Chapter 57: Grandfather, That's Tang San!

Upon hearing this, Meng Shenji frowned slightly but didn't refute it. Instead, he stepped up to a middle-aged man and introduced him to Prince Xue Xing:

"Your Highness, this is Flender, the dean of Shrek Academy."

"And the ones behind him are the academy's teachers and its most outstanding students."

After the introduction, Flender—despite not wanting to interact with a noble prince—still returned the courtesy and said politely:

"Greetings, Your Highness. On behalf of everyone from Shrek Academy, I extend our regards."

"Oh? Shrek Academy? Never heard of it~ must be some third-rate institution, I assume?"

Prince Xue Xing spoke with confusion, his gaze sweeping over the people behind Flender. Then his voice rose in volume and took on an accusatory tone as he looked toward Meng Shenji:

"Chief Meng Shenji, how could you allow these unidentified people to enter our academy?"

"You…"

Everyone from Shrek was visibly furious at the insult.

Zhao Wuji, standing beside Flender with both sleeves hanging empty, was ready to explode. But Flender held him back forcefully. Before he could speak, Meng Shenji stepped in:

"Your Highness, that's not a fair statement. Shrek Academy has a strong faculty and has trained many highly talented students."

As he spoke, Meng Shenji walked over to the Shrek group and pointed to Zhao Wuji:

"Dean Flender is already a level 78 Soul Sage, and this is Instructor Zhao Wuji, who is at level 76. These are Shrek Academy's students—this is Dai Mubai, he's only…"

"Hold on, I have a question."

Prince Xue Xing raised a hand to interrupt, his eyes resting on Zhao Wuji with mocking amusement:

"I just want to ask… this Zhao… instructor, is it? He's lost both hands. Can he still perform at the level of a Soul Sage?"

Everyone could clearly see Zhao Wuji's empty sleeves, his arms severed at the elbows.

"You dare insult my teacher?!"

Dai Mubai, standing at the rear, couldn't bear it anymore and leapt forward.

As a prince of the Star Luo Empire, he wasn't intimidated by a Heaven Dou prince. And in Shrek Academy, their motto was clear:

Those who fear causing trouble are cowards!

No other student embodied this more than Dai Mubai.

Infuriated, he pointed directly at Prince Xue Xing, soul power surging as he activated his martial soul, his stance radiating hostility. It was clear—unless the prince apologized to his teacher, he was ready to fight.

Since he had been standing behind Tang San, and being taller, Dai Mubai had effectively shielded him from view.

Now that he had stepped forward, a girl standing on the far right of Prince Xue Xing's group caught sight of Tang San.

She tugged on the sleeve of the elder in dark green beside her and whispered in his ear:

"Grandfather, the one behind him—that's Tang San!"

These two were none other than Dugu Yan and her grandfather, Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo's brows furrowed at her words. Suddenly, a terrifying aura erupted from his body.

Two yellow, two purple, and five black soul rings—a full nine in total—rose beneath his feet and burst forth with a domineering presence.

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, Dugu Bo's immense pressure surged toward the Shrek group.

Meng Shenji and the other two Education Committee members, along with the Shrek instructors, all activated their martial souls in alarm. In an instant, soul rings lit up all over the hall.

The three Soul Douluo stood in front of Shrek's group, taking the brunt of the oppressive force to shield the others.

Fortunately, it was just a pressure release. With three Soul Douluo covering them, Shrek's group managed to stay unharmed.

Still, Dai Mubai, despite his pride, was trembling in fear at the sight of nine soul rings swirling around the elder across from him.

His survival instinct kicked in, and he began slowly edging backward.

In his heart, a herd of grass mud horses thundered by.

Seriously? I'm just a level 30-something Soul Elder! Sure, I ran my mouth a bit, but did they really have to throw a freaking Title Douluo at me?!

"Forget it, Chief Meng. Today's cooperation ends here. Thank you all for your hospitality."

A short-haired man in a black robe, medium in height, stepped out of the Shrek ranks. His face was grim as he addressed Meng Shenji.

Then he turned to the others:

"Let's go. We won't trouble the three committee members any further."

"Xiaogang, we can't just walk away like this! We can't let Shrek be humiliated without saying a word! That's not the Shrek way!"

Flender grabbed the departing Yu Xiaogang and said angrily.

But Yu Xiaogang turned and snapped at him and the others:

"You're not afraid to die, fine! But do you want to drag everyone else down with you? A Title Douluo isn't someone you or I can go up against!"

"And besides—hasn't Shrek been insulted before? Zhao Wuji lost both arms, and when you learned the truth, did you ever bring up avenging him?"

His roar left the whole group silent, their earlier fury replaced with guilt and shame—especially Zhao Wuji, whose face was filled with awkward embarrassment.

Realizing he may have gone too far, Yu Xiaogang softened his tone and lowered his voice:

"As long as the green hills remain, there'll be firewood to burn. Once our students grow stronger, we'll reclaim every shred of dignity they've taken from us. Let's go!"

Though Flender was filled with bitter frustration, he had to admit this was the wisest course.

Reluctantly, he cupped his fists toward Meng Shenji.

"Thank you for your hospitality. We'll take our leave."

He turned to lead the group toward the exit—

—but at that moment, a cold voice rang through the hall.

"Did I say you could leave?"

Dugu Bo's full Title Douluo aura flared again, his gaze locked on the Shrek group.

"You must be the one known as the Poison Douluo, honored bearer of the title 'Poison'?"

From within Shrek's ranks, Yu Xiaogang stepped forward first. He cupped his hands respectfully at Dugu Bo.

He knew full well that they couldn't win in a fight. The only hope was to rely on his own eloquence and reputation across the continent to resolve the crisis.

"Oh? Surprised someone still remembers this old man,"

Dugu Bo sneered, lips curling coldly.

"But it won't help you. Hand over Tang San, and you're free to leave."

"What?"

Dugu Bo's demand stunned Yu Xiaogang.

He had thought the trouble was merely to help that brat Xue Beng vent some petty grudge.

Never in his wildest thoughts did he expect that they wanted Tang San.

When did Little San provoke a Title Douluo?

Could it be because of…?

The realization sobered him.

Much of the fear vanished from Yu Xiaogang's face. He clasped his hands behind his back and said to Dugu Bo calmly:

"Honored Poison Douluo, if you have a grievance with someone, I don't believe children should be caught in the crossfire. Otherwise, considering that person's temper… I'm sure you know what the consequences would be."

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