That night, the starlight was dazzling.
After witnessing the teacher's breathtaking countenance, the students of Peach Garden Academy couldn't sleep.
Some gazed up at the starry sky, their eyes hazy, wondering what they were thinking about.
Some tossed and turned in bed, moaning a few times, and when they came to their senses, they found their sheets were wet.
Others were still practicing boxing techniques in the academy square.
Meanwhile, under the peach tree in front of the Peach Garden Academy gate, Ning Rongrong, whose joy had turned to sorrow, was being lectured by Ning Fengzhi:
"Sneaking out of the Sect and running around the continent alone, do you know how dangerous that is?"
"But nothing bad happened, right? If I hadn't sneaked out, would I have had the chance to apprentice under such a wonderful teacher?"
"So, how did you and Bone Grandfather find your way here?"
Ning Rongrong felt a little guilty, but the moment she thought about her teacher being peerless in the world, and that she was now the only Spirit Master in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School who practiced both defense and support, and even possessed offensive capabilities, she instantly gained confidence.
Ning Fengzhi glanced at Ning Rongrong helplessly: "Do you think your method of sending letters was very secretive? Take a good look at what you wrote in your letters! If I didn't come looking for you now, you would have drifted off to who knows where!"
Gu Rong chimed in: "Exactly, Rongrong, learning to fall in love and secretly crushing on your teacher at such a young age is not good. Look at what you wrote in those letters—since ancient times, romance between a master and Disciple has been scorned by others. You have no idea how angry your father was when he read those letters back at the Sect."
"Ahem... No! Uncle Gu, quite the opposite!
My view is: when it comes to the person you love, you must strike decisively! There is no room for pedantic views.
Actually, your father supports you pursuing your teacher, but you are still young, and some important matters cannot be rushed."
"Then when can I rush them?"
"Well, well... naturally, you must wait until you are an adult before discussing marriage. Your teacher is the most outstanding young person I have ever seen, and I watched the match you played. Your strength is now immense; you have already learned things that surpass all the previous ancestors of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. You should have already mastered the Four Hearts Split Control of the Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart, right?"
"You must seize this teacher opportunity!"
Ning Fengzhi spoke earnestly to Ning Rongrong, whose eyes sparkled:
"Father still spoils me! Hmph! Bone Grandfather, look at you—"
Gu Rong felt somewhat flustered beside them:
Wait, Sect Master? Didn't we agree that since we spoiled Rongrong before, this time we would both severely lecture her?
At the Douhun Arena, when you heard the name Rongrong chose—Peach Blossom Little Warm Disciple—didn't you, who is usually so gentle and refined, almost split the table in front of you with your bare hands?
How come your attitude has changed so much now?
If you changed the plan, tell me too!
Why am I the only one left to be the bad guy???
(／_＼) Big scapegoat
...The next day.
Early in the morning, Dragon Duke pulled Snake Woman to bid farewell to Su Ran.
At the gate of Peach Garden Academy, Dragon Duke cupped his hands and said to Su Ran:
"Teacher Su, I sincerely apologize for my previous doubts and distrust toward you. After this battle, my wife and I have both witnessed Meng Yiran's progress. Without your instruction, Teacher Su, she could not have achieved her current strength."
"It is her fortune that Meng Yiran can study under you, Teacher Su. We entrust Meng Yiran to you from now on. This girl was spoiled and unruly when she followed us. If she ever disobeys or offends you, Teacher Su, you are free to hit her or scold her; we will have absolutely no complaints."
"My wife and I have been out for over a month now, and we must return. After dealing with the matters at Alien Beast Academy, we will come back to visit you, Teacher Su. If anyone from the Clear Sky Sect dares to trouble you again, Teacher Su, you only need to send a letter, and my wife and I will rush here without fail."
"Dragon Duke, you exaggerate. Since I accepted Meng Yiran as a Disciple, I will naturally be responsible for her. As for Tang Hao... he probably won't dare to show his face again for the time being."
Su Ran said indifferently.
"We hope so, Teacher Su. Then we shall take our leave."
"Old woman, let's go, hurry up! Don't mess around, or don't blame this old man for telling Teacher Su your past embarrassing secrets."
Dragon Duke Meng Shu pulled Snake Woman's snake staff, walking away from Peach Garden Academy. Snake Woman had peach blossoms tucked into the hairpin on her head, looking rejuvenated. She turned back every few steps, clearly reluctant to leave Peach Garden Academy.
It wasn't until Dragon Duke Meng Shu threatened her that Snake Woman could only wave goodbye tearfully:
"Teacher Su, meeting is the most beautiful thing, and reunion is rare. See you next time~"
Su Ran smiled faintly. Last night, he had reconnected the mask's chain, but a fingernail-sized piece was missing from the bottom right corner of the mask, revealing fair skin. If his full face were visible, Snake Woman probably wouldn't go home with Dragon Duke even if she were beaten to death.
