School Opening Week

A month later, Shrek welcomed the start of a new school term.

To show its sincerity toward Dou Ling, Shrek selected some teachers and students from the Inner Court as exchange students with the Dou Ling Empire.

As soon as the news broke, it caused a tremendous uproar across the Douluo Federation. The communication lines of the Shrek Academic Affairs Office and Sea God Pavilion were flooded with calls.

In the end, the Inner Court's dean personally accepted an interview with the Federation's most authoritative media outlet, stating that this was merely a normal academic exchange between academies and asking people not to read too much into it.

Only after Shrek submitted the relevant clauses signed by Dou Ling to the Federation did the matter finally die down.

Regarding this, a famous commentator wrote, "This can be seen as Shrek's first step in breaking boundaries and stepping outward again after so many years. Shrek has always had a tradition of exchanging teachers and students with other schools. They are simply reviving a fine tradition. What is wrong with that?"

Others opposed it. "Shrek belongs to Douluo. If they want to exchange teachers and students, why not do so with one of the many advanced academies on the continent? Why insist on exchanging with Dou Ling? Is there really no other motive?"

Both sides argued fiercely without end, but that was all later.

The Outer Court where Tang Wulin studied was unaffected by the incident. The term began as usual, except the students now had another topic to discuss after meals.

"Boss, do you think our Outer Court might get to exchange with other schools someday?" Xie Xie asked curiously.

Tang Wulin said, "It's possible. But not so soon."

He set down his bowl and chopsticks, wiped his mouth clean, and said calmly, "You should be thinking about tomorrow's friendly match against the second years."

After the previous first-year-versus-second-year match, the second years had refused to accept their loss and applied to hold another friendly match.

Xie Xie propped up his face. "Didn't we beat them into submission last time?"

Xu Xiaoyan mercilessly replied, "Say that in front of Yuanen if you have the guts, Mr. Janitor~"

Xie Xie was just about to bristle when he suddenly remembered something. "Boss, can you compete tomorrow?"

Tang Wulin broke into a smile. "Nope."

Yeah, right.

He had recuperated for a month, and with the Holy Spirit Douluo personally treating him, how could his absurd recovery speed possibly leave him unable to compete? Even the physician known for being rigid had exceptionally changed his medical advice.

But that did not stop Tang Wulin from using it as an excuse, because he wanted to see just how much his companions had improved over the summer break.

Xie Xie wailed, "Can't that physician make an exception?"

Tang Wulin said with a smile, "You have to follow the doctor's orders."

Gu Yue, who had been quietly sitting beside them, frowned upon hearing that. "What physician? You were injured?"

Tang Wulin hurriedly tried to explain. "No..."

Gu Yue said, "Don't lie to me. I can tell."

Tang Wulin could only say helplessly, "I'll tell you when we get back."

Gu Yue nodded and said nothing more.

Xu Xiaoyan blinked, feeling that Gu Yue had become somewhat different after the summer break.

Although Xie Xie was usually rather oblivious, he was exceptionally gifted at reading Gu Yue's expressions and tone. He instinctively shut his mouth.

As expected, Tang Wulin did not compete in the friendly match.

However, Gu Yue and the others' performance made everyone's eyes light up.

The moment Xie Xie made his move, he took out the auxiliary Soul Master Bai Hanying before Yuanen and the others could even react.

Though he was immediately surrounded and attacked, silver light flashed over his body, and he returned to Gu Yue's side.

The second years chose to launch a direct assault, but with Gu Yue's cultivation as a five-ring Soul King, she and Ye Xinglan forcibly trapped Yue Zhengyu and Yuanen, blocking the complete and well-practiced Holy Demon Twin Swords. Ye Xinglan bought Gu Yue enough time, and countless elemental attacks blasted the two of them off the stage.

With Xu Xiaoyan's control and support, Xie Xie finished them off. Even the Holy Spirit Douluo in charge of rescue was somewhat surprised by how vicious his attacks were.

Standing beside her, Tang Wulin murmured, "This kid has killed quite a few Evil Soul Masters..."

Xu Lizhi stood in the rear and had not even gotten a chance to attack before the entire match was over.

Watching Gu Yue's five gleaming Soul Rings, Tang Wulin could not help but smile helplessly. In his previous life at Shrek Academy, Gu Yue's Soul Power cultivation had always been neither exceptional nor lacking. It seemed that his growth in this life had put some pressure on her as well.

