Jiang Nannan successfully picked a Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower and returned to Zhu Ziyang's side.
"Oh dear, you actually picked this one. How am I going to explain this to Kui Kui!" Moon Laurel Fairy Tea exclaimed in surprise when she saw the fiery red flower in Jiang Nannan's hand.
"What's wrong? Is this one not allowed?" Jiang Nannan asked, a hint of displeasure on her face.
The Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower she held was the largest among the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower sub-plants, second only to the main Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower in size and height. Although the young girl had received Moon Laurel Fairy Tea's explanation and assurance, she was still worried that an ordinary sub-plant wouldn't be able to completely eradicate Ma Xiaotao's Spirit defect. That's why she chose the best-growing sub-plant. After all, Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower also follows the rule of the bigger, the better.
"How could that be?" Seeing the displeasure on Jiang Nannan's face, Moon Laurel Fairy Tea immediately became a little nervous. It had finally waited for a Taiyin Jade Rabbit and couldn't miss this opportunity. So, it explained to Jiang Nannan in a somewhat ingratiating manner, "Although it grew very well, it's still just a sub-plant. Kui Kui might be angry, but she won't care too much. I'll just explain it to her, you don't have to worry."
For Immortal Herbs that had evolved into Spirit Beasts, sub-plants were dispensable. Although from a bloodline perspective, sub-plants were their sisters, as long as they didn't leave the root, then sub-plants were only fit to be sub-plants, only fit to be unconscious plants!
"That's good then." Jiang Nannan's expression finally changed, a smile appearing on her face, and she said to Zhu Ziyang, "Brother, here, take it and keep it safe."
She handed the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower to Zhu Ziyang, who smiled and took out a jade box. After placing the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower inside, he put it into his star flame ring and said, "You've worked hard, Nannan."
"You can leave now, if you don't, you'll be discovered!" Moon Laurel Fairy Tea urged, "That silver-haired girl, remember your promise to Cha Cha!"
"Mhm, I will keep my promise." Jiang Nannan nodded solemnly and replied. This was a 100,000-Year Soul Beast. Purely for the Hundred-Thousand-Year spirit ring and Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Bone, she wouldn't break her promise. She would be foolish to break it.
"Moon Laurel Fairy Tea, goodbye." Zhu Ziyang's gaze swept over the Immortal Herbs around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, finally returning to Moon Laurel Fairy Tea, a faint smile playing on his lips, as he spoke.
"Mhm, goodbye!" Moon Laurel Fairy Tea didn't realize the deeper meaning behind Zhu Ziyang's smile and replied foolishly.
"Nannan, let's go!" Zhu Ziyang embraced Jiang Nannan's waist. His left eye suddenly bloomed with golden light, and the space around them immediately began to distort. In the blink of an eye, the two instantly disappeared before Moon Laurel Fairy Tea.
"Hehehehe ~ Cha Cha, I can finally leave this cursed place!" Moon Laurel Fairy Tea looked at the vanishing Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan, muttering happily, "Hehehe ~"
"Cha Cha, I saw it!" While Moon Laurel Fairy Tea was giggling foolishly, an ice-white plant emerged from the Extreme Cold Yin Spring, and a cold voice emanated from it.
"Ah ~ Bingbing, when did you wake up?" Moon Laurel Fairy Tea was so startled that her branches trembled, and she looked at the plant in the Yin Spring in a panic, saying.
"I woke up when those two humans first came in." The ice-white plant said, "I also heard all your conversations."
"This, this," Moon Laurel Fairy Tea was truly panicked and became somewhat incoherent. Although everyone harbored resentment towards that person, no one dared to speak it out. Now that Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass knew what she said, if Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass told You You, she might very well have her sentience erased!
In such a long time, weren't there enough Immortal Herbs whose sentience was erased by You You and the others? Moon Laurel Fairy Tea was truly panicked, she didn't want to die!
"I saw it too!" Just as Moon Laurel Fairy Tea was in a state of panic, another voice came, and a fiery red plant rose from the Yang Spring. It was the Yang Spring Immortal Herb, Blazing Apricot Charming Sparse.
"Ah, Jiao Jiao! It's over, it's over!" Moon Laurel Fairy Tea was completely desperate, her tone pale and lifeless.
"Alright, stop scaring Cha Cha!" Another voice came, it was the Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower who had just painfully lost a sub-plant.
"Kui Kui, you, you're awake too!" Moon Laurel Fairy Tea's heart sank to the bottom, but after hearing Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower's words, a glimmer of hope still arose.
"Hmph, I woke up when that girl was picking me." Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower said, "Don't worry, we won't blame you. After all, we understand your situation, and we'll keep it a secret for you too."
"That's right, us too." Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Blazing Apricot Charming Sparse also said.
"Really? Thank you all!" Moon Laurel Fairy Tea, upon hearing this, immediately felt as if she had heard celestial music, both moved and excited, as she spoke.
