The Third Disciple, Zhu Zhuqing!

"Zhu Zhuqing pays her respects to you, Teacher!"

Zhu Zhuqing bowed to Mu Chen.

"Good!"

"From this moment on, you are my third disciple, Mu Chen's!"

Mu Chen smiled with satisfaction.

Putting everything else aside,

being able to take in a little genius with seven or eight levels of Innate Soul Power was already pretty good for him.

[ Ding—! Zhu Zhuqing has successfully become your disciple!]

[ Aptitude: A-rank!]

[ Host's Soul Power has increased by 3 levels! Current level: 65!]

[ Martial Arts: Nine Yin Divine Claw! Snow-Treading Traceless!]

[ All Soul Ring ages have increased by one thousand years!]

[ First Martial Soul: Radiant Dragon King]

[ First Soul Ring: 6,400 years → 7,400 years!]

[ Second Soul Ring: 6,800 years → 7,800 years!]

[ Third Soul Ring: 8,500 years → 9,500 years!]

[ Fourth Soul Ring: 11,000 years → 12,000 years!]

[ Fifth Soul Ring: 33,200 years → 34,200 years!]

[ Sixth Soul Ring: Dragon King Annihilation Array! 60,000 years → 61,000 years!]

"Oh!"

Mu Chen was surprised by the system's reward.

Zhu Zhuqing's talent was actually the same as Tang San's.

"These two manuals are my welcome gifts to you. Study them well, and they'll serve you all the way to becoming a Titled Douluo!"

With a lift of his hand, two manuals appeared in Mu Chen's grasp: the Nine Yin Divine Claw and Snow-Treading Traceless.

The first was a claw technique, while the second was a movement art.

"Manuals?"

Zhu Zhuqing blinked in surprise.

Born into the noble Zhu Family, she had never heard of anything called a "manual."

"You can think of them as Self-Created Soul Skills."

"You know what a Self-Created Soul Skill is, right?"

Mu Chen sounded doubtful.

"I don't..."

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head.

"All right..."

"Anyway, they're really powerful—more powerful than Soul Skills."

Mu Chen handed the two manuals to Zhu Zhuqing.

"Thank you."

Zhu Zhuqing took the manuals and held them against her chest.

"Clatter, clatter!"

A carriage stopped beside them.

"Let's get in."

As he spoke, Mu Chen took Zhu Zhuqing by the hand and led her into the carriage.

The carriage began to roll slowly onward.

Inside the carriage,

Zhu Zhuqing clutched the two manuals, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Mu Chen.

Mu Chen smiled faintly and reached out to pat Zhu Zhuqing's head.

In a gentle voice, Zhu Zhuqing asked, "Teacher... where are we going?"

Mu Chen smiled. "Nuoding City, Fasinuo Province, in the Heaven Dou Empire."

Zhu Zhuqing froze. "The Heaven Dou Empire?"

Mu Chen nodded with a smile.

Zhu Zhuqing remembered what Zhu Zhuyun had said earlier and lowered her head, falling silent.

Mu Chen patted Zhu Zhuqing's head and asked softly, "Are you thinking about that fiancé of yours?"

Zhu Zhuqing looked up in surprise.

Mu Chen smiled. "I heard your conversation with your sister. I also know a little about what's going on between your Zhu Family and the Dai Family."

Zhu Zhuqing bit her lower lip.

Mu Chen comforted her gently. "Forget the past and look to the future. You've got your whole life ahead of you. Under my guidance, your future won't stop at becoming a Titled Douluo."

Zhu Zhuqing asked in surprise, "Really, Teacher? My talent isn't that good. The strongest person my family has ever produced was only a Soul Douluo!"

Mu Chen smiled confidently. "Even if you don't believe in yourself, you have to believe in me!"

Mu Chen's smile was infectious, and Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help smiling too.

Though she had only just met Mu Chen, her instincts told her that he wouldn't harm her.

Besides,

she didn't know why, but something about Mu Chen seemed to draw her in. Her heart raced, and she wanted to keep looking at him.

Nuoding Academy.

It was currently the holiday, and Mu Chen had brought Zhu Zhuqing back to his office.

