Yang Chunxi nodded as well. "So, you have an advantage others don’t. A Cloud Peak Soul Martial Artist can learn every type of Soul Technique. As long as you’re in the right region, you can open any Soul Technique Heart without issue."

Rong Taotao’s eyes lit up. "My dad’s taking me to the Arctic Circle? To practice Cloud Peak Soul Techniques?"

"Heh." Yang Chunxi chuckled and shook her head. "That place is too dangerous. When Rong heard you’d be entering the national tournament this early, he came up with a plan. He hopes you can go to the Starfield Vortex for a few months to study Starfield Soul Technique and learn some Starfield Soul Skills."

Rong Taotao: ’!!!’

Beside him, Gao Lingwei’s expression turned serious as she, too, realized what this implied.

Yang Chunxi continued, "In the future, the opponents you’ll face in the school tryouts will inevitably be Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists.

When you participate in the Outer League, even though there will be students from other regions like the ocean or the starfield, the opponents you’ll ultimately face will most likely be Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists as well.

In other words, the final rounds of the Outer League’s ranking tournament will be dominated by our Pine Soul Soul Martial.

Just imagine the advantage you’d have against Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists if you possessed Starfield Soul Skills."

"GULP." Rong Taotao’s Adam’s apple bobbed. An image had already formed in his mind.

In fact, what Rong Taotao was picturing at that moment was the battle with the Starfield Poacher north of the Wall. The ground covered in brilliant stars looked just like the screen after a boss is killed and drops a ton of loot...

Yang Chunxi went on, "Rong said that even if you only open the Soul Technique and don’t master the corresponding Soul Skills, you can still use Starfield Soul Skills by embedding Soul Pearls. The effect is the same.

I just had a detailed chat with him about your condition. You’ve only just advanced to Soul Warrior, and your Soul Technique is only at three-star. In the next few months, you’re unlikely to see any major breakthroughs.

But... if you can get your Starfield Soul Technique to a two-star level within three months..."

Yang Chunxi shrugged, the implication obvious.

Rong Taotao subconsciously glanced at Gao Lingwei and said, "But... Coach Si is still supposed to teach me my Sword Technique. She said she was going to give me some special training to get my Great Xia Dragon Sparrow up to par..."

"Don’t be so quick to refuse," Yang Chunxi said, pushing the notebook she had been writing in across the desk toward Rong Taotao.

Rong Taotao stepped forward and picked up the notebook, where he saw a list of eight Starfield Soul Skills.

One-Star Soul Technique Compatible:

1. Cold Star Cover. 2. Minor Starfall. 3. Douxing Qi. 4. Star-shaped Lamp.

Two-Star Soul Technique Compatible:

1. Star-Stepping Split. 2. Star Trace. 3. Star Seal. 4. Radiance of the Stars.

Yang Chunxi asked, "Do you see the Soul Skills I’ve marked?"

Rong Taotao nodded lightly. "Douxing Qi, Star-Stepping Split, and Star Trace."

Yang Chunxi hummed in agreement and continued, "Douxing Qi. It’s an incredibly rare support-type Soul Skill, and it can be used with just a one-star Soul Technique. It slightly increases your strength."

Rong Taotao: "Oh?"

Yang Chunxi: "After activating this Soul Skill, every attack you make will carry the force granted to you by the stars."

As she spoke, Yang Chunxi gestured toward Gao Lingwei. "With your current physique and attributes as a Soul Warrior, if you were to arm wrestle a Soul Captain like Ling Wei, the outcome would be certain. She’d win easily. But if you activated Douxing Qi..."

Rong Taotao: "I’d be able to win?"

Yang Chunxi shrugged. "You could at least lose a bit more gracefully."

Rong Taotao: "..."

Yang Chunxi smiled. "The higher the Quality of the Douxing Qi, the greater the strength bonus. And then there are the Soul Skills Star-Stepping Split and Star Trace."

Rong Taotao said, "I know Star-Stepping Split. You stomp on the ground, and a spray of starlight bursts out. The impact is really strong, perfect for forcing back enemies who get too close."

