A Promise Worth Its Weight in Gold, the Immortal Master's True Face Outshines the Stars and Moon (Part One)

Inside Peach Blossom Spring Academy.

Wang Sheng and Ning Rongrong admired Su Ran more and more.

It was said that Shrek Academy had Soul Sage experts as teachers—and more than one.

He had walked in calmly, and no one knew what he had done, but the dean of Shrek had personally seen him out. Even after seeing a student beaten into a pig's head, he had not dared to say a word.

What was this?

This was strength!

Night fell, and stars twinkled across the sky.

Wang Sheng lived at the school gate. He practiced Tiger Form Fist while working as a guard.

His aptitude was dull. At eleven or twelve, he still had not broken through rank ten to obtain his First Soul Skill. Originally, when he was twelve, he should have been hammered by six-year-old Tang San at Nuoding Academy.

But by a twist of fate, following Su Ran had changed his life.

He remembered something Su Ran had once said.

"Read ten thousand books, and your writing will flow like divine inspiration. Practice your fists ten thousand times, and beating people will become second nature."

"If ten thousand times isn't enough, then do it a hundred million times."

"With enough perseverance, an iron pestle can be ground into a needle!"

"Ha-ha—"

Under the Peach Tree in the Outer Court, the sounds of Wang Sheng's diligent fist practice rang out every day.

In the Inner Court, things were the same as usual. Ning Rongrong stoked the fire and boiled Seven Treasures Body Tempering Water in preparation for her bath.

Su Ran came over carrying a medicinal patch. He called Ning Rongrong over, dipped his slender immortal finger into the ointment, and gently spread it over the burned skin on her body.

"Although this Seven Treasures Golden Bell Shield has astonishing defensive power, and you know a little Wing Chun Fist, you've only been learning for a month, after all. You're still a Support Soul Master, so you won't gain much by fighting an Assault System Soul Master one-on-one."

"It wasn't me who wanted to fight him! He came to harass me, and he even insulted you, Teacher. I couldn't stand by and do nothing. Besides, I didn't lose."

Ning Rongrong did not understand why her teacher was lecturing her. But when she thought about how she had nearly defeated an Assault System Soul Grandmaster of roughly the same rank that day, she became delighted.

This was merely the result of studying under Su Ran for a month. If she trained for a few more months, even if Ma Hongjun went all out, he still would not be able to defeat her.

A Support System Soul Master defeating an Assault System Soul Master in single combat—this was practically a miracle.

"That Ma Hongjun is already suffering from Evil Fire attacking his mind. Whenever he sees a woman, he can barely walk, especially when he sees a pretty girl. He harvests yin to supplement yang, no different from an evil cultivator. If you encounter him again, you don't need to fight him yourself. Just call Wang Sheng over to deal with him. If that still isn't enough, you have me."

Su Ran spoke indifferently.

After hearing Su Ran's words, Ning Rongrong felt warm inside.

Teacher Su Ran gave her the feeling of both a strict father and a loving father. Even her biological Father had never made her feel this way. Her Father usually spoiled her terribly and could never bear to punish her harshly.

Su Ran, on the other hand, never indulged her when he needed to be strict, yet when he was gentle, he could melt every bone in her body, leaving her unable to resist.

The ointment covered her wounds, and the itching pain made Ning Rongrong let out several soft groans.

"Urgh~"

"Does it hurt badly? Bear with it. This is White Medicine Muscle Regenerating Paste. It can disinfect the wounds and help them heal, restoring your jade-like skin."

"Mm... It doesn't hurt. I can bear it."

Ning Rongrong spoke firmly.

She was far stronger than she had been a month ago. Words could teach a person for a lifetime without truly teaching them, but experience could teach them in a single lesson.

"You can apply it to the remaining areas yourself. Your teacher shouldn't handle those. After you finish applying it, wash your hands for about fifteen minutes, and then you can bathe."

"Right, this fight was also a blessing in disguise for you. A few more of the meridians in your body have opened. You can try opening the Second Layer Golden Bell."

After applying the ointment to Ning Rongrong's burned back, Su Ran handed it to her and reminded her.

Ning Rongrong's face flushed slightly, and she softly hummed in acknowledgment.

The Second Layer Golden Bell?!

