Secret Realm Undercurrents and the Dragon Emperor's Companionship

At the entrance to the Shrek Inner Court Secret Realm, a pale green light curtain slowly rippled, and an ancient aura rushed forth. Spiritual energy was abundant here. It was a sacred cultivation ground only core disciples could enter, and Tang Wulin's group of seven had become the first freshmen to enter this year, thanks to their perfect examination scores.

The moment the seven stepped into the secret realm, a tall figure was already waiting beneath an ancient tree not far away.

It was the adult Tang Wulin.

He no longer concealed his aura. He simply stood quietly beneath the sunlight, his golden eyes gazing gently at the young men and women before him. He still bore the appearance of the Dragon Emperor Douluo, his presence as steady as mountains and seas, yet without the slightest pressure—only an inexhaustible gentleness and protectiveness.

The younger Tang Wulin's group noticed him almost at the same time.

Xie Xie froze at first, then pointed at him in surprise. "It's—it's that person from last time!"

Ye Xinglan's gaze sharpened, and the Star God Sword slid slightly from its sheath. But after sensing that he held no hostility, she gradually relaxed.

Yuanen Yehui, Le Zhengyu, Xu Xiaoyan, and Xu Lizhi all looked toward this mysterious figure who had suddenly appeared, feeling both familiarity and confusion.

Only Gu Yue kept her star-silver eyes tightly fixed on the adult Tang Wulin, the elements at her fingertips stirring faintly.

She could clearly sense that this man's aura shared the same origin as Tang Wulin's to the utmost degree. It was even older, vaster, and more... heart-stirring than the Golden Dragon Power within Tang Wulin.

The younger Tang Wulin also looked at his adult self, and that inexplicable feeling of closeness washed over him again.

He stepped forward and spoke politely. "Senior, we meet again."

The adult Tang Wulin nodded lightly, his voice low and gentle, like warm sunlight passing through the years:

"I knew you would come here, so I waited for you."

"Waited for us?" Tang Wulin asked in confusion.

"Mm." The adult Tang Wulin slowly approached, his gaze sweeping over the seven before finally settling on the younger Tang Wulin. "The spiritual energy in this secret realm is too potent. It is not friendly to the power within you. I will accompany you for a while and ensure that you can cultivate safely."

He said it plainly and openly.

No one knew that behind those words lay the regrets he had crossed time and exhausted everything to make up for.

Gu Yue frowned slightly, but she did not stop him.

Instinctively, she trusted that this man would not harm Tang Wulin, much less any of them.

Thus, the Seven Monsters entered the depths of the secret realm under the adult Tang Wulin's protection.

He walked along the outermost edge like the most dependable guardian, silent yet reassuring.

Xu Lizhi secretly studied him with curiosity. "Senior, are you cultivating here too?"

The adult Tang Wulin turned his head and gave him a gentle smile. "I am not cultivating. I am only watching over you."

Xie Xie scratched his head. "Watching over us? Senior, who exactly are you? You look so much like Boss Wulin!"

The adult Tang Wulin did not answer directly. He merely looked at the younger Tang Wulin and said softly:

"I am another him, and also the one who watches over him."

The instant those words fell, the younger Tang Wulin's body jolted violently.

The overwhelmingly dense spiritual energy within the secret realm surged madly into his body, triggering the Golden Dragon King's power into an instant rampage!

Golden light burst uncontrollably from his body. His meridians throbbed with pain, his aura turned violent, and his entire body trembled faintly.

"Wulin!"

Gu Yue's expression changed. She immediately stepped forward, intending to suppress it with elemental power, but she knew full well that with her current strength, she could not stop the Golden Dragon King's rampage.

Just as everyone panicked—

The adult Tang Wulin took a step forward and appeared directly before the younger Tang Wulin.

Without the slightest hesitation, he reached out and gently pressed a hand against the younger Tang Wulin's forehead.

