Ten Palaces of Hell

"Teacher, thank you. Otherwise, I really wouldn't have known what to do."

Seeing Su Ran so domineeringly protect his own, Zhu Zhuqing felt somewhat moved. No one had ever protected her like this before.

"You are my disciple. Naturally, I won't stand by and watch others bully you."

Su Ran said indifferently.

"What about me, what about me? Teacher, will you protect me too?"

Ning Rongrong pouted cutely at the side.

Su Ran nodded. "Of course. You're also my student, and my first Direct Disciple."

Zhu Zhuqing was somewhat speechless.

She seemed to have heard that this very Ning Rongrong, a Support System Soul Master, had beaten up Ma Hongjun, an Assault System Soul Master.

She had thought Ning Rongrong would be a rather tough and dashing young girl. She hadn't expected that in private, she was actually... this cute.

Only after hearing Su Ran's words did Ning Rongrong feel a little better, but she was still somewhat uneasy inside:

Oh no, does this mean my two-person Inner Court life with Teacher is over from now on?

I still haven't won Teacher over yet.

What if Zhu Zhuqing steals Teacher's affection away?

What a headache.

"Zhuqing, did you hear that? I'm Teacher's first Direct Disciple, you know. From now on, I'm your Senior Sister. In the academy, you not only have to respect Teacher, you also have to listen to your Senior Sister!"

Zhu Zhuqing only nodded faintly. "Mm, Senior Sister Rongrong."

"All right, Rongrong, go back and cultivate first. Right now is the crucial period for you to consolidate the Second Layer Golden Bell."

Beneath Su Ran's mask, his exquisite face also Couldn't Help but Laugh. This Ning Rongrong had even started training Zhu Zhuqing.

"Fine."

Ning Rongrong was somewhat unwilling to leave, looking back every three steps. Ahhh—she really didn't want Teacher to stay alone with Zhu Zhuqing, but she had to listen to Teacher's Words.

Teacher didn't like disobedient students.

"Teacher, do you still have something to say to me?"

Seeing Su Ran send Ning Rongrong away, Zhu Zhuqing was very clever and asked Su Ran.

"Mm."

Su Ran spoke calmly:

"Although I will protect you."

"But you heard it just now too. Dai Mubai won't let you go easily."

"Although I didn't agree to that Soul Master Duel he mentioned, within one year, my requirement for your studies is that your strength must surpass Dai Mubai's in every aspect. If he dares to pester you again, you can beat him back with your own hands and wash away today's humiliation."

When Su Ran accepted disciples, it was not without any requirements. Ning Rongrong was a Support System Soul Master, so his requirements for her would be a little lower: being able to protect herself and produce some combat power was enough. But Zhu Zhuqing was an Agile Attack System Soul Master, a combat-type Soul Master, so his requirements would become even stricter.

"Surpass... Dai Mubai."

Zhu Zhuqing also wanted to do it, but she clearly lacked confidence.

Although Hell Spirit Cat was also a top-tier Martial Soul, it was still somewhat inferior to the White Tiger. Moreover, in order to suppress the agility of Hell Spirit Cat, Dai Mubai's First Soul Skill, White Tiger Bodyguard Barrier, was a defensive soul skill, able to effectively guard against attacks from Agile Attack System Soul Masters.

"He's an advanced Soul Elder, and he's not far from breaking through to the Soul Ancestor realm. I'm only rank 27, and my Martial Soul isn't as powerful as the White Tiger either. In one year, I'm afraid..."

"What, you don't have confidence?"

"Mm... but I'll work hard."

"As my disciple, you must have that confidence. Rongrong was able to reach the point of dueling Ma Hongjun in just over a month. With a whole year, could it be that you still don't have the confidence to surpass Dai Mubai?"

Su Ran smiled.

"I believe in you."

Zhu Zhuqing met the Immortal Eyes beneath Su Ran's mask, and confidence rose 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 a movement technique here, and three supreme arts. I can teach you the movement technique directly, but among these three supreme arts, I can only teach you one."

