Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi, Lan Dian Yu Yuanheng, Ten Thousand Years of Glory

Chapter 36: Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi, Lan Dian Yu Yuanheng, Ten Thousand Years Glory's Warning (4K)

"Ah???"

Hearing this, Tang Wulin was stunned. Na'er's favoritism wasn't even pretending anymore!

People are not saints. Na'er never hid herself, firmly favoring Zhao Xuanzhen.

Tang Wulin stared intently at Gu Yue, who was quietly peeling shrimp, eager to see her reaction. Gu Yue quickly gave her answer too, not even sparing him a glance as she smilingly pushed a bowl of shrimp meat toward Zhao Xuanzhen.

"Xuanzhen, eat more."

"Crack—"

As if struck by a thunderbolt from the clear sky, Tang Wulin was utterly crushed. His whole figure turned ashen gray. Those once hazy bloodline attractions were drowned out by reason.

Over the past half year, Gu Yue at Eastsea Academy always wore a cold pretty face, making it hard for anyone to approach her. Earlier outside the Yuhao Grilled Fish shop, Tang Wulin had witnessed Gu Yue willing to let Zhao Xuanzhen put his arm around her shoulder.

Three strikes, and Tang Wulin no longer harbored illusions. This tender, ignorant feeling ended without fruition. He understood in his heart that Gu Yue was already part of the Spirit Pagoda, and it was only natural for her to be close to Zhao Xuanzhen, a fellow Spirit Pagoda disciple.

"Sigh..."

Swallowing a bite of Bluefin Tuna meat, Tang Wulin let out a heavy sigh. A faint, fractured light swirled in his eyes.

Everyone has their own aspirations. Tang Wulin didn't blame Gu Yue for favoring Zhao Xuanzhen, just as in another time he didn't blame senior Ouyang Zixin for favoring Xu Xiaoyu. This was a girl's choice after weighing pros and cons.

At this moment in Tang Wulin's heart, his classmate of half a year, Gu Yue, was far less important than his parents, who had vanished without a trace. He wanted more than anything to quickly improve his strength, find Tang Ziran and his wife, and reunite his family.

After absorbing the first five seals of the Golden Dragon King, his Blue Silver Grass had evolved into Golden Patterned Blue Silver Grass. His soul power had broken through to the twentieth rank in one go, and his cultivation speed had multiplied several times.

Wu Changkong had personally certified that Tang Wulin at least had the potential to become a Super Douluo, and an Extreme Douluo was not out of reach either.

The useless Blue Silver Grass had transformed into a top-tier martial soul, Golden Patterned Blue Silver Grass. He no longer had to worry about the Golden Dragon King's seals or scrimp and save every day to buy spiritual items. Everyone had a broad future ahead. From now on, Tang Wulin would only treat them as normal classmates.

"Sister Na'er, are you two joining the Tianhai Alliance Competition?"

Xu Xiaoyan touched her slightly bulging belly from eating too much and asked curiously.

This question immediately caught the attention of Tang Wulin and Xie Xie. During the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform final exam, Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er, with just the two of them, had spun a group of Eastsea students, including Zero Class, around like tops. Recalling that terrifying scene in the middle of the night would still jolt them awake.

Na'er bit into a lobster and mumbled vaguely, "We didn't sign up. Should count as... accompanying family?"

"Right." Zhao Xuanzhen agreed. "Came along with friends."

The three Zero Class members breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er were outliers among their peers. Banning them was undoubtedly a blessing.

After eating and drinking their fill, the group left the restaurant. It was worth mentioning that Na'er ultimately defeated Tang Wulin, winning the golden title of Number One Foodie in the Douluo Continent.

How could a mere five-seal Little Golden Dragon be a match for King Na'er? Don't underestimate thirty percent of the Silver Dragon King Origin!

Zhao Xuanzhen and Gu Yue were used to Na'er's extraordinary appetite, but the three Zero Class members looked up in awe, unable to believe that this stunning silver-haired girl was an even more unbeatable foodie than Tang Wulin!

