Master of Nine Stars

Around noon.

In the clean but old hallway of a residential building, Rong Yang stood before the door to Apartment 601. He raised his hand, just about to knock, when he heard an excited shout faintly coming from behind the door.

"NICE! Three-star! Three-star Soul Technique!!!"

Rong Yang’s movement paused for a moment, and then a hint of delight appeared on his face.

’This kid really did advance his Soul Technique to the three-star level?’

’He might be a smooth-talker, but when it comes to action, he’s actually quite reliable!’

’He just said yesterday he was on the verge of a breakthrough, and it really was just one final push. Did he do it in just one night?’

Rong Yang immediately knocked on the door. A moment later, Yang Chunxi opened it with a bright smile on her face. It was clear she had been infected by Rong Taotao’s cheerful mood.

Rong Yang stepped inside and asked in a low voice, "My brother’s Soul Technique advanced to the three-star level?"

Yang Chunxi replied with a beaming smile, "There’s more."

Rong Yang froze for a second, his eyes widening slightly as he guessed, "He also advanced to the Soul Warrior Stage?"

Only then did Yang Chunxi nod. She took a few steps back to let Rong Yang in, teasing, "Your brother’s Talent is much greater than yours, oh famous Mr. Weiyang."

Rong Yang shook his head with a small laugh and said, "Heh, he earned that with his life."

He was his big brother, after all. He might not say much to his face, but deep down, he truly acknowledged Rong Taotao.

The rapid improvement in Rong Taotao’s strength was mostly due to the Lotus Petal. And that Lotus Petal was something Rong Taotao had risked his life for, especially that time against the Frost Beauty. It was no exaggeration to say he had barely escaped with his life!

"Quick, Da Wei, teach me Snow Dance! Then I’ll be able to keep up with you!" Rong Taotao said hurriedly.

It seemed that getting kicked out of sight by Gao Lingwei a week ago had left a deep psychological scar on Rong Taotao...

In the living room, Gao Lingwei was sitting with her legs crossed, the Snowball Cat lying on her lap. Her elbow rested on the arm of the sofa, her palm cupping her cheek, as she watched TV absentmindedly.

The sudden good news snapped Gao Lingwei to attention.

She lifted her gaze to see the incredibly excited Rong Taotao before her. A faint smile graced her lips. "Alright. I can time you, and Coach Yang can be the witness. Let’s see if you can set another speed record."

"Don’t call me ’Coach’," Yang Chunxi’s voice came from the doorway.

Gao Lingwei, who had been exuding the air of a queen just a moment ago, suddenly turned into a little kitten. She uncrossed her legs, and the playful look on her face was replaced by one of meek obedience. "Chunxi."

Yang Chunxi walked into the living room, picked up her phone from the coffee table, and opened the stopwatch app. "Let’s go outside to practice. It’s too hot in here, and it’s not suitable for using a Snow Realm Soul Skill."

"Okay." Gao Lingwei stood up and asked as she walked toward the door, "Should you teach him, Chunxi, or should I?"

Yang Chunxi, having changed her shoes, opened the door. "You should teach him. My occupational habits are a bit strong. I’d teach him in too much detail, which might actually prevent him from breaking the training speed record."

Gao Lingwei hesitated for a moment. "Alright. We don’t need to go downstairs. Let’s go to the rooftop."

The group left the apartment. The 6th floor was the top floor, but there was still a staircase leading up to the rooftop, blocked by a retractable metal gate.

Before Rong Taotao could say anything, Gao Lingwei took the lead, went up the stairs, grabbed the cold, worn-out metal gate, and yanked it open...

The rooftop was covered in a layer of snow. It seemed no one had been up here in years, which made it quite suitable for training.

Rong Taotao took two quick steps forward, came to a halt, and said, "Let’s do this!"

"Mhm," Gao Lingwei began. "You can think of Snow Dance as an advanced version of Snow Step. In the initial stages, all the Soul Power pathways and points to remember are the same as Snow Step."

’Ah, that makes it easy!’

With that one sentence, Rong Taotao knew exactly what to do. He drew Soul Power from his Dantian, channeling it to his legs. At his knees, he adjusted the total amount of Soul Power, ensuring a stable and continuous flow toward his ankles.

Gao Lingwei continued, "The difference from Snow Step is that the Soul Power you channel from your ankles to the soles of your feet shouldn’t be spread evenly. Instead, you need to release it outward to form a Vortex and make it spin."

Rong Taotao accomplished each step almost at the exact moment Gao Lingwei described it.

This level of control over Soul Power made Rong Yang click his tongue in amazement. Rong Taotao was, after all, a beginner.

At this moment, a Vortex of frost and snow was already swirling at Rong Taotao’s feet.

To be honest, this was already very similar to the Snow Burst Soul Skill.

However, humans could only release a Snow Burst with their hands, because their control over the Soul Slots in their ankles was far less refined than their control over the ones in their wrists. Thus, they could only achieve a foot-released Snow Burst by embedding a Soul Pearl.

And it was precisely because the control at the ankles couldn’t be that refined that Rong Taotao was doing very well; the frost and snow spreading from his feet was in the shape of a Vortex, diffusing outward, completely unable to condense.

Seeing this, Gao Lingwei nodded to herself and continued, "Final step. Don’t let the Vortex you’ve released spin along the ground. Control it so it spirals up along your legs, until the spiraling frost and snow surrounds your entire body."

Rong Taotao’s expression stiffened. "Spiral up along my legs? How is that possible? Making it spiral around my shoes is already my limit. Isn’t there another Soul Power pathway?"

