In a way, Ma Xiaotao actually owed Niu Tian a thank-you. If not for his sudden appearance, she might never have chosen to forcibly draw the Fire God Sword.
Her success in pulling out the Fire God Sword was nothing short of a gamble with her life—a high-stakes bet. Fortunately, she had won that bet, and the reward was immense.
Since the eighth trial of the Fire God Nine Trials required Ma Xiaotao to gain the recognition of the Fire God Sword and draw it from its sheath, whether the sword truly acknowledged her was hard to say. But the fact remained—she had drawn the Fire God Sword and could wield it freely. That meant her eighth trial had been completed.
During the few hours that she and Zhu Ziyang had stayed within the Holy Law Demiplane, both Ma Xiaotao and Diwu Huan'er had already received the rewards for completing the eighth trial and had successfully unlocked the ninth and final trial.
Ma Xiaotao's rewards included: 10% affinity with the Fire God's divinity, one level of soul power, and an increase of 5,000 years to the age of all her soul rings. Diwu Huan'er received one level of soul power, a 1,000-year increase to all her soul rings, and a God-bestowed soul ring.
With the reward, Ma Xiaotao's soul power rose to level 93. Diwu Huan'er reached level 80 and only needed to absorb the God-bestowed soul ring to become a true Soul Douluo.
However, Diwu Huan'er didn't choose to absorb the God-bestowed ring. She hoped to obtain a soul spirit instead. Her eyes were filled with longing, and Zhu Ziyang instantly understood her thoughts. He promised that once they returned to the academy, he would take her to the Star Dou Great Forest.
——
Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao arrived in Anyang City just as the sun was setting the next day. When they reached the Zhu household in Beihe Village, Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying were just sitting down to dinner.
Seeing Zhu Ziyang return, Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying were both surprised and overjoyed. Their smiles widened even more when they saw Ma Xiaotao, and they quickly invited the two in, heading to the kitchen to get more bowls and chopsticks.
"Mom, you'll need a few more sets," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. With a wave of his hand, Jiang Nannan, Qian Lingyi, and Diwu Huan'er emerged from the Holy Law Demiplane.
Zhu Changhe was shocked to see three young women suddenly appear in the house, but he didn't ask much. He already knew his eldest son was no ordinary man anymore—far beyond his own understanding. That thought filled him with both pride and a faint sense of inadequacy.
But as he looked at the lovely young women now filling the room, he grew gloomier. How had he, a man of such loyalty, fathered a son with such a wandering heart? And it wasn't just Zhu Ziyang—his younger son, Zhu Ziguang, was also very popular with girls at school. Depressing. Neither one had inherited his own faithful and affectionate nature.
Unlike the glum father, Liang Ying was positively glowing. As she looked at the four girls—Jiang Nannan, Ma Xiaotao, Qian Lingyi, and Diwu Huan'er—she was already dreaming of a future filled with grandchildren.
"Mom, this is Qian Lingyi, you can call her Yiyi. And this is Diwu Huan'er, just call her Huan'er," Zhu Ziyang introduced them to Liang Ying. She had already met Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao, but this was her first time seeing Lingyi and Huan'er.
"Good, good, such sweet children!" Liang Ying beamed, handing bowls and chopsticks to Qian Lingyi and Diwu Huan'er. "Auntie didn't know you were coming today, so there's not much prepared. Just make do for tonight—tomorrow Auntie will cook something really nice for you!"
"Thank you, Auntie!" Qian Lingyi and Diwu Huan'er were flattered and flustered as they took the utensils. Meeting Zhu Ziyang's parents for the first time, they were more shy than excited. Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao, having done this before, calmly dug into the food.
"Mom, no need to go to any trouble. We're only staying one night—we'll head back to the academy first thing tomorrow," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile.
"What? So soon?" Liang Ying looked disappointed. "I was hoping to fetch Ziguang so the whole family could have dinner together."
Her words made Qian Lingyi and Diwu Huan'er blush even deeper, and even Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao's cheeks turned slightly red. Clearly, Liang Ying's statement had struck a chord with all four girls.
"We just finished the Soul Master Tournament and have to return to the academy to report the results," Zhu Ziyang explained, draping his arm around his mother's shoulder with a trace of apology.
"I see…" Liang Ying nodded with understanding, then her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "So how did you all do in the tournament? Did you win?"
"Of course we did!" Zhu Ziyang said proudly. "With your son leading the team, how could we not win? We're the champions!"
"Really?!" Liang Ying lit up with a brilliant smile. "That's my son—amazing!"
And so the family ate and chatted late into the night.
—
Early the next morning, Zhu Ziyang quietly left without waking Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying.
These days, Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying were no longer the ordinary folks they'd once been. Thanks to Zhu Ziyang's rise, the resources available to them had grown tremendously. Zhu Changhe was now a level 58 Soul King, and Liang Ying had reached level 49, just shy of Soul King herself. In the Northern Frontier Province, such strength already placed them among the local elite.
Zhu Ziyang wasn't worried about their safety in the slightest. Their strength alone was more than enough to keep them safe in Anyang City—but beyond that, the city also had a 94th-rank Title Douluo stationed as an elder of the Tianyuan Pavilion. As the first Tianyuan Academy established by Shrek Academy, Anyang's academy held great significance. Having a Title Douluo stationed there was perfectly reasonable.
With such a powerhouse present, Zhu Ziyang had no concerns about his parents' safety.
——
Zhu Ziyang made his way back to Shrek Academy at top speed. The events that had shaken the capital of the Sun Moon Empire had yet to reach Shrek City, and so the academy remained peaceful.
"Ziyang, you're back!" Cai Meier and Yan Shaozhe appeared in front of him, both surprised and delighted.
"Senior Brother, Junior Sister, thank you for guarding the academy while I was away," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile. Then, not missing the chance to show off a little, he waved his hand—and the entire Shrek Academy team, led by Ma Xiaotao, appeared behind him.
Ma Xiaotao, Jiang Nannan, Qian Lingyi, and Diwu Huan'er all looked calm as usual, but Zhou Tianhe, Chu Hua, and the others looked dazed. The past few days had felt like a dream. They'd been stuffed into the Holy Law Demiplane by Zhu Ziyang, and no one had explained anything, leaving them constantly on edge, unsure if they'd ever come out again.
Thankfully, they were finally back on the Douluo Continent—and breathing its air felt wonderful.
"We're back at the academy. Everyone, go rest!" Ma Xiaotao called out.
Zhou Tianhe and the others immediately cheered and ran off in all directions toward their dorms.
"Ziyang, where's Elder Xuan? Why didn't he return with you?" Cai Meier asked. Though curious about the dimensional storage Zhu Ziyang had just used, she focused on the more important matter.
"What?" Zhu Ziyang froze. "Elder Xuan isn't back? That's impossible. I had him escort Huo Yuhao and the Tang Sect members back ahead of us. How could he not be here yet?"
"What?!" Cai Meier and Yan Shaozhe were both shocked. With Elder Xuan's strength, even if slowed by escorting the Tang Sect group, there was no way he should've taken this long to return. That could only mean one thing—something had happened to them.
As Zhu Ziyang and the others stood there deep in thought and growing concern, a figure appeared on the western horizon—silhouetted against the evening glow.
(End of Chapter)
T/N: I guess the Author forgot that Zhu Ziyang's Parents were supposed to be in Shrek City, or it could be that Zhu Ziyang's Parents went back to Anyang City and with a Title Douluo as Elder of the Tianyuan Academy Zhu Ziyang thought them safe there.
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