Haozi, Remember This! When You Meet Me, Shrek Is the Challenger!

On the official road outside Soto City, sunlight filtered through sparse shade, scattering broken gold across the ground.

With one hand, Lin Wu gripped Dai Mubai's tattered collar and dragged him along like a bag of deadweight pork, strolling leisurely ahead.

The pitiful Star Luo prince, Shrek's "Evil-Eyed White Tiger," now had a face swollen like a huge purple eggplant fresh from the pot.

His eyes had been squeezed into narrow slits, and blood-flecked broken teeth dribbled from his mouth with every bump along the road.

He moaned in a half-conscious daze. Where was the usual arrogance of a man who strutted about with women in both arms and looked down on the world?

Tang San followed at Lin Wu's side in small steps, holding a handkerchief that had just been soaked in spring water.

Every so often, she thoughtfully wiped the fingers Lin Wu had used to grab Dai Mubai's collar. Her watery black eyes were filled with cloyingly sweet tenderness.

Tang Hao, walking at the back, had both hands tucked into the sleeves of his ragged cloak, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter.

His bloodshot, dead-fish eyes were fixed on Dai Mubai, who was being dragged along and leaving a long trail of blood across the earth.

As a Titled Douluo, his insight was naturally extraordinary.

From Dai Mubai, Tang Hao quickly thought of that small academy outside Soto City with its strange reputation.

"Kid."

Tang Hao lowered his thunderous voice and strode forward several steps, pointing at the pig-headed figure on the ground.

His tone unusually carried a hint of warning, as well as anticipation for a show.

"The little thing you're dragging... seems to belong to Shrek Academy."

"I've heard that place is shabby, but the old geezers there aren't simple."

"The one leading them, Flanders, is at least a Soul Sage in his seventies."

At this point, Tang Hao shot Lin Wu a sidelong glance, a rather punchable sneer curling across his lips.

"You're dragging one of their academy's star students to their doorstep like a dead dog. Aren't you afraid those Soul Sages will gang up and beat you down the moment you enter?"

"You might be a little strange, kid, but at most you're just a rank-fifty Soul King, aren't you?"

"A Soul King going to a Soul Sage's turf to stir up trouble..."

"Do you really not know how to write the word 'death,' or do you think your face is tougher than my hammer?"

This was merely intimidation. As a Titled Douluo, Tang Hao naturally did not think much of some wandering Soul Sages. Even if Flanders' Golden Triangle was said to rival a Titled Douluo, that would only be an ordinary Titled Douluo, nothing like Tang Hao. He merely wanted to see Lin Wu show some apprehension.

This handsome brat in front of him seemed afraid of nothing.

Hearing Tang Hao's mocking words, so full of schadenfreude and probing intent, Lin Wu did not even stop walking.

He casually flung the half-dead Dai Mubai to the ground, producing a dull bang that kicked up a cloud of dust.

Lin Wu turned around and, beneath Tang Hao's unsettled gaze, slowly raised a hand.

With utter casualness and utter arrogance, he patted the broad shoulder of the youngest Titled Douluo alive.

"Haozi."

The corners of Lin Wu's mouth rose slightly, while a deep, amused disdain for the world flickered in his black eyes.

His tone was light, yet it carried an utterly invincible confidence.

"Remember one thing."

"On this continent, it has never been me, Lin Wu, challenging anyone."

Lin Wu paused slightly and looked down at Dai Mubai, who was twitching on the ground.

Then he turned his head toward the distant village and gave a soft laugh.

"When they meet me—Shrek is the challenger!"

His words were light, yet they exploded across the road like a thunderclap!

When they met him, Shrek was the challenger!

What arrogance! What dominance!

A mere Soul King had casually reduced Shrek Academy, guarded by multiple Soul Sages and Soul Emperors, to a "weaker party" challenging him!

Tang San, standing nearby, trembled violently at those words.

An astonishing radiance instantly burst forth from her already clear and captivating black eyes.

Those pink heart bubbles practically seemed ready to gush from her eye sockets!

"Brother Xiao Wu... you're so handsome!!"

Tang San clasped her hands tightly before her chest, utterly dazed by that peerlessly domineering masculine presence.

Her face flushed crimson, and she nodded rapidly like a pecking chicken, her soft voice carrying a touch of coyness and endless worship.

"The Master is right! A mere Shrek—having the Master step through their gates would be the greatest honor of their lives!"

"If those old geezers dare show the Master even the slightest disrespect... Xiao San will risk her life to send every last one of them flying!"

Seeing his own daughter completely bewitched, her heart and eyes filled only with that damned brat, Tang Hao's facial muscles twitched violently.

The veins at his temples bulged wildly like writhing earthworms!

Haozi?!

What the hell did this brat just call me?!

I am the mighty Haotian Douluo! A killing god renowned across the continent!

You little runt whose feathers haven't even grown in, you dare pat my shoulder and call me "Haozi" as if you're lecturing some underling?!

And my own daughter is applauding from the side, even willing to fight Soul Sages to the death for this brat?!

Tang Hao clenched his fists tightly within his sleeves, trembling all over with rage.

The killing intent within him nearly burst forth beyond his control!

He roared madly in his heart, feeling as though another massive crack had split open in his old heart.

But when he looked into Lin Wu's unfathomable eyes, then considered the strangeness surrounding this brat—

As well as his daughter's resolute, husband-defending attitude...

Tang Hao could only swallow his broken teeth along with his pride. In the end, he took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his towering fury.

Humiliating! So fucking humiliating!

How had a dignified Titled Douluo fallen so low as to become a bodyguard and backdrop for these two little brats?!

"Hmph! Anyone can talk big!"

Tang Hao turned his head away, refusing to look at that face that sent his blood pressure soaring, and snorted irritably.

"I'd like to see whether you can still be this arrogant once we reach Shrek and face that stingy, overprotective old ghost Flanders!"

"That's not something Haozi needs to worry about."

Lin Wu smiled comfortably and bent down again.

He grabbed Dai Mubai by the back of his collar as though picking up trash, then continued swaggering forward.

"Come on, Xiao San. I'll take you to see the 'poorest' monster academy on the entire continent."

"And while we're at it... recruit a few new lackeys."

Naturally, they would be female lackeys, but there was no need to tell Tang San or Tang Hao that.

"Mm! I'll listen to the Master in everything!"

Tang San answered sweetly and tightly took Lin Wu's hand again.

Behind them, Tang Hao followed with a dark face and heavy steps, crushing countless innocent pebbles beneath his feet.

Before long, the battered wooden archway at the village entrance came into view.

The wooden sign hanging from the arch looked ready to fall at any moment, its five large characters carved crookedly upon it—Shrek Academy.