"Peach Garden Academy? Are you a student at this academy?"
The moment Dragon Duke and Snake Woman left, a Spirit Master wearing the uniform of a Spirit Hall Deacon appeared at the academy gate and asked Su Ran.
Su Ran answered indifferently: "I am a teacher at this academy."
"A teacher? Such a young teacher is quite rare. Why are you wearing a mask?"
"My appearance easily causes disputes and misunderstandings when seen, so I often show myself wearing a mask."
The Spirit Hall Deacon was stunned for a moment, feeling that the young man before him possessed an extraordinary temperament, but the skin faintly visible beneath the mask indicated that he was not very old.
"Seeing your remarkable temperament, you shouldn't look bad. It seems the saying about 'back view killer' is quite true... Anyway, let's not talk about that. I am from the Soto City Spirit Hall Branch Hall, here to deliver the land deed to Peach Garden Academy. Can you make the decision?"
Su Ran took the land deed for the location of Shrek Academy's campus from the man's hand and said indifferently: "Just hand it over to me."
"Alright, put your handprint on the deed and affix your academy's seal. This piece of land will be yours from now on."
Su Ran didn't say much, completing the land deed process according to procedure.
It was at this moment that a voice suddenly sounded in his mind:
[Obtained the land deed for the Shrek Academy campus. You may merge Shrek Academy and expand Peach Garden Academy—add two student dormitories, cultivate two plots of fertile land, and plant a campus road with peach blossoms and red maples... Upon completion, you will receive the following rewards: Best spirit ring attachment opportunity +1 compatible with the host's Physique, 2 bags of nourishing fertilizer for Spirit Field Treasure Land, and 10 top-grade flower and grass seeds.]
A hint of surprise flashed in Su Ran's eyes. He hadn't expected that not only accepting Disciples brought rewards, but expanding the academy also yielded rich rewards, even providing a spirit ring attachment opportunity and items for cultivating Spirit Field Treasure Land.
Coincidentally, he might be able to Break through to level 80 soon and was in need of his eighth spirit ring.
"Oh, right, there's one more thing I need to tell you. We heard that someone from the Clear Sky Sect appeared nearby yesterday. Recently, Spirit Master teams from our Spirit Hall might be patrolling the area. If you encounter them, Peach Garden Academy just needs to cooperate with the investigation; there's no need to be nervous."
At this point, the Spirit Hall Deacon finished the land deed transfer procedures and added this statement to Su Ran.
Su Ran regained his senses and casually replied, "Mm, alright."
"Peach Garden Academy... The Peach Garden Team, which has been very popular at the Soto City Great Spirit Arena these past two days, must be from your academy, right? Winning four against seven—truly rare Spirit Master Geniuses.
Our Bishop asked me to pass on a message: If Peach Garden Academy is willing, you can merge into our Spirit Hall. The Soto City Spirit Hall Branch Hall will provide you with excellent support conditions and even secure your qualification to participate in the All-Continent Elite Soul Master Competition in over a year."
The Spirit Hall Deacon praised them.
"Deacon, Peach Garden Academy maintains full autonomy and will not merge into the Spirit Hall. Please leave."
Before Su Ran could speak, Ning Fengzhi walked over indifferently and rejected the Spirit Hall Deacon's invitation.
This happened to align perfectly with Su Ran's wishes.
Although the Spirit Hall was powerful, joining it would ultimately mean being controlled by others.
"How dare you! The person in charge of Peach Garden Academy hasn't even spoken yet. What right do you have to..."
"Ah, it's an esteemed lord of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Since the lord says so, we won't insist. We hope Peach Garden Academy will consider it carefully."
The Spirit Hall Deacon turned his head and saw that the speaker was dressed nobly and wore a precious pendant from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. The extremely large-framed old man merely released a little pressure, making the Deacon feel as if a giant mountain was pressing down on his head. After cupping his hands and speaking, the Deacon fled in panic.
"School Master Ning, who are these people behind you?"
At this moment, Su Ran noticed that a team holding various tools had returned with Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi chuckled:
"Rongrong is willful and mischievous; she must have caused Dean Su quite a headache recently."
"As Rongrong's father, I naturally must contribute to the academy."
"See, I heard that the Spirit Hall would be delivering the land deed for the adjacent plot today, so I took the liberty of buying the two nearby hilltops as well. Consider it Dean Su's dowry... oh, no, a gift for the academy."
"These workers are people I specifically hired to help renovate these lands and hilltops. If Dean Su needs anything constructed, feel free to instruct them to do it."
Ning Fengzhi spoke casually, but this gesture was truly extravagant. Shrek Academy had operated for so many years and couldn't afford to buy a single plot of land, yet he bought two hilltops and gifted them just like that...