A quarter of an hour later, in the Inner Court, there was only a loud splash as Ning Rongrong lowered herself into the bathtub.

Her whole body felt warm and cozy. The medicine seemed like countless little fish licking her skin. In particular, the areas burned by the Phoenix Fireline felt as though the Golden Bell Qi within had become much smoother.

Following Teacher Su Ran's guidance, Ning Rongrong impatiently began opening her acupoints and clearing her meridians in the tub, condensing the Second Layer Golden Bell.

The dazzling mark of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda appeared on her forehead. Gradually, a faint golden light began to emerge around her body.

First Layer Golden Bell—repair!

After only a quarter of an hour, a second strand of Golden Bell Qi began to coil around Ning Rongrong's body.

Guilai Acupoint!

Qichong Acupoint!

Biguan Acupoint!

Shiguan Acupoint!

Zhongji Acupoint!

Open!

Buzz!

Ning Rongrong felt her whole body become clear and unrestrained. The meridians inside her body connected with several key acupoints and opened into one another, instantly expanding the amount of Golden Bell Qi that could flow within her.

"It worked!"

Before she knew it, midnight had arrived.

The stars and moon hung high, and the moonlight was especially dazzling that night.

Ning Rongrong stepped out of the bathtub. Her body had become crystalline, with drops of milky-green liquid clinging to her skin. The Double Layer Golden Bell Shield covered her body, and now, no matter how hard anyone shot at her, they would not be able to pierce it.

"Although the Second Layer Golden Bell is still somewhat weak, my defensive power has increased by at least thirty percent. After cultivating for a while longer and strengthening the Second Layer Golden Bell to perfection, my defensive power should increase by at least one hundred percent."

"Then even a Soul Elder should have difficulty breaking through it."

"My Soul Power has also reached rank twenty-seven. Wonderful!"

After sensing the changes in her body, Ning Rongrong revealed an exceptionally sweet smile.

At this rate, she would definitely become one of the foremost Support Soul Masters on the continent. She could provide support and withstand damage!

No wonder Teacher had said she had received a blessing in disguise!

"It's already this late?"

"Right, Teacher!"

Ning Rongrong hurriedly draped a Pink Garment over herself. Her pink hair was still damp, making her look like a Little Princess fresh from a bath.

"Teacher, are you still here?"

"Teacher should have gone back to rest, right?"

Ning Rongrong murmured as she walked outside.

But in the garden behind the classroom, beneath a swaying Red Maple Tree, Su Ran was reclining against the roots, quietly resting as he waited for Ning Rongrong to finish bathing. A meal had also been placed on the stone table in front of him.

Normally, after Ning Rongrong bathed and ate dinner, Su Ran would examine the results of her daily cultivation and correct her mistakes.

Ning Rongrong had not expected that she would accidentally cultivate the Second Layer Golden Bell while bathing that night. It was already midnight, yet Teacher Su Ran was still waiting for her. He had even left her a meal.

A ripple stirred in the young girl's heart. Teacher... is so kind.

She had originally wanted to immediately tell Teacher Su Ran that she had condensed the Second Golden Bell. After all, they had a promise between them.

But when she saw that Teacher Su Ran was resting, she did not want to disturb him. She simply sat beside him and ate quietly, stealing glances at Su Ran from time to time.

At that moment, Su Ran slowly opened his eyes. Even in the night, his bright eyes were full of spirit.

"Finished bathing?"

"Teacher... you weren't asleep?"

Ning Rongrong asked in surprise.

"Mm. I'm used to it. At my level, I don't need to sleep for very long."

Su Ran spoke indifferently.

The truth was that women had often launched midnight raids on his room to tease him in the past, so he had developed the habit of remaining keenly aware of his surroundings even while sleeping.

Ning Rongrong wiped her mouth, her eyes lively.

"Teacher, I opened five acupoints and condensed the Second Layer Golden Bell."

"I know."

Su Ran smiled faintly.

"Then, Teacher, about what we agreed on before... the mask..."

Ning Rongrong broached the subject tentatively.

"Do you really want to see it?"

"Mm!"

"All right. Since we made a promise long ago, your teacher will naturally keep it."

At that moment, Su Ran slowly removed his mask.