Watching Meng Yiran become Su Ran's disciple, a gratified smile appeared on Snake Grandma Chao Tianxiang's face, though tears streamed down her cheeks.
She and the Dragon Duke were old. Not only was their physical condition declining, but Meng Yiran's parents had died young. Hunting spirit beasts and dueling with Spirit Masters were dangerous endeavors. She feared that when Meng Yiran's spirit power rank grew higher, by the time she needed her fifth and sixth Spirit Rings, they would lack the strength to help her hunt ten-thousand-year spirit beasts.
If some accident were to happen, leaving the girl all alone in this world, she would have no one to rely on...
But now, things were different. The girl had a genius teacher, and her two fellow disciples were also prodigies. She finally had a place to belong.
"Grandmother, I'm just becoming a disciple. Why are you crying? Isn't this a good thing?" Meng Yiran asked, a little sad herself as she put away the Peach Blossom Token and saw her grandmother's tears.
Snake Grandma wiped her tears and said, "Grandmother is crying tears of joy. I'm happy."
"If your grandfather knew you had found such a good teacher, he would be very happy too."
"Alright, you should absorb the Spirit Ring first. I'm afraid this Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Serpent won't last much longer."
If the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Serpent could speak, it would surely be cursing up a storm: Damn it, are you people even human? It's bad enough that two groups of people came to hunt me down.
You beat me half to death, and then you just stand there babbling, arguing over who I belong to, and even conducting a discipleship ceremony right in front of me! Can't you just give me a quick death? Is a snake's life not a life?!
"Wait, Yiran. Don't absorb this Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Serpent," Su Ran said calmly, stopping Meng Yiran just as she was putting away her token and preparing to deliver the final blow.
Meng Yiran was confused. "Teacher, what's wrong?"
Snake Grandma also had her doubts. Following Meng Yiran's lead, she changed her form of address. "Teacher Su, is there a problem with this Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Serpent? Could it be that Zhao Wuji and his group did something to it?"
"It's probably because the age of this Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Serpent is too low, so it's not suitable for Junior Sister to absorb," Zhu Zhuqing said, already familiar with the routine. She knew that Teacher Su Ran had very high standards for their Spirit Ring ages, demanding that they surpass the limits.
"You're so clever," Ning Rongrong said with a pout. She was in a bad mood just looking at Zhu Zhuqing now. Sister, I thought you were my best friend, but you're trying to cuckold me? Stealing a kiss from my teacher! Hmph!
"Alright, Senior Sister Rongrong, don't be mad at me. I didn't do it on purpose."
"I don't believe you."
"Yiran, my name is Zhu Zhuqing. You can just call me Zhuqing in the future. This is Senior Sister Rongrong. Although she's about the same age as me, she is the teacher's first direct disciple, so she's our 'Eldest Senior Sister'," Zhu Zhuqing explained.
"Senior Sister Rongrong," Meng Yiran greeted, though it felt a bit strange. She was clearly older, yet she was the 'Junior Sister'.
"Zhuqing is right. This Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Serpent is less than 1,500 years old. Although it's the standard age for a third Spirit Ring, now that you are my disciple, absorbing this ring would be a bit too low," Su Ran confirmed.
He took out a small, dark green medicine bottle, walked over to the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Serpent, and dripped the liquid from the bottle onto its wounds. In just a short while, the wounds covered by the liquid began to heal rapidly, restoring its vitality.
"What a miraculous healing potion."
"But, Teacher Su, are we just going to let this Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Serpent go?" Snake Grandma Chao Tianxiang asked, surprised by his actions.
After regaining some of its mobility, the serpent tensed up, looking at Su Ran with confusion. It seemed unable to understand why these humans, after hunting it down, were now saving it. It circled Su Ran once, then slithered away into the depths of the forest.
Su Ran simply said, "All things have a spirit. Since it is of no use to us, there is no need to kill it." Su Ran wasn't being soft-hearted. He just knew that the growth of a spirit beast was extremely difficult. Wanton killing would only lead to negative consequences, making it harder and harder for Spirit Masters to find suitable Spirit Rings in the future. There was a proper way to obtain Spirit Rings.
"Elder Snake, you can rest assured. Since Yiran is now my student, I will naturally choose a Spirit Ring that is suitable for her constitution."
"However, Yiran's current physical condition is still too poor. It's not suitable for her to absorb her third Spirit Ring right away. I plan to wander through the Star Dou Great Forest to find a spirit beast that meets my expectations and bring it back to the academy."
"After I put her through special training and her physical condition has improved, then she will absorb the Spirit Ring," Su Ran explained.
"Mmm, since Yiran is now your student, this old woman will follow your arrangements, Teacher Su." During the duel between Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai, Snake Grandma had already seen that the third Spirit RingZhu Zhuqing had absorbed was far from ordinary, vastly superior to that of a typical Spirit Master. It now seemed that this Su Ran indeed had extremely high standards. She had thought the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Serpent she had chosen for Yiran was a top-grade specimen, but it was apparently not even worthy of his consideration.
"Zhuqing, Rongrong, you have both just absorbed your third Spirit Rings, and your ranks are not yet stable. You will go back to the inn with Elder Snake and Yiran to stabilize your conditions. I will continue to search for a spirit beast in the forest," Su Ran instructed.
Ning Rongrong was a little worried. "Teacher, please be careful when you're alone in the Star Dou Great Forest. Don't get hurt by a spirit beast, or your disciple's heart will ache."
"Don't worry." Su Ran smiled faintly. With a flicker, his figure disappeared into the forest. His Crossing the Yellow Springs movement technique was a level higher than Zhu Zhuqing's, allowing him to come and go without a trace.
"This Teacher Su is truly a remarkable person."
"But... Senior Sister Rongrong, Zhuqing, why does the teacher wear a mask? Doesn't he want us to see what he looks like?" On the way out of the Star Dou Great Forest, Meng Yiran finally asked the question that was foremost on her mind.
Snake Grandma was also very curious about the answer. It was understandable to wear a mask if you were going somewhere special and didn't want to be recognized, but why wear one just to hunt for a Spirit Ring?
"Don't ask! Don't look!"
"The face under Teacher's mask is terrifying! If you see it, your heart will stop! He'll shoot laser beams from his eyes, biu~, and hit you, and then you'll be done for."
"So, in the future, you must never ask the teacher why he wears a mask, and you absolutely must not take it off, or the consequences will be very serious!!!" Ning Rongrong said with great solemnity.
"Is it that serious?" Meng Yiran was genuinely frightened.
"Mmm!" Ning Rongrong nodded vigorously. I absolutely cannot let them see Teacher's face. Otherwise, all of my junior sisters will become my love rivals! (﹏)
"..."
"But, Senior Sister Rongrong, doesn't the teacher's mask leave his eyes uncovered? If he had laser eyes, shouldn't they be shooting out directly?" Meng Yiran pointed out.
"Hey? That... that... I haven't thought of an excuse for that yet! You're not allowed to ask! Stop asking!"
Author's Note: Dear readers, hello. The book is going VIP today. From now on, there will be a stable two chapters updated at midnight every day. I hope you all enjoy this work.
(End of Chapter)