Xuan Zi

It was fast, so fast that they didn't even see how Di Tian had appeared before them.

"Slap."

With a crisp sound, Xu Fangmiao's head snapped to the side, and he spun like a ballerina before crashing to the ground.

"You! ...Ugh..."

He clutched his swollen face, feeling the loose teeth rattling in his mouth.

The curses and threats that were about to spill out were stifled by the pain, turning into a faint whimper.

Xu Fangmiao wanted nothing more than to tear the person before him into a thousand pieces.

But it was obvious he lacked the strength, and the courage, to do so; he could only glare hatefully at Fang Le, who had ordered Di Tian to strike.

As for Di Tian, the one who carried out the order, Xu Fangmiao didn't even dare to glance at him out of the corner of his eye.

In this current scene, the term "cowardly turtle" was a perfect fit for Xu Fangmiao, who hailed from the Mysterious Underworld Sect and possessed a turtle martial soul.

The other Shrek Academy students, including Zhang Lexuan, were furious to see their companion struck down, yet they dared not speak.

The fact that someone dared to attack them even after learning they were from Shrek Academy meant this person was at least a Soul Douluo, perhaps even a Title Douluo.

Regardless of which it was.

This black-robed Evil Soul Master was a powerhouse—an absolute powerhouse, one they could not hope to rival.

If a real fight broke out, every single member of Shrek Academy present would perish here.

Thus, no matter how angry they were, they had to endure it.

Once Xuan Zi arrived, he would surely make this person understand what Shrek was, and what the continent's number one academy truly meant.

"Old thing from Shrek, since you've arrived, do you expect me to drag you out myself?"

Ignoring the Shrek group, who were lost in thought and standing on high alert, Di Tian stared at the empty space behind them and spoke indifferently.

His words were overbearing and brooked no argument; this was the absolute aura of the Beast God Di Tian, the 890,000-year-old Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King and the top powerhouse on the Fierce Beast Ranking.

Damn it! I should have gone further away to find food next time!

As Di Tian's words fell, a figure suddenly emerged from the void he had been watching.

The figure was dressed in a simple, dusty gray robe, holding a wine gourd as he slowly descended in front of the Shrek group.

Even in his old age, he could not hide his free-spirited and unrestrained demeanor.

What was even more surprising were his eyes.

They were not clouded by age; on the contrary, they revealed a clarity like that of an innocent child who had yet to experience the world.

The newcomer was none other than the Sea God Pavilion elder, the pillar of Shrek Academy second only to the Dragon God Douluo Mu En, the level 98 Taotie Douluo Xuan Zi.

Indeed, it was an unfortunate coincidence; Xuan Zi had actually been following behind Zhang Lexuan and the others. When they followed Mi Long, he had tagged along with the mindset that it would be a waste not to watch a good show.

After all, drinking and watching a show were a match made in heaven.

Besides, if anything unexpected happened, he could protect these hopes of Shrek.

But what he never expected was this.

What the hell!!

How could a common Lingdou City spawn a Beast God like Di Tian?!!

What he expected even less was that his own Shrek people would run into him. Had he failed to check the almanac before leaving? Why was he so unlucky?

Xuan Zi couldn't help but doubt his life. What he couldn't have imagined was that this was merely an insignificant beginning to the legend of the team he was leading.

Originally, upon realizing Di Tian's strength, Xuan Zi had intended to run.

After all, compared to the next generation who had yet to grow up, it was clearly more cost-effective to preserve a powerhouse like himself who had already matured.

But he hadn't expected to be dragged out. For the sake of his dignity as a Sea God Pavilion elder, he now had to bite the bullet and face Di Tian.

"Xuan Zi!"

"It's Xuan Zi!"

"Please, Xuan Zi, take down these two Evil Soul Masters!"

"..."

The Shrek group could never have guessed the inner turmoil Xuan Zi was feeling.

They all cried out in surprise like children finding their parents, then pointed at Fang Le and the other, lodging their complaints.

"Silence! Stop your babbling!"

Yet, faced with their accusations, Xuan Zi, already in a foul mood, barked a sharp command to stop them.

Under normal circumstances, he would have already eaten a chicken leg to soothe his restless heart.

But now, faced with the powerful external factor that was Di Tian, he didn't dare to take his favorite snack out of his storage ring.

He had no choice but to bow and scrape, putting on a full display of humility.

"How could I dare call myself 'old' in front of the Beast God? These children were a bit impulsive earlier, so I am here to offer an apology on their behalf. I hope the Beast God will be magnanimous and spare them this once."

No one from any faction on the Douluo Continent would believe what they were seeing if they witnessed this display of deference.

A dignified elder of Shrek, actually apologizing to someone else?!

Wasn't it said that those who don't dare to cause trouble are mediocre?

Is this right?!

This isn't how he treated us before!!

Xuan Zi: The inheritance is like this, as for what the inheritance is... you all still need to ponder that.

"This..."

"How could this be!!"

"Is this still the Xuan Zi I know?"

The Shrek students were equally shocked.

Was this really the Xuan Zi they knew?

The once arrogant, haughty, lawless, and conceited Xuan Zi, who looked down on everything, was actually apologizing to someone?

Had he forgotten the glory of Shrek?

Xuan Zi: No! No one understands Shrek better than I do! And no one understands the Beast God better than I do.

As elders of Shrek, no one knew more about the true face of the current Douluo Continent than these old fellows.

The upper limit of humanity might be higher, but according to Shrek's intelligence, aside from the uncertainty of reaching level 100 and becoming a god, there was a clear consensus.

Every predecessor from Shrek who had challenged the Beast God and survived left behind a warning: the Star Dou Forest's Beast God cannot be defeated by anything less than divine power.

One must realize that none of the predecessors who left these warnings were below level 98.

Among them, those at the level 99 Limit Douluo rank numbered more than can be counted on one hand.

There were even rumors that unless one was a Limit Douluo, they couldn't even force Di Tian to use both hands.

In the past, Xuan Zi had largely treated these words as a joke. He thought his predecessors had exaggerated; how could there be such a massive gap beneath the level of gods?

It wasn't until an unexpected encounter in the Star Dou Forest that Xuan Zi believed it.

One hand for half a year; if it hadn't been for his martial uncle, he would have been... that very day.

Therefore, he still held a great deal of respect for Di Tian.

Xuan Zi: That's right, respect. How could I possibly be afraid...

As for the rest of the Shrek group nearby.

Even though they couldn't believe it in their hearts, they were forced by Xuan Zi's authority to remain silent, like geese with their necks pinched.

They could only watch with stifled frustration as Xuan Zi stood before them, smiling and apologizing, his tone even bordering on sycophantic.

Fang Le, who was being protected behind Di Tian, was also observing the man whom many netizens in his past life jokingly referred to as the Supreme Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult: the Taotie Douluo.

With messy hair, wine stains and grease covering his chest and cuffs, and a wine gourd in hand, this slovenly old man was undoubtedly Xuan Zi, looking exactly as described in the novel.

He looked unreliable at first glance...