Master of Nine Stars

Chapter 581: Chapter 352: Absorption! New Soul Pet

“Given your growth rate, even if it truly is one in a hundred with a relatively high Potential Value for its species, and can grow to the Master Level… it would still struggle to keep up with you.”

Gao Lingwei’s thinking was sound. Generally speaking, a Soul Pet that is absorbed and embedded will accompany a Soul Martial Artist for their entire life!

For a top-tier Soul Martial Artist, a creature like the Nightmare Snow Owl is clearly just a stepping stone. You’d acquire its Elite or Master Level Soul Pearls, embed them in your eyes or forehead, and use them to get through the three-star and four-star stages of your Soul Technique.

Later, once the Soul Martial Artist’s level is higher, they would swap them out for other Soul Pearls and Soul Skills.

But if Rong Taotao were to absorb the Nightmare Snow Owl as a Soul Pet, it would be tantamount to sabotaging his own future!

Little did Gao Lingwei know that Rong Taotao possessed a miraculous Inner Soul Map that could increase the Potential Value of anything in the world…

Rong Taotao’s criteria for choosing a Soul Pet had nothing to do with its Potential Value. Instead, he focused on the Soul Skills its Soul Pearls provided!

Hypnosis + Nightmare!

A dual set of Spiritual Soul Techniques!

The perfect combination of head and Eye Soul Skills!

Acquiring a Soul Pearl to embed in your body is certainly a temporary solution. You can only embed it in either your forehead or your eyes, and you only get to use one of its Soul Skills. This clearly breaks apart the perfect combination of Spiritual Soul Techniques.

But for Rong Taotao, a Soul Beast like this would absolutely last a lifetime!

Once Rong Taotao raises the Nightmare Snow Owl’s level and has it fly over a Soul Beast Army…

Wouldn’t that Soul Beast Corps fall like fields of wheat in the wind? A mighty army, falling asleep and collapsing to the ground, row by row.

Rong Taotao hesitated for a moment before gently patting Gao Lingwei’s shoulder.

Puzzled, Gao Lingwei turned to look, just in time to see a glint flash in Rong Taotao’s eyes.

The next moment, they appeared on the rooftop of a residential building in Songbai Town. The entire world brightened, the sky painted with the colors of a setting sun.

Inside the world of Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon, Rong Taotao took off his hood. His expression was serious as he said, “Da Wei, I want this Nightmare Snow Owl.”

Gao Lingwei also removed her hood and hesitated for a moment before saying, “You know I will always support you, it’s just… this choice will be an obstacle to your development.

Yes, its Soul Skills are excellent, and the combination is truly perfect. For an ordinary Soul Martial Artist, it would be a priceless treasure. But you’re different, Taotao. You need to set your sights higher.

Take Rong Ling, for example. At a minimum, a Soul Beast like the Snow General Candle—with a Potential Value of 6-stars or higher, reaching the Legendary Level—is what should be catching your eye.”

1 Ordinary, 2 Fine, 3 Elite, 4 Master, 5 Palace, 6 Legendary, 7 Epic, 8 Mythical.

Gao Lingwei chose her words carefully, speaking as gently as possible to avoid upsetting Rong Taotao. “If you take this Nightmare Snow Owl now, it will only be impressive for a short time,” she said softly. “Before long, it will fall behind…

You’re growing far too quickly, and the level of battles you’ll be fighting will get higher and higher. An Elite-level Nightmare Snow Owl will just become the team mascot.

A Soul Pet is different from a Lifebound Soul Beast. You can’t raise its aptitude.

And you absolutely cannot resort to a Blast Pearl and Explosive Pet. Cloud Dog and Rong Ling are watching you. No matter how well you get along with them, they’ll feel a sense of shared grief, like a fox mourning a dead rabbit.

Especially Cloud Dog. Once you break the heart of your Lifebound Soul Beast, your cultivation in this life is over.”

Gao Lingwei stepped forward, raising a hand to tidy Rong Taotao’s messy, naturally curly hair. She knew this was an Illusion World, but that didn’t stop her from wanting to make the gesture.

Gao Lingwei said softly, “Listen to me, Taotao. Perhaps the Prison Lotus is affecting your emotions, making you impatient and eager to get your hands on any good thing you see.

Think about it carefully, Taotao. Don’t let it cloud your judgment.”

Rong Taotao fell silent for a moment. “It has nothing to do with the Prison Lotus,” he said. “Currently, it only craves Lotus Petals. It wouldn’t deign to give a small fry like this a second glance.

