"How is this possible... I lost... When did you break my White Tiger Protective Barrier? Your first spirit ability, Hellish Thrust, shouldn't have been able to do it..."
Dai Mubai applied hemostatic medicine to his wound and consumed one of Oscar's recovery sausages. He could barely stand, even with Tang San and Oscar supporting him. His eyes were still filled with disbelief. He, the magnificent Evil Eye White Tiger, had actually been defeated by the Hell Civet, and so utterly at that. If he hadn't activated his White Tiger Vajra Transformation at the critical moment, he would likely be a corpse right now.
"It was this gray needle."
"The moment she used her thrusting skill to get close to you, although the thrust itself couldn't break your barrier, it weakened the shield at the point of impact. Then, she used this elusive gray needle to pierce your body."
"It's also coated with a paralyzing agent. No wonder you didn't feel a thing."
Tang San delicately extracted a gray needle from Dai Mubai's wound, his gaze toward Zhu Zhuqing turning peculiar. She actually knew how to use hidden weapons, and her technique was extremely masterful. Such a method could not possibly be something she figured out on her own. Either it was a skill passed down from her ancestors, like his own, or it was taught by that teacher from Taoyuan Academy, Su Ran.
"You've actually learned to use such dark and shameless tricks," Dai Mubai said, looking at the gray needle in Tang San's hand with dread.
Hearing this, Tang San felt a little offended himself. However, it was true that when it came to hidden weapons, it was fine for him to use them, but not for his enemies. After all, a hidden arrow was difficult to guard against. That was why, despite possessing the Tang Sect's hidden weapons, Tang San had never been completely open with others. Even in the world ten thousand years later, after he founded the Tang Sect and became a God King, he never passed down the manufacturing methods for all of his hidden weapons.
Faced with Dai Mubai's gnashing teeth, Zhu Zhuqing paid him no mind. She no longer cared about him. Instead, it was Ning Rongrong's indignant glare that made her feel a little guilty. Sigh... I got too excited after beating Dai Mubai and forgot myself.
"Sorry, Senior Sister. I won't kiss him next time."
"You're already thinking about a next time!"
Zhu Zhuqing's face turned slightly red as Ning Rongrong sulked with jealousy.
As for Su Ran, who had been kissed so suddenly, he just shook his head and turned to Zhao Wuji. "Teacher Zhao, it seems my student has won. You won't be taking this Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Serpent."
Zhao Wuji was naturally hot-tempered. He had only been holding back because he feared Su Ran's power. Now, not only had they lost the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Serpent, but Dai Mubai was also severely injured. Their Shrek Academy had lost all face, and he was thoroughly humiliated. His rough face was flushed red as he cupped his hands slightly.
"Naturally."
"Let's go."
Zhao Wuji turned to leave, not wanting to stay there a moment longer.
Once they were a safe distance away, Zhao Wuji slammed his fist into a massive ancient tree, punching a huge hole in its trunk. "I told you to leave, but you just had to fight her! You've completely disgraced me!" he roared.
"Idiots! A bunch of idiots!"
"When we get back, everyone is going on a devil training regimen! No rest for anyone! If you can't beat those students from Taoyuan Academy, you don't get to rest!"
"It might not necessarily be our problem. A month ago, Zhuqing couldn't beat Dai Mubai. Just because she changed teachers, she beat him half to death. Could it be because of the teacher?" Xiao Wu muttered, looking toward the area where Su Ran's group was, wanting to join them but not knowing how to ask.
"Third Brother, why don't we also ask Su Ran to be our teacher?" Xiao Wu whispered to Tang San. "Zhuqing became this strong after just one month. Our talent is no less than hers. We can definitely transform too."
For a moment, Tang San was tempted. The gray needle he had just removed from Dai Mubai was something he had never seen before, despite his own mastery of hidden weapons. The needle contained a faint trace of power that could plunder life force. In truth, this gray needle was a fragment from the hell-grade hidden weapon, the Ghost Shuttle. Zhu Zhuqing had used the Ghost Shuttle to kill the thousand-year Bloodthirsty Hell Wolf and Steel-Boned Iron-Armored Tiger, and this needle was one of the fragments she had retrieved from their bodies.
But in the end, Tang San shook his head. "Xiao Wu, we've already joined Shrek, and I've already taken Grandmaster as my teacher. How can we switch allegiances? Besides, he might not even be willing to accept us."
"Don't forget, the first time Zhu Zhuqing went to Taoyuan Academy, she came back in disgrace. The second time, she was severely injured and had to play the pity card to succeed. With so much bad blood between Shrek and Taoyuan Academy, if it were you, would you accept us?"
"You have a point, Third Brother. Sigh~" Xiao Wu lamented, a little crestfallen.
Meanwhile, Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran were completely stunned by Zhu Zhuqing's strength. They were now filled with curiosity about Su Ran. What kind of knowledge and abilities did this young man from the so-called Taoyuan Academy possess to be able to teach such a student and make the Immovable Bright King, Zhao Wuji, pale at the mere mention of his name?
"Many thanks, little friend, for upholding justice for my granddaughter and me. If we hadn't met you, I'm afraid my granddaughter would have had to find another spirit beast for her third Spirit Ring. We, the Unrivaled Dragon and Serpent, owe you a favor," Chao Tianxiang said, cupping her hands toward Su Ran.
Su Ran waved his hand dismissively. "Senior, there's no need for thanks. I did not stand up for you. It's just that this disciple of mine has had a grudge with the people from Shrek Academy since over a month ago and was severely injured by them. Now that she has just broken through to the Spirit Elder realm, letting her fight was a way to break through her own mental block. By winning, her path as a Spirit Master will be smoother from now on."
"A month ago? Little friend, do you mean to say that a month ago, this girl could not defeat that Dai Mubai, and in just one month, she has gained her current level of strength?"
After confirming this fact, Chao Tianxiang's mind was in turmoil. To any Spirit Master, this was an utterly unbelievable feat.
"Yes. It's all thanks to Teacher's excellent teaching. Otherwise, I would never have been able to beat him. My teacher is peerless in this world." After this battle, Zhu Zhuqing had also completely become a little admirer of Su Ran. Regardless of whether her teacher was handsome or not, she would only acknowledge him as her teacher for the rest of her life.
Ning Rongrong felt a pang of jealousy. "Of course. I've believed it without a doubt since the day I entered the school. The teacher I, Ning Rongrong, chose is definitely the best in the entire world, hmph!"
"Have you ever seen a support-type who can take on a power-attack type of the same rank in a one-on-one fight? Well, I can!"
"What? A support-type Spirit Master fighting a power-attack type one-on-one?"
"That's impossible, isn't it?"
With that one sentence from Ning Rongrong, both Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran were aghast. This was even more heaven-defying than Zhu Zhuqing making a comeback and defeating Dai Mubai in just one month. It was, by all accounts, an impossibility.
"It's true," Ning Rongrong said proudly, hugging Su Ran's arm. "And it only took me one month to do it, too."
Chao Tianxiang was at a loss for words. Even with all her experience, these revelations were too shocking. At the same time, she made a decisive choice.
"Little friend, this is my granddaughter, Meng Yiran. She has been learning from the two of us old folks since she was a child and has never taken anyone else as a teacher. Since fate has brought us together today, would you be willing to let Yiran become your disciple and learn from you?"
"This granddaughter of mine can also endure hardship, and her talent is quite decent."
(End of Chapter)