Ninth Place: Yan Shaozhe!

[Dou Er Era]

Shrek City.

The plaza in front of the academy's main gate was a sea of people.

Reporters from various nations, scouts from major powers, and countless citizens concerned about Shrek Academy had packed the area until not even a drop of water could pass through.

After a month-long wait.

Today, Shrek Academy finally threw open its gates once again to hold a press conference for the entire continent.

Under the gaze of the masses.

The Dean of the Martial Soul Department, Ming Feng Douluo Yan Shaozhe, dressed in white and looking dashing, slowly ascended the temporarily constructed platform.

He was the spokesperson representing Shrek Academy today, tasked with providing an explanation to the whole world.

Looking at the dense crowd below, and at those faces filled with anticipation, skepticism, or schadenfreude.

Yan Shaozhe took a deep breath, infusing his surging soul power into his voice, which then echoed across the entire venue.

"Everyone, quiet!"

"One month ago, due to the exposure of the hypocritical actions of our former teacher, Qiangu Wangyan, Shrek suffered a humiliation unseen in ten thousand years!"

His voice was filled with heartache, as if he were the greatest victim of all.

"Failing to recognize a person's true nature and lacking proper supervision—I, Yan Shaozhe, and the entire upper echelon of Shrek, cannot shirk our responsibility!"

"Here, on behalf of Shrek Academy, I offer my most sincere apologies to all the affected students and to all the citizens who have placed their trust in us!"

As he spoke, he bowed deeply toward the crowd below.

This bow was frank and sincere.

The commotion below subsided by more than half in an instant.

"However!"

Yan Shaozhe straightened up abruptly, his tone shifting, becoming resolute and decisive!

"Admitting a mistake does not mean admitting guilt!"

"My Shrek Academy has been passed down for ten thousand years, always taking the protection of the continent and the fight against Evil Soul Masters as our duty!"

"We are victims, but we are absolutely not accomplices!"

"Over this past month, under the personal supervision of Elder Mu, our academy has initiated the highest level of self-inspection!"

"We have conducted a carpet-style investigation and treatment of over three thousand students and five hundred faculty members! We have ensured that every malignant tumor planted by Qiangu Wangyan has been eradicated!"

"Now, I can responsibly declare to the entire continent—Shrek is innocent!"

His voice was impassioned, projecting an image of righteous integrity.

The aura of his Radiant Phoenix martial soul radiated outward, causing everyone who heard his speech to feel an involuntary sense of conviction.

"As for the matter exposed on the Sky Screen regarding the purging of the remnants of the Martial Soul Hall."

"We admit that it is true!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd below erupted into an uproar.

They admitted it! Shrek actually admitted it!

Yan Shaozhe raised a hand, signaling for everyone to be quiet.

"When our predecessors handled this matter, there was indeed selfishness and cover-ups involved! Regarding this, we will never tolerate it, and we will never shirk our responsibility!"

"Here, I announce the Sea God Pavilion's full list of penalties for this incident!"

"First, all personnel involved in the purge of the Martial Soul Hall who are still alive, regardless of their rank, are to be expelled from the academy!"

"Second, Shrek will open its supervision channels and invite outstanding alumni from the Star Luo, Heaven Soul, and Dou Spirit empires to form a Supervision Committee, responsible for overseeing Shrek's self-inspection regarding Evil Soul Masters!"

"Third, I, Yan Shaozhe, as the current Dean of the Martial Soul Department, bear the inescapable responsibility for the failure of supervision!"

"Here, I voluntarily resign from my position as Dean and will enter the back mountain of the Sea God Pavilion to reflect on my mistakes for a hundred years!"

Three consecutive resolutions, each more shocking than the last!

Self-inspection and self-correction, inviting outsiders to supervise, and the Dean resigning in disgrace!

What kind of courage and determination did this require!

Below the stage, countless people who had originally held skeptical gazes now showed signs of being moved.

Those alumni who had graduated from Shrek were even more emotional, their eyes brimming with tears.

"Well said, Dean Yan!"

"This is the Shrek we believe in!"

In the crowd, someone shouted out, and immediately after, thunderous cheers and applause echoed throughout all of Shrek City.

Watching the tide of public opinion gradually turn, Yan Shaozhe finally let out a long sigh of relief in his heart.

After the press conference ended, Yan Shaozhe returned to the lounge of the Sea God Pavilion.

The look of grief and solemnity on his face vanished without a trace, replaced by an irrepressible smugness.

"Old Qian, how was it? Was my speech alright?"

He picked up his teacup and raised an eyebrow at Qian Duoduo, the dean of the Soul Guidance Department standing nearby.

Qian Duoduo chuckled and gave him a thumbs-up:

"It was, it was perfect!"

"That move of retreating to advance was played beautifully!"

