"The pavilion master himself was stirred up. Look what this has turned into..."
"A perfectly good assessment turned into this. It's unprecedented."
Several elders discussed the matter among themselves, unable to keep from shaking their heads.
"You went a little too far this time. Are you trying to wipe out that old dragon's bloodline?"
The white-robed young man frowned and looked Silver Moon Douluo over, only then noticing something.
"Hm?"
Yu Longyue's lightning was still raging across Silver Moon Douluo's body. Even though it couldn't break through her protective Soul Power, it was difficult to clear away completely, and the sight surprised him.
"This lightning is no ordinary lightning."
"Once he activates his fifth Soul Skill, being struck by his lightning is like undergoing a heavenly tribulation," Silver Moon Douluo said respectfully. "I activated my Battle Armor this time to protect myself. If I hadn't had it, I'm afraid these old bones of mine would have suffered some injuries."
"It should be the effect of his domain. The heavenly lightning attribute, combined with Ultimate Lightning, makes it untouchable for ordinary Soul Masters, and the same goes for Titled Douluo. He's cultivated well, and that old dragon taught him even better." The white-robed young man nodded slightly. "But this is what you get for looking down on him. He's the greatest genius in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's history, and he's destined to become Sea God Pavilion Master one day. There's no doubt about that, unless he fails to get through military training. Do you believe it now?"
"I... do."
Silver Moon Douluo lowered her head.
She'd suffered a crushing loss. How could she not believe it?
Even if she really had held back, she was still a Titled Douluo. Having used her full strength to beat Yu Longyue, she'd be too ashamed to show her face.
By now, Yu Longyue had withdrawn his fifth Soul Skill and returned to his true form. He took a brand-new set of white robes from his spatial storage item and put them on.
He then bowed slightly and cupped his fists toward the white-robed young man before him.
"This junior pays his respects to Your Majesty, Pavilion Master."
There was none of the imposing might he'd shown when he transformed into a dragon and slapped Silver Moon Douluo several times with a series of smacks.
Seeing this, the white-robed young man couldn't help but marvel.
So young, yet he can rein in and release his emotions at will. This boy has a remarkable state of mind.
As expected of someone who received an elite education. Even if he had stayed in his clan the whole time, his future achievements would certainly have been no worse than if he had stayed at Shrek.
Strength no weaker than a Titled Douluo's, good spiritual power, a God Level Martial Soul with an Ultimate Attribute, and even the aid of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Spirit.
Cai Yue'er, it's only natural that you suffered for underestimating your opponent.
Now that's a true Little Monster.
"Hehe, Xiao Yue, there's been some misunderstanding here. Let me apologize to you and that young lady on Elder Cai's behalf. You were treated unfairly, and I'll see to the aftermath as well. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
The pavilion master backed down?
The elders blinked, but soon understood.
It all came down to knowing how to deal with people.
"Your Majesty, Pavilion Master, there's no need for that. Come to think of it, we juniors were the ones who started it, so we should be the ones apologizing." Yu Longyue wore a smile, tinged with apology. "Juniors ought to respect their elders, but in my anger, I slapped her several times. It really was regrettable. I was being disrespectful."
"Your Majesty Silver Moon, this junior apologizes to you here and now. If I've offended you, please forgive me."
Silver Moon Douluo's facial muscles twitched.
Slapped me several times, and it was regrettable?
You wish you could have swatted me to death with a few strikes of your claws, don't you?
I thought he had a fiery temper like that old dragon, but it turns out he's a smiling tiger hiding a dagger behind his smile.
And as for afterward, would I dare make trouble for you?
Silver Moon Douluo shot Yu Longyue a cold look and snorted.
The white-robed young man froze for a moment, then chuckled. "A tiger father truly has no dog son. You have the same temper as your father."
"Xiao Yue, I held you in my arms when you were little. I'm your uncle, after all, so naturally I can't let you suffer a loss. Let's put this matter to rest. I'll see to the problem with Elder Cai."
He then turned to Silver Moon Douluo.
