Chao Tianxiang asked in surprise, "Little Brother Mu, you're so young, and you've already started taking disciples?"
Mu Chen smiled calmly. "One of my few hobbies is taking disciples. These four are all my students."
He pointed to Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Tang San, then ruffled Xiao Wu's hair.
At that, Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran were both surprised.
Mu Chen smiled at Meng Yiran and invited her, "Miss Meng, would you be interested in becoming my disciple?"
"Huh?"
Meng Yiran froze. Instinctively, she wanted to say yes, but family considerations made her turn to Chao Tianxiang for advice.
"Don't look at your grandma. Just look at me." Mu Chen stepped forward and held Meng Yiran's face, turning it toward him. "I'm taking you as my disciple, not your grandma."
Chao Tianxiang's mouth twitched.
He was irreverent and impossibly arrogant, treating her as if she didn't matter at all.
"Little Brother Mu, this is all very sudden. We should discuss it first." Chao Tianxiang gave an awkward smile and pulled Meng Yiran behind her.
If Mu Chen hadn't been so much stronger than her, she would have already whacked him with her staff.
"Sure. No rush. Take your time."
Mu Chen smiled at Meng Yiran, then turned and returned to the group.
"Teacher, how many more disciples are you planning to take?" Xiao Wu came over, looking exasperated.
Mu Chen smiled. "The more, the better."
Xiao Wu was at a loss for words.
Mu Chen patted Xiao Wu's head, then began giving everyone instructions. "Tang San, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, keep watch around us. Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Rongrong, stay with me beside Xiao Ao."
Everyone did as he said.
After thinking for a moment, Chao Tianxiang led Meng Yiran over toward Mu Chen.
She would never forget Mu Chen's seven Ten Thousand Year Soul Skills, but more than anything, they filled her with curiosity.
Still, no matter how curious she was, she didn't dare ask.
Meng Yiran also kept staring at Mu Chen without saying a word.
Xiao Wu had no such qualms. Sitting down right beside Mu Chen, she asked outright, "Teacher, why are all your Soul Rings black and ten thousand years old?"
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong pricked up their ears too.
"There are so many outsiders here! How can you ask such a private question?" Mu Chen scolded, tapping Xiao Wu on the head. He didn't mince words.
Xiao Wu covered her head and pouted, but didn't argue. After all, Mu Chen was right.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong covered their mouths and giggled.
Thankfully, Xiao Wu had asked first, so they hadn't gotten their heads tapped.
Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran looked awkward.
Weren't they the only two outsiders here?
A while later, Mu Chen suddenly stood up and gazed into the depths of the forest. The movement immediately drew everyone's attention.
Chao Tianxiang was the second to react. She looked toward the forest, then broke into a delighted smile.
In the blink of an eye, an old man with a full head of white hair appeared before them, holding a Dragon Head Staff.
"Old man!"
Chao Tianxiang was overjoyed.
The newcomer was Meng Shu, nicknamed Dragon Duke. He was her husband and a Soul Douluo.
She immediately brought Meng Yiran over to join him.
"Old woman, why aren't you taking Yiran to look for a Soul Beast? What are you doing here?"
Meng Shu asked with a frown. He gave Mu Chen and the others a cold glance, noticing the dead Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and Oscar, who was absorbing its Soul Ring.
"Old man, here's what happened..." Chao Tianxiang told Meng Shu everything, especially that Mu Chen possessed seven Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings.
After hearing her out, Meng Shu looked at Mu Chen with nothing but shock and wariness in his eyes.
"Heh."
With his hands behind his back, Mu Chen stood in white robes stirred by the breeze, a faint smile on his face. Even in the presence of the Peerless Dragon-Snake Duo, he remained utterly composed.
His calm confidence made Meng Shu even less inclined to underestimate him.
"Little Brother Mu, you're truly young and promising. May I ask which faction you're from?"
Meng Shu asked with a hearty smile. He put on no airs, looking like an ordinary old man.
Mu Chen couldn't help but marvel inwardly at how quickly the old man changed his tune.
These old fellows did have a few qualities worth learning from.
"I don't belong to any faction, and no faction is worthy of having me serve it."
Mu Chen's handsome face seemed to radiate arrogance and disdain, and his eyes brimmed with contempt.
Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang exchanged a glance, their shock impossible to hide as their pupils contracted.
They weren't the only ones stunned. When Xiao Wu and the others heard him, they looked at Mu Chen with admiration.
Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai were also lost in their own thoughts.
"Teacher, you're so imposing!" Ning Rongrong said with a grin, giving him a thumbs-up.
"I'm just stating the facts," Mu Chen replied coolly.
Who in Douluo Continent could do anything to him?
Even if Qian Daoliu showed up, Mu Chen would lead him around like a dog!
Just then, Oscar finished absorbing his Soul Ring and woke up.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"Teacher Mu, everyone, I did it!"
Oscar was thrilled to have broken through to Soul Elder.
"We saw."
"Everyone, get ready to move out."
After speaking, Mu Chen turned back to Meng Shu, Chao Tianxiang, and Meng Yiran.
"What do the three of you think?"
"Miss Meng, have you made up your mind?"
Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang looked at each other.
Meng Yiran bit her lip, then glanced back at Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang. She made up her mind. "Grandpa, Grandma, I want to become his disciple."
Meng Shu frowned. "I don't object, but think it through carefully. Don't act on impulse, and don't make a rash decision."
"I've thought it through." Meng Yiran nodded softly, though in truth, she felt as if she had a fever.
Meng Shu sighed softly and waved a hand.
Mu Chen was mysterious. At such a young age, he was already a Soul Saint, and he possessed seven Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings.
If Meng Yiran became his disciple, it might bring an unexpected benefit.
"Sir, please accept me as your disciple!"
With everyone watching, Meng Yiran strode resolutely up to Mu Chen and bowed.
Mu Chen smiled with satisfaction. "Good. From this moment on, you're my fifth disciple."
[ Ding—! Host has successfully taken Meng Yiran as a disciple! ]
[ Aptitude: B! ]
[ Reward: Soul Power increased by one level! ]
[ All Soul Ring ages increased by one thousand years! ]
[ First Martial Soul: Radiant Dragon King ]
[ First Soul Skill: Dragon King's Verdict: 12,400 years! ]
[ Second Soul Skill: Dragon King's Roar: 12,800 years! ]
[ Third Soul Skill: Holy Light Illuminates the World: 14,500 years! ]
[ Fourth Soul Skill: Radiant Dragon Judgment: 17,000 years! ]
[ Fifth Soul Skill: Radiant Dragon Fury: 39,200 years! ]
[ Sixth Soul Skill: Dragon King Annihilation Array: 66,000 years! ]
[ Seventh Soul Skill: Dragon King True Body! 94,000 years! ]
[ Current Soul Power Level: 76! ]
Aptitude B—pretty average, but no matter. She just had to be pretty!
Where was he supposed to find so many good-looking geniuses with talent? There was no harm in settling for less now and then!
"I'll make sure to find you a suitable Soul Beast for your third Soul Ring!" Mu Chen said with a smile as warm as spring, helping Meng Yiran to her feet.
The moment Meng Yiran looked up, her heart skipped a beat.
Suddenly, she wasn't so sure she wanted to be Mu Chen's disciple. She really wanted to knock him out, take him away, build a secret chamber, and lock him inside.
Before you continue