Su Ran Returns Astride a Tiger, Ning Rongrong Protects Her Master with Dominance

"How could you just decide that Yiran should take a master? And you came back before she even absorbed her Third Soul Ring. Isn't that far too hasty?"

"Yiran, come on. Grandpa will take you to find a new soul ring. With Grandpa here, no one will dare steal your soul ring."

In the small town at the forest's edge, early in the morning, beast-hunting teams that took commissions to hunt soul beasts had already begun soliciting business everywhere.

Dragon Duke Meng Shu took Meng Yiran by the hand, intending to enter the Star Dou Great Forest again. Clearly, he was very dissatisfied that Snake Grandma had made the decision to let Meng Yiran take a master without consulting him.

"Grandpa, Teacher is already helping me find a suitable Third Soul Ring. Let's wait until he comes back and see what he says."

Meng Yiran spoke. She had already kowtowed and acknowledged him as her master. It was the only time in her life she had ever taken a master, and it had been so solemn. One had to keep one's word.

Besides, the Peach Blossom Token Teacher had given her was beautiful. She liked it very much.

"Old man, settle down. Teacher Su alone helped both girls hunt their Third Soul Rings. The two of us together struggled just to catch a thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. Stop making trouble. You have to admit you're getting old."

Snake Grandma hooked the hem of Dragon Duke Meng Shu's clothes with her cane and pulled him back.

But Snake Grandma's words angered Dragon Duke Meng Shu considerably.

"Who says I'm old? With our Soul Master cultivation, living to a hundred and fifty is absolutely no problem. We're still in our prime! That Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent escaping was only an accident—just an accident!"

"Alright, alright, I know it was an accident. You do have the strength, but old man, you should still get some rest. You're so anxious you can barely catch your breath."

"Do you see those two girls? They're both students of that Teacher Su. They're only twelve years old, yet they're already level-thirty-one Soul Elders. And neither of them has many rivals at the same level. Yiran won't lose out by studying alongside them."

Snake Grandma glanced helplessly at Dragon Duke. Men stayed boys until the day they died. Though this old man had aged, his temper remained as stubborn as it had been in his youth.

She had no solution for this stubborn mule of a husband. Usually, she simply went along with him, but this time, she felt that letting her granddaughter take a master had been an extremely correct decision.

After leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, she had spoken at length with Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, who had traveled with them. She was deeply impressed by their experiences at Shrek and Peach Blossom Spring Academy.

She became even more certain that if Yiran studied under Su Ran at Peach Blossom Spring Academy, she would likely have a bright future.

Meng Yiran did not care much about anything else, but she was very curious about the Grey Needle that had shattered Dai Mubai's protective barrier. When she learned it had been stripped from the Hidden Weapon Ghost Shuttle Su Ran had given them, she became very interested in that Hidden Weapon.

And there was also what Teacher Su Ran looked like beneath his mask.

The more exaggerated Ning Rongrong's description became, and the more she said it could not be removed for anyone to see, the more curious Meng Yiran grew.

Dragon Duke was pulled by Snake Grandma to sit at a small teahouse in front of the inn, where he slowly calmed down after drinking two cups of tea.

Only Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing craned their necks, waiting for Su Ran to return.

Teacher had been alone in the Star Dou Great Forest for more than a day. They were somewhat worried.

Just then, amid the morning dew, fresh grass, and bustling crowds of the small town, cries of alarm rose from the road leading toward the forest.

"Holy crap, who is that guy? He's incredible."

"Blue-violet king markings on its head, yellow-and-red tiger stripes across its body... that's at least a two-thousand-year Blazing Blood King Tiger, isn't it?"

"He's even leading a Ghost Barrier Great Snake. That one must be two or three thousand years old too! And they're both vicious soul beasts—how did he tame them?"

"That's terrifying. I'd better stay far away. I heard that the mist a Ghost Barrier Great Snake spits out is not only poisonous, but can also spawn other highly venomous snakes to attack. One bite and you'll be dead on the spot."

The Soul Masters and residents of the small town all consciously made way.

Although there were examples of major factions capturing soul beasts alive and bringing them back to raise within their sects, they generally chose hundred-year soul beasts, or even ten-year soul beasts. As for such savage and terrifying thousand-year soul beasts, most factions did not dare capture them alive. One careless mistake could get them bitten to death. Only Spirit Hall might possess such strength.

Yet the person riding them out was a young man who did not appear very old and wore a mask.

The young man wore flowing white robes, and his mask was exquisitely crafted. He reclined leisurely halfway across the Blazing Blood King Tiger's back as he returned at an unhurried pace.

When Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong saw Su Ran on the Blazing Blood King Tiger's back, joy immediately appeared on their faces.

Ning Rongrong even hurried over.

"Teacher, you're finally back! You weren't hurt, were you?"

"Mm, I'm fine. Are you two alright?"

