Because it meant that every word the other party said, every attempt at persuasion, was beneath his notice.
At that moment, Ye Yingluo revealed a shocked expression.
She looked at Han Li's youthful yet composed face. Hearing him say those words, she suddenly felt that she understood this student far too little.
A ten-year-old child...
Had actually said something like, "I will walk my own path."
This temperament and resolve had already surpassed what she understood of children Han Li's age.
But Wu Changkong still did not want to give up.
He wanted to say something more, to persuade him one more time, to move Han Li with another sentence—
"Very well said."
"As expected of a core disciple of our Spirit Pagoda."
A voice rang out from the crowd, carrying a warm, unhurried smile.
Everyone turned toward the voice and saw a middle-aged man standing not far away, his hands clasped behind his back as he smiled broadly at them.
He had short black hair, refined features, and wore a dark suit, looking like a gentle scholar.
Yet the occasional glint in his eyes gave people an instinctive sense of unfathomable pressure.
The badge he wore bore the Spirit Pagoda's emblem and an intricate golden pattern. It was the mark of the Spirit Pagoda Master.
With just one glance...
Everyone recognized his identity.
The Spirit Pagoda Master, Qiangu Dongfeng!
In fact, he had quietly arrived before the Tianhai Grand Competition had even begun.
He had merely remained low-profile, sitting in a corner of the stands without showing himself, silently watching the entire exhibition match.
Only now did he step out of the crowd and appear before them.
He walked to Han Li's side and smiled gently at Wu Changkong, his gaze carrying undisguised—
Provocation.
Yes, provocation.
The way he looked at Wu Changkong was like a cat looking at a mouse trapped in a corner, calm and amused from a position of superiority.
After all...
With talent like Han Li's, he could not possibly sit by and watch Shrek Academy destroy him.
A place like Shrek...
Looked righteous and respectable on the surface.
But behind the scenes, it would use any means necessary to snatch talented individuals.
A Shrek graduate like Wu Changkong appeared to be thinking of his student's future, but in truth, he merely wanted to bring Han Li back to Shrek as one of his own "achievements."
Of course, this was not out of pity.
It was a deeper calculation!
He wanted to nurture Han Li, to cultivate him into a Peak Quasi-God capable of contending with Yun Ming!
Yun Ming was Shrek's Sea God Pavilion Master, the number one person on the continent today, the mountain Qiangu Dongfeng had been unable to overcome for decades.
He had waited for decades before finally finding a genius who might surpass Yun Ming. How could he let Shrek take him away?
The moment Han Li became a Peak Quasi-God...
Would be the moment he avenged his father!
At that moment, Wu Changkong's expression was extremely grim as well.
He stood before Qiangu Dongfeng, cold light flickering in his eyes.
Qiangu Dongfeng was the Spirit Pagoda Master, an existence on the same level as Yun Ming, the Sea God Pavilion Master. No matter how unwilling Wu Changkong was, he did not dare act recklessly before Qiangu Dongfeng.
At this time, President Yu Zhen also came over.
He had originally been speaking with several officials in the VIP section. Upon hearing the commotion, he hurried over, his face filled with confusion and concern.
When he saw Qiangu Dongfeng, he froze for a moment. Then, seeing Wu Changkong's gloomy expression and Ye Yingluo's complicated look, he roughly guessed what had happened.
Seeing this, Ye Yingluo briefly recounted what had taken place, from Wu Changkong criticizing Han Li, to his defense of Shrek, and finally Qiangu Dongfeng's appearance. She explained it all in just a few sentences.
Yu Zhen's expression darkened as well.
He looked at Wu Changkong, remained silent for a moment, then spoke in a cold, decisive tone.
"Eastsea Academy is only a small academy. We cannot afford to keep a great figure like Teacher Wu."
"Please seek employment elsewhere."
Yu Zhen's voice was not loud.
But the coldness and determination in it made everyone present understand clearly...
This was not something said in anger. It was a decision he had reached after careful consideration.
Wu Changkong was a Six-Ring Soul Emperor and an outstanding Shrek graduate. Those identities were indeed an honor for Eastsea Academy.
But when a teacher's mind was always focused on sending students to another academy, keeping that teacher at the academy instead became a hidden danger.
The moment those words were spoken.
Wu Changkong's expression changed drastically.
His eyes abruptly widened as a chill surged around him. An icy current spread from his body, lowering the surrounding temperature by several degrees.
Cold light flared in his frigid eyes, and even a faint killing intent emerged.
He was a Six-Ring Soul Emperor!
And an outstanding graduate of Shrek Academy!
Yet he had actually been publicly dismissed by the president of a local academy!
The humiliation nearly made him lose control.
But at that moment...
Qiangu Dongfeng merely let out a cold snort.
He did not even release Soul Power, yet the invisible pressure of a Quasi-God made Wu Changkong feel icy fear rising from the depths of his soul.
Wu Changkong's complexion shifted from grim to pale.
He withdrew his Soul Power.
The frigid aura around him slowly dissipated, and the tense pressure in the air gradually eased.
In the end, he cast everyone a cold glance. His gaze lingered longest on Han Li's face. Then, without saying a word, he turned and strode away.
Afterward, Han Li and the others left Sky Sea Grand Stadium under Qiangu Dongfeng's lead.
They passed through the crowded throng and exited the noisy stadium. Outside, the air carried the salty dampness of the sea breeze.
Sunlight spilled over the streets, stretching their shadows long behind them.
Qiangu Dongfeng walked at the front.
He glanced at Han Li following behind him, satisfaction in his eyes as he said warmly.
"Come. I'll take you to the Spirit Pagoda in Skysea City for a visit."
"It's quiet there. No one will disturb us."
Han Li said nothing and silently followed behind him.
Tang Wulin and the other four walked farther back, exchanging looks without any of them speaking.
They crossed several streets before the towering Spirit Pagoda building came into view.
A pale blue soul-guidance light screen flowed across the tower, glimmering with a soft radiance beneath the sunlight.
People came and went across the plaza before the tower.
But inside, the tower seemed quiet and spacious.
At this point, Qiangu Dongfeng led them through the Spirit Pagoda's entrance and headed upward toward the top floor.
The soul-guidance elevator rose smoothly.
The view outside the windows grew broader and broader, and the magnificent sight of sea meeting sky unfolded before them.
When the elevator doors opened, the entire Skysea City and the vast ocean lay spread before their eyes beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of the top-floor office.
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