Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan returned to Shrek Academy, and the two of them separated on Sea God Island.
Jiang Nannan went to find Elder Song, as was expected of her as a disciple. With Elder Song's help, she would begin absorbing the flower and leaf gifted to her by the Laurel Immortal Tea.
Zhu Ziyang, unsurprisingly, went to find Mu En. The matter of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was far too important to be kept secret. He believed that Mu En would be very eager to know about the situation there.
"Teacher, Elder Xuan." Zhu Ziyang entered the Sea God Pavilion. As always, Mu En was leisurely lying in a wooden chair, while Elder Xuan stood before him. It turned out Elder Xuan had completed his punishment and returned to report to Mu En. When Zhu Ziyang stepped into the hall, Mu En was still instructing him on certain matters.
"Mm, you're back." Mu En responded kindly to Zhu Ziyang, then looked back at Elder Xuan and said, "...I hope you've truly learned your lesson. For now, I want you to focus on the outer court. Leave the inner court to others. You may go."
"I understand, Elder Mu!" Elder Xuan accepted the instruction respectfully. He bowed before Mu En and turned to leave the Sea God Pavilion. Before he left, he cast a smile at Zhu Ziyang — a smile full of remorse and apology.
Zhu Ziyang gave a faint nod in return and looked to Mu En. "Teacher, I just returned from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
"What?" Mu En, who had been preoccupied with thoughts about Elder Xuan's lessons, was instantly shocked by Zhu Ziyang's words. His cloudy eyes now carried both surprise and reproach.
"You went alone? How could you take such a dangerous risk? Don't you realize how important you are to the academy? If anything had gone wrong, we would've been filled with regret!"
"Hehe, teacher, didn't I come back just fine? Besides, I brought back a Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower!" Zhu Ziyang smiled, taking out the jade box containing the flower and handing it over for Mu En to see.
"Sigh! Ziyang, I hope in the future you consider the consequences of your actions. Recklessly putting yourself in harm's way is not the path to long-term success!" Mu En didn't even glance at the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, instead speaking with a face full of earnest concern.
"I understand, teacher." Zhu Ziyang retracted his smile and replied seriously. "I wasn't alone. Nannan went with me. With her around, we could avoid any danger. Besides, I still have the power of my left eye."
"Sigh... I won't scold you this time since you returned safely." Mu En let out a long sigh. He was aware of the abilities in both of Zhu Ziyang's eyes, and although the risk still made him uneasy, he was ultimately relieved. "Tell me everything you saw inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
"Yes, teacher." Zhu Ziyang nodded and began, "We previously suspected that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was the base of the Body Sect, but that's not the case. Apart from the immortal herbs, there's nothing else in there. The man we encountered last time wasn't from the Body Sect. In fact, I didn't see him at all during this visit. I think we must've triggered some kind of mechanism that summoned him before."
"Mm!" Mu En listened carefully, falling into thought. It was good news that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well wasn't occupied by the Body Sect. However, the unknown man could represent a new faction — and that was troubling.
"After Nannan and I entered..." Zhu Ziyang began detailing what they encountered within the well. There was nothing worth hiding about what they'd seen.
"You're saying there are more than ten hundred-thousand-year immortal herb soul beasts within the well?!" Mu En was astounded and blurted out.
"Yes. According to what the Laurel Immortal Tea said and based on my own observation, there are at least ten such soul beasts. All of them were once immortal herbs that evolved into soul beasts. Even the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower I brought back is just an offshoot of a hundred-thousand-year-old Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower."
"Truly astonishing!" Despite his shock, Mu En was over two hundred years old and quickly composed himself. "Such an abundance of hundred-thousand-year immortal herbs could propel our academy to unimaginable heights... but it won't be easy."
He felt a pang of regret. If his body were still in its prime, he might have dared to charge into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and seize those herbs. But now, he wasn't qualified. Even if he could miraculously defeat the soul beasts, could he handle the unknown man who might appear again?
Clearly, they needed to proceed with caution.
"Ziyang, we must treat the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well with great care!" Mu En said seriously. "Don't enter it again unless you're accompanied by me or one of your senior brothers or sisters."
"I understand, teacher!" Zhu Ziyang agreed readily — whether he'd actually follow through was another matter entirely.
"Alright. Go find your senior brother and ask him to retrieve a book from the library for me — The Biography of Phoenix Douluo. Once you have it, return here. That little girl Xiaotao is still cultivating beneath the Golden Tree."
"Understood, teacher." Zhu Ziyang accepted the task and immediately left to find Yan Shaozhe.
"Heh, so this is the child of destiny?" Mu En watched Zhu Ziyang's departing back, his mood lifting. He muttered to himself, "That Xiaotao girl sure is lucky... Just like her ancestor."
Zhu Ziyang soon returned, arriving back in the Sea God Pavilion's main hall just as Ma Xiaotao emerged from beneath the Golden Tree. From her expression, it was clear she had gained something.
This was one of the greatest benefits of being a member of Shrek's official team.
The underground world beneath the Golden Tree had the most concentrated life energy and natural power in the entire academy. All inner court students considered it a supreme honor to train there. However, only those at a bottleneck in cultivation were allowed to enter — unless personally granted permission by Mu En.
Once confirmed as members of the official team, students were granted five chances a year to enter the underground world to cultivate. The goal was clear — to strengthen the team before the Elite Tournament.
Thus, from joining the official team until the start of the tournament, was the period when their cultivation grew fastest.
"Elder Mu, you called for me?" Ma Xiaotao asked, puzzled.
"Haha, it's good news." Mu En laughed. "We'll talk once your teacher arrives."
"Alright." Ma Xiaotao nodded, then moved to Zhu Ziyang's side and whispered in his ear, "Ziyang, do you know why Elder Mu called me?"
"Hehe, Sister Xiaotao, don't worry. It's definitely something good. You'll find out once senior brother gets here." Zhu Ziyang smiled mysteriously, keeping her in suspense.
"Fine..." Ma Xiaotao could only wait for Yan Shaozhe to arrive.
Not long after, Yan Shaozhe appeared, and with him came Xian Lin'er.
Both Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao were surprised to see them together. Everyone knew Xian Lin'er didn't get along with Yan Shaozhe. It was rare to see them together like this.
"Teacher, I've arrived," Yan Shaozhe said, his tone tinged with excitement. He already knew from Zhu Ziyang that the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower had been found.
"Teacher." Xian Lin'er also greeted Mu En. She had run into Yan Shaozhe on the way and wouldn't have walked with him if the matter weren't important.
"Mm, good." Mu En smiled. "Lin'er, wait a bit. Shaozhe, did you bring the book I asked for?"
"I did, teacher." Yan Shaozhe nodded and pulled out a very old, yellowed book from his soul tool ring, handing it over.
Mu En looked surprised — he hadn't expected Yan Shaozhe to bring the original edition. He began flipping through the pages with a focused gaze.
The others waited silently. When Ma Xiaotao saw the book's title, her heart trembled. The Biography of Phoenix Douluo... She suddenly realized this matter might be about her.
Zhu Ziyang, meanwhile, was intrigued. He knew his own library had a copy of The Biography of Phoenix Douluo, but he didn't expect Shrek Academy to have the original. After all, this was a book written ten thousand years ago!
It had to be said — Shrek Academy truly knew how to preserve its ancient records.
(End of Chapter)
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