Master of Nine Stars

After Ying Jie’s Lifebound Soul Beast died, it didn’t drop any Soul Pearls.

A Lifebound Soul Beast is different from a Soul Pet or an ordinary Soul Beast. Once one forms a contract with a Soul Martial Artist, it essentially merges with the human, becoming a single entity. The Lifebound Soul Beast’s existence is more like a medium—a medium that allows the Soul Martial Artist to cultivate Soul Techniques and absorb Soul Power.

Soul Martial Artists don’t produce Soul Pearls when they die. The Soul Pearls they embedded in their bodies during their lifetime dissipate upon their death. Likewise, a Lifebound Soul Beast, which is already ”embedded” within a Soul Martial Artist, won’t produce any Soul Pearls either.

In fact, this design inadvertently prevents a whole chain of crime. If Soul Martial Artists or their Lifebound Soul Beasts could produce Soul Pearls upon death... then this world would truly be a place where everyone lived in constant fear.

For a high-quality Soul Pearl and Soul Skill, what wouldn’t people do?

Beyond outright robbery, an entire ”pig farming” industry might even emerge.

Some Soul Beasts have low potential? Their Soul Skills’ quality only reach Excellent or Elite at best?

No problem. Just have someone absorb it as a Lifebound Soul Beast. Once its potential equalizes with the Soul Martial Artist’s, raise it for a few years, and once the Lifebound Soul Beast’s Soul Pearl reaches a high quality, slaughter it!

Yes, no one would be willing to kill their own Lifebound Soul Beast and dissipate all their cultivation. But do criminals care about that? They would use all sorts of cruel methods to imprison the Soul Martial Artist and simply farm them like a pig!

Once such an inhumane industrial chain formed, this world would truly descend into chaos.

No one would be safe. And you should never think you’re superior to others and would be on the benefiting side.

Because there’s always someone with more power, influence, and strength than you. The more outstanding you are, the higher your potential, the more likely you are to become one of those ”pigs” being raised to incubate a Soul Pearl for someone else.

...

That night, the trio escorted the unconscious Ying Jie, leaving the scene to the Soul Police. Under the escort of the local Snow Burning Army forces, they traveled through the night, rushing north back to Hundred Corps Pass.

Rong Taotao didn’t accompany Yin Hu to report back. He returned to his office, frantically devoured two large boxes of cookies and drank several cans of milk, then collapsed into bed.

That night was an incredibly fruitful one for the Snow Burning Army’s Twelfth Squad!

Reports of victory kept pouring in!

The Snow Burning Army launched their arrest operations almost simultaneously, giving the enemy no chance to react. With the tip-off from Xingyan of the Eight Great Coins, and under the Twelfth Squad’s lead, not only were the three targeted ”Great Coins” captured, but the Snow Burning Army also cooperated with the Soul Police to destroy two strongholds near Meihua Town and Jinzhu Town!

For a time, every member of the Poacher teams lived in fear.

Xingyan’s position was simply too high, and he held too many secrets. This strike could be considered the greatest New Year’s gift the Snow Burning Army had given to the people of the northern Snow Realm.

But a certain someone was unaware of everything that had happened that night. He was just bundled up in his blankets, sleeping sweetly.

And he slept straight through until broad daylight.

In the northern Snow Realm, the sun rises very late, especially in winter. Even with plenty of sleep, when Rong Taotao woke up, his head was still throbbing.

”Ugh.” Rong Taotao winced, rubbing his head of naturally curly hair.

He was used to waking up clear-headed and sharp, but now he felt exhausted, his mind still groggy.

Last night, he and Ying Jie had spent far too long in the Illusion World.

But Rong Taotao didn’t regret it. It was all worth it! The point was to make the Poachers afraid! To make them terrified! To make Ying Jie never again dare to have the slightest ill intention toward Gao Lingwei!

It wasn’t just about Da Wei. Rong Taotao hoped that everyone he cared about could live a peaceful life, free from the threatening shadow of the Poachers.

The Rong Taotao of today was no longer the lonely boy he once was. He had many comrades who had been through life and death with him, as well as many classmates and teachers he cared about.

Of course he hoped his deterrent presence could grow stronger, and stronger, and stronger still... so strong that Poachers would turn pale at the mere mention of his name and flee on sight, not daring to have any sinister thoughts about the people around him.

”Heh...” Lost in thought, Rong Taotao sat up and sighed deeply.

He had to admit, while Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon was powerful, its side effects were a bit much.

Rong Taotao slumped to the side, his shoulder leaning against the wall, and muttered to himself inwardly, ’Back then, it was a good thing I didn’t let Gao Lingwei embed this Soul Pearl. Otherwise, she’d definitely be even crazier than I am, wouldn’t she?’

That thought wasn’t speculation; it was a conclusion.

After all, judging by how Gao Lingwei used the Snow Prison Arena in the past, she was definitely the type to fight until she was completely exhausted, never leaving herself a way out.

After zoning out for a bit, Rong Taotao had to get out of bed. Nature was calling.

This office was great in every way, except it didn’t have a private restroom. To take care of personal business, he had to go to the public restroom on the east side of the second floor.

Rong Taotao slipped on his military boots, and as soon as he opened the door, he saw that the door to the office across the hall was open.

And behind the desk directly opposite him, Gao Lingwei was sitting in her chair, her long legs propped up on the desk. Her head was down, and she was idly fiddling with her fingers.

Whoa!

Rong Taotao jumped, almost thinking he was seeing Si Huan Nian...

’What’s up with Da Wei? Who did she learn this bad habit from?’

Hmm, okay, Da Wei wasn’t actually bored. Judging from the faint fluctuations of Soul Power, she was likely absorbing Soul Power and cultivating a Soul Technique.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Gao Lingwei looked up and saw the disheveled Rong Taotao. A faint smile graced her lips.