Tang Wulin stood beside his friends, yet a storm of complicated feelings swirled in his chest, making his body feel even more tense.
Shrek Academy was the holy land that every Spirit Master in the world looked up to, and it had once been a sacred, untouchable belief in his own heart.
However, after just a few short days of seeing it for himself, that perfect, glowing image had been cruelly torn away by the truth, revealing the arrogance and bullying that lay beneath their logic of power.
He felt a strange weightlessness as his old beliefs collapsed, mixed with the hot anger of a young man who knew what was right.
Now, facing Cai Yueer's open threat, even though she was a powerful Titled Douluo, he could no longer keep his mouth shut.
The young man took a step forward, standing slightly in front and to the side of Huo Yuhao.
He looked directly at Cai Yueer, his voice shaking a little because he was so upset.
"Senior, on the competition stage, winning and losing are decided by how good you are."
"We only won a match because we worked hard and used our own strength."
"How does that... make us criminals who damaged Shrek's ten thousand years of reputation?"
"Is it possible... that Shrek Academy simply isn't allowed to lose?!"
Cai Yueer's cold eyes moved to Tang Wulin. Her voice was flat and filled with clear dislike. "Here... what right do you have to speak?"
Normally, she wouldn't bother explaining anything, but since they were in front of a big crowd, she felt she had to.
She continued, "Online, there are endless lies and mean comments targeting Shrek. Anyone can see that someone is pulling the strings behind the scenes to cause trouble."
She looked over the members of Class Zero, finally stopping on Wu Changkong, her words sounding like an accusation. "I suspect this matter... might have something to do with you."
Without any proof at all, she had basically accused them of lying and trying to ruin Shrek's name!
The kids in Class Zero were shocked. They were seeing a whole new side of Shrek Academy's lack of fairness.
Just as Tang Wulin, his face red with anger, was about to argue back, a steady hand touched his shoulder.
Wu Changkong stepped up beside him, shielding his student from the woman's gaze.
His blue eyes stared straight at Cai Yueer. "Your Excellency Silver Moon, if you say things like that... you need to have proof."
Hearing Wu Changkong call her "Your Excellency Silver Moon" instead of "Dean" or "Elder Cai" made her feel like he was cutting all ties with Shrek.
The anger in Cai Yueer's eyes grew stronger. She looked at Wu Changkong and let out a short, mean laugh.
"Of course we have proof," she said rudely, her tone full of pride. "However, something like that... you aren't important enough to know."
Her patience was gone. She ignored Wu Changkong and locked her eyes onto Huo Yuhao again.
"I am asking you one last time!"
"Are you willing to enter Shrek Academy?!"
Huo Yuhao stood there quietly and did not back down. His eyes were clear and bright as he looked back at Cai Yueer, who looked ready to explode. His answer was the same.
"I am not willing!"
It was a sharp, quick answer without a second of doubt.
Cai Yueer seemed completely driven crazy by his stubborn attitude and let out a cold laugh. "Heh... very well!"
Before she even finished speaking... "Boom!"
A massive, terrifying pressure suddenly exploded out from Cai Yueer!
It was the powerful aura of a Super Douluo, hitting them like a giant invisible wave and crashing toward Wu Changkong and the five students.
The air seemed to groan and the floor started to shake.
People watching nearby cried out in fear and scrambled away, their faces turning pale because they could hardly breathe.
At the same time, Cai Yueer's freezing voice rang out again.
"Since that is the case, then I must ask you... to come with me to Shrek Academy!"
"We will find out exactly how this whole thing started and ended!"
She was still following Long Yeyue's orders: no matter what happens, bring Huo Yuhao back to Shrek first.
Facing this huge pressure from a Super Douluo, Wu Changkong's face turned white and he let out a pained sound.
Blue light flashed around him as he pushed his power as a six-ring Spirit Emperor to the absolute limit. He stood there like a rock in a storm, taking most of the pressure so his students wouldn't have to.
However, the gap between a Spirit Emperor and a Super Douluo was just too big to close.
His body shook a little, and small cracks started to appear in the floor under his feet.
The five students behind him were doing even worse. Their blood felt like it was boiling, their power wouldn't move, and they could barely breathe. Cold sweat poured down their faces, and they could hardly stay standing.
The massive difference in strength was very clear to everyone watching.
If nothing changed, all six of them would be taken away to Shrek Academy by force today.
However, something unexpected happened at that very moment.
"Shrek Academy... still likes to use its power to bully others, I see."
An old, calm voice sounded out of nowhere, echoing through the hotel lobby.
"Who is that?!"
Cai Yueer's heart skipped a beat. She shouted the question and looked around quickly. Her powerful mental force spread out like a tide, checking every corner of the hotel.
But she couldn't find anyone.
"Urgh!"
But in the next second, Cai Yueer let out a cry of pain!
It felt like thousands of needles were stabbing deep into her mind all at once!
Cai Yueer stumbled as if she had been hit, her body swaying. If Shen Yi hadn't caught her, she would have fallen down right there.
The scary pressure that was crushing Class Zero disappeared instantly, like a popped balloon.
With the pressure gone, Wu Changkong felt his body relax. He coughed up a bit of blood and dropped to one knee, using his hand to stay steady.
"Teacher, are you okay?"
Huo Yuhao and the others ran forward to help him.
Wu Changkong shook his head to say he was fine, but he kept his eyes locked on the space in front of them.
Supported by Shen Yi, Cai Yueer finally stood up. Her face was pale, and she was filled with shock and anger.
She pushed Shen Yi's hand away and tried to catch her breath. Even though her head still hurt, she straightened her back and yelled.
"You coward! Who are you?! Who dares to interfere with Shrek Academy?!"
"Smack!"
A loud, sharp sound of a slap filled the air, cutting off her shouting.
Cai Yueer's head was knocked to the side. On her right cheek, a red handprint appeared instantly.
Everything seemed to stop in that moment.
Everyone's eyes went wide as they watched. They couldn't believe it.
A powerful Titled Douluo from Shrek Academy... had just been slapped in the face in front of everyone?!
At the same time, an old man appeared right in front of Cai Yueer, looking like he had just stepped out of a painting.
He was tall with white hair and a white beard. He had a simple, calm face and wore plain gray robes.
Cai Yueer slowly turned her head back. The burning pain on her face was real and very embarrassing. Her mind went blank for a second.
She was over a hundred years old, a famous Titled Douluo and a leader at Shrek—she had never been treated this way in her whole life.
She stared at the calm face of the stranger. Her expression changed from shock to confusion, and finally to a face twisted with pure rage.
Her eyes were full of hate. Her voice came out low and scary through her teeth.
"You... who... are... you?!"
Every word she spoke was filled with pure anger.
"How dare you... treat me like this?!"
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