While Mu En was cleansing and refining Zhu Ziyang's meridians, Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya were still absorbing their soul bones. Meanwhile, Beibei, who had waited in the dining hall for the trio, finally lost patience when they didn't show up.
He left the dining hall, exited Shrek Academy, and rushed to Shrek City at top speed.
He arrived at a traditional courtyard residence and pushed open the door.
"Young Master, you're here!" someone inside said, quickly standing up and respectfully greeting Beibei.
"Mhm! What was so urgent you had to summon me?" Beibei asked directly.
"The item the family elder asked the clan head to search for has been found. The clan head had us deliver it to you personally," the man replied, taking a dark porcelain bottle from his soul tool and handing it over.
Beibei blinked, puzzled, and accepted the bottle. But the moment he felt the vital life energy inside, a look of shock and joy lit up his face.
"This is… the Wood Spirit Pill?!"
"Yes," the man confirmed. "My task is complete. I'll return to report. Farewell, Young Master."
The man disappeared quickly, leaving Beibei standing alone.
Beibei recalled Mu En's words:
"That little girl's soul origin is damaged. If not repaired, her journey will be very difficult."
Those words had stuck with him—so he had decided to find the Wood Spirit Pill for Tang Ya.
The Wood Spirit Pill was a top-grade medicinal elixir, with powerful healing and restorative effects. For plant-type martial soul users, it could repair, restore, and even strengthen their soul origin.
A pill like this was incredibly rare and expensive. Even as the sole heir of his family, Beibei didn't have the authority to access such high-value resources. After being denied the first time, he had turned to Mu En.
And clearly, Mu En only had to say the word—and the pill appeared before him.
Beibei now had high hopes for how the Wood Spirit Pill could improve Tang Ya's condition.
Back at Sea God Pavilion—
Fifteen minutes later, Mu En withdrew his hand. Though his face showed signs of fatigue, it was overwhelmed by joy and excitement.
During the cleansing, Mu En was amazed to find that Zhu Ziyang's meridians were already fully open, and not only that—they were unusually wide and tough, a natural body for cultivation. With nothing left to refine, Mu En redirected his efforts to expanding several hidden meridians and nodes, to make future cultivation smoother.
What thrilled Mu En even more was sensing a different kind of soul force in Zhu Ziyang's body, distinct from his Scythe of Death's Rest. This force was icy cold, tinged with a domineering dragon aura—confirming his earlier suspicion. The realization made him even more excited—he liked Zhu Ziyang more by the second.
"Heh… truly blessed by the heavens," Mu En whispered, his eyes kind as he looked at Zhu Ziyang, whose meridians were still stabilizing. A rare flush of excitement tinged the old man's cheeks.
Fifteen more minutes passed, and Zhu Ziyang opened his eyes, a look of joy within them.
He had broken through to Level 37 in soul power.
But what pleased him more was that his already resilient meridians, forged through the Grand Radiance Scripture, had now been further reinforced. Some originally narrow or weak pathways had been widened and strengthened, and meridians that couldn't be reached by his own cultivation methods were now fully opened. His soul power flowed smoother, and his training speed would increase considerably.
"Thank you, Teacher!" Zhu Ziyang stood and saw the weariness in Mu En's expression, deeply moved and respectful.
"Haha! Looks like it went well. A bit of effort was worth it," Mu En said cheerfully, sensing the enhancement in Zhu Ziyang's aura.
"Yes! I gained one level—now at Level 37," Zhu Ziyang said excitedly. He realized he might reach Level 40 before the age of twelve—the Soul Ancestor realm. Especially since he still had a Soul Ascension Pill.
A twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor… He doubted even Shrek Academy's entire history had ever seen that.
"Good, good, good!" Mu En was also thinking the same. His face glowed with pride as he said "good" three times. "Let's hope you break Shrek Academy's Soul Ancestor record!"
"I'll do my best!" Zhu Ziyang said confidently.
"Hahaha! That's the spirit!" Mu En laughed, then added, "Ziyang—if I may call you that—can you tell me what your second martial soul is?"
"Of course!" Zhu Ziyang replied without hesitation. His twin martial souls were nothing to hide—if anything, revealing them would only win him more resources and attention. "My second martial soul is called Heavenly Frost Holy White Dragon."
"White Dragon?" Mu En raised his eyebrows. "A Light-type True Dragon?"
"No, an Ice-type dragon," Zhu Ziyang corrected.
"Ice-type White Dragon? That's rare," Mu En murmured, clearly intrigued.
On the Douluo Continent, White Dragons were usually Light-type or Wind-type. An Ice-type White Dragon was nearly unheard of. He continued:
"To be twin-born with an Ultimate Light martial soul… your second must be special too."
"Mhm. My second martial soul is Ultimate Ice," Zhu Ziyang said calmly—dropping a bombshell that completely shattered Mu En's composure.
"Y-You said what?!" Mu En stood up abruptly, his hunched body shaking. The fact that the legendary Dragon God Douluo lost his composure—that alone was enough for Zhu Ziyang to be etched in Shrek's history.
Zhu Ziyang didn't speak again. He simply smiled and summoned the phantom of his second martial soul.
A massive pure white dragon appeared behind him. Its frosty wings unfurled, and a chilling cold swept through the room—dropping the temperature several degrees in seconds.
"Incredible…" Mu En stared in shock at the superbeast-class phantom and felt the power radiating from it. He murmured:
"Twin Ultimate Martial Souls… Twin Ultimate Martial Souls! The heavens bless Shrek!"
He looked at Zhu Ziyang with new eyes. In his heart, Zhu Ziyang had now taken the highest place.
In Shrek Academy's long history, there had been those with Ultimate martial souls, and others with twin martial souls—but never both in one person.
To have such a student sent to Shrek just as his life neared its end—if that wasn't divine intervention, what was?
He was certain: with Zhu Ziyang, Shrek Academy would dominate the continent for the next five hundred, even a thousand years!
Zhu Ziyang might even reach the legendary realm of the first-generation Seven Shrek Monsters.
"Good child. Put your martial soul away," Mu En said, patting Zhu Ziyang on the shoulder with deep satisfaction. "Thank you for placing your trust in Shrek. We will never let you down."
"Teacher, you…" Zhu Ziyang was surprised but quickly understood. He wanted to respond, but Mu En stopped him.
"Don't rush, hear me out," Mu En said. "With your talent, you could go to any sect or academy and be treated like a treasure. The fact that you chose Shrek shows your trust. As head of Sea God Pavilion, I promise—you won't regret it."
"I understand, Teacher," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile, eyes full of determination.
"Hahaha! Excellent!" Mu En laughed joyfully. "Come—let's go meet the other old fogies, and your senior brothers and sisters."
He placed a hand on Zhu Ziyang's shoulder. In the next moment, under Zhu Ziyang's surprised gaze, golden light flooded the room, and they both disappeared.