leave. He then shot Rong Taotao a disdainful look, scanning him from head to toe, and sneered before turning to leave himself.

Rong Taotao raised an eyebrow slightly, watching the brothers depart. He whispered, ”If they’re not just actors, then those two have completely different personalities and ways of thinking. That could be a good opening for us.”

”They’re probably not actors. That Zhang Shen is very sincere. The intel on them also said the older brother is level-headed, knows when to advance or retreat, and understands the bigger picture. He’s a decent Soul Martial Artist,” Gao Lingwei whispered back.

”Heh.” Rong Taotao sneered. ”The younger one, Zhang Hai, wants to use me as a stepping stone to make a name for himself. And I want a victory to set the record straight. It’s perfect—we each get what we want. We’ll let our strength do the talking.”

Gao Lingwei asked softly, ”Do we need to change our strategy?”

”Of course. Let’s make an adjustment.” Rong Taotao decisively altered their plan. ”We’ll focus our attacks on one of them—that arrogant younger brother.

I’m guessing he doesn’t have much of a defensive mindset; he’s probably dying to charge in and crush me.

If he really isn’t planning to defend, that’s perfect for us. We only need one opening. That’ll be enough.”

”Alright.” Gao Lingwei gave a slight nod.

TWEEET~! At the center circle, the referee held up a small flag, signaling to the competitors on the east and west sides of the field.

Zhang Shen raised his right hand, and Rong Taotao gave a thumbs-up in return.

TWEEET~! The referee swung the flag down, and the match began!

”It’s started! The 2011 Outer Region Ranking Tournament has officially begun! Both sides are choosing to... oh!” Li Gang’s eyebrows shot up as he exclaimed, ”Both sides have chosen to go on the offensive!

Contrary to everyone’s pre-match predictions, the Ocean Soul Martial Artists have actually chosen to initiate the attack on a land-based battlefield, even when facing Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists who have Snow Dance!”

Yang Xiaoyang added, ”That’s right. In terms of speed, at least on a land-based battlefield, the Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists should have the upper hand. The Ocean Soul Martial Artists’ Soul Skill: Riding the Waves, only increases their movement speed in water.”

Li Gang suddenly laughed. ”Could it be that the Zhang brothers, confident in their status as Soul Captains, are planning to simply overpower Rong Taotao with their superior physical stats?”

Yang Xiaoyang commented, ”Although Rong Taotao is only a Soul Warrior, his speed shouldn’t be underestimated with the boost from Snow Dance... Ah! They’ve clashed! It’s a Snow Soul! And a Heaven-piercing Halberd!

How many years has it been? How many years has it been since we’ve seen a weapon like the Heaven-piercing Halberd in the university-level ranking tournaments?”

Li Gang shouted excitedly, ”And we’re not just seeing one, but two of them! Gao Lingwei’s Heaven-piercing Halberd was a dazzling sight in the Outer Region’s high school ranking tournaments!

Finally, she’s brought that full set of skills to the university-level stage... WHOA~!!! What a move from Rong Taotao!”

It wasn’t just Li Gang who cried out; a wave of gasps also erupted from the stands.

Wielding his Heaven-piercing Halberd, Rong Taotao used its reach to strike first. The moment they drew close, he swung it in a half-moon arc from back to front, the vicious, cross-bladed Long Halberd smashing down toward the younger brother, Zhang Hai.

Zhang Hai, holding a Water Blade, faced the fierce blow aimed at his shoulder. He didn’t dodge. Instead, he swung his Water Blade violently to parry it!

THWACK~!

With a bizarre sound, the Water Blade knocked the Long Halberd aside, but a numbing sensation unexpectedly shot through Zhang Hai’s arm, forcefully interrupting his follow-up move!

The younger brother, Zhang Hai, was stunned. ’What kind of power is this?’

’Isn’t Rong Taotao just a Soul Warrior?’

’Even if that was a fully charged strike, I’m a full-fledged Soul Captain! My physical stats should completely overwhelm his. How could a single block like that leave my body stiff from the impact?’