Electrolux, having dispelled the undead creatures, joyfully said to Zhu Ziyang, "Ziyang, from today onwards, I shall begin to impart to you my true unique skill: Light Undead Arts!"
"Yes, Teacher!" Zhu Ziyang composed himself and respectfully replied with a hint of delight.
"First, before learning Light Undead Arts, I want to ask you a question," Electrolux said. "Ziyang, do you think there's a connection between Light and Death?"
"Well," Zhu Ziyang pondered, "If we consider conventional thinking, these two, if not incompatible, are at least unrelated. However, since you've asked, Teacher, I believe there must be some connection between them."
"Hahaha, you sly little fellow!" Electrolux couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this. He said, "Then I won't keep you in suspense. Listen to me.
Light, I don't need to elaborate; you're certainly very familiar with it. I'm now going to focus on explaining the Way of Death to you. Based on the Undead Magic I've mastered, this is what I consider the most perfect path to the Way of Death. In my World, when people mentioned Undead Magic, their first thought was evil and sin, but who could have imagined that at its inception, this magic was actually created to study the essence of life?
The initial purpose of this magic was actually healing magic, and this is the first commonality between the Law of Death and the Law of Light: vitality!"
"Vitality!" Zhu Ziyang felt as if he had been enlightened, and the mists that had obscured his wisdom slowly dissipated.
"Exactly, vitality!" Electrolux said, "The commonality between Light and Death is vitality. Light is the surface, Death is the core. Light is the derivation of vitality, and Death is the end point of vitality. The two revolve around vitality like the branches and leaves of a tree; Light is the branch, Death is the leaf. Only by firmly grasping vitality can they achieve mutual balance.
As the saying goes, 'yin reaches its extreme, yang is born; adversity turns to prosperity.' Between Light and Death, there should actually be another law, the Law of Life, to achieve absolute balance. However, Death and Life are the true black and white; only those with great fortune can possess both. We shouldn't think about that; we can only settle for the next best thing and use our own vitality to replace the balancing effect of the Law of Life. But, Ziyang, you are more fortunate than I, because you have a natural balancer."
"Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe!" Zhu Ziyang instantly understood Electrolux's words and said.
"Hahaha! Truly worthy of being my successor, Electrolux!" Electrolux was extremely happy, laughing heartily as he said, "Let's talk about the second commonality between Light and Death. The Light Attribute possesses the power of purification; any wielder of the Light Attribute understands this. The Death Attribute also possesses the power of purification, and this is their second commonality.
Light purifies sin, and Death purifies the soul—these are the key points I've summarized, Teacher. The purification power of Light focuses on redemption with punishment as a supplement, while the purification power of Death focuses on punishment with redemption as a supplement. The two can be said to complement each other, and by starting with purification power, one can easily master the art of their fusion."
"Understood, Teacher!" After Electrolux's explanation, Zhu Ziyang felt as if the path ahead had suddenly opened up, and the doubts that had troubled him finally vanished today.
"Very good. Then, in the coming days, I will specifically teach you how to do it." Electrolux was very satisfied with Zhu Ziyang's performance, nodding contentedly as he spoke.
"Yes, Teacher, I will work hard!" Zhu Ziyang replied excitedly.
—
In the more than ten days since returning from Sunset Forest, Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan hadn't practiced much. Instead, they had gathered with their senior and junior Inner Courtyard Disciples for meals and outings. This was a rare period when Inner Courtyard Disciples could gather, because shortly after the semester began, it would be the annual Sea God Lake Dating Festival. However, this event had nothing to do with Zhu Ziyang, at least for now; being under sixteen, he wasn't allowed to participate in such a matchmaking program.
The holiday quickly ended. After the Outer Courtyard's semester began, Zhu Ziyang's former classmates, such as Tang Ya and Bei Bei, had already advanced to their third year, and Jiang Nannan was about to take this year's Inner Courtyard Disciple assessment.
Zhu Ziyang was fortunate enough to be invited by Zhang Lexuan to watch this year's Inner Courtyard assessment.
"Ziyang, are you ready? Time is almost up." Zhang Lexuan called out from outside Zhu Ziyang's wooden hut.
"Coming, Sister Lexuan." Zhu Ziyang walked out and replied.
"Since you're ready, let's go." Upon seeing Zhu Ziyang, a hint of tenderness flashed in Zhang Lexuan's eyes, as beautiful and calm as autumn water, and her tone unconsciously became somewhat sweet.
