Under Zhu Ziyang and the other two's incredulous and dumbfounded gazes, Yan Shaozhe opened a new Spirit Bone pouch.
A small, orange-yellow Spirit Bone emerged from it, floating beside the Moon Shadow Rabbit Right Leg Bone. Its appearance was different from the Moon Shadow Rabbit Right Leg Bone, clearly indicating it was a Spirit Bone from a different part of the body.
"This is a Left Arm Bone, originating from a three-thousand-year-old Scaled Armor Demon Crocodile. You should be familiar with Scaled Armor Demon Crocodiles, right? They are Spirit Beasts with immense strength and hard scales. Therefore, this Left Arm Bone can enhance a Spirit Master's strength or physique, and also provides a defensive Spirit Ability, Hardening." Yan Shaozhe didn't mind Zhu Ziyang and the other two's shock, saying with a smile that held a hint of pride, "While Spirit Bones are precious, Shrek Academy's treasury has quite a few. And talented students are far more valuable than Spirit Bones, so you don't need to feel burdened; just accept it."
"This…" The three looked at each other. After a moment of silence, Zhu Ziyang spoke, "Thank you, Dean and the Academy, for your cultivation. We will accept it without further ado. Xiaoya, this Spirit Bone is for you."
"Ah?" Tang Ya was stunned, then immediately refused, "No, I don't need to enhance my strength."
"But you need to enhance your defense and aptitude, don't you?" Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but laugh, retorting, "As far as I know, consuming the meat of a Scaled Armor Demon Crocodile can improve a Spirit Master's physique and strengthen the toughness of their meridians. I imagine that as the most essential part of its physical body, this Spirit Bone must also possess such abilities, or even better ones. So, you are clearly more suitable to absorb this Spirit Bone than I am. Moreover, Nannan has already obtained a Spirit Bone. If this one were given to me as well, it would be too unfair to you."
"You… this…" Tang Ya was rendered speechless by Zhu Ziyang. She wanted to refute him but couldn't find the words, because she genuinely needed to enhance her aptitude.
She fell silent.
"Xiaoya, just take it." Jiang Nannan also persuaded, "Brother's decision won't be wrong. Since he says this Spirit Bone is suitable for you, then it must be true."
"You trust him unconditionally!" Tang Ya looked at Jiang Nannan speechlessly. This was a Spirit Bone! He said to give it to her, and Jiang Nannan actually thought Zhu Ziyang was right. She didn't know whether to thank Zhu Ziyang for his generosity or to mock Jiang Nannan for her naivety. In the end, she still chose to accept the Spirit Bone, saying, "Thank you, Ziyang."
Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun took in the trio's discussion. Yan Shaozhe's evaluation of Zhu Ziyang grew even higher. A person with such calm thinking, unswayed by immediate small gains, was bound to achieve great things, and Shrek Academy needed such talent!
"Children, you truly surprise me." Yan Shaozhe smiled like a spring breeze, clapping his hands and saying, "Since you have decided the ownership of the two Spirit Bones, why don't you just fuse them here in Director Du's office? This will also reduce risks. I imagine Director Du wouldn't mind."
"It would be my pleasure!" Du Weilun, of course, dared not object and quickly replied.
Facing Yan Shaozhe's suggestion, Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya both looked at Zhu Ziyang, awaiting his decision. Zhu Ziyang swiftly weighed the pros and cons in his mind and, in the next moment, made his decision, saying: "Alright, we'll trouble Director Du."
Having made their decision, Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya also didn't hesitate. They each picked up their respective Spirit Bones and sat cross-legged on the office floor, beginning the fusion process.
Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya began absorbing their Spirit Bones. Their auras were very stable, indicating that the absorption process was proceeding smoothly.
Seeing this, Zhu Ziyang's slight worries completely dissipated.
Yan Shaozhe also noticed this. He looked at Du Weilun, nodded to him, and then said to Zhu Ziyang: "Zhu Ziyang, come with me." With that, he led the way out of the office.
Zhu Ziyang was stunned when he heard Yan Shaozhe's words. Du Weilun, seeing his reaction, said, "Go quickly! I'm here; nothing will happen."
Only then did he react, turning and following Yan Shaozhe out of the office.
After leaving the office, Yan Shaozhe didn't stop but continued walking forward, and Zhu Ziyang naturally had no choice but to follow.
Along the way, Zhu Ziyang pondered what Yan Shaozhe wanted with him. He could vaguely guess Yan Shaozhe's intention: it was nothing more than his ultimate Spirit having attracted the attention of the academy's higher-ups, who wanted to take him to meet the old fellows in the Sea God Pavilion.
This was exactly what he wanted; the most crucial step of his plan was about to be achieved.
What plan?
It was, of course, to become the master of Shrek Academy. The master of the number one academy on the continent—just thinking about it felt great. And to achieve such a plan, he first needed to enter Shrek Academy's core echelon.
So, what constituted the core echelon? Zhu Ziyang thought, a direct disciple of the Sea God Pavilion Master should count, right?
He wasn't sure if the current Sea God Pavilion Master was the legendary Dragon God Douluo or the Gluttony Douluo, who possessed the Gourmand Divine Cow Spirit.
It should be the Dragon God Douluo, he thought.
Soon, Zhu Ziyang followed Yan Shaozhe to the edge of Sea God Lake.
Yan Shaozhe turned around and looked at Zhu Ziyang, finding that his face still held a calm expression. He couldn't help but feel even more satisfied; unperturbed by changes, excellent, excellent.
He smiled and said, "Seeing your calm expression, aren't you curious why I'm looking for you?"
"Curious." Zhu Ziyang replied calmly, "But I think Dean must have his reasons for looking for me. It won't be anything bad, anyway."
"Haha!" Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but laugh out loud, saying, "Good boy, truly calm."
He directly took Zhu Ziyang and flew up, drifting towards Sea God Island. The speed was so fast that Zhu Ziyang didn't even have time to blink before he was set down by Yan Shaozhe. Looking at the completely different scenery around him, Zhu Ziyang was greatly shocked. Is this a Titled Douluo? A distance of hundreds of meters only took an instant.
By the lake, Zhu Ziyang noticed a disheveled old man and couldn't help but guess his identity. However, Yan Shaozhe's words directly told him the answer, and also revealed the purpose of this trip. He heard Yan Shaozhe say respectfully, "Elder Xuan, please gather the other elders. Teacher might have something to announce later."
Elder Xuan? Gluttony Douluo Xuan Zi?! Zhu Ziyang thought to himself.
"Got it." Elder Xuan didn't even lift his head, returning a single sentence, then continued to gnaw on his chicken leg.
Yan Shaozhe didn't mind and led Zhu Ziyang deeper into Sea God Island.
Zhu Ziyang noticed that there were many wooden buildings on the island, as well as some Inner Courtyard Disciples wearing red school uniforms. This was probably the legendary Inner Courtyard of Shrek. The Inner Courtyard Disciples on the road clearly all knew Yan Shaozhe, stopping one after another to greet him. Naturally, Zhu Ziyang, a freshman wearing a white first-year school uniform, also received a lot of attention. The Inner Courtyard Disciples were very curious about this unfamiliar freshman.
Yan Shaozhe did not introduce the situation on Sea God Island to Zhu Ziyang, because the most urgent task was to take him to see his teacher.
They arrived at the highest point of Sea God Island, where a three-story building appeared in Zhu Ziyang's eyes. Is this the legendary Sea God Pavilion? Zhu Ziyang wondered.
Yan Shaozhe arrived at the door, stood respectfully, and called out, "Teacher, I've brought him."