Su Ran jumped down from the king tiger's back and rubbed Ning Rongrong's head.

Ning Rongrong hid by Su Ran's left side, somewhat afraid of the tiger and great snake on his other side.

They really did look fierce. Just one glance made people want to keep their distance. Even Ning Rongrong, as she was now, had little desire to approach them.

But Su Ran's head pat made Ning Rongrong very pleased, and her cheeks faintly reddened.

"You're Su Ran?"

"So this is the Third Soul Ring you chose for Yiran?"

Dragon Duke Meng Shu walked over at this time and could not help scrutinizing Su Ran and the soul beasts behind him.

This kid had a fine bearing, with an otherworldly air about him. He truly did not look like an ordinary person.

But he was far too mysterious. Wearing a mask in broad daylight naturally aroused suspicion.

"You must be the Dragon Duke. I am indeed your granddaughter's teacher."

Su Ran replied neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"This Ghost Barrier Great Snake is the Third Soul Ring you chose for Yiran?"

"Yes."

"If This Old Man is not mistaken, it should be more than two thousand years old. Don't you know that the limit for a Soul Master's Third Soul Ring is only around seventeen hundred years? You chose a Third Soul Ring of over two thousand years for Yiran—are you trying to have her burst to death from the Soul Ring?"

Dragon Duke Meng Shu struck the ground with his dragon-headed cane. A Soul Master's pressure bore down on Su Ran, his gaze sharp.

He and Snake Grandma had only one granddaughter, Meng Yiran, and they cherished her beyond measure. If they entrusted her to the wrong person, they would regret it for the rest of their lives.

"Rongrong, Zhuqing, show your Soul Rings and tell Dragon Duke how many years your Third Soul Rings are."

Faced with Dragon Duke's pressure, Su Ran merely waved his hand lightly and dispersed it.

He could not be bothered to explain. He simply had Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong speak with facts.

"My Third Soul Ring is twenty-seven hundred years old."

"Mine is a twenty-five-hundred-year Third Soul Ring."

A formidable purple Soul Ring appeared around Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.

With Dragon Duke's cultivation as a Soul Douluo, he could naturally sense the extraordinary nature of those purple Soul Rings. Snake Grandma had told him that Yiran's two classmates were far from ordinary.

But only after seeing their Martial Souls and Soul Rings with his own eyes did he realize that these two girls, who had been glaring at each other the entire time—Ning Rongrong was still sulking—were actually this remarkable!

"A Soul Sage this young is indeed rare to see. Being Yiran's teacher would not tarnish the reputation of our Peerless Dragon Snake."

"However, This Old Man knows Yiran's constitution very well. If she absorbs the Soul Ring you chose for her, she will undoubtedly die. You have taught these two girls well, but that does not mean the same method will work for Yiran."

Dragon Duke was somewhat surprised that Su Ran had so effortlessly dissolved his pressure. After taking a breath, he spoke.

He had only this one precious granddaughter. Though her status might not be as noble as Ning Rongrong's or Zhu Zhuqing's, in his and Snake Grandma's eyes, Meng Yiran was their most precious treasure.

Hearing this, Su Ran was not angered by Dragon Duke questioning his judgment. Instead, he smiled. Meng Yiran was truly fortunate to have grandparents who cared for her so deeply.

"So Dragon Duke was worried about that."

"With Yiran's current body, she naturally cannot absorb this Ghost Barrier Great Snake as her Third Soul Ring. She must first undergo my special training and study under me before she can do so."

"Dragon Duke, Senior Snake Grandma, if this girl dies in my hands from absorbing this Soul Ring, then I would not deserve to be her teacher. When that happens, you may come to Suotuo City, raze Peach Blossom Spring Academy to the ground, and grind my bones to dust."

Su Ran had that much confidence.

"Then how do you intend to teach Yiran?"

"There are too many people here. Once we return to the academy, I will have my own plans."

Because Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had revealed their Martial Souls, the Soul Masters who had already been stirred up by Su Ran capturing two rare soul beasts alive rubbed their eyes in disbelief, marveling at Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Martial Soul.

On the Douluo Continent, the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda was an inherited Martial Soul of the Upper Three Sects—a true aristocratic Martial Soul—so it naturally drew attention.

"Hey, old man, can you stop babbling?"

"It is Junior Sister Yiran's good fortune to become Teacher's disciple. Don't be so ungrateful, old man. Other people would kill for the chance to become his disciple, yet you act as if your little faction is something great."

"I really can't stand you people putting on such airs. Hmph!"

Seeing Dragon Duke somewhat doubt Su Ran's abilities, Ning Rongrong could not help speaking up for her teacher.

Can't you see that even I, the Little Princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, am willing to study properly under Teacher? What right does he have to make such a fuss?

I just can't stand people bullying my teacher!

Hmph!

Zhu Zhuqing nodded as well. "Senior Sister Rongrong is right."

"Heh, you two little girls—"