Master of Nine Stars

Xu Taiping slapped away the elbow Rong Taotao had rested on his shoulder and walked out with a dark expression.

But Rong Taotao’s body froze!

Because Xu Taiping’s pale palm had accidentally brushed against Rong Taotao’s hand.

The instant their skin made contact, a flood of information appeared in Rong Taotao’s mind!

"Soul Beast discovered: Snow Realm - Ice Soul Guide (Ordinary Grade, Potential Value: 6 Stars).

Soul Pearl Soul Skills:

1. Snow Sense: By circulating Soul Power through a special path within the body, it stimulates the head and emits a special Spiritual Ability to connect with a target and engage in telepathic communication. (Ordinary Grade, Potential Value: 6 Stars)

Absorb as Lifebound Soul Beast?"

Rong Taotao: ???

’My god, a 6-star Potential Value? That’s already on par with me?’

Ordinary, 2 Fine, 3 Elite, 4 Master, 5 King, 6 Legendary, 7 Epic, 8 Mythical.

’After Xu Taiping reaches adulthood, his final form is actually a Legendary Level Soul Beast?’

’No, that’s not right. This isn’t even his final form.’

’As his body develops further, will his maximum Potential Value increase again?’

The information from the Inner Soul Map was just Xu Taiping’s strength on paper.

Rong Taotao knew very well that Xu Taiping could learn the Heart of the Snow Realm and other Snow Realm Soul Skills.

The biggest differences between an Ice Soul Guide and other Snow Realm Soul Beasts were its intelligence, its potential, and most of all, its terrifying learning ability!

Xu Taiping was clearly still in his growth period, at the lowest rank of Ordinary Grade, yet he had already eliminated so many human students of the same age.

’Give him a few more years, and won’t he be able to ascend to the heavens?’

’Those students who’ve only awakened one or two Soul Slots should be seeking out a god-tier Soul Beast like Xu Taiping to raise their own potential...’

’Maybe I should just bite the bullet and take him as my Lifebound Soul Beast?’

’Ah... what a shame. Xu Taiping isn’t a beautiful big sister Ice Soul Guide. Otherwise, Rong Taotao would have definitely chased after him to get his WeChat.’

"Assessment passed! Accepted into the Songjiang Soul Martial University Junior Class, Soul Class. Reward: 1 Potential Point. Currently available Potential Points: 1."

Just as Rong Taotao was debating whether to go find Xu Taiping and ask for his WeChat, another message came through in his mind.

Rong Taotao remained in a daze. Everyone in front of him had already left, but he was still standing foolishly at the door.

Yang Chunxi noticed something was wrong with Rong Taotao and asked, "Taotao, what’s the matter?"

"Ah... ah! It’s nothing, nothing!" Rong Taotao hastily snapped back to reality, but inwardly, he was overjoyed.

’So that’s how you get Potential Points.’

’Successfully enrolling in the Songjiang Soul Martial University Junior Class gives a Potential Point reward. Following that logic...’

’Should I drop out? And then take the exam again?’

’Try to exploit a bug with the Inner Soul Map?’

’Uh...’

Joking aside, having been accepted into the Junior Class of a top-tier Soul Martial University, Rong Taotao certainly wasn’t foolish enough to risk such a brazen move. Even if his sister-in-law doted on him, the university certainly wouldn’t.

As he walked out, Rong Taotao opened his Inner Soul Map.

"Character: Rong Taotao.

Lifebound Soul Beast: None.

I. Soul Power: Soul Soldier, Initial Stage (Potential Value: 6 Stars)

II. Soul Technique: Heart of the Snow Realm, One-Star, Initial Rank (Potential Value: 6 Stars)

III. Soul Skills: None.

IV. Martial Arts:

1. Hand-to-Hand Combat, Two-Star, High Rank (Potential Value: 4 Stars)

2. Heaven-piercing Halberd Mastery, Three-Star, Maxed (Potential Value: 3 Stars).

V. Available Potential Points: 1."

’Was there even a need to think about it?’

Rong Taotao focused his mind, selected the 1 available Potential Point, and applied it to "Heaven-piercing Halberd Mastery."

’It worked!’

The Inner Soul Map immediately changed to "Heaven-piercing Halberd Mastery, Three-Star, Peak (Potential Value: 4 Stars)."

’Hm?’

’Something doesn’t feel right.’

’Three-Star, Maxed should be a higher level than Three-Star, Peak.’

’How did I end up lowering my Combat Readiness by increasing my Potential Value limit?’

Utterly perplexed, Rong Taotao turned around and went back into the stone house.

Yang Chunxi was discussing something with the teachers when she saw Rong Taotao, who had just left, turn back. Having already noticed his odd behavior, she quickly asked, "What is it, Taotao? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

"No, that’s not it. I’m getting my Heaven-piercing Halberd," Rong Taotao said hastily.

Yang Chunxi asked with a smile, "You’re not tired enough already?"

Rong Taotao shook his head like a rattle-drum. "No way. I can’t stand to be away from it for a single second."

Yang Chunxi: "..."

’Then why are you even looking for a girlfriend?’

’Just go spend the rest of your life with your Heaven-piercing Halberd, then.’

Rong Taotao casually picked up the Heaven-piercing Halberd leaning against the wall. He had no interest in "looting the bags" on the floor and walked out carrying the halberd.

"Promotion! Heaven-piercing Halberd Mastery, Four-Star, Initial Rank (Potential Value: 4 Stars)."

"Huh?" Rong Taotao blinked, nearly driven crazy by his Inner Soul Map...

’That’s... all it took?’

’Sweet!’

