Dragon Emperor at Their Side, the Entire Academy Shaken

As they left the secret realm, the setting sun had already dyed Shrek Academy a warm gold.

The Young Seven Monsters walked ahead, chatting and laughing, each of their auras noticeably stronger than before. Tang Wulin had firmly reached the peak of the Great Soul Master rank, the Gold Dragon aura around him warm and restrained, no longer carrying that restless agitation that could spiral out of control at any moment.

Half a step away at their side, Adult Tang Wulin remained with them the entire time.

He did not deliberately conceal himself. He simply walked calmly among them, his golden eyes tranquil and gentle. The powerful aura refined by the years around him was not the least bit ostentatious. Every student and teacher they encountered cast astonished looks at this unfamiliar yet overwhelmingly imposing figure.

"Who is that person? I've never seen him before..."

"His aura is so powerful. Just standing there makes it hard to breathe."

"Why is he walking with the freshman team? He even looks exactly like Tang Wulin!"

Whispers continued to drift over. Xie Xie's tail practically rose to the sky as he deliberately puffed out his chest, as though the powerful senior beside them was also the pride of their Shrek Seven Monsters.

Xu Lizhi secretly tugged on Adult Tang Wulin's sleeve and looked up with his chubby face. "Senior, would you like a bun too? I just made them. They're super delicious!"

Adult Tang Wulin lowered his head. Looking at this simple and lovable companion who always carried buns with him, his heart softened. He accepted the bun and took a gentle bite.

It was still the familiar taste from back then.

"It's delicious," he said softly.

Xu Lizhi immediately smiled so broadly that his eyes narrowed into slits.

Gu Yue had been quietly observing Adult Tang Wulin beside her the entire way.

She could clearly sense the same-origin, symbiotic connection between him and Young Tang Wulin. Even more so, she could perceive the tenderness, protectiveness, and obsession that had crossed time itself, hidden in his gaze whenever he looked at Tang Wulin.

For some reason, that feeling gave her a sense of peace.

Just as the group reached the entrance to the Inner Academy, a hurried figure strode toward them.

It was one of Shrek Academy's elders. His soul power was unfathomable, and his expression grave.

His gaze settled on Adult Tang Wulin, his tone carrying a measure of caution. "Senior, may I ask why you have come to Shrek? Our academy does not seem to have met you before."

An unknown person with unfathomable strength, who also remained inseparable from the academy's most unusual freshman team—there was no way the elder could not be wary.

The Young Seven Monsters immediately grew tense.

The other party was a Shrek elder, while this senior's identity was mysterious. If a conflict arose, they did not know what they should do.

Yet before Tang Wulin could speak, Adult Tang Wulin merely lifted his eyes indifferently.

It was only a glance, without the slightest release of soul power, yet the Soul Douluo-level elder suddenly froze in place. His face turned slightly pale, as though some supreme existence had fixed its gaze upon him.

That was the aura of the Dragon Emperor Douluo.

It was the pressure of one who had once presided over the Douluo Star System and held the rise and fall of countless worlds in his hand.

"I have no intention of offending Shrek."

Adult Tang Wulin's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable force. "I merely escorted them back. From this day onward, for every day the seven of them remain at the academy, I will guard them for a day."

As his words fell, he shifted slightly, placing the Young Seven Monsters half a step behind him.

It was a simple movement, yet it displayed an absolute stance of protection.

The elder's heart shook violently. He no longer dared harbor the slightest doubt and hurriedly bowed. "You are too gracious, Senior. Shrek will welcome your presence at any time!"

After saying that, he respectfully withdrew, not daring to ask another question.

The scene set off towering waves in the hearts of all the onlookers!

An existence whom even a Shrek elder treated with such reverence was actually protecting a group of freshmen?

The news swept through all of Shrek like wildfire—

Freshman Tang Wulin had a terrifyingly powerful mysterious expert at his side, one who looked exactly like him!

The Young Seven Monsters were utterly stunned as well.

They knew this senior was powerful, but they had never imagined he was powerful enough to make even a Shrek elder treat him so respectfully.

Tang Wulin stepped forward and looked at Adult Tang Wulin beside him, his tone sincere. "Senior, thank you... for doing so much for us all this time."

Adult Tang Wulin lowered his head and looked at his younger self, a gentle smile surfacing in his eyes.

He raised a hand and lightly patted Young Tang Wulin's shoulder. A faint, nearly imperceptible trace of Dragon Emperor aura flowed from his fingertips, reinforcing the Golden Dragon King seal within him.

"Everything I do is so that you will no longer suffer the hardships we did back then."

His voice was soft, audible only to the two of them. "Just keep running forward. Do not fear the darkness. Do not fear being hurt. I'm here."

The simple words, "I'm here," surpassed a thousand words.

Gu Yue stood nearby, her star-silver eyes trembling slightly as some corner of her heart quietly melted.

She suddenly understood that this man was neither an enemy nor a passerby. He was the support they all relied on.

Xie Xie could not help moving closer, his face full of admiration. "Senior, you're incredible! From now on, does that mean no one at Shrek will dare bully us?"

Adult Tang Wulin gave a slight nod, his tone certain:

"With me here, no one will ever be able to harm any of you again."

Ye Xinglan, Yuanen Yehui, Le Zhengyu, and Xu Xiaoyan exchanged glances. In one another's eyes, they saw reassurance and resolve.

With such a powerful expert guarding them closely, their path of cultivation would be spared countless thorns and dangers.

Night gradually fell, and the lights of Shrek came on.

The Young Seven Monsters prepared to return to their dormitories to cultivate, while Adult Tang Wulin continued walking at their side, with no intention of leaving.

He simply accompanied them in silence, like an everlasting light illuminating the path of their youth.

Tang Wulin stopped and turned back to look at the steady figure beside him. Then he suddenly asked softly:

"Senior, will you stay with us forever?"

Adult Tang Wulin lifted his eyes toward the stars filling the sky, then lowered them again to the youthful companions before him.

He nodded gently, his voice firm and warm:

"I will."

"Until you grow into people who can stand on your own, until every regret is made up for, until every wound is healed."

"I will always stay with you."

The evening breeze brushed past them, and starlight spilled down.

Seven high-spirited youths, and a Dragon Emperor guardian from the future.

From this night onward, the entire Douluo Continent would know—

Behind the Shrek Seven Monsters stood an absolute pillar of support whom no one dared provoke and no one could defeat.

Their legend truly began at this moment.