Chapter 277: Ancestral Running, Confused Tang Wulin!
Dai Tianling understood that once Shrek Academy recovered, no matter how far it had fallen, it would inevitably rise again and regain its lofty status.
That was the foundation Shrek had built over twenty thousand years.
So now was the perfect opportunity to insert himself into the Academy's core.
This time, Dai Tianling's approach was not as forceful as before. Instead, he spoke in a gentle, coaxing tone.
"This is merely to give the Star Luo Federation an explanation. I still trust Shrek Academy's loyalty, but others won't see it that way!
"My support for Shrek has been immense—naturally, it will cause resentment within Star Luo's own circles."
Even as Emperor, he could not alone dictate the fate of the entire federation.
"In that case, just one person for now—you know him as well. En Ci, the Dean of Monster Academy, an Extreme Douluo with the Bright Holy Dragon martial soul. He won't tarnish Shrek's reputation."
Dai Tianling sincerely wanted Star Luo to gain access to positions within the Sea God Pavilion.
He was willing to exchange high-ranking federal posts in return.
"Absolutely impossible!" Elder Li refused to give an inch.
Impossible—the cost was too great!
"Your Majesty, this is an ancestral decree!"
"Ancestral decree?" Dai Tianling sneered. "You couldn't even protect your own students. What use is your so-called decree now? Are the lives of the Monster Academy students not worth such an exchange? I entrusted Star Luo's future prodigy, Long Yue, to you—and that's not enough? Or do you mean your offer of compensation is completely insincere?!"
Elder Li found it difficult to breathe. He knew this was extortion, but he also knew that without a considerable price, there was no calming the emperor's rage or the nation's grief.
But placing outsiders within the Sea God Pavilion? That was unprecedented!
If he agreed, he would be branded a traitor to Shrek's ancestors!
"…This matter… is of utmost importance. I dare not decide alone. I must report back to Chief Yun Ming to reach a conclusion." He could only stall for time.
"I'll give you three days," Dai Tianling said coldly. "If after three days I don't receive a satisfactory answer…"
His resolve was firm—he was going to claim a share of Shrek's authority.
As a descendant of one of the first generation of Shrek's Seven Monsters, why should Star Luo be denied even a single position within the Sea God Pavilion?
Was he supposed to let the Douluo Federation take all the benefits while Star Luo got nothing?
Dai Tianling paused, a chilling glint flashing in his eyes.
He no longer threatened—he declared his decision outright:
"Until then, Elder Li, you shall remain here as my guest in the Imperial Palace's 'Hall of Cultivating Mind,' awaiting your Pavilion Master's reply in peace. As for your safety, my 'Shadow Guards' will… take excellent care of you. Guards, escort Elder Li to the Hall and attend to him properly."
Two guards, exuding deep and oppressive auras, immediately approached, one on either side of Elder Li.
"Guest"? This was imprisonment. He was being held hostage.
As for whether Shrek would retaliate—it was impossible.
The Douluo Federation had already turned hostile toward the Academy. Now only the Star Luo Federation retained any tolerance for it.
As for Heaven Soul? Battle Spirit?
Those two were practically at each other's throats. If Shrek fled to the Heaven Dou Continent, that would truly be surrendering to despair.
After all, an academy's future depended on its student base, and Heaven Dou had little left in terms of talent.
Any that emerged were swiftly eliminated by unknown forces from rival nations.
Now, Shrek Academy could rely only on the Star Luo Federation.
Elder Li staggered, staring at Dai Tianling in disbelief. The once-kind imperial face now revealed its true nature.
"You—you—you—"
He couldn't believe Dai Tianling would go this far.
All this… over a few dead students?
But seeing that expression, he understood—this wasn't a misunderstanding. It was deliberate suppression. And there was nothing he could do to resist.
He was on the Emperor's ground. Even as an Extreme Douluo, he could not defy a nation's might.
He could only tremble as he was "escorted" away, Shrek's dignity crushed entirely underfoot.
"Your Majesty, you had better know what you're doing…"
As Elder Li was taken away, the Prime Minister stepped forward, concern written all over his face. "Your Majesty, detaining Shrek's elder—won't that…"
Dai Tianling waved him off, eyes steeled with determination. "I have no choice. The blood of Star Luo runs hot, but my heart has grown cold.
"We've supported them again and again, and every time, the outcome was worse than before.
"This time, if they don't feel the pain down to their bones—if they don't bleed for real—they'll never learn! And it would be unjust to those children who died in vain! Keep a close watch on the Sea God Pavilion. Also, mobilize the Imperial Guard, increase patrols on every border leading toward Shrek. From this moment on, without my direct edict, no person or supply is to leave Star Luo territory!"
The warmth Dai Tianling once felt for Shrek Academy had long turned to frost. The deeper the love, the deeper the resentment.
His commands now were icy and unrelenting.
This was not only punishment for Shrek—it was a military preparation for potential direct conflict.
He would use Elder Li as a bargaining chip, backed by the machinery of the Star Luo state, to force Shrek into submission.
If it meant severing ties with the Academy, so be it. For the federation, this deed would be a sin now but remembered as glory for generations.
In the end, Shrek Academy would belong entirely to the Star Luo Federation.
…
Tang Wulin hadn't been in a good mood lately. First, his senior rejected him, crushing his hopes completely.
Then, upon arriving at Shrek Academy, he got entangled with Evil Soul Masters and nearly lost his life.
He had never imagined that the legendary Shrek Academy could be so unreliable.
In the Douluo Federation, every household practically contracted spirit souls. To be fair, spirit souls were no match for true spirit beasts—same level or not, spirit masters often lost to beasts.
Still, spirit souls lacked physical bodies and thus fell short in raw strength, but they had one big advantage—there were too many of them!
A single district—no, an entire city—could spark a beast tide.
For Evil Soul Masters, that was a recipe for disaster.
So what was wrong with Shrek?
They were being hunted down by Evil Soul Masters instead.
Rescue? Fine. But why send a bunch of students—and nearly get them wiped out?
When Tang Wulin woke and heard what had happened, he was utterly dumbfounded.
Thankfully, he himself was unharmed. But his "cheap master," Zhusie, had temporarily run into trouble and couldn't guide him, so he had to join a normal class.
And thus began his miserable running regimen.
That's right—running!
He'd heard it was Shrek's ancestral tradition. They said the two generations of Shrek's Seven Monsters who became gods started out running laps.
For Tang Wulin, his powerful Golden Dragon King bloodline made such physical training manageable.
But he still couldn't help questioning life itself.
"At Douluo University I had to run; now at Shrek Academy I'm still running? Did I come here for nothing?"
(END CHAPTER)
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