"My little sister actually means no harm. She's simply full of admiration for Shrek Academy — the number one academy on the continent — and wanted to take the opportunity of a wager to exchange a few pointers with your side."
Gu You nodded slightly.
"Then, Your Highness, how do you wish to exchange pointers with us?" Gu You asked.
Dai Yueyan replied,
"I heard that you're also participating in this year's Continental Advanced Soul Master Youth Elite Tournament. Coincidentally, some of my companions and my little sister will also be taking part. I believe we'll surely meet before long."
Dai Yun'er added excitedly,
"Whether it's the singles, doubles, or team matches — as long as you can beat us even once, we'll count that as your win! Especially the team match — isn't teamwork what your Douluo Continent values most? Let's bet on the team battle's outcome. Do you dare?"
"Of course I do. What's the reward if we win?" Gu You asked lazily, fiddling with his fingers.
"The reward... you can name it yourself," Dai Yun'er said after a brief moment of thought.
"I heard the prince—ah, forget it, I'll think about it later," Gu You waved his hand dismissively.
"Fine, then I'll tell you what happens if you lose!" Dai Yun'er puffed her cheeks angrily.
"Go on." Gu You looked at her calmly.
"You'll become my boyfriend."
Gu You inhaled sharply through his teeth, giving her a once-over.
"You're too fat. I don't want to."
"You—! Aaah!! You're infuriating!"
Seeing that things were about to spiral out of control, Dai Yueyan quickly grabbed his sister and dragged her away. As they left, he said hurriedly,
"My little sister's a bit... unwell today. Please don't take her words to heart."
Hearing her brother's words, Dai Yun'er froze.Yes... when did I become this impulsive?
The first round of the doubles matches ended quickly, and the long-awaited team battles began in an orderly fashion.
Because Gu Yue refused to participate, only seven others joined the match. However, since each team needed to list one reserve member during registration, Gu Yue still signed up as the reserve and had to be present at the arena.
The importance of the team battles was evident from the crowd outside the Xingluo Grand Stadium — significantly fewer people than the previous two days, as everyone was now inside, waiting eagerly.
Entering the competition grounds, they first headed to the waiting area to check today's order of appearance.
The waiting area was already packed. Though fewer teams participated compared to the previous events, each team battle involved many participants — eight per team.
They soon found their place in the order of matches. Because team battles required a much larger arena, only five matches could be held simultaneously in the massive stadium.
Their match was set for the third round, a relatively early slot — no need to wait long.
Then suddenly, the noisy waiting area grew silent.
Everyone turned their heads instinctively.
From the entrance, a group of eight slowly walked in. All of them wore dark-red combat uniforms, with a black emblem on the chest — circular, but with one side gaping open like a fanged maw, exuding a fierce and terrifying aura.
"It's the Monster Academy," someone whispered from the crowd.
Monster Academy — wasn't that the one founded based on Shrek Academy's own rules?
And those red uniforms — were those their uniforms? Quite the contrast with Shrek's iconic green ones. As the saying goes, red and green together… what a sight.
This might get interesting.
Leading the Monster Academy team was a massive man — bald, towering nearly two meters tall, shoulders broad, back like a wall of stone. Just standing there, he looked like a mountain that blocked everyone behind him.
As he entered, the crowd instinctively parted to make way for him.
At the very back of the group was someone Gu You recognized — Dai Yun'er.
He had to admit, the princess was strikingly beautiful. But remembering this girl's bizarre antics from the original story, Gu You couldn't help feeling a little awkward at the sight of her.
Dai Yun'er hurried past her teammates to the front, tugging on the sleeve of the towering bald man. He turned his head — and immediately, the fierce aura he carried dissipated as he bent slightly to listen to her whisper a few words.
Then, the man raised his head — and his gaze locked onto Gu You.
His pupils instantly turned dark red, and at that very moment, the air in the entire waiting area seemed to turn violent and oppressive. Many onlookers subconsciously stepped back, faces full of shock.
Mountain Dragon King...
Gu You murmured inwardly.A genuine Mountain Dragon King martial soul — well, maybe not entirely pure-blooded; probably a second generation.
If it were pure, it'd have the potential to ascend to godhood after a second awakening.
Then, the bald man strode directly toward Gu You.
Gu You's eyes narrowed, but he didn't budge an inch. A terrifying aura surged from his own body in response.
The man's eyes glowed brighter, dark red light swirling within like a vortex.
"I heard... you bullied my sister Yun'er?"
His voice, despite his massive build, was low and calm rather than booming.
"The word 'bully' has many interpretations," Gu You replied, raising a brow. "Which one are you referring to?"
"Name's Long Yue," the man said. "Most people call me Dragon Lunatic. Nice to meet you."
He extended his large, red-tinged hand — palm wide as a fan.
"Gu You."
Their hands clasped.
In that instant, the air around them thickened, pressure spreading through the entire waiting area.
Dai Yun'er's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
Hmph! Idiot. You dared shake hands with Big Brother Long? You're dead. Absolutely dead!
But contrary to her expectations — the two hands did not move at all.
The dark red of Long Yue's skin deepened, while Gu You's turned a pale violet-gold. Both stood unshaken, each giving off the feeling of an immovable mountain.
Long Yue suddenly raised his head, glaring into Gu You's eyes. In his pupils, the dark red color swirled like a deep whirlpool. Sweat began to bead at the corner of his face.
They stood locked for more than ten seconds — before both released their grip at the same time.
Long Yue rubbed his forehead, disbelief flickering in his eyes. His hand was trembling uncontrollably.
Gu You, meanwhile, appeared as calm as ever — though surprise flashed faintly in his gaze.
As expected of the Mountain Dragon King... that mountain's might feels ancient, as if from ten thousand years ago.
Impossible...
Dai Yun'er rubbed her eyes in shock.
Just how freakishly strong was this Gu You?
Even stronger than Big Brother Long?! She knew exactly how terrifying Long Yue's martial soul was.
But this lean, slender guy... how could he possibly possess such overwhelming power?
The more she thought about it, the stranger it felt...
(End of Chapter)