"Next item?"
Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but show a puzzled expression, looking at Mu En. Mu En didn't speak, directly expressing his thoughts with action. He sat up slightly, and behind him, nine spirit rings, their brilliance restrained, appeared.
Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Red, Red, Red!
The nine spirit rings, varying in size and color, instantly filled the Sea God Pavilion hall. Fortunately, spirit rings are illusory and don't actually occupy space, otherwise the hall would certainly not be able to hold Mu En's nine spirit rings.
"This..." Zhu Ziyang was very confused. Why did Mu En release his spirit rings when they were talking so well? Although full of questions, his gaze was still attracted by the nine crystal-clear, jade-like spirit rings. His observation skills were astonishing, and he immediately noticed that four of these nine spirit rings seemed different, with a very obvious gap compared to normal spirit rings. His eyes couldn't help but show curiosity.
"Hehe, it seems you've noticed." Mu En had been paying attention to Zhu Ziyang's expression. Seeing his strange, scrutinizing look, he laughed and said, "That's right, next, I, this old man, will tell you all about spirit rings."
Zhu Ziyang's heart stirred, subtly anticipating Mu En's words. He was very curious whether Mu En's view on spirit rings, as one of the top humans on the Douluo Continent, was the same as Electrolux's view on spirit rings.
However, Mu En didn't rush to speak. Instead, he stretched out his hand, controlling a black spirit ring to float in front of Zhu Ziyang, and then controlled another black spirit ring to float to the other side of Zhu Ziyang. Looking at these two spirit rings, both black, but one illusory and dispersed, the other solid and restrained, Zhu Ziyang was a bit lost, not understanding Mu En's true intention.
"Hehe, try touching them," Mu En said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Ziyang, filled with doubt, reached out to touch the two spirit rings in front of him. As his finger approached the spirit ring on the right, he was still muttering in his heart, 'spirit rings are illusory, incorporeal things, how can they be touched?' Sure enough, his hand passed directly through the black spirit ring on the right.
However, when he went to touch the spirit ring on the left, he was completely stunned.
Hard, warm, and somewhat smooth, it felt like the Spiritual Heart Warm Jade that Cai Meier had given him.
Zhu Ziyang's pupils involuntarily widened, his eyes full of shock as he looked at Mu En, stammering, "Tea-teacher, wh-what exactly is going on?"
"Hehe, don't rush. This is what I'm about to tell you, the secondary refinement of spirit rings!" Mu En said, a hint of reminiscence on his aged face, as if he was recalling the past.
"Secondary refinement of spirit rings!" Zhu Ziyang's surprise was imaginable; this was the first time he had heard that spirit rings could be secondarily refined. He couldn't help but think of what Electrolux had told him a few days ago about the essence of a spirit ring's age limit. He had a premonition that perhaps the secondary refinement of spirit rings Mu En mentioned was the same thing as refining the life force within a spirit ring, as Electrolux had described.
"That's right, secondary refinement of spirit rings!" Mu En said, "Generally speaking, the process of us Spirit Masters breaking through realms and absorbing spirit rings is called the primary refinement of spirit rings. Completing this step is a necessary condition for a Spirit Master's progress. Undoubtedly, all spirit rings of all Spirit Masters have undergone primary refinement.
What I'm about to discuss, the secondary refinement of spirit rings, is the in-depth development of spirit rings. The secondary refinement of spirit rings is related to the essence of spirit rings. According to a deceased friend of mine, the essence of a spirit ring is a combination of spirit power and life force. When we Spirit Masters absorb spirit rings, we only refine the spirit power of the spirit ring, not absorb its life force. The secondary refinement of a spirit ring is the absorption of the life force within it."
Mu En spoke eloquently, while Zhu Ziyang could no longer control his excitement. It was surprisingly similar to what Electrolux had said. It seemed his local teacher wasn't as bad as Electrolux had made him out to be.
