Zhu Ziyang found that the gate was unlocked, and a mischievous smile appeared on his face. He prepared to quietly walk in and give his parents a surprise.
He held his breath, quietly pushed open the gate, and walked into the house. Finding no one in the front room, he realized that Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying were in their room. So, he slowly walked into the courtyard, and there he saw Zhu Changhe.
"Dad!" Zhu Ziyang's eyes widened. He stretched out a hand, pointing at Zhu Changhe with a face full of shock, and exclaimed, "Wh-what's going on here?"
"Oh! Ziyang, why are you back?" Zhu Changhe was also very surprised to see Zhu Ziyang, but seeing Zhu Ziyang's expression, he couldn't help but laugh and said, "Perfect timing, come and meet your brother."
Zhu Ziyang was about to go crazy.
He had only been away for a year for school, right? How did he come back to find he had a younger brother? So, love can disappear, right?
Zhu Ziyang no longer knew how he had walked to Zhu Changhe's side. He looked at the sleeping infant in Zhu Changhe's arms, and a sense of closeness welled up in his heart. Was this somewhat ugly little fellow really his brother?
"Dad, why did you suddenly have a brother for me?" Zhu Ziyang was still a bit unable to accept it and asked.
"An accident, an accident." Zhu Changhe smiled awkwardly and said, "Originally, your mother and I wanted to have a sister for you, but we didn't expect to have a boy. It was truly an accident."
"..." Zhu Ziyang was speechless, unsure whether to be happy or sad.
"You've come back at just the right time, your brother's full moon celebration is tomorrow," Zhu Changhe said with a smile.
"Husband, who are you talking to?" Liang Ying's voice came from inside the house. Her voice was strong, clearly indicating that the effects of childbirth had already disappeared for her.
"Ziyang is back," Zhu Changhe replied.
"Thump thump~" There was a sudden sound from inside the house, and then Liang Ying rushed out. Seeing Zhu Ziyang, she excitedly hugged him.
"Mom!" Zhu Ziyang forced a smile that was uglier than crying and called out.
"Don't worry, Yang Yang. No matter what, you are still Mom's most precious eldest son," Liang Ying comforted him.
"Mm!" Zhu Ziyang nodded, unsure whether to be happy or sad, the feelings in his heart were indescribable.
Zhu Ziyang didn't know how he returned to his room or went to bed that night. He only remembered his head was a mess, his thoughts unusually chaotic. His brother's birth caught him off guard. Perhaps he should be happy, so that when he was at the Academy, he wouldn't have to worry about his parents missing their son, after all, his brother would be with them. But he had returned this time with the idea of persuading his parents to go back to Shrek City with him. Although he knew his parents would most likely not agree, now it seemed he didn't even need to worry if they would agree, because they definitely wouldn't.
"Sigh!" That night, Zhu Ziyang sighed more than once.
The next day, his brother's full moon banquet was packed with guests. His return with Jiang Nannan also made the atmosphere of the banquet even more lively. Because all the guests present knew that the eldest son of the Old Zhu family had been admitted to Shrek Academy and was a proven genius Spirit Master. Now that his second son was born, there was no guarantee he wouldn't be another genius, and it was always beneficial to establish good relations in advance.
Zhu Ziyang's younger brother was named Zhu Ziguang, with the nickname Xiao Guang. The origin of this name was immediately apparent: Zhu Ziyang, Zhu Ziguang, sunlight. This should be considered a consolation, Zhu Ziyang thought silently as he looked at Zhu Ziguang sleeping soundly in Liang Ying's arms.
Just like that, a week passed, and Zhu Ziyang finally got used to life with a younger brother.
"Dad, Mom, wait a moment." That evening, Zhu Ziyang stopped his parents, who were about to return to their room, and took out two spirit herbs from his star flame ring, placing them in front of them.
"These are?" The couple looked at the two spirit herbs Zhu Ziyang had taken out with confusion. They could tell these were spirit herbs, but they didn't recognize them or understand their effects.
"The one on the left is a Thousand-Year Snow Lotus, that's for you, Mom. The one on the right is a Di Yuan Fruit, that's for you, Dad," Zhu Ziyang explained with a slight smile, "Both of these are high-grade spirit herbs, capable of improving your aptitude and spirit power. Oh, by the way, do you still have the Spirit Gathering Pills I sent home before?"
