Audience with the Ruler

En Zuo looked out over the scene, his eyes full of disappointment.

The overall caliber of the younger generation of Star Luo soul masters participating in the tournament could only barely be considered passable—far from satisfactory.

The only one who could be considered outstanding was Sima Xian of Star Luo Royal Academy, the one who had lost to Tang Wulin in the original work.

Even including the Monster Academy Heavenly Kings, fewer than ten could be considered outstanding graduates by Shrek Academy's standards.

En Zuo said nothing, merely shaking his head slightly. The meaning was obvious.

The tournament's participants simply lacked any real substance.

As long as Long Yue did not take the field, none of the other Heavenly Kings, individually, could possibly be a match for the Shrek Seven Monsters.

The smile on Long Yue's face could no longer hold. He could only force out a cough, though he could not help muttering inwardly, Was Shrek Academy really that strong?

Since Monster Academy's founding, it had never had any contact with Shrek. Information between the two sides had remained at the level of knowing only each other's names.

And that was only Monster Academy's one-sided intelligence. Ordinary Shrek students knew even less about Monster Academy.

Naturally, Long Yue had only a vague estimate of Shrek Academy. In his view, even if it was stronger than Monster Academy, the difference could only be limited.

Long Yue asked in his deep, muffled voice, "Junior Brother, according to you, what level will Shrek Academy's next generation of Seven Monsters candidates reach?"

"Four years from now, the next generation of Shrek Seven Monsters candidates will be fifteen years old. As four-ring Soul Ancestors, they will be capable of fighting a talented Soul King to a draw."

En Zuo shared the intelligence he knew. His voice was not loud, but before soul masters with sharp hearing, it was no different from broadcasting it aloud—exceptionally grating.

The resting crowd turned to look, their curious gazes falling on En Zuo, who stood surrounded by the Heavenly Kings.

"Who is that guy? Talking so arrogantly. What the hell is Shrek Academy? I've never even heard of it. A team's average strength can let Soul Ancestors defeat Soul Kings? Is he joking?"

"The Eighth Heavenly King's position—hadn't it always been vacant? So he's just a reserve..."

Long Yue grew irritated by what he heard. He strode toward the group discussing things most heatedly, his palm as large as a fan directly lifting one of them off the ground.

A faint dark red light swirled in his eyes.

"So talkative?"

Long Yue extended one dark-red hand while lowering the person he had lifted with the other. He clasped both hands together, the smile on his face somewhat savage. "Perfect. I also like making friends with talkative people."

The moment the two hands clasped, the smaller palm was twisted like a fried dough twist, its five fingers crushed crooked. Unable to endure the pain, the man wanted to scream.

However, Long Yue's other hand directly covered his nose and mouth, leaving him only able to let out heart-wrenching whimpers.

A flicker of astonishment passed through Dai Yueyan's eyes. He had not expected Brother Long to act so decisively. Over the past month, Long Yue's temper at the academy had clearly mellowed considerably.

The scenes of him frequently losing control of his martial soul and going mad had not happened again.

People had almost forgotten how Long Madman had earned that nickname.

Dai Yueyan looked toward En Zuo. At that moment, En Zuo had turned around, his back facing this scene that could only be described as cruel.

Although En Zuo treated others kindly, remember this: if someone stood up to fight for the rights they deserved, do not stop them for the sake of some so-called moral notions of good and evil.

That was the selfish way of looking at it.

But En Zuo was not a saint. Normal people all had selfish desires, so in the face of Dai Yueyan's covert signal, he chose to turn a blind eye.

In the end, Dai Yueyan could only bite the bullet and smooth things over. "All right, Brother Long. He already knows he was wrong. Let's leave it at that."

Long Yue released him without interest, allowing the other man to collapse to the ground while clutching his injured hand, drenched in cold sweat.

"Kid, it seems you aren't suited to being my friend. You're just too soft."

Seeing that the gathered crowd showed signs of escalating further, Dai Yueyan said sternly to the figure on the ground, "Why aren't you leaving? What are you standing around here for, making a fool of yourself?"

His teammates could only dejectedly take him to the nearest healing soul master for treatment.

Tournaments on Star Luo Continent required participants to sign life-and-death waivers, so the healing soul masters provided were also the finest the empire could offer.

His expression easing, Dai Yueyan put an arm around Long Yue's shoulders and smiled. "Why not have Linger take Brother En Zuo to the viewing platform? From there, he can also watch the Monster Academy Heavenly Kings in action."

As Dai Tianling's most beloved daughter, Dai Linger naturally held considerable authority in a tournament entirely hosted by the Star Luo Empire.

Having her personally introduce En Zuo to her imperial father could not have been more appropriate.

Long Yue pondered briefly, though his gaze was actually directed at En Zuo, seeking his opinion.

En Zuo gave a slight nod, signaling that he had no objection.

Long Yue nodded. "Then we'll do that."

Only then did Dai Yueyan let out a long breath.

If En Zuo stayed here any longer and something went wrong, Brother Long would probably tear those troublemakers into ten thousand pieces.

Literally.

Furthermore, En Zuo had En Ci backing him. Even the Star Luo Imperial House could not interfere too much.

Dai Yueyan led the way ahead, solemnly entrusting En Zuo to Dai Linger. He even privately gave her several special instructions. "Don't be willful or mischievous. Take En Zuo to Father properly."

Dai Yueyan also specifically explained a long list of things to watch out for.

Dai Linger took over the duty of guiding him and made a face at her fourth brother. "I know, Fourth Brother. You're like an old woman, always nagging."

Dai Yueyan could do nothing about his little princess. Dai Linger had always been closest to her fourth brother, and now he could hardly put on a stern face and scold her.

He could only mutter dryly, "All right, Father is getting impatient. Hurry and go."

The viewing area.

A section here had been deliberately cleared, leaving an open space nearly twenty meters wide. At the very center of the area stood the current ruler of the Star Luo Empire.

Dai Tianling.

As the ruler of the Star Luo Empire, gathering talent for the empire and winning over gifted individuals were matters he valued above all else.

The two disciples of the Imperial Preceptor naturally became especially important targets for Dai Tianling to win over.

Rumor had it that En Zuo's talent in soul master cultivation was even more monstrous than Long Yue's. At merely twelve years old, his soul power cultivation had already reached the Soul Ancestor level.

Even on Douluo Continent, such talent was enough to inspire awe.

Seeing the gathered crowd part into two streams, a smile unconsciously appeared on Dai Tianling's face.

Dai Linger led En Zuo along, jogging toward Dai Tianling in small, quick steps.

Like a jubilant magpie, Dai Linger flew into Dai Tianling's embrace. "Father!"

Dai Tianling smoothed his little princess's hair, his expression unconsciously gaining a touch more indulgence. Then he looked toward En Zuo, who had pulled back his hood and performed a standard Star Luo noble's salute.

Judging by his appearance alone, the satisfaction in Dai Tianling's heart nearly overflowed. He was a strikingly handsome young man.