Master of Nine Stars

Rong Taotao: ”It was about survival. A desperate measure. I knew my body might not be able to take it, but I had no other choice. I couldn’t just die with Coach Xia in that Lotus Space.”

”Mm.” Si Huan Nian nodded matter-of-factly. ”You’re recovering much faster than I imagined. At first, I thought two Lotus Petals would completely crush you.

I was relieved when I saw you looking so full of life this morning.”

Rong Taotao gave Si Huan Nian a thumbs-up. ”You’re really something else! Any other coach would have their student do rehab exercises after an injury like that. But you? You just threw me straight into a match...”

”Heh.” Si Huan Nian’s smile was unrestrained. ”Xia Fangran has spent more time with you, so of course he knows you better than I do. If he said you could handle it, then you could handle it.”

Rong Taotao: ”...”

Si Huan Nian: ”He also said you’ve learned to control that Lotus Petal.”

”What the hell does he know!” Rong Taotao immediately swore.

The moment the words left his mouth, Rong Taotao’s body stiffened. Deep within his Dantian, the Sinful Lotus stirred restlessly, but it was still held firmly in check by the Prison Lotus.

Si Huan Nian froze for a second before bursting into a wild, haughty laugh. ”Heh, I’ll remember you said that. I’ll be sure to tell Coach Xia to his face.”

Rong Taotao waved a hand dismissively. ”Why would I need you to pass it on? I’ve already said it to his face!”

’Okay, so I hadn’t said it in those *exact* words, but Xia Fangran had definitely gotten the message. And had also picked up a frying pan...’

Si Huan Nian’s eyes widened in disbelief. ”Then how are you still alive?”

Rong Taotao pursed his lips, a thoughtful expression on his face. He said with a grave tone, ”It’s probably because I’m exceptionally powerful.”

Si Huan Nian: ”...”

Rong Taotao turned his head, and in the dim light of the distant bedside lamp, he looked into Si Huan Nian’s dark eyes. ”I can’t control that Lotus Petal. I just found a knack for getting it to come out and help me. The success rate is decent, but it’s not guaranteed.”

Si Huan Nian’s interest was piqued. ”Oh? Tell me about it.”

Rong Taotao gathered his thoughts before speaking. ”I’ve learned that every Lotus Petal has its own personality and traits. My first one was an arrogant, conceited character.

I can use Empathy to get its attention by feeding it certain emotions. If it’s pleased, it *might* come out and help me kill my enemies.

Notice I said *might* help me. I don’t actually control it.”

”Mm.” Si Huan Nian nodded silently, seemingly thinking of her own Lotus.

Rong Taotao thought for a moment. ”I named that Lotus Petal the Sinful Lotus. I think it’s full of sin, since it harms people the moment it appears. The one I acquired after, I’ve named the Prison Lotus.”

Si Huan Nian: ”And why is that?”

Rong Taotao spread his hands. ”Prison, as in ’jail.’ Coach Xia and I both experienced its effects firsthand when it trapped us in a prison space made from a Lotus Bud.

And now... I’m afraid I can’t use either of them anymore.”

”Hm?” Si Huan Nian raised a delicate eyebrow. ”Why not?”

Rong Taotao’s expression was troubled. ”The two Lotus Petals inside me are linked now. Whenever the Sinful Lotus wants to come out to play, the Prison Lotus grabs on and holds it tight, keeping it imprisoned.”

Si Huan Nian blinked, looking bewildered and revealing an uncharacteristic touch of cuteness. ”Huh?”

Rong Taotao nodded to confirm. ”Like I said, I can’t control the Sinful Lotus, I can only lure it out with Empathy. Now... I can’t lure it out at all, because the Prison Lotus holds it back, imprisoning it in my Dantian.

And I think the reason my body could withstand it, the reason I woke up so quickly, is also because of the Prison Lotus’s help. My need for nutrients did increase, but not to the terrifying extent I expected. The Prison Lotus’s characteristics...

Well, in short, it seems to be a good petal. It’s not reckless like the Sinful Lotus and didn’t drain my body dry.”

Si Huan Nian wore a peculiar expression. She never would have expected the two Lotus Petals to have such a chemical reaction when combined.

