Master of Nine Stars

”Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!”

”Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!” A series of piercing monkey screeches echoed through the dense forest, grating on everyone’s nerves.

Jiao Tengda: ”Stop, stop, Taotao!”

His body bobbed up and down on the roiling current of snow. He lost his footing and fell to his knees, and the hand he instinctively used to brace himself was instantly half-submerged. He was on the verge of being swallowed whole by the ”river of snow.”

Finally, Rong Taotao retracted his Divine Technique.

The freely flowing river of snow slowly came to a halt. All across the area, figures were scattered about, stumbling and fallen...

”Here.” Lu Mang crouched down, reached out with both hands, and grabbed Jiao Tengda by the shoulders, forcefully pulling him out.

”That was terrifying. I was almost buried alive...” With Lu Mang’s help, Jiao Tengda finally got his feet back on the snow, a look of lingering fear on his face.

Snow Step was a foot-type Soul Skill that allowed one to walk on snow, but if you accidentally fell into this ”A Snowy Ocean,” you really could be buried alive.

By now, the Bandit Snow Monkeys had completely surrounded the group of Little Souls.

Fortunately, Rong Taotao’s Soul Skill was powerful enough, its effect terrifyingly potent.

The area where the Little Souls stood had become a virtual clearing. Toppled trees were swallowed by the snow, and even many of the stumps had been churned to pieces.

On the empty expanse of snow, only a thick layer of snow remained, settled into wave-like crests and troughs.

In this environment, the Bandit Snow Monkeys didn’t charge in immediately. Instead, they circled the edge of the Snow Forest, surrounding the group layer by layer, screaming wantonly as if to vent their frustration.

”WHOOSH!” A piece of splintered wood was thrown from the dense forest.

”CRACK!” Fan Lihua flicked her long spear, knocking the incoming piece of wood away.

”Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!” The troop of monkeys shrieked chaotically, weaving wantonly through the surrounding pine forest and swinging from the branches. Their phantom-like figures sent a secret chill through everyone watching.

Thank goodness for Rong Taotao’s A Snowy Ocean. If the surrounding trees hadn’t been toppled, the consequences would have been unthinkable!

”ROAR!” The next moment, a simian roar rang out, making everyone’s eardrums ache.

Jiao Tengda yelled, ”Tighten the formation! Circular defensive perimeter!”

The Little Souls hastily drew closer together. Amidst the massive roar, a horde of Bandit Snow Monkeys charged out of the dense forest!

Rong Taotao was dumbfounded. ’What’s the meaning of this? Are they really going for a head-on assault?’

The smaller monkeys shot out from the dense forest on all sides like a shower of raindrops, looking as if they intended to swarm and overwhelm the squad.

’Is this... a suicide squad?’

Jiao Tengda shouted, ”Hold the formation! Defend and counter-attack!”

In that moment, everyone unleashed their various skills, each displaying their own unique prowess.

Gao Lingwei immediately summoned her Snow-made Bow and Arrow. Aiming at the Bandit Snow Monkeys swinging out of the deep forest, she rapidly fired one snow-white arrow after another.

”CLINK!”

”CLINK!” A series of metallic clashes rang out. Gao Lingwei’s archery was incredibly fast, but the Bandit Snow Monkeys were even faster!

The Bandit Snow Monkeys seemed to be launching a suicidal charge, but they had a special skill of their own.

A layer of frost and snow instantly materialized on their white-furred arms, covering them completely. They raised their arms in front of their bodies, deflecting the arrows Gao Lingwei fired.

Don’t be fooled by their small size, only 30 to 50 centimeters tall; their defense was astonishing, and their agility and speed were simply outrageous!

One Bandit Snow Monkey precisely blocked an arrow with its slender arm, but the force of the impact knocked it off balance, sending it hurtling to the ground.

”HISSS!!!” It glared at Gao Lingwei with scarlet eyes and bared its teeth, looking for all the world like it was stomping its feet and cursing up a storm.

”Hey, my hat!” Shi Lan cried out in alarm. She reached out to grab the monkey in front of her, but with a flick of its long tail—SLAP—it smacked her squarely across the face.

”HISSS!”

”Chee-chee...” The monkeys chattered wildly. They had their own unique language for communication. As the successful Bandit Snow Monkey snatched Shi Lan’s red cotton hat, it promptly put it on its own head...

The cotton hat wasn’t very big, but the Bandit Snow Monkey’s head was even smaller. Instantly, its entire head was enveloped by the hat.

The Bandit Snow Monkey seemed to be a natural-born Actor. After putting on the hat, it pretended to be blind, stretching its hands out in front of it and stumbling forward as it groped its way through the snow.

In that instant, the troop of monkeys stopped attacking. They began leaping up and down, as if mocking the group.

Rong Taotao even saw a few Snow Monkeys howling with laughter, rolling around on their backs in the snow while slapping their bellies.

’What the hell...’

’Never mind their attack power; these Snow Monkeys are experts at psychological warfare!’

The Bandit Snow Monkeys surrounded the group, pointing and laughing heartily, which in turn gave everyone a chance to catch their breath.

”Yah!!!” Shi Lan stomped her foot viciously, so angry she felt like her lungs would explode.

Seeing Shi Lan stomp her foot, the few Bandit Snow Monkeys nearby only laughed more wildly.

Jiao Tengda’s expression was grave. He knew the Bandit Snow Monkeys were toying with their prey. If one could snatch a hat from Shi Lan’s head, it could just as easily have inflicted a much more serious injury.

But the Bandit Snow Monkeys hadn’t done that. They were amusing themselves with the Little Souls, thoroughly enjoying the fine time they were having making fools of them.

”Everyone, prepare for ranged attacks!” Jiao Tengda made a swift decision. ”Rong Taotao, A Snowy Ocean!”

Rong Taotao didn’t hesitate for a second. He immediately dropped to one knee and pressed both hands into the snow, while Gao Lingwei stepped forward to shield him.

In that instant, the thick snow began to surge once more.

”HISSS!!!”

”Hisss...” The Bandit Snow Monkeys were thrown into a panic. They didn’t have the Snow Step Soul Skill and couldn’t walk on the surging snow. Their ability to move so freely in the snow was entirely due to their light bodies and nimble Body Techniques.