Master of Nine Stars

Xu Yiyu’s posture, her bearing—it seemed to perfectly embody three words: Cyan Mountain Army!

In truth, Rong Taotao, who had little contact with the Cyan Mountain Army, had no idea what was going through Xu Yiyu’s mind. Perhaps... this was what it truly meant to face death as a welcome homecoming.

Sometimes, living was indeed a painful affair.

Especially when your heart was filled with self-reproach and guilt, and you lived every second of every minute under a heavy shadow. Such a state would completely change a person, and even destroy them...

’So, my companions were maimed and killed, one after another.’

’They were lost in the boundless snowstorm, or fell to the sharp fangs and claws of Soul Beasts. Why... why am I still alive?’

’The blood-red banner of the past symbolized supreme glory!’

’But now, it only represented a unit that existed in name alone.’

This Snow Soul Banner, belonging exclusively to the Cyan Mountain Army, carried not only the memories of the dead but also the shame of the living.

As Xu Yiyu watched the Snow Dragon Tornado wreak havoc on all living things, she muttered under her breath, ”So, can you give me what I want?”

In the enemy ranks, the Snow General Candle was still galloping on its Snow Night Shock, its hooves trampling the surging Corpse Tide, its speed never slowing in the slightest.

However, its own soldiers were suffering such heavy casualties before it had even reached the enemy’s position. This infuriated the Snow General Candle. It pointed its Dark Gold Yanyue Saber toward the sky. ”VMMMM!!!”

The strange Battle Cry was filled with rage, its momentum astonishing.

And at that very moment, the pitch-black night sky suddenly lit up!

Countless drops of Ice Candle Fire Rain fell from the sky, carrying a strange yet beautiful aura as they sprinkled down toward the Tree Castle...

In response, the glowing lights dancing on the Tree Castle also brightened. Branches and limbs extended, twisting and intertwining as they shot toward the sky, actually forming a giant defensive shield of branches!

It was already a Tree Castle, yet the Bailing Tree Maidens were now opening an ”umbrella” above it.

In an instant, a massive umbrella of blazing Ice Candles appeared, creating a scene of breathtaking beauty...

”HA!” Rong Ling let out a great cry. In his small Frost Snow Palm, he held a tiny Heaven-piercing Halberd, which he also pointed toward the sky!

WHOOSH...

A tragically beautiful Ice Candle hue completely illuminated the night sky above the Corpse Tide army. A matching rain of Ice Candle Fire descended, dense and relentless!

’I, Rong Ling, can do that too!’

”VMMMM!!!” the Snow General Candle roared, pointing its Yanyue Saber in Rong Ling’s direction.

The two Ghost Generals were not enemies, but the Snow General Candle’s defining trait was that one mountain could not house two tigers!

”HA!!!” The tiny Rong Ling was utterly fearless. The cape on his back flapped loudly as he pointed his Heaven-piercing Halberd at the towering, imposing Snow General Candle, as if issuing a challenge for a duel!

So damn brave!

Whether you could win was one thing; whether you dared to fight was another!

Gao Lingwei keenly noticed this. ’The two Ghost Generals have locked onto each other?’

She quickly commanded, ”Go! Find your master, now!”

Although Rong Ling was confused, his body was honest. Years of ingrained habit made him obey Gao Lingwei’s command instantly, and he quickly flew up into the sky.

As expected!

The enemy Snow General Candle’s pair of Candle Eyes remained locked onto Rong Ling, right until... until Rong Ling flew onto a giant, snow-white palm and landed beside a fierce-looking warthog.

The fierce warthog’s eyes seemed to be twinkling with a strange luster, a light...

”Vmm?” The Snow General Candle abruptly reined in its horse. ’Where is my army? Where are my Snow Corpse and Ghost soldiers?’

CLIP... CLOP... CLIP... A burst of urgent hoofbeats sounded.

The Snow General Candle’s heart was filled with confusion. It had been scanning its surroundings, but now it couldn’t afford to; it hastily looked forward.

It saw the same fierce warthog from before, now also mounted on a tall warhorse, holding a Heaven-piercing Halberd, and charging forward with astonishing momentum!

”VMMMM!!!” The Snow General Candle’s cry was filled with fury, but also mixed with an intense battle lust. It violently dug its heels into its horse’s sides, lunging forward while dragging its Dark Gold Yanyue Saber through the snow behind it.

