Tang San: For my father's sake, please leave! Gu Yuan: What a joke!

Tang San paused, his gaze flickering as a suspicion similar to Flender's rose in his heart.

Father... must be nearby! These two seniors likely sensed Father's aura and gave him enough face to avoid attacking directly.

Thinking of this, Tang San felt a strange, complex sense of security regarding the father whose image had already crumbled in his mind.

Tang San continued:

"Although Shrek Academy is a humble place, Dean Flender and all our teachers are people who teach without discrimination and guide us with heart. If the two seniors are merely curious and wish to observe the academy's entrance examination, we naturally welcome you. However... if you speak of enrolling, I fear it would, as the Dean said, be a slight to you both."

Tang San's words were airtight; they clarified the academy's stance while subtly brandishing the potential presence of Tang Hao as an invisible deterrent.

Yet, his tone carried a faint trace of arrogance that sat poorly with Gu Yuan and Gu Yuena.

Gu Yuena's gaze toward Tang San turned slightly colder.

Tang Hao had forced Ah Yin to sacrifice herself to him, then planted the seed left behind in such a damp, miserable cave. The treatment was nothing short of tragic. Years ago, he had even begun grooming Xiao Wu as Tang San's future hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and spirit bone.

And now, Tang San actually dared to act arrogant?

Did he think that because they were wary of Tang Hao, they wouldn't dare lay a hand on him?

A flash of killing intent crossed Gu Yuena's eyes.

Gu Yuan took in Flender's evasiveness and Tang San's petty schemes, the playfulness in his golden eyes deepening.

"A slight?"

Gu Yuan chuckled, as if he had heard something amusing. "Whether it's a slight or not is not for you to decide."

Gu Yuan released Gu Yuena's hand and stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Wuji, then lingering on the battle-ready Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others, before finally settling back on Flender.

"Since we've come, we have no intention of leaving empty-handed."

Gu Yuan's tone remained relaxed, but his words carried an unquestionable weight.

"We are quite interested in this academy. As for whether it can accommodate us..."

A meaningful curve tugged at the corner of Gu Yuan's mouth.

"We'll have to test it to find out, won't we? Or is Shrek Academy's 'only accepting monsters' just a joke that's too afraid to accept a challenge?"

Is this... a firm intention to join? Or is there another motive? Are they trying to humiliate us?!

Flender's expression turned even uglier; he feared today's matter would not end well. Flender swallowed nervously, fine beads of cold sweat seeping from his forehead. He wanted to say more, but he could feel the patience of the golden-eyed youth before him beginning to wane.

Flender took a deep breath and asked, forcing himself to remain calm:

"Your Excellency... exactly how do you wish to challenge us? Is it a spar of spirit skills, or..."

Just as Gu Yuan was about to speak the "rules of the game" that would surely bring disgrace upon the entire Shrek Academy, a clear, firm voice cut in ahead of him.

"I ask that the two seniors stop making things difficult for Dean Flender!"

Tang San stepped forward, placing himself in front of Flender. He held his head high, staring directly at Gu Yuan and Gu Yuena with an expression unique to a youth—a mixture of righteousness and conceit.

The brief silence from Gu Yuan and Gu Yuena, combined with that earlier remark about being "merely curious," had solidified the suspicions in his heart.

They were indeed wary of his father!

Since that was the case, he should stand up even more firmly to defend the academy's dignity and, in the process... make these two "seniors" retreat in the face of difficulty.

"Though Shrek Academy is small, the kindness of our teachers weighs heavier than Mount Tai. I, Tang San, will not allow anyone to act wantonly here!"

Tang San spoke with righteous indignation, his voice carrying across the small plaza.

"The two seniors possess profound strength, and we are no match for you. But this is not a place for you to linger, and I hope you will leave now."

As he said this, Tang San's tone shifted, carrying an undisguised warning as his eyes turned sharp:

"Otherwise, my father might be watching from the shadows at this very moment. I believe he would not wish to see his friends making things difficult for a group of students and teachers, would he?"

As these words left his lips, the gazes Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others directed at Tang San were instantly filled with admiration. Under such terrifying pressure, Tang San actually dared to stand up and confront them head-on, even going so far as to invoke Clear Sky Douluo to intimidate the opposition!

Flender and Zhao Wuji, however, felt their hearts skip a beat, silently cursing: "This is bad!" How could this kid push the situation into such a dead end?

Yet, the most peculiar reaction came from Gu Yuan and Gu Yuena. The moment Tang San's voice faded, the last trace of amusement in Gu Yuena's beautiful purple eyes vanished, replaced by a glacial coldness that could freeze the world for miles. An invisible yet seemingly tangible killing intent surged forth like a tidal wave, causing the temperature of the surrounding air to plummet by over a dozen degrees!

Tang Hao? That man who caused the death of Ah Yin and schemed against Xiao Wu? His son now dared to use his name to threaten her and Gu Yuan? What irony! What a... death wish!

Just as Gu Yuena was on the verge of losing control of her killing intent, a warm hand grasped her slightly cool, jade-like hand. Gu Yuan stopped her.

Gu Yuan looked at Tang San, who wore an expression of "I have seen through everything, you had best be sensible," and was stunned for a moment before... he laughed. It was not a chuckle, nor a cold sneer, but a laugh from the bottom of his heart, as if he had just heard the most absurd and ridiculous joke in the world. He laughed heartily and unrestrainedly.

"Hahaha... hahahahaha!" The laughter was clear and magnetic, yet it filled the Shrek group with an unprecedented sense of trepidation and unease. The arrogance and resolve on Tang San's face began to crack inch by inch under Gu Yuan's unbridled laughter.

"What... what are you laughing at?" Tang San asked, his voice betraying a hint of bluster.

Gu Yuan finally stopped laughing. He wiped the tears of mirth from the corners of his eyes, looked at Tang San with playful golden eyes, and asked unhurriedly: "My father? In the shadows? Friends?" With every word Gu Yuan spoke, he took a step forward, the invisible pressure forcing Tang San to retreat a step involuntarily.

"Tang San, are you talking about... Tang Hao?" Gu Yuan tilted his head, asking with an expression of innocent curiosity: "Which Tang Hao? Oh... I remember now. Is it that 'Clear Sky Douluo' on the Sky Screen who forced his wife to her death for a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and even calculated his own son's future spirit rings?"

"You say he is in the shadows?" Gu Yuan scanned his surroundings as if searching for something, the smile on his face deepening. "That would be perfect! Tell him to come out! I am standing right here waiting for him. I would really like to see how this 'expert,' who has lost all his reputation and is hunted by Martial Soul Hall like a stray dog, intends to make his 'friends' give me this face!"