In the following months, under the leadership of Elder Song and Cai Mei'er, the six core members of Shrek Academy's main team carried out successive missions to eliminate several groups of evil soul masters. During these battles, they gradually grew familiar with one another, and their cooperation became increasingly seamless.
Seeing her teammates growing closer by the day, Ma Xiaotao, who had been resting in the Inner Court due to her unstable martial soul, finally couldn't sit still. Ignoring Yan Shaozhe's advice, she forcefully returned to the team.
Her return marked the completion of Shrek's official lineup, and their combat strength rose sharply. However, this also meant that Zhu Ziyang's responsibilities increased dramatically.
Every time Ma Xiaotao activated her martial soul, the Evil Fire within her flared violently. Its accumulation speed intensified—almost without exception, if she fought for more than half an hour, she would lose control. At that point, Zhu Ziyang had to exhaust himself to suppress the rampaging Evil Fire within her.
During these episodes, Ma Xiaotao's consciousness was overtaken by instinct, and she would often behave in ways that put Zhu Ziyang in extremely awkward situations—skirting the edge of scandal every time. Then, when she recovered, she would unknowingly display her charm again, leaving Zhu Ziyang in a constant state of inner turmoil.
At the same time, Jiang Nannan began to feel increasingly unhappy with Ma Xiaotao. She was no fool—nor blind—and to her, Ma Xiaotao's behavior seemed like deliberate seduction.
Zhu Ziyang, for his part, could only sigh helplessly.
If there was one good thing to come of it all, it was this:
His mastery and usage of Ultimate Ice had finally begun to catch up to his skill with Ultimate Light. After all, Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire was not far off from Ultimate Fire. Every suppression was a trial by fire for his ice attribute. And after enough experience, his long-underdeveloped ice power had finally begun to mature.
A small silver lining amid chaos.
Summer again.
A beam of golden light shot from Sea God Pavilion into the sky, heading straight toward the Star Dou Forest. The elders of Shrek, watching from afar, showed expressions of surprise.
They knew exactly whose aura that was.
Dragon God Douluo — Mu En!
What could prompt the strongest man on the continent to act personally? Had another major incident like the one two years ago occurred? But there had been no recent soul beast hunts…
So what could have alarmed Mu En enough to make a personal move?
The answer was simple:
His disciple, Zhu Ziyang, had broken yet another record.
Fourteen years old. Soul King.
Yes—Zhu Ziyang had reached Rank 50.
Just like two years ago, it happened within a month or two after his birthday. Upon receiving the news, Mu En had laughed aloud—a rare moment of unguarded joy from the usually reserved man.
There had been others in history who reached Soul King at fourteen—but none like this. A member of the Sun Moon Empire's royal family had once done it, but only through vast resources, precious herbs, and countless pills.
Zhu Ziyang, on the other hand, had relied solely on his own talent and cultivation.
The difference was like night and day.
If Mu En had once hesitated to name Ziyang his heir, that hesitation was now completely gone. Given this pace, Mu En believed he might even live to see Ziyang reach Soul Sage before his own time ended.
So without a second thought, Mu En personally took Ziyang to the Star Dou Forest in search of his fifth soul ring.
After all, the fifth ring was second only to the seventh and ninth in importance. Mu En would entrust this task to no one else.
"Ziyang, have you thought about what kind of soul beast you want for your fifth ring?"
Mu En asked gently as the two landed near the forest's core.
"I have," Zhu Ziyang nodded.
"Teacher, I want a soul beast with the death attribute."
"Oh?" Mu En raised an eyebrow, intrigued but not dismissive.
"Why?"
"Because, as you know, my Judgment Scythe of Eternal Rest possesses both Ultimate Light and Death attributes. Of my first four soul rings, only the first is death-attribute. The other three are all light. If the fifth is also light, it would disrupt the balance between the two."
Ziyang's explanation was truthful—but not complete. While he did need to maintain the elemental balance, his true goal was to catalyze the fusion of Light and Death, just as Electrolux had advised.
"I see. That makes sense."
Mu En thought for a moment, then nodded.
"If it were a light-attribute beast you wanted, we might have to dig a little deeper. But since it's death you're after—perfect! I just so happen to know of one in this forest."
"Really? That's amazing!"
Ziyang's face lit up with joy.
"Let's go," Mu En smiled, grabbing Ziyang's arm and racing into the depths of the Star Dou Forest.
His speed didn't falter even as they entered the inner region—true to the calm confidence of an Ultimate Douluo.
The scenery blurred around them, trees and hills flashing past. Ziyang didn't pay much attention—his mind was spinning with possibilities.
What kind of soul beast had his teacher found?
Suddenly, Mu En turned around—heading back the way they came.
Before Ziyang could ask why, Mu En came to a stop on a giant tree branch. He gazed with surprise at a creature in the distance.
A massive, canine-type soul beast ambled through the woods with a lazy gait.
It stood two meters tall and five meters long, covered in black fur. Its chest, shoulders, and neck were protected by white bone armor, and its head bore two curved white horns. Its eyes burned like ghostly candles, and its breath stank of blood. Four gleaming fangs protruded from its jaws, and a skeletal brush of hair sprouted from its whip-like tail.
Mu En didn't recognize the species—but he could feel the dense death energy radiating from it. It was powerful—at least seventy thousand years old.
"Ziyang, do you recognize it?"
Mu En asked, not turning around. "Is this one suitable?"
Ziyang didn't know it himself—but inside his mind, Electrolux recognized it immediately. He urged Ziyang to take it—and told him its name.
"Yes, Teacher. I want that one!"
Ziyang replied firmly.
"Oh? What is it?" Mu En asked curiously.
"A Hellhound," Ziyang answered. "Legend says they dwell in the Underworld, guarding the gates of hell. Their death attribute is pure and extreme—perfect for me. Some even say a full-grown Hellhound could devour an entire city!"
Mu En blinked in shock.
He hadn't expected to stumble across such a mythical creature. It only deepened his belief that Ziyang was the fated hero of this age.
He narrowed his eyes and said:
"Then it definitely can't be left alive.
This beast will become your stepping stone!"
"Stay on this tree," Mu En said, then vanished in a blur.
He reappeared behind the Hellhound in an instant. His withered hand turned into a massive dragon claw and slammed down just as the beast turned to react.
BOOM!
The blow crushed the Hellhound into the earth. Its horns shattered, blood pouring from its skull.
One strike. That was all.
Such is the power of an Ultimate Douluo.
Mu En hoisted the half-dead creature by its neck and returned to Ziyang.
"Let's go. We'll head to the forest's outer edge for the absorption."
"Yes, Teacher!"
Ziyang nodded vigorously, eyes blazing with anticipation.
Moments later, the two disappeared into the trees, leaving only a trail of wind behind.