In an instant, Dragon Emperor Origin Power poured forth.

It was not suppression, but soothing. It was guidance. It was power from the same origin completely enveloping the restless Golden Dragon King.

The violent golden radiance calmed at a visible speed. The younger Tang Wulin's ragged breathing gradually steadied, and the churning power inside him became completely tranquil. It was even purer and gentler than before.

"How do you feel?" the adult Tang Wulin asked softly.

The younger Tang Wulin opened his eyes. His golden eyes were clear and bright, while his face was full of shock. "Senior... I'm fine now, and my power has become even stronger."

Gu Yue stood to one side, watching this scene as her heart trembled faintly.

She finally understood:

The man before her possessed terrifying strength that allowed him to easily control Golden Dragon Power. And he truly was protecting Tang Wulin with all his heart.

"Continue cultivating. With me here, there will be no danger in this place."

The adult Tang Wulin withdrew his hand and stepped back to one side. Like the most loyal guardian, he stood at the edge of the seven's cultivation circle.

The Seven Monsters each sat down to meditate as spiritual energy surged madly into their bodies.

Yuanen Yehui tempered her body, Ye Xinglan refined her sword intent, Le Zhengyu purified light, Xie Xie increased his speed, Xu Xiaoyan nurtured starlight, and Xu Lizhi made buns.

The younger Tang Wulin sat shoulder to shoulder with Gu Yue. The auras of the Gold Dragon and Silver Dragon slowly blended together, calm and warm.

Meanwhile, the adult Tang Wulin remained by their side the entire time.

Whenever something approached, his gaze turned faintly cold. With a release of his aura, every low-level soul beast drawing near fled in terror;

Whenever the spiritual energy became disordered, he merely lifted a finger and gave it a light flick, making it docile and gentle;

Whenever someone's soul power ran low, he discreetly released a trace of Dragon Emperor aura, allowing that person to recover instantly.

Over the course of three hours, he barely ever left their sight. His presence was immensely powerful, yet he never disturbed their cultivation.

Xie Xie secretly glanced at him as he cultivated, with nothing but admiration left in his heart:

This guy is way too strong... Just standing there makes me feel completely safe!

As the sun set, the Seven Monsters opened their eyes at the same time, and every one of their auras had risen sharply.

Tang Wulin had even directly broken through to the Peak Great Soul Master rank, only one step away from becoming a Soul Venerable.

"We should leave." The younger Tang Wulin rose to his feet.

At that moment, the roar of a thousand-year soul beast came from the depths of the secret realm, and a vicious aura rushed toward them!

Ye Xinglan instantly drew her sword, Yuanen Yehui summoned her martial soul, and the Seven Monsters immediately assumed battle stances.

But in the next second—

The adult Tang Wulin merely cast an indifferent glance toward the depths.

He did not attack. There was no fluctuation of soul power. There was only a single Dragon Emperor gaze.

That roar abruptly stopped.

The vicious aura instantly vanished, leaving not even the faintest ripple behind.

The entire secret realm fell silent once more.

The Seven Monsters were all dumbfounded.

One glance... had scared off a thousand-year soul beast?

The younger Tang Wulin looked at the adult Tang Wulin beside him, his heart full of gratitude. "Senior, thank you for protecting us all this time."

The adult Tang Wulin shook his head slightly. His gentle gaze swept across the seven young faces before finally stopping on Tang Wulin and Gu Yue.

"No need to thank me."

"You only need to keep moving forward. I will block all the remaining darkness and danger."

He did not say who he was, nor did he say where he had come from.

But everyone understood:

This man would remain with them and watch over them until they truly grew up, until they truly shone with boundless brilliance.

The seven headed toward the exit.

The adult Tang Wulin still walked along the outermost edge, like their strongest support.

The setting sun stretched the eight figures long, long—

Seven youths and one guardian from the future.

From that day onward, the path ahead of the Shrek Seven Monsters would be free of all gloom.