Who Says Geniuses Must Go to Shrek's

However, after being exposed, Wu Changkong's reaction was more intense than anyone had imagined.

He took a deep breath, his expression remaining cold and stern, though his tone became somewhat urgent as he attempted to defend himself.

"I am not criticizing you because we are both from Shrek."

"I am speaking based on the facts of the matter."

"Your actions were far too flamboyant, leaving no room for maneuver."

"After all, she is a teacher at Shrek."

"Doing this will only bring you endless trouble in the future."

"Therefore, as your teacher..."

"I am merely reminding you."

There was an unnatural quality to his voice, as if he were desperate to distance himself from any association with Shrek.

But the more he tried to justify himself...

The paler and less convincing his excuses appeared.

Just then, Ye Yingluo spoke up.

She had walked to the front of the crowd at some point, standing between Wu Changkong and Han Li with her arms crossed, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

"Teacher Wu, you say you aren't criticizing Han Li because you both belong to Shrek."

"Then let me ask you—"

"Where were you when Shen Yi slandered the Sky Sea Alliance for cheating in front of eighty thousand people?"

"Where were you when Shen Yi donned her two-word battle armor and attacked Han Li, intending to kill a ten-year-old child?"

"At that time, you also stood by and watched, 'speaking based on the facts,' without saying a word or even making a gesture to intervene."

"Now that Han Li has won and beaten his opponent into submission, you jump out to say he went too far."

"Teacher Wu, your 'speaking based on the facts' is truly 'impartial,' isn't it?"

Ye Yingluo's voice was not loud.

Yet every word carried a mocking edge, piercing into Wu Changkong's ears like a blade.

She paused, then continued.

"Furthermore."

"You say Han Li will bring trouble upon himself."

"I would like to ask Teacher Wu—"

"Today's battle was witnessed by all eighty thousand people of the Sky Sea Alliance!"

"Han Li defeated his opponent in an open, just, and fair competition. It was the Shrek representative who couldn't handle the loss and started the trouble; Han Li was merely acting in self-defense!"

"If this matter gets out, what does it have to do with a ten-year-old child like Han Li?"

"Besides, even if Shrek really wanted to cause trouble, would the Sky Sea Alliance just stand by and ignore Han Li?"

"Would the Spirit Pagoda just abandon one of its own core disciples?"

With every word Ye Yingluo spoke.

Wu Changkong's expression grew a shade darker.

She stood there.

Though she was merely an ordinary teacher, her presence at this moment was enough to render Wu Changkong speechless.

Wu Changkong's lips moved as he tried to retort, but he failed to form a complete sentence despite several attempts.

He wanted to say, "That's not what I meant," or "I only have Han Li's best interests at heart," but those words felt incredibly weak in the face of Ye Yingluo's argument.

He realized that no matter how he tried to defend himself...

In the end, he would be blocked by Ye Yingluo's words.

At this, Wu Changkong took a deep breath.

He looked at Ye Yingluo, his tone turning serious.

"Teacher Ye, I know Han Li was your student at the start."

"But now, he is also my student."

"And tell me, what benefit is there in offending Shrek for the sake of a momentary grudge?"

"I ask you, Shrek Academy is the number one academy on the continent."

"And Han Li's talent is truly exceptional."

"If he does not go to Shrek, how else can he obtain the best educational resources?"

"Are you suggesting he should rely on you, an ordinary teacher from East Sea Academy?"

Upon hearing these words, Ye Yingluo fell silent.

She stood beside Han Li, her lips pressed slightly together, her gaze lowered as she did not immediately respond.

Wu Changkong's remark about her being a "regular teacher at East Sea Academy" felt like a needle, precisely piercing the very place she least wanted to face.

She knew she was merely an ordinary teacher at an ordinary academy, lacking the background and resources of Shrek Academy, and without the capability to provide Han Li with higher-level instruction.

Yet, she was also clear that Han Li had reached this point not because of anyone's teaching.

That young man's cultivation progress, combat ability, spiritual power, and physical constitution...

They were all things he had achieved step by step on his own, having little to do with what she, as his teacher, could offer.

Watching Ye Yingluo's silence, the corners of Wu Changkong's mouth curled up slightly, a flicker of imperceptible triumph appearing on his cold, stern face.

But at this moment, Han Li spoke up.

"So what if it's Shrek?"

"So what if it's East Sea Academy?"

His voice was flat, as if he were stating a fact that had nothing to do with him.

Yet, that simple, plain sentence...

Blocked all of Wu Changkong's buildup and persuasion halfway through.

Wu Changkong froze for a moment, then snapped back to reality, the expression on his face becoming even more serious.

He took half a step forward, his tone carrying a near-earnest persistence.

"Han Li, you don't understand. With your talent, you can only achieve greater development by going to Shrek Academy."

"Shrek possesses the continent's top teaching resources, the deepest heritage, and the most powerful faculty."

"Only there can your talent be fully realized."

"Therefore, I am doing this for your own good."

His words sounded sincere, or at least, they sounded sincere.

Those cold, sharp eyes were now filled with expectation and persuasion, as if he were truly thinking of Han Li's future.

"Oh?"

Han Li let out a scoff, his gaze carrying an undisguised indifference.

"Does that mean if I don't go to Shrek Academy, I'll never be able to break through to Limit Douluo in this lifetime?"

Wu Changkong was stunned; he opened his mouth but could not immediately find the words.

His eyes flickered, as if he were rapidly thinking of how to respond.

A moment later, he spoke again, his tone carrying a forced sense of certainty.

"If you are at Shrek..."

"You will definitely have a one-hundred-percent chance of breaking through."

But as he said this, his gaze wavered slightly; even he did not truly believe this claim.

He knew that with Han Li's talent, stepping into the realm of Limit Douluo was inevitable.

In fact, judging by the data and performance Han Li had shown so far...

Let alone Limit Douluo.

Even becoming a Peak Quasi-God was not impossible.

But he truly could not say that.

If he admitted that "you can break through on your own," then Han Li would have even less reason to go to Shrek.

Thus, he could only grit his teeth and say "one hundred percent," using a false guarantee to keep the other party.

But no sooner had his voice fallen than Han Li shook his head.

"There has never been such a thing as one hundred percent in this world."

"How can there be such certainty in all things?"

"My path is one I will walk myself."

"It requires no interference from others."

His tone remained calm, yet every word carried an unquestionable resolve.

He looked at Wu Changkong, his eyes filled with nothing but tranquility.

But that tranquility held more power than any display of anger.