Why is this Spirit Ring so Red?

Xuan Zi paced back and forth at the spot where Cao Longyan had been taken away by Di Tian and the others. He never stopped, his mouth muttering incessantly as he looked up toward the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest from time to time, yearning for that figure to return.

No, once I go back this time, I must enter a death-seclusion. I will not come out unless it is an absolute emergency, and I will put all my effort into breaking through to the ninety-nine-level peak Douluo!

Just as Xuan Zi was looking down at the ground, a familiar, youthful voice reached his ears.

"Old Xuan, let's go back. Since you've waited for me for so long, I'll make an exception and grill your favorite barbecue for you when we return. Just don't make too much noise and attract the other elders."

Xuan Zi snapped his head up and saw Cao Longyan smiling at him.

Upon hearing Cao Longyan's words, Xuan Zi curled his lip, pouted, and huffed, turning his head away to avoid looking at him.

"Who cares about your barbecue? I was worried about your safety, not looking for a handout of your cooking."

Seeing Xuan Zi return to his "old urchin" mode, Cao Longyan followed suit.

"Fine, fine, fine. Old Xuan, you truly have high morals and care for your juniors. I shall follow your wishes then—let's forget about the barbecue."

Before Cao Longyan could react, Xuan Zi's hand was already atop his head, frantically ruffling his red hair.

"Longyan, you dare tease me again? Don't play dumb—you are making that barbecue whether you want to or not!"

Cao Longyan's head bobbed and weaved under Xuan Zi's assault, leaving him dizzy and his spiritual sea churning.

Inside Cao Longyan's spiritual sea, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Chi Wang, and Sky Dream Ice Worm watched the scene in bewilderment, their own footing unsteady as they tried to maintain their balance.

Wait, the Lord has a side like this?

Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan couldn't help but fall into memories.

It seems like when A-Man was little and with the old patriarch...

Xu Chu and Dian Wei, however, were long accustomed to this; they had braced themselves before Xuan Zi even reached out, standing as steady as Mount Tai.

Watching the four of them scramble, the two teased, "Sigh, we told you not to listen, and you said we were making a fuss. Now look, you brought this on yourselves. Truly, some things can't be taught, but experience teaches a lesson in an instant—well, except for soul beasts."

The four of them rolled their eyes at Xu Chu and Dian Wei and continued to stabilize their forms.

Seeing that the timing was right, Cao Longyan quickly shielded his head with his hands, feigning weakness and begging for mercy.

"Old Xuan, stop rubbing! I know I was wrong, I'll make it, I'll make it! I was just teasing you earlier."

Xuan Zi gave Cao Longyan's back a playful slap.

"Now you know the power of your Old Xuan-grandfather. Let's see if you dare next time..."

Xuan Zi's hand froze in mid-air. His eyes narrowed, his body stiffened, his lips trembled involuntarily, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

"Longyan, you... you're level forty-five?"

Cao Longyan remained calm for a moment before a mischievous smirk appeared on his face.

"Yes, and my soul rings are a bit different, too. I'll show you when we get back; it'll be perfect to show you and Profound Ancestor together."

As expected, Cao Longyan received another slap from Xuan Zi.

"Still keeping secrets from me? Let's go back. Don't forget you still owe me that barbecue. Tell me what you need on the way, and I'll get it for you once we're back at Shrek."

Just as before, Xuan Zi scooped up Cao Longyan and flew toward Shrek.

Longyan is truly a monster. Reaching level forty-five as a Soul Ancestor at ten years old—you couldn't find a second one in the entire continent's history of tens of thousands of years.

And he said his soul rings are different... could it be that Di Tian and the others gave him ten-thousand-year soul rings at his absorption limit?

Shrek Academy, Sea God Island.

The outer courtyard was on summer break. Mu En was teaching Bei Bei to cultivate under the Golden Ancient Tree outside the Sea God Pavilion, sighing repeatedly.

Why can't Bei Bei be more like little Yan...

If Bei Bei knew what his Profound Ancestor was thinking, he would surely be crying without tears.

