"Teacher, thank you. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have known what to do."
Seeing Su Ran's domineering protectiveness, Zhu Zhuqing was deeply moved. No one had ever protected her like that before.
"You are my Disciple. Naturally, I won't stand by and watch others bully you."
Su Ran said calmly.
"What about me? What about me? Teacher, will you protect me?"
Ning Rongrong pouted cutely from the side.
Su Ran nodded: "Of course, you are also my student, and my first direct Disciple at that."
Zhu Zhuqing was somewhat speechless.
She seemed to have heard that it was this Ning Rongrong, a support system Spirit Master, who had beaten Ma Hongjun, an attack system Spirit Master.
She had thought Ning Rongrong would be a rather tough and spirited young woman, but she didn't expect her to be... so cute in private.
Hearing Su Ran's words, Ning Rongrong's mood improved a bit, but she was still a little uneasy:
Oh no, is my private life with Teacher in the inner courtyard going to end like this?
I haven't even 'conquered' Teacher yet.
What if Zhu Zhuqing steals Teacher's favor?
This is such a headache.
"Zhuqing, did you hear that? I'm Teacher's first direct Disciple, so I'll be your Senior Sister from now on. In the academy, you must not only respect Teacher but also listen to your Senior Sister!"
Zhu Zhuqing merely nodded faintly: "Understood, Senior Sister Rongrong."
"Alright, Rongrong, you should go back and Cultivate. Now is a critical period for you to consolidate the second layer of the Golden Bell."
Su Ran's exquisite face beneath the mask couldn't help but crack a smile. This Ning Rongrong was already trying to 'train' Zhu Zhuqing.
"Alright."
Ning Rongrong was reluctant to leave, looking back every three steps. Ahhh—she really didn't want Teacher to be alone with Zhu Zhuqing, but she had to listen to Teacher.
Teacher didn't like disobedient students.
"Teacher, do you have something else to tell me?"
Seeing Su Ran send Ning Rongrong away, Zhu Zhuqing, being very clever, asked Su Ran.
"Yes."
Su Ran spoke calmly:
"Although I will protect you."
"But you also heard just now, Dai Mubai won't let you go easily."
"Although I didn't agree to the Spirit Master duel he mentioned, within a year, my requirement for your studies is that your strength must completely surpass Dai Mubai. If he bothers you again, you can personally fight back and wash away today's humiliation."
Su Ran's acceptance of Disciples wasn't without requirements. Ning Rongrong was a support system Spirit Master, so his requirements for her would be lower—just being able to protect herself and show some combat power was enough. However, Zhu Zhuqing was an agility-attack system Spirit Master, a combat-type Spirit Master, so his requirements would become even stricter.
"Surpass... Dai Mubai."
Zhu Zhuqing also wanted to achieve this, but she clearly lacked confidence.
Although the Hell Civet was also a top-tier Spirit, it was still somewhat inferior to the White Tiger. Moreover, to suppress the Hell Civet's agility, Dai Mubai's first Spirit Ability, White Tiger Bodyguard Barrier, was a defensive Spirit Ability, which could effectively guard against attacks from agility-attack system Spirit Masters.
"He's a high-level Spirit Elder, not far from breaking through to the Spirit Ancestor Realm. I'm only level 27, and my Spirit isn't as powerful as the White Tiger. In one year, I'm afraid..."
"What, no confidence?"
"Mm... but I will try my best."
"As my Disciple, you must have this confidence. Rongrong was able to duel Ma Hongjun in just over a month. In a year, do you not have the confidence to surpass Dai Mubai?"
Su Ran smiled.
"I believe in you."
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze met Su Ran's immortal-like eyes beneath his mask, and confidence bloomed in her heart.
Wasn't it precisely because Teacher Su Ran could create miracles that she had resolutely chosen to become his Disciple?
"I have one movement technique and three ultimate arts here. I can teach you the movement technique directly, but among these three ultimate arts, I can only teach you one."
