Outside the gates of Shrek Academy, an old man stood behind Tai Long and Tai Nuo. His hair and beard were grizzled, and his short hair bristled fiercely atop his head like steel needles.
The old man looked larger than Tai Long and Tai Nuo combined. Standing there like a towering mountain, immovable as a peak, he radiated authority without a trace of anger. Despite his age, he was full of vigor.
The reverence in Tai Long's and Tai Nuo's eyes as they looked at him made it clear that he held a very high position in their family.
This old man was Tai Tan, patriarch of the Strength Clan, a rank eighty-six strength-type battle Soul Douluo nicknamed the "Mighty God," and one of the three great Divine Blacksmiths of the age. Loyal, forthright, and fiercely protective of his own, he had chosen to lead his clansmen out of the Clear Sky Sect after his master, Tang Hao, was expelled.
Tai Long and Tang San were both students at Shrek Academy, formerly Blue Tyrant Academy.
Just as in the original story, Tai Long had harassed Xiao Wu, and Tang San had beaten him up. Then Tai Long's father, Tai Nuo, had come looking for Tang San to avenge his son, only to get beaten up by Tang San himself.
Afterward, Tang San had gone to Sunset Forest with Flender and the others. Now, no sooner had they returned than Tai Long's grandfather, Tai Tan, had come knocking.
"Grandpa, I'm begging you. Please go home. How am I supposed to show my face at the academy if this keeps up?" Tai Long clasped his hands before his chest and bowed them toward Tai Tan, pleading with his grandfather with a bitter smile.
Tai Tan held his hands behind his back and