Early morning, in front of the Shrek Academy dormitory building.
A white-haired old man was leisurely lying in a lounge chair, enjoying the morning sun and feeling the vitality of the children.
"Are you Mu En?"
A voice suddenly rang in Mu En's ear without warning.
"May I know your esteemed name, Senior?"
His cloudy eyes opened. Mu En looked at the handsome young man who had suddenly appeared before him, suppressing the surprise in his heart, and asked with a respectful and serious tone.
"Electrolux."
Golden, fluorescent divine force enveloped the gray-clothed young man, his deep eyes like the deep sea.
… …
With the flying spirit tool, the team instantly split into two parts. Zhang Lexuan carried Wang Dong'er, leading a few members of the reserve team to advance quickly in the air. The speed of the flying spirit tool was much faster than the Inner Courtyard members and Wang Yan running on the ground.
At noon, when the Inner Court Seven Freaks arrived at a rendezvous point, An Zhen and the girls were already eating the food prepared by Zhang Lexuan and Huo Yutong. Gu Yuena directly finished all the remaining food.
"After eating and drinking to my fill, all I want to do is rest."
An Zhen lay comfortably on Zhang Lexuan's lap, making the Inner Court Seven Freaks, who were gnawing on dry rations nearby, instantly feel envious. "Are you on a picnic or performing a mission?"
As if sensing something, An Zhen opened his eyes, then gently rubbed his head against Zhang Lexuan's soft abdomen.
In the Virtual World.
"The malevolence within Mu En has been resolved, but his physical body has been tormented by this power for too long. Even with the Golden Tree injecting Life force to sustain him, he will last at most a fortnight and a half, fifteen years."
Electrolux spoke of his recent experience.
Things went very smoothly. After Electrolux stated his name, Mu En immediately expressed his cooperation, allowing Electrolux to use his abilities. Perhaps it was because his own time was also running out. Would anyone really assassinate a Limit Douluo whose Life was nearing its end?
Specialization is key.
In this World, even the malevolence that a Limit Douluo couldn't resolve was like a child's toy in front of Electrolux, a master of the undead. The only difference was that the malevolence had been quite powerful in its former Life. After all, malevolence, in another sense, is resentment. If this malevolence hadn't been too incomplete, Electrolux could have even captured it and condensed it into an undead to command.
It was done in front of the dormitory building, and then Electrolux left directly, although Mu En really wanted to keep him for a chat.
Overall, there were no surprises.
Undead would be repelled by Mu En, but the Son of Light would not.
"Thank you, Teacher."
Electrolux returned to the Virtual World to rest, using the Virtual World to nourish his divine sense.
The Inner Court Seven Freaks finished their dry rations and rested for a while. Without the reserve team dragging them down as in the original work, the group moved faster. Dai Yueheng went to a nearby military camp and, using his identity as the White Tiger Duke's eldest son, easily borrowed eight Star Luo military-specific flying spirit tools. These spirit tools were bulky and even had a restriction that only Spirit Masters of Rank 4 or higher could use them, as only Rank 4 Spirit Masters had enough spirit power to meet the activation standard.
"I told you we should develop spirit tools. The dignified Shrek Seven Devils don't even have their own flying spirit tools, and there are also the 'milk bottles' (referring to soul power recovery methods), which can only use traditional, clumsy methods to meditate and restore spirit power."
An Zhen glanced at Yan Shaozhe.
The Soul Guidance System side still had more convenient flying spirit tools, but Yan Shaozhe, who usually didn't get along with the two deans of the Soul Guidance System and even had a quarrel over recruiting students before, naturally didn't want to lose face by borrowing them. Now, he let Dai Yueheng borrow the military flying spirit tools, otherwise, relying on just two legs, it would be who knows how long until they reached the mission location.
On one side, there was the reserve team, whose cultivation was lower but arrived earlier, had already lit a fire and cooked, and even restored their spirit power with 'milk bottles'. On the other side, there were the official team members, whose cultivation was higher but arrived slower, and were even still meditating to restore their spirit power.
With the facts laid bare, Yan Shaozhe nodded gently, a helpless expression on his face, "We'll buy them after we reach Star Luo City."
"And offensive spirit tools, defensive spirit tools," An Zhen added.
"The Shrek Seven Devils don't need to rely on external forces," Ma Xiaotao suddenly said.
"That's the willfulness of the strong. Talk to me when you can beat me," An Zhen glanced at the Inner Court Seven Freaks, noticing that several of them seemed to show a slight resistance.
"An Zhen, you have to give everyone some time to get used to it," Wang Yan said, trying to smooth things over. He was more inclined to use spirit tools, but these Inner Courtyard students clearly showed resistance.
An Zhen shook his head gently, taking out two defensive spirit tools from his storage spirit tool. "Since I am the captain, I must be responsible for everyone. Whether it's the upcoming mission or the subsequent competition, not all of you have defensive capabilities. These two Rank 5 defensive spirit tools can play a significant role."
No one took them.
"Forget it, I won't force it," An Zhen put away the spirit tools and looked at Ma Xiaotao. "You are the captain of the Shrek Seven Devils, so take on the responsibility of a captain."
"Of course." Seeing An Zhen back down, Ma Xiaotao happily raised her fair neck.
Anyway, he had done what he should.
