But before she could make a move, Lan Minghua's voice rang out.
"Sorry, you and I aren't fated to be master and disciple. You don't need me as your master, either. If you want to learn, there are plenty of people who can teach you."
Lan Minghua politely turned her down. He didn't have a very good impression of Ning Rongrong.
His first rule for taking on disciples was to go with his gut, and Ning Rongrong didn't pass that test.
Ning Rongrong had been brimming with confidence, but when she heard that he had rejected her, her face immediately darkened.
Ever since she entered Shrek Academy, she was no longer the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, fawned over by everyone.
Damn it! Why take Meng Yiran, whose talent is worse than mine, as a disciple? Why not take me?
Ning Rongrong seethed with resentment, but she only dared to curse him under her breath.
She resented Shrek Academy, and now she resented Lan Minghua, too.
But with danger all around them in the Star Dou Great Forest, she didn't dare show any displeasure.
After all, a Level 29 Support Soul Master couldn't survive alone in the Star Dou Great Forest—not even on its outskirts.
Lan Minghua didn't care what she thought. He wasn't going to take her on as a disciple.
Besides, if she really wanted to learn something, couldn't she just ask Sword Douluo or Bone Douluo?
Lan Minghua said to Dragon Duke and Snake Granny, "I'll take her with me. Don't worry—she's my disciple, so nothing will happen to her."
"Of course. Becoming Your Excellency's disciple is already a blessing she could only earn over three lifetimes."
After giving Meng Yiran a few instructions, Dragon Duke and Snake Granny hurried off, delighted.
For them, this trip had been more than worth it.
Lan Minghua turned to Zhao Wuji and the others. "Xiao Wu will be back before long. If you don't believe me, you can leave. If you do, wait here for a while."
With that, he took Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing, and Meng Yiran to a suitable spot so they could absorb their Soul Rings.
Zhao Wuji and the others had no idea whether Lan Minghua was telling the truth, but they still chose to wait a few days.
As long as Lan Minghua was there, no Soul Beast on the outskirts could hurt them.
At the same time, the Sky Azure Bull Python poured all its strength into using its own source power to erase the Soul Beast aura on Xiao Wu.
"Sister Xiao Wu, I'm going to sleep for a while. If anything happens, you'll have to find Second Brother."
After sending Xiao Wu away, the Sky Azure Bull Python sank into a deep sleep.
Xiao Wu stood by the lake, her face alight with joy.
The Soul Beast aura on her had truly been completely concealed.
She had also condensed a Third Soul Ring, instantly becoming a Soul Elder with three Soul Rings.
"Hehe, I can keep living with Xiao San now. Hmm? Where did Second Brother go?"
"Second Brother! Second Brother, where are you?"
Xiao Wu used the unique means of communication between Soul Beasts to contact the Titan Giant Ape.
But even after a long time, she received no response.
She was only a Soul Elder now, and her senses were limited. She couldn't tell what was happening nearby.
She waited and waited. Nearly an hour passed, but still there was no reply.
Xiao Wu pouted in displeasure and grumbled, "That awful Second Brother is ignoring me. I'm not playing with you anymore."
She tried contacting the Titan Giant Ape once more, but still got no response.
"Forget it. I'm not waiting anymore. Only a few things in the Star Dou Great Forest could hurt it anyway. Let it go wild for a while."
"Xiao San must still be waiting for me. I'd better hurry back, or he'll be sad."
Xiao Wu didn't wait any longer. Following the route she remembered from before she had taken human form, she headed for the outskirts.
A trace of the Sky Azure Bull Python's aura still clung to her, so the Soul Beasts along the way didn't dare approach. Her journey was completely unhindered.
Meanwhile, Lan Minghua took Oscar and the other two to a quiet spot.
"Yiran, do you want to absorb the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, or should I find you another Soul Beast?"
Lan Minghua didn't actually know Meng Yiran very well.
She hadn't had much of a role in the original story, and she hadn't been seen at all after the Soul Master Tournament.
Meng Yiran nodded. "My grandparents chose the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent for me. It's an excellent match for my Martial Soul."
