Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan returned to Shrek Academy, separating on Sea God Island.
Jiang Nannan went to find Old Song, which was a courtesy a disciple must observe. At the same time, with Old Song's help, she would absorb the flower petal that the Moon Laurel Fairy Tea had given her.
Zhu Ziyang, as expected, went to find Mu En. Such a significant event as the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well needed to be reported to Mu En, and he thought Mu En would also be very happy to know about the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"Teacher, Elder Xuan," Zhu Ziyang entered the Sea God Pavilion. Mu En was still leisurely lying on a wooden chair as usual, with Xuan Zi in front of him. It turned out that Xuan Zi had completed his punishment and had specifically returned to report to Mu En. When Zhu Ziyang entered the hall, Mu En was giving instructions to Xuan Zi.
"Mm, you're back," Mu En first responded kindly to Zhu Ziyang, then continued to look at Xuan Zi and said, "...I hope you can truly learn your lesson. All right, for now, focus more on the Outer Courtyard. You don't need to worry about the Inner Courtyard for the time being. Go."
"I understand, Elder Mu!" Xuan Zi respectfully accepted Mu En's command, bowed to Mu En, and then turned to leave the Sea God Pavilion. Before leaving, he gave Zhu Ziyang a smile filled with guilt and apology.
After a faint response, Zhu Ziyang looked at Mu En and said, "Teacher, I just came back from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
"What?" Mu En, who had been deep in thought about whether Xuan Zi could truly learn his lesson, was startled by Zhu Ziyang's words. His cloudy eyes showed surprise and reproach. He said, "You went alone? How could you do something so dangerous? Do you know your importance to the Academy? Such a risky action, if you encountered danger, wouldn't that be a cause for endless regret?"
"Hehe, Teacher, haven't I returned safely? And I even brought back a Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower!" Zhu Ziyang chuckled, taking out the jade box containing the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower and presenting it to Mu En.
"Alas! Ziyang, I hope that in the future, before you do anything, you consider the consequences. So carelessly putting yourself in uncertain danger is not a long-term strategy!" Mu En did not look at the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower but earnestly advised him.
"I will, Teacher," Zhu Ziyang also put away his smile and said solemnly, "I went with Nannan. With Nannan there, we can avoid danger if we encounter it. Besides, I still have the ability of my left eye."
"Alas! I won't blame you this time, after all, you returned safely." Mu En sighed. He knew about Zhu Ziyang's left and right eye abilities. Although he was a bit scared afterward, he was still very relieved and said, "Tell me about the situation at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
"Yes, Teacher," Zhu Ziyang nodded and said, "Teacher, our previous speculation that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was the Body Sect's base was incorrect. There is nothing inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well except for Immortal Herbs. The strong man we met was also not from the Body Sect. In fact, this time when I went, I didn't see that strong man. So, I guess that last time, we must have triggered some mechanism to attract that strong man."
"Mm!" Mu En listened to Zhu Ziyang's words and fell into deep thought. It was good news that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was not occupied by the Body Sect. However, the mysterious strong man belonging to a new force was bad news.
"After Nannan and I entered the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well..." Zhu Ziyang began to describe the internal situation of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. There was nothing to hide about the internal situation of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and no need to hide it.
"You mean there are more than a dozen Hundred-Thousand-Year Immortal Herb Spirit Beasts in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?!" Mu En was greatly shocked and blurted out.
"Yes, according to the Moon Laurel Fairy Tea and my own observation, there are at least ten Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beasts in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well," Zhu Ziyang said. "Without exception, all of those Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beasts evolved from Immortal Herbs. Including this Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower in my hand, it is only a sub-plant of that Hundred-Thousand-Year Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower."
"That is truly astonishing!" Mu En, being an old man who had lived for over two hundred years, quickly composed himself and said, "Such a massive amount of Hundred-Thousand-Year Immortal Herbs, if they could be used by us, would undoubtedly be an opportunity for our Academy to soar! Unfortunately, it's not easy to obtain!"
Mu En felt a bit regretful. If his body were in its prime, he could have unhesitatingly charged into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and taken all those Immortal Herbs. But now, he didn't have the qualification to do so. Not to mention whether he could defeat those Immortal Herbs in their home territory, even if he could miraculously defeat them, could he cope with the highly likely appearance of that mysterious strong man?
Therefore, Mu En felt that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well still required a long-term plan.
