Snake Granny's words fell, and Yuan Longxuan paused as if considering, though it was merely for show.
He never pretended to be a good man. Call him romantic and he was a wanderer of hearts; call him bluntly… well, fill in the insults yourself.
"I can allow your granddaughter to join the Tianshui Battle Team," Yuan Longxuan finally said, "but only as an auditing member for now.
If, after two months, my team acknowledges her strength and character, she may officially enter."
He emphasized battle team, not academy.
With Meng Yiran's talent, she could easily join the academy.
But the battle team...his battle team—was another level entirely.
In his eyes, her talent was at best comparable to Hai Rou, perhaps even slightly inferior.
Snake Granny understood instantly and nodded.
"Yiran, from today on, you'll follow this instructor to study at Tianshui Academy.
Keeping you locked inside the sect isn't helping you."
Meng Yiran stared blankly, feeling as if her grandmother had just sold her off in a few casual sentences.
Yuan Longxuan smiled. "Little girl, are you sure you want to train under me? The Tianshui Battle Team's regimen is… very harsh."
He lied without the slightest shame.
The little cat nestled in his arms froze.
Harsh? Where?
They ate premium soul-beast meat every day, had perfect simulation fields, full sets of advanced techniques, movement arts, and top-tier yoga for cultivation acceleration…
Aside from afternoon combat drills, their schedule was practically luxurious!
But the girls trained hard of their own will....especially with such benefits… and such a handsome, gentle instructor.
"I…"
Meng Yiran looked at her grandmother and saw firm resolve...
and disappointment at her hesitation.
"…I'm willing to join!"
Snake Granny exhaled in relief. Her judgment had never failed her.
And this youth...already standing at the domain of Titled Douluo.....must have profound insights into cultivation. Yiran would not suffer under him.
"Good. Don't move. I'll check your physique."
Yuan Longxuan stepped forward with Zhu Zhuqing. Meng Yiran stood still, trusting him completely.
A soft crackle sounded as his fingertip rested on her forehead.
Threads of lightning spread through her meridians and returned with detailed feedback.
Yuan Longxuan raised a brow.
Well now… this little girl was hiding quite a lot.
A solid C-grade physique, excellent foundational structure… and extremely promising. Cough. Absolutely nothing else implied.
Of course, comparing figures, Zhu Zhuyun was at least E, maybe F.
Zhu Zhuqing's D ranked second in his entire "lotus courtyard," beneath only her sister.
The Star Luo Zhu family truly had impressive genetics.
"Your body is superb. You can absorb this 1,700-year Man-Faced Demon Spider ring."
Meng Yiran almost cursed him a pervert....until she caught the rest of the sentence and swallowed the words.
"Grandma…"
Dragon Duke finally protested:
"But normally the second spirit ring is around 1,200 years!"
Yuan Longxuan glanced at him.
"Believe me or don't.
But I'm her instructor. If something happens, I take responsibility."
Dragon Duke clutched his chest angrily. Snake Granny steadied him.
"Old man, since we've entrusted Yiran to him, we must trust his judgment!"
Dragon Duke sighed deeply. This mysterious young man truly was terrifying—someone who could toy with a high-ranked Contra… he was undoubtedly a Titled Douluo.
Meng Yiran sat and began the absorption. Yuan Longxuan rested with the little cat under a shady tree, monitoring everything with calm eyes.
Snake Granny and Dragon Duke watched nervously—the Man-Faced Demon Spider was infamous, and this one had lived over 1,700 years.
Time trickled by. Sweat gathered on Yiran's brow.
Yuan Longxuan remained unhurried.
She would succeed.....he knew it.
But before stepping in, he wanted to see her willpower.
After all, this was the same spirit ring that the "child of destiny" Tang San nearly died absorbing in the original story.
Meng Yiran's process of absorbing the Man-Faced Demon Spider's spirit ring was almost identical to Zhuqing's absorption of the Dark Night Demon Dragon.
A spirit ring from such a super-class spirit beast always contained a fragment of lingering soul.
In the original timeline, Tang San had nearly lost his life fighting the same phenomenon.
But at that time, Tang San was only twelve.
A soul master's body strengthens as they grow — bones, meridians, muscles, everything becomes sturdier.
And someone like Meng Yiran, who trained poisons, hidden weapons, and physical conditioning every single day, absolutely didn't lose to Tang San in physical strength.
However…
her spiritual power was another matter entirely. She might not withstand the spiritual assault of the Man-Faced Demon Spider's remnant soul.
"Longxuan-gege… do you think Meng Yiran can really absorb this spirit ring?"
Zhu Zhuqing's soft voice carried worry.
She was gentle by nature, and seeing Meng Yiran's pale face twisted with pain made her heart ache.