Tang Wulin stood beside his companions, yet a torrent of complex emotions churned within his chest, a stark contrast to his currently tense body.
Shrek Academy was the Holy Land universally acknowledged in the Spirit Master World, and it had once been a sacred, inviolable faith in his heart.
However, after just a few short days of personal experience, that imagined, radiantly glorious "sacred" veneer had been brutally ripped away by reality, revealing the perhaps ever-present arrogance, tyranny, and unquestionable logic of power beneath.
A feeling of weightlessness from the collapse of a belief, mixed with the unique fervor and righteous indignation of youth, surged within him.
Now, facing Cai Yue'er's undisguised threat, even though she was a lofty Titled Douluo, he could no longer hold back.
The young man took a step forward, positioning himself slightly ahead and to the side of Huo Yuhao.
His gaze fixed directly on Cai Yue'er, his voice trembling slightly with agitation.
"Senior, on the competition stage, victory and defeat are determined by one's own capabilities."
"We merely won a match by relying on our strength."
"How does that... constitute a colossal crime of damaging Shrek's Ten Thousand Years of reputation?"
"Could it be... that Shrek Academy simply cannot lose?!"
Cai Yue'er's icy gaze shifted to Tang Wulin. Her voice was indifferent, laced with undisguised disdain: "Here... what right do you have to speak?"
Given her temperament, she wouldn't normally bother explaining, but this was, after all, in front of a large crowd.
Therefore, she continued: "Online, slanderous words and malicious innuendo targeting Shrek emerge endlessly. Anyone with eyes can see someone is pulling strings behind the scenes, stirring up trouble."
Her gaze swept over the members of Class Zero, finally settling on Wu Changkong, her words carrying insinuation: "This matter, I suspect... may not be entirely unrelated to you."
Without a shred of evidence, she had lightly pinned the massive accusation of manipulating public opinion and maliciously slandering Shrek on them!
The few members of Class Zero were stunned. They had truly seen something new, once again re-evaluating their understanding of Shrek Academy's bottom line.
Just as Tang Wulin, his cheeks flushed red with anger, was about to argue further, a steady hand landed on his shoulder.
Wu Changkong appeared beside him, shielding his Disciple behind him.
His ice-blue eyes stared directly at Cai Yue'er: "Your Excellency Silver Moon, making such statements... requires evidence."
Hearing Wu Changkong repeatedly address her as "Your Excellency Silver Moon," not even willing to call her by the former "Dean" or "Elder Cai,"
In Cai Yue'er's heart, this was clearly him severing all ties between himself and Shrek.
The severity in Cai Yue'er's eyes intensified. She glanced at Wu Changkong and let out a short, sharp snort from her nose.
"Naturally, we speak with evidence," she said dismissively, her tone carrying a condescending indifference. "However, such things... you are not yet qualified to know."
Her patience was evidently exhausted. She ignored Wu Changkong, her gaze locking onto Huo Yuhao once more.
"I ask you one last time!"
"Are you willing, to enter Shrek Academy?!"
Huo Yuhao stood there quietly, not retreating an inch. His eyes were clear and bright, meeting Cai Yue'er's gaze, which seemed almost ready to spit fire. His answer remained the same as before.
"I am not willing!"
Direct, crisp, without the slightest hesitation.
Cai Yue'er seemed utterly infuriated by this stubborn, unyielding attitude, letting out a cold laugh: "Heh... very well!"
Before her words had fully faded... "Boom!"
A vast, abyss-like terrifying pressure erupted without warning, centered on Cai Yue'er!
It was the majestic aura of a Super Douluo, like an invisible tsunami, crushing towards Wu Changkong and the five students of Class Zero opposite her!
The air groaned under the strain, the marble floor seeming to tremble slightly.
The surrounding onlookers exclaimed in shock, staggering back, faces pale, nearly suffocated by the mere wisps of the dispersing pressure.
Simultaneously, Cai Yue'er's bone-chillingly cold voice fell once more.
"Since that is the case, then I must ask you... to accompany me to Shrek Academy!"
"We will thoroughly investigate the beginning and end of this entire incident!"
