In a sense, Ma Xiaotao should even thank Niu Tian, because if it weren't for his appearance, she probably wouldn't have chosen to forcefully pull out the Fire God Sword.
Ma Xiaotao's ability to pull out the Fire God Sword was a gamble with her life as the stake. Fortunately, she won this gamble, and the harvest was abundant, very abundant.
Since the content of Ma Xiaotao's eighth Fire God Trial was for her to gain the Fire God Sword's recognition and pull it out, it's hard to say if the Fire God Sword recognized Ma Xiaotao. However, Ma Xiaotao has indeed pulled the Fire God Sword from its sheath and can now use it freely. This means that Ma Xiaotao has completed her eighth Fire God Trial.
As early as the few hours Zhu Ziyang and the others stayed in the Saint Law Demiplane, Ma Xiaotao and Fifth Huan'er had already received the rewards for the eighth Fire God Trial and successfully started the ninth Fire God Trial.
Ma Xiaotao's rewards for the eighth Fire God Trial included a ten percent affinity with the Fire God Position, a one-level increase in spirit power, and a five-thousand-year increase in the age of all her spirit rings. Fifth Huan'er's rewards were a one-level increase in spirit power, a one-thousand-year increase in the age of all her spirit rings, and a god-bestowed spirit ring.
After receiving the rewards, Ma Xiaotao's spirit power reached level 93, while Fifth Huan'er's reached level 80. She only needed to absorb that god-bestowed spirit ring to become a true Spirit Douluo.
However, Fifth Huan'er did not choose to absorb that god-bestowed spirit ring. Instead, she hoped to obtain a Soul Spirit. Her eyes were full of eager anticipation, making Zhu Ziyang instantly understand her feelings and thoughts. So, Zhu Ziyang agreed and promised to take her to the Star Dou Great Forest once they returned to the Academy.
—
Zhu Ziyang and the others arrived in Anyang City just as dusk fell the next day. When they arrived at the Zhu family in Beihe Village, Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying were having dinner.
Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying were both surprised and happy to see Zhu Ziyang return. When they saw Ma Xiaotao, their smiles grew even wider. They quickly invited the two to sit down and went to the kitchen to add more bowls and chopsticks for them.
"Mom, please add a few more sets of bowls and chopsticks," Zhu Ziyang said with a smile, then waved his hand, and Jiang Nannan, Qian Lingyi, and Fifth Huan'er walked out from the Saint Law Demiplane.
Zhu Changhe was surprised by the sudden appearance of Jiang Nannan, Qian Lingyi, and Fifth Huan'er in the house, but he didn't ask many questions, because he knew that his eldest son was extraordinary now, far beyond what he, this unaccomplished old father, could comprehend. Thinking this, Zhu Changhe's face showed both pride and a hint of disappointment.
And when he saw the bevy of beauties in the house, he became even more sullen. He was so devoted, so how could his son be so fickle? Zhu Ziyang, the older one, was one thing, but Zhu Ziguang, that little brat, was also very popular with girls at school. It was depressing; neither of them inherited their father's devotion and deep affection.
Compared to the old father's sullenness, Liang Ying, the mother, was very happy. Looking at Jiang Nannan, Ma Xiaotao, and the other two girls, she was already looking forward to a wonderful life with grandchildren and granddaughters in the future.
"Mom, this is Qian Lingyi, you can call her Yi Yi. This is Fifth Huan'er, you can call her Huan Er." Zhu Ziyang introduced Qian Lingyi and Fifth Huan'er to Liang Ying. Liang Ying had already met Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao, but this was her first time meeting Qian Lingyi and Fifth Huan'er.
"Good, good, good children!" Liang Ying beamed, handing bowls and chopsticks to Qian Lingyi and Fifth Huan'er, and said, "Auntie didn't expect you to come back today, so there aren't many good dishes. Please make do with a little for now, and Auntie will make you something delicious tomorrow!"
"Thank you, Auntie!" Qian Lingyi and Fifth Huan'er, flattered, took the bowls and chopsticks from Liang Ying and replied in unison. It was their first time meeting Zhu Ziyang's parents, and their shyness outweighed their excitement, unlike Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao, who were already used to it and ate without batting an eyelid.
