That afternoon, inside the Tianhai City Stadium.
The opening ceremony of this year's Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition was underway. In the spectator stands, Tang Luochuan, Mu Xi, and the rest of the East Sea Academy group had already gathered.
"This year's Tianhai Alliance has invited students from Shrek Academy for a friendly match. Their opponents will be last year's youth division champions. You can all look forward to it," Wu Zhangkong said calmly from the front.
"Hmm?"
"Students from Shrek Academy."
Hearing this, the East Sea Academy group couldn't help but feel excited. Anyone who could enter Shrek Academy was undoubtedly a top-tier genius—not just in talent but also in combat and skills, standing at the pinnacle of their age group. It was impossible not to anticipate their performance.
Gradually, under everyone's gaze, the two teams took their positions on the field. One side consisted of young adults in their twenties, while the other was mostly teenagers around fourteen or fifteen.
The former team was undoubtedly last year's group competition champions, while the latter was naturally the Shrek Academy representatives.
"This…"
"One side is fifteen or sixteen, the other in their twenties?"
Ouyang Zixin wore a look of astonishment.
"To become youth division champions, these people must have been close to twenty three years ago. Yet they're facing off against kids barely in their teens—this is practically bullying!"
She couldn't help but voice her thoughts. While Shrek Academy's reputation as the continent's top academy was well-deserved, the age gap here was simply too large.
Especially since, among Shrek's seven representatives, two appeared to be around the same age as Luo Chuan and the others—a full decade younger than their opponents!
"..."
"Even Shrek can't win like this!"
Similar murmurs spread across the stadium. No matter how you looked at it, an age gap of seven or eight years was simply too much to overcome.
"Shrek is being too arrogant."
Even the Tianhai City officials shared this sentiment.
The champions of the Tianhai Grand Competition were the elite among five major cities. Even Shrek Academy's geniuses couldn't possibly be that much stronger.
Sending only a few young outer academy students? They couldn't possibly win! If they couldn't even defeat these, then the Tianhai Soul Master Alliance might as well disband and start over.
"Can they really win?"
Xie Xie sighed, unable to hold back his doubts.
"They will win."
"You don't understand Shrek Academy."
Hearing this, Wu Zhangkong's smile didn't waver in the slightest. On the surface, the age gap was indeed seven or eight years, but in reality…
Against true geniuses, even a seven- or eight-year advantage might not amount to much.
"This…"
The group fell into thoughtful silence. After all, their team leader, Teacher Wu, was a graduate of that very place. Could Shrek Academy really pull off a victory?
"Wait…"
Among the crowd, only Tang Wulin remained silent, his gaze fixed on the two youngest members of Shrek's team.
"Students of Shrek Academy…"
"That little fatty who skipped out on his bill… is actually from Shrek?"
Tang Wulin's eyes locked onto the chubby figure of Xu Lizhi, his face etched with contemplation and disbelief.
As the most renowned academy on the continent, Shrek Academy's reliability is etched into everyone's hearts. Yet this little fatty was actually from Shrek...
Suddenly, it didn't seem so reliable anymore.
And that also meant the female teacher who went to collect payment from them that day was actually a Shrek instructor!
Who knows what kind of shock and disbelief his teacher felt upon learning they'd skipped out on the bill.
"But his Martial Soul..."
"It's actually a steamed bun."
Tang Wulin couldn't help but marvel at the sight of the bun materializing in Xu Lizhi's hand—a food-type Soul Master.
If only his first Martial Soul hadn't been Blue Silver Grass but something like a bun instead. He could replenish energy whenever needed, then unleash the Golden Dragon Great Battle Special Tactics.
Self-sufficiency—now that would be ideal.
"These Shrek students..."
"They won? Already?"
Three minutes later, under the stunned gazes of the crowd, the previous year's youth division champion team collapsed and was ultimately defeated.
Each of them was among the elite of Soul Ancestors, yet there was no doubt—Shrek's students were also Soul Ancestor powerhouses, and in terms of combat and teamwork... they far surpassed them.
