Master of Nine Stars

So there was a way to break the Corpse Fire Camel Array like this!?

Now that Rong Taotao had mounted one of the creatures, the entire Corpse Fire Camel Array was useless!

Wanqi Wu swung the Long Shuo in his hands left and right. Not even caring that they were his own Summoned Creatures, he smashed everything around him to pieces. He bulldozed his way out from the very army he had summoned, charging straight for Rong Taotao!

”Rong Taotao!!!”

Rong Taotao shook his head hard, as if trying to clear his mind.

He pressed one hand against the creature beneath him, pushed himself up, and landed in a crouch on the Corpse Fire Camel’s back. In his hands, the Heaven-piercing Halberd reassembled itself.

And so, a beautiful and magnificent scene unfolded before everyone’s eyes!

Amidst the surging, tide-like wave of corpses, Wanqi Wu, clad in his Flame Armor, broke through the encirclement and charged toward Rong Taotao.

Meanwhile, Rong Taotao’s body was tense as he crouched on the Corpse Fire Camel, his eyes locked on Wanqi Wu!

If... if one considered the Corpse Fire Camel Array a relentlessly advancing wave of fire, then only two men stood above this sea of flames!

Both of them were incredibly conspicuous!

Seeing Rong Taotao’s tense body and coiled legs, everyone realized what was about to happen.

Facing the menacing Wanqi Wu, Rong Taotao wasn’t dodging or retreating. Instead, he was preparing to charge!?

This...

Rong Taotao tightened his grip on the Heaven-piercing Halberd and looked straight at Wanqi Wu. ”You shouldn’t have challenged me to a one-on-one fight!”

”No! I should have challenged you to a one-on-one fight from the start! You would have been dead minutes ago!!!” Wanqi Wu roared. He squeezed his legs, and the Flaming Long Spear in his hands flared to life again!

A standard heavy cavalry charge!

It was a spectacular scene, a churning sea of fire, but the next moment was even more magnificent!

Because Rong Taotao truly did launch himself forward. The Heaven-piercing Halberd in his hand lit up as he viciously thrust it down at Wanqi Wu from above!

Above the sea of fire, Wanqi Wu in his Flame Armor and the scorched Rong Taotao drew infinitely close.

Just as Rong Taotao thrust his halberd forward, Wanqi Wu pushed off with his legs and actually leaped into the air?

SWOOSH! Two Lotus Petals shot out from the Ironspear Point of the Long Halberd!

But the rapidly spinning butterflies flew right under Wanqi Wu!

Wanqi Wu had watched countless replays of Rong Taotao’s matches. Of course he knew what he was doing!

In fact, no matter how Rong Taotao attacked this time, Wanqi Wu would have dodged in advance. He knew full well that this was Rong Taotao’s killing move.

Seeing this, Rong Taotao’s expression changed. He hurriedly swung his Long Halberd, trying to block.

”I told you! I should have fought you one-on-one sooner!” Wanqi Wu bellowed. His body shot diagonally upward with immense momentum. The Flaming Long Spear in his hand moved faster than the blocking Heaven-piercing Halberd and stabbed viciously toward Rong Taotao’s chest!

SHIIINK!!!

Unlike Gao Lingwei, Rong Taotao didn’t have Iron Snow Armor...

And he wasn’t sent flying back.

The sharp Ma Shuo cleanly pierced Rong Taotao’s abdomen. The bloodstained Long Shuo protruded a long, long way out of his back...

”Ah!”

”Fuck! That’s gotta hurt...”

”Is it... is it over? Dajiang Soul Martial is awesome!”

A wave of discussion rippled through the crowd, but high above the churning sea of fire, the two contestants were oblivious to everything around them.

The shaft of the Flaming Horse Armor was smooth, without any protrusions. Even the head of the Ma Shuo was more like the tip of a spear.

As a result, Rong Taotao’s scorched body slid unimpeded down the long shaft, right into Wanqi Wu’s arms.

”This is how it should be!” Wanqi Wu uttered.

Clearly, he had rewatched Rong Taotao’s matches countless times. He knew exactly how Rong Taotao would make his desperate strike, and of course, he knew when to dodge the Lotus Petals.

Wanqi Wu braced his arms, about to break free from Rong Taotao’s embrace. ”You’ve lost.”

