Chapter 36: Ye Xinglan, Xu Li, Lan Dian Yu Yuanheng, Ten Thousand Years of Glory

“Huh???”

Upon hearing this, Tang Wulin froze in shock—Xiao Wu wasn’t even pretending to be impartial anymore!

No one is a sage; Xiao Wu never hid her bias—she firmly favored Zhao Xuanzhen.

Tang Wulin stared intently at Gu Yue, who sat quietly peeling shrimp, desperate to know her reaction. Gu Yue quickly gave her answer—she didn’t even spare him a glance, smiling warmly as she pushed a bowl of shrimp meat toward Zhao Xuanzhen.

“Xuanzhen, eat more.”

“Crack—”

As if struck by a thunderbolt from the heavens, Tang Wulin was utterly crushed, his entire body turning ashen gray; the faint bloodline attraction he once felt was now drowned by reason.

For the past half-year, Gu Yue had always worn a cold expression at East Sea Academy; few could even approach her. Yet Tang Wulin had once seen Gu Yue allow Zhao Xuanzhen to wrap an arm around her shoulders outside Yu Hao’s grilled fish stall.

Once is chance, twice is coincidence, thrice is fate—Tang Wulin abandoned all illusions. His childish, naive feelings ended without a trace. He understood: Gu Yue was already part of the Spirit Transmission Tower, and she ought to be close to Zhao Xuanzhen, her fellow tower disciple.

“Sigh…”

Swallowing a bite of bluefin tuna, Tang Wulin let out a heavy sigh, his eyes flickering with a faint, shattered glow.

Everyone has their own path. Tang Wulin didn’t blame Gu Yue for favoring Zhao Xuanzhen—just as in another timeline, he didn’t blame Senior Ouyang Zixin for favoring Xu Xiaoyu. It was her own calculation of advantage.

At this moment, in Tang Wulin’s heart, Gu Yue, his classmate of half a year, meant far less than his parents, who had vanished without a trace. He wanted to rapidly strengthen himself and find Tang Ziran and his wife—to reunite his family.

After absorbing the first five seals of the Golden Dragon King, his Blue Silver Grass evolved into Golden-Striped Blue Silver Grass; his soul power surged past Level Twenty, his cultivation speed increasing several-fold.

Wu Zhangkong himself confirmed: Tang Wulin possessed at least the potential of a Super Douluo; even the Ultimate Douluo realm was no longer a fantasy.

The worthless Blue Silver Grass had transformed into the top-tier martial soul, Golden-Striped Blue Silver Grass. He no longer needed to fear the Golden Dragon King’s seals, nor spend every day scrimping to buy spiritual items. Everyone had a bright future—Tang Wulin would now treat Gu Yue as a normal classmate.

“Big Sister Na’er, are you participating in the Tianhai Alliance Competition?”

Xu Xiaoyan patted her swollen belly and asked curiously.

At once, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie took notice. During the Junior Spirit Platform final exam, Zhao Xuanzhen and Na’er, working together, had whipped a group of East Sea students—including Zero Class—like spinning tops. The terrifying scene still haunted their dreams, jolting them awake in terror.

Na’er bit into a lobster and mumbled, “We didn’t register… probably just accompanying family?”

“Yes,” Zhao Xuanzhen agreed. “Just came along as a friend.”

The three of Zero Class exhaled in relief. Zhao Xuanzhen and Na’er were overpowered anomalies among their peers—keeping them out of the competition was a blessing.

After eating their fill, the group left the restaurant. Notably, Na’er ultimately defeated Tang Wulin, claiming the Golden Title of “Number One Glutton of Douluo.”

That little Golden Dragon with only five seals? No match for Queen Na’er. She’d underestimated the Silver Dragon King’s origin by thirty percent!

Zhao Xuanzhen and Gu Yue were used to Na’er’s insane appetite. The three of Zero Class stared in awe, unable to believe that the stunning silver-haired girl was an even greater glutton than Tang Wulin!

Today was the opening ceremony of the Tianhai Alliance Competition, held in the Tianhai Stadium, capable of holding eighty thousand spectators. The six shared the same destination and walked together.

The sun blazed fiercely, pouring down like golden flames, illuminating the grand arena in radiant brilliance. The Tianhai Stadium teemed with people—contestants from every academy, spectators, and media reporters flooded in; the crowd stretched endlessly.

“So many people…”

Na’er sighed, then sucked down a huge gulp of milk tea.

Along the way, they bought many Tiancheng specialty desserts. Na’er held a salted cream topped with crushed cookies in her left hand, her right arm looped around Zhao Xuanzhen, while Zhao Xuanzhen carried a bag of vanilla pancakes in his free hand.

This was the first time the Zero Class F4 had attended a large-scale public event. Aside from Gu Yue, Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan all felt nervous by instinct.

Their talent and combat strength were undoubtedly among the best of their age, but the Tianhai Alliance Competition divided participants by age group: the junior division was for ages ten to fifteen.

