"Disciple respectfully listens to Teacher's guidance! I will strictly abide by the school rules!"
"Student Hu Liena, greets Teacher!"
A gentle breeze swept by, and light pink peach blossoms drifted down, landing on the hair of two women, their lips like budding flowers, ready to bloom.
Qian Renxue and Hu Liena both performed the Disciple-acknowledging bow to Su Ran.
A peach blossom badge fell before Hu Liena, and Su Ran said indifferently:
"Even if you wish to stay, according to school rules, you are currently only a Named Disciple. However, soon, the academy will hold a competition for Core Disciple slots. If you study hard during this period and surpass your other Senior Sisters to obtain a Core Disciple slot, I will dedicate more time to teaching you. Do you understand?"
Hu Liena nodded, decisively picking up the peach blossom badge. Although it was only a single peach blossom pattern, being able to stay and study at Peach Garden Academy was already very rare. She nodded and said:
"Teacher, I will definitely work hard!"
"Teacher, do I need to participate in this Core Disciple competition?" Qian Renxue asked.
"You don't need to, but since you brought it up, you can go and gain some experience as well."
Su Ran smiled faintly.
Qian Renxue was bewildered.
To avoid misunderstanding from these two Disciples, Su Ran explained:
"Do you have questions?"
"Actually, there is no distinction of seniority between Core Disciples and Named Disciples. It's just that as a Teacher, I have insufficient teaching time and cannot attend to so many students. Therefore, Core Disciples receive primary instruction, while Named Disciples are given slightly less attention."
"Xue'er, you became a Disciple during the Soul Master Competition, and at that time, you also enlightened Teacher. So, Teacher should consider you a primary Disciple."
"As for Nana, she is only formally becoming a Disciple now. Even though her talent is outstanding, if she were to be made a Core Disciple, it would be unfair to the other Named Disciples. Hence, she is a Named Disciple."
"So that's how it is."
After listening to Su Ran's explanation, Qian Renxue and Hu Liena were deep in thought.
Both of them were Heaven's Chosen Geniuses; one was surrounded by stars in the Supreme Pontiff Palace, and the other was a great treasure of the Offering Hall. They were both extremely arrogant in their bones and were not afraid of competing with others:
"Since it's Teacher's rule, and we've agreed to abide by the school rules, we won't violate them. If we have to compete with Named Disciples, then we will. I believe I can win!"
Qian Renxue and Hu Liena said in unison.
Hearing this, Su Ran was quite pleased, but regarding their confidence, a hint of a smile was hidden in Su Ran's eyes.
These two girls, confidence is a good thing, but it seems they still don't know how formidable his other Disciples are.
Even the Holy Maiden of Angels and the Heavenly Fox herself would find it difficult to stand out from those Named Disciples who had already studied for several years and mastered the fundamental unique skills.
"I hope so."
"Rongrong, take your two new Junior Sisters to arrange their accommodation."
"Okay, Teacher, I'm coming."
Su Ran spoke to Ning Rongrong, who was practicing boxing in the nearby training ground. Although his voice was light, as if speaking to the air, it reached Ning Rongrong's ears.
Ning Rongrong's skin was bronze, and her toned, lean muscles gave her a sense of deterrence. The sharpness in her fists evoked an inexplicable sense of awe. When she walked up to Qian Renxue and the others, her skin had just returned to its normal color. She simply made a gesture of invitation:
"Two Junior Sisters, I am Senior Sister Ning Rongrong. You can call me Senior Sister or Senior Sister Rongrong. Follow me."
After returning from Slaughter City, this Senior Sister's personality had become increasingly reserved.
Initially, she didn't understand what Teacher had told her that night under the starry sky.
After returning to the academy, she sought advice from her father, Ning Fengzhi. Her father only taught her this one passage, which she benefited from for the rest of her life:
[Generous and composed, undisturbed by waves, Su Ran's countenance astonishes the world. He has likely seen hundreds of thousands of young girls startled by his youthful face. If you can behold Teacher's appearance and maintain self-control, not letting your emotions show, truly with the steadiness and dignity of a Senior Sister, you can stand out among Taoyuan students and be favored by Teacher.]
…
[Ding~]
Just as Qian Renxue and Hu Liena followed Ning Rongrong to their accommodation, a System reward appeared in Su Ran's mind:
[Detecting Host has accepted Hu Liena as a Disciple, rewarding Host with a 0.1 level increase in spirit power, a 5% increase in the cultivation years of all spirit rings and Spirit Bones, and a 5% increase in unique skill proficiency — reaching Grandmaster Peak.]
[Extracting Heavenly Fox unique skill…]
After reviewing the unique skills he possessed and the number of students in the academy, Su Ran felt both joy and pressure.
Currently, the academy's students had reached twenty, including:
[Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, Meng Yiran, Ye Lingling, Yao Zi, Mu Yunteng, Mu Yunzhu, Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, Xue Wu, Qiu Ruoshui, Shen Liuyu, Gu Qingbo, Yu Hairou, Qian Renxue, Hu Liena, Wang Sheng, Xiao Chenyu.]
Su Ran had created a Spirit Master's path for these Disciples, allowing them to surpass their own limitations.
Similarly, they had brought Su Ran hundreds of unique skills and creations of varying quality, enabling Su Ran to Breakthrough the Super Douluo Realm within a few short years, becoming the youngest Titled Douluo and Super Douluo in Spirit Master's history.
Likewise, the more Disciples there were, the more effort Su Ran needed to invest.
He needed to be responsible for these Disciples. Not to say making them incredibly powerful, but at least ensuring their cultivation path was better than their original one, that they had higher potential, and that they continued to improve. This was the responsibility of a Teacher.
"Teacher Su."
"What troubles you?"
"Are you contemplating the matter of teaching Qian Renxue and Nana?"
"Actually, I am not only Nana's Teacher but also quite familiar with Xue'er's situation… It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I'm Xue'er's elder sister. This vast academy relies solely on Teacher Su, which must be a considerable pressure. Teacher Su, you need a confidant to help."
"When I was young, I was considered a Genius in the Spirit Master's world. Even now, my strength can still be counted among the renowned. I wouldn't say I'm the best in knowledge of Spirit Master cultivation, but I'm much better than ordinary Spirit Masters. How about I stay and assist Teacher Su?"
Seeing Su Ran's slightly furrowed brow, as if he had something on his mind, Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong also bowed slightly to Teacher Su to show respect, her tone full of tenderness and intimacy.
Her attire today was also carefully chosen. It wasn't her usual noble Supreme Pontiff robes from Spirit City, but rather exuded a charm as if she had returned to her maidenhood:
A few strands of slightly wavy purple hair gently swayed with the wind on either side of her exquisite face. On her head, she wore not the Supreme Pontiff's crown, which symbolized power and nobility, but rather gradient purple and white butterfly hair ornaments. A lively black and purple braid stood on her clean, partially exposed jade back.
She wore a white and purple dress, and her entire being stood amidst the vast peach blossoms, as if merging into one.
She was a part of this academy, like a Teacher's wife. Her purple eyes gazed at Su Ran, and the admiration in them was like a ripe peach, its sweet nectar overflowing, making one want to taste its sweetness:
"Bibi Dong, is willing to be a Peach Garden Assistant Teacher, following Teacher Su to learn the Dao of teaching."
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