As they were not related, An Zhen couldn't just directly say that the Evil Soul Master who called himself the Death Emissary, whom they would encounter later, had the ability of Corpse Explosion. Anyway, his girls, except for Wang Dong and the powerful Zhang Lexuan, were already equipped with Rank 3 or Rank 4 defensive and offensive spirit tools. Safety first.
This was the first time the Shrek Inner Court Seven Freaks had a difference of opinion with their captain, but soon someone would tell them how wise their captain's decision was.
Of course, growth requires a price.
And only a more profound lesson can change the "pride" in the hearts of these geniuses.
Traveling day and night.
Deep in the night, at the border of the Star Luo Empire.
A golden light streaked down like a meteor, followed by more than a dozen streaks of light. The girls, including Gu Yuena, looked a bit better. They had all been using 'milk bottles' to recover during the flight. Zhang Lexuan later also equipped a Rank 5 flying spirit tool. The night was the Domain of the Moon, so this amount of consumption was not much for her. The Inner Court Seven Freaks, however, were in a more disheveled state, with little spirit power left. They immediately began meditating upon landing.
Although An Zhen could use Reflection to restore the girls' condition, the consumption and replenishment of spirit power was also a form of cultivation. This was an outdoor training experience; they needed to grow.
"Who goes there?!"
Dozens of people in black uniforms quickly approached and surrounded An Zhen and his group. They were the Star Luo Empire army stationed at the border. Dai Yueheng and Wang Yan stepped forward to state their identities and negotiate.
"Since we've reached their territory, we'll probably have to go see the White Tiger Duke later," An Zhen held the blue-haired adorable girl in his arms, his fingers gently stroking Huo Yutong's cheek.
An indescribable feeling surged in Huo Yutong's heart. See the White Tiger Duke? From birth until now, Huo Yutong had never seen this biological father, only the portrait her mother had meticulously drawn on the ground when she was a child. Memories of the past resurfaced. Her mother said that the happiest thing in her Life was being with that man and giving birth to his child, even if she never saw him again after that.
Huo Yutong used to not understand why her mother said that.
Her eyes, shimmering with mist and bright as stars, reflected the handsome face of the young man.
But now, Huo Yutong understood the kind of love her mother spoke of.
But that man wasn't worth her mother doing that! The White Tiger Duke was a scoundrel! He didn't deserve her mother's love! Her mother never saw him again until her death.
Using the ability learned from Teacher Electrolux, An Zhen set up a sound-blocking barrier. With his back to the others, he hugged the girl in his arms. "Cry if you want to. Don't worry, no one else can hear. If you don't want to see him, then don't."
"No… I, I want to see what the person my mother missed looks like," a choked voice sounded, as the small girl tightly hugged An Zhen.
"Okay."
Wiping away her tears and adjusting her state, everyone except Wang Dong just felt that Huo Yutong was a bit clingy to An Zhen, and didn't think anything was amiss.
"Is Yu Tong alright?" Wang Dong asked softly.
"She's fine."
After a short rest, Yan Shaozhe had already disappeared. From now on, the Shrek Supervisory Group's mission had begun.
"Let's go."
An Zhen led the group, guided by a military officer, towards the military camp. Although Wang Yan was a teacher, An Zhen and the others still respected him, but in the eyes of the Inner Courtyard geniuses, how could Wang Yan, whose cultivation and strength were inferior to theirs, have the ability to command them?
"Wait a moment."
Just as they entered the military camp, An Zhen stopped and looked at the puzzled officer who had turned around. "You're not planning on taking us to see your marshal doing his morning exercises shirtless, are you?"
An Zhen had seen it in the Virtual World, and he didn't want his girls' eyes to be defiled.
Hearing An Zhen's words, Ning Tian and the other girls looked at the guiding officer with slightly cold eyes.
A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the old man named Duleisi. "mental force probing is forbidden in the military camp."
"Go to the reception area. Speaking of which, your Duke still owes me an apology," An Zhen said calmly.
The next moment, Duleisi's face instantly turned unfriendly, and the standing soldiers also did, as if An Zhen had offended their faith.
"Even if you are Shrek— "
"Old Du!" Dai Yueheng quickly interrupted Duleisi, looking apologetically at An Zhen, then said to Duleisi, "Please, Old Du, help us arrange a place to rest."
"Uncle-Master," Ma Xiaotao suddenly spoke, patting An Zhen's shoulder, "Don't be so delicate."
"spirit power restored?" An Zhen expressionlessly slapped away Ma Xiaotao's hand. "If you want to see, you go. The others go rest and recover spirit power. Dai Yueheng, go gather relevant intelligence."
Ma Xiaotao mumbled something softly and said no more.
As Dai Yueheng used a secret code to tell Duleisi something, Duleisi's expression changed drastically. He said nothing more, but led the group and settled them into an empty tent. The Inner Courtyard members looked at An Zhen with some curiosity. Judging by Dai Yueheng's reaction, it seemed the White Tiger Duke really did owe An Zhen an apology.
A moment later, Dai Yueheng returned with the intelligence, accompanied by a golden-haired man in military uniform, who was more mature than him and exuded the iron-blooded killing aura of the army.
"Welcome, Teacher Wang Yan and all the talented students from Shrek Academy."