Today was the opening ceremony of the Tianhai Alliance Competition, held at the Tianhai Stadium, which could hold eighty thousand people. The six of them shared the same destination, so they walked together for the last stretch.

The sun blazed fiercely, pouring down like golden flames, making the magnificent competition venue gleam brilliantly. The Tianhai Stadium was packed with people. Contestants from various academies, spectators, and media reporters came in droves. Looking out, it was a sea of people.

"So many people..."

Na'er sighed, then took a big slurp of her milk tea.

Along the way, everyone bought many of Tianhai City's signature desserts. Na'er held a sea salt milk cap sprinkled with cookie crumbs in her left hand, while her right arm was looped around Zhao Xuanzhen. In his free hand, Zhao Xuanzhen held a bag of vanilla scones for her.

The Zero Class F4 were participating in a large-scale public competition for the first time. Aside from Gu Yue, Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan couldn't help but feel nervous.

Their talent and combat strength were certainly outstanding among their peers, but the Tianhai Alliance Competition was grouped by age. The Youth Group contestants were aged ten to fifteen.

At this age, every year of difference created a huge gap in soul master cultivation. The Eastsea Zero Class was at a major disadvantage. Those opponents who pushed the age limit would likely be a whole rank above Zero Class!

The crowd parted to form a path. Sunlight fell on the youth like the light of righteousness. Thick eyebrows, big eyes, a pentagonal square face with sharp features, and an air of righteous dignity. Wherever he passed, contestants stepped aside.

"Jiu Tian."

Zhao Xuanzhen nodded. Jiu Tian inclined his head in acknowledgment.

On the Alliance Competition's main stage, Zhen Hua and Muye saw the trio of Xuan, Gu, and Na appear in the venue. A trace of a smile appeared on their faces, and they relaxed considerably.

Unlike previous competitions, this time the Forging Association was radiant with stars. Godly Craftsman Zhen Hua had personally come to Tianhai City. Eastsea City's Saint Craftsman Mu Chen and Tianhai City's Saint Craftsman Duan Xuan stood on either side. Tianhai City's high-level officials had urgently revised the procedures, giving the Godly Craftsman the highest level of respect, and had Zhen Hua announce the competition's opening.

When Jiu Tian approached, Tang Wulin's gaze suddenly sharpened. He saw a badge pinned to Jiu Tian's chest. The hammer-shaped base represented forging, and on it were carved four bright yellow stars.

"Fourth-Rank Forging Master..."

Jiu Tian was clearly a friend of Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er. Tang Wulin hadn't expected him to be a Fourth-Rank Forging Master of the same age. He had almost certainly signed up for the Forging Competition!

Tang Wulin was a forging genius rarely seen in a millennium. Not long ago, at the age of ten, he had broken through to Fourth-Rank Forging Master. Mu Chen had set Tang Wulin the task of winning the Youth Group championship, but now a Jiu Tian had appeared out of nowhere!

"They're all monsters..."

True Self Zhao Xuanzhen, Silver Dragon Spear Na'er, forging monster Jiu Tian, plus the Elementalist Gu Yue, whose heart belonged to the Spirit Pagoda. Tang Wulin seemed to foresee the leaders of the next era.

Looking at the trio of Xuan, Na, and Tian before her, Xu Xiaoyan's ice-blue eyes darted around. She said jokingly, "That makes exactly seven people. If you three joined Eastsea Academy, we could sign up for the seven-man team battle!"

The Tianhai Alliance Competition schedule was as follows: morning for the four major second profession competitions, afternoon for individual battles and three-man battles, and the prime-time evening slot was inevitably the most anticipated and popular seven-man team battle.

The Zero Class F4 had signed up for the three-man battle. Every time they fought, one person had to sit on the bench. Xu Xiaoyan thought it would be better to invite Xuan, Na, and Tian to join and directly switch to seven-man team battle mode.

