Tianhun Empire, Falan City, Falan Advanced Spirit Master Academy.
A young man and woman appeared at the academy gate. The man was handsome, the woman was beautiful, and both exuded a special aura, clearly not ordinary people.
The academy doorman was an old man who understood human nature well. Seeing the young couple at the academy gate, he immediately came forward with a respectful smile and asked, "Two Spirit Masters, how may I help you?"
"Hello, sir, we're looking for Yang Zhenzhen from the third year. Could you please notify her?" the young woman said, a faint smile always on her face. Her smile was so beautiful that the old man, whose head was barely visible above the ground, couldn't help but stare.
"Yes, yes, no trouble, no trouble at all!" the old man replied repeatedly, then immediately turned and ran into the academy.
However, before the old man could go and notify her, a delicate-looking girl, about fourteen or fifteen years old, came jogging from deep within the academy to the gate. Her face was filled with excitement and joy. Upon seeing the young man and woman at the entrance, she immediately shouted excitedly, "Sister Nannan, Yang-ge!"
Indeed, this young couple was Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan. After Jiang Nannan integrated her second Soul Spirit and obtained her eighth spirit ring, they immediately returned to the continent and headed north. Originally, they planned to return directly to the academy, but as they neared it, Jiang Nannan suddenly had a whim. She thought of the little sister she had a special connection with, so the two of them changed course and came to Falan City.
"Zhenzhen, long time no see!" Jiang Nannan looked at the girl running towards them, a smile also appearing on her face as she called out.
Yang Zhenzhen, this little girl nicknamed Nuan Nuan, was now fifteen years old. It had been nine years since she first met Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan.
"A Thirtieth-level Spirit Elder, Zhenzhen, you're doing very well!" Zhu Ziyang saw through Yang Zhenzhen's cultivation at a glance, his tone filled with a hint of admiration. This little girl named Nuan Nuan, like Jiang Nannan, was very determined and hardworking.
When she was twelve, Jiang Nannan had wanted to recommend her to Shrek Academy. Any other person would have gratefully accepted, but Yang Zhenzhen didn't. Although her spirit power had already reached level nineteen, meeting Shrek Academy's requirements, she directly refused Jiang Nannan's kind offer and chose to join Falan City Advanced Spirit Master Academy instead.
Zhu Ziyang asked her why, and she gave two reasons: one was that she didn't want to be too far from home, as her grandmother couldn't do without her; the other was that she preferred to be the head of a chicken rather than the tail of a phoenix.
"This is a very opinionated child. Perhaps she can go further in the future!" This was Zhu Ziyang's assessment of the girl after hearing Yang Zhenzhen's answer.
Facts proved that Yang Zhenzhen's choice seemed correct. At Falan City Advanced Spirit Master Academy, she received more resources than at Shrek Academy, so much so that after only three years, her cultivation had already reached level thirty, only one spirit ring away from becoming a Spirit Elder.
Such an age and such a level might not be much at Shrek Academy, but in an ordinary advanced Spirit Master Academy like Falan City Advanced Spirit Master Academy, she was definitely considered a genius.
"Hehe, maybe I just work harder, so my spirit power increases quickly," Yang Zhenzhen said, scratching her head shyly after hearing Zhu Ziyang's praise. Then she asked confusedly, "Oh, right, Sister Nannan, Yang-ge, why did you suddenly come to Falan City?"
"Your Sister Nannan wanted to come and see you," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile, patting Jiang Nannan's shoulder casually.
"That's right, what's wrong? Aren't you happy we came to see you?" Jiang Nannan smiled slightly, feigning anger in her tone.
"No, no!" Yang Zhenzhen quickly waved her hands and said, "I was just too surprised."
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore," Jiang Nannan said, smiling as she took Yang Zhenzhen's small hand. "Since we're here, we'll take you to get your third spirit ring."
"Really? That's great!" Yang Zhenzhen's eyes lit up at the news. Then she said, "Then I'll go ask my teachers for leave. They were originally planning to take me themselves."
"Mm, go ahead. We'll wait for you here," Jiang Nannan said, patting Yang Zhenzhen's shoulder.
Yang Zhenzhen excitedly ran back into the academy, while Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan remained in place, waiting for her.
"Brother, you don't blame me for making decisions on my own, do you?" Jiang Nannan faced Zhu Ziyang, blinking playfully as she asked.
