Master of Nine Stars

Gao Lingwei’s expression was a little strange. She looked over at Si Huan Nian, then back at Rong Taotao, as if she had realized something.

As they were eating, the screen of Rong Taotao’s phone, which was sitting on the table, suddenly lit up. He paused for a moment, and in the middle of his meal, he put down his chopsticks and tapped the screen.

It was a message from Xia Fangran. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Meet at the stables at 18:00?

Rong Taotao was a bit confused. ’Why the stables? Aren’t we going to the Martial Arts Hall?’

Rong Taotao thought for a moment, then picked up his chopsticks again. "Coach Xia changed the training location. The Southeast Stables."

While Rong Taotao was looking at his phone, Gao Lingwei had snatched the last spring pancake and stuffed it into her mouth. Her cheeks puffed out as she nodded. "Mmph."

Rong Taotao’s face twitched with embarrassment. ’She’s really had it rough. Look how starved the poor girl is.’

’I’m really something, aren’t I? First, I beat her so bad she ended up in the hospital, and now I take her out for a meal and still let her go hungry.’

’If you don’t know, just ask. So... um, if one were trying to woo a girl, this probably isn’t the right way to go about it, is it?’

...

After the two of them—well, mostly Rong Taotao—had eaten their fill, they quickly rushed to the school’s stables in the southeast corner.

Right at the entrance to the stables stood Xia Fangran, clad in his unchanging plaid shirt.

He was leaning casually against the wooden gate, a long, slender blade cradled in his arms. Under the bright streetlights, his figure stood in the wind and snow, looking rather dashing.

"Gao Lingwei?" Xia Fangran sized her up from head to toe, though he wasn’t looking at her face, but rather carefully observing her physical condition.

"Coach Xia." Gao Lingwei stood ramrod straight, her voice firm and resonant.

"Mm, you have a good presence, and your physical Talent looks impressive too. Anyone who can win the Outer Region championship must have excellent combat Talent as well." Xia Fangran nodded in satisfaction. "What’s your Lifebound Soul Beast?"

Gao Lingwei: "Snow Night Shock."

Xia Fangran: "What are your primary weapons?"

Gao Lingwei: "Halberd, saber, and bow."

"Heh." Xia Fangran chuckled lightly and glanced at Rong Taotao. "You two are quite a match, then."

Rong Taotao quickly changed the subject. "Coach, why did you have us come here?"

"Her Lifebound Soul Beast is a Snow Night Shock, so she doesn’t need to choose one." Xia Fangran gestured toward Rong Taotao. "You go in and pick out a Snow Night Shock."

A thought struck Rong Taotao. "Where are we going? Are we leaving campus at night?"

Xia Fangran was about to scold him, but he seemed to recall something and explained, "Old Mei’s expectations for you two are maxed out, so he has higher requirements for you both as well.

At this stage, aren’t you unable to spar with your classmates? In that case, your opponents should be Soul Beasts. This is a training regimen Old Mei designed specifically for you.

Tonight, we’ll be staying at Hundred Corps Pass. Tomorrow, we’re heading outside the wall to continue the training expedition you left unfinished."

Gao Lingwei and Rong Taotao: !!!

Rong Taotao asked foolishly, "Is it really a good idea to go out during this special period?"

Xia Fangran: "I’ll be watching over you two."

Of course, Rong Taotao had no doubts about Xia Fangran’s strength. The man spent years leading third-year and Senior Year students outside the wall. But the problem was...

Rong Taotao hurriedly said, "Coach, it’s not that I can’t endure hardship, but I get genuinely hungry, and the hunger is the kind that strikes suddenly.

It’s not something I can just grit my teeth and get through. It’s an objective, physical problem I have. I need massive amounts of food and plenty of sleep!"

"I brought the Sugar for you." Xia Fangran gestured to the huge hiking backpack at his feet, but then asked, puzzled, "I can understand the food, but why do you need plenty of sleep?"

Rong Taotao blinked. "Coach Si said the Lotus Petal is draining my body’s nutrients every day. If I sleep too little, I’ll stop growing."

Hearing this, Xia Fangran was amused. "Stand up straight, let me see."

Rong Taotao puffed out his chest, stood straight, and tried to stretch himself taller.

A little over four months ago, on the day of his middle school graduation, when Rong Taotao met his brother Rong Yang, the 185-centimeter-tall Rong Yang had been more than half a head taller than him.

