"What's your Martial Soul, Rongrong?" Mu Chen asked.
He hadn't asked Ning Rongrong about her background before this. He only knew her name, so it would have seemed strange to bring up details about her out of nowhere.
"My Martial Soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"My Soul Power is already at level 26."
Ning Rongrong released her Martial Soul. Seven-colored light swirled around her as two Yellow Soul Rings rose into view.
"An auxiliary Martial Soul. Hmm... let me think."
"I've got it."
"I'll teach you a movement-based Self-Created Soul Skill so you can protect yourself in battle."
"What do you think?"
Mu Chen smiled warmly at Ning Rongrong.
"You're going to teach me a Self-Created Soul Skill?"
"What is it?"
Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes widened in surprise, and she asked eagerly.
Mu Chen tapped Ning Rongrong on the forehead.
The training method for the "Kirin Heaven-Treading Steps" quickly entered Ning Rongrong's mind.
"This move is called the Kirin Heaven-Treading Steps!"
"Once you've mastered it, you'll be able to cover a thousand kilometers in a single step with ease!"
"When you can gather Kirin energy beneath your feet, one step will be enough to crush the weak!"
"It's the ultimate tool for showing off!"
"When you use this move, no one will look down on you for being an auxiliary Soul Master!"
"Of my four disciples, you're the only one I've taught the Kirin Heaven-Treading Steps so far!"
"Don't show off in front of your senior brothers and sisters later. The four of you will each learn different things!"
Mu Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his tone calm.
"Okay..."
Ning Rongrong was so stunned by the "Kirin Heaven-Treading Steps" that she could barely speak.
Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect didn't have such an overbearing movement-based Self-Created Soul Skill.
In Ning Rongrong's eyes, Mu Chen became even more mysterious, even more imposing and noble.
It was definitely worth becoming his disciple!
Ning Rongrong secretly rejoiced.
"Go sit over there and study the Kirin Heaven-Treading Steps. I still have work to do."
Mu Chen picked up the Dragon-Slaying Blade and examined it carefully.
"Okay!"
Ning Rongrong looked around and noticed that the style of Mu Chen's place was completely different from the buildings outside.
"Shrek Academy looks so run-down from the outside. I didn't expect the living quarters inside to be so nice."
At that, Mu Chen's lips curled slightly.
That evening.
Mu Chen personally brought Ning Rongrong to the girls' dormitory.
When she saw the wooden shack, so decrepit it could barely stand, Ning Rongrong was instantly dumbfounded. "Teacher, don't tell me... this is my dormitory!"
"No." Mu Chen shook his head.
"That's a relief!" Ning Rongrong sighed.
Mu Chen continued, "This is the dormitory for all the girls. There just happens to be no one here but you at the moment."
Ning Rongrong opened her mouth, then stopped.
Mu Chen smiled faintly. "My three other disciples should arrive in a few days. Then you'll have company."
Ning Rongrong frowned. "But how can anyone live in a place like this?!"
She thought of Mu Chen's office and living quarters and immediately cried, "I want a room like yours too!"
Mu Chen replied calmly, "Mine is the only place in the entire academy like that. Do you know why?"
Ning Rongrong blinked. "Why?"
Mu Chen shrugged. "Because I renovated it myself, and I bought all the furniture myself too."
Ning Rongrong was thoroughly disappointed in Shrek Academy. If Mu Chen hadn't been there, she would have wanted to leave immediately.
"Teacher, I saw that your place has two bedrooms and two beds. Why don't you let me move in too?" Ning Rongrong suggested with a bright smile.
Mu Chen shook his head. "The other bedroom and bed are for your two senior sisters."
Ning Rongrong grinned mischievously. "Teacher, you're letting your disciples live next door to you. Doesn't that mean we're all under the same roof?"
Mu Chen smiled faintly. Suddenly, he reached out, pulled Ning Rongrong into his arms, and gave her a smack on the rear.
Smack!
"Ah!"
Smack!
"Ah!"
Smack!
"Ah!"
Ning Rongrong covered her bottom and hurried backward.
"If you tease your teacher again, next time I won't just spank you."
Mu Chen stood with his hands behind his back and spoke calmly.
Ning Rongrong pouted and nodded.
"Stay here for now. We'll make other arrangements once your senior sisters arrive."
With that, Mu Chen turned and headed back the way he had come.
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, and she hurried after him.
Compared to the ramshackle wooden shack behind her, she much preferred living at Mu Chen's place.
A short while later.
Inside the bedroom.
"Lie down. I'm going to unblock your eight extraordinary meridians. That'll make your cultivation speed increase by leaps and bounds."
Golden light shimmered across Mu Chen's hands.
"Then why do I have to take my clothes off?"
Ning Rongrong stood shyly in front of Mu Chen, her long, jade-white legs pressed tightly together.
"Your clothes would interfere with the flow of my Soul Power," Mu Chen said solemnly.
Two days later.
Outside Shrek Academy, a long line of applicants stretched from the entrance. Two girls and a boy slowly walked up.
"This should be the place!"
"Our teacher really knows his stuff. He even knew about a place this remote!"
Xiao Wu stared at the sign for Shrek Academy, looking exasperated.
"Lots of people have come to apply. It looks like this place isn't as simple as it seems." Zhu Zhuqing studied the long line, lost in thought. "I wonder if our teacher has arrived yet."
"Let's get in line!" Xiao Wu quickened her pace, and Zhu Zhuqing followed close behind.
"Wait a minute. It looks like our names are written up there!" Tang San noticed a sign beside the registration desk at the entrance. His name, Xiao Wu's, and Zhu Zhuqing's were clearly written on it.
"They really are! Why would our names be there when this is our first time here?" Xiao Wu furrowed her brow, puzzled.
"Probably our teacher's doing. He must have arrived ahead of us," Zhu Zhuqing said softly.
"Maybe! Let's hurry over!" Xiao Wu immediately crossed the long line and approached Li Yusong, who was in charge of registration at the entrance. "Hello!"
Li Yusong replied coolly, "Get in line."
Xiao Wu pointed to the sign. "I'm Xiao Wu. This is Zhu Zhuqing, and the one behind us is Tang San!"
Li Yusong looked up in surprise and examined Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tang San.
"Is Mu Chen your teacher?"
"That's right!"
Xiao Wu lifted her chin, looking proud.
"It really must be our teacher's doing," Zhu Zhuqing said softly.
Li Yusong called to someone nearby, "Mubai, take the three of them to Teacher Mu. They're his disciples."
Dai Mubai strode over, a roguish smile on his face.
He first looked Xiao Wu over, but his gaze quickly shifted to Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing...
"Follow me!"
Dai Mubai took a deep breath and led the way.
As they went, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tang San looked around the academy, their brows furrowing.
"Now I understand why our teacher went to all this trouble."
"This really is a good place to be put through our paces. It's going to be rough..."
Xiao Wu sighed.
Tang San nodded in agreement. "Forget Nuoding Academy—even Holy Soul Village is better than this."
Before you continue