With the addition of the Starry Unicorn, Zhu Ziyang and his group had a safe journey, finally reaching the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest by the evening of the day they met.
Upon entering this area, the danger level significantly decreased; at least there was no longer any life-threatening risk. Therefore, the Great Starry Unicorn also completed her mission and was about to sacrifice herself to become Zhu Ziyang's spirit ring.
The Inner Courtyard Disciples sat defenselessly under a large tree, resting, all looking on with curious anticipation at this unbelievable scene: a Spirit Beast actively wanting to become a Spirit Master's spirit ring. If they hadn't experienced it firsthand, these Inner Courtyard top students would never have believed such a thing.
Along the way, Zhu Ziyang told everyone his experiences after being sent flying, with some redactions, focusing on introducing the Great Starry Unicorn's origin and purpose. Everyone exclaimed in disbelief but had no choice but to believe, because a 50,000-year-old Starry Unicorn was right there with them.
The undeniable evidence laid before their eyes, shocking the Inner Courtyard Disciples and making them envious of Zhu Ziyang's good fortune. At the same time, due to their shared life-and-death camaraderie, Zhang Lexuan revealed that Zhu Ziyang had been accepted as a disciple by Mu En. No one was surprised, as Zhu Ziyang's talent and potential were obvious to all.
Zhu Ziyang sat cross-legged on the ground, and the Great Starry Unicorn knelt before him, her proud head lowered, her pure horn pointing towards Zhu Ziyang. Behind them, the Little Starry Unicorn, Xingcai, watched her mother with tears in her eyes, reluctant to let her go. She knew she would soon no longer see her mother.
"We can begin," Zhu Ziyang said to Luo Xingxiya, his face expressionless and his heart as still as water.
"Yes, Child of Light!" The Great Starry Unicorn, Luo Xingxiya, said with an excited tone, her body immediately emitting a faint golden light that spread from her horn on her forehead, down to her neck, to her wings, and all the way to her tail. "Please place your palm on the tip of my horn."
Zhu Ziyang felt puzzled, but his actions were not hesitant. He extended his right hand, placing his palm on the tip of the Great Starry Unicorn Luo Xingxiya's horn. Immediately, he felt a faint current of air flowing from Luo Xingxiya's horn into his palm, up his arm, and into his heart.
As that current flowed into Zhu Ziyang's heart, a resolute glint flashed in the Great Starry Unicorn Luo Xingxiya's eyes. After a muffled groan, the Great Starry Unicorn's bright eyes lost their usual luster, and her eyes slowly closed. She had severed her own heart meridian!
A spirit ring as black as night slowly appeared on the pure horn, instantly flying from the horn to Zhu Ziyang's arm. After a hint of sadness flashed in Zhu Ziyang's heart, he immediately closed his eyes and began to absorb the spirit ring.
The Inner Courtyard Disciples witnessed this scene, all showing expressions of shock. They were astonished by the Great Starry Unicorn's resolve—was this faith? As for Xingcai, she was already kneeling on the ground, bidding farewell to her mother.
Golden light emanated, gradually enveloping Zhu Ziyang and the lifeless Great Starry Unicorn. The interwoven light, thick as silk, formed a giant egg. As the light egg completely closed, a stream of light flew out and landed on the Little Starry Unicorn Xingcai, who immediately fell into a deep slumber upon receiving it.
"Sister Lexuan, can Ziyang really withstand the Starry Unicorn's spirit ring?" Ma Xiaotao asked with a worried expression.
"We must believe in him!" Zhang Lexuan said, though she herself was somewhat concerned.
Inside the light egg, Zhu Ziyang was doing his utmost to absorb this 50,000-year-old spirit ring, fully focused and not daring to relax for a moment. Although the spirit power of this spirit ring had become gentle and smooth due to Luo Xingxiya's will, its immense size still made absorption extremely difficult. It was a huge challenge for Zhu Ziyang's physique; a slight mistake could cause this vast, foreign spirit power to burst his body.
He had to be extremely cautious.
The Pacifying Life-Reaping Scythe appeared in his hand, and his first three spirit rings appeared sequentially behind him. All the spirit power within his body became active, receiving the spirit power from the new spirit ring. His bodily functions instantly operated at high speed, and all his meridians and acupoints refined this new spirit power.
Zhu Ziyang's refining process was arduous and full of difficulties. Although the Starry Unicorn's spirit power was very docile, its immense quantity still pushed his body to its limit.