At night, her ice staff evolved into the Star Wheel Ice Staff. The astral martial soul was absolutely established. Xu Xiaoyan's strength had skyrocketed, and she no longer held the team back. With Zhao Xuanzhen and Na'er leading the charge, Zero Class even had a chance to win the championship!

Xu Xiaoyan had her calculations all figured out, but Zhao Xuanzhen just smiled without a word. The soul masters of the Tianhai Alliance were generally weak. He and Na'er could sweep any opponent. The two of them wouldn't stoop to bullying the Tianhai Alliance just to take a championship with zero substance.

"Starving... anyone got food..."

Amid the crowd, a little fatty in a nearly shit-green dark green outfit scurried around like a lost weasel hunting for a melon.

"Another foodie!"

Xu Xiaoyan stifled a laugh, then quickly caught herself and clasped her hands together, offering Na'er an apologetic nod. Na'er didn't mind—in her eyes, "foodie" was a compliment. Food was the people's heaven!

"Wulin, is that their uniform? That shit-green..." Xie Xie lowered his voice, snickering.

"Don't say that. Students don't pick their uniforms. If it's ugly, there's nothing they can do." Tang Wulin shrugged helplessly.

No one paid the little fatty any mind until he shuffled up to the seven of them, his face a pitiful plea for food. Perhaps it was a foodie's instinct to recognize a kindred spirit; Tang Wulin pulled a bag of dried fish from his Storage Soul Tool.

"Thank you, kind soul!"

The little fatty let out a muffled om nom and crammed a handful of fish into his mouth, mumbling between chews, "So good! So tasty! I'm Xu Lizhi. Kind soul, what's your name?"

As Xu Lizhi and Tang Wulin bonded like old friends, Zhao Xuanzhen recalled Na'er back in the day, begging for food on Phoenix Street, and teased, "Doesn't Xu Lizhi remind you of you four years ago?"

"Get lost!"

Na'er shoved him with her shoulder, annoyed, and corrected him seriously, "Be precise—just the behavior is similar. Don't insult a beautiful girl's looks... or her fashion sense! I don't like green!"

Just then, a flurry of footsteps shattered the calm. A girl in the same green uniform as Xu Lizhi swept through the crowd like a gale, charging straight at them.

Her face was exquisite, every line a masterpiece carved by the Creator. Her golden hair was tied high in a ponytail, and her azure pupils gleamed like the clearest ocean.

Her slender, arched brows resembled two golden feathers poised for flight, carrying an innate haughtiness. Her expression radiated a cold, distant beauty, as if the entire world lay beneath her feet.

"Sister Xinglan, I'm sorry!"

Xu Lizhi's face went pale, like a mouse spotting a cat, and he immediately surrendered from the heart.

"Sorry?" Ye Xinglan snorted. "Xu Lizhi, do you even know who you are? Outside the academy, there are bad people everywhere. Hanging out with them, eating without a care... What if they drugged the food? You'd regret it for life!"

Tang Wulin's brow furrowed. He'd kindly given Xu Lizhi some dried fish, and now Ye Xinglan was implying he'd laced it with poison.

Out in the world, it was better to avoid trouble than court it. Ye Xinglan hadn't crossed his bottom line, so Tang Wulin chose to pretend he hadn't caught the jab, letting it slide.

After scolding Xu Lizhi, Ye Xinglan spun on her heel, her gaze sharp as a blade as she fixed on the silver-haired girl. "You insulted our Shrek Academy uniform. I want an apology."

Ye Xinglan had heard Na'er say she didn't like green and took it as a dig at Shrek's uniform. She demanded an apology outright.

Na'er's willow brows shot up. Her upbringing was nothing like Tang Wulin's—she settled scores on the spot. "Oh, look at you! You accuse others of drugging food, then forbid anyone from disliking green! The uniform's ugly, and you try to shut people up. Is this the tyranny of Shrek's unified aesthetic? So this is what it means to be a Shrek elite!