"Ziyang, you must handle the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well with caution!" Mu En said with a serious expression. "Do not step into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well again without me or your senior brothers and sisters accompanying you."
"I understand, Teacher!" Zhu Ziyang naturally agreed readily. Agreeing was one thing; whether he would abide by it was his own business.
"Alright, go find your Senior Brother and tell him to go to the library to find the book 'Biography of Phoenix Douluo,' then come back," Mu En said. "That girl Xiaotao is currently in seclusion under the Golden Ancient Tree."
"Okay, Teacher," Zhu Ziyang agreed and immediately left the Sea God Pavilion to find Yan Shaozhe.
"Hehe, is this the Child of Destiny?" Mu En watched Zhu Ziyang's departing back, feeling exceptionally good, and muttered to himself, "That girl Xiaotao is truly lucky! Just as lucky as her ancestor!"
Zhu Ziyang quickly completed the task Mu En assigned and returned to the Sea God Pavilion hall. When he returned to the Sea God Pavilion hall again, he happened to see Ma Xiaotao walking up from beneath the Golden Ancient Tree. Judging by her expression, she seemed to have gained something.
The biggest benefit of becoming a Shrek Academy main team member was right here.
The underground World of the Golden Ancient Tree was the place with the richest Heaven and Earth Origin Energy and life energy in the entire Shrek Academy. Inner Courtyard Disciples all regarded cultivating in the underground World as the greatest honor. However, the underground World was not accessible to just anyone. All Inner Courtyard Disciples were only allowed to enter the underground World for seclusion and breakthrough when their cultivation reached a bottleneck. Under other circumstances, one could only enter the underground World to cultivate with Mu En's special permission.
Members of the Shrek main team, once confirmed as main team members, would be specially granted five opportunities each year to cultivate in the underground World. The purpose of this was obvious: to enhance the strength of the main team members as much as possible to ensure they would not fail in the Elite Tournament.
Therefore, from the time they joined the main team until the eve of the Elite Tournament, this was the period when these main team members' strength grew the fastest.
"Elder Mu, are you looking for me?" Ma Xiaotao asked, looking at Mu En with confusion.
"Haha, it's good news," Mu En said with a smile. "We'll talk about it together when your teacher arrives."
"Yes," Ma Xiaotao nodded, then walked over to Zhu Ziyang, leaned close to his ear, and said, "Little Brother Ziyang, do you know why Elder Mu is looking for me?"
"Hehe, Sister Xiaotao, don't worry, it's definitely good news! You'll know when Senior Brother comes," Zhu Ziyang said with a mysterious smile, keeping her in suspense.
"Alright," Ma Xiaotao reluctantly had to wait for Yan Shaozhe's appearance.
Not long after, Yan Shaozhe arrived at the Sea God Pavilion, accompanied by Xian Lin'er.
Seeing the two arrive together, Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao were both very surprised. Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er's relationship was not good, or rather, Xian Lin'er disliked Yan Shaozhe; this was something they both knew. Their appearing together was very rare.
"Teacher, I'm here," Yan Shaozhe's voice carried a hint of excitement. He had already learned from Zhu Ziyang that Zhu Ziyang had found the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower.
"Teacher," Xian Lin'er also said to Mu En. She had encountered Yan Shaozhe on her way to find Mu En. If it weren't for a significant matter, she absolutely would not have wanted to appear with Yan Shaozhe.
"Mm, you've arrived," Mu En said with a smile. "Lin'er, your matter can wait a moment. Shao Zhe, did you bring the book I asked you to find?"
"I brought it, Teacher," Yan Shaozhe nodded, then took out an ancient, yellow-paged book from his soul tool ring and handed it to Mu En.
After Mu En took the book, his expression was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Yan Shaozhe to bring out the original copy. He flipped through the pages, reading carefully.
The four of them—Yan Shaozhe, Ma Xiaotao, Zhu Ziyang, and Xian Lin'er—waited quietly. Ma Xiaotao, seeing the book's title, was surprised and also realized that this matter might be related to her.
Zhu Ziyang, on the other hand, was very interested in that book, "Biography of Phoenix Douluo." Of course, he had this book in his library, but he hadn't expected Shrek Academy to still preserve the original copy. This was a book written ten thousand years ago!
It must be said that Shrek Academy's protection of ancient texts was very thorough.