"Fine. Since it's your choice, I won't say anything more. After you finish absorbing it, I'll give you some gifts to help improve your strength."
Meng Yiran was delighted, but she obediently finished off the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and sat down to absorb its Soul Ring.
Just then, Oscar looked at Lan Minghua with big, pleading eyes. His pitiful little expression was practically asking to get punched.
With a sigh, Lan Minghua took an unconscious Sharp-Tailed Swift, roughly five thousand years old, out of his Gluttonous Pouch.
(Note: In The Outcast, a Gluttonous Pouch can hold living creatures, but they have to be unconscious.)
"Here. This five-thousand-year-old Sharp-Tailed Swift will be your Third Soul Ring."
Lan Minghua had originally planned to catch a Ten Thousand Year Swift, but he'd considered that Oscar might not be able to handle it.
He'd give him a five-thousand-year Soul Ring first and save the ten-thousand-year one for his Fourth Soul Ring.
After all, not everyone was Tang San, who had lived two lives and had far greater spiritual power than Oscar.
Sometimes, no amount of talent could help you catch up to someone with a cheat.
When Oscar heard that the Soul Beast was five thousand years old, his jaw dropped into a perfect O.
"A-a five-thousand-year Soul Beast? Master, are you sure you didn't make a mistake? I'm only a Soul Elder!"
Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head and stared curiously at the unconscious Sharp-Tailed Swift, like a little cat.
Lan Minghua glanced at Oscar, exasperated. "If I tell you to absorb it, then absorb it. Do you think I'd harm you?"
"But, Teacher, with my current constitution, you're asking me to absorb a five-thousand-year Soul Ring for my Third Soul Ring. Isn't that just sending me to my death?"
Oscar pursed his lips, looking as if he'd suffered the greatest injustice in the world.
Although the Indestructible Vajra Body had made him very strong, absorbing a Soul Ring wasn't just about physical strength.
Lan Minghua was so frustrated he could barely stand it. He almost regretted taking Oscar as his disciple.
Then he patted around, left and right, and somehow produced a manual.
"Here. This North Profound Divine Skill will let you absorb other people's Soul Power and use it as your own."
"The Soul Power contained in a five-thousand-year Soul Ring is indeed considerable. You can absorb it, then pass it on to someone who needs it."
Oscar's eyes lit up. With astonishing speed, he snatched the North Profound Divine Skill from Lan Minghua.
Then, as though he'd found a priceless treasure, he rubbed his face against the manual.
Lan Minghua brought his fist down on Oscar's head. "Quit messing around and start cultivating, or you'll regret it."
Oscar answered with an "Oh" and hurriedly sat down to cultivate.
There was no denying that Oscar had excellent talent.
In just half an hour, he had mastered the basics of the North Profound Divine Skill.
When he fought other people, he could activate his Indestructible Golden Body while absorbing the Soul Power from their Soul Skills.
If their levels were close, who could break through that turtle shell?
"Master, I did it!" Oscar raced toward Lan Minghua.
Lan Minghua kicked him to the ground and snapped, "If you've succeeded, then go absorb your Soul Ring. Do you need me to tell you that?"
Oscar nearly burst into tears. He felt like his master had taken on several disciples and then sent him straight to the cold palace.
But he was only putting on an act.
He quickly killed the five-thousand-year Sharp-Tailed Swift and began absorbing its Soul Ring.
The process went fairly smoothly.
A few times, he'd nearly been overwhelmed, but he managed to hold on.
Lan Minghua knew the North Profound Divine Skill, too, so he helped Oscar draw off the excess Soul Power and pass it to Zhu Zhuqing.
Meng Yiran was the first to wake. She was astonished to see Oscar truly absorbing a five-thousand-year Soul Ring.
She came from the Exotic Beast Family and knew a fair bit about the limits on the age of each Soul Ring a Soul Master could absorb.
According to the records of Spirit Hall, the limit for a Third Soul Ring was roughly seventeen hundred years.
Yet Oscar's Third Soul Ring was an astonishing five thousand years old.
And judging by the look of things, he was nearly finished absorbing it.
"Ah, that feels great!"
Oscar suddenly opened his eyes. His Soul Power surged, taking him straight to Level 33.
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