177: Proud Ye Xinglan

Shen Guyan couldn't help but look up. He saw a young girl walking toward them. She looked to be about the same age as Xu Lizhi, wearing the same green sportswear. However, while the clothes looked somewhat bloated on Xu Lizhi, they appeared slender and well-fitted on her. Her golden ponytail was gathered behind her head, and her large azure eyes were very beautiful, with long eyelashes that could rival Tang Wulin's.

Her skin was fair and delicate, possessing a jelly-like texture under the sunlight.

Just by her clothing, Shen Guyan could determine where she came from.

The girl didn't look very old, likely around the same age as Shen Guyan, but she had a stiff face and an extremely cold expression, looking like a little adult.

The moment he saw her, Xu Lizhi was like a mouse seeing a cat. He jumped up quickly and said honestly, "Sister Xinglan. I was wrong, but I'm so hungry! Look, if I don't eat my fill, I won't have any physical strength, right?"

“Let’s go.” The blonde girl waved her hand at him. She accidentally saw Tang Wulin next to him munching on dried fish and said with some disgust, “Don't just eat anything from anyone. Don't you know that in this world nowadays, there are many bad people?”

The fat on Xu Lizhi's face twitched, and he gave Tang Wulin an apologetic look. The latter also rubbed his face awkwardly.

“Aren't those words a bit much?” Shen Guyan's heart stirred, and he immediately took a step forward, standing out as he said, “As the saying goes, harsh words wound the heart. Are the two of you really that noble? Even children from poor families have dignity.”

Before setting out, Shen Guyan had specifically disguised himself. Except for his hair color, his overall appearance was vastly different from his original look.

Seeing someone stand up for him, Tang Wulin's heart warmed. Shen Guyan's mention of 'poor families' touched him. However, he didn't want to make a big scene, so he quickly reached out to grab Shen Guyan. “This friend, forget it.”

However, the other party didn't seem to think so.

“Oh? Dignity? You're talking to me about dignity?” The blonde girl turned around abruptly, a cold smile and mockery hanging on her pretty face. “On this continent, without strength, there is no dignity.”

“Who the hell are you?” The previously mentioned boy in fine clothes also approached. He had noticed the blonde girl just now, and although she was stunning, her attitude made him very unhappy.

Tang Wulin shrugged at him. “I don't know either. I was just exchanging eating tips with that Xu Lizhi.”

“Very well, I'll remember you all.” Seeing several people stand up, and perhaps because she had other matters to attend to, the blonde girl simply gave a cold snort and left without looking back.

“Remember this, your granddaddy's name is Xie Xie!” The boy in fine clothes shouted back at the girl with equal disdain.

“Alright, Xie Xie, we're not here to draw aggro for the academy.” Tang Wulin sighed and grabbed his arm.

“I just can't stand her arrogant look!” Xie Xie said with some indignation.

“Did you forget what it was like when we first met? Weren't you just like that?” Tang Wulin's gaze instantly became peculiar.

“That was... that's different. Anyway, I can't stand it!” Xie Xie crossed his arms over his chest in a tsundere manner, then turned to look at Shen Guyan and said, “Thanks for standing up for Wulin just now.”

“Haha, brother, you're a man of character too.” Shen Guyan chuckled, his smile very free and easy.

“Let's get acquainted. I'm Xie Xie, and he's Tang Wulin.” Xie Xie reached out his hand toward Shen Guyan in a casual manner.

“Zhuo Tianya.” Shen Guyan reached out to shake his hand, using his identity from the Sea and Land Academy.

“I'm Xu Xiaoyan.” The light-blue-haired girl also gave a pretty greeting.

Just then, a broadcast echoed throughout the venue—

“Today is the day the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition begins. We have specially invited a team from Shrek Academy to have an exchange match with our previous champions. Given Shrek Academy's formidable strength, this exchange match will be a cross-age bracket exchange. Our Tianhai Alliance Youth Division seven-man champions will challenge the Shrek Academy Junior Division seven-man team. Next, please have both sides take the stage.”

Everyone's expressions became strange. Youth Division versus Junior Division? The high-level officials of the Tianhai Alliance had indeed considered the issue of confidence. However, if the Youth Division lost to the Junior Division, it would probably... What surprised Xie Xie and the others even more was yet to come. Representing the Tianhai Alliance side were indeed the previous Youth Division champions, seven students from Tianhai Academy. This year, they were all over twenty years old and could only participate in the Adult Division competitions.

They each wore silver team uniforms and looked heroic and spirited. There were five men and two women, moving in perfect unison. They were clearly experts who had undergone long-term training; each was full of energy, and their eyes held a hint of excitement.

What surprised Tang Wulin and the others were the people coming up on the other side of the arena. They didn't recognize the first five people, but they recognized the last two at a glance—weren't they the little Fatty Xu Lizhi and the girl he called Xinglan?

Compared to the others, they were clearly younger, making them particularly conspicuous on the competition stage.

“It's... it's the two of them... Why are they on stage?” Xie Xie naturally recognized them too, his voice inevitably stuttering a bit.

Xu Xiaoyan said blankly, “Everyone's about the same age, how can the gap be so big?”

Indeed! They were all ten years old, yet others were already able to take the stage in an exhibition match. More importantly, being on stage meant they represented the legendary Shrek Academy!

No wonder that girl named Xinglan seemed so arrogant; she indeed had the capital to be so. It was just unknown to what extent their strength could reach.

At around ten years old, could they possibly be Three Rings experts? But the seven people on the Tianhai Alliance side were all Three Rings to Fourth Ring experts!

On the stage, both sides exchanged greetings. The seven people from the Tianhai Alliance were clearly a head taller than the others, and the age gap was evident—an age difference of over five years!

On the Shrek Academy side, the leader was a youth around fifteen years old. His appearance didn't seem particularly outstanding, but he had an indescribable temperament.

Just by standing there, despite his young age, he was as steady as a mountain and deep as an abyss. With just a few steps forward, he immediately became the focal point of the entire venue's attention.

Shen Guyan watched quietly. It wasn't as if he hadn't fought against students from Shrek Academy before, and he had even fought their Spirit Emperor.

Everyone below the stage widened their eyes. Such a battle undoubtedly had many highlights. Seven versus seven was the most mainstream team combat. After ten thousand years of combat verification, this number was the most conducive for a Spirit Master's performance.

The people on stage represented the cream of the crop of these two age groups. Especially these youths from Shrek Academy—to what level could their strength reach?

The two sides gave brief self-introductions. Only then did everyone, including Shen Guyan, learn that the girl who took Xu Lizhi away was named Ye Xinglan—a very pleasant name.

The referee was an old man with a deep aura, clearly possessing a high cultivation level.

“Now, let the match begin!”