After returning to the dormitory, since it was still early, Zhu Ziyang showered and then sat on his bed reading a book, not rushing to cultivate.
Cultivation should not be rushed; one must know that excess is as bad as deficiency. Therefore, Zhu Ziyang always understood the principle of balancing work and rest, of alternating tension and relaxation.
"...Dragon God Douluo Mu En, the 260th dean of Shrek Academy, a Level 99 Limit Douluo, with the Light Holy Dragon Spirit... Mu En was born into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, a descendant of Yu Xiaogang, one of the founders of Shrek Academy... He awakened the Light Holy Dragon Spirit at six years old, with innate full spirit power... Reached Spirit Grandmaster at eight years old... Reached Level 69 at eighteen years old... Subsequently led Shrek Academy to win the championship of the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament... Broke through to Titled Douluo at thirty years old... Reached Level 98 at fifty years old... Reached Level 99 Limit Douluo at seventy years old, hailed as the strongest person in Shrek Academy's thousand-year history..."
As he was reading intently, he suddenly heard a knock at the door.
Zhu Ziyang was startled, a look of confusion on his face. He put down the book, "A Brief Introduction to the Past Deans of Shrek Academy," stood up, and went to open the door.
The door opened, and it was Jiang Nannan!
"Nannan!" Zhu Ziyang was very surprised and asked, "Why are you on the boys' floor?"
"Hehe, I asked! The Academy only forbids you boys from going to the girls' floor, but it didn't say girls aren't allowed on the boys' floor!" Jiang Nannan said with a smile, walking into the dormitory on her own accord, as she surveyed Zhu Ziyang's room.
"What's wrong? Do you want to move in and live with me?" Zhu Ziyang teased, a smile on his face. He thought of their time at Anyang Academy; he and Jiang Nannan had lived together for three years.
"I wish, but the school doesn't allow it," Jiang Nannan said, naturally sitting on Zhu Ziyang's bed.
"Once we enter the Inner Courtyard, we can naturally live together again," Zhu Ziyang said, sitting beside Jiang Nannan, wrapping an arm around her slender waist, and pulling her into his embrace.
"Giggle!" The girl let out bell-like laughter, nestling her delicate body in Zhu Ziyang's arms.
After a moment of intimacy, Jiang Nannan sat up and said to Zhu Ziyang, "Ziyang-ge, where are your changed clothes? Give them to me."
"Okay." Zhu Ziyang didn't stand on ceremony. He got up and handed his changed school uniform to Jiang Nannan. Previously, when they lived at Anyang Academy, Jiang Nannan often washed his clothes; the girl could be said to be very capable.
Jiang Nannan took the clothes and didn't linger. She said, "Then I'll head back first."
"Okay, don't cultivate too late tonight, remember to get some sleep!" Zhu Ziyang exhorted.
"I know!" Jiang Nannan replied, then left Zhu Ziyang's dormitory.
Zhu Ziyang watched Jiang Nannan's figure disappear at the stairwell before closing the door and going back inside.
After Jiang Nannan left, Zhu Ziyang continued to read for a while before getting into bed to cultivate.
He closed his eyes, sat cross-legged on the bed, his breathing steady and powerful, his mind quickly reaching its most perfect state.
His consciousness subconsciously entered his sea of Spirit. On the sea of Spirit, Electrolux's gray Spirit pearl remained calm, and the silver crystal also floated quietly, without any unusual movement.
After inspecting his sea of Spirit, Zhu Ziyang activated the Great Bright Light Art, mobilizing all his spirit power, starting from the Danzhong Acupoint, and circulating through various meridians and acupoints in his body.
When his spirit power circulated to the acupoint of his right eye, that peculiar sensation returned. Zhu Ziyang was very puzzled; this feeling was very strange, like something was being nurtured.
This sensation had appeared after the Dragonwolf's sacrifice. At first, it made Zhu Ziyang quite scared, but later he realized that this peculiar feeling was not dangerous; on the contrary, it was helping to nourish his eye!
Ever since this peculiar sensation appeared, he realized that his right eye must have undergone some miraculous mutation. It was actually actively connecting to his sea of Spirit, albeit slowly, yet very steadily. Even if Zhu Ziyang didn't deliberately interfere, it could extend steadily.
