Inside the Sea God Pavilion, the elders' hearts were all impacted to varying degrees.
"Heh! A Soul Spirit! If only I didn't already have all my spirit ring slots filled, I would definitely get one too. It feels really good!" Qian Duoduo said, a look of envious admiration on his face.
"That's right," Xian Lin'er echoed, following her husband's lead, "The emergence of Soul Spirits is definitely a huge blessing for support system Spirit Masters like Duo Duo and Old Zhuang!"
"Hahahaha, Lin'er is right!" Old Zhuang burst into laughter upon hearing Xian Lin'er's words, saying, "If only spirit rings could be reversed, I'd even want to replace my ninth spirit ring with a Soul Spirit. I believe with Soul Spirits, the survival capabilities of pure support system Spirit Masters like us, who have no combat power, would greatly increase!"
"Heh heh, it seems everyone is very interested in Soul Spirits. This is a good sign!" Mu En listened to everyone's words, chuckling as he said, "Since that's the case, the matter of Soul Spirits is decided. From now on, Shrek Academy will begin preparations for the creation and promotion of the Soul Spirit System. Once Ziyang takes over my position, he will lead this endeavor!"
"Yes!" All the elders nodded in agreement.
"Then, Lin'er, Meier, you two should select one or two trustworthy students who need spirit rings and let them follow Ziyang to try contracting a Soul Spirit!" Mu En was very pleased with the elders' attitudes, and he smiled as he said to Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier.
"Grandmaster, there's no need to search. Sister Xiaotao can do it." Cai Meier stood up directly and replied, "She just reached level 70 a few days ago, and I was about to take her to find her seventh spirit ring."
"That girl Xiaotao has reached level 70?!" Cai Meier's words astonished the elders, but more than that, it was a pleasant surprise. They exclaimed in unison, "This truly is Heaven's blessing upon Shrek Academy!"
Ma Xiaotao was barely twenty years old, yet she had already reached the realm of a Spirit Saint at level 70, and she possessed the ultimate fire Spirit. It was no wonder the elders were excited. Judging by the cultivation speed of the previous ultimate fire user, Ma Xiaotao was incredibly powerful. After all, the previous ultimate fire user was almost thirty when he reached the Spirit Saint realm.
"Good, then let's choose just Xiaotao for now!" Mu En was also surprised and delighted. It was like a pillow appearing when he was sleepy; truly fortunate.
If Mu En were to rank all students by trustworthiness in his heart, Ma Xiaotao would definitely be among the absolutely trustworthy. As Yan Shaozhe's disciple and his own grand-disciple, Ma Xiaotao could be said to be a true Shrek native, pure and proper!
"Grandmaster, if it's Sister Xiaotao, then I have an idea!" After Zhu Ziyang heard Mu En choose Ma Xiaotao, an idea immediately popped into his head, and he felt that this idea was very feasible.
"Tell me about it." Mu En said.
"Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!" Zhu Zi Yang uttered a place name, and Mu En immediately understood his meaning.
"You mean, to let that Hundred-Thousand-Year Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower become Xiaotao's Soul Spirit?" Mu En accurately guessed Zhu Ziyang's thoughts, and a hint of eagerness appeared on his aged face.
"Exactly, Grandmaster!" Zhu Ziyang nodded and said, "That Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower is highly compatible with Sister Xiaotao. If it can become Sister Xiaotao's seventh spirit ring, it will definitely provide her with a significant boost and enhancement."
"That's not impossible, it would just be a bit troublesome." Mu En pondered, but quickly made a decision, saying, "Trouble is trouble. The thing Shrek Academy fears least is trouble! Ziyang, do as you say!"
The others listened to the conversation between Zhu Ziyang and Mu En, the master and disciple, and couldn't help but exchange glances. Although they also knew of the existence of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, they didn't know that Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beasts existed within it, let alone that those Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beasts were transformed Immortal Herbs. At this moment, they instinctively felt that Zhu Ziyang and Mu En's idea was too bold.
"Grandmaster, Ziyang, isn't it a bit too hasty to have Xiaotao absorb a Hundred-Thousand-Year spirit ring for her seventh spirit ring?" As Ma Xiaotao's grand-teacher, Cai Meier was the first to express her concern, she said.
"Junior Martial Sister, don't worry." Zhu Ziyang explained with a smile, "Sister Xiaotao herself has the Fire Phoenix Spirit, and it's an ultimate fire. Its compatibility with that Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower exceeds ninety percent. Coupled with the help of the Soul Spirit contract, even if Sister Xiaotao struggles during absorption, the gains will definitely be immense."