A single year’s difference at this age meant a massive gap in soul master cultivation. Zero Class was at a severe disadvantage—those opponents at the upper age limit likely surpassed them by a full rank!

The crowd automatically parted, forming a path. Sunlight fell upon the boy like the light of righteousness—broad-browed, large-eyed, his square face sharply defined, radiating an aura of solemn integrity. Wherever he passed, contestants stepped aside in deference.

“Jiutian.”

Zhao Xuanzhen nodded. Jiutian bowed in greeting.

On the alliance competition podium, Zhen Hua and Mu Ye spotted the trio of Xuan, Gu, and Na’er entering the arena. Their faces softened with a faint smile—they felt reassured.

Unlike previous competitions, this year’s event shone with brilliance from the Artisan Association. Master Zhen Hua himself had arrived in Tiancheng, flanked by Saint Artisan Mu Chen from East Sea City and Saint Artisan Duan Xuan from Tiancheng. The Tiancheng authorities hastily revised the schedule, granting Master Zhen Hua the highest honor—he would officially open the competition.

As Jiutian drew near, Tang Wulin’s eyes sharpened—he saw a medal pinned to Jiutian’s chest: a hammer-shaped base, with four bright yellow stars engraved upon it.

“Fourth-rank Artisan…”

Jiutian was clearly Zhao Xuanzhen and Na’er’s friend. Tang Wulin hadn’t expected him to be a fourth-rank artisan of similar age—almost certainly competing in the Artisan Competition!

Tang Wulin was a forging prodigy, rare in a thousand years. Just recently, at age ten, he had broken through to fourth-rank Artisan. Mu Chen had tasked him with winning the junior division championship—only to have Jiutian appear out of nowhere!

“All monsters…”

True Zhao Xuanzhen, Silver Dragon Spear Na’er, forging prodigy Jiutian, plus Gu Yue, the elemental user bound to the Spirit Transmission Tower—Tang Wulin felt he was witnessing the next generation’s leaders.

Studying the trio before him—Xuan, Na, and Tian—Xu Xiaoyan’s ice-blue eyes darted playfully. “Perfect—seven of you! If you joined East Sea Academy, we could enter the seven-person team battle!”

The Tianhai Alliance Competition schedule: morning sessions for the two secondary professions, afternoon for individual and three-person matches, and the prime-time evening event—the highly anticipated seven-person team battle.

Zero Class F4 had registered for the three-person match, with one member sitting out each round. Xu Xiaoyan thought it better to invite Xuan, Na, and Tian to join—immediately forming a seven-person team.

Her Ice Staff had evolved into the Starwheel Ice Staff that night—the Star Constellation Martial Soul was confirmed. Xu Xiaoyan’s power had surged; she was no longer a liability. With Zhao Xuanzhen and Na’er leading the charge, Zero Class even had a chance at the championship!

Xu Xiaoyan’s calculations were flawless. But Zhao Xuanzhen merely smiled in silence. The Tianhai Alliance’s soul masters were generally weak—he and Na’er could sweep all opponents. They wouldn’t stoop to bullying this league for a meaningless championship.

“I’m so hungry… anyone have food?”

Amidst the crowd, a chubby boy in a shirt the color of dung-green lumbered about like a wild boar searching for melons.

“Another glutton!”

Xu Xiaoyan snorted with laughter, then immediately realized her mistake and clasped her hands together, apologizing to Na’er. Na’er didn’t mind—in her eyes, “glutton” was a compliment. Food was life!

“Wulin, is that their uniform? Dung-green…” Xie Xie whispered, stifling a chuckle.

“Don’t say that. Students don’t choose uniforms. Ugly is unavoidable,” Tang Wulin sighed.

No one paid attention to the chubby boy until he approached the group, his face pleading for food. Perhaps it was the kinship among gluttons—Tang Wulin pulled out a bag of dried fish from his storage soul tool.

“Thank you, good person!”

The chubby boy let out a loud “Ow!” and stuffed a handful of fish into his mouth, babbling, “So delicious! So good!”

“I’m Xu Li. What’s your name, good person?”

As Xu Li chatted warmly with Tang Wulin, Zhao Xuanzhen recalled Na’er begging for scraps on Phoenix Street four years ago and teased:

“Doesn’t Xu Li remind you of you four years ago?”

“Get lost!”

Na’er bristled, shoulder-shoving Zhao Xuanzhen. “Be precise—it’s only similar behavior! Don’t insult a beauty’s appearance… or her fashion sense! I hate green!”

At that moment, hurried footsteps shattered the calm. A girl dressed in the same green as Xu Li darted through the crowd like a gust of wind, heading straight for them.

The girl’s features were exquisite, every line a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship. Her golden hair was tied high in a ponytail; her blue eyes shone like clear oceans.

Her eyebrows were slender and sharply arched, like twin golden feathers ready to take flight, radiating an innate arrogance. Her expression exuded icy aloofness—as if the entire world lay beneath her feet.

“Sister Xinglan, I’m sorry!”

Xu Li paled in terror, like a mouse seeing a cat, instantly begging for mercy.

