Master of Nine Stars

Chapter 576: Chapter 350: A Rare Soul Beast, the Snow Devourer!?

RUMBLE…

The heavy city gates rumbled open. Rong Taotao tilted his head back, trying his best to make out the words “Wan’an Pass” carved above the gate. However, the wind and snow obscured his vision, and he couldn’t see a thing.

Ironically, his view had been clearer during his training in the Outer Region, when he had gazed at the pass from a distant hill.

Rong Taotao followed the squad forward, finally setting foot inside Wan’an Pass, but he still couldn’t see its full appearance.

A fierce wind swept thick, heavy snow throughout the city.

Luminous Lantern Paper Cages, emitting faint glows, vaguely illuminated an ancient-looking town.

Rong Taotao glanced from side to side. He felt it wasn’t appropriate to have the Snowball Cat share its vision with him, since everyone was in the middle of a serious mission. And yet…

The next moment, the scene in Rong Taotao’s vision suddenly brightened.

Gao Lingwei’s care for him was silent and subtle. She patted the Snowball Cat curled up on her head and gestured toward her back.

The Snowball Cat understood immediately, and Rong Taotao could finally “see” the ancient town.

It didn’t seem much different from Hundred Corps Pass or Qianshan Pass. The only difference was that the atmosphere here was heavier, and the streets were lined with “Snowmen.”

Sentries were posted every five steps, guard posts every ten.

The soldiers looked as if they hadn’t moved in a long time. Their bodies were cloaked in white snow, their faces caked with frost, and they stood motionless at their posts throughout the city.

It was a strange experience, and he wasn’t sure whether to feel regretful or just disappointed.

Wan’an Pass had once been a place Rong Taotao dreamed of, a place he yearned to see. Yet now that he had finally unveiled its mysteries, he found it was no different from the other two passes—nothing special at all.

Guided by the light of the Luminous Lantern Paper Cages along the path, the squad pressed on without stopping, quickly reaching the Wan’an Pass North Gate.

At the city gate, three soldiers wearing black masks that covered the lower halves of their faces stood leaning against the wall. When they saw the squad approaching, the tallest of them stepped forward, gave Fu Tiance a military salute, and said, “Captain Fu.”

“Captain Cheng.” Fu Tiance politely returned the salute. “We’re all here.”

The man addressed as Captain Cheng swept his gaze over the group. His eyes lingered for a moment on the Snowball Cat atop Gao Lingwei’s head before he spoke. “Thank you for the support, Twelfth Squad. For this mission, we’ll be heading to Bailing Village. It’s a fair distance from here.”

With the Snowball Cat sharing its vision with him, Rong Taotao was completely stunned.

The three soldiers waiting by the gate wore snow camouflage, but their arm patches didn’t bear the insignia for “Snow”—they bore the one for “Cyan”!

The “Cyan” of the Cyan Mountain Army!

That unique arm patch was a symbol of status, a mark of supreme glory!

Was the Twelfth Squad impressive? Of course they were. But what did their arm patches say? Still “Snow.” That alone spoke volumes!

Moreover, among the three Cyan Mountain Army soldiers, Rong Taotao actually recognized a familiar figure.

Xu Yiyu of the Cyan Mountain Army!

The last time he’d seen her was after he’d won the championship and returned home. He was ambushed by poachers, and in the chaos of his escape, he lost many of his belongings. It was this very soldier who had turned back with her unit, fought their way through, and retrieved his trophy for him.

The “female assassin” was dressed the same as before, wearing a jet-black mask over the lower half of her face. The exposed part of her face was expressionless, and her aura was terrifyingly cold. Her icy eyes swept over the group, yet she acted as if she didn’t recognize Gao Lingwei or Rong Taotao at all.

‘How could she possibly not recognize them?’

‘Even if both he and Gao Lingwei were wearing masks, how could Xu Yiyu not recognize the Snowball Cat?’

‘Gao Lingwei’s Snowball Cat is one of a kind; its presence alone should have been enough to give them away. And yet, this ice queen—Xu Yiyu…’

Fu Tiance said, “Time is short. Give me the map. Let’s move!”

Cheng Border handed the map to Fu Tiance and said, “Alright. Mount up!”

The trio, who had been standing, all summoned their Snow Night Shocks.

Fu Tiance, however, passed the map directly to Gao Lingwei. “Xu Dog,” he said, “be our eyes. The mission objective is the area marked in red.”

“You’re still a rookie, so consider this special treatment. At my request, Captain Cheng took the time to draw this map for you before our arrival. Memorize its location.”

“During this mission outside Wan’an Pass, you are to memorize every location we visit. Burn it into your brain. In the future, you won’t get a map.”

“Yes, sir,” Gao Lingwei replied. She raised a hand, patted her Snowball Cat, and took back control of the shared vision.

‘It was clear Fu Tiance was deliberately training Gao Lingwei. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have needed to ask Cheng Border to draw a map. He could have simply ordered her to link the Snowball Cat’s vision to one of the veterans. These old-timers had been operating here for years and knew the terrain like the back of their hands; they just lacked the enhanced sight.’

‘Besides, the Snowball Cat’s Soul Skill wasn’t limited to sharing vision with its master. Soul Skill: Pupil Sharing could be used on anyone.’

‘Fu Tiance could have even left Gao Lingwei behind at the pass and simply borrowed her Snowball Cat… So, for her, this wasn’t just a mission—it was a trial!’

‘Perhaps this was how generations of Snow Burning Army soldiers were forged—growing through one arduous mission after another.’

‘With the help and support of the veterans, the torch was passed down from one generation to the next.’

Fu Tiance announced, “Set radios to channel 6. Let’s move out!”