Humiliating Shrek

Dugu Yan withdrew her hand. Emerald-green Soul Power slowly receded into her body, and the countless serpent shadows vanished with it, as if they had never appeared.

She took two steps back and returned to Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling's side. Lowering her head slightly, she wore a respectful expression, the aura of a sovereign who had ruled the world now completely gone.

On the judges' platform, the teacher from Heaven Dou Royal Academy opened his mouth, but his throat was dry. It took him a long while to find his voice.

"Team... team battle, Blue Silver Academy, wins..."

His voice echoed across the empty Martial Arts Arena, yet sounded so powerless.

Did he even need to announce it?

The truth had long been laid bare before them.

In Shrek Academy's seats.

Flender clutched the armrests so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

The Soul Power around Liu Erlong surged out of control several times, only to be forcibly suppressed. Her pretty face flushed crimson.

As for Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang, he merely watched the arena in silence.

He watched his fallen disciple.

He watched the five Blue Silver Academy members, not a hair out of place.

He watched the man in the distant stands, who had not so much as lifted his eyelids throughout.

His theories, his pride, everything he had—all of it had become a joke in that moment.

"San!"

Dai Mubai roared, wrenching himself free of Shi Mo's grasp, then staggered toward Tang San.

Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar hurried after him, each with a look of despair and defeat on their face.

With Ye Lingling's treatment, Xiao Wu had also slowly regained consciousness. Ignoring the blood at the corner of her mouth, she scrambled over.

"Third Brother... Third Brother, wake up..."

Xiao Wu's voice broke with sobs, and her tears started flowing again.

With trembling hands, Oscar made another Recovery Big Sausage and tried to feed it to Tang San.

But Tang San's teeth were clenched shut. He was already unconscious and couldn't swallow.

"Move aside."

A steady voice rang out.

Grandmaster walked over.

He crouched and placed two fingers against Tang San's carotid artery.

There was still a pulse, though it was very weak.

He checked Tang San's breathing as well.

He was still breathing.

Grandmaster slowly stood up. He didn't look at Chen Xuan or Ah Yin. Instead, he faced the five Blue Silver Academy members still standing in the arena and spoke hoarsely.

"We surrender."

After uttering those four words, he seemed utterly drained.

He bent down and carefully hoisted Tang San onto his back.

"Let's go."

Grandmaster's voice was quiet.

Dai Mubai and the others silently followed, lifting the unconscious Xiao Wu.

The seven of them had arrived full of confidence, calling themselves monsters.

Now they left like a pack of beaten dogs, not daring to look back.

They didn't even have the courage to look Chen Xuan in the eye again.

That figure had become a nightmare they couldn't banish from their hearts.

Flender and Liu Erlong stood as well and followed behind Grandmaster without a word.

Under the gaze of the entire crowd, Shrek Academy left the Heaven Dou Grand Martial Arts Arena in disgrace, tails between their legs.

Only after their backs had disappeared completely

did Chen Xuan slowly rise to his feet.

He brushed nonexistent dust from his robe and smiled warmly at his wife.

"Ah Yin, let's go home."

"Mm."

Ah Yin stood and naturally took his arm.

Chen Xuan then looked toward his disciples.

"You all did very well, too."

"Thank you for your praise, Teacher!"

Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, and the others bowed together, their eyes filled with affection and reverence.

"Let's go."

Chen Xuan said nothing more. He led everyone away at an unhurried pace.

Only after they had left did the entire Martial Arts Arena seem to thaw, erupting at once in a tumult of discussion.

"Oh heavens! Shrek Academy... lost just like that?"

"Lost? They got absolutely crushed! That Dugu Yan is a Soul King! Terrifying!"

"Blue Silver Academy... From today on, that name will resound throughout Heaven Dou City!"

That dean, Chen Xuan, never lifted a finger from start to finish. Just how strong was he?

Chen Xuan and the others could no longer hear the discussions.

They made their way through the bustling streets and returned to the quiet academy in the southern part of the city.

Blue Silver Academy was more like a vast manor than an academy.

There were no towering classroom buildings or sprawling athletic fields.

Only stretches of flourishing Blue Silver Grass and several elegant courtyards nestled among them.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees and a rich vitality.

Back at the courtyard in the rear hills, which belonged exclusively to Chen Xuan and Ah Yin,

Chen Xuan lounged in his favorite rocking chair, gently swaying.

Ah Yin took a delicate pair of silver shears and went to the flower bed nearby, carefully trimming the branches and leaves of a Blue Silver Grass plant.

This Blue Silver Grass was unlike the ordinary kind. A brilliant golden pattern edged its leaves, glittering in the sunlight. It was the true form of the Blue Silver Emperor.

Although Ah Yin had already rebuilt her body, this original body remained her root.

Moonlight poured into the courtyard like water, bathing everything in a silvery frost.

The atmosphere was peaceful and serene, worlds apart from the brutal slaughter on the Martial Arts Arena that day.

The five disciples—Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, Ye Lingling, Shi Mo, and Shi Pan—stood respectfully to one side, careful not to disturb the quiet.

After a long while, Chen Xuan finally opened his eyes.

"Why are you all still standing? Sit down."

He pointed to the stone stools nearby.

"Yes, Teacher."

Only then did the five sit as instructed, though they still sat up straight.

"Rongrong."

Chen Xuan's gaze settled on Ning Rongrong.

"Yes, Teacher?"

Ning Rongrong answered at once, her voice bright.

"Seeing your former companions meet such a fate, did you feel any compassion for them?"

Chen Xuan's tone was mild, as if he were asking about something utterly ordinary.

Ning Rongrong stiffened slightly.

She looked up at Chen Xuan's eyes, which seemed able to see through everything. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded honestly.

"A little."

She spoke softly.

"Although... although they used to call me Little Demoness, and Dai Mubai always wore that scowl, they... never actually hurt me."

"Especially Oscar. He even..."

Ning Rongrong's voice grew quieter and quieter.

She was afraid Teacher would be displeased with her over it.

After all, she was now a disciple of Blue Silver Academy.

Hearing this, Chen Xuan showed no sign of displeasure. Instead, he smiled.

"Feeling compassion means you have kindness in your heart. That's a good thing."

Only then did Ning Rongrong breathe a sigh of relief.

"But," Chen Xuan continued, "you must understand that I had Yanzi do that today not simply to win, and certainly not to torture them to death."

"Teacher..." Dugu Yan looked up as well, a trace of confusion in her emerald eyes. "This disciple doesn't understand. With my strength, I could have defeated him much faster. Why did I have to..."

Why had she used that method to shatter his will bit by bit?

It was the question in every disciple's heart.