The champion team from Tianhai City crumbled before them like paper.
"As expected of Shrek..."
For a moment, Tang Wulin couldn't help but sigh. Though he'd just questioned Shrek's reliability, when it came to skill, they were undeniably formidable.
"Zero Class, follow me."
"I'll take you to meet an old friend of mine."
Wu Zhangkong remained composed the entire time. Only after seeing Shrek's group head toward the rest area did he call out to Tang Luochuan and the others with a smile.
"Teacher Wu's friend?"
Hearing this, the group immediately perked up with interest, wondering just what level Teacher Wu's friend had reached.
"Everyone, take a break."
"My friend will be arriving soon. He's also an educator, and his students are quite talented."
Meanwhile, Shen Yi led Shrek's students back to the rest area, her face bright with a smile.
As she spoke, her smile deepened. The last time she'd seen him was... well, the last time.
Who knew how much he'd changed after all this time? Was he still as persistent as before? Still as captivating...?
"Yes, Teacher Shen."
"Shen Yi, we're here."
Just then, a calm voice rang out. Shen Yi instinctively turned toward it—and there he was, the very person she'd been thinking of, standing right before her.
Behind him trailed a few promising youngsters, clearly his students.
"You came. But given our relationship, must you still call me that, Zhangkong?"
Shen Yi's smile didn't waver, though inwardly she sighed. Back when they were kids, she'd been the little tagalong calling him "senior brother."
And now... they were on a first-name basis.
"Students, this is my senior brother, Wu Zhangkong. You may address him as Teacher Wu."
Shen Yi introduced him smoothly.
"Teacher Wu..."
"You—you're Senior Wu Zhangkong!"
Upon hearing this name, the outer courtyard students erupted in excitement, unable to contain their astonishment. "Skyfrost Dance Longsky—that reputation is far too illustrious!"
Over a decade ago, he had been the brightest star of Shrek Academy. Rumor had it that even the then-Sea God Pavilion Master, Cloud Underworld Crown, had considered him as the next successor.
However, due to certain reasons, news of him had since faded—until now...
"I've already left the academy. Just call me by my name."
"Shen Yi, these are the children I mentioned. Each one is a genius among ten thousand."
Wu Zhangkong shook his head before turning his gaze to Tang Luochuan and the others, speaking slowly.
"Is that so..."
Shen Yi immediately grew thoughtful, scrutinizing each of the youngsters. If her senior brother acknowledged them, their talent was undoubtedly exceptional.
"It's you."
Just then, an exclamation suddenly rang out, startling even Shen Yi. When she turned, she saw Ye Xinglan staring in Tang Luochuan's direction, a look of surprise on her face.
"So you're the student Teacher Shen's friend mentioned!"
Ye Xinglan walked over with a smile.
"Hm?"
"I didn't expect you to be Teacher Wu's friend's student either."
Tang Luochuan responded with a faint, indifferent smile.
"Xinglan, you know them?"
Watching the scene unfold, Shen Yi was momentarily bewildered. What was going on? Her student knew her senior brother's students?
"Yeah, we met yesterday."
Ye Xinglan nodded lightly but didn't elaborate further. With so many people around, she couldn't very well say these were the two brothers who had nearly been forced into skipping out on their bill because of Xu Lizhi.
"..."
"Who are you?"
Only Gu Yue stiffened at the sight, her expression turning cold.
This girl...
Where had she come from?
"Hm?"
"That's a good question."
Ye Xinglan paused, then seemed to consider it.
"I left in too much of a hurry yesterday and didn't introduce myself. I'm Ye Xinglan. And you?"
She looked toward Tang Luochuan with a smile.
"Tang Luochuan."
"..."
Gu Yue's expression darkened further. Had she just been ignored?
And... where had this girl come from?!
"Luo Chuan, aren't you going to..."
"Introduce me to your new friend?"
(End of Chapter)