"This movement technique is called 'Crossing the Yellow Springs.' It is said that in the waters of the Yellow Springs, even goose feathers sink to the bottom and boats cannot travel, and only ghosts and spirits can walk upon it. Once the Crossing the Yellow Springs Body Technique reaches mastery, one can freely ferry oneself across the Yellow Springs, the body seeming formless and immaterial, silent and without a trace."

"And the names of these three supreme arts are, respectively:"

"Great Law of Creation Demonic Transformation."

"Azure Nether Way."

"Ten Palaces of Hell."

Su Ran recited the names of the three supreme arts and let Zhu Zhuqing choose for herself.

Each name sounded very powerful.

Zhu Zhuqing also found it hard to make a choice, so she simply asked Su Ran for help:

"Teacher, which ultimate art do you think suits me? Which one is stronger?"

"This Great Law of Creation Demonic Transformation can demonize your Martial Soul, strengthen your bones and muscles, your bloodline, and evolve your Martial Soul. As for how far it can ultimately demonize the Hell Spirit Cat, that is impossible to say."

Su Ran explained the effects of the three ultimate arts.

"As for this Azure Nether Way... ahem, it seems to be a method of dual cultivation? What the..."

Su Ran glanced at the introduction then, and even this Peach Blossom Immortal Master, who had always been calm, could not stay composed.

What was described in this Cultivation Method was simply enough to make one blush. It said it recorded various methods for demon gods to cultivate yin and yang together.

Not suitable for children. Definitely not suitable for children.

"Teacher, what is dual cultivation? Why did you stop talking? Can I learn this?"

Zhu Zhuqing was a little puzzled. Seeing that Su Ran's mood had clearly changed when he spoke of the Azure Nether Way ultimate art, she wondered if it was something incredibly powerful.

"Ahem, you're not suited to learning this ultimate art right now. Choose one of the other two."

Su Ran coughed, somewhat embarrassed. Even if you dared to learn this Cultivation Method, I wouldn't dare teach it.

"Is that so?" Zhu Zhuqing was a little disappointed. Next time, she definitely had to figure out what dual cultivation was.

"The Ten Palaces of Hell involves cultivating the Ten-Layer Yama Palace and awakening the power of the netherworld and hell. It can greatly increase your combat strength."

"So, Teacher means I should choose between the Great Law of Creation Demonic Transformation and the Ten Palaces of Hell?"

"Mm."

"I'll learn whichever one Teacher teaches me!"

"To put it simply, these ultimate arts aren't a matter of which is better or weaker. Their cultivation directions are different. The Great Law of Creation Demonic Transformation can give your Martial Soul the chance to undergo demonized evolution, granting it long-term growth potential. The Ten Palaces of Hell, on the other hand, is an offensive ultimate art that strengthens you. As long as you cultivate the support of even one Yama Palace, it may be enough to make up for the level gap between you and Dai Mubai."

Su Ran thought for a moment, then summoned the secret manual for the Ten Palaces of Hell ultimate art.

"Learn the Ten Palaces of Hell first. When the time is right, I'll consider whether to teach you the Great Law of Creation Demonic Transformation."

"What about the Azure Nether Way?" Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously.

"That... that one, well, if there's a chance... If you can cultivate the Ten Palaces of Hell to great success and still want to learn it, then we'll find an opportunity." Su Ran hemmed and hawed, which only made Zhu Zhuqing even more interested.

As the secret manual for the Ten Palaces of Hell appeared, Zhu Zhuqing sensed an extremely dark, domineering aura from it.

This aura faintly resonated with her Martial Soul. One look was enough to tell it was no ordinary thing.

"Teacher, whether it's the Ten Palaces of Hell or that Great Law of Creation Demonic Transformation, can I really cultivate them successfully? They both sound very dark. Can I control them?"

"Are you afraid?"

"No, I'm not afraid. I'm only afraid that I'm too weak."

Zhu Zhuqing held the Ten Palaces of Hell ultimate art, and a flash of excitement swept through her cool, clear eyes. Teacher said that as long as she cultivated one Yama Palace, she could defeat Dai Mubai.

That was a gap of ten levels.

If it were two palaces, three palaces, or even the Ten Palaces of Hell, how powerful would that be?

"By the way, Teacher, why do you always wear a mask?"

Zhu Zhuqing could not help asking the same question Ning Rongrong had asked back then.