Master of Nine Stars

Chapter 228 - 166: Respect! Respect

Rong Yuanshan stepped forward to preside over the match, gesturing with a downward press of his hand for Nan Cheng to remain calm.

To be honest, Nan Cheng wasn’t so much worried about Ye Nanxi as she was about Ye Nanxi bullying Rong Taotao.

After all, Ye Nanxi was already a third-year university student. Whether it was physical constitution or Soul Power cultivation, she was superior to Rong Taotao in every way.

Of course, the Lotus Petal inside Rong Taotao’s body had to be considered separately...

At this thought, Nan Cheng grew nervous. If Rong Taotao was pushed into a corner and unleashed the Lotus Petal, the situation would indeed be difficult to resolve.

Nan Cheng quickly moved to Rong Yuanshan’s side and began asking about Rong Taotao’s control over the Lotus Petal—what kind it was, and how it was manifested.

But Rong Yuanshan’s response made Nan Cheng’s expression quite a sight to behold.

Father Rong’s exact words were: "Taotao’s power level is too low. He can’t control the Lotus Petal at the moment, so it can’t be used as an offensive tool."

Nan Cheng turned her gaze to the battlefield. She tried to hold her tongue, but in the end, she couldn’t help but say, "We should stop this. It’s practically bullying."

"This is for the best," Rong Yuanshan said. "No matter who wins or loses, it will benefit the one who loses. It will teach them some humility."

Nan Cheng: ???

’It’s a foregone conclusion that Ye Nanxi will defeat Rong Taotao, so why would *he* be the one to learn humility?’

’The kid has always behaved so well. Why does he need to be humbled?’

’Could it be that behind that youthful face lies an incredibly arrogant heart?’

While the two powerhouses presided over the match from the sidelines, on the field, that "arrogant" Rong Taotao was indeed living up to Nan Cheng’s speculation!

His steps were nimble and his movements were phantom-like. For someone his age to have such an elusive Body Technique was truly a marvel.

It is said...

...that the footwork of the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow is an even better match for Snow Dance?

Although Rong Taotao wasn’t wielding the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow, as another Long Straight Saber, the Tang Dynasty blade was by no means inferior to its Han Dynasty counterpart.

The more Ye Nanxi fought, the more alarmed she became. A Soul Captain’s physical constitution should absolutely crush that of someone in the Soul Warrior Stage, as breaking through that bottleneck grants an all-around boost in physical attributes.

Not to mention the age difference. At 20 years old, her body was naturally more developed than 16-year-old Rong Taotao’s. After years of being nourished by Soul Power, her physique was much more robust.

But...

In terms of speed alone, Rong Taotao was in no way inferior to Ye Nanxi!

This! The Snow Realm Core Soul Skill: Snow Dance!

It gave Rong Taotao the right to challenge his superior and the means to defeat her!

"Hmph. Let’s see how long you can last. You’ll burn through your Snow Realm Soul Power sooner or later." A layer of Night Sky Stars covered Ye Nanxi’s right shoulder, right fist, and right calf. With every punch and kick, she forced Rong Taotao to retreat step by step.

WHOOSH!

Ye Nanxi’s heart skipped a beat as she abruptly dodged. Rong Taotao, who had been fighting on the retreat, suddenly struck like a nimble viper, swinging his saber in an upward slash that made her break out in a cold sweat.

Without a chest Soul Slot or a full-body defensive Soul Skill, a Soul Martial Artist of any rank had to be wary of sharp weapons.

Well... with the exception of Si Huan Nian. If she activated that defensive Lotus of hers, she could turn into a Berserker and charge right into a crowd.

As Ye Nanxi dodged to the side, she followed the motion with a side kick. On her standard-issue Practitioner cleats, several long spikes lit up on the soles.

Starfield Soul Martial Artists are all basically Martial Arts Masters.

Of course, Rong Taotao had no desire to block it or compete with her in raw strength. Whether it was Ye Nanxi before him or Gao Lingwei far to the north, Rong Taotao couldn’t compare to them on a physical level. If he wanted to win, he had to rely on technique.

Rong Taotao hurriedly retreated, but Ye Nanxi’s offense was seamless. She followed through by stomping her foot on the ground.

BANG!

Star-Stepping Split!

With a heavy bang, a shockwave erupted, and shattered stars flew in all directions!

The ground beneath Rong Taotao’s feet ruptured, and he leaped backward forcefully as countless shattered stars rippled out, sweeping past him.

He could dodge the shattered stars, but the explosive shockwave was impossible to block. Rong Taotao was inevitably sent flying backward.

Ye Nanxi let out a cold laugh and raised a hand. In an instant, a shower of shattered stars shot out in a concentrated column!

Star Wave Stream!

Nan Cheng, who was watching from the side, couldn’t help but tense up, only to relax a moment later.

Just then, the Snow Burst Ball in Rong Taotao’s hand exploded. With no other leverage in mid-air, he used the force of the Snow Burst to wrench himself out of the way of the pillar-like Star Wave Stream.

"That’s it?"

A voice suddenly echoed in Ye Nanxi’s mind.

The short phrase was dripping with mockery.

"Hm?" Ye Nanxi recognized Rong Taotao’s voice, but the boy in front of her hadn’t opened his mouth. What’s more, the corners of his lips were turned up in a slight smirk. Paired with that infuriating phrase, the mockery was turned up to the max!

As long as Ye Nanxi played it safe and steady, fighting a war of attrition against Rong Taotao in an environment that favored her, there was no reason she should lose!

But...

Just how much of a trash-talker could Rong Taotao be? And how infuriating could he possibly get?

Two more words echoed in Ye Nanxi’s mind: "Soul Captain?"

Ye Nanxi’s expression immediately stiffened, and her assault faltered for a moment.

Rong Taotao landed steadily on his feet. He wore a friendly smile, but in her mind, he imprinted a series of supremely mocking phrases:

"Been wanting to get me for a while?"

"So come and get me~"

"YAAAH!" Ye Nanxi’s face flushed with anger as she shot two pillar-like Star Wave Streams from her hands, blasting them toward Rong Taotao.

Rong Taotao dodged with a quick hop. Ye Nanxi aimed her hands at him and unleashed another two Star Wave Streams.

Ye Nanxi fired again, and Rong Taotao dodged again.

He wasn’t being careless. He just kept dodging.