Master of Nine Stars

”Advanced to the National Competition! Potential Value +1. Current Potential Value: 4 points.”

The sudden message from his Inner Soul Map left Rong Taotao overjoyed. ’Yay, I’m rich again!’

’I’d better save these for later.’

Rong Taotao had come to realize that Potential Value was incredibly hard to earn.

He could only participate in a competition like this once in his life, yet he only got a single point for qualifying. It was a pitifully small amount.

Once his Soul Technique leveled up, a whole bunch of Soul Skills would be waiting for a Potential Value boost. Four points seemed like a lot, but it could be spent in the blink of an eye.

’I have to make every point count!’

”Gao Lingwei! Gao Lingwei! Over here! Over here!” At the edge of the arena, Zhang Muyu, a reporter from the provincial station, waved repeatedly as he watched Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei make their exit.

Rong Taotao strode forward and said, ”Sir, you’re so fickle, aren’t you?”

Zhang Muyu paused, taken aback. ”What do you mean?”

Rong Taotao put on a wounded look. ”For the last few matches, you were desperate to interview me. But after Da Wei’s incredible display just now, you won’t even give me a second look...”

”Haha.” Zhang Muyu was quick on his feet, laughing it off. ”Student Rong Taotao, that was a good match. Congratulations to you, huh?”

”Well then, how about I tell you the secret to our victory?” Rong Taotao suddenly leaned forward with a conspiratorial look.

”Oh? What is it?” Zhang Muyu’s interest was piqued. Excited, he hurriedly thrust the microphone forward.

With a deadpan expression, Rong Taotao whispered, ”Hug a strong thigh tight, and you’ll advance alright~”

Zhang Muyu: ”...”

Gao Lingwei looked at Rong Taotao, exasperated yet amused, and fought back the urge to land a roundhouse kick on him. She grabbed the gibberish-spouting Rong Taotao and started walking toward the player tunnel.

”Hey! Hey! The interview’s not over! At least let me ask one more question!” Zhang Muyu hurried forward, catching up to the pair.

He asked hurriedly, ”Student Rong Taotao, do you mean to say there’s a gap between your skills and the others, and you got into the Outer Region’s Top 8 by hugging Contestant Gao Lingwei’s thigh?”

’Gao Lingwei had seen it all, but this damn reporter! This damn reporter!!!’

’What kind of nonsense is he spouting!’

’A proper reporter from the provincial station, and he’s this shameless just for a headline!’

Gao Lingwei’s face flushed slightly. She lowered her head, grabbed Rong Taotao—who looked like he still wanted to talk—and ran straight into the player tunnel.

”Hey? Don’t go! Is it true? Rong Taotao?” Zhang Muyu started running too, but as he ran, he crashed right into someone.

”Watch where you’re going! This stadium is massive, isn’t it big enough for you to run wild?” Xia Fangran shoved Zhang Muyu away, instantly adopting the air of a teacher. With his hands on his hips, he scolded the reporter.

Zhang Muyu repeatedly offered apologetic smiles and nods, but he could only watch helplessly as Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei ran further and further away, disappearing into the player tunnel.

The moment they stepped into the locker room, Gao Lingwei aimed a kick at him.

’Dodge!’

And who was Rong Taotao? A First Class Martial Artist, that’s who!

If she had aimed for anywhere else, Rong Taotao might not have reacted so strongly. But his butt?

Heh, when it came to protecting that particular area, Rong Taotao was an expert. Those two years of getting beaten up on his rooftop back home hadn’t been for nothing!

”What are you doing?” Rong Taotao said unhappily as he dodged.

”What’s all this about ’hugging my thigh’? It sounds so crude. Don’t say it again,” Gao Lingwei chided, though she was smiling.

”Ah.” Rong Taotao scratched his head out of habit. ”If you’re worried about people saying I suck, then how about we... hug each other? We’ll hug each other’s thighs?”

Gao Lingwei: ”I...”

”Hey! Hey! Don’t kick— Da Wei, I’m hungry! I’m suddenly starving! Quick, get me something to eat, quick, quick, I’m going to faint...”

...

A dozen or so minutes later, Rong Taotao was on the bus back to the hotel, munching on a chocolate bar while scrolling through his phone.

’Tsk tsk... So many people are suddenly praising me. It’s a little hard to get used to, hehe.’

”Top 8 Spot Secured! No One Expected Pine Soul Soul Martial’s First Qualifying Team to Be Junior Class Duo Gao Lingwei and Rong Taotao! Click for Exciting Highlights → [Video Link]”

”A Crushing Victory! Utterly Dominant! True Gold Fears No Flame—Pine Soul Soul Martial’s Junior Class Duo Breezes Through the Qualifiers and into the Outer Region Top 8!”

Rong Taotao scrolled through the news, then comfortably opened Weibo, waiting for the flood of praise. But his fingers suddenly froze.

In his own comments section, all he could see were comments about Gao Lingwei?

”Goddess Wei! Marry me! I don’t care if you’re pretty, I just don’t want to live anymore...”

”Honestly, who would actually dare to marry a terrifying Soul Martial Artist like her?”

”Heh, so naive. Is that it? If Gao Lingwei dared to even glare at me, I’d immediately throw myself on the ground and extort sixty-six thousand from her!”

”Count me in. I’m quick! WHAP, and I’m on the ground! What? You think I’m just flopping? This is no random flop, I came prepared!”

”Taotao~ Taotao! Where did you buy your ticket? How did you get to watch the match from the arena floor? *whimper whimper*~ Can you buy a ticket for me too, please?”

”*Hiss...*” Rong Taotao sucked in a sharp breath. ’Why’d the vibe suddenly change so drastically?’

’The news articles were all praising us, celebrating that we’d gotten a ticket to the nationals, so why were all these fans... just plotting how to scam someone?’

”Stuffed yourself?” Gao Lingwei looked away from the window and turned toward him. She reached out and gently rubbed his stomach.

As she spoke, her other hand snatched the chocolate bar out of his grasp.