What if I told you that I have a way to improve my Soul Pets’ aptitude?”

“Hm?” Gao Lingwei’s expression froze, and the hand in his curly hair paused.

If anyone else had said that, she would have scoffed, maybe even kicked them.

After all, a claim like that would overturn one’s entire worldview. It would shatter the very rules of the Soul Martial World.

But looking at Rong Taotao’s earnest expression… she found herself wanting to believe him.

Of course, she didn’t truly believe it. But because it was Rong Taotao, she was willing to try. There was a fundamental difference.

Gao Lingwei asked, “Will you explain it to me?”

Rong Taotao hesitated for a moment. “I can, but I need some time to sort out my thoughts.”

Gao Lingwei fell silent. After a long while, as if having gone through an internal struggle, she finally gave a silent nod.

Gao Lingwei let out a deep sigh and continued, “Taotao, I’m not your parent. I’m your… well, your girlfriend.

So I won’t discipline you or force you to change your mind. I’ll only offer my advice and analyze the situation for you. But in the end, whatever you decide, I will support you.

So, let me ask you one last time: are you sure you want it?”

Rong Taotao nodded firmly. “I’m sure!”

“Alright.” Gao Lingwei’s agreement was crisp and decisive, true to her style. “Dispel the Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon. I’ll give it to you.”

Ultimately, the reason was her faith in Rong Taotao’s intelligence and judgment. They knew each other too well. She knew that given his mind and personality, he would never make such an idiotic choice. There had to be a reason.

Rong Taotao spoke up, however. “Fu Tiance is another hurdle. Getting him to agree will probably take some convincing.”

“Hmm…” Gao Lingwei said.

An idea sparked in Rong Taotao’s mind. “Maybe I can just make up an excuse? I could say the Lotus Petal in my body has a miraculous effect that can improve a Soul Pet’s aptitude. And since the Nightmare Snow Owl’s Soul Skills are so strong, it has immense training value?”

Hearing this, a strange smile appeared on Gao Lingwei’s face. “You know,” she said, “you could have just used that excuse on me.”

“Ah, haha.” Rong Taotao scratched his head. “There’s no need for that. You’re not just anyone.”

At his words, Gao Lingwei’s eyes grew even brighter.

They were two people destined to walk this path together to the very end. All this time spent side-by-side, growing together, had made them understand each other completely. They shared the same goals, compatible values, and complementary personalities.

As for risking their lives for each other, it had happened more than once or twice for them—it could even be described as commonplace.

Rong Taotao also firmly believed that with the help of his Inner Soul Map, not only would he himself one day ascend to godhood, but his Da Wei would also be right there beside him.

‘Yes, his Da Wei.’

‘After all, becoming a god all by yourself sounds a little lonely, doesn’t it?’

‘With someone by your side, in life or in death, you wouldn’t be alone.’

Judging from Rong Taotao’s thoughts at this moment, he was indeed destined to become a powerful Soul Martial Artist, because his bond with Cloud Dog could only grow deeper.

It was just as Yang Chunxi had taught from the very beginning: the life of a Soul Martial Artist is a life of companionship.

Rong Taotao dispelled the Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon, and the two returned to the real world.

Gao Lingwei immediately handed the Nightmare Snow Owl to Rong Taotao. After hearing Rong Taotao’s “Lotus Petal Speech,” Fu Tiance dumbly hugged his precious Snow Devourer, staring in astonishment as Rong Taotao pressed the Nightmare Snow Owl into the Soul Slot on his knee.

Currently, the Soul Slots on Rong Taotao’s left ankle and right knee were both empty. Comparatively, the ankle Soul Slot could house more types of Soul Skills and offered greater utility, so of course, he was saving it.

Owl Eyes + Nightmare!

A third-rate knee Soul Slot, embedded with two first-class Soul Skills! And they were Spiritual Type Soul Skills for the eyes and head, no less!

Even if Rong Taotao embedded a Soul Pearl, he wouldn’t be able to raise the Soul Skill’s level. But by taking it as a Soul Pet, he could use Potential Value to break through its aptitude limit!

It couldn’t be more perfect!

‘Excellent, Nightmare Snow Owl!’

‘Let’s go lull all of humanity to sleep and make the entire world fall into the dreamscape we weave…’

‘First step to conquering the world: let me give you a nickname!’

‘Hmm… Mengmeng Xiao?’