Master of Nine Stars

A summer night.

The bright moon hung high in the sky.

Songjiang Province, New Danxi City.

On the rooftop of a residential building, a young man was training diligently, a heavy Heaven-piercing Halberd in hand.

In the quiet of the night, the cold moonlight shone down on him, casting a pale, ethereal glow upon his somewhat slender frame.

Holding his halberd under the moon, his shadow and he made a party of three.

"New Danxi twists and it turns, little fish jump on our boat, we don’t care. We’ll scoop the moon and net the starlight, a bowl of home brew for grandpa’s delight..."

Beside the rooftop railing, a cell phone buzzed, and a child’s voice sang out from the ringtone.

"Hah..." The young man panted heavily, pausing his movements and carrying the heavy Heaven-piercing Halberd toward the railing.

"Time’s up." Rong Taotao glanced at the "23:59" on his phone and casually turned off the alarm.

’Yep, time’s up. Time to go to bed.’

DRIP, DRIP.

Sweat trickled down his face and hit the ground with a faint sound.

Rong Taotao let out a satisfied sigh. The exhaustion that followed his arduous training filled him with a sense of accomplishment.

He turned, leaned his back against the railing, and cradled the long halberd in his arms, looking up at the dim stars in the night sky.

Tomorrow was the day of his awakening.

’It should... be successful, right?’

’No problem. Definitely no problem. After all... you’re Xu Fenghua’s son.’

Rong Taotao ruffled his hair. His drenched, naturally curly hair looked just like a messy dog’s bed.

Beneath the mess of curls, his somewhat boyish face was... surprisingly cute?

After a short rest, Rong Taotao picked up the heavy Heaven-piercing Halberd and, with heavy steps, walked toward the rooftop stairwell.

He went down one flight of stairs to the 17th floor, opened the fire hydrant cabinet on the wall, took out a key from inside, and unlocked his front door.

Rong Taotao casually leaned the Heaven-piercing Halberd against the coat rack by the door. As he wiped his damp face and changed into his slippers, his movements suddenly froze.

He quickly looked up toward the living room sofa.

In the dark living room, illuminated only by the moonlight, a figure was sitting upright on the sofa, silently watching the doorway.

For a moment, the two of them just stared at each other. It was a strange scene.

Rong Taotao wasn’t panicked, but a dozen question marks popped up in his mind.

’Well now, a home invasion?’

’Are burglars really this bold nowadays?’

’Did he not find anything valuable and now refuses to leave?’

’What’s he staying for?’

’To get in my face and rage?’

’To call me poor to my face?’

"Taotao." The dark figure on the sofa spoke slowly.

And that middle-aged man’s deep voice was both unfamiliar and familiar to Rong Taotao.

"Huh?" Rong Taotao instinctively ruffled his curly hair.

’Not a burglar? It’s family?’

’Dad!?’

Rong Taotao flipped on the living room light and tilted his head, looking at the handsome, well-dressed middle-aged man on the sofa.

Rong Taotao couldn’t help but blink. "Well, well? Who might this be? What a rare guest!"

The moment he spoke, the sarcasm was dripping.

A flash of guilt crossed the man’s eyes. He gave Rong Taotao an apologetic smile and said, "I saw you training so hard just now, so I didn’t want to disturb you."

Rong Taotao pursed his lips and snorted. "You’re really good at that ’not disturbing’ thing. The last time you ’disturbed’ me was... three years ago?"

Rong Yuanshan sounded rather helpless as he said, "Dad’s been busy."

"Yep, yep, busy is good, busy is good. A man’s got to prioritize his career!" Rong Taotao mumbled, shuffling in his slippers toward the bathroom. "Kids and all that... they’re just accidents. Ah, it’s all because you were young and swept away by love..."

Rong Yuanshan: "..."

Rong Yuanshan watched helplessly as his son, Rong Taotao, walked into the bathroom. A moment later, he heard the sound of the shower running.

Rong Yuanshan hesitated for a moment, then walked over to the bathroom. Leaning his shoulder against the doorframe, he spoke through the closed door, "Tomorrow is your middle school graduation ceremony."

From behind the door, accompanied by the sound of the shower, came Rong Taotao’s lazy reply, "Yeah, what about it?"

Rong Yuanshan said, "If all goes as expected, you should be able to successfully begin your life as a Soul Martial Artist."

Rong Taotao: "That’s not a sure thing. The success rate for awakening is only fifty-fifty."

Rong Yuanshan chuckled. "That statistic applies to humanity as a whole.

"It’s different for Soul Martial Artist families. Your mother and I are both Soul Martial Artists. The blood of Soul Martial Artists flows in your veins. You will successfully awaken and become one."

Rong Yuanshan thought for a moment, and as if to give his son some confidence, he continued, "Your older brother is a Soul Martial Artist too, you know."

Unexpectedly, a mumble came from the bathroom, "Oh, right. How could I forget about that? Not only do I have a father, I even have a brother."

Rong Yuanshan: "..."

Inside the bathroom, Rong Taotao clicked his tongue with a pained expression. ’Dammit...’

’I fucking have a dad, a mom, and a brother who’s eight years older than me, but day in and day out, how is it that I’m living like an orphan?’

Rong Yuanshan hesitated, then said, "Your brother... well, he’s busy too."

Rong Taotao: "..."

"Taotao," Rong Yuanshan changed the subject. "You know that after you awaken, you have to merge with a Soul Beast to become a true Soul Martial Artist. Have you chosen your Lifebound Soul Beast?"

