Better to Establish Your Own House Than Live Under Another's Roof

Chao Tianxiang pursed her lips. "That's true, but if he only wants someone of equal standing, what girl on the entire continent could compare to him? Our granddaughter is among the very best in both looks and talent. Could he really not be tempted?"

Meng Shu nodded and lowered his voice. "I think that brat took a liking to our granddaughter the moment he saw her. Otherwise, even if he noticed that the Man-Faced Demon Spider's spirit ring was too old, simply warning us would have counted as repaying the favor.

"Yet he insisted that Yiran absorb the spirit ring in front of him. Wasn't that just so he could conveniently step in and help? If you ask me, the brat wanted to leave a good impression on Yiran to make it easier to pursue her."

The more Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang talked, the more gratified they became. Everything seemed to fit together perfectly!

"Heh, that brat really is thoughtful. He reminds me of you when you were young. The moment you first saw me, you were already up to no good, weren't you?"

Thinking back on the romantic escapades of her youth, Chao Tianxiang's cheeks flushed as she coquettishly scolded Meng Shu.

Meng Shu chuckled. "Of course. Your old man was clever. Back then, I immediately thought of using a bet as an excuse to get close to you."

Chao Tianxiang laughed twice as well, then sighed. "Ah, it's a pity that Fang Yuan and Yiran are quite far apart in age. There's a full nine years between them."

Meng Shu comforted her, "With Fang Yuan's talent, he is destined to become a Titled Douluo. Our granddaughter will at least become a Soul Douluo powerhouse in the future. They both still have more than a hundred years to live. Isn't that enough?"

The two chatted enthusiastically, feeling as though they had found a kindred spirit. When it came to the romantic affairs of the younger generation, they were utterly engrossed, throwing themselves into it with all their hearts.

Only when Meng Yiran had familiarized herself with her spirit skills and came looking for them did they reluctantly put the subject aside.

Standing before Fang Yuan and seeing the polite smile on the young man's face, Meng Shu said,

"Little Brother Fang Yuan, would you be willing to join my family?"

Joining a family was an extremely serious matter in the world of spirit masters. Unlike other sects or organizations, once one joined a family, there would be no reason to leave it in the future.

Everything thereafter would be bound by the family's rules.

Meng Shu knew perfectly well that it would be difficult to recruit such an outstanding young talent as Fang Yuan into his family.

He had only said this as a test, based on the assumption that Fang Yuan was infatuated with Meng Yiran.

Even if it failed, there was nothing to lose. But if Fang Yuan agreed, it would be an enormous gain!

Still, even Meng Shu himself knew that the possibility was vanishingly small. Would someone like Fang Yuan willingly submit to the constraints of an unfamiliar family just because of his granddaughter?

Sure enough, Fang Yuan refused. "My apologies, Senior Dragon Duke, but I have no intention of joining a family for the time being."

Meng Shu nodded. He had expected that answer.

Nor would he forbid his granddaughter from interacting with Fang Yuan in the future just because Fang Yuan had refused, using his granddaughter as leverage.

Not only would doing so likely backfire and make an enemy of Fang Yuan, but he also did not wish to use his granddaughter's lifelong happiness as a bargaining chip.

Still unwilling to give up, Meng Shu asked, "Could it be that Little Brother Fang Yuan already belongs to a family or sect?"

Fang Yuan shook his head. "I have not joined any organization."

Hearing this, Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang could not help exchanging glances.

Seeing their reaction, Fang Yuan added, "However, I have two disciples, both around twelve or thirteen years old. Next, I plan to take them to join Heaven Dou Imperial Academy so that they can participate in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament in the future."

Fang Yuan was not lying about this. After obtaining his own spirit ring, he would take Tang San to obtain his third spirit ring.

After that, he planned to bring his two disciples into Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

The Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, organized by Spirit Hall, was an important trial in the original story. Fang Yuan had no intention of letting Tang San miss it.

And with his current strength as a twenty-five-year-old Soul Douluo, he would be treated as an honored guest by any force on the continent. Securing two tournament slots for Tang San and Xiao Wu at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy would naturally not be difficult.

However, Meng Shu's expression became somewhat strange after hearing this.

He shook his head and sighed. "Heaven Dou Imperial Academy requires students to have noble backgrounds during enrollment, so the quality of its students has always been rather poor. With your talent, you would certainly be accepted there, but it is not truly a good destination."

Naturally, Fang Yuan knew this as well. But he had never intended to develop anything at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy in the first place. Once the tournament was over, he would take Tang San and Xiao Wu and leave.

Still, Meng Shu's words gave Fang Yuan an idea.

With the quality of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's students, could their team win the championship in the tournament?

Based on Fang Yuan's memories of the Spirit Hall team members in this tournament, it would probably be very difficult.

If Tang San and Xiao Wu failed to win the championship, what impact would that have on them?

As Fang Yuan pondered this, Meng Shu spoke again.

"In my opinion, with your strength and talent, Little Brother Fang Yuan, joining any academy would be beneath you. Which of these academies could possibly produce a young genius like you? I'm afraid not a single one could.

"If you ask me, you might as well establish an academy of your own. As long as you publicize your age and rank, students across the entire continent would surely flock to you. And if you wish to establish an academy, our family can offer you its full support."

Meng Shu spoke sincerely, though his intention to recruit Fang Yuan still showed through in the end.

"Establish an academy?"

Fang Yuan raised a brow at those words and thought for a moment.

However, he did not make a decision immediately. As things stood, the benefits of founding an academy were not enough to truly move him.

He smiled at Meng Shu. "Thank you for the suggestion, but this is an important matter. I'll make a decision after giving it some thought."

Meng Shu was not surprised. No one would make such an important decision based on a few words from another person.

Together with Chao Tianxiang and his granddaughter Meng Yiran, he said to Fang Yuan,

"Thank you for helping Yiran obtain her spirit ring this time, little brother. If you ever need anything in the future, you may come find us in Häagen-Dazs City.

"If you decide to establish an academy someday, we'll have Yiran transfer there as well, so she can properly learn from a genius among the younger generation like you. Hahaha."

Fang Yuan replied with awkward but polite courtesy, "Certainly, certainly."

Before they left, Meng Yiran pretended not to care on the surface. Yet as she departed, she kept turning back from time to time, secretly glancing at Fang Yuan, who remained standing where he was.

Fang Yuan slowly waved, smiling as he saw them off.