Chapter 98: You Raise Students Just to Send Them to the Academy as Compensation, Don't You?
Elsewhere, Wu Zhangkong encountered a familiar face.
A woman who looked twenty-six or twenty-seven, ethereally beautiful, her pale silver hair cascading freely down her back. She wore the dark green uniform of Shrek Academy.
Those emerald eyes of hers flickered subtly—alternating between vitality and destruction.
If Jiang Chen had been there, he would have recognized it immediately: a person simultaneously touched by the God of Life and the God of Destruction.
"Congratulations," the woman said softly. "Your two disciples have taken the adult and youth blacksmithing championships."
Wu Zhangkong shook his head. "No, it's because they're remarkable themselves. Besides, I don't even teach forging—they have a master for that."
The woman's name was Shen Yi, leader of Shrek Academy's delegation this year. She and Wu Zhangkong were fellow students, both trained under the Sea God Pavilion's Elder, the Scarlet Dragon Douluo Zhuo Shi. Shen Yi herself was a two‑word armor master and a level‑70 Soul Saint, her martial soul being Sensitive Plant.
They hadn't met for years. And now that they had… there was little left to say.
Shen Yi's expression dimmed as she studied the man before her. This senior brother of hers had once been a rising star of Shrek Academy. But now, trapped by emotional wounds, he had stagnated, failing to progress beyond Soul Sage.
It saddened her deeply. Their master would be heartbroken.
"The academy sent us here to reclaim our glory," she said. "To win back what belongs to Shrek."
After how the Federation had treated them, Shrek intended to strike back—to show that even in exile within the Star Luo Federation, they were still the continent's number-one academy.
Whichever nation had Shrek Academy on its side, that nation stood as the true heir of Douluo.
Wu Zhangkong nodded faintly. "Even so, Shrek has gone too far this time. If they've already left for the Star Luo Federation, they should've done so quietly—not stirred up more conflict."
Shen Yi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Senior brother, do you even know what you're saying? We are Shrek Academy! The greatest academy on the continent!"
"Everyone claims it was the Evil Soul Masters of the Holy Spirit Cult who destroyed Shrek Academy—but we know better. It was the Federation itself, using twelfth‑grade fixed soul‑guided cannons that annihilated our home!"
"How can you possibly stand here and say such things?!"
Wu Zhangkong's tone remained calm. "That's exactly why I'm saying them. We need to ask why. I know relations between Shrek and the Federation have deteriorated beyond repair—but the Federation didn't harm a single Shrek survivor afterward. Doesn't that mean there's still a chance for negotiation?"
"Should Shrek truly ally with the Star Luo Federation and wage war against the Federation? Is that what you want?"
Shen Yi's hopeful expression dimmed completely. Her senior brother had changed beyond recognition.
In the past, he would never have spoken such words.
"Brother," she said bitterly, "let's not talk about this anymore. And be careful whom you say such things to—others at Shrek would kill you for them."
She couldn't believe how quickly he'd lost faith in their academy.
But Wu Zhangkong, sensing her thoughts, spoke slowly.
"After leaving Shrek for this long, I've been able to see its true flaws from the outside. Shrek Academy shines too brightly for its own good."
"If it were simply a school—fine. The Federation wouldn't mind. But the Academy has become a power, an independent force beyond federal control. It backs Tang Sect, the Star Luo Federation, and even the old Heaven Dou line…"
"How could the Federation tolerate that? Not to mention Shrek's notorious tests—training its students by pushing them to defy federal law."
"Frankly, the Federation was merciful not to wipe out every last senior member that day."
He shook his head. "But that's not my concern. These are matters for their higher‑ups."
Shen Yi changed the subject with a sneer. "Then what about that boy, Tang Wulin? What even is his martial soul? Some kind of mutation?"
She—and everyone else—had been curious.
The child prodigy who'd just beaten adult masters at ten years old had drawn the attention of every top‑ranked soul master present.
Wu Zhangkong replied, "It's the Golden Dragon bloodline, which altered his Blue Silver Grass."
Before falling dormant, Old Tang had warned him to keep the truth about the Golden Dragon King bloodline secret. Thus, Wu Zhangkong publicly claimed Tang Wulin possessed the Golden Dragon's lineage.
But even "just" a Golden Dragon was exaggerated enough: the progenitor of Strength, wielder of ultimate power. If not for his awakening with Blue Silver Grass, he'd likely have manifested an ultimate martial soul.
"What a pity," Shen Yi said softly. "With another martial soul, he could have surely become both a Divine Craftsman and an Ultimate Douluo—the strongest being on the continent."
Her mind raced with possibilities. "Then why not bring him to Shrek? Let the elders examine him."
Wu Zhangkong's eyes hardened. He shook his head firmly. "No. He's not interested in Shrek Academy."
"Impossible! Who on Douluo would refuse Shrek Academy? That's unthinkable!"
A dangerous gleam flickered in her eyes.
"Senior brother, don't let your personal grudges cloud your teaching. Even if the academy wronged you, that has nothing to do with these children—"
Before she could finish, Wu Zhangkong sighed, his tone weary. "You think I haven't tried? Our master's lineage would suit him perfectly, but the boy has no desire for it. He insists on joining the Spirit Pagoda instead. What can I do?"
Shen Yi frowned. He wasn't lying, she could tell. Despite their many years apart, she still trusted him completely.
Even back when things had gone wrong with Long Bing, he had confided in her first. They shared a bond stronger than most siblings.
After a long silence, she finally said, "He's still young. Let me talk to him. Surely no child could refuse our academy once properly persuaded. And besides, not only him—your other students would fit perfectly into Shrek as well."
Her tone held pure admiration now.
After reviewing the data, she had been stunned by the talent in his class—especially those three prodigies already at level forty‑nine. They rivaled even Yun Ming's personal disciples in potential.
They had to be recruited. These monsters belonged in Shrek.
Smiling slightly, she added almost teasingly, "You raised such promising children—surely it's because, deep down, you plan to send them back to the academy one day. A way to make amends, isn't it?"
Wu Zhangkong's mouth twitched.
"No."
He was their teacher, not their master; he would never force his students to follow a path they didn't choose themselves.
"Their mentors belong to the Spirit Pagoda," he said. "Don't cause trouble."
Shen Yi waved it off lightly. "Two of the girls, sure. But that boy? He's a Huo‑family descendant at best—barely counts. It's not like his surname's Huo! What's the harm if he comes to Shrek?"
"And honestly, the others would fit just as well!"
"Come on, brother," she implored. "Talk to them for me. Shrek Academy is the only place that can cultivate them into the true powerhouses of this continent!"
(END CHAPTER)
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