Master of Nine Stars

To perform better in the national competition, Rong Taotao had accepted his older brother Rong Yang’s suggestion before leaving the Snow Realm. He had swapped out the Soul Pearl that mentally linked the two brothers for a Bailing Tree Maiden Soul Pearl.

The two Soul Skills, Bailing Barrier and Bailing Vine, were indeed extremely useful. In the national competition, which was packed with formidable opponents, Rong Taotao had been completely unafraid when facing all sorts of Spiritual Soul Techniques and Eye Illusion Soul Skills, remaining entirely unaffected.

This was especially true when facing the Fengtian First Squad. Yang Chunxi had specifically assigned Rong Taotao to counter Bai Ming precisely because he possessed the Soul Skills from the Bailing Tree Maiden Soul Pearl.

But at the same time, there was also a downside.

Rong Taotao should have been able to instantly notify his brother that he was being ambushed, yet now, he couldn’t contact Rong Yang at all.

It was truly hard to imagine...

Two people who came from the Snow Realm had stood on the highest stage of the national competition and achieved the ultimate honor and glory.

And yet, when the two returned to the Snow Realm, an assassination attempt was waiting for them right at their doorstep...

Perhaps Rong Taotao had painted too beautiful a picture of the Snow Realm. ”Survival” should have been its only theme, and it was the very problem now facing him.

Just as Rong Taotao stood ready for battle with his Long Halberd, a whirlwind suddenly swirled up from beneath his feet!

WHOOSH...

In an instant, Rong Taotao was thrown into the air by this slender Snow Dragon Tornado.

Snow Realm Soul Skill: Jingfengxue!

It came from the low-level Neutral Creature, the Ice Crystal Wings.

This kind of low-level, yet extremely effective Soul Pearl Soul Skill was truly very useful!

”Getting in the way!” a grim voice came from a man wearing a black cotton hat. Perhaps because he had been lying in ambush for too long, his sparse stubble and eyelashes were even dotted with frost.

Rong Taotao’s heart leaped in alarm. Holding his halberd in one hand, he hastily raised his left.

PFFT~ A Snow Ghost Hand burst from the snow, rapidly reaching for Rong Taotao, who was still tumbling through the air.

The man in the black cotton hat waved his hand. The Long Spear materializing above his head was in no way inferior in size to Xia Fangran’s giant Heaven-piercing Halberd!

Clearly, this was the Snow Realm Soul Skill: Soldier’s Soul!

Moreover, this was the mark of having advanced to the Middle Soul School level!

The enormous snow-forged Long Spear possessed an astonishing presence. Its speed was appalling, and it thrust toward Rong Taotao with savage ferocity!

”Ying Jie! Pick on someone your own size!” A strange light flashed in Yang Chunxi’s beautiful eyes. With a sharp cry, she thrust her empty, cupped hands upward in a powerful flick.

Another enormous snow-forged Long Spear quietly assembled and, in a flash, deflected the spear thrusting at Rong Taotao.

Yang Chunxi, a Pine Soul instructor known for her Illusion Techniques, was rarely seen in close-quarters combat. However, since she was a teacher at Pine Soul Soul Martial, she naturally possessed all-around combat prowess.

”Oh? The famous teacher recognizes me?” The man in the black hat subconsciously glanced over at Yang Chunxi, her trench coat and long hair fluttering. He didn’t stare at her for long, however, before his gaze was captivated by her beautiful eyes.

Yang Chunxi’s eyes were like a vortex, sucking his very soul into them...

BANG! With a loud thud, the man in the black hat, codenamed Ying Jie, was sent flying by a heavy blow.

Mi Tu wiped his nose with his sleeve, a goofy grin spreading across his face. ”Hehe, don’t look into her eyes. You’re not like me. You’re not qualified yet, hehe.”

As he spoke, Mi Tu stared intently at Yang Chunxi.

If it were a one-on-one duel, Yang Chunxi would have dared to meet Mi Tu’s gaze. They had clashed with their Illusion Techniques before, during the New Year’s celebration back in Songbai Town. She had actually fought him head-on, so they knew each other’s capabilities well.

But right now, she obviously couldn’t do that. She absolutely could not afford to waste time on Mi Tu.