The second years lost again. Meanwhile, Tang Wulin, widely acknowledged as the strongest among the first years, had not even made a move.

Of course, friendship was the most important part of a friendly match. The two sides shook hands amicably on the stage.

Cai Yue'er's voice echoed throughout the arena. "The first and second years will form a joint team to challenge the third years."

She paused, then added, "The first- and second-year class monitors may decide the roster among themselves."

After discussing it with Yuanen, Tang Wulin decided to bring Yuanen and Yue Zhengyu into their team to challenge the third years together.

"We need to work together for a while," Tang Wulin said.

Both Yuanen and Yue Zhengyu agreed.

The third-year competitors would certainly possess most of the components of a One-Word Battle Armor. In the third year, some even already had complete sets of One-Word Battle Armor. They were undoubtedly formidable opponents.

Even if Ye Xinglan rushed her crafting over the next few days, she could at most give every other member of the team one additional component—except Tang Wulin.

It was not that he did not want Battle Armor. Ye Xinglan had once made a Battle Armor component, but when he tried to fuse with it, a powerful repulsive force sent it flying away and directly ruined it.

Tang Wulin had been unable to catch that force, and even after examining himself internally, he had found nothing wrong.

They tried several more times afterward, all ending in failure. In the end, they could only temporarily give up.

Still, Tang Wulin was not particularly short on those two Battle Armor components right now, so he was not in much of a hurry.

Listening to their discussion, Xie Xie said, "We killed an eight-ring opponent. Why should we be afraid of a bunch of five-ringers?"

Yuanen said coldly, "You killed him?"

Xie Xie said, "...No."

She said nothing more and simply ignored him.

Xie Xie felt deeply wounded and tried to seek comfort from Tang Wulin, but Tang Wulin simply knocked him on the head. "Stop making noise."

Xie Xie immediately dejectedly went to squat in a corner.

Yuanen said, "With you on the team, the team battle will naturally be fine. What about the individual matches?"

Tang Wulin chuckled. "The final result is decided by total points, isn't it? We only need to win one individual match. Go all out. This is an excellent opportunity to temper yourselves. Of course, I won't participate just to bully people."

Ye Xinglan cut in, "I'll participate!"

Her eyes were filled with fighting spirit.

After discussing things for a while, everyone went off to do their own things.

The day of the match arrived.

Neither Tang Wulin nor Gu Yue participated in the individual battles, which ultimately ended with one win and two losses.

Because Ye Xinglan had fought too desperately, she was unable to take part in the team battle.

Tang Wulin saw it all. He glanced at the worried Xu Lizhi and sighed inwardly. Who knows when Xinglan will come to understand.

In the team battle, however, with Tang Wulin and Gu Yue holding the fort, even if the opposing side consisted entirely of One-Word Battle Armor Masters, they would have found it difficult to cause much trouble. Besides, except for one of them, the others all had incomplete Battle Armor.

Even that complete One-Word Battle Armor Master was suppressed by Tang Wulin, a person without even a single piece of Battle Armor.

Every third-year student was dumbfounded.

After the match ended, Cai Yue'er gestured for Tang Wulin to say something.

Tang Wulin thought for a moment, then said as he shook hands with them, "There's no shame in losing to the Shrek Eight Monsters."

Although Gu Yue would eventually leave for the Spirit Pagoda to carry out her plan, he still considered her part of their team.

He believed that she acknowledged Shrek as well.

Xie Xie covered his face. "That's way too arrogant."

Ye Xinglan said with a serious expression, "What's wrong with it? I will definitely become one of the Shrek Seven Monsters."

Xu Lizhi smiled. "I'll listen to Sister Xinglan."

Yuanen, Yue Zhengyu, and even Xu Xiaoyan nodded.

Cai Yue'er believed that Tang Wulin would definitely become one of the Shrek Seven Monsters. Or rather, if he did not, then the very existence of the Shrek Seven Monsters would be a joke.

But she was surprised by Tang Wulin's recognition of and confidence in his companions.

The youths' confidence and courage made even her old bones feel a long-forgotten surge of passion. That was why she enjoyed being the Outer Court's dean.

With gratification in her eyes, Cai Yue'er said calmly, "Ambitious. Very good! The winners will represent Shrek in Star Luo for an exchange event. You depart in three weeks. Dismissed!"