Chapter 9: A Promise Worth a Thousand Gold, Immortal Master's True Face Outshines Stars and Moon (Part 1)
Inside Taoyuan Academy.
Wang Sheng and Ning Rongrong admired Su Ran even more.
It was said that Shrek Academy had Spirit Saint powerhouses as teachers, and more than one.
He walked in calmly, and no one knew what he did, but the dean of Shrek personally sent him out, not daring to utter a sound even after seeing his students beaten to a pulp.
What is this?
This is strength!
Night fell, stars dotted the sky.
Wang Sheng lived at the school gate, practicing Tiger Form Fist while working as a security guard.
He was dull-witted; at eleven or twelve, he hadn't broken through level ten to gain his first Spirit Ability, and he was originally supposed to be hammered by the six-year-old Tang San at Notting Academy when he was twelve.
But by chance, he followed Su Ran and changed his life.
He remembered a saying Su Ran had told him.
"Reading ten thousand volumes, writing is like a god. Punching ten thousand times, beating people becomes skilled."
"If ten thousand times isn't enough, then punch a hundred million times."
"As long as you have perseverance, an iron rod can be ground into a needle!"
"Hoo-hoo—"
Under the peach trees in the outer courtyard, the sound of Wang Sheng diligently practicing his punches echoed every day.
In the inner courtyard, as usual, Ning Rongrong was heating water for the Seven Treasure Body Tempering Water, preparing for her bath.
Su Ran walked over with a medicinal patch, called Ning Rongrong, and with his slender immortal finger, dipped in the ointment, gently applied it to Ning Rongrong's burned skin:
"Although this Seven Treasure Golden Bell Shield has astonishing defensive power, and you know a little Wing Chun, you've only been learning for a month, and you're a support system Spirit Master. You won't gain any advantage by dueling an attack system Spirit Master."
"It wasn't me who wanted to duel him; he came to harass me and cursed you, Teacher. I couldn't tolerate him. Besides, I didn't lose."
Ning Rongrong didn't understand why the teacher was lecturing her, but she was happy when she thought about how she almost defeated an attack system Spirit Grandmaster of a similar cultivation level today.
This was only the result of her month of study with Su Ran; if she studied for a few more months, even if Ma Hongjun went all out, he wouldn't be able to defeat her.
For a support system to win a duel against an attack system, it was simply a miracle.
"That Ma Hongjun, he's already consumed by evil fire, unable to move when he sees a woman, especially a beautiful girl. He practices 'yin harvesting to supplement yang,' no different from an evil cultivator. If you encounter him again, you don't need to fight him yourself; just call Wang Sheng to deal with him. If that doesn't work, I'm here."
Su Ran said calmly.
Listening to Su Ran's words, Ning Rongrong felt a warmth in her heart.
Teacher Su Ran gave her a feeling of both a strict and a loving father. Even her own father had never given her such a feeling; her biological father usually doted on her and couldn't bear to punish her severely.
Instead, Su Ran, who didn't spoil her when he needed to be strict, could also melt her bones with his gentleness, making her unable to resist.
The itching pain from the ointment covering her wounds made Ning Rongrong let out a few soft moans:
"Hiss~"
"Does it hurt a lot? Bear with it. This is Baiyao Muscle-Generating Ointment; it can help disinfect and heal wounds and beautify the skin."
"Mm... it doesn't hurt, I can bear it."
Ning Rongrong said bravely.
She was much stronger than a month ago. Words might never teach someone, but experience teaches them in one go.
"You can apply the rest yourself. It's not convenient for me to do it. After applying, wash your hands for about fifteen minutes, then you can bathe."
"By the way, this fight was a blessing in disguise for you. Your Meridians have opened up a bit more, and you can try opening the second layer of Golden Bell Cover."
After helping Ning Rongrong apply the ointment to her back burns, Su Ran handed the ointment to Ning Rongrong, reminding her.
Ning Rongrong's face flushed slightly, and she softly hummed in acknowledgment.
The second layer of Golden Bell Cover?!
...
