Zuzong smiled and said, "Xiao Wu, you've become much more beautiful now."
"Really?" Xiao Wu asked in confusion.
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, handing the mirror she was holding to Xiao Wu. "Wow, Xiao Wu, you look more grown-up."
Looking at herself in the mirror, Xiao Wu blushed and smiled, realizing she had indeed become much more beautiful. And—well, she had grown in other ways, too.
"What about you, Zhuqing?" Zuzong asked, turning to Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing smiled brightly. "My spirit power broke through to level 30 while we were on the way from Suotuo City, but I didn't have time to obtain a spirit ring, so I'm not sure how much further I can improve."
Zuzong reassured her, "That's okay. You're the youngest among us, and the energy from the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone is still settling within you. Once you get your third spirit ring, you should be able to increase by six or seven levels."
"I also broke through from level 29 to level 30," Ning Rongrong chimed in from the side.
Zuzong gave a mysterious smile. "Miss Ning, why don't you summon your martial spirit? You might be in for a surprise."
Though puzzled, Ning Rongrong complied and summoned her martial spirit. Her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda appeared in her right hand—no, it was now the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. At the base of the pagoda, there was a faint golden glow resembling the petals of a tulip.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine," Zuzong counted as he pointed to the nine layers of her pagoda.
"Nine layers of nine colors, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda," Ning Rongrong's voice trembled with excitement. The transformation of her Seven Treasures Pagoda into the Nine Treasures Pagoda meant something extraordinary. It signified that she had surpassed her family's limits—something even her father, Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, had aspired to achieve his entire life. And now, she had done it.
Overcome with emotion, Ning Rongrong gave Zuzong a quick kiss, and under the curious gazes of Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, she said, "Zuzong, thank you. Truly, thank you. My martial spirit has become the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, and I'm no longer bound by my family's limitations."
Zuzong rubbed his cheek, still faintly scented from Ning Rongrong's kiss, and said, "You're Zhuqing's friend, so that makes you my friend too. You helped me before by asking your family for assistance, so you don't owe me anything."
"Friend? I'm a bit greedy, though," Ning Rongrong murmured softly, though she didn't say that last part out loud.
Finally, everyone turned to look at Ye Lingling. She was always quiet and reserved, so she wouldn't speak unless Zuzong asked.
Zuzong approached her and asked, "Lingling, how about you?"
Ye Lingling responded, "I've increased by four levels, reaching level 40."
Although she was pleased to have reached level 40 so quickly, Zuzong had once told her that the Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma might fix the fatal flaw of her Nine-Hearted Begonia, which limited the number of Nine-Hearted Begonia spirit masters to two alive at the same time. She feared nothing had changed and was afraid to hope too much, lest she fall into despair if her expectations weren't met.
Glancing at Zuzong, she bit her lip and released her martial spirit. To everyone's amazement, her Nine-Hearted Begonia now had ten petals instead of nine. This meant she had broken free from the curse.
Tears flowed down Ye Lingling's face—tears of joy, not sorrow. Her fellow spirit masters remained silent, their hearts filled with sympathy and affection for her. Even Ning Rongrong, who once saw Ye Lingling as a rival, shared in her happiness.
Thanks to the nourishment of the celestial herbs, Zuzong, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, and Ning Rongrong had all experienced significant changes in their abilities.
Zuzong's martial spirit: Blue Silver Emperor, level 46.
Xiao Wu's martial spirit: Soft Bone Charm Rabbit, level 40.
Zhu Zhuqing's martial spirit: Hell Spirit Cat, level 30.
Ning Rongrong's martial spirit: Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, level 30.
Ye Lingling's martial spirit: Ten-Hearted Begonia (as it will now be called unless someone suggests a better name), level 40.
A short while later, the five of them stepped outside.
At that moment, Liu Erlong was sitting at a stone table in the courtyard, sipping tea.
Liu Erlong took a slow sip and gave Zuzong a meaningful look. "It seems you've all made good progress. Get ready. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the Sunset Forest to hunt for spirit rings."
Zuzong didn't refuse. Although he could move freely in the Sunset Forest, bringing along Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing added an element of uncertainty. With Liu Erlong, a Soul Sage, accompanying them, they would be much safer.
"Thank you, Aunt Erlong," Zuzong said, his mouth twitching slightly. He couldn't help but wonder who, decades ago, had pretended to be him and messed with Liu Erlong.
As evening approached, Zuzong and Zhu Zhuqing walked hand-in-hand around Shrek Academy.
Perhaps it was fate, but just like in the original story, Xiao Wu and Liu Erlong hit it off immediately, becoming fast friends and chatting endlessly. Zuzong, disinterested in their conversation, suggested that Zhu Zhuqing show him around the academy to spend some quality time together.
As for Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling, they had both been picked up earlier by members of their respective sects, eager to share the good news of their martial spirit breakthroughs with their families.
"Zhuqing, where's the master?" Zuzong asked, referring to Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, whom he remembered tricking.
Zhu Zhuqing's expression darkened. She wasn't sure how to explain it, as Yu Xiaogang had been acting strangely for months—his behavior resembling that of a pregnant woman. Oh no, a pregnant man. Dai Mubai had even volunteered to accompany him in a carriage to Heaven Dou City.
She hadn't seen him for quite a while.
Zhu Zhuqing carefully replied, "The master has been staying out of sight for the past few months, probably due to poor health."
"Is he sick?" Zuzong pretended not to know, but inside, he was laughing hysterically. He calculated that it had been about three months since Yu Xiaogang's "condition" started.
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. "He eats and sleeps well, but he tires easily and often feels nauseous—"
Meanwhile, in a certain teacher's residence at Shrek Academy...
Yu Xiaogang lay in bed, half-reclined, having just taken a hot bath, with Dai Mubai caring for him. Shrek Academy's principal, Flender, sat nearby, frowning deeply.
Flender said sternly, "Xiaogang, aren't you going to tell me the truth?"
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