”Heh.” Mi Tu chuckled. Although he would have loved for Yang Chunxi to accept his challenge, he guessed her intentions. He turned his head to look at Gao Lingwei, who was getting back to her feet, covered in frost.

Clearly, Gao Lingwei had been given a brief moment to catch her breath and had recovered quite a bit.

Mi Tu gave another goofy smile. ”Kiddo, we’ve met a few times now. If you’d taken my advice when we first met, none of this would have happened. Now, I’ll give you one last chance. How about it?”

”Don’t look into his eyes, Ling Wei!” Yang Chunxi shouted while side-stepping to dodge an Ice Pillar that suddenly erupted from beneath her feet.

BANG!

With the help of the Snow Ghost Hand, Rong Taotao landed heavily on the snow, once again positioning himself in front of Gao Lingwei. But the crisis was far from over. Before him was a barrage of countless flying weapons.

Long spears and short clubs, flying daggers and sharp blades.

Rong Taotao swung his Long Halberd. At his side, another Snow Halberd thrust out, knocking away a thrown Long Spear.

Joy surged in Rong Taotao’s heart. ’My Da Wei is back!’

Every single member of this Poacher Organization was targeting Gao Lingwei. At this point, it was a miracle she was still alive.

Just now, for example, in a single exchange with the man in the black hat codenamed Ying Jie, Rong Taotao had nearly been killed. If this group had focused their fire on him...

”Go! Follow me!” A voice approached from a distance as Xia Fangran rushed toward the two, his strides long and powerful.

Feng Zi of the Eight Great Coins, who had been thoroughly enraged by Xia Fangran, was in hot pursuit behind him. ”Master Xia, leaving so soon? Weren’t you going to run me through with that halberd of yours?”

’Fight?’

’Am I crazy? Fight you guys here?’

Xia Fangran’s thinking was crystal clear. Every extra second spent here was another second of danger for his students. He certainly knew the best course of action.

Without even turning his head, Xia Fangran’s words were merciless. ”A bunch of worthless trash. Twenty or thirty of you trying to catch four people, and not only did you let them escape, but you even got one of your own killed in the process. Do you guys even know what you’re doing?”

Feng Zi’s breath caught in his throat. His face flushed scarlet as he roared, ”XIA! FANG! RAN!!!”

Xia Fangran shot back, ”What’s the matter? Want me to take you to the Soul Police to file a report? After all, my student killed one of yours. I can be your witness!”

Seeing the pursuers behind them preparing to attack, Yang Chunxi quickly activated her Soul Skill, and the Silk Mist Enchanting Robe rose once more to block the rear.

TING~ TING~ TING~! For a moment, it sounded as if thousands upon thousands of ice needles were striking the Silk Mist Enchanting Robe, creating a crisp ringing sound.

The Silk Mist Enchanting Robe was normally invisible, only revealing a thin layer of mist when under attack.

And this attack, composed of ice needles and Ice Spikes, was a dense, overwhelming barrage.

Under such a dense assault, the true form of the Silk Mist Enchanting Robe was actually revealed.

It looked as if Yang Chunxi was wearing the Silk Mist Enchanting Robe, and what she was using to block the attacks from behind was its long, trailing hem...

The hem seemed capable of expanding infinitely, providing an extremely wide area of defense.

What exactly was the Silk Mist Enchanting Robe?

A long dress? A trench coat? Or perhaps a cloak?

Xia Fangran grabbed Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei, tucking one under each arm. He twisted his body and stomped down hard!

SWOOSH~! Like a cannonball, Xia Fangran shot off with the two of them, plunging into the dense forest to the side.

Without a doubt, the team of nearly thirty Poachers had formed an encirclement. Xia Fangran’s chosen path was clearly the weakest link in their formation.

The two Poachers standing by the trees were clearly at a loss.

’Of course they wanted the bounty, but Xia Fangran’s presence was just too intimidating!’

’What Yang Chunxi said earlier was right: pick on someone your own size. We should be surrounding Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei, and you, Xia Fangran, should be fighting the Eight Great Coins. But you...’

But then they saw Xia Fangran, who was carrying Gao Lingwei in his right arm, suddenly hurl her toward the Poacher in front and to the left. ”Legs straight!”

How terrifying was Xia Fangran’s strength?

How fast could the ”weapon” he threw travel?

