The Lima Plains were vast and boundless.
On an unnamed mountain peak in these plains, two figures, one black and one white, stood quietly facing each other.
The white figure stood amidst the wild wind, his clothes flapping loudly, yet they could not hide the air of extreme age and vicissitude.
His face was covered in deep wrinkles carved by time, his eyes held a hint of weariness from the ages, and his body was bent nearly ninety degrees.
He looked to be in the twilight of his life, as if a slightly stronger gust of wind could blow this broken frame over, appearing no different from any ordinary elderly person on the verge of death.
The black figure opposite him presented a completely different atmosphere.
This person was wrapped in a robe as dark as night, and his face was covered by an ancient-patterned, lusterless mask.
Only a tight jawline and thin lips were visible; his entire face was strictly concealed, so no one could see his true appearance.
But even without seeing his face, his posture—straight as a pine and heavy as a mountain—carried a natural pressure that looked down upon the World.
A faint dark aura emanated from him, merging with the whistling wind of the World; it was majestic, domineering, and carried an unfathomable, terrifying power.
Compared to the aging white figure beside him, this man in black appeared increasingly powerful and robust, his aura stern, fully displaying the demeanor of a peak powerhouse.
These two individuals, one black and one white with vastly different temperaments, were the Black and White Saint Dragons who had left a profound mark on the Douluo Continent and were famous throughout the World.
Mu En, Spirit: Radiant Holy Dragon, Rank 99 Limit Douluo, Title: Dragon God.
Long Xiaoyao, Spirit: Darkness Holy Dragon, Rank 99 Limit Douluo, Title: Dragon Emperor.
Once, they were close friends fighting side by side, the Twin Saint Dragons who roamed the continent, and legends in the hearts of countless Spirit Masters.
Today, they were still the continent's top combat forces, but they had long been separated by an insurmountable chasm formed by time and past entanglements.
This quiet meeting on the unnamed peak of the Lima Plains hid endless sighs and helplessness.
Silence spread between heaven and earth for a long time until Long Xiaoyao finally broke the stillness.
His voice was deep and hoarse, with an imperceptible tension, echoing across the empty mountain peak:
"Mu En, it has been a hundred years, a full hundred years."
"If you hadn't sent a message via dragon scale and insisted on meeting here, I still wouldn't have dared to come see you, nor would I have the face to see you."
A single sentence expressed the avoidance of the past century and the deep-seated guilt and struggle in his heart.
Hearing this, Mu En's cloudy eyes moved slightly, and his dry lips slowly curved up as he let out a low, hoarse chuckle.
There was no blame or resentment in his laughter, only endless vicissitude and relief.
He looked up slightly at Long Xiaoyao, whose posture was still upright, and spoke with a weak breath:
"As you can see, this body of mine is already spent, like a lamp running out of oil; I won't last much longer."
"If it weren't for the fact that my days are numbered and I still have unfinished concerns in my heart, I wouldn't have called you over so hastily."
His voice was as light as a flickering candle in the wind, every word consuming his remaining life force.
That frail, elderly appearance would evoke pity in anyone who saw it.
Long Xiaoyao watched Mu En quietly, looking at this close friend who was once known alongside him as the Twin Saint Dragons, high-spirited and full of life, now reduced to this state of waiting for death.
The eyes hidden behind Long Xiaoyao's mask trembled violently, and deep within his heart, it felt as if he had been pierced by a sharp blade, bringing a wave of sharp, throbbing pain.
This pain did not come from the depletion of spirit power or external injury.
It stemmed from the guilt and self-reproach of a hundred years ago, buried deep in his heart for a century, never dissipating.
Only Long Xiaoyao himself knew best that the reason Mu En had ended up in this state—plagued by injuries and with his life force exhausted—was inextricably linked to his own choices and schemes back then.
If it hadn't been for his momentary lapse in judgment, or those difficulties and choices where he felt he had no control over himself,
The Radiant Holy Dragon would never have been backlashed by old wounds and malevolence to this point; he would still be that radiant figure soaring above the nine heavens.
But he had his own difficulties, his unspeakable bonds and restraints.
Those secrets pressed in his heart for a century, that guilt that kept him awake at night—he didn't dare tell Mu En, nor could he.
He could only hide all his emotions under the cold mask and behind a seemingly calm exterior, enduring a hundred years of torment alone.
But at this very moment, seeing Mu En on the verge of death, Long Xiaoyao made a decision in his heart.
No matter what Mu En wanted him to do this time, he would complete it without reservation and with all his strength.
To make up for his debt from a hundred years ago and for his avoidance during this century.
Mu En seemed to sense Long Xiaoyao's emotions but did not say much, continuing: "Not long ago, something happened at Shrek."
"A child the academy valued greatly unexpectedly went missing while out for experience, losing all contact. Among the lingering traces at the scene was the aura of an Evil Soul Master."
"My body is currently inconvenient, and my spirit power and mental force are no longer what they used to be, making it difficult to search for traces of an Evil Soul Master over a large area."
"So, I want to ask you to use your power to help me find the whereabouts of this child."
