Dragon Emperor's Personal Instruction, Silver Dragon's Doubts

Only one day after the group cultivation class, news of Shrek Academy's Youth Tournament had spread throughout the entire Inner Academy.

This was Shrek's highest-level freshman competition. The top three teams would not only receive enormous cultivation resources, but also gain direct qualification as core disciples of the Inner Academy, with a chance to be personally accepted as disciples by the elders of Seagod Pavilion. For the Seven Monsters, this was the best stage to make a name for themselves.

As soon as the news was announced, the seven young monsters immediately gathered in a corner of the training grounds. Adult Tang Wulin, as always, stayed by their side, his presence impossible to ignore, never straying far.

"The Youth Tournament... sounds amazing." Xu Lizhi held a bag full of freshly made buns, his eyes shining. "Do we get lots of delicious food if we place well?"

Xie Xie slapped his chest, high-spirited. "Not just that! If we take first place, all of Shrek will know the name of the Shrek Seven Monsters!"

Ye Xinglan lightly flicked her fingers against the blade, making the Star God Sword hum softly. "Perfect. We can use this to sharpen our combat skills."

Yuanen Yehui nodded. "Our team coordination can still improve."

Le Zhengyu and Xu Xiaoyan exchanged a glance, both seeing fighting spirit in the other's eyes.

Young Tang Wulin looked at adult Tang Wulin standing silently beside him, his eyes filled with a desire for guidance. "Senior, we're about to enter the Youth Tournament. Could you... give us some pointers?"

He asked somewhat nervously.

Would such a peerless expert, whom even Seagod Pavilion revered, truly be willing to waste his time patiently guiding a group of inexperienced kids like them?

But the moment he finished speaking, adult Tang Wulin nodded directly, his tone gentle yet resolute.

"Alright. From now on, I will personally guide your cultivation."

The entire area instantly fell silent.

Xie Xie nearly jumped into the air. "Really, Senior?! You'll teach us personally?"

"Mhm." Adult Tang Wulin's gaze swept across the seven of them. His golden eyes carried the steadiness and insight forged by countless years. "Your coordination is already sufficiently seamless, but your shortcomings are still obvious."

He looked at Tang Wulin. "Your Golden Dragon Power is overwhelmingly domineering, but your control is crude. You only know how to attack with force, not when to restrain or unleash it."

He looked at Gu Yue. "Your elemental talent is unparalleled, but you are too reserved. You don't dare fully unleash the Silver Dragon Origin."

He looked at Xie Xie and Ye Xinglan. "Your swift attacks are sufficient, but your ability to survive is lacking."

He looked at Yuanen Yehui and Le Zhengyu. "Your defenses are more than enough, but you lack killing moves."

He looked at Xu Xiaoyan and Xu Lizhi. "Your control and support link up too slowly. At critical moments, you'll drop the ball."

Every word precisely struck at the weaknesses of the seven of them.

Those were flaws that could only be seen at a glance after experiencing countless life-and-death battles.

Gu Yue stood to one side, her star-silver eyes narrowing slightly.

Silver Dragon Origin...

He had exposed her most deeply hidden secret in a single sentence.

In this world, aside from Tang Wulin, no one knew that she possessed the Silver Dragon bloodline. Yet this mysterious expert before her had revealed it with one remark.

Doubt instantly surged within her heart. As she looked at adult Tang Wulin, her gaze held a little more scrutiny and wariness.

Who exactly was this person?

Why did he know everything about her and Tang Wulin so well?

Adult Tang Wulin paid no attention to her gaze. He walked straight up to Tang Wulin and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

A Dragon Emperor Power, gentle to the extreme yet heavy enough to reach the depths of the soul, slowly flowed into the youth's body.

"Feel it," he said in a low voice. "The Golden Dragon is not a beast. It is an emperor. You need not suppress it, nor indulge it. You must coexist with it."

Young Tang Wulin closed his eyes. He only felt a force even warmer and richer than the one in the secret realm flowing through his limbs and bones. Under the guidance of that power, the originally restless and untamable Golden Dragon King's Power became as docile as a lamb. His meridians and martial soul were gradually being tempered and widened.

In only a moment, the golden light around him swelled. His aura stabilized once more, and he faintly showed signs of breaking through to Soul Venerable.

"How incredible..." Tang Wulin opened his eyes, his face full of shock.

Adult Tang Wulin withdrew his hand and looked at Gu Yue again, his voice growing even softer.

"You don't need to be afraid. Your power and his were originally one. Release your restraints, and the elements will obey your command."

Gu Yue's heart abruptly skipped a beat.

One...

Those two words were far too ambiguous, yet far too precise.

She looked at the face before her, identical to Tang Wulin's, and her heart inexplicably began to race. A sense of familiarity spanning time surged wildly into her heart.

She could almost be certain—

This person had an inseverable connection to her and Tang Wulin.

For the entire afternoon that followed, adult Tang Wulin personally guided them every step of the way, never leaving their side.

He taught Tang Wulin how to use Dragon Emperor Will to control Golden Dragon Power.

He taught Gu Yue how to link her elements instantly and unleash an Elemental Storm in a single move.

He taught Xie Xie the Afterimage Clone Technique and Ye Xinglan Sword-Shadow Instant Kill.

He taught Yuanen Yehui how to switch between offense and defense, and Le Zhengyu Light Binding.

He taught Xu Xiaoyan Starlight Domain Lock and Xu Lizhi instant-cast group enhancement.

Every technique was the strongest skill honed through the baptism of battle—simple, direct, lethal, and practical.

The Seven Monsters' strength soared at a rate visible to the naked eye.

By sunset, all seven were panting heavily, yet their eyes shone brightly and their auras had been completely renewed.

"Senior... you're truly incredible." Young Tang Wulin sighed sincerely. "With your guidance, we'll definitely achieve good results in the Youth Tournament."

Adult Tang Wulin looked at the seven before him, drenched in sweat but bright-eyed, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a faint smile.

It was a rare gentleness belonging to the Dragon Emperor Douluo.

"You were already strong," he said softly. "I merely helped you avoid taking a few years of detours in advance."

Gu Yue had remained silent at the side, but she suddenly spoke, her voice cool and serious.

"Senior, who exactly are you?"

The moment she said that, the entire area fell silent.

Xie Xie, Xu Lizhi, and the others all pricked up their ears. This was also the question they had all wanted to ask.

Adult Tang Wulin looked at Gu Yue, his golden eyes meeting her star-silver ones.

He did not answer. He merely said softly,

"When you are strong enough, and when the tournament is over, I will tell you part of the truth."

"For now... just trust me."

Gu Yue stared into his eyes. There was no deception within them, only tenderness, protection, and a weathered melancholy she could not understand.

She fell silent for a moment, then nodded gently.

"I trust you."

The sunset cast the eight figures' shadows long across the ground.

The youths' burning blood, the protection of the future, and the bonds of bloodline quietly intertwined at that moment.

And no one noticed that beneath the layer of doubt in Gu Yue's gaze toward adult Tang Wulin, there was already a trace she herself had yet to realize—

Fluttering affection and reliance.

With the Youth Tournament approaching, the Shrek Seven Monsters already had the Dragon Emperor standing guard.

This time, there would be no more fog on the road ahead.