However, just as Wanqi Wu was about to casually push Rong Taotao away, he found that Rong Taotao was hugging him tightly!?

Rong Taotao used all his strength to hold onto Wanqi Wu, his voice hoarse as he spoke, word by word, ”You haven’t won either!”

SWOOSH!

SHINK... A strange sound was heard.

Wanqi Wu’s eyes flew wide. From his chest, two rapidly spinning Lotus Petals had just burst out!?

Wanqi Wu had dodged the Lotus Petals that had just flown out.

But now, the returning Lotus Petals had sought out their master’s direction, brutally piercing through Wanqi Wu’s back and bursting out from his chest!

Then, like swallows returning to their nest, the two Lotus Petals merged back into Rong Taotao’s charred body...

THUD!

THUD... With the momentum of their charge, the two of them fell to the ground, tumbling together and rolling over and over across the scorched earth...

ROAR...!

WHOOSH~ The Fire Camel Array wasn’t over. It continued its charge.

Instantly, the Corpse Fire Camel Army washed over them like a tide, trampling their bodies...

The spectator stands fell silent. People stared dumbly at the two figures being trampled under a storm of hooves, at a loss for words.

Dai Liunian looked stunned. ”The referee still hasn’t blown the whistle? Hasn’t Rong Taotao lost his ability to fight?

Shouldn’t the Ma Shuo that Wanqi Wu thrust forward have been a bit higher, piercing Rong Taotao’s chest? Wouldn’t the referee have blown the whistle immediately then?

Hasn’t Wanqi Wu lost his ability to fight?

Those petals flew right out of his chest! How is this supposed to be judged? Is the referee waiting to see if one of them can get up?”

”How could they possibly get up? Stop stepping on them, please stop...” Su Wan’s voice was almost a plea, but the Corpse Array continued on, trampling over their bodies.

Fortunately, that was the last wave.

CRASH! BANG! With a series of shattering sounds, the Corpse Fire Camel Army slammed into the defensive barrier and broke apart.

And on the scorched field, two trampled figures were left behind.

”Give me a sign! Any reaction! Rong Taotao!”

”Wanqi Wu! Don’t you fucking play dead on me, get up!!!”

For a moment, the stands erupted with noise. Everyone seemed to be hoping for a miracle, but...

The two on the field remained motionless, their conditions unknown.

TWEET~ TWEET! Five seconds later, the referee’s whistle sounded immediately.

The staff rushed forward, surrounding Wanqi Wu and Rong Taotao, and began administering treatment on the spot.

While the medical staff performed emergency aid, the head referee gathered with the line judges, discussing animatedly.

Only after... Wanqi Wu and Rong Taotao had their bleeding temporarily staunched and were carried off the field into the player tunnel did the referee finally blow the whistle.

TWEET! The referee announced loudly, ”Dajiang Soul Martial versus Pine Soul Soul Martial, a draw!”

In an instant, the stadium was in an uproar.

But just a few seconds later, the uproar gradually turned into applause.

Thunderous applause, overwhelming cheers...

Dai Liunian raised his head. Still wearing his headset, he stood up, looked around the stadium, and gazed upon a portrait of humanity.

Some were excited and thrilled, some were cheering joyfully, some were filled with emotion, and some were even moved to tears.

”Incredible! Absolutely exhilarating!”

”This is what a Soul Martial Artist should be! They have to fight like this when they go abroad, too!”

”They’re not going to die, right? They’ll be okay, right...?”

”That was too amazing, I almost lost my shit! Worth it, so worth it!”

Dai Liunian let out a deep breath, his quiet voice broadcast to thousands of homes. ”Endless fighting spirit, and people who strive with all their might.

This is the 2011 we give you. These are the national team athletes we give you...

Tell me, Huaxia, that you have already memorized their names.

Wanqi Wu and Wanqi Yan. They come from Dajiang Soul Martial, from beneath the scorching hot Molten Rock Vortex, from the Melt Radiance Corps that guards the Northwest Border.

Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei. They come from Pine Soul Soul Martial, from the bitterly cold Snow Realm.

It’s just as Rong Taotao said. He comes from the endless snowstorms, from the endless battlefield.

From a place where dreams are shattered, and where dreams are born...”

...