’Seriously, just one touch and I get a promotion~’

’Among my peers, there’s probably no one whose Martial Arts has reached the 4-star standard, right?’

...

"First, I won’t make you worry~ Second, I won’t make you sad~"

Led by a Snow Burning military soldier, Rong Taotao hummed a little tune, a happy expression all over his face as he walked into a stone building.

With that Potential Point spent, Rong Taotao was indeed without a worry or a care, feeling quite comfortable~

The dormitory building in front of him wasn’t for soldiers. It looked like it was for hosting Social Practitioners.

As Rong Taotao entered, he saw some casually dressed civilians near the entrance. He figured they had all been recalled because of the sudden blizzard.

Not only had they been recalled, but from the looks of it, they weren’t being allowed to stay. They were probably all going to be cleared out of Hundred Corps Pass.

Of course, none of this had anything to do with Rong Taotao. He went up several floors until the soldier led him to a room. Rong Taotao stared at the number on the door for a good while before finally pushing open the door to Room 404.

It was an eight-person room, clearly no match for the dormitory conditions at Songjiang Soul Martial University.

The dorm had bunk beds, and the room’s decor was very simple. The beds were lined up on two sides, with a large table in the middle.

Directly opposite the main door was a window. To the right of the window was a washstand, and to Rong Taotao’s surprise, to the left was an en-suite bathroom.

When he walked in, Li Ziyi was making a bed, and the sound of a shower could be heard from the en-suite bathroom.

’That must be Sun Xingyu taking a shower,’ he thought.

’Worthy of Room 404, it really didn’t disappoint...’

"From now on, we’ll use the public restroom outside. Let’s leave the en-suite for Xingyu," Li Ziyi said without looking up, continuing to make the bed.

"Ah, sure," Rong Taotao immediately agreed to Li Ziyi’s suggestion. After all, Sun Xingyu was a girl, so it was no big deal to make things more convenient for her.

’But... if every dorm room has eight beds, wouldn’t it have been better for the nine students in the Soul Class to have one room for the four boys and one beast, and another for the four girls?’

’Does rooming by team mean that our squad assignments are already set?’

Rong Taotao thought about this as he looked at the beds.

Li Ziyi was making the top bunk on the far side of the room. The bottom bunk was already made. Clearly, the young couple had already claimed their spots.

Rong Taotao had no intention of rooming opposite them. He picked a bunk diagonally across from them, the one furthest from the "shameless couple," and plopped down on the wooden bed frame.

Li Ziyi spoke up, "There are issued bathing and washing supplies under the bed. Turn left out the door, the bathhouse is next to the public restroom."

Rong Taotao looked at the "perfect house-husband" Li Ziyi, couldn’t help but snort, and said, "What’s the rush? I’m gonna rest a bit."

Just then, the sound of the shower in the bathroom stopped. A few minutes later, Sun Xingyu walked out wearing a pair of baggy, oversized blue cotton pajamas.

The pajamas were clearly also issued by the dormitory. They were blue and white, resembling a hospital gown, and Sun Xingyu’s short legs couldn’t even fill out the oversized sleepwear.

But Sun Xingyu’s face was flushed and rosy, not looking the least bit sick.

"You’re filthy, go take a shower already," Sun Xingyu said, wrinkling her nose at Rong Taotao as she toweled her short, wet hair.

"I swear..." Rong Taotao looked exasperated. He bent down, pulled out the washbasin from under the bed, and headed out.

After he left, Sun Xingyu and Li Ziyi exchanged a look and couldn’t help but laugh. "Not bad, he’s more obedient than I expected."

Li Ziyi, with a serious expression, continued making Sun Xingyu’s bed, smoothing out the wrinkles. "And he doesn’t pee or poop everywhere, and he doesn’t bark at night either."

Sun Xingyu: "..."

Li Ziyi finally finished making the bed and jumped down. "The key thing is, he doesn’t shed."

"You," Sun Xingyu said, kicking Li Ziyi lightly. "Be more careful in the future. Don’t say that stuff out loud, don’t get him really angry."

"Hmph," Li Ziyi grunted, pulling out his own washbasin from under the bed. "You think I’m afraid of him?"

Sun Xingyu pouted and looked at the stubborn Li Ziyi. "He beat you up for three years, and you still haven’t had enough, have you..."

Li Ziyi’s face flushed with embarrassment. He picked up his washbasin and walked out. "You should get some sleep. I’ll be right back."

’How can you call what happens between martial artists ’getting beat up’?’

"Hey? You made my bed without even changing your clothes..."

Li Ziyi pulled the door shut behind him. "I washed my hands."

"Oh." Sun Xingyu climbed onto the top bunk and lay down comfortably. Li Ziyi knew she liked to sleep on a soft surface, so he had borrowed several mattresses from the other empty beds.

"Mmm..." Sun Xingyu stretched her little arms and legs comfortably. Hugging an extra pillow Li Ziyi had specially gotten for her, she whispered to herself, "I wonder what kind of Lifebound Soul Beast we’ll get tomorrow?"

As she thought about it, a wave of drowsiness washed over her, and the exhausted Sun Xingyu gradually drifted off to sleep.

An unknown amount of time passed. In her sleep, she heard someone walk into the dorm room. The person was clearly in an excellent mood, humming a little tune: "First, I won’t make you worry~ Second, I won’t make you sad..."

Sun Xingyu rolled over, one short leg thrown over the blanket, and mumbled drowsily, as if talking in her sleep, "Taotao, be quiet. Everyone else is sleeping. You’re not allowed to keep... keep... mmm... The city inspectors will catch you... catch..."

Rong Taotao blinked, looking up at Sun Xingyu’s bunk with a face full of question marks.