Zhu Ziyang was already used to it. Ultimately, it was the consequence of his own meddling. A year ago, after Zhu Ziyang helped Zhang Lexuan eliminate her abnormal feelings for Bei Bei through the Grand Righteous Light, everything was initially very normal. Zhang Lexuan only felt sisterly affection for Bei Bei and readily agreed to Mu En's request to abandon her vow.
However, what Zhu Ziyang and Mu En hadn't anticipated was that, perhaps as a side effect of the Grand Righteous Light, Zhang Lexuan's favorable impression of Zhu Ziyang actually skyrocketed!
Mu En seemed quite pleased with this unexpected turn of events. In his words, even if Zhu Ziyang and Zhang Lexuan didn't end up together, it would still be a good thing for Zhang Lexuan, as they would both be Sea God Pavilion members. Zhu Ziyang, however, was quite helpless. He already had enough romantic entanglements; not to mention Jiang Nannan, his publicly acknowledged girlfriend, there was also Ma Xiaotao, who frequently sought him out to suppress her evil fire and whose relationship with him was ambiguous. It seemed like adding another Zhang Lexuan wouldn't be much of a problem, but Zhang Lexuan and Jiang Nannan were best friends, like sisters!
Fortunately, Zhang Lexuan herself understood that her feelings for Zhu Ziyang were inappropriate, so she restrained herself tightly when others were present, only revealing them without inhibition when they were alone. Because of this, Zhu Ziyang could only try to avoid being alone with Zhang Lexuan.
He hadn't yet figured out how to handle these matters!
The two arrived at the Martial Arts Arena. The Inner Courtyard Disciples serving as examiners and the Outer Courtyard Disciples participating in the assessment were already in place, just waiting for Zhang Lexuan, as the chief examiner, to announce the start of the assessment.
Zhu Ziyang immediately spotted Jiang Nannan among the Outer Courtyard Disciples. The young girl was smiling and waving at them.
"Good luck!" Zhu Ziyang mouthed to her, and the girl mouthed back, "No problem."
How could there be a problem? The Inner Courtyard Disciples serving as examiners were all Jiang Nannan's acquaintances, and Jiang Nannan's examiner was an Inner Courtyard senior sister with whom Jiang Nannan had a good relationship. The water was practically poured into the Sea God Lake; how could she not pass?
Of course, Jiang Nannan's passing was also due to her own strength. A Spirit Ancestor at thirteen years old, such talent could be said to be second only to Zhu Ziyang. If she couldn't enter the Inner Courtyard with that, then the Outer Courtyard Disciples participating in the assessment would probably be the first to protest.
"Hehehe, Brother, now I'm an Inner Courtyard Disciple too!" Jiang Nannan skipped over to Zhu Ziyang, happily exclaiming.
"Nannan is amazing! Come here for a hug, Brother!" Zhu Ziyang said with a smile, as if coaxing a child.
"Eww~" Before anyone else could speak, Jiang Nannan herself couldn't stand it. She said with a slight hint of disdain, "Brother, really, I'm not a child anymore!"
"Hahaha!" Zhu Ziyang burst out laughing upon hearing this. He said, "Yes, yes, yes, our Nannan has grown into a big girl!"
Thirteen-year-old Jiang Nannan was indeed almost a big girl. Her height, over one meter seventy, surpassed not only her peers but even many adult women. Her pair of long, slender legs were over one meter ten. With a graceful figure, elegant chest, and willowy waist, her silver hair was coiled high, giving her a refined and dignified aura. Her autumn-like eyes were clear and bright, and her cherry lips were like blossoms, making her resemble a fairy from the moon.
"Hmph! Of course!" Jiang Nannan generously admitted. Perhaps due to her increasing strength, or perhaps her growing circle of friends, Jiang Nannan's personality had become increasingly cheerful, no longer as introverted and quiet as when she was younger. This was undoubtedly a good thing, but Zhu Ziyang always felt that Jiang Nannan's temperament was becoming more and more like Tang Ya's. Was it due to spending too much time together and being influenced? Perhaps it was due to spending too much time together and being influenced?
Zhu Ziyang increasingly felt that in the future, it would be best to keep Jiang Nannan at a distance from Tang Ya. If she really became a carefree and lively girl like Tang Ya, wouldn't he cry himself to Death? However, fortunately, Tang Ya was still in the Outer Courtyard. With her current strength, it would take at least a few more years for her to be able to enter the Inner Courtyard.