Zhu Ziyang's explanation only alleviated some of Cai Meier's worries; she still couldn't agree with Zhu Ziyang's idea.
"How about this, Meier, you go call Xiaotao over and let her decide for herself." Mu En made a decision and said, "The others can leave for now, Lin'er stays."
Cai Meier went to find Ma Xiaotao, while the other elders reluctantly left the Sea God Pavilion. They still had all sorts of curious questions about Soul Spirits, but unfortunately, Old Mu wouldn't let them stay any longer.
As for Xian Lin'er, she was left behind feeling somewhat bewildered until Zhu Ziyang told her about the situation inside the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Only then did she understand why she had been kept; it was to have her act as a bodyguard!
"How helpless," Xian Lin'er couldn't help but wave her hand.
"Old Mu, I agree with Ziyang's idea!" Ma Xiaotao quickly appeared in the Sea God Pavilion with Cai Meier. As soon as the girl entered, she eagerly shouted.
Cai Meier, who was following behind, couldn't help but reach up and hold her forehead. She shouldn't have mentioned this matter to Ma Xiaotao on the way. This child was simply too impetuous; she didn't have an ounce of a lady's demeanor!
"Good, good child, I know!" Mu En, seeing Ma Xiaotao arrive and hearing her firm reply, immediately beamed with joy and said, "Since that's the case, you can go back and wait for news. Also, adjust your state to the best possible. In one or two days at the fastest, or four or five days at the slowest, you will be able to obtain your seventh spirit ring!"
"Mm-hm! I will!" Ma Xiaotao nodded excitedly upon hearing this, then turned and left the Sea God Pavilion in a flurry. This behavior made Cai Meier sigh again, unable to help but hold her forehead.
"Alright, Lin'er, Meier, I have a task for you two!" Mu En called out to Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier again. He said, "At that time, you two will go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, bring that Hundred-Thousand-Year Phoenix Cockscomb Sunflower back to the academy, and hand it over to Ziyang, so he can form a Soul Spirit contract with Xiaotao."
"Yes!" Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier didn't feel anything amiss and readily agreed.
But Zhu Ziyang was already dumbfounded, wanting to retort, but he was stopped by Mu En. Mu En directly said, "Alright, you two can leave first."
After Xian Lin'er and Cai Meier left, Zhu Ziyang immediately said, "Grandmaster, why don't you let Sister Xiaotao and I go directly to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well? Senior Martial Sister and Junior Martial Sister might not necessarily gain the approval of the Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. What if they start fighting? Wouldn't our plan be ruined?"
"Heh heh! Wouldn't that be even better?" Mu En smiled and said, "That way, wouldn't the academy gain a batch of Immortal Herb resources and Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Bones?"
"Ah, this!" Zhu Ziyang hadn't expected Mu En to think this way, and he immediately didn't know how to respond to him. He could only say, "That is indeed a good idea, but wouldn't that be somewhat like draining the pond to catch the fish? Grandmaster, it's better to just let Sister Xiaotao and me go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well directly. It just so happens that I also want to go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to look for opportunities."
"Heh heh heh, that's your real thought, isn't it!" Mu En couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this, saying, "What, you can't stand being cooped up in the academy for the past six months? You want to go out and explore?"
"Hehe! I can't hide anything from you, Grandmaster!" Zhu Ziyang laughed awkwardly, but quickly regained his composure, saying, "I do indeed have the idea of traveling and gaining experience, and I hope you will agree, Grandmaster."
"Alas! If it were before the Soul Master Competition, I would let you travel," Mu En sighed and said, "But now, no! Your existence is too conspicuous. Once discovered by evil forces, the consequences would be unimaginable!"
"Grandmaster, it's not that serious, is it!" Zhu Ziyang felt a bit helpless about Mu En's sensitivity, saying, "Half a year has passed, and the storm has long since subsided. Moreover, I don't intend to go out for training immediately. I just want to go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well first. Perhaps when I return from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, my strength will have a breakthrough!"
"Let me think!" Mu En closed his eyes, his face thoughtful, and said, "For a strong person, traveling the continent is a necessary path. I cannot stop you, but I hope you are not in a hurry. At least wait until your strength reaches the Spirit Douluo realm, when you have the power to fight against Titled Douluo or even Super Douluo, before choosing to travel!"
"Grandmaster, actually, I already possess the means to deal with Super Douluo!" Zhu Ziyang knew that if he didn't persuade Mu En, he wouldn't be able to leave the academy and train before Mu En's passing, let alone complete his divine trials.
Therefore, he prepared to reveal some secrets to Mu En, such as the matter of the divine trials.