"Cai Yue'er, speak fairly. Did you act out of selfish motives and abuse your authority this time?"
Silver Moon Douluo bit her lip and nodded.
"Go apologize to Xiao Yue and that young lady. Let me remind you: if you develop a heart demon over this, your path of cultivation will end there," the white-robed young man said mildly. "You're already so old, yet your temper is just the same as when you were young, and your state of mind is worse than a young person's."
Silver Moon Douluo fell silent. Though she was unwilling in every way to heed the pavilion master's words, she finally nodded.
The pavilion master hadn't spoken idly; he truly had her best interests at heart.
If she developed a heart demon, she really would be finished here.
"Yes, Pavilion Master," Silver Moon Douluo answered respectfully. She turned to Yu Longyue, took a deep breath, and slowly said, "Yu Longyue, I lost my composure as your elder this time. I apologize to you. I didn't act like an elder at all in front of a junior. It was disgraceful, and I've made a spectacle of myself before you."
"There's no need for that, Elder Cai. I was impulsive too," Yu Longyue said, returning the gesture with cupped fists. His manner was sincere, without the slightest arrogance or dissatisfaction.
Just as Elder Cai had said before, whoever had the bigger fist was in the right.
Strength was the capital that gave one the right to speak.
But if all one had was strength, what the hell was the use of being able to fight?
It came down to one's backing.
With strength alone and no backing, he could forget about ever seeing her apologize to him in this lifetime.
"Little girl, I'm sorry. I really did act out of selfish motives this time. I wanted to find another way to show you how formidable I was and make you take me as your teacher." Elder Cai turned to Gu Yue and bowed to her, expressing her deep apology. "You were right. One shouldn't judge everything by appearances alone. Yu Longyue wasn't looking down on Shrek either. He must have had another reason for putting off enrollment until this year."
"I was also hoping to get lucky. I did want to get twice the result for half the effort as a teacher and make a name for myself through my disciple. But if a teacher is truly capable, they can naturally turn a mediocrity into a peerless genius. Only then are they worthy of the profession."
"Turning a genius into a genius is only to be expected. I've been tunneling into a dead end."
Elder Cai sighed, as though she had aged a little in an instant. Her bearing was different too, as if she had put something down.
There was no trace of how she had deliberately made things difficult for others and stirred up trouble before.
Seeing this, the white-robed young man smiled and offered his congratulations. "Congratulations on improving your cultivation somewhat. A breakthrough can't be far off now. Elder Cai, I didn't expect this to turn out to be an opportunity for you."
"These two young people gave me this opportunity. Once you stray from the path of cultivation, it's hard to turn back. Having a chance to mend my ways now is truly rare. I suppose I'm lucky." Elder Cai smiled and nodded her thanks to Yu Longyue, without the slightest trace of resentment.
She then looked toward the students and hastily waved her hand.
"Everyone has passed this assessment. Welcome to Shrek Academy."
"Whether in talent or character, the academy will help you improve in every respect. But remember, those who fall behind and fail to meet the standards will be expelled."
The students who had come for the examination all lit up with joy.
This was good news. Wonderful news.
If Yu Longyue hadn't caused this uproar, their chances of getting into Shrek would have been uncertain.
With such strict assessment requirements, there was no telling how many would have been eliminated.
And so the students all turned friendly gazes toward Yu Longyue and Gu Yue.
"All right, it's all settled." Yu Longyue smiled as he returned to Gu Yue's side. Seeing her staring in astonishment, he couldn't help asking, "What's wrong? Isn't this a happy occasion?"
Gu Yue hadn't expected it to end this way either. She looked seriously at Yu Longyue.
"Thank you."
For her sake, Yu Longyue had actually dared to challenge a Titled Douluo directly.
He had even landed several solid slaps on her.
But what surprised her even more was this.
Why...
Why would the Golden Dragon King's bloodline appear in him?
Gu Yue closed her eyes and forcibly brought her emotions under control.
Why, after all those years of searching, did it have to appear in a human?
And in someone I'd finally come to like, no less.
How could I bring myself to do it?