While Zhu Ziyang's family was conversing, Jiang Nannan had already completed her Spirit awakening.
"Good heavens, another one with innate rank eight spirit power!" Hong Zhen's rough yet clear voice boomed, his astonished tone and words immediately drawing the attention of the family of three.
They looked over and saw Jiang Nannan currently testing her innate spirit power. Although the blue crystal ball's light didn't fill up almost entirely like Zhu Ziyang's, it did light up more than halfway. This level was precisely innate rank eight spirit power!
"Today is truly lucky! The first one had innate full spirit power, and the second one actually has innate rank eight spirit power! Is our Anyang City about to rise?" Hong Zhen mumbled loudly, his eyes filled with joy as he looked at Jiang Nannan, saying, "Little girl, what's your name?"
"My name is Jiang Nannan," Jiang Nannan answered subconsciously, her eyes, however, remained fixed on the blue crystal ball. Having spent so much time with Zhu Ziyang, she had come to understand what innate rank eight spirit power meant through osmosis, so she was incredibly happy, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
"Jiang Nannan?!" Upon hearing Jiang Nannan's name, Hong Zhen immediately knew her identity, and a hint of guilt flashed across his face as he said, "You are Jiang Ning's daughter!"
"Yes, Brother Hong," Zhu Changhe walked over, answering Hong Zhen's words, a hint of pity and relief in his gaze as he looked at Jiang Nannan.
Jiang Nannan, however, didn't pay attention to their conversation. Although she knew they were discussing her father, the little girl was unwilling to touch upon that topic. Therefore, she skipped towards Zhu Ziyang.
"Ziyang-gege, I'm a Spirit Master too!" The little girl happily ran to Zhu Ziyang's side, her eyes full of excitement, shouting as if seeking praise.
"Mm-hmm! Nannan is amazing!" Zhu Ziyang smiled, reaching out to ruffle the little girl's head, saying.
He was extremely surprised in his heart. Jiang Nannan's Spirit was just an ordinary Soft Bones Rabbit Spirit, yet she possessed innate rank eight spirit power. Such talent was undoubtedly outstanding. He hadn't expected his childhood friend to not only be cute but also so gifted. Heaven was truly kind to him, Zhu Ziyang.
"That's right, Nannan is amazing!" Liang Ying also pulled Jiang Nannan's small hand, saying with relief.
She was extremely fond of this sensible and well-behaved little girl. Not only was she delicate and cute, but her talent was also so good. She was simply too compatible with their Yang Yang. Thinking this, Liang Ying's gaze towards Jiang Nannan grew even more loving, and she said, "Your mother will surely be very happy if she knows."
"Mm! Mama will definitely be happy!" Jiang Nannan's eyes showed anticipation. If it weren't for waiting for everyone to awaken their Spirits, she would probably have run home immediately.
After Jiang Nannan, the other seven children also successively completed their Spirit awakenings. Unfortunately, the scene of geniuses appearing one after another, as Hong Zhen had imagined, did not occur.
Among the seven children, only two possessed spirit power. The other five all had useless Spirits that couldn't cultivate. As for the two children with spirit power, one was named Zhu Xiaoling, with innate rank three spirit power and a Scythe Spirit. Unlike Zhu Ziyang's Radiant Scythe, Zhu Xiaoling's Spirit was just an ordinary farm implement scythe. The other child with spirit power was named Jiang Cheng. Not only was his Spirit Blue Silver Grass, but his spirit power was also only rank one. If nothing unexpected happened, his cultivation would never exceed three spirit rings in this lifetime.
"Brother Hong, we'll head back first. See you at the end of the month." At the entrance of the City Lord's Mansion, Zhu Changhe, who was about to leave, stood in front of the carriage and said to Hong Zhen, who had personally seen them off.
"Alright, Brother Changhe, see you at the end of the month," Hong Zhen said, "Remember to definitely let Xiao Yang come to our Anyang Academy. With Xiao Yang's talent, perhaps our Anyang Academy can also produce a Spirit Master who gets into Shrek Academy!"
Hong Zhen's face was full of smiles, and when he mentioned the name Shrek Academy, his eyes were filled with reverence and longing.
"If that could really happen, I would die without regrets!" Zhu Changhe also replied with a face full of hope after hearing about Shrek Academy.
Zhu Ziyang's heart stirred slightly upon hearing their conversation. Shrek Academy!
For him, who had read widely, how could he not know about this legendary academy, hailed as the number one academy in the World! In the biographies he had read, at least five out of ten Titled Douluo were students of Shrek Academy. From this, one could see Shrek Academy's influence on the continent.
He would definitely get into Shrek Academy!
"Alright, you all go back. I still have children from the next village whose Spirits need to be awakened," Hong Zhen said, shaking off his previous emotion and regaining his vigor.
"Alright then, we'll head back first," Zhu Changhe said, jumping onto the carriage.
"Uncle Hong, goodbye," Zhu Ziyang poked his head out, bidding farewell to Hong Zhen.
"Mm, goodbye!" Hong Zhen responded.
As the strongest person Zhu Ziyang could interact with, he still hoped to maintain a good relationship with Hong Zhen, as he might need Hong Zhen to help him hunt for spirit rings in the future.
The carriage rumbled, and soon returned to Beihe Village.
At the entrance of the Zhu family, the children's parents had been waiting for a long time. They eagerly looked forward to the news that would determine their families' future destinies.
At the very back of the crowd, a beautiful woman with a pale face, leaning against the wall, was also eagerly waiting. Her appearance bore a seven-tenths resemblance to Jiang Nannan's. Her body looked somewhat weak, and a hint of worry was visible in her eyes. She was Jiang Nannan's mother, Bai Xinyi.
The carriage arrived at the entrance, and the children got off one after another, each finding their parents. Families without spirit power were crestfallen, while families with spirit power were beaming with joy. The stark contrast cruelly divided them into people from two different Worlds; their joys and sorrows would no longer be the same from then on.
"Mama!" As soon as Jiang Nannan got off the carriage, she saw her mother standing at the back and immediately ran towards her, the radiant smile on her face making others unable to help but smile too.
"You're back," Bai Xinyi hugged Jiang Nannan, whispering.
"Mama, I awakened my Spirit! It's a Soft Bones Rabbit, and I have rank eight spirit power!" Jiang Nannan proudly raised her head and said loudly.
Upon hearing this, Bai Xinyi was so excited that she hugged her tightly, tears welling up in her eyes, and she murmured, "Brother A-Ning, did you see? Nannan also awakened the Soft Bones Rabbit Spirit!"
"Mama, don't be sad..." Seeing her mother's sad expression, Jiang Nannan's smile also disappeared, and she very thoughtfully comforted her.
"Mm-hmm, Mama is happy," Bai Xinyi wiped away her tears and said with a smile, "Good Nannan, let's go home. Mama will make you something delicious."
"Yay!" Jiang Nannan's face broke into a smile, and she cheered, turning to bid farewell to Zhu Ziyang, "Ziyang-gege, I'm going home now!"
"Mm, goodbye," Zhu Ziyang smiled, "Don't forget to cultivate tonight!"
"Don't worry, I won't!" The little girl took her mother's hand and left the Zhu family.
"Village Chief, then we'll also be leaving now," the parents of the other children said one after another upon seeing this.
"Alright, I won't see you off," Zhu Changhe said indifferently, and specifically reminded the parents of the two children who possessed spirit power, "Xiao Jiu, Jiang Wu, remember to prepare your children's tuition fees. Having spirit power is not easy; they must go to Anyang Academy to study."
"Understood, Second Brother," the two parents who were called out replied.