After the farewell feast, everyone returned to their respective rooms.
Zhu Ziyang walked towards his room. Nothing had changed there. Although no one had been in it for over a month, it was still spotless, and even the large cocoon that Xingcai had transformed into was well-maintained.
When Mu En fell, Xingcai also received Mu En's gift. The Light Baptism caused her to fall directly into a deep slumber, beginning a profound transformation. This was a good thing; according to Zhu Ziyang's estimations, by the time Xingcai finished her transformation, she would likely be able to directly reach the level of a 10,000-year Spirit Beast.
The night gradually faded, and the morning light began to break.
At the north gate of Shrek Academy, a group of people had arrived early.
Zhu Ziyang, Tang Ya, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Xiao Xiao came to see Huo Yuhao and He Caitou off. Also present was Xian Lin'er, the head of the Soul Tool Department. She was responsible for escorting Huo Yuhao and the others to Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and for bringing back the students from Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
"Yu Hao, I won't say much else," Zhu Ziyang said, patting Huo Yuhao's shoulder. "Remember, you represent Shrek Academy, so don't let anyone bully you!"
"Senior Brother, don't worry, I will definitely not diminish the academy's prestige!" Huo Yuhao promised confidently.
"I believe you!" Zhu Ziyang smiled and said, "Oh, right, I'm giving you this book. You can flip through it when you have time; you might find an unexpected surprise!"
"Okay! I'll read it!" Huo Yuhao took the book Zhu Ziyang handed him. Although he was a bit puzzled, he still glanced at the title: "Complete Guide to Douluo Continent's Top Spirits." It should be a book explaining Spirits, he thought. Huo Yuhao put it into his storage spirit tool.
"We're setting off!" Xian Lin'er called out, and then the exchange group departed.
Watching the departing exchange group, Zhu Ziyang and the others also turned and walked back into the academy.
"Zhu Ziyang, what book did you give Yu Hao in the end?" Tang Ya asked curiously.
"It's just a book explaining Spirits, but it's quite rare," Zhu Ziyang said with a faint smile on his face.
"Strange, why would you give Yu Hao a book like that for no reason?" Tang Ya indicated that she didn't understand Zhu Ziyang's actions.
"Haha, Yu Hao will definitely thank me in the future!" Zhu Ziyang chuckled and didn't explain further.
—
After seeing off the exchange group, Zhu Ziyang also prepared to leave the academy again to travel.
"Zhu Ziyang, where have you been this past month? Why haven't I seen you in the academy?" Qian Lingyi, who had been in the Inner Courtyard for over a month, directly came to his door and questioned Zhu Ziyang.
"I was naturally on a mission!" Zhu Ziyang looked at the angel descendant who had completely integrated into Shrek Academy and couldn't help but smile, saying, "How is it? Are you used to life in the academy?"
"It's so-so," Qian Lingyi waved her hand, adopting a casual posture, and said, "Among my peers, there isn't a single one who can fight!"
"Ah, this…" Zhu Ziyang was stunned, and then said, "Who have you met to make you feel like there's no one in the Inner Courtyard?"
"I didn't count, I just sparred a few times with a kid with a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit and another kid with a shield Spirit. They all lost to me! Hehe!" Qian Lingyi said proudly.
"Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi? You know them?" Zhu Ziyang was very surprised. Why hadn't he heard Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi mention it? And why hadn't Tang Ya, that bigmouth, revealed any news? Could it be that she had changed her ways?
"I don't know them! So, they're called Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi," Qian Lingyi replied righteously. "Oh, right, Zhu Ziyang, come with me to hunt for my sixth spirit ring!"
"You're at six rings?" Zhu Zi Yang heard this and looked at Qian Lingyi with some surprise, saying.
"Uh huh!" Qian Lingyi proudly lifted her head and said, "The meditation room under the Golden Ancient Tree is very effective. I only meditated there for a month, and I completely solidified my cultivation and even broke through to level 60. How about that, aren't I amazing!"
"Hmm, you are quite amazing!" Zhu Ziyang nodded, and then said, "Alright then, I just received a mission, and I was preparing to leave the academy to travel. You can come with me!"
"That's great! I'll go pack some luggage, and then we can set off!" Qian Lingyi revealed a joyful smile and said.
"Go ahead!" Zhu Ziyang nodded in response.
About half an hour later, Qian Lingyi finally arrived, belatedly. Seeing the girl's embarrassed grin, Zhu Ziyang felt helpless but didn't say anything, directly walking towards the academy exit.