"No, they're all gone," Zhu Changhe said somewhat blankly. He hadn't expected that his son, after only being away from home for a year, could calmly produce two high-grade spirit herbs for them. Recalling the pills and gold coins he had sent home, Zhu Changhe realized he could no longer see through his son.
"Yang Yang, you should keep these spirit herbs for yourself. Your father and I don't need them," Liang Ying didn't think too much about it and directly refused, saying, "We are already in our thirties and forties; these resources would be wasted on us. It's better to keep them for yourself."
"It's fine, Mom," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile, "Didn't I tell you? I was taken as a disciple by the head of Shrek Academy. These two spirit herbs were specifically chosen for you."
Regarding his apprenticeship to Mu En, Zhu Ziyang had only vaguely told his parents that he had been accepted as a disciple by the head of Shrek Academy. In a practical sense, Mu En was indeed the true head of Shrek Academy, so his statement was not incorrect. In a realistic sense, this sentence would be interpreted by those with ulterior motives as him being Yan Shaozhe's disciple. Yan Shaozhe's disciple and Mu En's disciple are two vastly different matters.
"This..." The couple still hesitated.
"Don't hesitate anymore," Zhu Ziyang said, "Look, I'm already a Spirit Ancestor. Do I still care about these few spirit herbs?"
For the first time since returning home, Zhu Ziyang displayed his spirit rings in front of his parents. The four spirit rings—yellow, purple, purple, black—flashed before Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying's eyes, shocking the couple and filling them with excitement and joy. This was their son, a twelve-year-old Spirit Ancestor!
They finally stopped hesitating and openly accepted their son's gift.
Liang Ying immediately began absorbing the spirit herb, but Zhu Changhe had no intention of absorbing his now. He planned to use the Di Yuan Fruit after obtaining his fourth spirit ring.
In one year, both Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying's spirit power had improved. When Zhu Ziyang left home, Zhu Changhe's spirit power was level 37. With the help of the Spirit Gathering Pills, he had already reached level 40 a few months ago, but because he needed to take care of Liang Ying, he had been tied up and unable to hunt for a spirit ring. Liang Ying's spirit power had only increased by two levels; even with the Body Tempering Pills, it was to no avail, because due to her pregnancy, she had no mind for cultivation, so she only increased by two levels in a year, barely reaching level 35.
Zhu Ziyang guessed that once Liang Ying absorbed the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus, her spirit power should increase by about three levels, and she was expected to reach the Spirit Ancestor realm within this year.
"Dad, in a few days, let's go help you hunt for your fourth spirit ring," Zhu Ziyang suggested.
"Alright, I'll listen to you," Zhu Changhe readily agreed, "I'll leave Dad's fourth spirit ring to you then!"
"Don't worry, Dad, I've already thought of a suitable Spirit Beast for you," Zhu Ziyang said confidently, "Just follow my arrangements!"
The father and son talked until Liang Ying finished absorbing the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus. The result was as Zhu Ziyang expected; after Liang Ying absorbed the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus, her spirit power indeed increased by three levels, reaching level 38.
This made her very happy; gaining three levels of spirit power at once would make anyone jump for joy.
—
About three days later, at Zhu Ziyang's home.
"We're ready to set off," Zhu Ziyang said. Beside him were Zhu Changhe, Jiang Nannan, and Hong Zhen.
In terms of spirit power level alone, Hong Zhen should be the strongest present, a level fifty-seven Spirit King. That's right, Hong Zhen was already a Spirit King; he had broken through to Spirit King two years ago. Recently, he had even received help from a high-grade ice-attribute spirit herb gifted by Zhu Ziyang, and his spirit power had instantly broken through from level 53 to level 57, with hopes of challenging the Spirit Emperor realm within three years. At that time, he would become the first Spirit Emperor-level City Lord in Anyang City's history.
During these days back home, Jiang Nannan was also very happy because her mother's heart condition had completely healed. A single Blazing Fire Pill combined with her continuous week of spirit power nourishment finally eliminated the chronic illness that had plagued Bai Xinyi for many years. Jiang Nannan was thus relieved of a major worry, and her mood was naturally very joyful. With her mood unburdened, her spirit power also naturally broke through to level 36.
The group of four set off, their destination naturally being the Tianhui Grand Canyon.