"After all, the child has grown up. It's time he knew," Mirror Hongchen slowly said, facing the direction of Shrek Academy.
He truly regarded this child as his own grandson.
Some things couldn't be hidden from the child forever, right?
… …
Biological parents?
Swan Spirit?
On the way back to the Academy, An Zhen was somewhat distracted.
"According to what Grandfather said, a Spirit Ancestor couple with Swan Spirits met with misfortune in the Sun Moon Mountain Range, and the child, who had just been entrusted to someone else's care before their departure, became an orphan. After the agreed-upon time, because the couple did not return, he was placed in an orphanage in Mingdu."
That child was him.
And that couple came from the Douling Empire of the Original Douluo Continent. For some unknown reason, they traveled to the Sun Moon Empire and settled there for two months. An Zhen's current background was modified based on his biological parents' background—that couple never went to the Sun Moon Empire, but rather met with misfortune after An Zhen was born.
Why could An Zhen's background be so real that Shrek Academy couldn't find any flaws?
Because although An Zhen had no experience living in the Douling Empire, everything about his parents' past in the Douling Empire was real.
A bit of truth mixed with a bit of falsehood.
An Zhen felt that things were a bit beyond his expectation.
Regarding his biological parents, to be honest, he had never met them. An Zhen's earliest memory was already in the orphanage, so his feelings for them were complicated. He grieved their passing, but he didn't even know what they looked like, only just learning their names from his grandfather.
"Last name Xue, Swan Spirit… "
The Swan Spirit was not a particularly powerful Spirit; it could even appear among commoners. But if you added the last name Xue…
Why did it feel like a certain family fit the description perfectly? Although the main city where his parents used to live was far from the Douling Imperial Capital.
"Forget it, I'll talk about it if I get the chance later."
He had brothers, a sister who was like a younger sister, and a grandfather.
… …
Shrek City today seemed to have regained its former vitality. The previously serious atmosphere seemed to have disappeared. Looking from afar, many powerful individuals were rushing towards Shrek City; they were the personnel who had previously gone out to search. The actions of various major organizations also stopped, and the treasure hunting craze on the Continent suddenly suffered a direct blow.
The "treasure" slowly arrived at the west gate of Shrek City.
Entering the city.
A gust of wind blew over.
An Zhen felt himself being lifted up.
"It's that slovenly guy."
Electrolux's voice echoed in An Zhen's mind.
Elder Xuan.
An Zhen felt a hand pinching him all over until it was confirmed that he had no injuries anywhere on his body, and instead, his physique had become much stronger. Only then did Elder Xuan put An Zhen down.
"It's good that you're fine, it's good that you're fine."
The excited voice indicated that the big stone in his heart had finally fallen.
An Zhen looked at the old man in front of him.
The slovenly old man's appearance at this moment was even more disheveled than usual. His messy hair was not only greasy but also had a lot of dust. His clothes were tattered, and his hair covered his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Elder Xuan, I made you worry."
An Zhen truly felt sorry for this old man. After all, the blame had been directly placed on him before, so he brought him some local specialties as an apology. Although Elder Xuan favored his own side over what was right, his own side was An Zhen, and who would bear ill will towards a big shot who sided with them?
"It's fine as long as you're alright."
Elder Xuan turned around indifferently, picked up a chicken leg, and began to eat it. A crystal-clear liquid evaporated from his eye sockets beneath his greasy long hair due to his spirit power.
When Elder Xuan saw An Zhen disappear in front of him, he truly felt like the sky had fallen. Was the tragedy of the past going to happen again in front of him?
Fortunately, everything was safe in the end.
"Let's go. I'll take you back. That girl Le Xuan is very worried."
Saying that, he grabbed An Zhen's wrist. The scenery in his eyes changed rapidly, and in the next moment, the two of them arrived on Sea God Island.
"Elder Xuan!"
An Zhen called out to the old man who was about to turn and leave, and took out a large melon emitting a yellowish-brown glow, like an Earth Dragon.
Earth Dragon Golden Melon, ninety thousand years old, but its quality was too high, only reaching one hundred thousand years could it gain sentience. This one was probably the Guagua with one hundred ninety thousand years of cultivation in the future.
Whether it was to compensate Elder Xuan or to hope that the big shot who protected him, and his future subordinate, would become stronger, this Earth Dragon Golden Melon belonged to Elder Xuan. There were many Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, but the one most suitable for this Immortal Herb was only Elder Xuan.
An Zhen was not a dragon from a fantasy World, who liked to hoard treasures forever without using them. Treasures were treasures because they were useful. If they had no use, what was the difference between them and trash?
"What is this?"
Elder Xuan was surprised; his Spirit actually felt a craving for this thing.
"Earth Dragon Golden Melon, an Immortal Herb I got from Teacher Divine Envoy." An Zhen handed over the item in his hand and explained its effects.
"No."
Suppressing his Spirit's craving, Elder Xuan shook his head and refused, "An Boy, I appreciate your kindness, but I'm so old, eating this thing would be too wasteful."
"Elder Xuan, you are the most suitable for this. The Taotie Divine Ox has Earth Dragon bloodline, it might even help you advance further."
Before Elder Xuan could say anything more, An Zhen directly threw the item in his hand into the air, "I'm going to find Sister."
Seeing An Zhen's actions, Elder Xuan quickly and carefully caught the Earth Dragon Golden Melon. How could he be so careless with such a treasure?
"Xuan Zi, since it's the child's kind intention, just accept it," Mu En's aged voice echoed in Elder Xuan's ear.
"Elder Mu."
"I don't have much time left. The Sun Moon Empire is becoming increasingly restless. Before the children grow up, they need a big tree to shield them from the wind and rain."
"This… Alright!"
… …
Zhang Lexuan's living room.
The Inner Courtyard's Senior Sister had been in a bad mood recently.
To prevent Zhang Lexuan from having any problems due to her sadness, such as running out to find someone and getting herself lost, Mu En confined her to Sea God Island. Enough people had already gone out; they didn't need her. After learning that An Zhen was fine, he forbade her from running around even more.
At this moment, the female students of the Inner Courtyard, who knew of their Senior Sister's sadness, were visiting the Senior Sister who usually took good care of them.
One was a hot-figured older sister with a charming face like a flame Elf.
The other was a princess of ice and snow, with skin as white as ice and snow, cool and aloof, as proud as a plum blossom.
"Senior Sister!"
A figure suddenly pushed open the living room door. Just as Ling Luochen frowned, to the surprise of the two girls, the Senior Sister who had just been red-eyed and haggard rushed over and tightly embraced the boy.
"Mmph!"
Thankfully, he had grown taller, otherwise he would have been suffocated.
"Alright, alright."
An Zhen gently stroked the long hair of the black-haired, straight-haired Senior Sister. Her plump body trembled slightly in his arms, her ample chest pressing tightly against his, as if she wanted to melt the two of them into one.
"I'm back, aren't I?"
Zhang Lexuan didn't listen.
"Eh? Senior Sister, don't pull my clothes."
"Senior Sister, there are other people here."
Senior Sister's longing was a bit too passionate.
Ling Luochen and Ma Xiaotao, who usually didn't get along, exchanged a rare glance of understanding. Although the scene before them was very shocking, they felt they shouldn't be here.
Looking at Shrek from other factions might not seem good, but Shrek is currently the protagonist force, the Sea God Pavilion Master's successor. Moreover, resources are just sitting there; they are only resources when put to use. Helping Elder Xuan and saving Elder Mu is all that can be done for Shrek for now. Other possibilities depend on the protagonist taking power later.