Stepping out of the dormitory building, the dazzling sunlight hit Wang Nan's face, causing him to squint involuntarily.
Wang Nan looked toward the highest peak on Sea God Island. He still remembered Mu En telling him when he first entered the Inner Courtyard that deep meditation would yield greater rewards only after accumulating enough experience.
It had been a year since he joined the Inner Courtyard. In this time, Wang Nan had obtained his fifth spirit ring, comprehended a new self-created Spirit Ability, defeated powerful opponents head-on, and now, absorbed a Spirit Bone.
Both his spirit power and himself were completely different from a year ago, and it was time to make use of the privilege granted to Inner Courtyard Disciples.
Thinking of this, Wang Nan first went to the cafeteria, had a delicious, filling meal, then followed the mountain path to Sea God Pavilion.
Mu En was still lying on the reclining chair in front of Sea God Pavilion as usual, and at this moment, Beibei was standing beside him, his face slightly flushed.
Seeing Wang Nan arrive, Beibei could no longer stand still. After saying something to Mu En, he ran down the mountain. Wang Nan looked back and noticed that even Beibei's ear tips seemed to be a little red.
"You're here," Mu En watched Beibei's figure disappear before turning to Wang Nan. "Alas, children grow up and always have their own ideas."
"Elder Mu, I've come this time to use the Inner Courtyard Disciple's opportunity for deep meditation."
"Oh?" Mu En opened his eyes and scrutinized Wang Nan from head to toe. "Not bad. I see your spirit power originates from within and flows smoothly, circulating perfectly, reaching all your limbs and bones. You must have gained something during this period. Now is indeed a good time for meditation."
After all, as a Limit Douluo, Mu En's cultivation experience was rich, and he could spot the changes in Wang Nan at a glance.
Mu En closed his eyes and pondered for a moment before slowly speaking, "Come, lean on me. I'll take you to a place suitable for your meditation."
Upon hearing this, Wang Nan stepped forward to support Mu En's arm, preparing to exert force to help him up, but his vision blurred. The next moment, he and Mu En appeared in a strange hall.
Wang Nan then realized that Mu En didn't mean for him to help him up, but rather to bring him here by making contact with him.
Before Wang Nan stood a spacious hall, perfectly square and easily a hundred meters long. Several passages surrounded the hall, seemingly endless at a glance.
"This is the basement of Sea God Pavilion," Mu En explained. "It's also the interior of the Golden Tree you usually see. Sea God Pavilion was carved from the Golden Tree, and all the furnishings inside are made from the Golden Tree's wood."
"This Golden Tree can also be said to be the very foundation of our Shrek Academy," Mu En continued, looking at Wang Nan. After seeing Wang Nan's calm expression, he sighed helplessly in his heart.
"Go, head east from here, to the seventh room. You'll understand when you get there."
"Yes, Elder Mu."
Wang Nan identified the direction and entered one of the passages.
As Wang Nan continued forward, he felt a faint tremor in his Sea of Spirit. Just as he distinctly felt this change, he arrived at the seventh door.
Wang Nan raised his hand to the wooden door before him. He could feel a certain aura waiting behind the door, faintly mixed with a hint of decay.
Wang Nan pushed the door open, and a familiar aura rushed towards him.
The reason it was familiar was that Wang Nan had felt this aura before when he obtained his fourth spirit ring. Without a doubt, this was the might belonging to a Dragon.
There was nothing else in the room before Wang Nan, only a skeleton—a Dragon's skeleton.
But this room didn't seem empty. On the contrary, the skeleton was so massive that it seemed as if the room itself was confining the giant Dragon.
"Wang Nan," Mu En's gentle voice sounded in Wang Nan's ear. "I guess you must have had doubts. Both are Coiling Dragon Staves, but your Spirit and your uncle Wang Yan's are not the same."
"Perhaps many people have forgotten some things about the Coiling Dragon Staff Spirit. But in fact, these records have always existed in Shrek Academy, whether it's about the Coiling Dragon Staff or the Dragon Spirit."
"Actually, I saw it the first time you made a move in the Outer Courtyard. There was something else hidden within your Coiling Dragon Staff. Later, as I gradually interacted with you, I also knew that with your talent, you would sooner or later make the Coiling Dragon Staff Spirit reappear in its true might."
"It's a shame to say, my life's experiences have been quite circuitous, but in the end, I haven't had a Disciple who truly suited my heart. Even Shao Zhe, whom I thought most highly of, had significant flaws in his character. I once wanted to take you as a Disciple, but I saw that your ambition lay elsewhere."
"Although Shrek Academy is renowned on the Douluo Continent, and both teachers and students, as members of Shrek, feel honored, I don't see that in your eyes. Your gaze seems to have never been here."
"As the saying goes, a Dragon rides the clouds and roams the four seas. Perhaps it is precisely because of this that you were able to awaken the true Coiling Dragon Staff Spirit."
Wang Nan didn't speak, just listened quietly.
Even the most obtuse person, having lived for over two hundred years and constantly interacting with all sorts of people, would become discerning of human hearts. What's more, Mu En, being able to become a Level 99 Limit Douluo, was naturally not a foolish person.
This was also why Wang Nan never concealed his expressions in front of Mu En. His two lives combined hadn't been as long as Mu En's, and his lies would be all too obvious in Mu En's eyes.
"I'm not saying all this because I want you to do something for Shrek. After all, at its core, this is just an Academy, and it's only responsible for teaching students. It's enough for me to see the righteousness in your heart."
"Wang Nan, this skeleton before you was something I accidentally obtained more than ten years ago on the southeastern coast of the Star Luo Empire. On Douluo Continent, although Spirit Beasts and Spirits with Dragon Bloodlines are not uncommon, true Dragons no longer exist."
"And this skeleton before you was left behind by a true giant Dragon. I hope you can use this opportunity to thoroughly feel the aura belonging to the Dragon and deeply experience your own Spirit. I'm sure you will gain something."
Mu En's voice no longer sounded, seeming to have left the place.
Wang Nan, meanwhile, calmed himself and recalled Mu En's words. Sometimes, one's own situation could be seen more clearly through the eyes of others. Mu En's words were not just simple conversation; they were also helping Wang Nan clarify his state of mind.
Scene after scene of what had happened to Wang Nan flashed before his eyes.
Defeating Ji Tongxuan, obtaining a spirit ring, comprehending a self-created Spirit Ability, absorbing a Spirit Bone, diligently practicing his rod as a child, learning meditation, awakening his Spirit… until he opened his eyes for the first time in this world.