The yellow spirit ring behind him began to flash continuously. With each flash, the yellow spirit ring solidified a bit more, gaining a few more touches of jade-like translucence and purity, and a surge of life essence overflowed from it.
Electrolux made his move.
As the first spirit ring was completely refined, Zhu Ziyang's absorption of the Starry Unicorn's spirit ring immediately became much easier, and his speed also increased slightly. He was delighted and became even more focused.
Electrolux was not idle either. After helping Zhu Ziyang refine the life force of the first spirit ring, he continued to help him refine the life force of the second spirit ring. While assisting Zhu Ziyang in the second refinement of his spirit rings, his divine soul also benefited, solidifying slightly.
Zhu Ziyang's absorption and refinement of the spirit rings entered a virtuous cycle; all he needed now was time.
—
Just as Zhu Ziyang and his group were leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, Xuan Zi finally returned to Shrek Academy.
He didn't care about anything else; he rushed directly onto Sea God Island, handed Zhu Lie and Long Yu over to an Inner Courtyard Disciple, and then frantically burst into the Sea God Pavilion.
"Mu En, I lost Ziyang," he shouted as he burst into the Sea God Pavilion.
"What?!" Mu En was taking a nap, and Xuan Zi's sudden intrusion naturally startled him. He didn't even have time to speak before Xuan Zi's words shocked him, causing him to instantly open his eyes. He stood directly from his lounge chair, and a powerful aura erupted from his aged body, actually knocking Xuan Zi flying, sending him crashing into the wall of the Sea God Pavilion.
Xuan Zi fearfully scrambled to his feet, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth, yet he dared not voice any complaints towards Mu En.
Mu En also had no time to bicker with Xuan Zi and asked directly, "Where?"
"The core area!" Xuan Zi immediately replied.
Upon hearing this, Mu En instantly vanished from the Sea God Pavilion, leaving the trembling Xuan Zi still bewildered. Xuan Zi didn't care about his disheveled appearance being seen; he immediately went to find the other elders. The Star Dou Great Forest was vast, and Mu En alone would not be nearly enough.
In the sky outside Shrek Academy, Mu En, like a golden meteor, sped towards the Star Dou Great Forest. His heart was filled with anxiety; Zhu Ziyang was the future of Shrek Academy, his most satisfactory successor. If he truly perished in the Star Dou Great Forest, Mu En would surely die with unclosed eyes!
Honestly, Mu En really wanted to slap Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe to death.
But the most important thing right now was to find Zhu Ziyang; he didn't have time to dwell on them.
Hopefully, Ziyang can hold on. Mu En prayed in his heart. Disregarding his heavily injured body, he rushed towards the Star Dou Great Forest at extreme speed. The sooner he arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest, the greater the hope of finding Zhu Ziyang.
Less than three minutes after Mu En left Shrek Academy, more than a dozen extremely fast figures burst out from Shrek Academy, all rushing towards the Star Dou Great Forest. Without exception, these figures were all Titled Douluo level powerhouses!
They were the Sea God Pavilion elders!
Such a major commotion from the Shrek Academy Sea God Pavilion immediately attracted the attention of various forces in Shrek City. The Star Luo Empire, Tianhun Empire, Douling Empire, and other major Sects and prominent families all received a piece of intelligence within a day or two, coincidentally: Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion had dispatched over ten Titled Douluo to the Star Dou Great Forest, seemingly preparing to go to war with the Spirit Beasts!
—
As Mu En and the Sea God Pavilion elders sped towards the Star Dou Great Forest.
Star Dou Great Forest, Land of Great Danger, Lake of Life.
"How is the Auspicious Beast?" a black-robed man with a resolute and stern face inquired. His long black hair cascaded to his feet, with two unusually conspicuous golden bangs on his forehead. There was no emotion in his tone, but his golden eyes were not calm.
"She's fine, just not in a very good mood," a woman replied. Her appearance was exceptionally beautiful, her emerald eyes filled with compassion, her verdant hair flowing over her chest, and her cyan dress outlining her perfect figure. Her arms, as tender as white lotus roots, were exposed. Behind her were a pair of wings, each feather as exquisitely carved as a gemstone, unforgettable to behold.
Before them, the Auspicious Beast lay listlessly by the lake, her three eyes staring blankly at her reflection on the water, exuding a listless and dejected aura.
"Sigh!" The black-robed man ultimately couldn't bear it and said, "Forget it. If you want to go out in the future, have Xiong Jun or Chi Wang accompany you. Don't sneak out by yourself again."