Under the starlight, Su Ran remained silent.
He merely activated the spirit power within his body, and the Ten Yama Halls opened!
A dominant black-red Yama Pillar emerged behind him, and the transcendent, serene aura around him faded, replaced by an extremely dark, hellish Asura aura.
The top of the Yama Pillar was a blackened Peach Blossom Spring branch, clearly Su Ran's Spirit, with ten layers of Yama below it. The Yamas were fierce and incredibly powerful, and a Yama Domain spread out from within.
Zhu Zhuqing immediately tensed up, unable to speak, stunned by this dark aura.
"This is the first step in cultivating the Ten Yama Halls: condensing the Ten Yama Halls Pillar, establishing a connection between it and your Spirit, and then summoning the First Hall Yama, King Qin Guang!"
"He presides over the lifespan, death, and mortality of the human world, establishing the First Hall to judge, arbitrate, and enforce the orders of the netherworld."
"The effect of each Yama King is different, and their strength and power will increase as your spirit power level rises. With your current spirit power, if you can cultivate the First Hall Yama, in battle, enemies struck by King Qin Guang's Netherworld Decree will instantly have 10% of their vitality drained, and it will continue to decrease over time."
"Within the Yama Hall, under the decree, if the living committed heinous acts in their lifetime, the effect is enhanced, and they are bound by the Yama's Chains of Judgment, enduring the suffering of slow slicing."
The so-called vitality reduction encompasses a comprehensive weakening of life, defense, speed, and strength.
Only after Su Ran dispersed the Ten Yama Halls Pillar did Zhu Zhuqing dare to speak, dazed:
"So… powerful!"
Is this the power of the Ten Yama Halls?
Even just the First Hall Yama possesses the combined abilities of weakening, control, and offense. What kind of power would the Yamas after the First Hall bring?
No wonder Teacher dared to say that she could surpass Dai Mubai within a year.
She had chosen the right teacher!
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Su Ran with eyes full of admiration; this was a true powerhouse.
...
After Su Ran taught Zhu Zhuqing the cultivation method for the Ten Yama Halls, he also healed her, confirmed she had no major injuries, arranged lodging for her, and then returned to his own room to check his progress.
Accepting Zhu Zhuqing as a disciple had raised his spirit power level to 73, and the age of his spirit rings had increased significantly. His seventh spirit ring had even reached over eighty thousand years. At this rate, it wouldn't be long, perhaps a few months, before he could possess a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring.
Thinking of this, Su Ran removed his mask, and his peerlessly handsome face appeared in the dim light. He smiled faintly, lay down on the couch, and had a peaceful sleep.
The Academy had gained another student with good aptitude, and his cultivation path was no longer lonely.
However, ever since Rongrong saw his face, she had become a bit strange, which was quite bothersome.
…
"Teacher actually gave you three ultimate skills to choose from! I didn't get that kind of treatment!"
"Do you know that when I learned skills from Teacher, I even got a spanking and had to write a self-criticism. You can just learn it directly, boohoo, it's not fair~"
"But, Dual Cultivation ultimate skill? Never heard of it? What is that? Why didn't Teacher tell me about it?"
"I don't know either. It should be a very profound cultivation technique, otherwise Teacher wouldn't say I'm not suitable to learn it yet."
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong found Zhu Zhuqing under the cover of night. Both girls had recently joined the Academy, and having a companion, they naturally had much to talk about.
The starlight was brilliant, peach blossoms swayed, occasionally accompanied by a gentle breeze.
After bathing, the two girls sat on the wooden fence in front of the house, gazing at the starry sky and confiding in each other.
One was a young lady who had secretly slipped away from one of the Upper Three Sects.
The other was a cat girl who had to leave to find a chance to survive due to family and royal struggles, embarking on a path to change her fate.
Ning Rongrong asked Zhu Zhuqing what Teacher Su Ran had just told her.
Upon learning of Zhu Zhuqing's treatment, the fragile heart of a young girl who had developed infinite admiration for Su Ran gently shattered.
"Senior Sister Rongrong, you are Teacher's first disciple. Teacher will definitely prepare excellent ultimate skills for you too."
"Of course. Hmph hmph."
"But, Senior Sister Rongrong, why does Teacher always wear a mask and not show his true face?"
Zhu Zhuqing asked Ning Rongrong the question she hadn't gotten an answer to from Su Ran.
Hearing Zhu Zhuqing's question, Ning Rongrong immediately felt relieved.
Teacher didn't show her his face?
Oh ho ho ho!
Ah hahaha!
It seems Teacher doesn't like her that much after all!
Ahem!
"As a disciple who has seen Teacher's appearance, Senior Sister must seriously criticize you, Junior Sister Zhu Zhuqing. How can you be curious about Teacher's appearance?"
"You came to Peach Garden Academy to learn, to become stronger. You should be diligent and hardworking, practice your ultimate skills diligently, so as not to disappoint Teacher, and become an excellent Spirit Master!"
"Whether Teacher is ugly or handsome, will that affect your cultivation?"
"What if Teacher is ugly? Is he no longer our Teacher? What if Teacher is handsome? Are you going to cross the line of master and disciple? Are you here to learn skills, or to fall in love?"
"Senior Sister is experienced; I must tell you, you absolutely cannot develop any other feelings for Teacher. That's not allowed!"
Ning Rongrong spoke earnestly.
Zhu Zhuqing was a little confused:
"But I was just wondering why Teacher wears a mask. After all, no one wears a mask every day, and there's no one else in the Academy… I didn't say I felt anything for Teacher…"
"Ah? I understand now, could it be Senior Sister Rongrong you—"
Zhu Zhuqing suddenly understood something, a strange look appeared on her face, and she looked at Ning Rongrong with some disbelief.
Ning Rongrong's face flushed, and her strong small hands quickly covered Zhu Zhuqing's mouth:
"Don't talk nonsense, I didn't, how could I? Oh… I'm just reminding you, oh dear~ You're not allowed to talk nonsense!"
Zhu Zhuqing's suspicious gaze made Ning Rongrong feel a bit embarrassed, and she quickly denied it.
"Mmm~"
"Alright, I'll keep it a secret, I promise."
Zhu Zhuqing finally managed to pry open Ning Rongrong's hands, raised four fingers, and swore to the sky.
Ning Rongrong finally breathed a sigh of relief. If it really got out that she had improper thoughts about Teacher, she could endure others' opinions, but she was afraid Teacher Su Ran would kick her out!
(╥_╥)
She used to be arrogant and even wanted to drop out of school at every turn, but ever since she saw Teacher Su Ran's handsome face, she wouldn't drop out even if it killed her.
Even if Teacher Su Ran whipped her and drove her away, she would still come back howling, saying that Teacher's spanking felt so good~
"You're so strong. If I didn't know you were a support system Spirit Master, I might have thought you were some naturally strong woman."
Zhu Zhuqing exclaimed.
"Oh… this is all from training, plus the ultimate skills Teacher taught. It's all Teacher's credit."
"Mm, the cultivation techniques Teacher taught do seem very powerful at first glance. However, if Senior Sister Rongrong you really like Teacher, maybe I can help."
"Really? (Sparkling eyes)"
"So, Senior Sister Rongrong, you really like Teacher?!"
"It seems Teacher really is quite handsome."
"I—you—you're not allowed to speak anymore!"