"Teacher, I've brought him."
Yan Shaozhe finished speaking.
Teacher?! Zhu Ziyang was secretly alarmed. Could it really be the legendary Dragon God Douluo? That peerless powerhouse renowned in the northern lands of the continent?
At the same time, the tightly closed door of the wooden house suddenly opened, and a warm, spring-like light emanated from within, accompanied by an aged but comforting voice: "Come in!"
Zhu Ziyang followed Yan Shaozhe into the Sea God Pavilion. What greeted his eyes was a large hall with a long table and several wooden chairs. They did not linger in the hall but went straight up to the third floor. On the third floor was a small wooden house with very simple furnishings: a wooden bed against the wall, a wooden Eight Immortals table and four wooden chairs in the center of the room, a bookshelf filled with books on one wall, and a wooden rocking chair by the window. An old man, full of an air of decline, lay quietly on it, facing out the window. The sunlight scattered on his body, surprisingly emitting a sacred feeling that made one involuntarily feel reverence.
This sense of sacredness was just right. If it were anyone else, Yan Shaozhe might have felt awkward, but for this old man, he believed he deserved this sacredness.
Because he was Mu En.
"Teacher!" Yan Shaozhe walked to the old man's wooden chair, respectfully cupped his hands, and called out.
Mu En turned his face, a benevolent smile unique to old men on his face. After nodding to Yan Shaozhe, his cloudy eyes looked at Zhu Ziyang and said, "Child, you surprise me greatly."
"You are the old man from in front of the dormitory building!" Zhu Ziyang's face showed only a hint of shock, his eyes widened slightly as he exclaimed.
"Haha! You don't seem surprised to see me at all?" Mu En chuckled, yet couldn't help but say with some curiosity.
"Because the first moment I saw you, I felt a rich Light Attribute aura from you. I knew then that you were definitely not an ordinary old man. I just didn't expect that you would actually be Dean Yan's teacher. This, this is truly too surprising!" Zhu Ziyang said with a surprised expression but a calm tone, slowly analyzing.
He merely gazed steadily at Mu En, his eyes filled with curiosity and scrutiny.
"Hahahaha, so that's it. As expected of Ultimate Light!" Mu En laughed again upon hearing Zhu Ziyang's words. He recalled the scene from that morning when Zhu Ziyang stared at him, and the wrinkles on his face crinkled together in a smile.
"Teacher is the current Sea God Pavilion Master, the foremost of the three Limit Douluo of this era, titled Dragon God, with the given name Mu En!" Yan Shaozhe introduced to Zhu Ziyang, his face showing a look of adoration akin to a child's for his father, which was quite peculiar.
"Dragon God?! You are really the legendary Dragon God Douluo!" Zhu Ziyang showed an expression of both shock and excitement, even becoming a bit flustered, much like a fan meeting their idol.
"Oh, it seems you've heard of this old man?" Mu En noticed Zhu Ziyang's reaction and couldn't help but chuckle.
"Mm-hmm!" Zhu Ziyang nodded excitedly, his hands involuntarily clenching. This was a genuine outpouring of emotion from him. Little did he know, it was this authenticity that truly made Mu En and Yan Shaozhe let go of their scrutinizing hearts towards him. This was how a young man should be, even if he was a super genius.
Zhu Ziyang was unaware of these thoughts. He spoke to himself, "In our Tianhun Empire, you are hailed as the strongest Dragon Spirit Master under heaven!"
"Haha, mere empty fame." Mu En waved his hand dismissively. He had heard such words of adoration countless times, but hearing them from the pure-eyed young man before him still pleased him. He chuckled and said, "Rather, it is you who truly makes this old man envious, with your Ultimate Light Attribute! Do you know that your Spirit is an Ultimate Spirit?"
"I know." Zhu Ziyang nodded and said, "My Spirit told me."
"That saves quite a bit of effort then!" Mu En heard this and was not surprised. Super Spirits all possess a hazy consciousness. He said, "Would you allow this old man to witness your Spirit?"
"Yes!" Zhu Ziyang immediately extended his right hand, and the Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe instantly appeared in his grasp. At the same time, three spirit rings also appeared behind him, looking very dazzling in the not-so-spacious small room.
Just as Zhu Ziyang released his Spirit, a ripple suddenly appeared in Mu En's eyes, and a hint of doubt arose in his heart. He suppressed this doubt and focused his attention on the Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe. The golden scythe, however, greatly shocked him, causing his previously reclined posture to involuntarily shift a few times, and his cloudy eyes widened a bit.
"Light and Death, actually fused so perfectly!" Mu En murmured, "Child, can you tell me what your Spirit is called?"
"Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe."
"Jingshi Xiuming! Jingshi Xiuming! A good name!" Mu En muttered.
"This is the Death Attribute!" Yan Shaozhe was also seeing Zhu Ziyang's Spirit for the second time. This time, he finally detected the Death Attribute on Zhu Ziyang's Spirit, and an expression of astonishment appeared on his face. In all his years, this was the first time he had seen a Spirit that possessed both the Light Attribute and the Death Attribute, and more importantly, that Light was actually Ultimate Light!
"Teacher, this..." He couldn't help but look at Mu En, wanting to say something, but was interrupted by Mu En.
Mu En looked intently at Zhu Ziyang, his previously hesitant heart instantly making a decision. He said, "Child, are you willing to take me as your teacher?"
From Zhu Ziyang's Spirit, he not only saw the vast sanctity of Ultimate Light but also the cold solitude unique to the Death Attribute. More importantly, this Death Attribute was so pure; it not only lacked the bloody evil aura of an Evil Soul Master, but even faintly shimmered with the majesty of judgment and ruling! He instantly realized that once Zhu Ziyang grew up, it would be the doomsday for Evil Soul Masters on the continent! In that case, what existence could possibly threaten the position of Shrek Academy?
"You want to accept me as your disciple?!" Zhu Ziyang showed an incredulous expression, staring blankly at Mu En.
"Silly boy, what are you still dazed for? Hurry and perform the apprenticeship ceremony!" Yan Shaozhe was very happy to hear Mu En's words. He then patted Zhu Ziyang's arm, urging him with a smile.
"Oh, oh!" Zhu Ziyang, looking excited, knelt without hesitation, kowtowed, and respectfully bowed, saying, "Disciple Zhu Ziyang, greets Teacher!"
"Hahahaha!" Seeing this, Mu En finally couldn't help but let out a relieved laugh. He no longer remembered when he had last laughed so happily, but he was certain that he was truly happy now, so happy that he sat straight up, extended his hand, and called out, "Good, good, good, good child, come here!"
Zhu Zi Yang heard this, stood up straight, and walked closer to Mu En.
Mu En extended his hand, which resembled withered wood, and took Zhu Ziyang's hand. Immediately, Zhu Ziyang felt a gentle yet immense spirit power enter the meridians of his hand, then flow along the meridians into all his limbs and bones. He paused, seeing a faint golden light also emanating from Mu En's body, who was looking at him with a benevolent gaze. He couldn't help but relax, naturally closing his eyes, and began to feel this spirit power widening and solidifying within his meridians.
Seeing this, Yan Shaozhe's eyes couldn't help but show a hint of envy. A bone-marrow cleansing from a Level 99 Limit Douluo—this was a privilege he himself had not received back then! It seemed Teacher truly valued his newly accepted Junior Brother!
Thinking this, he quietly exited the wooden house to summon the elders. It had been a century since Teacher last accepted a disciple; this was definitely an event worthy of the Sea God Pavilion's attention.