Shrek Academy's Youth Tournament officially began.
The enormous Soul Dou Arena was packed to capacity. From new students to upperclassmen, from instructors to Seagod Pavilion elders, nearly the entire academy had their eyes on it. Light flowed across the central arena, and the air was thick with tension and excitement.
The Seven Monsters stood in formation in the contestants' area, every one of them brimming with energy, their auras more refined than usual.
Beside them, Adult Tang Wulin remained steadily at their side, never more than half a step away.
He made no effort to hide himself. He simply stood quietly beside the Seven Monsters, his calm demeanor carrying an intimidating presence of its own. Wherever he passed, the crowd fell silent on its own, as though even the air had grown heavier.
"They're here! The Shrek Seven Monsters are here with that mysterious powerhouse!"
"Who can possibly stop them today...? With him there, who would dare go all out?"
"Forget fighting. I bet even the referees have to be polite to him."
The discussions rose and fell, but no one dared speak too loudly.
Young Tang Wulin gripped the simulated martial soul at his waist and took a deep breath.
The steady figure beside him was his greatest source of confidence.
Gu Yue slightly turned her gaze, her eyes once more landing on Adult Tang Wulin.
After spending the past few days with him, the doubts in her heart had only deepened.
His understanding of Tang Wulin, his familiarity with her Silver Dragon aura, his precise grasp of every weakness of the Seven Monsters... none of it was something an outsider should possess.
It was more like... he had known them for an entire lifetime.
The teacher hosting the tournament announced loudly:
"In this Youth Tournament, the first round will be randomly matched—"
"The Shrek Seven Monsters versus the Thunderfire Team!"
The Thunderfire Team was a long-established powerhouse among the upperclassmen. All five members were Soul Elders, skilled in direct assaults and explosive attacks. Their appearance immediately drew wave after wave of cheers.
Their captain stepped forward. His gaze first fell upon the Seven Monsters before he warily glanced at Adult Tang Wulin and forced himself to say:
"We... will give it our all."
Clearly, he was also afraid that an overly heavy strike might provoke the mysterious powerhouse's thunderous wrath.
Young Tang Wulin stepped forward. "Please enlighten us."
"The match—begin!"
At the command, the Thunderfire Team instantly unleashed all their soul rings. Lightning and flames intertwined as they charged toward the Seven Monsters like an avalanche.
Their momentum was fierce; they were clearly a battle-hardened team.
Xie Xie instantly entered combat mode. "They're coming!"
"Do it the way Senior taught us!" Tang Wulin shouted.
Yuanen Yehui met them head-on, unleashing the aura of the Titan Giant Ape;
Ye Xinglan drew her sword, its light cutting into the flank;
Yue Zhengyu used the power of light to purify the flames;
Xu Xiaoyan spread starlight, sealing off their movements;
Xu Lizhi showered the field with buns, enhancing the entire team;
Gu Yue's elements circulated as wind and water suppressed the lightning and fire.
Their coordination flowed as smoothly as clouds and water, a formation Adult Tang Wulin had personally refined for them yesterday.
But the Thunderfire Team was, after all, a powerful upperclassman team, and their offensive remained ferocious.
A thick lightning soul skill suddenly went out of control and struck straight toward Xu Lizhi—
Another unprovoked killing blow.
The entire arena cried out in alarm.
But before Tang Wulin could even turn around, Adult Tang Wulin's gaze merely turned cold.
"Crack—"
That violent bolt of lightning vanished out of thin air in midair, without even a trace of residual force left behind.
Every member of the Thunderfire Team froze in place, not daring to continue releasing their soul skills.
Their captain's face turned pale. "I-I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."
Adult Tang Wulin spoke calmly, his voice carrying across the entire arena:
"A match is a match. Lives are not part of it."
"Lose control once more, and you'll be disqualified."
It was only a simple sentence, yet no one dared object.
The instructors and elders seated on the elevated platform exchanged glances and secretly nodded.
This powerhouse was strong, but he did not abuse his authority. He followed the rules, protected the younger generation, and clearly upheld righteousness.
On the arena floor, the Seven Monsters seized the chance to counterattack.
Gu Yue's Elemental Storm suddenly erupted, layering wind, water, earth, and fire into a fourfold suppression;
Tang Wulin drove his Golden Dragon Power to its limit and threw a punch, golden light exploding outward;
Xie Xie and Ye Xinglan cut in at the same time, instantly shattering the enemy formation.
In less than a minute.
The Thunderfire Team completely lost its ability to fight and surrendered one after another.
"The Shrek Seven Monsters win!"
The entire arena erupted in earth-shaking cheers.
The Young Seven Monsters panted as they exchanged smiles, their eyes full of excitement.
Tang Wulin turned around and looked at Adult Tang Wulin sincerely.
"Senior, it was all thanks to the coordination you taught us."
Adult Tang Wulin gave a slight nod, a trace of approval in his golden eyes.
"You performed very well. Keep it up, and you'll go even farther."
Gu Yue stood nearby and suddenly spoke softly, only loud enough for the two of them to hear.
"Did you... already know we would win?"
Adult Tang Wulin looked at her. He neither denied nor admitted it, only saying softly:
"I only know that you shouldn't lose."
At that moment, Gu Yue's heart suddenly trembled.
Those words were far too gentle, and far too certain.
They sounded like a promise forged only after crossing countless failures and regrets.
Just then, the next matchup was announced.
A domineering upperclassman team saw that their opponents were the Seven Monsters, then glanced at Adult Tang Wulin beside them before directly declaring:
"We... forfeit."
The entire arena was in an uproar.
Forfeiting before the fight even began was extremely rare in the history of Shrek's tournaments.
Yet no one found it laughable.
Anyone facing a team personally guarded by a Dragon Emperor-level powerhouse would not dare take the field lightly.
The Young Seven Monsters were stunned for a moment, then did not know whether to laugh or cry.
Xie Xie scratched his head. "Th-this counts as a win too?"
Ye Xinglan gave a soft snort, but she did not refute it.
With this senior here, even their opponents did not dare provoke them.
Adult Tang Wulin stood to the side, watching the youths' helplessly amused expressions. The corner of his lips curved upward almost imperceptibly.
It was the first time he had shown a nearly obvious smile in front of everyone.
Sunlight fell over the arena as eight figures stood at the center of the field.
Seven youths stood proud and spirited, while one Dragon Emperor stood silently guarding them.
The Shrek Youth Tournament had not even truly reached its fiercest stage, yet its outcome was already destined.
Because everyone understood—
As long as that mysterious powerhouse remained, the Shrek Seven Monsters would be the unshakable champions of this tournament.
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