Master of Nine Stars

’Chunxi’s back.’ Hidden behind a tree, Rong Taotao sensed a change beside him and quickly turned his head, spotting a faint silhouette in the pitch-black night.

Rong Taotao was startled when Yang Chunxi knelt beside him!

In less than five minutes, Yang Chunxi looked like a completely different person!

The gentle demeanor from before was long gone, replaced by a violent aura that made Rong Taotao’s heart pound in alarm!

’What happened?’

’You’re telling me she was only gone for five minutes? If you told me Yang Chunxi had just spent three days slaughtering everything at the bottom of the Qianshan Pass canyon, I’d believe you!’

Yang Chunxi seemed a little tired. She whispered, ”It’s confirmed. It’s the Poacher Organization, a joint team of the Qian Organization and the Free People.

There aren’t many in the ambush, only four. They’re all in a pit under the snow.

Two are from the Qian Organization—Mi Tu and Feng Zi of the Eight Great Coins. One is a high-ranking member of the Free People, codenamed ’Red-clothed Merchant’. If I’m not mistaken, the Lotus Petal is in the Red-clothed Merchant’s possession.

The last one is also a scout, working in shifts with the one I just took care of.”

Rong Taotao looked at Yang Chunxi with some concern. ”Are you okay?”

”Yeah, I’m fine.” Yang Chunxi smiled and continued, ”They’re the best of the best, you could say. After all, it’s not realistic to sneak a large group into Songbai Town.

The three they chose are top-tier. They’ve probably practiced their tactics and are planning to take you out with a single, decisive blow.”

”Alright. Let’s go, we’ll rendezvous first,” Rong Taotao said. Led by Yang Chunxi, their group immediately moved out to meet up with the squad waiting in ambush to the northwest.

Though the group moved in silence, Rong Taotao was screaming internally!

’Yang Chunxi is a total badass!!!’

Yang Chunxi had completed her mission perfectly without tipping off the enemy in the slightest. This meant Rong Taotao didn’t need to split the team for an encirclement. They could go straight for a surgical strike!

After everyone gathered, Rong Taotao briefed them on the situation, then asked, ”I know about Mi Tu and Feng Zi, but what’s the deal with this Red-clothed Merchant? Also, did you find out the effect of the Lotus Petal?”

Yang Chunxi shook her head. ”The scout wasn’t high-ranking enough to know the Lotus Petal’s effect. He didn’t even know it existed.

As for the Red-clothed Merchant, he’s at least of the Upper Soul School rank, possibly even Great Soul School. In terms of characteristics, you could describe him as an all-rounder...”

Rong Taotao nodded repeatedly as he listened to Yang Chunxi’s intel, secretly pondering the details.

”Coach Li.” After hearing Yang Chunxi’s report, Rong Taotao tugged on Li Lie’s sleeve.

Li Lie: ”Hmm?”

Rong Taotao: ”Have you ever heard of the Tathagata Divine Palm? The kind that descends from the heavens.”

Li Lie raised an eyebrow slightly. ”I have.”

Rong Taotao whispered, ”I want you to give them a polite opening.”

A smile crept onto Li Lie’s face. ”I’m listening.”

Rong Taotao: ”Trying to sneak up on them for a surprise attack or to set traps is obviously unrealistic. In a battle of this caliber, any Soul Skill capable of harming them will definitely have huge Soul Power fluctuations. They’re bound to react.

So, the effect we’re going for is one where they’ve already reacted, but have no time to resist.

That burning giant axe of yours is the most devastating output I can imagine, even more terrifying than Coach Xia’s Soldier’s Soul.”

Xia Fangran: ”...”

Li Lie nodded in agreement.

Rong Taotao continued, ”In a moment, I’ll use a Snow Ghost Hand to send you into the sky. When you’re far above the ground, try your best to suppress the Soul Power fluctuations from your Soul Skill to avoid being detected.

Then, I’ll use the Snow Ghost Hand to throw you down. Don’t worry, I have a lock on the Lotus Petal, so my aim will be perfect.

I want your giant axe to completely obliterate the people in that pit. I want you to blast them so hard they come out the other side of the planet.”

The smile on Li Lie’s face grew wider, the fighting spirit in his heart blazing.

”Remember to spread that white flame. We need visibility,” Rong Taotao said, raising his left hand. An exquisitely crafted hand made of snow burst from the ground.

The Snow Charm Demon’s hand spiraled up from Li Lie’s feet, coiling around his leg like a snake before finally wrapping around his waist.

Without a sound, it shot straight into the sky!

”Chunxi,” Rong Taotao turned to Yang Chunxi and said, ”take the Snowball Cat and go hide in those woods over there. Your target is Feng Zi, the only one without a forehead or Eye Soul Pearl.

You’ll have visibility and the absolute initiative. You must strike first. Don’t waste energy on attacking; you just need to hold Feng Zi down for one second, and she’ll be a corpse.”

Yang Chunxi looked into Rong Taotao’s determined eyes, nodded silently, and immediately turned to leave.

Rong Taotao looked up at Si Huan Nian and said softly, ”Coach Si, once the battle starts, you need to be at the very front. Always remember to use your Lotus. We don’t know the effect of their Lotus Petal, so just in case, you’re our strongest shield.

Coach Xia will be behind you. He’s on damage duty only, no defense.”

Si Huan Nian stood beside Rong Taotao, her fingers gently twirling a lock of his naturally curly hair. ”Understood, kiddo.”

Rong Taotao looked at Xia Fangran and said, ”Coach Xia, if Coach Li doesn’t blast them to pieces, they’ll be half-dead at least. In that situation, if you can’t take out the Red-clothed Merchant in the first exchange, then you... well...

Take my advice: just retire. Go home, play on your phone, scroll through social media. You have no idea how great it is!”

Xia Fangran: ???

Rong Taotao tilted his head to look at Gao Lingwei. ”After Coach Li’s attack hits, put on your mask immediately. Stick with me. I don’t need your damage output; I just need the Frost Fearful Face and the Snow Grudge Spirit.

No matter what condition Mi Tu is in, don’t look into his eyes. As long as the mask and the spirit can hit Mi Tu once, I guarantee he’ll be a dead man the next second.”

”Okay.” Bathed in the moonlight, Gao Lingwei watched Rong Taotao calmly directing his forces, her gaze intensely fervent.

Rong Taotao stood up, his raised left hand never wavering. In a low voice, he commanded, ”Everyone, suppress your Soul Power fluctuations. Get ready...”

As he spoke, Rong Taotao viciously swung his left hand downward!

In the pitch-black night sky, a ghostly figure streaked past the bright, clear moon!

The giant axe in Li Lie’s hand instantly erupted in blazing flames, carving a blinding line of fire from top to bottom!

Rong Taotao tilted his head back, his eyes following the giant, flaming war axe as it fell from the sky, and he muttered softly to himself,

”Some people are still alive, but they’re already dead.”