"How could I?" Zhu Ziyang said, smiling as he stroked Jiang Nannan's beautiful hair. "Who are we to each other? We've long been one entity!"
"Hehe, I knew it!" Jiang Nannan said with a chuckle. Thinking of something, her pretty face suddenly flushed.
Yang Zhenzhen didn't make Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan wait too long. In just a few minutes, she reappeared, but this time, she was followed by a middle-aged woman who looked to be in her early forties. Her face showed confusion and dissatisfaction. Clearly, she was Yang Zhenzhen's homeroom teacher or someone similar.
"Sister Nannan, Yang-ge, this is my homeroom teacher, Teacher Pang Yan," Yang Zhenzhen said with a hint of apology. "Teacher Pang heard I was going with you to hunt for my third spirit ring and was a bit worried, so she came to see."
"It's alright, this is normal," Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan naturally wouldn't be displeased by this. On the contrary, they appreciated the teacher's actions, as she was just doing her duty.
"Are you two Zhenzhen's older brother and sister?" Teacher Pang scrutinized Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan, a strong look of surprise in her eyes. She found that even with her Spirit King cultivation, she couldn't see through the pair. Recalling Yang Zhenzhen's words, she immediately trusted their identities by seventy percent. She said, "High achievers from Shrek Academy?"
"Hello, Teacher, we are indeed students from Shrek Academy," Zhu Ziyang replied with a smile.
"Mm!" Teacher Pang nodded, then smiled and said, "You want to take Zhenzhen to hunt for her third spirit ring, right?"
"That's right," Jiang Nannan responded. "Do you have any advice?"
"I wouldn't dare," Teacher Pang immediately shook her head and said, "I was just a little worried, but now that I see you two, I'm reassured. As high achievers from Shrek Academy, I trust your strength."
"Thank you," Zhu Ziyang said, nodding with a smile. Then he asked, "Can we take Zhenzhen now?"
"Yes, of course you can!" Teacher Pang nodded repeatedly, answering.
Seeing this, Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan didn't hesitate. They took Yang Zhenzhen and were about to leave, but heard Teacher Pang call out to Yang Zhenzhen from behind them: "Zhenzhen, I'm saving that spot for you. Come back soon!"
"I know!" Yang Zhenzhen shouted back. It turned out that Teacher Pang was worried that Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan might take Yang Zhenzhen into Shrek Academy.
"What spot?" Jiang Nannan asked, curious.
"Our academy is preparing to participate in this year's Soul Master Competition, and we've specially formed a team," Yang Zhenzhen replied, a hint of pride flashing across her face. She said, "I'm the only third-year student on the team. All the other thirteen are sixth-year seniors."
"I see, that's indeed something to be happy about," Jiang Nannan said, a smile appearing on her face at the news. But then she subtly glanced at Zhu Ziyang, noticing a hint of helplessness flash in his eyes as well.
No matter what, being able to participate in the Soul Master Competition was something to be proud of. Even if it was just to go through the motions and be cannon fodder, at least it was a qualification.
"Oh, right, Sister Nannan, do you know how Brother Han Li is doing now? I haven't seen him in four or five years," Yang Zhenzhen suddenly asked.
"Han Li, he's doing incredibly well now," Zhu Ziyang said, hearing Yang Zhenzhen's question. A dull young boy's image immediately appeared in his mind. This young boy named Han Li possessed the Coiling Dragon Rod Spirit, with innate spirit power of level eight. He was the child with the highest innate spirit power in Zhangyang Village back then, and also the oldest, at eight years old.
He was brought into Shrek Academy by Cai Meier and taken as a registered disciple. Not long ago, he was even accepted as a direct disciple, making him his martial nephew. Now seventeen, his spirit power had reached level 49, with a chance to reach the Spirit King realm before he turned eighteen, far stronger than Cai Meier's other registered disciple.
However, Han Li did not enter the Outer Courtyard for studies, which is why he didn't appear in the Outer Courtyard selection preliminary team this time.
Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan told Yang Zhenzhen about Han Li's experiences. Yang Zhenzhen was very surprised, but only surprised, without any envy or jealousy. This made Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan's evaluation of the girl rise a few points.
The three quickly arrived at their destination for this trip, the Star Dou Great Forest.