But now, Rong Taotao, who was in the middle of puberty and a rapid growth spurt, seemed to have grown a little taller again.

If he hadn’t had the Lotus in his body for the past month, would he perhaps be even taller?

Xia Fangran looked him over. "Around 174, 175 centimeters. That’s good enough. You’re almost as tall as me. It’ll do."

’How could that possibly be enough? My Fang Tian-Gao Lingwei-Painted Halberd Goddess... those long legs of hers aren’t just for show.’

Rong Taotao scratched his head and stole a glance at Gao Lingwei. No matter how much he puffed out his chest and lifted his head, he still seemed to be just a tiny bit shorter than her.

’Yep, just a tiny bit~’

Rong Taotao’s parents had good genes, and in his mind, his brother Rong Yang was his role model. So he still wanted to put in the effort, especially since he wasn’t even sixteen yet—the prime time for a growth spurt.

Xia Fangran said, "Meet my requirements, and I guarantee you’ll have meat with every meal. Now go pick a Snow Night Shock."

Feeling rather helpless, Rong Taotao could only walk into the stables.

’Meat with every meal?’

’What a load of crap. Out in the wild, what else is there to eat besides beasts?’

Gao Lingwei also looked troubled. She had just gotten a taste of the benefits of the Martial Arts Hall today, where her training speed had skyrocketed. Although Hundred Corps Pass was further north, which theoretically meant faster training, the reality was that it wasn’t as fast as training inside the Martial Arts Hall.

Of course, Gao Lingwei only thought this to herself and didn’t say it out loud. She wouldn’t go against the school’s arrangements.

A short while later, Rong Taotao led a pure-white Snow Night Shock out of the stables. Its enormous, deep-sea blue eyes emanated a soft glow and were exceptionally beautiful.

Xia Fangran summoned his Lifebound Soul Beast. Following her coach’s lead, Gao Lingwei also summoned her own Snow Night Shock.

Xia Fangran handed the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow he had been cradling to Rong Taotao, then tossed him the hiking bag full of candy. He began to explain, "You’re different from all the other Junior Class students. They have to stay within the Martial Arts Arena, near Si Huan Nian, to enjoy the benefits of cultivating Soul Techniques and Soul Power.

But you are essentially the same as Si Huan Nian. You can be away from her and form your own cultivation system, and Gao Lingwei can enjoy the benefits you provide as well.

That’s why the two of you are allowed to come with me to Hundred Corps Pass and go beyond the wall."

Upon hearing this, Gao Lingwei turned her head to look at Rong Taotao.

She had thought she had found a kindred spirit, a compatible partner. It had taken great determination for her to set aside the option of "Combat Readiness" and choose this person of infinite potential who was also incredibly hardworking.

Kindred spirits, compatibility, and mutually attractive qualities—this was the foundation for everything.

The memory of the fierce argument with her former teammate at the National High School Tournament was still vivid, a scene that the media had sensationalized, crushing her to the point she could barely breathe.

Everyone is an individual with their own ideas; finding someone truly suitable is incredibly difficult.

Gao Lingwei had been prepared to grow alongside Rong Taotao, ready to help, protect, and guide him in the future. They would support each other on this path as a duo.

But at this very moment, Gao Lingwei was jolted into a sudden realization!

’The one actually enjoying the benefits... is me?’

’That Lotus Petal on Rong Taotao is the fundamental reason for the accelerated training?’

This...

Throughout her career as a Soul Martial Student, Gao Lingwei had always been the leader, the one looking after her teammates. Suddenly, she felt a little lost.

In her line of sight, Rong Taotao suddenly turned his head and winked at her. "You’d better train quickly. Although you can enjoy the benefits too, the Lotus is inside my body, so the help it gives me is even greater."

As he spoke, Rong Taotao broke into a grin. "Don’t let me catch up to you, Classmate Da Wei."

The unexpected taunt, however, had the opposite effect and settled her mind. She scanned Rong Taotao from top to bottom and let out a soft "Mm."

Rong Taotao had no idea what a storm of emotions this seemingly calm girl had just experienced internally.

All Rong Taotao knew was that since resistance was futile... he might as well just do it!

One teacher, one friend,

One blade, one halberd,

One long, snowy night...

All that was missing was a miracle!