The next morning, Shrek Inner Court's communal training grounds buzzed with activity.
Today was a mixed training class for all new and upper-year students, as well as an important day for the major instructors to assess their disciples' strength. Before dawn had even broken, the training grounds were already packed with people. Nearly every gaze was fixed in the same direction—
The direction from which Tang Wulin's group of seven was approaching.
At their side, Adult Tang Wulin still walked calmly with them, never falling a step behind, his presence impossibly strong.
He wore plain clothes and revealed not the slightest trace of Soul Power, yet the steady aura belonging to the Dragon Emperor automatically cleared an open space ten meters around him. Though the passing students were curious, none dared approach. They could only watch from afar and whisper among themselves.
"That's him! The mysterious expert who scared off a Seagod Pavilion elder yesterday!"
"He really looks exactly like Tang Wulin... What exactly is their relationship?"
"With him here, anyone who dares provoke the Shrek Seven Monsters today is basically asking to die."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the Young Seven Monsters walked to their assigned position, calm and composed. After several days together, they had long grown accustomed to this senior's company. All that remained in their hearts was reassurance and reliance.
Xu Lizhi pulled out a bun from his bag. As he munched on it, he asked softly, "Senior, will you watch us train later?"
Adult Tang Wulin nodded slightly, his gaze gentle. "I'll be right here, watching you."
Just then, a somewhat stern voice rang out from ahead.
"Quiet! Today's mixed training class will focus on—practical martial soul coordination drills! Spar freely, but stop short of causing real harm!"
The speaker was a veteran Inner Academy instructor, a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse. His gaze swept across the entire field before finally settling on Tang Wulin's group, his eyes clearly probing.
Naturally, he had also heard of that mysterious expert.
"Team Tang Wulin, you received perfect marks in yesterday's assessment. Are you willing to take the stage first and give everyone a demonstration?"
The instant those words fell, the entire training grounds went silent.
Everyone understood that the instructor wanted to use this chance to test the Seven Monsters' true strength—and, incidentally... see whether that mysterious expert would intervene.
Xie Xie immediately puffed out his chest. "Then we'll do it! Who are we afraid of?"
Young Tang Wulin did not hesitate and nodded. "All right."
The seven monsters stepped onto the practice platform, their formation neat and their coordination seemingly innate. Adult Tang Wulin, meanwhile, slowly walked to the most conspicuous spot beside the platform and stood quietly, his gaze fixed on the youths from beginning to end without shifting in the slightest.
Seeing this, the instructor said, "You may choose your own opponents, or the academy can arrange upper-year students to spar with you."
The moment he finished speaking, five upper-year students at the Soul Elder level immediately stepped forward from below the platform, their eyes filled with defiance.
The Seven Monsters' crushing victory over the Outer Academy students yesterday had already left many people dissatisfied. Now that they had the chance to fight onstage, they naturally had no intention of letting it pass.
"We'll challenge them!"
The instructor nodded faintly. "Approved."
The five leaped onto the platform, their soul rings lighting up in unison as their auras erupted fully. Clearly, they intended to use their superior strength to suppress the new students and recover their pride.
The crowd below erupted in uproar.
Five Soul Elders against seven Soul Grandmasters—no matter how one looked at it, this should have been a one-sided battle.
Yet on the practice platform, the Young Seven Monsters remained utterly composed.
Tang Wulin gave a deep command. "Formation!"
Yuanen Yehui took the front, Ye Xinglan attacked from the side, Yue Zhengyu provided light-based support, Xie Xie circled around to restrain the enemy, Xu Xiaoyan controlled the field with starlight, Xu Lizhi scattered Enhancement Buns, and Gu Yue gathered the elements... Their coordination flowed as smoothly as water, refined to perfection long ago.
The battle was on the verge of erupting.
At first, the Seven Monsters were somewhat restrained, after all, their opponents' cultivation was a full level higher. But after several exchanges, the upper-year students gradually fell into a disadvantage. They were tightly restrained by Gu Yue's elements and Xu Xiaoyan's starlight, unable to unleash their full strength at all.