With a whoosh, Xuan Zi landed before them, carrying Cao Longyan.

Xuan Zi set Cao Longyan down, bowed to Mu En, and flew off in a hurry.

As for why he was in such a rush... well, that's hard to guess.

"Little Yan, come here and let Profound Ancestor see what you've gained."

Seeing the long-lost smile on Cao Longyan's face and the way Xuan Zi had hurried off, Mu En knew Cao Longyan had broken through his bottleneck.

Cao Longyan walked to Mu En's side and allowed him to place a hand on his arm to sense the changes.

As for whether the contents of his spiritual sea would be detected... well, the answer was absolutely not; even a God King wouldn't be able to manage that.

Mu En pulled his hand away but kept it suspended in mid-air, not retracting it.

"Little Yan, you're level forty-five?"

Cao Longyan nodded.

"Yes, Profound Ancestor."

Bei Bei, standing to the side, was completely dumbfounded, letting out a silent cry.

What do you mean level forty-five... Brother Yan is only ten and he's level forty-five... He really wanted to hide in a corner and draw circles on the ground...

He truly felt life was no longer worth living. He had just been teasing Cao Longyan a few days ago, never expecting the slap in the face to come so quickly.

He hadn't even reached level thirty-five yet!

No, he had to work harder, otherwise he wouldn't even be able to catch a whiff of Cao Longyan's exhaust—though he couldn't even do that now...

In the time it took to exchange a few words, Xuan Zi had already arrived before Cao Longyan and the others, carrying a massive bag of food and a gigantic barbecue grill, followed by the other Sea God Pavilion elders who had caught wind of the situation.

Xuan Zi's commotion was so loud that it had drawn them all over.

The moment Xuan Zi moved, they knew Cao Longyan was about to cook something delicious; even though Super Douluo no longer needed to eat, they still craved his cooking.

Mu En had originally intended to ask about Cao Longyan's spirit rings, but seeing their setup, he knew that was completely out of the question.

"Longyan, the old man has brought everything for you. I can't wait!"

Xuan Zi spread out a mat and laid the food before Cao Longyan, placing the barbecue grill in front of him—it was easily five or six times as long as Cao Longyan himself.

"Elder Xuan, and all you elder grandfathers and grandmothers, are you trying to squeeze me dry?"

Looking at their posture, which suggested they wouldn't stop until they had eaten him into exhaustion, Cao Longyan couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

"Longyan, we haven't had your cooking in half a year; we're all just craving it!"

"Judging by your look, you must have broken through. Why don't you show us first? Give us a big surprise to help us enjoy the meal!"

Inside the spiritual sea, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Chi Wang, and Sky Dream Ice Worm watched the scene before them, their perceptions completely overturned.

Wasn't the Lord... he... he...

They were so shocked they couldn't even speak coherently.

Xu Chu and Dian Wei, both wearing zen-like expressions, pulled out bags of snacks from who knows where and watched them quietly.

"Then I'm going to summon my martial soul. Don't let your jaws hit the floor!"

Seeing them unaware of what they were about to face, Cao Longyan felt like laughing, the corners of his mouth curling upward uncontrollably.

"Hey, Longyan, what kind of storms haven't we seen? Go ahead and show us; our hearts can take it!"

Cao Longyan extended his right hand and grasped at the void, and the Ten Halls of Yama manifested.

Red, red, orange-red, orange-red—four spirit rings gradually emerged from beneath his feet!

Wait, no? This...

Had they seen wrong? Why were these spirit rings so red!

Everyone rubbed their eyes vigorously, and upon realizing it was real, they hurriedly channeled their spirit power to perceive them, but unfortunately, the result they imagined did not appear.

Cao Longyan's four spirit rings were all real!

"No, Longyan, this..."

"Little Yan..."

"Brother Yan..."

Everyone was so shocked they couldn't speak, their throats feeling as if they were blocked by something; they could only call out their respective names for Cao Longyan before falling completely silent.

Damn it, Cao Longyan was showing off again.