His words were light, but they carried a heavy entrustment.
Hearing this, Long Xiaoyao was silent for a moment, the wild wind brushing past his black robe without moving him in the slightest.
He did not refuse, nor did he ask for the reason, simply and solemnly uttering two words: "Specific characteristics."
Those short words already represented his agreement and his willingness to take on this task for Mu En.
Seeing that Long Xiaoyao had agreed without the slightest hesitation, a flash of relief crossed Mu En's cloudy eyes.
The smile at the corner of his mouth became a bit more genuine as he slowly relayed the child's information:
"The child's name is Zhang Lexuan, twenty-two years old. At such a young age, she has already reached the bottleneck of an eighty-level Spirit Douluo. Her talent is so high that she is not inferior to you or me."
At this point, he paused for a moment before continuing: "Her Spirit is the Moon."
Upon hearing Zhang Lexuan's age and rank, Long Xiaoyao's brow under the mask twitched slightly, and he understood instantly.
Reaching the level eighty bottleneck at twenty-two—such talent was undoubtedly that of Shrek's designated core successor, the hope that would carry the Shrek banner in the future.
Mu En's current state was extremely poor, with his life force constantly draining away; Shrek Academy precisely needed such a top-tier talented junior to inherit the mantle and protect the academy's future.
No wonder Mu En would go so far as to drag his broken body to find him just for such a young girl.
But when he heard the Spirit was the Moon, Long Xiaoyao's expression changed again, his brow furrowing tightly as he spoke with a hint of doubt and surprise: "Moon Martial Soul?"
"Astrological Spirits are not mainstream on the continent. Could it be that this child has the blood of the Sun Moon Empire flowing in her?"
The Moon and Sun were the signature Spirit symbols of the Sun Moon Empire; Long Xiaoyao naturally knew this clearly.
Mu En did not answer the question directly, only looking forward with a calm gaze, his tone indifferent:
"None of that is important. What matters is that she is a child of Shrek and the person I am looking for."
"If there is any news of her, remember to notify me immediately. Do not delay."
After speaking, Mu En sighed softly. This sigh was long and heavy, as if lamenting his own numbered days, Shrek's difficult future, and the century-long entanglement between the two.
After the sigh, he spoke again, his voice carrying a final entrustment: "Besides this, I want to ask you a second favor."
Seeing that Mu En was unwilling to discuss Zhang Lexuan's background, Long Xiaoyao tactfully stopped asking.
Of course, he already had an answer in his heart; he just didn't want to expose it.
He nodded heavily, his voice becoming more solemn and firm: "Speak, Mu En."
"As long as it is within my power and you ask it of me, I will definitely go all out and not refuse."
Hearing Long Xiaoyao's categorical promise, the smile on Mu En's face instantly became bright and warm.
Like the last glimmer of light in the darkness, it dispelled all the vicissitudes and weariness.
He looked at Long Xiaoyao and said word by word: "I am fading. Before long, I will leave this World entirely."
"After I am gone, Shrek will be without a leader, and the new generation of children has not yet grown up. It is inevitable that various forces will covet it, and it may even be targeted by Evil Soul Master organizations like the Holy Spirit Cult."
"I hope that for the sake of our century-long friendship and our past as fellow students, you can look after Shrek for me, protect it for a period of time, and ensure those children grow up safely."
This was his final wish, the place he had protected his whole life; even in death, he could not let go of this concern.
Long Xiaoyao was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting Mu En's final entrustment to be this.
Then, with mixed emotions, he nodded heavily, his voice carrying a hint of a sob but remaining firm:
"After all, I also studied at Shrek; Shrek has shown me the kindness of education."
"Even if you hadn't spoken, if Shrek faces trouble in the future, I will never stand by and watch. I will do my best to protect its safety."
"That's good, that's good..." Mu En nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of relief and peace.
Mu En finally uttered four words, carrying centuries of friendship and final gratitude: "Thank you, Brother Long."
The address "Brother Long" crossed a century of separation and smoothed over all the guilt and entanglement.
It was as if they had returned to their youth, standing side by side and roaming the continent.
The moment the words fell, Mu En's figure did not linger. A faint white holy light rose around him, turning into a soft but swift shadow that instantly dissipated in the wild wind of the peak, vanishing without a trace.
It was as if he had never appeared on this peak, leaving only a faint aura of light to prove he had been there.
Hearing the words "Brother Long," Long Xiaoyao's body trembled violently as if struck by lightning, and his eyes hidden behind the mask instantly turned red.
A century of guilt, a century of longing, and a century of struggle all rushed to his heart at this moment.
He stood blankly on the spot, staring at the place where Mu En had just been, not moving for a long time, letting the wild wind sweep over him.
After a long while, he finally raised his head toward the empty cliff edge and softly uttered three words, his voice hoarse and filled with endless lament and concern:
"Brother Mu, take care."
His voice echoed across the empty, unnamed mountain peak, intertwining with the wind and lingering for a long time.
It also drew a heavy and poignant conclusion to this reunion of the Black and White Twin Saint Dragons that spanned a century.