Just as Tang Wulin prepared to end the battle with a single punch—
One of the upper-year students suddenly lost his head. His Soul Power went out of control, and he actually unleashed a killing move. The power of his soul skill surged abruptly as it shot straight toward the completely unprepared Xu Lizhi!
"Watch out!"
Tang Wulin's expression changed drastically. It was already too late for him to turn and save Xu Lizhi.
Gu Yue's elements erupted in an instant, but they were still a moment too slow.
The crowd below cried out in alarm.
At that critical moment!
A streak of golden light, so fast it was almost unimaginable, flashed directly from the edge of the platform to appear before Xu Lizhi.
It was Adult Tang Wulin.
He did not even raise a hand. His gaze merely turned faintly cold as his body gave a slight tremor.
"Buzz—!"
An invisible pressure from the Dragon Emperor exploded outward.
That upper-year student's soul skill shattered instantly. His entire body was sent flying by an unseen force, yet he landed steadily below the platform, completely unharmed. His face, however, had turned deathly pale with terror.
The entire field fell into dead silence.
Without even making a move, he had shattered a soul skill with his aura alone and sent a Soul Elder flying.
What kind of strength was that?!
Even the instructor sprang to his feet in shock. "Senior... You..."
Adult Tang Wulin looked at no one. He simply turned back toward Xu Lizhi, his voice softening. "Are you all right?"
Xu Lizhi clutched his bun and blankly shook his head. "I-I'm fine. Th-thank you, Senior!"
Only then did Adult Tang Wulin turn back, his gaze sweeping calmly over the remaining four upper-year students on the platform.
"A spar is not a fight to the death."
His voice was not loud, yet it carried unquestionable authority.
The four upper-year students trembled from head to toe and scrambled off the practice platform, no longer daring to show the slightest hint of provocation.
The crisis was over.
Young Tang Wulin looked at the figure by the platform, warmth rising in his heart.
Once again, at the most dangerous moment, he had stood in front of them.
Gu Yue gazed at Adult Tang Wulin's back, her silver-violet eyes flickering faintly.
She became more and more certain that this person existed solely to protect them.
The instructor came back to his senses, drew a deep breath, and bowed respectfully to Adult Tang Wulin. "Senior, your reprimand is justified. I failed to supervise them properly."
He turned to the crowd, raising his voice. "Today, I have witnessed the bearing of a true powerhouse! Team Tang Wulin's coordination is flawless, while this senior's strength is unfathomable. He deserves everyone's respect!"
Thunderous applause and cheers immediately erupted from below the platform.
Adult Tang Wulin merely returned to the platform's edge and gave the Young Seven Monsters a slight nod, his tone encouraging.
"Continue. You did very well."
After a brief pause, he raised his voice slightly, letting it carry clearly throughout the entire training grounds.
"Remember, the meaning of a martial soul has never been to bully others, but to protect those you wish to protect."
"The greater the strength, the greater the responsibility."
"Consider this lesson something I am teaching you on Shrek's behalf."
Those words struck everyone's hearts like a thunderclap.
Young Tang Wulin shuddered and clenched his fists tightly.
Those words carved themselves into his heart.
Gu Yue looked at him, the softness in her eyes growing even stronger.
Xie Xie, Ye Xinglan, Yuanen Yehui, Yue Zhengyu, Xu Xiaoyan, and Xu Lizhi all wore solemn expressions, silently committing this teaching from an unparalleled powerhouse to memory.
Sunlight spilled across the training grounds, illuminating eight figures in shifting brightness and shadow.
On the platform, the youths were high-spirited; below it, the Dragon Emperor stood quietly in protection.
Everyone present from Shrek would forever remember this scene.
No one knew where this powerhouse had come from, nor how long he intended to remain.
But everyone understood—
As long as he remained, no one could bully the Shrek Seven Monsters.
As long as he remained, Shrek's skies would remain forever peaceful.
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