"This movement technique is called 'Yellow Springs Evasion'. It is said that the water of the Yellow Springs sinks even a goose feather, and boats cannot pass, only ghosts and Spirits can walk upon it. When this Yellow Springs Evasion movement technique reaches mastery, one can freely traverse the Yellow Springs, as if one's body is formless and intangible, moving silently."
"And the names of these three ultimate arts are:"
"Great Creation Demonic Heavenly Art."
"Jade Nether Path."
"Ten Yama Halls."
Su Ran recited the names of the three ultimate arts, letting Zhu Zhuqing choose for herself.
Each name sounded incredibly powerful.
Zhu Zhuqing found it difficult to choose, so she simply sought help from Su Ran:
"Teacher, which ultimate art do you think I'm suitable for cultivating, and which one is stronger?"
"The Great Creation Demonic Heavenly Art can demonize your Spirit, strengthening your bones and Bloodline, and evolving your Spirit. To what extent the Hell Civet can be demonized ultimately is unknown."
Su Ran explained the effects of the three ultimate arts:
"And this Jade Nether Path... *cough cough*, seems to be a Dual Cultivation method? Oh my..."
Su Ran glanced at the introduction at this point, and even this usually calm Peach Blossom Immortal Master became flustered.
The descriptions in this cultivation method were simply blush-inducing, stating that it recorded various methods of yin-yang cultivation between demon gods.
Not suitable for minors, not suitable for minors.
"Teacher, what is Dual Cultivation? Why aren't you continuing? Can I learn this?"
Zhu Zhuqing was a bit confused. Seeing Su Ran's obvious change in demeanor when he spoke of the Jade Nether Path ultimate art, could it be something incredibly powerful?
"*Cough cough*, you're not suitable to learn this ultimate art right now. Let's choose one of the other two instead."
Su Ran coughed, feeling a bit awkward. If you dared to learn this cultivation method, he wouldn't dare to teach it!
"Is that so?" Zhu Zhuqing was a little disappointed. She definitely had to figure out what Dual Cultivation was next time.
"Ten Yama Halls: Cultivate the ten layers of the Yama Halls, unleashing the power of the netherworld, which can greatly enhance your combat power."
"So, Teacher means for me to choose between the Demonic Heavenly Art and the Ten Yama Halls?"
"Yes."
"Whichever Teacher teaches, I'll learn!"
"Simply put, these ultimate arts aren't about which is better or weaker; rather, their cultivation directions are different. The Great Creation Demonic Heavenly Art can give your Spirit a chance for demonic evolution, offering long-term growth opportunities. The Ten Yama Halls, on the other hand, is an offensive ultimate art that focuses on enhancement. Just cultivating one Yama Hall for augmentation might be enough to bridge the level gap between you and Dai Mubai."
Su Ran thought for a moment and summoned the Secret Manual for the Ten Yama Halls.
"You should learn the Ten Yama Halls first. When the time is right, I'll see if I should impart the Great Creation Demonic Heavenly Art to you."
"What about the Jade Nether Path?" Zhu Zhuqing asked with some curiosity.
"That... well, if there's a chance... if you can Cultivate the Ten Yama Halls to mastery, and if you still want to learn it, we can find an opportunity then." Su Ran stammered, which only made Zhu Zhuqing more interested.
As the Secret Manual for the Ten Yama Halls appeared, Zhu Zhuqing felt an extremely dark and domineering aura emanating from it.
This aura subtly resonated with her Spirit; it was clearly no ordinary item.
"Teacher, whether it's the Ten Yama Halls or that Great Creation Demonic Heavenly Art, can I really Cultivate them successfully? They both sound very dark. Can I control them?"
"Are you scared?"
"No, I'm not scared. I'm only afraid of being too weak."
Zhu Zhuqing held the ultimate art of Ten Yama Halls, a flicker of excitement crossing her cold eyes. Teacher said that just cultivating one Yama Hall would be enough to defeat Dai Mubai.
That was a ten-level difference!
If it were two, three, or even ten Yama Halls, how strong would that be?
"Oh, and Teacher, why do you always wear a mask?"
Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but ask the same question Ning Rongrong had asked earlier.