Fifteen minutes later, in the inner courtyard, only a "whoosh" sound was heard as Ning Rongrong's body immersed itself in the bathtub.
She felt warm all over, and the medicine felt like countless small fish licking her skin, especially in the areas burned by the Phoenix Fire Wire. The internal Golden Bell Qi became even more unobstructed.
Following Teacher Su Ran's guidance, Ning Rongrong eagerly began to open her acupoints and clear her Meridians in the bathtub, condensing the second layer of Golden Bell Cover.
The dazzling Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda imprint appeared on her forehead, and gradually, a faint golden light began to emanate from her body.
The first layer of Golden Bell Cover, repair!
After only fifteen minutes, the second wisp of Golden Bell Qi began to swirl around Ning Rongrong's body.
Return acupoint!
Qi Rush acupoint!
Thigh Gate acupoint!
Stone Gate acupoint!
Middle Pole acupoint!
Open!
Buzz!
Ning Rongrong only felt her entire body clear. Her internal Meridians and several key acupoints connected and opened up, and the Golden Bell Qi that could flow within her body instantly expanded greatly.
"It's done!"
Unbeknownst to her, it was already midnight.
The stars and moon hung high, and tonight's moonlight was exceptionally bright.
Ning Rongrong emerged from the bathtub, her body becoming incredibly translucent. Drops of milky green liquid clung to her, and with two layers of Golden Bell Cover enveloping her, nothing could penetrate it.
"Although the second layer of Golden Bell Cover is still a bit weak, my defense has increased by at least 30%. After cultivating for a while longer and solidifying the second layer to Perfection, my defense can increase by at least 100%."
"Then it should be difficult for even a Spirit Elder to break through."
"My spirit power has also reached level 27, that's great."
Feeling the changes in her body, Ning Rongrong revealed a very sweet smile on her face.
Following this trend, she would definitely become the continent's top support system Spirit Master, capable of both support and tanking damage!
No wonder Teacher said she was blessed in disguise!
"It's already this late?"
"Oh, right, Teacher!"
Ning Rongrong quickly put on a pink dress, her pink hair still wet, looking like a little princess after a bath.
"Teacher, are you still here?"
"Teacher should have gone back to rest, right?"
Ning Rongrong murmured as she walked out.
But in the garden behind the academy, under a swaying red maple tree, Su Ran was half-reclining on the tree roots, quietly resting, waiting for Ning Rongrong to finish her bath. A meal was still laid out on the stone table in front of him.
Normally, Su Ran would assess her daily cultivation progress and correct her mistakes after Ning Rongrong's bath and dinner.
However, Ning Rongrong didn't expect that tonight, she unexpectedly cultivated the second layer of Golden Bell Cover while bathing. It was already past midnight, and Teacher Su Ran was still waiting for her, and even left her a meal.
A ripple stirred in the young girl's heart. Teacher... is so kind.
Originally, she wanted to immediately share with Teacher Su Ran that she had condensed the second layer of Golden Bell Cover, after all, they had an agreement.
But seeing that Teacher Su Ran was resting, she didn't want to disturb him. She just sat down next to him, quietly ate her meal, and occasionally glanced at Su Ran.
At this moment, Su Ran slowly opened his eyes. His bright eyes were still very spirited even in the night:
"Finished bathing?"
"Teacher... you weren't asleep?"
Ning Rongrong asked in surprise.
"Mm, I'm used to it. At my Realm, I don't need to sleep for very long."
Su Ran said calmly.
The truth was, in the past, women often raided his room to tease him, so he developed the habit of having a keen awareness of his surroundings even while sleeping.
Ning Rongrong wiped her mouth, her eyes sparkling:
"Teacher, my five acupoints are open, and the second layer of Golden Bell Cover has been condensed."
"I know."
Su Ran smiled faintly.
"Then, Teacher, what we agreed on earlier... the mask..."
Ning Rongrong tentatively brought it up.
"Do you really want to see it?"
"Yes!"
"Alright then, since there was an early agreement, this teacher will naturally fulfill his promise."
At this moment, Su Ran slowly removed his mask.