Yang Chunxi: "Mhm. And Star Trace lets you occasionally fling a star during your attack to catch your opponent off guard and stun them. A Soul Skill like that is especially suited for a technique-focused Soul Martial Artist like you."

Rong Taotao’s brow furrowed as he nodded. It all made sense, but...

Yang Chunxi continued, "Since it’s already decided that you’ll be competing as a freshman, and it’s unlikely your Snow Realm Soul Technique will see any fundamental changes in the next three and a half months...

Under these circumstances, learning some Starfield Soul Techniques and Soul Skills might allow your team to go much further."

Yang Chunxi’s words were clearly for the good of the team’s future, but if he were to learn Starfield Soul Skills, it would be impossible for Gao Lingwei to go with him.

Her Lifebound Soul Beast was the Snow Night Shock, a Snow Realm Soul Beast. It was naturally opposed to Starfield Soul Technique, so she could never touch it in her life. Not unless her Lifebound Soul Beast died, she gave up her entire cultivation, and then chose a new one...

"She’s right," Gao Lingwei, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. She reached out and gently rested her fingers on Rong Taotao’s arm. "Forget the national tournament for a moment. Just thinking about the school tryouts and the Outer League ranking tournament, the opponents we’ll face will definitely be Snow Realm Soul Martial Artists."

"Ah..." Rong Taotao looked troubled. It had always been others who "abandoned" him; he had never been the one to leave anyone behind.

He wanted to hold on tightly to the teammate he had finally found, unwilling to let go for even a second.

Besides, Gao Lingwei had come to the Junior Class for him. And now he was going to leave her here all alone while he ran off to train?

Gao Lingwei turned, her beautiful eyes looking quietly at Rong Taotao as she said softly, "We’ve already had several fewer years of training than everyone else. We’re at a huge disadvantage.

Since you have the Talent, and your Lifebound Soul Beast has given you the qualifications to train this way, maybe you really should try it. You can make up for our disadvantage in another way."

Seeing Gao Lingwei’s decision, Yang Chunxi couldn’t help but praise her silently in her heart.

’Everyone understands the grand principles, but controlling one’s own emotions is another matter.’

’If this were Sun Xingyu and Li Ziyi, do you think they’d be willing to separate?’

Gao Lingwei suddenly smiled and said softly, "The school tryouts are held in four batches. The last one is in three and a half months. In three months, can you train your Starfield Soul Technique to two-star?"

Rong Taotao ruffled his hair. "Hard to say. Depends on how many fancy tricks I can pull off."

Rong Taotao’s Soul Technique level was so high, and of course, the Lotus Petal had helped.

But in truth, even before he had the Lotus Petal, his Soul Technique level had always been higher than his Soul Power level.

This phenomenon shouldn’t be underestimated. After all, for most Soul Martial Artists around the world, their Soul Technique level was usually slightly lower than their Soul Power level.

Rong Taotao was a genius, a genius in every sense of the word.

It was just that the appearance of the Lotus Petal had overshadowed this aspect of his genius, leading those close to him to believe that his three-star Soul Technique was all thanks to it.

"You two chat. I’m going to class. You two can skip this one." Yang Chunxi stood up, walked briskly out of the office, and gently closed the door behind her.

With just the two of them left in the office, Gao Lingwei’s words became a little bolder.

She raised an eyebrow slightly, an amused look on her face. "What, can’t bear to be away from me?"

"Don’t be like that," Rong Taotao muttered, pouting. "I’m just worried you’ll get bullied here at school by yourself."

"The only one who dares to bully me is about to leave, isn’t he?"

"Hey, don’t joke around. How would I dare bully you? You’re a Great Soul Captain..."

"Go."

"Huh?"

"Don’t forget our goal. Get stronger. Get very, very strong."

"Mmm..."

"I’ll be waiting for you here. I promise, I won’t go anywhere."

"Okay!"

...

It’s Sunday today, so taking a small break. Two Chapters today, at 12 PM and 8 PM. We’ll be back to three Chapters tomorrow.

Also, I’m organizing my thoughts. The all-rounder route, fancy tricks, and slick moves—they’re all coming in the next volume!

Also, there’s a little poll on Weibo about the epigraph for the next volume. Please help me brainstorm, I need to write it into the book tonight. Chop chop!