"Of course it's true, but you have to promise us one request!" Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass said, and Blazing Apricot Charming Sparse also nodded in agreement.
"No problem!" Moon Laurel Fairy Tea, whose mood had soared from rock bottom to the clouds, agreed without a second thought.
— —
Outside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a golden light flashed, and Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan appeared.
Spatial Teleportation, this was Zhu Ziyang's new ability, derived from the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's power of destiny.
It turned out that after he and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion had that memory exchange and he obtained a portion of the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's power of destiny, Zhu Ziyang's left eye underwent a special mutation, just like his right eye had mutated due to the Silver Dragon Wolf's power of destiny after its sacrifice.
After half a year of gestation, his left eye developed dragon wing patterns similar to his right eye, but they were a faint golden color. Because of this, Zhu Ziyang called it the Golden Left Eye.
Just as the Silver Right Eye possessed Time Stop, the Golden Left Eye also possessed an ability called Spatial Teleportation. This ability allowed Zhu Ziyang to Teleport within the space of the Douluo Continent, moving from one spatial area to another, a traditional application of spatial laws.
Currently, Zhu Ziyang's Teleportation distance was only five hundred meters, but its potential was immense. As he developed this ability, the distance would definitely become greater and greater. A thousand miles in a blink of an eye was not a problem!
"Let's go, Nannan, we're returning to the Academy." Zhu Ziyang said.
"Mhm," Jiang Nannan hugged Zhu Ziyang's waist, her eyes full of smiles and anticipation, saying, "Back to the Academy, to give Sister Xiaotao a surprise!"
"Haha, alright." Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but show a wry smile. How could he not understand the young girl's thoughts? But besides a wry smile, what else could he do? Really make him draw a clear line with Ma Xiaotao? Sorry, two years ago, perhaps he could, but now, he really couldn't do it.
Perhaps he was just a playboy! But, his teacher Mu En had said that youthful infatuation was a very normal thing. Alas, if he was a playboy, then so be it, as long as he didn't become a scumbag who toyed with girls' feelings. Besides, they were still young now, and matters of the heart should just take their natural course.
Zhu Ziyang held Jiang Nannan and flew at a low altitude, quickly flying out of the Sunset Forest and heading towards Shrek Academy.
"Ziyang, are you just leaving the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well like that?" In his mind, Electrolux looked puzzled and said, "Leaving such a treasure trove like this would be too regrettable. This is the first time even I have encountered such a treasure trove! It truly lives up to its name as a land where gods have fallen!"
In the ancient myths of the Douluo Continent, the Nine Dragon Kings were all divine beings, so Electrolux calling the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well a land where gods have fallen was not inappropriate.
"Teacher, don't worry." Zhu Ziyang said with a comforting smile, "Isn't this our first time here? Since we've come once and know the way in, there will be plenty of opportunities to come again in the future."
"Alas! According to my old style, I would have directly unleashed the Undead army, plundered all those Spirit Herbs and Immortal Herbs, and then moved those two springs into the Undead Demiplane." Electrolux sighed and said, "It's a pity that my current strength is less than one-tenth of what it once was. Otherwise, my disciple Electrolux wouldn't have to be so hesitant!"
Electrolux, of course, knew what Zhu Ziyang was wary of: the Sea God hidden behind the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well! He was also very wary. Gods, no matter in which World, were at the top of the food chain!
"Teacher, I don't have any intention of destroying the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!" Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but smile wryly. His teacher's style was truly too arrogant, no wonder he was called the Undead Scourge. He said, "My goal has always been the Ice Dragon King's skeleton at the bottom of the Extreme Cold Yin Spring of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Now that I have confirmed the exact information, I can act directly after making full preparations next time. I've probed it, and with my current strength, I cannot delve deep into the Extreme Cold Yin Spring and reach the bottom."
"Alright, it's good that you can make your own decisions. Then I, your teacher, won't say more. You just handle it well." Electrolux said with satisfaction.
"Mhm!" Zhu Ziyang nodded.
The two soon returned to Shrek Academy.
— —
Star Luo Empire, Star Luo City.
From the back gate of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, a frail young boy quietly slipped out, walking north without looking back.
The boy's eyes were bright, but filled with a dark gloom. Hatred and sorrow filled his small face, and he said with a resentful voice, "Mother, may your Spirit in heaven watch over me. No matter how much effort it takes, one day, I will return and trample everything here underfoot. From now on, I will take your surname, changing it to Huo, Huo Yuhao."
The young Huo Yuhao fled the Duke's Mansion, running towards the Star Dou Great Forest, towards the place where the gears of destiny would mesh.
As the young Huo Yuhao's retreating figure faded into the distance, a monumental plan slowly unfolded. The chess pieces of the players entered the game, and destiny thus began. The game that would determine the future direction of the Douluo Continent had begun!