Gao Lingwei, clad in her Iron Snow Armor, didn’t even know what was happening. As the world spun around her, she did her best to straighten her long legs.

”Xia—” Seeing this, Rong Taotao was about to protest.

But before Rong Taotao could get out more than one word, he felt the world spin as well. He was being thrown by Xia Fangran too?

”Don’t you be idle either!” Xia Fangran snarled as he flung him forward, using his student like a cannonball, and shouted, ”Shoulder!”

BANG! With a heavy thud, Xia Fangran’s throw was astoundingly powerful, and the speed was simply appalling!

Gao Lingwei, clad in her Snow Armor, hadn’t even fully registered what was happening when her feet, flying horizontally through the air, slammed into a person’s chest. Her momentum was unabated, driving her onward.

CRACK! CRACK! The sound of the Poacher’s chest shattering was immediately followed by the sound of the tree behind him breaking.

On the other side, it was the same for Rong Taotao. Not only did he not have time to react, but neither did the enemy! Rong Taotao slammed his shoulder into a Poacher’s stomach, and the two of them immediately went tumbling into the snow together.

NEIGH~ With the sound of a horse’s cry, the charging Xia Fangran leaped. He hooked one hand onto Snow Night Shock’s back while his other hand scraped along the snow. His body was hanging off the side of his steed.

Amidst the thundering of hooves, Xia Fangran plunged his lowered hand deep into the snow and gave a vicious heave forward!

In an instant, the thick snow, along with gravel and trees, was all flipped into the air. And among it all, of course, were Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei.

”HYAH!” Xia Fangran finally swung himself fully onto the horse. He spurred its flanks, galloping toward where Gao Lingwei was falling. At the same time, he raised his right hand, and a massive Heaven-piercing Halberd rapidly took shape. ”Chunxi!”

”Yes!” Yang Chunxi called out lightly and leaped, landing on the very end of the giant Heaven-piercing Halberd’s shaft.

”Ngh...” Gao Lingwei groaned as Xia Fangran charged past, grabbing her by the ankle with his left hand and dragging her along through the snow.

Meanwhile, Xia Fangran’s right hand controlled the Soldier’s Soul, thrusting it forward. ”Grab on!”

The angle of the massive Heaven-piercing Halberd’s forward thrust was terrifyingly precise. Seeing the giant tic-tac-toe-shaped blade beneath him, the mid-air Rong Taotao instinctively spread his arms and hugged the central Halberd Shaft.

At this moment, Rong Taotao looked just like a small koala hugging a tree...

And just like that, with Xia Fangran dragging Gao Lingwei, carrying Rong Taotao on his halberd, and Yang Chunxi perched on the end of the shaft, they charged deep into the forest.

From start to finish, his speed never slowed in the slightest, nor did he falter for even a moment!

At the rear, Yang Chunxi stood firm on the massive Halberd Shaft. She waved the hem of her Silk Mist Enchanting Robe, not only fending off all kinds of attacks but also blocking the biting wind and snow.

At the same time, as she faced the pursuers, her eyes shimmered with a brilliant light. Her gaze swept over the Poachers’ eyes again and again, making them subconsciously look away, their hearts filled with dread...

”Feng Zi! Where’s your Snow Dragon Tornado~? Get twistin’!!!” Xia Fangran’s loud taunts drifted back from the front. ”Am I too far away for you? Because we’re only going to get farther! Your horse isn’t as fast as mine!!!”

”Mi Tu! What about your Illusion Technique? Can’t you modify it a little and use it on the back of my head?”

”Ying Jie, you ugly bastard! You can’t even break through Chunxi’s defense, what a waste of a life! Do you even know how to flip a rug? You can’t even flip a damn rug! Are you, a Middle Soul School student, just here for a f*cking stroll?”

He’d gone completely berserk!

Xia Fangran had gone completely berserk!

Behind them, the furiously pursuing Eight Great Coins had twisted expressions, their hearts burning with rage. They threw every kind of offensive Soul Skill they had, yet their hearts were full of dread, and they still didn’t dare to look into Yang Chunxi’s eyes...

Although Xia Fangran’s voice was getting farther and farther away, every word reached their ears, truly about to make them explode with anger!

From the depths of the forest, Xia Fangran’s cry echoed, ”Oh~ Off to call the Soul Police~”