"Should we complete your mission first, or should we help me hunt for my sixth spirit ring first?" Qian Lingyi jogged to Zhu Ziyang's side and asked with a beaming smile.
"That depends on you!" Zhu Ziyang said, "Where do you plan to look for your sixth spirit ring? If it's the Star Dou Great Forest, then we'll go back to the academy now to ask the elders for help. If not, then we can discuss it in more detail."
"Oh, okay! Then, let's go to Tianhui Grand Canyon!" Qian Lingyi replied.
"Tianhui Grand Canyon? Are you sure you can find a Spirit Beast there that can become your sixth spirit ring?" Zhu Ziyang was a bit surprised and asked.
"You wouldn't know, would you? There's a Light Tiger clan deep within Tianhui Grand Canyon!" Qian Lingyi smiled mysteriously and said, "That Light Tiger clan has 10,000-year cultivation Six-Winged Light Tigers, which are perfect to become my spirit ring!"
"Is that so? How come I've never heard of it?" Zhu Ziyang was very surprised, a curious expression on his face, and asked.
"The place where this Light Tiger clan lives is very secluded. I only learned about this from my family!" Qian Lingyi said.
"Alright, then we'll go to Tianhui Grand Canyon," Zhu Ziyang said. "Coincidentally, my mission target isn't far from Tianhui Grand Canyon. We'll take care of him along the way, and then go to Tianhui Grand Canyon to find the Light Tiger clan."
"Hehe, no problem!" Qian Lingyi laughed cheerfully.
The two traveled swiftly, and on the third day after leaving the academy, they arrived at the location of the fifth target of Zhu Ziyang's Death God Fourth Trial, Duoluo City in the Tianhun Empire.
"According to the information received by the academy, the City Lord of Duoluo City is an attack system Spirit Saint, and he has three Spirit Emperor-level guest enforcers under his command," Zhu Ziyang said as he and Qian Lingyi stood on a small hill outside Duoluo City.
"You're not going to attack him, are you?" Qian Lingyi was startled by Zhu Ziyang's words and quickly said, "That's a City Lord, and also an Earl of the Tianhun Empire. Is Shrek Academy planning to declare war on the Tianhun Empire?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Zhu Ziyang heard Qian Lingyi's speculation and couldn't help but roll his eyes at her, then said, "My meaning is, that Spirit Saint and three Spirit Emperors have already been killed, killed by my target!"
"Oh, I see! So that's how it is, I thought you were really going to attack a City Lord!" Qian Lingyi finally smiled, but then she shrieked, "No, an Evil Soul Master who can kill a Spirit Saint and three Spirit Emperors must at least be a high-level Spirit Saint, or even a Spirit Douluo! Are you sure the two of us can handle him?"
"Don't worry, I never do anything without confidence," Zhu Ziyang smiled confidently and said, "That Evil Soul Master, after killing the City Lord of Duoluo City, has been occupying Duoluo City and taking over the City Lord's mansion. So, we'll go directly to the City Lord's mansion to find him."
"Okay!" Qian Lingyi nodded and then followed Zhu Ziyang towards the city gate of Duoluo City.
As the two approached the city gate, the scene near it made them feel a bit disoriented. Inside and outside the city gate, people came and went, bustling with activity. Everyone's face carried expressions of various stories, yet there was no sign of the panic and desolation after an Evil Soul Master's rampage. Even the soldiers guarding the city looked perfectly normal, completely unlike a city whose lord had died.
The entire city presented a peaceful and harmonious scene, which immediately made Zhu Ziyang and Qian Lingyi feel alert and strange.
"Are you sure this city is controlled by an Evil Soul Master?" Qian Lingyi asked suspiciously.
"I'm sure!" Zhu Ziyang said with a serious expression, "There must be something strange going on here. Either this Evil Soul Master isn't a true Evil Soul Master, or this Evil Soul Master possesses powerful abilities that can control people's minds. If it's the former, then it's nothing, but if it's the latter, then we might have to be careful!"
"Then should we still go in?" Qian Lingyi asked with worry on her face.
"Go in. Since we're here, we should at least figure out the truth of the matter!" Zhu Ziyang said.
"But what if…" Qian Lingyi said, still worried.
"There is no 'what if'!" Zhu Ziyang turned to look at Qian Lingyi, took her hand, and said, "I'll handle everything!"