Under the starlight, Su Ran remained silent.
Instead, the spirit power within him began to circulate. Ten Halls of Yama, activate!
A domineering, black and red Yama pillar materialized behind him. His transcendent and leisurely aura faded away, replaced by the dark, hellish air of an Asura. At the top of the Yama pillar was a blackened peach blossom branch—Su Ran's Martial Soul. Below it were the ten halls of Yama, each lord depicted as fierce and incomparably powerful. A domain of Yama began to spread out from it.
Zhu Zhuqing's entire body tensed, and she found herself unable to speak, stunned by this dark aura.
"This is the first step in cultivating the Ten Halls of Yama: condensing the Yama pillar and establishing a connection with your own Martial Soul. The next step is to summon the lord of the first hall, King Qinguang!"
"He is in charge of life and death in the mortal world, presides over the first hall, judges and arbitrates, and issues the decrees of the Netherworld."
"The effect of each hall's Yama is different, and their strength and power will increase as your spirit power rank rises. At your current level, if you can cultivate the first hall, any enemy hit by King Qinguang's Netherworld Decree during battle will have 10% of their life force instantly seized, and it will continue to decrease over time."
"Within the Hall of Yama, under the judgment of the decree, if the living person's past deeds were evil and wicked, the effect will be enhanced. The chains of Yama's judgment will bind them, and they will suffer the agony of death by a thousand cuts."
The so-called reduction of life force was a comprehensive weakening that included vitality, defense, speed, and strength.
Only after Su Ran had dispersed the Ten Halls of Yama pillar did Zhu Zhuqing manage to speak, her voice filled with awe. "So... powerful!"
This is the power of the Ten Halls of Yama?
The very first hall alone possessed a three-in-one combination of weakening, control, and offense. What kind of power would the halls after the first one bring? No wonder her teacher dared to say she could surpass Dai Mubai within a year.
She had chosen the right teacher!
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze toward Su Ran was now filled with worship. This was a true powerhouse.
After teaching Zhu Zhuqing the cultivation method for the Ten Halls of Yama, Su Ran treated her injuries. Once he confirmed she was mostly fine, he arranged a place for her to stay and then returned to his own house to check on his own progress.
By accepting Zhu Zhuqing as a disciple, his spirit power had reached rank 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, he might be able to obtain a 100,000-year spirit ring in just a few months.
At this thought, Su Ran removed his mask. That devastatingly handsome face appeared in the dim light. A faint smile touched his lips as he lay down on his couch and fell into a peaceful sleep. The academy now had another student with excellent aptitude, and his path of cultivation was no longer a lonely one.
However, ever since Rongrong had seen his face, she had started acting a bit strange, which was rather vexing.
"Teacher actually gave you three ultimate techniques to choose from! I didn't get that kind of treatment!"
"Do you know, when I was learning a technique from Teacher, I got my hand smacked and even had to write a self-criticism letter! And you just get to learn one directly! Sob sob, it's not fair~"
"But, a dual cultivation ultimate technique? I've never heard of that! What is it? Why didn't Teacher tell me about it?"
"I don't know either. It must be a very profound technique. Otherwise, Teacher wouldn't have said I'm not suited to learn it yet."
Under the cover of night, Ning Rongrong had sought out Zhu Zhuqing. As two girls who had both recently joined the academy, they naturally found things to talk about, happy to have the company.
The stars shone brightly, and the peach blossoms swayed, a gentle breeze occasionally drifting by.
After their baths, the two girls sat on the wooden railing in front of their rooms, gazing at the starry sky and sharing their thoughts. One was a young lady who had secretly run away from one of the three upper sects. The other was a cat-girl who had been forced to leave home to find a chance at survival, embarking on a path to change her destiny due to family and imperial struggles.
Ning Rongrong was asking Zhu Zhuqing about what Teacher Su Ran had said to her earlier. Upon learning about the special treatment Zhu Zhuqing received, the glass heart of a young girl who held infinite affection for Su Ran shattered just a little.
"Senior Sister Rongrong, you are the teacher's first disciple. He will surely prepare a great ultimate technique for you as well," Zhu Zhuqing comforted her.
"Of course. Hmph."
"But, Senior Sister Rongrong, why does the teacher always wear a mask and not show his true face?" Having not gotten an answer from Su Ran, Zhu Zhuqing asked Ning Rongrong the same question.
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong's mood instantly improved.
Teacher didn't show her his face? Oh-hohoho! Ahahaha! It seems Teacher doesn't like her that much after all!
Ahem!
"As a disciple who has seen the teacher's face, I, your Senior Sister, must criticize you very seriously, Junior Sister Zhu Zhuqing. How can you be curious about the teacher's appearance?"
"You came to Taoyuan Academy to study and to become stronger! You should be diligent, hardworking, and practice your ultimate techniques so as not to disappoint the teacher and to become an outstanding Spirit Master!"
"Whether the teacher is ugly or handsome, does it affect your cultivation?"
"So what if the teacher is ugly? Would he not be our teacher anymore? And so what if the teacher is handsome? Are you planning to cross the line between master and disciple? Are you here to learn skills or to fall in love?"
"Your Senior Sister is speaking from experience. I'm telling you, you absolutely cannot develop any improper feelings for the teacher! That is not allowed!" Ning Rongrong said with great earnestness.
Zhu Zhuqing was a little baffled. "But I was just wondering why the teacher wears a mask. After all, no one wears a mask every day, and there's no one else in the academy... I never said that I... toward the teacher..."
"Ah? I understand now. Could it be that you, Senior Sister Rongrong—" Zhu Zhuqing suddenly understood something. A peculiar look crossed her face as she stared at Ning Rongrong in disbelief.
Ning Rongrong's face turned beet red, and her small, surprisingly strong hands quickly clamped over Zhu Zhuqing's mouth. "Don't talk nonsense! I didn't! I wouldn't! Hey... I was just reminding you! Ouch~ You're not allowed to say such things!"
Zhu Zhuqing's suspicious gaze made Ning Rongrong feel extremely embarrassed, and she hastily denied it.
"Mmph~"
"Okay, I'll keep my mouth shut. I promise." Zhu Zhuqing finally managed to pry Ning Rongrong's hands away, raising four fingers and pointing to the sky as a sign of her promise.
Ning Rongrong finally breathed a sigh of relief. If word got out that she had improper thoughts about her teacher, she could probably endure the opinions of others, but she was terrified that Teacher Su Ran would kick her out! (╥_╥)
In the past, she had been arrogant and had even threatened to quit at the slightest provocation. But ever since she had seen Teacher Su Ran's handsome face, she wouldn't quit even if it killed her. Even if Teacher Su Ran whipped her and drove her away, she would just have to come back howling, "Teacher, the way you hit my bottom feels so good~"
"You're really strong," Zhu Zhuqing remarked. "If I didn't know you were a support-type Spirit Master, I might have thought you were some kind of naturally strong woman."
"Sigh... this is all from training, plus the ultimate technique the teacher taught me. It's all thanks to the teacher."
"Mmm, the techniques the teacher teaches are clearly very powerful. But... if Senior Sister Rongrong really likes the teacher, maybe I can help."
"Really? (-) (starry eyes)"
"So, Senior Sister Rongrong, you really do like the teacher?!" Zhu Zhuqing exclaimed. "It seems the teacher really is quite handsome."
"I—You—You're not allowed to speak anymore!"
(End of Chapter)