Zhao Xuanzhen, from now on, remember to call him Master Shi when you go out, or he might slap a 'conspiring against Shrek students' label on you!"

"Pfft—"

The three Zero Class members couldn't hold back their laughter. Ye Xinglan picking a fight with Na'er was like running into an iron wall. No one dared to spar with Na'er except Zhao Xuanzhen!

"You—"

Na'er's unguarded voice drew strange looks from the crowd. Ye Xinglan's pretty face flushed red with rage. Gritting her teeth, she said, "I... I challenge you to the Battle Soul Stage!"

"Bring it!"

The two sides were at each other's throats, on the verge of an all-out brawl, when a deep voice cut through: "Enough."

As the voice fell, five Shrek students stepped forward. The leader was a tall, straight-backed youth with a presence as steady as a mountain, exuding an indescribable pressure.

Ye Xinglan's expression flickered. She turned to look at the youth, a trace of reluctance flashing in her eyes.

The youth hailed from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, a candidate for the next clan leader. His talent was extraordinary, his strength formidable, and his entry into Shrek's Inner Court was all but guaranteed.

On the Douluo Continent, there was a ranking of super-geniuses under eighteen. This youth was firmly listed among them, sitting in the top five.

Fifth on the Young Genius List—Lan Dian Yu Yuanheng!

"Xinglan, what's going on?" Yu Yuanheng asked.

Ye Xinglan briefly recounted the incident. The seven of them had just begun to think the Shrek captain might be reasonable when Yu Yuanheng suddenly bellowed:

"Shrek's ten thousand years of glory shall not be defiled!"

The seven instinctively leaned back. Zhao Xuanzhen's pupils dilated. He'd thought Ye Xinglan was already Number One Under Heaven—whose general was this twisted zealot?

Yu Yuanheng strode forward alone, bearing down on them, pointing directly at Na'er, who had clashed with Ye Xinglan. "Apologize."

"Fun fact: throw a firecracker into a pigpen, and the one that squeals loudest is the one that got hit."

Zhao Xuanzhen stepped forward, shielding Na'er behind him. Yu Yuanheng's cheek twitched—he caught the insult.

Their eyes locked. Neither spoke another word, but an invisible aura clashed fiercely between them. The surrounding crowd vaguely sensed two powerful forces and instinctively backed away, clearing a space. Only heavy breathing and the taut silence remained.

Zhao Xuanzhen's eyes seemed to harbor a dark storm, Yin and Yang Dual Qi swirling in black and white, flickering with traces of deep blue and golden light. His gaze carried the weight of a thousand jun, pressing down on Yu Yuanheng.

A flicker of surprise crossed Yu Yuanheng's face. A figure like this, in a backwater like the Tianhai Alliance?

It was a pressure that seeped into the bone marrow, forcing every nerve taut. Yu Yuanheng felt like a lone boat adrift in Surging Waves, on the verge of being swallowed by the raging force. He dug his feet into the ground, bracing against the overwhelming presence that threatened to topple him.

"Yuanheng, the exhibition match is about to start."

Behind Yu Yuanheng, the young girl with a noble bearing spoke up in reminder.

"I know."

With a sullen reply, Yu Yuanheng retracted all his sharpness, turned, and led the Shrek Team members away. Ye Xinglan stubbornly glanced back at Zhao Xuanzhen, a trace of startled ripples cracking open in her Azure Pupils.

"Shrek Academy..." Na'er clenched her fists. "So arrogant. I really want to beat them up!"

"Plus one," Gu Yue said faintly.

"Count me in," Xu Xiaoyan raised her hand.

"Same here!"

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie spoke in unison. So what if it was Shrek, so what if it was the Continent's First Academy? If they bullied people, they had to fight back!

Zhao Xuanzhen exchanged a glance with Jiu Tian and said calmly, "Everyone wants to fight, huh... Then let's fight!"