While he was away, Xiao Wu had made the office her own territory, doing whatever she pleased.

"Teacher? You're back!"

The moment Xiao Wu saw Mu Chen return, her eyes lit up, and she hurried over in delight.

However,

the instant Zhu Zhuqing stepped out from behind Mu Chen, Xiao Wu stopped in her tracks.

"Huh?"

Xiao Wu looked from Zhu Zhuqing to Mu Chen, puzzled.

Mu Chen smiled. "Zhuqing, this is Xiao Wu. She's your senior sister."

Zhu Zhuqing stepped up to Xiao Wu and gave a slight bow. "Hello, Senior Sister. My name is Zhu Zhuqing."

Xiao Wu asked in surprise, "Teacher, you took on another disciple?"

Mu Chen nodded. "Your junior sister isn't as strong as you, and she's a little younger too, so don't bully her."

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes. "Why would I bully my junior sister?"

She turned to Zhu Zhuqing and thumped her chest with a confident smile. "Zhuqing, if anyone at the academy gives you trouble, just tell me. I'll teach them a lesson. I'm Nuoding Academy's number one expert!"

Moved by Xiao Wu's straightforward warmth, Zhu Zhuqing smiled from the heart.

Mu Chen instructed, "Xiao Wu, Zhuqing will be staying with you from now on."

Xiao Wu was already living with him, and he had renovated the office to divide off a bedroom.

The bed was big enough for two girls to sleep in together.

"Sure!"

Xiao Wu readily agreed, taking Zhu Zhuqing's hand and leading her toward her bedroom.

Zhu Zhuqing glanced back at Mu Chen, but Xiao Wu dragged her away before she could linger.

Mu Chen smiled, walked over to the sofa, sat down, and poured himself a cup of tea to soothe his throat.

"Xiao Wu, while I was away, did Xiao San come looking for me?" Mu Chen asked.

"He did, but it wasn't anything important. When he found out you weren't here, he went back," Xiao Wu replied.

"Xiao Wu, take Zhuqing around the academy later so she can get familiar with the place. Tonight, have her come to my room," Mu Chen said.

"Don't I need to help clear your meridians tonight?" Xiao Wu peeked out with a flushed face, stealing a glance at Mu Chen.

"Not tonight. Tomorrow." Mu Chen downed his tea and stood up to go inside.

"Senior Sister, what does it mean to clear meridians? Is that a kind of cultivation too?" Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously.

Xiao Wu's pretty face flushed pink, and she said softly, "You could say that. It speeds up your cultivation, and it feels really good too. Go see Teacher tonight and you'll find out."

Mu Chen returned to his room, cleared some space, then took Ah Yin out.

In an instant, the entire room was filled.

Mu Chen began using his Domain of Life to nurture Ah Yin.

Ah Yin felt incomparably refreshed. Growing more and more attached to Mu Chen, she reached out her branches and wound them around him.

Unfortunately, Ah Yin didn't have a human body yet, and Mu Chen still wasn't used to being tangled up in branches and vines.

Even so, Mu Chen could clearly sense how delighted Ah Yin was.

When evening came, Mu Chen put Ah Yin back into the system space and restored the room to its original state.

Not long afterward,

Zhu Zhuqing knocked on his bedroom door.

"Teacher, it's Zhuqing."

"Come in."

At that, Zhu Zhuqing pushed open the door. The first thing she saw was Mu Chen sitting cross-legged, eyes closed as he cultivated.

Mu Chen opened his eyes and spoke to Zhu Zhuqing as she approached. "Zhuqing, tonight I'm going to clear your meridians and speed up your cultivation. Lie down on the bed."

"Okay..."

Zhu Zhuqing licked her lips, slowly climbed onto Mu Chen's bed, and closed her eyes without thinking.

Mu Chen circulated the Primordial Infinite Art. Golden Soul Power shimmered in his hands as he pressed them against Zhu Zhuqing.

The moment his Soul Power entered her body, Zhu Zhuqing's delicate frame trembled, and she couldn't help letting out a soft moan.

"Relax!"

Mu Chen's expression was serious as he focused intently.