Master of Nine Stars

They had only been sitting in the classroom for a short while before Zhao Tang and Gao Lingwei sensed that something wasn’t right.

The cultivation speed inside the Martial Arts Hall was astonishingly fast!

They had thought the cultivation speed in the Martial Arts Arena was already fast enough, but they never imagined that the Martial Arts Hall was a whole different world.

’No wonder this is the Junior Class, the one groomed for greatness. They even sleep inside the hall at night. How could their cultivation speed not be fast?’

Zhao Tang also realized how much the school valued him. His martial arts had been completely crippled, sending him plummeting from the peak to the very bottom. But Zhao Tang hadn’t been crushed by this reality. As a Soul Martial Artist, he had endured a few difficult weeks before getting back on his feet. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

’Win or lose, life is meant to be lived boldly. The worst that can happen is I start all over again!’

He was truly a man of iron from the northwest. Yet, just as he was rallying to make a comeback, ready to walk his path anew, the school had unexpectedly placed him in the Junior Class.

With no say in the matter, Zhao Tang could only follow the school’s arrangements. But on this very first day of class, he understood the school’s painstaking efforts.

’The Soul Power absorption rate is so fast!’

’The Soul Technique cultivation speed is so fast!’

’So what if three years of hard work went down the drain!?’ Judging by his experience, Zhao Tang figured that in less than a year, he could get back to the peak condition he was in just a month ago as a first-year student!

’One year to make up for three?!’

’The Pine Soul Soul Martial Martial Arts Hall... it’s this terrifyingly effective!?’

Terrifyingly effective, indeed. And that effectiveness, of course, was all thanks to Si Huan Nian.

In fact, the Soul Power that leaked from Si Huan Nian’s fingertips was enough to nourish everyone in the Soul Class. So, as the very vessel of the Nine-Petaled Lotus, gulping down the benefits, just how fast must her own cultivation speed be?

By the same token, was it really a problem that Rong Taotao had a few years less training than everyone else?

Perhaps the goal Principal Mei Hongyu had set for Rong Taotao was a bit high, but it was by no means unrealistic!

The day passed quickly. When Yang Chunxi dismissed the class, Gao Lingwei was still reluctant to leave the classroom. She finally understood what Rong Taotao’s so-called "treasure" was.

She hadn’t known the specifics before, but now, she was truly grateful to Rong Taotao for getting her transferred into the Junior Class.

In truth, Gao Lingwei still hadn’t figured out that the key wasn’t the Martial Arts Arena itself, but the Nine-Petaled Lotus. Rong Taotao, however, was just waiting for the right opportunity to tell her.

"Come on, teammate. Let’s go get dinner," Rong Taotao said.

"Woof~" The Cloud Dog flew onto Gao Lingwei’s head and bounced up and down. It squinted, wagging its tail at Rong Taotao.

It seemed to be declaring that her hair was more comfortable to stand on than Rong Taotao’s.

’And look, there’s even a slide in the back~’

The Cloud Dog flopped onto Gao Lingwei’s head, then slid down her ponytail with a SWOOSH~, having fun all by itself.

Gao Lingwei quickly reached back to catch it but grabbed nothing but air. The Cloud Dog didn’t need catching; it simply dissolved into a cloud of mist, flew back to her head, and slid down again...

"You little rascal," Gao Lingwei murmured, catching the small puppy as it flew back to her head. She held it in front of her face, gently booped its tiny nose, and then said, "You go. I’m not hungry."

"Okay." Rong Taotao knew exactly why Gao Lingwei didn’t want to go. In fact, back when he didn’t understand how the Martial Arts Arena operated, he hadn’t been willing to take a single step out of here either.

He walked over to Gao Lingwei’s desk, leaned down with his elbow propped on the edge, and whispered, "It’s no use. Si Huan Nian has to go to the dining hall to eat, too. The second she leaves, the cultivation speed here will go back to normal. You’re just wasting your time sitting here."

"Hm?" Gao Lingwei’s eyes snapped toward Rong Taotao.

Rong Taotao shrugged. "Don’t tell anyone. Come on, I have no reason to lie to you. Practical training starts sharp at 18:00. We don’t have much time to eat, and Si Huan Nian is a bottomless pit. Let’s go."

"Okay." Gao Lingwei finally stood up. She gently tossed the Cloud Dog up and down in her hand as she walked toward the door. "Take a picture and send it to Gan Lin. She’s messaged me a bunch of times today, and I’ve been ignoring her."

"Oh." Rong Taotao pulled out his phone.

...

In the dining hall, Gao Lingwei’s eyes were well and truly opened.

Not wanting to disturb the two kids, Si Huan Nian had gone to order a table full of food for herself. And Rong Taotao... had also ordered four dishes and a soup.

And these weren’t the small portions served in the little compartments of a meal tray, but four actual, full-sized dishes and a tureen of soup.

At first, Gao Lingwei thought Rong Taotao was being wasteful. But the moment he picked up a spoon in his left hand and chopsticks in his right, she knew she was wrong...

The guy was an absolute animal!

When she was laid up in the hospital, Rong Taotao had always brought delicious food when he visited. Back then, Gao Lingwei hadn’t thought much of it, since they each had their own meal box. But now...

After a long moment of hesitation, Gao Lingwei said, "Slow down. I’m not going to fight you for it."

Rong Taotao frantically waved his hands, his mouth full of food. "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding. How I eat has nothing to do with who’s sitting across from me. Look over there."

Gao Lingwei followed his gaze and saw Si Huan Nian at a nearby table.

One look was all it took for her to get a shock. ’What a weird and wonderful world.’

Good grief. ’Does a goddess-level teacher with such an ethereal aura really not care about her image at all?’

’How is it that she’s an even bigger glutton than Rong Taotao?’

Rong Taotao scooped up a piece of braised pork with his spoon, drizzling the sauce over his white rice. He mixed it in and said casually, "You’d better eat your share. If you don’t, it’ll really be gone. I’m starving. I didn’t know what to expect this time. Next time, I’ll order two more plates."