She was still carrying out Long Yeyue's instructions: regardless, bring Huo Yuhao back to Shrek Academy first.
Facing this overwhelming Super Douluo pressure, Wu Changkong's face also paled sharply, and he grunted.
Ice-blue light flickered urgently around him. His cultivation as a six-ring Spirit Emperor was pushed to its limit. Like a reef in a raging torrent, he stubbornly blocked the forefront, bearing the vast majority of the pressure for the students behind him.
However, the chasm between a Spirit Saint and a Super Douluo—could it be so easily bridged?
His body swayed slightly, and fine cracks silently appeared in the hard ground beneath his feet.
The five students behind him were in even worse condition. Their blood and Qi churned, their Spirit Power stagnated, breathing became extremely difficult, cold sweat beaded on their temples, and even standing seemed precarious.
The absolute disparity in strength was displayed here with utter clarity.
If nothing unexpected happened, these six Shen Yi and students would be forcibly "invited" away to Shrek Academy today.
However, the unexpected... did happen at this critical moment.
"Shrek Academy... still enjoys using its might to oppress others, I see."
An aged, calm voice rang out without warning throughout the entire lobby of the Tianhai Grand Hotel.
"Who?!"
Cai Yue'er's heart jolted. She demanded sharply, her sharp gaze sweeping around like lightning. Her vast mental force spread out like an invisible tide in an instant, covering every inch of the hotel's space.
Yet, her probing yielded no discoveries.
"Urgh!"
But in the next instant, Cai Yue'er let out a pained grunt!
The sensation was like countless silver needles simultaneously piercing the deepest recesses of her Spiritual Sea!
Cai Yue'er staggered as if struck a heavy blow, her body swaying uncontrollably. If Shen Yi hadn't reacted swiftly to support her, she might have fallen on the spot.
The terrifying pressure crushing the Class Zero Shen Yi and students also dissipated like a punctured balloon, vanishing without a trace.
With the pressure suddenly gone, Wu Changkong felt his whole body relax. He "cough" spat out a mouthful of blood, dropping to one knee and bracing himself with a hand on the ground to barely steady himself.
"Teacher, are you alright?"
Huo Yuhao and the other four behind him hurriedly stepped forward.
Wu Changkong shook his head, indicating he was fine, but his gaze remained fixed ahead.
Supported by Shen Yi, Cai Yue'er barely managed to stand firm. Her face paled for an instant before being replaced by even more intense shock and fury.
She shook off Shen Yi's supporting hand, steadied her breathing, and despite the lingering stabbing pain in her mind, she forced herself to straighten her back and demanded harshly.
"You skulking coward! Who is it?! Who dares interfere in the affairs of my Shrek Academy?!"
"Smack!"
A crisp, loud sound of a slap rang out abruptly, cutting off all her questioning and rage.
Cai Yue'er's head snapped to the right. On her right cheek, the faint red imprint of five fingers instantly appeared.
Time seemed to freeze in that moment.
Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief at the scene before them.
A Titled Douluo powerhouse of Shrek Academy... had actually been... slapped in the face in full public view?!
Simultaneously, just a step away in front of Cai Yue'er, a tall figure seemed to materialize as if from a wash painting, shifting from faint to dense, slowly outlined and finally solidifying.
It was an elderly man, tall in stature, with white hair and beard, a simple, ancient face, dressed in plain gray robes.
Cai Yue'er slowly turned her head back. The burning, stinging pain on her right cheek was so real, so humiliating, that her mind went almost blank for a moment.
Having lived for over a hundred years, esteemed as a Titled Douluo, presiding over Shrek's Outer Academy—when had she ever suffered such a monstrous humiliation?
She stared fixedly at this strange, calm face before her. The expression on her face shifted from stunned to bewildered, finally twisting into something nearly grotesque with fury.
Her eyes blazed with terrifying rage and killing intent. Her voice squeezed through gritted teeth, hoarse and horrifying.
"You... who... are... you?!"
Every word was saturated with overwhelming hatred and fury.
"How dare you... insult me like this?!"
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.