"After the secondary refinement of a spirit ring, the Spirit Abilities attached to it will be engraved into the Spirit's origin, becoming an instinct for the Spirit Master, and their use will no longer be subject to any restrictions. At the same time, the age limit of the secondarily refined spirit ring will receive a small increase, and the Spirit Master's physique will also receive a significant increase," Mu En said. "Most importantly, after secondarily refining a spirit ring, the Spirit Master's life force will be greatly enhanced. I am an example; my waist was broken, but I'm still clinging to life today, haha."
As Mu En spoke, he started making fun of himself.
"The sign of a spirit ring's secondary refinement is its materialization. The manifestation is as you just felt, becoming a tangible, jade-like substance. But you don't need to worry, they are still illusory and won't occupy physical space," Mu En continued.
"Teacher, according to what you're saying, wouldn't secondary refinement of spirit rings greatly increase a Spirit Master's strength? But why have I never heard of secondary refinement until now?" Zhu Ziyang expressed his confusion, asking.
"Good child, your thoughts are very sharp." Mu En heard this and explained with a smile, "The reason why the secondary refinement of spirit rings hasn't spread is because...
Firstly, this matter itself was only discovered by a very few individuals in recent centuries. Those people initially regarded it merely as a coincidence and didn't pay much attention. It wasn't until recent centuries that a remarkably talented individual emerged, summarized its profound mysteries, and formally proposed the concept of secondary refinement of spirit rings.
Secondly, the secondary refinement of spirit rings requires the help of a secret method, which involves the cultivation of life force. However, the forces on the Douluo Continent that possess methods for cultivating life force are few and far between. I can only confirm two: one is the Body Sect, and the other is my old friend."
"So, Shrek Academy doesn't have such a method either?" Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but feel a bit puzzled, saying.
"Unfortunately, no." Mu En saw Zhu Ziyang's dejection and couldn't help but say with a smile, "Don't worry, although the Academy doesn't have this secret method, I do!"
"!" Zhu Ziyang immediately perked up. How could he have forgotten? Mu En's spirit rings had been secondarily refined, so he must possess a method for cultivating life force!
"Hehe! This life force cultivation method was taught to me by my old friend. Although she repeatedly told me not to teach it to others, as my closed-door disciple, and because this method is quite compatible with your Spirit, I can only break my promise." Mu En said, a hint of reminiscence flashing across his face again. "Compared to the future of Shrek Academy, what does it matter if I, an old man, break my word!"
"Teacher, thank you!" Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but feel touched.
"Hehe, no need to thank me. You are my disciple, after all," Mu En said with a smile, waving his hand. "The life force cultivation method requires strength at or above the six-ring level to cultivate, so you still need to work hard!"
"Yes, yes! Don't worry, Teacher!" Zhu Ziyang immediately replied confidently.
——
Zhu Ziyang left Sea God Island.
On the way back to the Outer Courtyard.
"Teacher, what do you think of the secondary refinement of spirit rings and the life force cultivation method that Teacher Mu En mentioned today?" A wisp of Zhu Ziyang's consciousness entered his spiritual sea. Electrolux was leisurely sitting on the spiritual island, basking in the sun (the Ultimate Light stars), and he asked.
"Hehe, I admit I underestimated your Teacher Mu En," Electrolux said frankly. "Indeed, to be able to grow to the bottleneck of a realm, it would be impossible to reach this stage if one didn't even understand the essence of one's own strength."
Zhu Ziyang nodded, agreeing with Electrolux's statement. He then asked, "Then what do you think about the life force cultivation method?"
"If such a method exists, it's not for you," Electrolux said. "As someone with the Death attribute, why would you need a life force cultivation method? You don't need to bother with it for now; he also said that his method requires you to be at six rings to use it. I, your teacher, am different; as soon as you reach four rings, I can immediately help you refine all your spirit rings!"
"Okay, Teacher!" Upon hearing this, Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but feel a surge of pride in his heart. Having two teachers felt incredibly good!
"How ridiculous, does refining life force even require a method? Isn't that something anyone with hands can do?" Electrolux said, his expression contemptuous, his tone disdainful.
If Mu En had heard Electrolux's words, he would surely have been so enraged that he would instantly stand up and roar in refutation,'Someone with the Death attribute shouldn't speak so casually!'