CLICK.

The bathroom door opened. Rong Taotao had finished his shower and changed into a clean, fresh t-shirt and shorts. He was holding a towel, drying his wet hair.

Rong Taotao looked up at his father in the doorway and said, "You already know which Soul Beast I’ll choose."

Rong Yuanshan looked at his son’s youthful face and smiled. "I just want to confirm which path you want to take in the future.

"You know that once you merge with a Soul Beast, you’ll possess a so-called Soul Attribute, which will determine your future path of growth."

Rong Taotao nodded and answered directly, "A Snow Realm Soul Beast."

"The Snow Realm?" Rong Yuanshan hesitated before saying, "Over 85% of Huaxia’s territory is connected to the Alien Planet ’Starfield.’

"Without a doubt, our country can provide more support and resources for Starfield Attribute Soul Martial Artists.

"Whether it’s Soul Techniques or Soul Skills, our research into the ’Starfield Attribute’ is far more thorough.

"What’s more..."

Seeing his son remain silent, Rong Yuanshan continued to persuade him, "When a Snow Realm Soul Martial Artist faces a Starfield Soul Martial Artist, their attribute is severely countered. If you choose a Snow Realm Soul Beast as your Lifebound Soul Beast...

"That path... well, it will be very difficult."

Rong Taotao nodded lightly, seeming to understand full well what kind of path he was choosing.

But Rong Taotao didn’t back down or change his mind. Instead, he said, "The history books say my mom is in the Snow Realm, guarding the border on the Dragon River in the far northeast of Huaxia, right?

"If my Lifebound Soul Beast is a Snow Realm creature, cultivating the Heart of the Snow Realm will be twice as effective.

"If I want to see her, I at least have to be able to survive in the harsh environment of low temperatures and blizzards."

Hearing this, Rong Yuanshan fell silent.

Xu Fenghua. His wife, Rong Taotao’s mother.

She did indeed stand watch in that land of ice and snow in the northernmost reaches of Huaxia, guarding that land day after day for ten years, protecting the Huaxian continent behind her.

However, just as Rong Yuanshan had said, Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists were naturally countered by Starfield Soul Martial Artists.

There are a total of nine Soul Martial Attributes in this world, each corresponding to one of nine planets:

Snow Realm, Desert, Molten Rock, and Firefly Forest.

Thunder Soaring, Starfield, Void, Cloud Peak, and Ocean (Earth).

Among these nine attributes, some countered each other. And on the continent of Huaxia, the vast majority of Soul Martial Artists were Starfield Soul Martial Artists.

A Starfield Attribute Soul Skill hitting the body of a Snow Realm Soul Martial Artist would produce damage far exceeding the skill’s normal output.

Seeing his son’s determined expression, Rong Yuanshan thought it over and said, "How about merging with a Cloud Peak creature? Becoming a Cloud Peak Soul Martial Artist?"

At these words, Rong Taotao’s eyes lit up!

’A Cloud Peak Soul Beast?’

’Those are extremely rare Soul Beasts!’

Rong Yuanshan continued, "In this world, no attribute’s Soul Skills can counter a Cloud Peak Soul Martial Artist.

"Moreover, you long for the Snow Realm region, and for your... uh... mother.

"A Cloud Peak Soul Martial Artist can also cultivate the Heart of the Snow Realm and use Snow Realm Soul Skills. It would allow you to survive in the severe cold."

Rong Taotao stared at his father with a bewildered expression. "The Cloud Peak planet... Huaxia has no gateways connected to that planet. To get to the Cloud Peak planet, you have to enter through the sky vortex over the Arctic Circle, don’t you?"

Seeing Rong Taotao’s expression, Rong Yuanshan smiled fondly. He placed a large, warm hand on his son’s head and ruffled his soft, curly hair.

Rong Yuanshan said, "Consider it compensation for having neglected you."

Rong Taotao’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He suddenly grabbed Rong Yuanshan’s hand and blurted out a single word: "Dad!"

Rong Yuanshan: "..."

Rong Taotao’s face was a picture of obedience, his words as sweet as honey. "Dad~ Good Dad!"

His reaction was a little too damn real.

Rong Yuanshan suddenly felt uncomfortable. The corner of his mouth twitched awkwardly as he said, "I’m not just going to hand you a Cloud Peak Soul Beast that easily. I can provide you with an opportunity, but whether or not you can seize it is up to you."

Rong Taotao froze for a second. ’An opportunity? Does he want me to compete with other people?’

’Bring it on, then!’

At this thought, Rong Taotao’s gaze subconsciously shifted toward the front door.

Rong Yuanshan turned slightly, his head also swiveling to look.

When he saw the Heaven-piercing Halberd leaning against the coat rack, he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Although Rong Yuanshan hadn’t been home in three years, the people secretly protecting his son had told him everything about his son’s upbringing.

Rong Yuanshan knew that every corner of that vast rooftop was soaked with his son’s sweat.

Confidence.

It was born from every night spent in the company of the moon and stars.

It was born from a lonely, yet scorching, and fiercely-growing heart.

Rong Yuanshan also knew why his son was so insistent.

He wanted to see the mother who had heartlessly left him.

He wanted to see the woman who lived in his history textbooks.

The legendary Soul Martial Artist who, over a decade ago, dominated the Battle of Dragon River and built a fortress wall at the border with her own flesh and blood.

The First Soul General of the Outer Region: Xu Fenghua.