"Mom, no need to trouble yourself. We're only staying for one night and will return to the Academy first thing tomorrow morning," Zhu Ziyang said to Liang Ying with a smile.
"Ah? So urgent? I was still thinking of picking up Ziguang so our family could have a meal together," Liang Ying said, her face showing disappointment when she heard Zhu Ziyang's words.
Upon hearing Liang Ying's words, Qian Lingyi and Fifth Huan'er's faces grew even redder, and even Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao's faces flushed slightly, showing that Liang Ying's words had caused significant emotional fluctuations in the four girls.
"We just finished the Soul Master Competition, so we need to return to the Academy first to report the results of the competition!" Zhu Ziyang put his arm around his mother's shoulder and explained with a slightly apologetic look.
"Oh, I see," Liang Ying showed an understanding expression, then her eyes filled with curiosity, and she asked, "How did you do in the Soul Master Competition? Did you win?"
"Of course we won!" Zhu Ziyang said proudly, "With your son here, how could we not win? And, we're champions again!"
"Really!" Liang Ying's face immediately broke into a brilliant smile upon hearing this, and she said, "As expected of my son, you're amazing!"
The family continued to eat and chat like this until late into the night before dispersing.
Early the next morning, Zhu Ziyang quietly left home without waking Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying.
By now, Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying were no longer at the strength they were ten years ago. Because of Zhu Ziyang's growth, as his parents, they had access to increasingly abundant resources. Thus, one of them was a level 58 Spirit King, and the other was already a level 49 Spirit Ancestor. Such strength was already considered a minor powerhouse in the Northern Frontier Province.
Zhu Ziyang was not worried about their safety at all. Not to mention that their own strength was more than enough for self-protection in the Anyang City area, more importantly, there was a Tian Yuan Pavilion elder, a level 94 Titled Douluo, stationed in Anyang City. As the first Tian Yuan Academy established by Shrek Academy, the significance of Anyang City's First Tian Yuan Academy goes without saying, and a Titled Douluo being stationed there was absolutely necessary.
And with the protection of a Titled Douluo, there was naturally no need to worry about the safety of Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying.
—
Zhu Ziyang returned to Shrek Academy as quickly as possible. The events that occurred in Mingdu of the Sun Moon Empire had not yet spread to Shrek City, so Shrek Academy remained peaceful.
"Ziyang, you're back!" Cai Meier and Yan Shaozhe appeared before Zhu Ziyang. Both of them looked a little surprised, but more so, delighted.
"Senior Brother, Junior Sister, you've worked hard staying at the Academy for the past month or so," Zhu Ziyang said to the two with a smile, and then didn't forget to show off his skills in front of them. With a wave of his hand, a large group of people was summoned by Zhu Ziyang; it was the Shrek Academy team led by Ma Xiaotao.
Ma Xiaotao, Jiang Nannan, Qian Lingyi, and Fifth Huan'er looked normal, but Zhou Tianhe, Chu Hua, and the others looked a bit dazed, because the experiences of the past few days had been quite dreamlike for them. They were put into the Saint Law Demiplane by Zhu Ziyang and then no one paid attention to them, so they had been quite nervous these past few days, fearing that they would never get out.
However, fortunately, they came out and breathed the air of the Douluo Continent again. It felt good.
"We're back at the Academy, you all go and rest!" Ma Xiaotao said to everyone.
Zhou Tianhe and the others immediately cheered upon hearing this, then rushed into the Academy, heading in their respective directions.
"Ziyang, where's Elder Xuan? Why didn't he come back with you?" Although Cai Meier was curious about the methods Zhu Ziyang had just displayed, she didn't ask much and instead mentioned Xuan Zi.
"What?" Zhu Ziyang was stunned when he heard Cai Meier's words. "Elder Xuan didn't come back? How could that be? I told him to go ahead with Yu Hao and the others from the Tang Sect. How could he not be back yet?"
"Ah?" Cai Meier and Yan Shaozhe were also greatly alarmed upon hearing this. With Xuan Zi's strength, even if his speed was slowed down by bringing the Tang Sect members, he shouldn't have taken so long to return to the Academy. So there was only one explanation: something had happened to them.
Just as Zhu Ziyang and the others were deep in thought and worry, a team appeared under the western sunset.