“Sorry?” Ye Xinglan scoffed. “Xu Li, do you know your own status? Outside the academy, the world is full of villains. [70] Hanging around them, mindlessly stuffing your face… what if the food was poisoned? You’d regret it for life!”

Hanging out with them, eating mindlessly... what if the food is poisoned? You’ll regret it for the rest of your life!

Tang Wulin frowned. He’d kindly given Xu Li dried fish, and now Ye Xinglan accused him of poisoning it.

Out in the open, better to avoid trouble. Since Ye Xinglan hadn’t crossed the line, Tang Wulin chose not to argue with a girl—pretended he hadn’t heard.

After scolding Xu Li, Ye Xinglan spun around, her gaze locking onto the silver-haired girl, voice icy: “You insulted our Shi Laike Academy uniform. You owe me an apology.”

Ye Xinglan had heard Na’er say she hated green—she took it as a veiled insult to Shi Laike’s uniform, and demanded an apology outright.

Na’er’s eyebrows shot up. Her upbringing made her nothing like Tang Wulin—she never let grudges fester: “Oh? You accuse others of poisoning food, then forbid them from disliking green? You hide your ugly uniform behind a mask of ‘aesthetic unity’—this is the Shi Laike elite’s arrogance!”

“Zhao Xuanzhen, next time you go out, call her ‘Lord Shi’—or she’ll slap a murder charge on you for harming Shi Laike disciples!”

“Pfft—”

The three of Zero Class couldn’t hold back their laughter. Ye Xinglan had picked the wrong target—Na’er would never tolerate anyone challenging her, except Zhao Xuanzhen.

“You—”

Na’er’s unfiltered voice drew curious glances from the crowd. Ye Xinglan’s face flushed crimson. She gritted her teeth: “I… challenge you to the Soul Duel Platform!”

“Come!”

Tension crackled between them, as if a battle were about to erupt—then a low voice cut through: “Enough.”

As the voice spoke, five Shi Laike students stepped forward. The lead boy stood tall and imposing, his aura as unmoving as a mountain—exuding an indescribable pressure.

Ye Xinglan’s expression changed. She turned to the boy, a flicker of resentment in her eyes.

The boy hailed from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, a candidate for the next clan leader. His talent was extraordinary, his strength formidable—he was certain to enter Shi Laike’s Inner Academy.

The Douluo Continent maintained a ranking of super-talents under eighteen. The boy stood among its top five.

Fifth on the Young Prodigy List: Lan Dian Yu Yuanheng!

“Xinglan, what’s going on?” Yu Yuanheng asked.

Ye Xinglan briefly recounted the incident. The seven expected the Shi Laike captain to be reasonable—when Yu Yuanheng suddenly roared:

“Shi Laike’s ten-thousand-year glory cannot be defiled!”

The seven instinctively recoiled. Zhao Xuanzhen’s pupils dilated—he thought Ye Xinglan was already the ultimate lunatic. Who was this even crazier zealot?!

Yu Yuanheng stepped forward alone, pressing toward the seven, pointing directly at Na’er, his voice thunderous: “Apologize.”

“Fun fact: throw a firecracker into a pigpen—the one who squeals loudest is the one who gets blown up.”

Zhao Xuanzhen stepped forward, shielding Na’er behind him. Yu Yuanheng’s cheek muscles twitched—he recognized Zhao Xuanzhen’s insult.

Their eyes locked. Neither spoke. But an invisible force clashed violently between them. The crowd sensed the immense power, instinctively stepping back, clearing a wide circle. Only heavy breathing and suffocating silence remained.

Zhao Xuanzhen’s eyes churned with dark storms—yin and yang swirling in black and white, occasionally flashing with sapphire and gold. His gaze carried the weight of a thousand jin, crushing down on Yu Yuanheng.

Yu Yuanheng’s surprise vanished in an instant. How could such a person exist in this backwater Tianhai Alliance?

It was a pressure that sank into the marrow—every nerve tightened. Yu Yuanheng felt like a tiny boat tossed in a raging storm, about to be swallowed whole. He dug his heels into the ground, resisting the overwhelming force threatening to hurl him away.

“Yuanheng, the exhibition match is about to begin.”

Behind Yu Yuanheng, a noble-looking girl spoke gently.

I know.

With a sullen reply, Yu Yuanheng extinguished all his sharpness and turned to lead the Shrek team away. Ye Xinglan stubbornly glanced back at Zhao Xuanzhen, a ripple of alarm cracking through his azure pupils.

“Shrek Academy…” Naer clenched her fist: “So arrogant—I really want to beat them up!”

“Count me in,” Gu Yue said softly.

“I’ll join too,” Xu Xiaoyan raised her hand.

“Me too!”

Tang Wulin and Xie Xie spoke in unison: “So what if it’s Shrek? Even if it’s the top academy on the continent, if they bully others, we fight back!”

Zhao Xuanzhen and Jiutian exchanged a glance, then spoke calmly: “So you all want to fight… then fight!”

(End of Chapter)