Master of Nine Stars

”Huaxia TV Station, Huaxia TV Station! Hello, viewers!”

On the television screen, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit, with a refined and gentle demeanor, pushed up his rimless glasses. ”Today is August 2nd. We are bringing you a live broadcast of the National University League - Outer Region Division Placement Tournament - Grand Finals. I’m your host, Dai Liunian.”

Beside him, a woman in a white pantsuit with a gentle smile spoke. ”And I’m your host, Su Wan.”

Dai Liunian turned to his colleague, Su Wan, and said with a light chuckle, ”The competitions in the seven major divisions across the country will be wrapping up in the next few days. The top eight contenders from each division have already been decided, but there’s no doubt the contestants are still fighting with all they’ve got, striving for the championship crown of their respective divisions.”

”That’s right. Another generation of brilliant young talent. When you see them, you see the future of our Huaxia.” Su Wan, poised and graceful, added with a beaming smile, ”Liunian, this is the first time we’re focusing on the Outer Region Division, isn’t it?”

Dai Liunian shook his head with a smile. ”Yes, it is. Our very first time broadcasting a match from the Outer Region Division, and it happens to be their grand finals.

This year, the seven major divisions across the country are packed with experts, and the competitions have been spectacular. Yet for this grand final, we chose the Outer Region Division. As for why, I believe many of you already have an idea.”

Su Wan nodded in agreement. ”Contestant Rong Taotao has been completely in the spotlight during this tournament.

Every single one of his matches has captured the hearts of millions. It’s been many, many years since we’ve seen a competitor with this kind of influence.

Just as the rumors say, he is a rising star among generals, and his ascent has been faster than anyone could have imagined.

Even now, some people still haven’t processed what exactly has been happening in our country’s northern Outer Region Division.”

Dai Liunian’s expression turned a little strange. He felt like Su Wan was hinting at something...

’Is she implying that the station executives who kept refusing to approve the broadcast of Rong Taotao’s matches were incompetent?’

’But what could they do? Rong Taotao’s background is just too sensitive. Everyone knows the influence of the Huaxia Main Channel. If the kid didn’t have real talent and you put him in the spotlight like that, you’d just be waiting for a summons from the higher-ups.’

’This isn’t just any kid. He’s the son of a Soul General!’

’And not just any Soul General, but the number one Soul General of the Outer Region!’

’The current, active number one Soul General of the Outer Region!’

’This old lady has stood on the banks of the Dragon River for over a decade, day in and day out, guarding the northern border and protecting the land of Huaxia. And this is how you treat my son?’

So, Rong Taotao’s existence was a political hot potato. The Huaxia Main Channel wanted to air his matches, but they had too many reservations.

Once the Outer Region quarterfinals were over, Rong Taotao had essentially been vetted twice, by Tang Meng and Tang Yang, and then by Yuan Tianri and Yuan Tiancheng. The Huaxia Main Channel finally made up its mind to broadcast Rong Taotao’s semi-final match, but...

...as fate would have it, in the semi-finals, Rong Taotao’s opponent forfeited due to serious injury!

And so, the Huaxia Main Channel was left with no choice but to broadcast the finals...

Dai Liunian began by introducing the contestants on both sides to give the audience a brief overview, then changed the subject, looking down at the information sheet in his hands. ”Next, let’s take a special look at contestant Rong Taotao, this remarkable young man.

Contestant Rong Taotao was born in 1995. He is 16 years old and a student in the first Junior Class-Experimental Class at our nation’s top institution, Soul Martial University. He ranked second overall in the entrance exam.”

Su Wan: ”That’s an incredible achievement. After all, the Pine Soul Soul Martial Experimental Class recruits from all over the country. It’s internally divided into the Soul Class and the Martial Arts Class, and in the end, only a handful of students were admitted into the Soul Class.”

Dai Liunian: ”Student Rong Taotao’s brilliant resume doesn’t stop there. Very unfortunately, during his first year, he experienced an invasion by the Snow Realm Army, the likes of which hadn’t been seen in over a decade. This was the Battle of the Three Cities that took place in the north last year. But fortunately...”

Dai Liunian praised in a low voice, ”During the Battle of the Three Cities, in the Pine Soul theater of war, contestant Rong Taotao displayed excellent combat aptitude. His very presence was even hailed as the great turning point for the Pine Soul theater.

The Northern Snow Realm History only briefly mentions that Rong Taotao, in cooperation with Pine Soul instructors, defeated the enemy’s leading figure, the Ice Soul Guide. It’s difficult for us to know exactly what happened that night, but there is no doubt that Rong Taotao’s name was singled out and recorded in the annals of history. For a young man, this is unquestionably a heroic feat.”

Su Wan nodded in agreement. ”When it comes to serious history books, every sentence is a story, perhaps even a person’s entire life, isn’t it?”

”Mm, that’s certainly true,” Dai Liunian said softly. ”Rong Taotao survived that battle and continued his studies in the Junior Class. Under the careful guidance of the Pine Soul instructors, Student Rong Taotao broke the long creative drought for Snow Realm Soul Skills.

He created a Defense Soul Skill for all Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists: the Elite-tier Frost Flower Snowcake.

This Soul Skill is already officially in trial use within the Snow Burning Army. After a two-month trial period, if there are no issues, it will be added to textbooks in September for all Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists to learn.”