"Talking about resigning in disgrace and reflecting for a hundred years—you made it sound so real. Once the heat dies down and you're reinstated, who will even remember this?"

"In my opinion, once Elder Mu passes away, the position of Sea God Pavilion Master will be yours for the taking!"

"Hahaha, no, no. Elder Xuan is still around, so don't talk nonsense."

Yan Shaozhe spoke with false modesty, but the smile on his face grew even brighter.

"In any case, once this storm passes, everything will return to normal."

The two exchanged a knowing smile, everything understood without a word.

They both believed that this storm, stirred up by the Sky Screen and threatening to overturn Shrek, was finally coming to an end.

But just then!

"Look! What is that!"

Outside the window, a massive uproar suddenly erupted from the plaza!

Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo were stunned, instinctively looking out the window.

[Douluo I Period]

On the coastal border of the Heaven Dou Empire.

A pursuit and interception of extreme brutality was unfolding!

"BOOM!!!"

A massive black hammer wreathed in endless killing intent collided mid-air with a giant tail covered in golden scales!

A terrifying energy storm swept across the land, shattering the earth and turning boulders into powder!

Tang Hao spat out a mouthful of blood, his body sent reeling back dozens of meters, yet his grip on the Clear Sky Hammer never faltered.

While swinging the Clear Sky Hammer, he let out a desperate, guttural roar toward a figure in the distance, who was rapidly retreating while enveloped in strange black mist.

"San, run!"

Behind him, Sea Dragon Douluo, Sea Spear Douluo, and the other four Title Douluo from Sea God Island were covered in blood, locked in combat with the elder priests of Martial Soul Hall.

But the situation was a one-sided slaughter.

Martial Soul Hall was composed and relaxed, while the people from Sea God Island were struggling to hold on.

"Tang Hao, and you loaches from the sea, give up."

Golden Crocodile Douluo stood with his hands behind his back, a cruel smile like a cat playing with a mouse on his face.

"Today, no one can save Tang San!"

Ever since the Pope's Palace and the Worship Hall reached an agreement, the entire war machine of Martial Soul Hall had been set in motion, launching a dragnet-style pursuit of Tang San!

Had the Seven Holy Pillar Douluo of Sea God Island not arrived in time, Tang San likely wouldn't even have had a chance to flee.

"If you want to kill my son, you'll have to step over my corpse!"

Tang Hao's eyes were blood-red, his state like that of a madman!

"Great Sumeru Hammer! Ring Detonation!"

Without hesitation, he detonated the first five spirit rings on his body!

Power of extreme violence surged into the Clear Sky Hammer, causing his aura to instantly climb to an unprecedented peak!

"Slaughter God's Domain!"

He released a black-red shockwave from his body, forcibly pushing back the several Title Douluo before him!

At this moment, he seemed to have returned to the past, to that His Excellency Haotian who once fought three opponents alone and severely wounded three Title Douluo of Martial Soul Hall!

"Come! Fight!"

He roared wildly, charging once again toward the members of Martial Soul Hall!

Not far away, Sea Ghost Douluo was using his abilities to wrap Tang San in black mist, desperately trying to break through the encirclement.

Tang San looked back at his father and the group of Sea God Island powerhouses trapped in the fray, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails pierced his palms, blood dripping down.

Martial Soul Hall!

The humiliation of today—I, Tang San, will surely repay it a hundred, a thousand times over in the future!

I will make your entire Martial Soul Hall pay with their lives for my father!

Just then, a sudden change occurred!

The sky, which had been filled with the thunderous sounds of battle, suddenly darkened without any warning.

Immediately after, a familiar golden glow descended from the heavens, illuminating the earth.

Whether it was Tang Hao, who was fighting for his life, the cruel and mocking Golden Crocodile Douluo, or even Sea Ghost Douluo and Tang San, who were fleeing for their lives.

Everyone subconsciously stopped what they were doing and looked up in horror.

Douluo I and Dou Er, two different eras.

From Skywater City in the Far North Ice Plains to Sea God Island in the depths of the ocean;

From the Star Luo Empire to the Sun Moon Continent...

Countless gazes, at this moment, transcended the boundaries of time and space, converging upon the same golden Sky Screen that spanned the horizon.

"The Sky Screen! It has finally appeared again!"

"After a month of silence, are there finally new revelations!"

Countless people discussed excitedly, filled with anticipation.

Under the gaze of billions of living beings, a new line of gilded characters slowly emerged upon the Sky Screen.

[Top Ten Hypocrites List!]

[Ninth Place: Yan Shaozhe!]

In an instant, the entire world seemed to come to a standstill.

Shrek Plaza, which had been bustling with noise just a moment ago, fell into a deathly silence.

"Clatter."

A teacup fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

The smile on Yan Shaozhe's face froze completely.

He felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

How... could this be?

(Yan Shaozhe uses his comic book appearance)