One saber and one halberd. One ghost and one man!

Both sides spurred their warhorses on, charging toward each other for a head-on clash!

WHOOSH~

The Snow General Candle’s pair of Candle Eyes blazed fiercely. Instantly, Rong Taotao’s body was set ablaze with Ice Candle Flames.

”NEIGHHH~~” The next moment, the Snow Night Shock under the Snow General Candle suddenly let out a pained cry, lost its footing, and tumbled into the snow.

Tripped on flat ground?

Yes... a perfect trip on flat ground!

There were no traps or obstacles on the snowy ground, but the Snow Night Shock just fell like that because... this Snow Night Shock was never a real creature. It was an Illusion provided to the Snow General Candle by Rong Taotao.

With immense forward momentum, the Snow General Candle was sent flying!

The Snow General Candle reacted with incredible speed. Its body instantly disintegrated into specks of frost and snow that swirled around its physical helmet, armor, boots, and cape, coming to an abrupt halt in midair.

And before it, the fierce warthog, holding the Heaven-piercing Halberd, threw it!

The Snow General Candle’s defense was undeniable. The higher its level, the stronger the defense of its equipment. But clearly, it had no desire to be stabbed for no reason.

The Snow General Candle hastily dodged to the left, only to find its body being pulled back!?

From the thick snow below, a Snow Ghost Hand suddenly burst out. The Snow Ghost Hand wasn’t large, about the size of a normal human’s, but it gripped the Snow General Candle’s snow-forged boots tightly.

That’s right. The Snow General Candle could exist without a physical body, dissolving into frost and snow to dodge attacks when necessary, but its helmet, armor, boots, and cape were all still there!

More importantly, no matter how much it dissolved into frost and snow, the two Ice Candle Eyes within its helmet would always exist.

’So... that pair of Ice Candle Eyes is its true body?’

”VMMMM!!!” The Snow General Candle struggled violently. Seeing the Heaven-piercing Halberd stabbing toward it, it swung the Dark Gold Yanyue Saber in its right hand to block.

SHING~

The Dark Gold Yanyue Saber, an illusion created by Snow Fury, also vanished abruptly. Just like the Snow Night Shock from before, these Soul Beasts had not been pulled into Rong Taotao’s world of Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon. All of it, every last bit, was an illusion...

DING! With a crisp sound, the tip of the Heaven-piercing Halberd struck the Snow General Candle’s chest. The Snow Halberd and Snow Armor rang out clearly. Under the immense force of the thrust, the Snow General Candle’s body was thrown backward.

PFFT~ PFFT~

A series of sounds erupted as several more Snow Ghost Hands burst from the snow. They seized the Snow General Candle’s helmet, armor, vambraces, and boots, forcefully freezing its majestic body in midair.

”I’ve been wondering what would be the best way to not just harm you, but leave you with a psychological scar.” Rong Taotao stood before the Snow General Candle, which was being gripped and torn at by a dozen small Snow Ghost Hands. He looked up at its blazing Candle Eyes and murmured softly.

”Now, I think I know.” As he spoke, the snowdrift at Rong Taotao’s feet suddenly rose, lifting him up to face the Snow General Candle.

He extended his right fist, then opened his palm. SHWISH~

A rapidly spinning Snow Burst Ball materialized in his hand.

At that very moment, the Snow General Candle’s violently struggling body stiffened slightly.

Rong Taotao, holding the Snow Burst Ball, slowly pressed it toward the blazing Ice Candle Eyes beneath the Snow General Candle’s helmet.

”VMM! VMM! VMMMM!!!”

”Shh, shh...” Rong Taotao held its helmet with his left hand while his right hand pushed the Snow Burst Ball into its head of frost and snow. The rapidly spinning ball frantically shredded the pair of Ice Candle Eyes.

The Snow Burst Ball grew larger and larger... until it completely filled the Snow General Candle’s helmet.

”Promotion! Snow Realm Soul Skill: Snow Burst, Master Level!”

Rong Taotao didn’t know why he had made that ”shushing” sound. Perhaps... he was just heavily influenced by Gao Lingwei.

At this thought, a strange smile appeared on Rong Taotao’s face behind the fierce warthog mask.

”General, your time is up.”

...