"Senior, your demand is far too unreasonable — we cannot comply."
Yu Xiaogang and Flender stood side by side, expressions grim and unwavering.
Behind them, the teachers of Shrek Academy, led by Zhao Wuji, radiated intense soul power, ready to take action at any moment.
This was no joke.
There was no way Flender would agree to such a ridiculous demand from Dragon Duke and Snake Lady!
"Very well, very well!"
"If you won't cooperate, this old man will force the issue…"
At their refusal, Duke Long's face turned dark with fury, and eight spirit rings emerged around him in a stunning display.
Behind him, a strange draconic martial soul manifested — though said to be of dragon lineage, Ding Potian's soul was, at best, a pseudo-dragon. The draconic bloodline it bore was pitifully thin.
Shing!
As Duke Long summoned his martial soul, Snake Po followed, revealing her own martial spirit — a shadowy, coiling black snake.
While the spirits were grotesque in form, the immense soul power surging from them made them formidable nonetheless.
"A pseudo-dragon dares to threaten us?"
At that moment, Yu Chen, who had been shielded behind Yu Xiaogang, stepped forward slowly.
Behind him loomed a towering Azure Dragon, a full hundred feet tall. Three jet-black spirit rings swirled beneath his feet.
ROOOOAR!
With a deafening dragon cry, the atmosphere changed entirely — Dragon Duke's and Snake Po's martial souls quivered in submission.
The fearsome presence they had earlier radiated faded instantly.
Especially Duke Long — his martial soul visibly trembled before Yu Chen's Azure Dragon. He could no longer suppress it, and his soul power turned chaotic.
Snake Po fared no better. As soon as Yu Chen's martial soul was released, her body shuddered uncontrollably.
Had it not been for their immense cultivation, the bloodline pressure alone would have dropped them to their knees.
Their granddaughter, however, had no such defense. Under the Azure Dragon's divine presence, she collapsed to her knees before Yu Chen.
"I-It's you…"
"You're the one causing all those Thunder and Heaven anomalies? You're this young? No older than twelve?!"
"And what is this martial soul?! Even with Rank 80 soul power, I can feel my bloodline cowering!"
"Twelve years old, already Rank 30... and all three spirit rings are black ten-thousand-year rings?! What kind of monster are you?!"
The Baizhang Azure Dragon behind Yu Chen shocked everyone. The expressions on Duke Long's, Snake Po's, and their granddaughter's faces were filled with disbelief.
The young girl's mouth hung open — utterly speechless.
Azure Dragon... Vermilion Bird... any one of the Four Divine Beasts appearing would cause upheaval across the heavens. Naturally, they recognized it.
After all, the Azure Dragon's bloodline aura alone could be sensed miles away — yet none of them imagined the wielder would be this young!
At only twelve, Yu Chen had clearly only just awakened his martial soul — and yet he had already reached Soul Elder rank?
More terrifying still: all three of his spirit rings were ten-thousand-year class. A feat not seen in any empire!
"I reached Rank 30 at eighteen and was hailed as the clan's greatest genius. So what does that make him…"
The girl behind Long Gong and Snake Po stared at Yu Chen, her eyes wide with wonder.
"Long Gong and Snake Po's fusion skill can push them to the threshold of Titled Douluo..."
"But even that's meaningless now, isn't it?"
Yu Chen's face remained calm. The first black ring beneath him pulsed with a soft glow.
First Soul Skill — Nine Heavens Dragon Roar!
ROOOAAARRRR!
As the ring activated, the Azure Dragon bellowed, shaking the heavens.
Under this roar, every Shrek Academy member received a surge to all their attributes!
Long Gong and Snake Po were horrified — not only was their aura suppressed by the Azure Dragon, but under the "dragon pressure amplification," their souls faltered.
Duke Long's lips trembled as he realized his condition. The bloodline suppression was too intense!
Their confidence had stemmed from their fusion skill briefly touching the Titled Douluo realm — but now, even maintaining Contra-level strength was hard!
Shrek had more numbers on their side. Their initial advantage had crumbled!
"Now's our chance!"
Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the other instructors erupted into action. Soul rings shone beneath them as they lunged toward Duke Long and Snake Po!
"I don't believe this!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Despite their weakened state, the elder duo fought back with powerful soul skills.
The clash shattered trees and caused nearby soul beasts to collapse instantly from the pressure!
Yu Chen's group, protected by other teachers, remained safe.
But it was clear: under the effects of the Nine Heavens Dragon Roar, Duke Long and Snake Po were completely overpowered.
Duke Long even coughed blood from the backlash!
"Clever boy!"
"You've made a powerful enemy today!"
"We're leaving...!"
Seeing the hopeless odds, Duke Long grimaced, ready to retreat.
They had overestimated themselves. With Yu Chen's Azure Dragon suppressing them and Flender's forces empowered, their fusion could no longer match a true Titled Douluo.
Shrek still had several Rank 70 Soul Sages, including the likes of Zhao Wuji and Flender — all of whom were peak experts!
To stay now would mean death.
"You think you can come and go as you please?"
"Surrender your arms… or you're not leaving."
Yu Chen's voice rang cold.
Before they could flee, Flender and Zhao Wuji moved instantly, appearing before Duke Long and Snake Po — blocking their escape.
Empowered by the Nine Heavens Dragon Roar, their combined presence was like a fortress wall!
They weren't letting anyone walk away so easily.
"You…"
"Fine!"
"You've got guts, kid. I'll remember you!"
Duke Long's face darkened even further. With his power suppressed and no option left, he activated his spirit power and viciously struck his own left arm!
"Yu Chen…"
The young girl accompanying them whispered his name under her breath.
Her eyes shimmered with awe — she never imagined someone her age could possess such strength and courage.
Whoosh!
The trio retreated at full speed, vanishing into the forest.
Just as Duke Long predicted…
…
"Brother Chen, thank you!"
"Without you, those two old monsters would never have left so easily!"
"Yeah, Xiao Chen's talent and spirit ring skills are absurd. Even Long Gong and Snake Po couldn't touch him!"
As Duke Long and Snake Po retreated in defeat, Dai Mubai and the others broke into broad grins.
They couldn't stop praising Yu Chen.
Indeed, had Yu Chen not been there, things might have turned out very differently — and far bloodier.
BOOM!
Just as the praises reached their peak, Yu Chen's Azure Dragon Martial Soul burst with radiant divine light!
Above Yu Chen, the sky tore open, shining with resplendent brilliance!
From the rift, a divine object descended, cloaked in holy light — its form unclear, but its power unmistakable!