As a host for the Huaxia Main Channel, Su Wan had always paid close attention to her public image, maintaining an elegant posture and a gentle smile.

But when she heard the name ”Frost Flower Snowcake,” her expression became a little unnatural, and the corner of her mouth twitched awkwardly.

”Heh...” Dai Liunian let out a soft sigh and remarked, ”The more I read his resume, the more surreal it all seems.

No wonder the ’rising star among generals’ talk has been circulating. Rong Taotao truly deserves such an evaluation.”

Su Wan said with a smile, ”Some people are so young, only 16, and their names are already about to appear in textbooks.”

Dai Liunian didn’t respond to that, however. He just pushed up his rimless glasses and murmured softly, ”His family background is clear, and his life story is well-documented. But the more I learn about him, the less I feel I know where he truly comes from.

The Snow Realm. A place we all know of, yet a region most people have only ever heard about and never set foot in.

What kind of magic does the Snow Realm possess? What kind of land is it, to have nurtured such an outstanding Soul Martial Student?”

Dai Liunian’s soul-searching question, paired with the preceding summary of Rong Taotao’s accomplishments, was broadcast through television screens into millions of homes.

The influence of the Huaxia Main Channel was undeniable. Previously, in the Kantou Region, even when Rong Taotao ”broke the internet,” that ”internet” was limited to the Outer Region.

But now, with this grand final, the Huaxia Main Channel had expanded Rong Taotao’s ”circle” to encompass all of Huaxia.

There were always people who had never heard of Rong Taotao, and always those who knew very little about him.

In this moment, faced with this figure who had ”suddenly” appeared, and listening to his terrifying resume, most of the audience was dumbfounded...

’To think that in this day and age, a person like this actually exists... this...’

And the introduction by the Main Channel’s host, Dai Liunian, was quite thought-provoking. From beginning to end, he never mentioned whose son Rong Taotao was, even though it was an open secret. From beginning to end, he never brought up Rong Taotao’s Lotus Petal, even though that too was an open secret.

「Meanwhile, far away in the Outer Region, inside a locker room at the Fengtian City Olympic Sports Center.」

Rong Taotao sat on a bench, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. Watching the two hosts on the television screen, he said softly, ”This host, Dai Liunian, said the more he learns about my life, the less he knows where I come from. What does he mean by that?”

Beside him, Gao Lingwei sat with her legs crossed, her back against a locker door. She said softly, ”Maybe he’s just curious about the Snow Realm. After all... the vast majority of people have never seen what the Snow Realm is really like. Or perhaps, he’s curious about what you’ve gone through there.”

Rong Taotao suddenly said, ”If we’re lucky enough to win, I can tell him exactly where I come from.”

In the distance, Xia Fangran spoke up. ”What’s there to tell about the Snow Realm? Besides snow, there’s wind. Oh, right, and the pitch-black night.”

As he spoke, Xia Fangran curled his lip. He had been stationed in the lands of the Snow Realm for over twenty years. On this expedition with the team, seeing the summer sun again, he had been so excited he was practically acting like a lunatic.

And that was just Xia Fangran. The other teachers, the Warriors...

To take a simple example, compared to Principal Mei Hongyu’s life, Xia Fangran’s short twenty years were nothing at all.

And all of this, decades of selfless dedication, day in and day out, seemed to go unnoticed. Instead, it was Rong Taotao, who had appeared out of nowhere, that sparked this kind of discussion.

Honestly, at this very moment, Xia Fangran looked disdainful on the surface, but inwardly... his composure was cracking a little.

Fortunately, Xia Fangran’s purpose in life wasn’t to seek the admiration of the masses, nor was he a man who chased fame and fortune.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK~ A knock came from the locker room door. ”Pine Soul Soul Martial, Gao Lingwei and Rong Taotao’s team, please follow me to the arena.”

”Let’s go.” Gao Lingwei turned to Rong Taotao. ”It’s finally time for the last battle.”

”Let’s go!” Rong Taotao stood up, pulling Gao Lingwei up from her seat as he went, and strode toward the door.

Yang Chunxi and Xia Fangran immediately got up and followed them out.

This time, a faint chill emanated from the somewhat dark player tunnel.

”Well, I’ll be. We’ve made it all the way to the finals, and we finally get a Snow Realm home field,” Xia Fangran muttered.

Yang Chunxi, however, had a solemn expression. Clearly, the so-called Snow Realm home field wasn’t enough to overcome many of their disadvantages.

After all, this was Fengtian City. In the grand scheme of things, this was the territory of the Starfield Vortex. No matter the arena, this was Starfield’s home turf.

Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei walked out of the player tunnel. This time, there was no blinding sunlight; the stadium roof had been closed.

It was clear the audience had come prepared. Perhaps they had been notified to wear extra layers to watch the match.

Waves of cold air washed in from all corners of the stadium, but they couldn’t dampen the audience’s enthusiasm. In a stadium that could hold 60,000 people, the applause and cheers of the crowd were truly like a landslide and a tsunami.

”Rong Taotao! Go for the kill!!!”

”A miracle! I still believe in miracles!”

”Someone has to win! Rong Taotao, someone has to win! Why can’t it be you!!!”

...