WHOOSH...

Suddenly, layers of snowflakes swirled up from under Gao Lingwei’s feet, winding around her long legs and spiraling upward. "If I say it’s possible, it’s possible."

Behind them, Yang Chunxi and Rong Yang exchanged a quiet glance. ’This girl... she’s got the potential to be a homeroom teacher...’

Gao Lingwei tilted her head, looked at the struggling Rong Taotao, and suddenly said, "I can do it. Why can’t you?"

In an instant, Rong Taotao’s face flushed a little, and he muttered, "Guess your back really doesn’t hurt, huh~"

Although Rong Taotao was talking back, he was secretly trying his best, feeling a bit frustrated with his own lack of progress.

He looked at the swirling Vortex of frost and snow at his feet, getting more and more annoyed the longer he stared. His local accent slipped out: ’Why’s it still stickin’ to the ground and spinnin’?’

’Get up! Spiral up!’

Yang Chunxi watched Gao Lingwei’s back, a trace of doubt in her mind. Gao Lingwei was currently teaching an incomplete version of the skill; she hadn’t taught all the key points. Yang Chunxi thought for a moment, held her tongue, and in the end, decided not to say anything.

The frost and snow around Rong Taotao’s feet spun faster and faster, growing in scale and churning up the layers of snow on the rooftop.

Yang Chunxi nodded to herself. ’A Core Soul Skill like Snow Dance... who could learn it in less than a day or two? And yet, in under a minute, Rong Taotao has already reached this stage.’

’It’s only natural that there’d be a difficult part. How could Soul Power released from the feet be so obedient as to spiral upward on command?’

It was at this exact moment that Gao Lingwei suddenly said, "Maintain the level of this Vortex. Split the Soul Power at your ankles into two. One part continues to be released outward, while the other part spirals up from inside your leg, guiding the externally released Soul Power upward."

"I knew it! There had to be another pathway! Trying to make Soul Power that’s already been released obey you and spiral up, that’s just bluff... WHOA!" Rong Taotao’s naturally curly hair was suddenly whipped about.

The line of Soul Power at his ankle split in two: one part was released outward, while the other spiraled up inside his leg, winding around his leg bone.

In an instant, guided by the line of Soul Power spiraling up inside his leg, the frost and snow that had been spinning along the ground at Rong Taotao’s feet abruptly swirled upward...

"Learned Snow Realm Soul Skill: Snow Dance!

Snow Dance: Envelop the legs with Soul Power, carrying frost and snow in an upward spiral to make the body lighter. (Elite Grade, Potential Value: 7 Stars)."

"CLICK!" Yang Chunxi pressed the stopwatch, unable to hide her delight. "1 minute and 23 seconds! That should be it!"

A smile finally broke through Gao Lingwei’s stern expression. Ever since she had taught Rong Taotao the Soul Skill: Frost Breath in the Snow Realm, she had completely understood the extent of this guy’s Talent!

As long as she taught him well, breaking down the steps of the Soul Skill and having him perfect each one in sequence, the result would come naturally.

"Just as I thought, all women are liars," Rong Taotao said resentfully, looking down to observe the frost and snow swirling around him, his head of natural curls dancing in the wind.

Gao Lingwei, however, was unfazed. "All that matters is that you achieved the goal. I’ll teach you the other Soul Skills available to a three-star Soul Technique normally. I won’t use this kind of provocation again. After all, what we wanted this time was speed."

"Fine, fine, Da Wei is right." Rong Taotao pouted, trying out a little jump. "Everything Da Wei says is right!"

’Sure enough, my body feels so light! The speed boost is significant!’

Rong Taotao had the illusion that he didn’t even need to gather strength; with just a casual hop, he could probably jump vertically over a meter high.

The spiraling specks of frost and snow were indeed helping Rong Taotao fight against gravity.

If he could get this Soul Skill up to 7-stars, Rong Taotao suspected he could really rise with the wind and fly in a snowstorm!

No, that’s not right!

Xia Fangran’s Snow Dance probably wasn’t max level, and at his level, he could already walk on air.

"You can learn more later. Let’s have lunch first. It’s New Year’s Eve; it wouldn’t be good if you fainted from hunger," Yang Chunxi said with a smile.

"Okay, okay, time for food!" Rong Taotao immediately snapped back to reality, nodding repeatedly. "I’ll learn those other Soul Skills while we’re eating in a bit."

His words were filled with confidence.

Hearing Rong Taotao say something like that, Rong Yang really wanted to warn his little brother to stay humble and not get arrogant, but... eh, forget it.

The four of them quickly went downstairs, with Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei lagging behind. He gently bumped her shoulder with his and said, "Thank you."

Gao Lingwei glanced at Rong Taotao. "Aren’t I a liar?"

"Oho? A girl with your personality keeps a little black book?" Rong Taotao asked, quite curious.

"Get lost!" Gao Lingwei spat playfully with a laugh and threw a kick his way.

With the buff from Snow Dance, Rong Taotao’s jump sent him shooting straight up! It was a good thing he had quick eyes and fast hands, bracing himself against the hallway ceiling with one hand!

He’d almost smashed his head open just to dodge that kick...

It was practically the feeling of flying!

’Very good. Next up is switching my class to Thief. Time to study how to scale walls and walk on roofs, to become a true Flower Thief.’

’Hmm... looking at it this way, only nine Lotus Petals in total... isn’t that a bit too few?’

...