Exhibition Match Begins, Shrek Takes the Stage

Lu Jun looked at Tang Wulin's innocent, guileless smile.

"Hello. Nice to meet you. Goodbye."

With that, Lu Jun turned and left, leaving Tang Wulin awkwardly holding up his hand.

Xu Xiaoyan and Xie Xie exchanged a glance and sighed at the same time.

"Just as aloof as the rumors said."

Tang Wulin scratched his head as well.

"Was he being sarcastic just now, or was he genuinely speaking nicely? That made things pretty awkward for me."

"Boss, I think he just couldn't be bothered to say much?" Xie Xie could not help saying.

"I think so too. After all, the rumors online say he's always this aloof."

Xu Xiaoyan continued.

"Besides, he politely said hello. Captain, how did you even get the idea that he was being sarcastic? You must be too scheming all the time, so you imagine everyone else is just as scheming as you."

"Alright, looks like I disturbed him." Tang Wulin rubbed his nose and stopped dwelling on it. "My mistake. I misunderstood him. I'll find a chance to apologize another day."

Xu Xiaoyan smiled. "Hehe, Captain, your skin's thick enough. How about you ask him for an autograph for me while you're at it?"

"Huh? Why?"

"Because I really am his fan." Xu Xiaoyan blinked. "Unlike you, Captain, trying to cozy up to someone..."

Tang Wulin's eyes widened, his face full of hurt.

"Xiaoyan, I never thought you were this kind of person..."

"What?" Xu Xiaoyan proudly waved her Soul Guidance Communication device. "I've been following him for a long time. Three years ago, when I was browsing online, I saw news about the Spirit Pagoda and things like that, and I saw his photo too..."

"Wait!" Xie Xie suddenly interrupted, staring suspiciously at Xu Xiaoyan. "Three years ago? You were only around six then, weren't you?"

Xu Xiaoyan's face instantly flushed bright red. "None of your business!"

She hurriedly put away her communication device.

"Anyway, anyway, I just admire his strength!"

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie exchanged a knowing look.

"Oh~" Xie Xie drew out the sound. "So our little Xiaoyan likes the aloof type~"

"Come to think of it, Xiaoyan is always acting cute around Teacher." Tang Wulin looked at Wu Zhangkong. "Teacher is the same type as Lu Jun."

"Now she's happened to meet someone her age who's the same type as Teacher. It's no wonder..."

"Hey! Captain, don't talk nonsense, or I won't pay any attention to handsome, dashing you anymore!"

"Hahaha."

Xu Xiaoyan began changing the subject.

"By the way, Captain, why did you suddenly want to greet him? Weren't you uninterested in him before?"

Tang Wulin froze when asked that question, his whole body going still.

That was right. He had never been interested in anything other than cultivation, forging, and eating, so why had he suddenly wanted to greet him and make friends with him?

How strange.

It felt as though someone inside him was urging him to get close to Lu Jun.

That feeling struck Tang Wulin as incredibly bizarre, and an indescribable discomfort filled his body.

As though his body did not belong to him.

Lu Jun, who had also sensed something unusual, was quietly enjoying the buffet.

He just wanted to fill his stomach and head back as soon as possible.

He knew that Tang Wulin currently carried Tang San's Divine Sense within him, and everyone knew Tang San had his eye on him...

Though he did not know whether this Divine Sense had lost its memories as it had in the original novel, Lu Jun did not dare gamble on that possibility.

His arrival had changed far too many things through the Butterfly Effect.

It was best to avoid Tang Wulin whenever possible.

Lu Jun sighed inwardly, then saw Long Chen sitting across from him repeatedly turning back to look at the lively commotion around Tang Wulin.

There was always a flicker of envy in his eyes.

Lu Jun said, "Keep staring, and they might accuse you of harassment."

"...Brother Lu, stop making fun of me." Long Chen immediately lowered his head and ate. "I just think they're noisy."

"But the envy in your eyes doesn't lie."

Lu Jun lowered his head and continued eating as well.

"O-okay, Brother Lu. I won't lie to you either. It was just a passing thought. I envy them, people our age, for being able to live such happy lives."

Long Chen spoke somewhat sheepishly.

"Unlike us, who have to devote practically all twenty-four hours of every day to cultivation. Socializing is secondary instead."

"Not to mention that my family has placed all its hopes on me." As he said this, Long Chen gloomily poked at the meat with his chopsticks.

"I heard my family descends from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan branch of Shrek Academy from Ten Thousand Years Ago, and Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy spent a fortune to recruit us."

"That's why my family expects me to become stronger at Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy."

"Mm. So you feel a lot of pressure?"

Long Chen's voice grew quieter and quieter.

"Not really. It's just that sometimes I think, if only I could live as freely and easily as they do..."

"That's perfectly normal. It's no big deal. They have their pressures, and we have ours."

Lu Jun quickly shoveled down a few more bites, finished eating, and got up to leave.

"I'm heading out first. The Exhibition Match is in the afternoon, so we should prepare properly. Take your time eating."

"Take care, Brother Lu."

Beneath the dome of Tianhai Grand Spirit Arena, the cheers of tens of thousands of spectators surged like waves.

With the Live Broadcast underway, the host announced loudly.

"Today marks the start of the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition. We have specially invited a representative team from Shrek Academy to exchange pointers with the champion team from the previous Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition."

"Given the formidable strength of Shrek Academy's team, this exchange will be held across age groups."

"Our Skysea Alliance youth division's seven-person championship team will challenge Shrek Academy's seven-person junior team."

The announcement echoed throughout the arena, and enthusiastic cheers erupted from the stands.

Lu Jun stood in the preparation area for Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, calmly watching the competition platform.

Long Chen, beside him, appeared somewhat nervous, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of his chair.

"Brother Lu, do you think... we'll have to fight like this later too?" Long Chen asked in a low voice. "Will we also fight this championship team?"

"No, we'll fight the runners-up." Lu Jun responded blandly. "The Skysea Alliance higher-ups are probably afraid of losing face, so they didn't send the junior division to fight us. Also, this comparison feels rather deliberate. They're trying to stir up hype and traffic."

"Look, Shrek's team is coming out." Captain Zhao Tianyu spoke up. "Watch carefully. See what Martial Souls they have and what levels they are."

"They're about the same age as us, so the gap probably won't be too big."

Everyone's gaze focused on the entrance on the other side of the arena.

"Next, please welcome Shrek Academy's representative team!"

Accompanied by rousing music, seven figures slowly emerged.

At the front was a youth around fifteen years old. He was tall and slender, and his appearance was not particularly outstanding, but his deep eyes gave off a sense of mountain-like steadiness.

After taking only a few steps forward, he naturally became the center of attention. It was as though the entire arena's aura flowed with his every step.

"Shrek Academy representative team. Captain, Yu Tianxuan. Level Forty-Eight assault-type Battle Soul Ancestor. Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon."

His voice was calm yet powerful. The moment he finished speaking, cries of surprise erupted from the stands.

Lu Jun's gaze flickered as he mused inwardly.

His surname is Yu? Looks like he's a genius of this generation from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. The details are more or less the same as the Shrek team that participated in the Skysea Alliance Exhibition Match in the original novel.

He remembered that the captain of that team in the original novel had also possessed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul.

With that thought, Lu Jun continued watching and spotted Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi among the team.

Just as expected. Fortunately, there haven't been any major changes.