Rong Taotao’s life had grown much richer since he started training in the wild. The creatures here were bizarre and diverse, unlike on the training grounds, where he knew exactly who his opponents were.

With Nan Cheng and Rong Yuanshan standing guard, the journey could be described as thrilling but not dangerous.

The Starfield was nothing like the Snow Realm. Especially in this highly developed Starfield Vortex, with the military garrisoned here, it was impossible for people like "Poachers" to exist.

Although the journey was exciting, the training was as tedious as ever.

However, inspired by Rong Taotao, Ye Nanxi had also started working much harder.

It proved the old saying true: one is shaped by the company one keeps. Nan Cheng saw the all-encompassing, positive influence Rong Taotao had on Ye Nanxi, and it delighted her. As a gesture of repayment and care, she kept her Star Fragment active, allowing Rong Taotao to enjoy the benefits it provided.

Time flew by, and soon it was early June. On one quiet night, Rong Taotao finally obtained what he’d been after.

...

The night sky was brilliant with stars, so many that they formed a silver river.

Deep in the forest, outside a natural cave, a campfire crackled and popped.

Rong Taotao sat cross-legged before the fire, his eyes shut tight, as a faint fluctuation of Soul Power emanated from his body.

"Yip?" The Cloud Dog, which had been playing by itself with a Star-shaped Lamp, sensed something was different about its master. It immediately dispersed into a cloud of mist and drifted back into Rong Taotao’s body, wanting to experience this moment with him.

Breaking through a major stage in a Soul Technique wasn’t as dramatic as a breakthrough in Soul Power, but it was still noticeable if one paid close attention.

Rong Yuanshan, who had been resting up in a tree, immediately sat up and looked down.

Beside the campfire, Ye Nanxi watched Rong Taotao with curiosity, seeming to realize what was happening.

’He came here to prepare for the school’s selection tournament.’

’His goal was a two-star Soul Technique and an Excellent Level Starfield Soul Skill.’

’It’s already early June. After he finishes his training, he’ll have to leave, won’t he?’

Before she met Rong Taotao, if someone had told her that a mere Little Soul Warrior could break out of the regional tournament and stand on the stage of the national championship...

...she would have walked right up and slapped them, maybe even followed up with a couple of kicks, while cursing, "Are you out of your mind?"

But now, Ye Nanxi believed it. And her faith was even a little blind.

When they first started teaming up, Ye Nanxi would occasionally act on her own authority. But the longer they were a team and the more battles they fought together, the less she did so.

The thrilling escapes, the effective tactical plans, their high win rate, and the genuine satisfaction of victory she experienced along the way—all of it had shown Ye Nanxi exactly what an outstanding teammate and commander should be like.

Having tasted the benefits of following a commander, Ye Nanxi’s mindset had shifted slightly. ’I don’t plan to fight solo in the championship anymore. I can find an excellent commander, too—one with even more experience and strength than Rong Taotao!’

’I consider myself a qualified teammate now. I understand the importance of cooperation, and I even know how to be a little considerate of others’ feelings on the battlefield.’

’Since I’m qualified, of course I should find an outstanding team and just drop right in. I’ll use the ideas and concepts Rong Taotao drilled into me and turn the competition upside down with my new teammates...’

Here lay an interesting fact: Ye Nanxi was only *slightly* considerate of her teammates on the battlefield. In her daily life, her personality seemed not to have changed at all.

Just as she was thinking now about "dropping into" a team.

If she joined, someone else would inevitably be replaced. The regional tournament was already approaching; how terrible would that student feel, getting kicked off their team at a time like this?

Unfortunately, none of this fell within the scope of Ye Nanxi’s concerns. She had many ways to make a team member leave, the simplest being to lure them away with a better offer.

And in this world, personal gain was the most persuasive tool of all.

Ye Nanxi mused to herself, the flickering campfire reflecting in her beautiful eyes.

Ye Nanxi’s vision blurred for a moment, and then Nan Cheng’s figure silently appeared behind Rong Taotao. She slowly bent down and gently patted his head.

"Advancement! Soul Technique: Starfield Heart, Two-Star Initial Stage!"

Rong Taotao opened his eyes, which shone brightly. He hurriedly turned to Nan Cheng. "Nan, quick, pat me a couple more times!"

As he spoke, Rong Taotao even leaned his head toward her.

"Hehe." Nan Cheng, looking like she was trying to suppress a laugh, knelt on the ground. She reached out and gently ruffled Rong Taotao’s hair. "You were already on the verge of a breakthrough. I just lent you a bit of strength to help you kick the door open. It was mainly your own effort."

"Oh." Rong Taotao pouted. ’Fine then...’

’If the South Soul General really had a secret technique for advancing levels by patting someone on the head, he would have had her do it all night long...’

Nan Cheng smiled as she watched Rong Taotao, her heart filled with nothing but gratitude for the boy.

As a supreme powerhouse who could have anything she wanted, her only weakness and source of worry was her own child. The changes and positive influence this trip to the Starfield Vortex brought to her daughter were results Nan Cheng could never have dreamed of.

Nan Cheng asked softly, "Have you thought about coming to the Imperial Capital to build your future?"

"Huh?" Rong Taotao scratched his head.

Nan Cheng pondered for a moment before asking softly, "You chose to become a Snow Realm Soul Martial Artist, to go to that bitterly cold land... it was for your mother, wasn’t it?"