I stepped slowly out from a seam in time, disturbing neither the wind nor Soul Power. Carrying only the tenderness and vicissitudes accumulated over ten thousand years, I descended upon this land that had haunted my dreams—Shrek Academy's Outer Academy.
Everything before my eyes was exactly as it had been at the beginning of my memories.
My younger self stood among his companions. His figure was still somewhat immature, yet he already possessed a composure beyond his years. The Golden Dragon King Seal lay dormant within him, its power restrained and gentle. There was none of the tearing agony and struggle that would come later—only the pure, unwavering determination of a youth. He held the hand of the silver-blue figure beside him, his words resolute and his steps unhurried, leading everyone toward the power training grounds in the manner of a captain.
It was the young Gu Yue.
The aura of the Silver Dragon was deeply concealed. She was cold and aloof, yet her eyes revealed undisguised concern and protectiveness only toward my younger self. She never left his side, silently keeping watch over him.
Xie Xie was lively and quick-witted, twin daggers hidden in his sleeves. Xu Xiaoyan shone with gentle starlight, soft radiance trailing behind her. Xu Lizhi held meat buns in his arms, looking honest and simple. Ye Xinglan carried herself like a sword, proud yet reserved. Every face was vivid and bright, untouched by hardship or parting. There was only youthful spirit, blazing brilliantly.
I did not disturb them. I simply stood quietly some distance away, watching my younger self walk this part of his path in the posture of a guardian.
Within the power training grounds, the heaviness of the Titan Giant Ape intertwined with the light of the Divine Angel. Yuanen Yehui wore black, her bloodline calm and deep. Yue Zhengyu was dressed in snow-white robes, holy and radiant. They were the final two pieces of the Shrek Seven Monsters, and also the companions I cherished most in my life.
My younger self stepped forward, his voice clear and steady as he invited the two of them to join the team.
There were no flowery words, only the most sincere conviction.
"The Shrek Seven Monsters cannot be without the two of you."
Yuanen Yehui nodded silently, while Yue Zhengyu answered in a ringing voice.
Seven figures stood complete beneath the sunlight.
My younger self spoke solemnly, making the oath that belonged to Shrek. Golden Dragon Power flowed steadily, lightly intertwining with the hidden Silver Dragon aura around Gu Yue. The auras of seven martial souls merged, forming a warm yet unbreakable bond.
That scene was one I had wanted to touch again through countless ages.
I looked at my immature younger self, at those young and familiar faces, at Gu Yue standing protectively before him. Countless thoughts surged within me, only to become a deep, quiet melancholy in the end.
If the Seven Monsters had never scattered into the river of time, if Tang Wulin and Gu Yue had never been separated, if Gu Yue had never become Gu Yuena, if she and Na'er had never fused into one, if he had never lost the little sister named Na'er, if the God Realm had still hung high above and never been lost.
Then perhaps everyone whose name could be spoken, every kind, struggling, righteous, and half-righteous, half-evil person, could have met a good end and ascended to godhood together.
The Eight Monsters would have ascended together, and all living beings would have found fulfillment.
If that had happened, there would have been no regrets left on this path, would there?
Sunlight fell upon the seven young figures, warm and gentle. Before my younger self could take another step, the air suddenly rippled almost imperceptibly.
There was no fluctuation of Soul Power, no tremor in space. Only a wisp of Golden Dragon aura, silent for eternity yet gentle beyond measure, quietly enveloped the entire training ground.
I, Tang Wulin, returned from the end of time, slowly stepped out of the void.
A fitted dark-blue outfit patterned with dragon designs accentuated his mountain-like upright figure. The boyishness had faded from his face, leaving deep features and tranquil eyes. He released not the slightest pressure, yet the primal aura born from the Golden Dragon King's complete awakening still caused every martial soul present to tremble faintly in unison.
The entire area fell deathly silent.
Xie Xie's pupils contracted sharply, his twin daggers appearing instinctively. Ye Xinglan tightened her fingers around the Stargod Sword, and fierce sword intent instantly tensed. Xu Xiaoyan's starlight Soul Power surged as she immediately shielded everyone at the center. Xu Lizhi hurriedly hugged his meat buns tighter, staring blankly at the suddenly appearing figure. Yuanen Yehui's Titan bloodline churned, her muscles taut. Yue Zhengyu's Divine Angel power blossomed, his light-element Soul Power braced for an enemy.
But Gu Yue reacted first.
The instant I appeared, she shifted half a step sideways and firmly blocked Young Tang Wulin. Her silver-blue hair fluttered lightly in the wind, while icy intent filled her star-silver eyes. The five great elements silently gathered at her fingertips, forming the strongest protective barrier.
Without the slightest hesitation, she asked in a cold voice carrying the instinctive vigilance of the Silver Dragon King, "Who are you?"
Young Tang Wulin before me was equally stunned. He instinctively clenched his fists as the sealed Golden Dragon King power within him resonated intensely with me. Scorching dragon power flowed through his meridians, yet it did not lose control. He raised his head, shock written across his youthful face, but he still forced himself to remain calm and looked directly at me with the bearing of a captain.
Those clear, bright eyes were so much like the youth I had long since lost.
I did not approach. I merely stood several meters away, my gaze gently sweeping across one youthful, familiar face after another before finally settling on my younger self and Gu Yue before him. My countless emotions gradually returned to calm.
"I will not hurt you."
When I spoke, my voice was low and gentle, devoid of the slightest hostility. "I am merely a traveler from afar, passing through this moment in time by chance."
The wariness in Gu Yue's eyes did not fade, and her elemental power remained locked onto me. She could clearly sense that I and Young Tang Wulin shared the same bloodline and the same soul origin, yet I carried the weight and vicissitudes of countless ages. It was the aura of the Golden Dragon King's true awakening, and also the aura she knew best and cared for most in her life.
Young Tang Wulin took a deep breath, suppressing the restless dragon power within him before asking softly, "You... are you connected to me?"
I nodded slightly. I neither denied it nor offered further explanation.
The Time Law would not permit me to reveal too much. All I could do was watch from afar this beauty that had yet to be stained by regret—to see this moment when my companions were all present, my beloved was as she had always been, and our original hearts remained unchanged.
A light breeze swept across the training grounds, stirring the fine dust on the ground.
The Seven Monsters remained on guard. My younger self was full of confusion, Gu Yue refused to yield even an inch, while I stood beneath the sunlight, facing my past self from afar.
One was as youthful as ever, with an uncertain road ahead.
The other had endured endless hardship, his heart filled with longing.
The Gold Dragon gave a low cry deep within time. There were no waves, only a gentle resonance.
I did not step forward again. I simply watched them, watched this old dream I had guarded with my entire life, yet could never return to.
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