In a way, Ma Xiaotao should thank Niu Tian. If not for his appearance, she probably wouldn't have chosen to forcibly draw the Fire God Sword.
Ma Xiaotao's success in drawing the Fire God Sword was a desperate gamble with her life as the stake. Fortunately, she won the gamble—and the rewards were rich, exceedingly rich.
Since the content of Ma Xiaotao's Fire God Eighth Trial was to gain the Fire God Sword's recognition and draw it, whether the sword truly acknowledged her was unclear. But she had indeed pulled it from its scabbard and could now wield it freely. This meant Ma Xiaotao had completed her Fire God Eighth Trial.
During the few hours Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao spent in the Sacred Law Demiplane, Ma Xiaotao and Wu Huan'er had already claimed the rewards for the Fire God Eighth Trial and successfully unlocked the Fire God Ninth Trial.
Ma Xiaotao's rewards were: 10% affinity with the Fire God divine position, one level of soul power, and 5,000 years added to all soul rings. Wu Huan'er's rewards were: one level of soul power, 1,000 years added to all soul rings, and one god-bestowed soul ring.
After receiving the rewards, Ma Xiaotao's soul power reached level 93, while Wu Huan'er reached level 80. Absorbing the god-bestowed soul ring would make her a true Soul Douluo.
However, Wu Huan'er didn't choose to absorb the god-bestowed soul ring. Instead, she hoped to obtain a soul spirit. Her eyes burned with eager anticipation, and Zhu Ziyang instantly understood her intent. He agreed and promised to take her to the Star Dou Great Forest once they returned to the academy.
...
Zhu Ziyang and his group arrived in Anyang City at dusk the next day. When they reached the Zhu family home in Beihe Village, Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying were having dinner.
Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying were both surprised and delighted to see Zhu Ziyang return. Their smiles grew even wider upon seeing Ma Xiaotao. They quickly invited the two to sit and went to the kitchen to fetch extra bowls and chopsticks.
"Mom, add a few more sets of bowls and chopsticks," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. With a wave of his hand, Jiang Nannan, Qian Lingyi, and Wu Huan'er emerged from the Sacred Law Demiplane.
Zhu Changhe was startled by the sudden appearance of Jiang Nannan, Qian Lingyi, and Wu Huan'er, but didn't pry. He knew his eldest son was now extraordinary—far beyond what an unremarkable father like him could comprehend. Thinking this, pride and a touch of melancholy crossed his face.
Seeing the house full of beautiful women only deepened his gloom. He was so devoted—how had his son turned out so flirtatious? Zhu Ziyang was one thing, but even that little rascal Zhu Ziguang was popular with girls at school. How depressing! Neither son inherited their father's loyal, devoted heart.
In contrast to the father's gloom, Liang Ying, the mother, was overjoyed. Looking at Jiang Nannan, Ma Xiaotao, and the others, she was already envisioning a future with grandchildren in both arms.
"Mom, this is Qian Lingyi—call her Yiyi. This is Wu Huan'er—just call her Huan'er," Zhu Ziyang introduced Qian Lingyi and Wu Huan'er to Liang Ying. She had met Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao before, but this was her first time meeting Qian Lingyi and Wu Huan'er.
"Good, good, good girls!" Liang Ying beamed, handing bowls and chopsticks to Qian Lingyi and Wu Huan'er. "Auntie didn't know you'd be back today, so there's not much good food. Make do for now—tomorrow, Auntie will cook something delicious for you!"
"Thank you, Auntie!" Qian Lingyi and Wu Huan'er, overwhelmed by the warmth, took the bowls and chopsticks and replied in unison. Meeting Zhu Ziyang's parents for the first time, they felt more shy than excited, unlike Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao, who were used to it and began eating calmly.
"Mom, no need to go to trouble. We're only staying one night. We're heading back to the academy first thing tomorrow," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile.
"Huh? So soon? I was hoping to bring Ziguang back so we could all have a family meal," Liang Ying said, her face falling with disappointment.
Hearing this, Qian Lingyi and Wu Huan'er blushed even more, while faint blushes appeared on Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao's faces. Liang Ying's words clearly stirred their hearts.
"We just finished the Soul Master Tournament. We need to report the results to the academy first!" Zhu Ziyang said, putting an arm around his mother's shoulders with a slightly apologetic smile.
"I see," Liang Ying said understandingly, then asked curiously, "How did the Soul Master Tournament go? Did you win?"
"Of course we won!" Zhu Ziyang said proudly. "With your son here, how could we lose? And we're the champions!"
"Really!" Liang Ying's face lit up with a radiant smile. "That's my boy!"
The family ate and chatted late into the night before dispersing.
Early the next morning, Zhu Ziyang quietly left home without waking Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying.
Now, Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying were far stronger than they had been ten years ago. Thanks to Zhu Ziyang's growth, his parents had access to increasingly abundant resources. One was a level 58 Soul King, the other a level 49 Soul Ancestor. In the northern border province, this made them minor powerhouses.
Zhu Ziyang wasn't worried about their safety. Their strength was more than enough to protect themselves in Anyang City. More importantly, the city housed an elder of the Tianyuan Pavilion, a level 94 Titled Douluo. As the first Tianyuan Academy established by Shrek Academy, Anyang City's First Tianyuan Academy held special significance, necessitating a Titled Douluo's presence.
With a Titled Douluo's protection, Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying's safety was assured.
...
Zhu Ziyang returned to Shrek Academy at top speed. The events in Mingdu of the Sun Moon Empire hadn't yet reached Shrek City, so the academy remained peaceful.
"Ziyang, you're back!" Cai Mei'er and Yan Shaozhe appeared before Zhu Ziyang, their faces showing surprise but mostly joy.
"Senior Brother, Senior Sister, it's been hard on you guarding the academy this past month," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. Not forgetting to show off, he waved a hand, and a large group appeared—Shrek Academy's team, led by Ma Xiaotao.
Ma Xiaotao, Jiang Nannan, Qian Lingyi, and Wu Huan'er looked calm, but Zhou Tianhe, Chu Hua, and the others appeared dazed. The past few days had been surreal for them. Zhu Ziyang had stored them in the Sacred Law Demiplane and then ignored them, leaving them anxious, fearing they'd never get out.
Fortunately, they were out now, breathing the air of the Douluo Continent again. Wonderful.
"We're back at the academy. Everyone, go rest!" Ma Xiaotao said to the group.
Zhou Tianhe and the others cheered and scattered into the academy, heading in different directions.
"Ziyang, where's Elder Xuan? Why didn't he return with you?" Cai Mei'er was curious about Zhu Ziyang's earlier display but didn't press, instead asking about Xuanzi.
"What?" Zhu Ziyang froze at Cai Mei'er's words. "Elder Xuan didn't come back? How? I told him to head out first with Huo Yuhao and the Tang Sect people. How could he not be back yet?"
"Huh?" Cai Mei'er and Yan Shaozhe were shocked. With Xuanzi's strength, even escorting the Tang Sect group might slow him down, but not to the point of taking this long. There was only one explanation: something had happened.
As Zhu Ziyang and the others grew pensive and worried, a group appeared under the western sunset.
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
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