Tang San: Don't be so distant, we're all gods, why don't we become in-laws?

These polite pleasantries were standard and unremarkable. Lin Yao nodded without offering a response; there was no point in engaging in such empty talk. As for whether he would reach the pinnacle, that would depend on future developments.

Whether I reach the pinnacle or not, I won't be staying at your Shrek Academy forever, Lin Yao thought to himself. Expelling an inner court student just for me—that's truly a losing business move on your part.

After Lin Yao left, Yan Shaozhe returned to the Sea God Pavilion in the inner court, where Xuan Zi was already waiting. "How did it go?"

Yan Shaozhe sat in a nearby chair, took a sip of tea, and asked, "Elder Xuan, I still don't quite understand. Is it really wise to expel an inner court disciple for the sake of a new student?"

Xuan Zi waved his hand and said to Yan Shaozhe, "They weren't ordinary inner court disciples. Those few had finished their graduation requirements years ago. They just clung to the academy, claiming they couldn't bear to leave their teachers because they were addicted to Shrek's superior environment and resources. They've been loafing around, eating more than they contribute. Taking this opportunity to clear them out is a blessing."

Yan Shaozhe's face darkened, but he nodded nonetheless. Xuan Zi stood up, took a swig of wine, and said to Yan Shaozhe:

"Come to think of it, I don't fully understand it either. Ever since that purple beam of light appeared during the boy's martial soul awakening, Elder Mu made up his mind to bring him into our Shrek Academy. According to the current sentiment, if nothing unexpected happens, he is to be groomed as the next-generation successor to the Sea God Pavilion Master."

Yan Shaozhe was startled, but he maintained his composure and said to Xuan Zi, "The teacher is exceptionally wise; he must have his reasons."

Xuan Zi offered no comment. Meanwhile, in the Divine Realm, within the Sea God Temple, the God King of Destruction's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.

"Tang San, what is the meaning of this? Why are you meddling with my successor?" the God of Destruction asked, his tone unfriendly. He hadn't intended to reveal that he was passing the God Position of Life to Lin Yao, so he hadn't brought the Goddess of Life along to join in the confrontation.

Tang San, as if he had anticipated the God King of Destruction's arrival, chuckled and brushed it off. "Don't be so formal, Brother Destruction. I am genuinely happy that you've opened your heart to pass on your god position; I certainly wouldn't steal your successor. It's just that..."

"Just what? Speak your mind and stop stuttering," the God of Destruction replied impatiently.

Tang San wasn't annoyed; he simply smiled at the God of Destruction. "Our Xiao Qi has also descended to the Douluo Plane. Isn't that a coincidence?"

The God of Destruction rolled his eyes and retorted, "Xiao Qi... what does Xiao Qi going to the Douluo Plane have to do with this? Hmm? Don't tell me you're trying to... I'm telling you, it's not happening. Stop eyeing my successor."

Tang San's smile grew even brighter. He familiarly patted the God of Destruction on the shoulder and said, "Oh, don't be so stingy. You like Xiao Qi too, don't you? Could you bear to see her bullied on the Douluo Plane or tricked by some hoodlums? Since we are both God Kings, it's a perfect match—let's become in-laws!"

The God of Destruction rolled his eyes in silence, then said to Tang San, "Tang San, spare me that act. Without your permission, how could Xiao Qi have snuck down under your and your wife's surveillance? Since you allowed her to go, it means you've already made all the arrangements. If she still gets tricked or meets the wrong person under those circumstances, that's on your own incompetence."

Seeing that the God of Destruction wouldn't budge, Tang San's eyes flickered slightly before he said, "Things have already reached this point; I can't exactly ask them to expel him now."

"How about this? We both agree not to interfere and let nature take its course between the two children. That's fair, isn't it?"

The God of Destruction rolled his eyes again and replied, "If you can truly manage not to interfere, I naturally won't concern myself with the affairs between those two."

A smile appeared on Tang San's face as he reached out a hand to the God of Destruction. "It's a deal!"

The God of Destruction slapped Tang San's palm and added, "Mind you, if you do interfere, I won't let you off the hook."

Tang San nodded. Both of them wore expressions of confidence—the God of Destruction because he had already observed that Lin Yao and Ye Guyi were growing close, and Tang San because he had absolute faith in his daughter's charm.

It was a situation where both sides felt they had the advantage and were terrified the other might back out.

On the Douluo Continent, the two gods hadn't spoken for long, but two days had already passed in the mortal world.

Lin Yao's admission process went smoothly. The only miscalculation was not having Ye Guyi disguise herself as a man, so she was assigned to the female dormitory floor, while Lin Yao remained on the first floor of the male dormitory.

Because of the incident where he, a Spirit Ancestor, had thrashed an inner court Spirit Emperor senior on the first day, Lin Yao had become quite famous in Shrek Academy's outer court. For two days, no one dared to trouble him.

Lin Yao and Ye Guyi often strolled through the outer court together. As the continent's premier academy, Shrek had used the wealth accumulated over ten thousand years to build a campus even more magnificent than the Dou Ling royal gardens.

"By the way, did you check the class assignments? We've been placed in the same class," Ye Guyi said to Lin Yao as they walked along the shores of Sea God Lake.

Lin Yao raised an eyebrow and asked, "Did you see which class? Who is the homeroom teacher?"

Ye Guyi recalled for a moment and replied, "Freshman Class Nine. The teacher's name seems to be Mu Jin."

Lin Yao nodded slightly. Mu Jin? That was interesting.

Based on his previous encounter with Huo Yuhao, the boy should have entered Shrek Academy as well. Things were about to get interesting during the freshman assessments.

Although, in principle, Lin Yao didn't want to have a major conflict with Huo Yuhao, he now had a god backing him. Testing his strength against the protagonist of this era wouldn't be a bad idea.

Seeing Lin Yao's expression, Ye Guyi curiously waved a hand in front of him. "What's wrong?"

Lin Yao shook his head and said to Ye Guyi, "Nothing. I'm in a good mood. Come out and have a drink with me."

Ye Guyi smiled and followed in Lin Yao's footsteps.