He had a feeling that when the acupoint of his right eye connected with his sea of Spirit, the mutation of his right eye would also be completed simultaneously. At that time, he would know exactly what was happening.
Zhu Ziyang estimated that this progress would take about one to two months to complete.
He no longer paid attention to his right eye and focused on cultivating.
—
Early morning.
Zhu Ziyang woke up, sat up, got out of bed, dressed, washed up, and then left the dormitory.
At the entrance of the dormitory building, the old man was still the same, leisurely lying in his rocking chair. As for Yu Beibei, he was already standing there early, seemingly struggling with something. When he saw Zhu Ziyang arrive, his expression immediately changed, and he smiled and nodded at him.
Zhu Ziyang didn't mind his change; he smiled in response, then stood there and continued to read.
Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya didn't make them wait too long and soon came down.
After a brief reunion, the four immediately split up. Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan went for their usual run, while Yu Beibei and Tang Ya headed to the cafeteria for breakfast.
After breakfast, the morning classes began.
Class Four's morning class was Spirit Master theory. The teacher was a middle-aged man, and the knowledge taught was more profound than at Anyang Academy, but not excessively so. It was all basic Spirit Master theory, such as the nature of spirit power, the age of spirit rings, and the judgment of Spirits.
After all, these first-year students were, at most, graduates of junior academies. Except for a few exceptionally talented individuals, most students might not be able to understand overly profound knowledge.
When the morning classes ended, Zhu Ziyang and the others went straight to eat. After eating, Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya returned to their dormitories to cultivate. Bei Bei's whereabouts were unknown. As for Zhu Ziyang himself, he rented a training ground in the Douluo Arena area to practice Spirit control and scythe techniques. He didn't plan to return to the dormitory at noon. Anyway, he didn't have the habit of taking a nap, so he might as well use these nearly four hours to practice combat skills.
The price of the training grounds in the Douluo Arena area was not cheap, costing ten gold coins per hour. Such a price was not affordable for ordinary students, so most students preferred to find an empty space in the Academy to practice Spirit Abilities or Spirits. The Academy did not prohibit this, provided that it did not cause too much damage, otherwise, there would be a tenfold compensation. Therefore, except for high-grade students, few low-grade students were willing to rent training grounds, as low-grade students' cultivation was limited, making it difficult to cause significant damage to the Academy's environment.
Zhu Ziyang was quite confident in his scythe techniques, which is why he chose to rent a training ground; otherwise, he wouldn't be willing to spend thirty or forty gold coins to generate revenue for the Academy.
The Two-Yin Revolving Style, Nine-layered Linked Style, Half-Moon Death Scythe Style, Four-Directional Combined Style, and One-Yuan Returning Style—these five scythe techniques were displayed sequentially in Zhu Ziyang's hands. The golden scythe flexibly appeared and disappeared, sometimes cleaving, sometimes thrusting. All sorts of profound mysteries quickly emerged with Zhu Ziyang's movements, then swiftly receded into his mind, eventually internalizing into his accumulated experience, steadily improving his scythe techniques.
The Two-Yin Revolving Style and Half-Moon Death Scythe Style are not to be mentioned for now, as they require mastering the method of fusing Light and Death. Therefore, Zhu Ziyang is currently still at the second level, meaning he can only release the Power of Light or the Power of Death, unable to release both powers simultaneously.
The Nine-layered Linked Style and Four-Directional Combined Style are more skill-oriented moves. The Nine-layered Linked Style is currently limited by strength and physical fitness, still only able to unleash four strikes. If he forces an outburst, he can reach five strikes. The Four-Directional Combined Style is nearing perfection.
As for the last style, the One-Yuan Returning Style, he can currently fuse his first Spirit Ability with his second Spirit Ability, or his second Spirit Ability with his third Spirit Ability. However, his second Spirit Ability, Blessing of Light, is inherently an amplification skill, enhancing his strength and the sharpness of the Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe. Whether it's with the first Spirit Ability or the third Spirit Ability, it has very high compatibility. Rather than calling it fusion, it's more accurate to say this is the inherent capability of an amplification-type Spirit Ability. Before achieving the fusion of Light and Death, this style will likely remain at this level.