She was silent for a long moment before saying, ”This proves that the Lotuses really favor you. It’s amazing. You actually managed to snatch a Lotus Petal from a Snow Realm Soul Beast. Once might be luck, but twice is not.”

As she spoke, Si Huan Nian opened her palm. A Cyan Lotus petal abruptly materialized above her fair skin, emitting a soft glow. ”Maybe...”

Si Huan Nian’s words stopped abruptly as she saw the Prison Lotus, dragging the Sinful Lotus along with it, suddenly emerge from Rong Taotao’s abdomen!

”Whoa! Whoa!” Rong Taotao yelped, startled, and lunged to grab them. ”Put your Lotus Petal away!”

Si Huan Nian reacted instantly, retracting her Lotus!

But the Prison Lotus and the Sinful Lotus, like a butterfly flapping its two ”petal wings,” forced their way past Rong Taotao’s hands and flew right in front of Si Huan Nian.

The Prison Lotus seemed unwilling to give up, eager to ”imprison” Si Huan Nian’s Lotus Petal as well.

The glowing Petal Butterfly flapped its wings, circling Si Huan Nian’s hand as if searching for something. The scene was strange, yet incredibly fantastical.

GULP. Si Huan Nian swallowed hard, not daring to move a muscle. She could easily restrain Rong Taotao with one hand and had never really seen him as a threat. But faced with these highly independent Lotus Petals, she didn’t dare act rashly...

The Nine-Petaled Lotus, a Snow Realm Treasure, wasn’t just legendary—its bizarre and powerful abilities were terrifyingly real.

”Don’t move! Stay still! I can’t control them! If they actually explode, we’re both dead!” Rong Taotao said hastily.

Si Huan Nian was more obedient than ever before, nodding repeatedly.

The demon had suddenly turned into a well-behaved child. To Rong Taotao, the sight was unbelievably sweet...

That night, Rong Taotao finally stood tall.

He had actually done it. He’d made the legendary Si Tantang of the Pine Soul Four Rites so scared she barely dared to breathe.

...

The Petal Butterfly, formed from the Sinful Lotus and the Prison Lotus, danced through the air, flapping its wings gracefully. The petals glittered with specks of light in the dim room, looking impossibly beautiful.

It circled Si Huan Nian’s palm for a long time, and finally even landed on it, lingering for a long while before reluctantly flying back and disappearing into Rong Taotao’s body.

Seeing this, Si Huan Nian finally breathed a sigh of relief, but she still looked shaken.

Rong Taotao was probably the first person to ever make a Pine Soul instructor this terrified...

”Seriously, Taotao, since these Lotus Petals favor you so much, it means that you have a powerful affinity with a Supreme Treasure like the Nine-Petaled Lotus. We might not be able to see what’s so special about you yet, but the proof is undeniable.”

Si Huan Nian spoke, turning her head to meet Rong Taotao’s eyes. ”When you’re stronger and your body is more resilient, I think I should give my Lotus Petal to you.”

”What?” Rong Taotao was completely stunned. The gift was far too valuable. Who just gives away a Snow Realm Treasure? Was she joking?

This wasn’t some Soul Pet or Soul Pearl; this was the Nine-Petaled Lotus!

This was something on the level of a National Treasure, a treasure that could be passed down for generations.

”No, absolutely not.” Rong Taotao shook his head frantically. ”A gentleman doesn’t take what others cherish! He only takes what... beasts cherish. Ahem.”

But Si Huan Nian insisted, ”The Nine-Petaled Lotus is highly sentient. That much is certain.

I truly believe there’s a reason they chose to follow you. Don’t refuse just yet. We’ll talk about it again in the future.”

With that, she reached out and, as if getting her revenge, fiercely ruffled Rong Taotao’s naturally curly hair. ”I’m hungry.”

Rong Taotao, his head being shaken back and forth, replied, ”Aah, I know, I know! Let’s go eat, let’s go get some food...”

’You think you’re the only one who’s hungry? What about me?’

When it came to food, the older and younger foodies were on the exact same page. Without another word, unwilling to waste a single moment, they headed straight for the school cafeteria...

Pine Soul Soul Martial,

Your glutton is back!

...