Morning mist wreathed Shrek Academy, and an ancient, sacred aura filled the air. Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan stood shoulder to shoulder in a corner of the Assessment Square, surrounded by gifted youths from across the land. Every face bore nervousness and anticipation, but an unusual resolve shone in the eyes of these four.
"Silence!"
A low, commanding shout came from the platform, cutting off every whispered conversation. An assessment instructor with a stern face slowly stepped onto the platform, his lightning-sharp gaze sweeping over the candidates below.
"Welcome to Shrek Academy's Assessment. I am one of the instructors in charge." His voice was quiet, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly. "Your first assessment begins now."
As soon as he finished speaking, a strange ripple spread through the air. Then a massive portrait slowly appeared on the wall at the center of the square. It was astonishingly lifelike, depicting a majestic, terrifying creature that radiated a suffocating aura.
The instant the portrait appeared, a terrifying pressure descended like a crashing mountain. Its intimidation reached into the depths of their souls, as though an invisible hand had slammed against everyone's chest.
"Aah—!"
Cries erupted from the crowd. Many candidates turned pale, their legs weakening; some even fell to their knees, trembling. The pressure was overwhelming, so powerful that they could not breathe. It felt as though they faced not a painting, but a true deity.
Yet amid the chaos, four figures stood firm as bedrock.
Tang Wulin stood at the front, his brows slightly furrowed and a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but his body did not move an inch. Although his golden dragon king bloodline had yet to be fully unsealed, how could the pressure of a mere portrait suppress the noble aura of a