The Boomerang of Despair, He Just Watches You Crawl Like a Dog

Rumble—!!

The thunderous roar of boulders tumbling down shook the valley, followed immediately by the neighing of warhorses and the startled cries of the students.

The orderly Royal Knights escort was instantly severed at the waist by several massive boulders that had plummeted from the sky. Amidst the swirling dust and smoke, countless assassins clad in black, their faces veiled, swooped down from the steep cliffs on both sides like bloodthirsty locusts.

"Enemy attack! All units, take defensive positions!!"

The captain of the Royal Knights roared at the top of his lungs, but faced with the meticulously planned rockfall formation, the knights were split into the vanguard and could not immediately reinforce the rear.

And Shrek Academy, positioned at the very end of the procession, was instantly isolated like a stranded island.

"Why... why are they only attacking us?!"

Oscar looked at the dense swarm of black-clad figures rushing toward them, his face turning pale and his legs trembling.

It wasn't just him; everyone had noticed this bizarre phenomenon.

Although those black-clad figures had surrounded the entire rear, they merely encircled the elemental academies like Kamikaze, Blazing, and Heavenly Water, and even some smaller academies, without attacking, even intentionally leaving gaps for them.

Only the carriage of Shrek Academy was surrounded so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through, the killing intent almost solidifying into substance.

"Because their target is me!!"

Tang San threw open the carriage curtain and charged out, his eyes bloodshot.

He understood now.

This was a purge targeting the remnants of the Clear Sky Sect!

"Protect Little San!!"

Flender and Zhao Wuji roared in unison, instantly unleashing their Avatar of the Martial Soul. The Cat Eagle and the Vajra Bear stood to the left and right, shielding Tang San in the center.

"Heh, two Spirit Saints? That's a bit troublesome."

Among the crowd of black-clad figures, a leading elder sneered. Eight Spirit Rings lit up on his body—two yellow, three purple, and three black.

A Spirit Douluo!

"Listen up, everyone! Aside from that kid named Tang San, whose head I want, kill everyone else... no survivors!"

"Kill!!"

Hundreds of black-clad figures at the Spirit Ancestor level, bolstered by the aura of that Spirit Douluo, crashed into the battered ship that was Shrek like a meat grinder.

Above the canyon, on a protruding rock with an excellent vantage point.

Yu Tianyu was not panicked like the others. He sat on horseback, holding a glass of red wine he had produced from nowhere, his demeanor as relaxed as if he were watching a circus performance.

Beside him, Huo Wu was watching the scene below with anxiety.

"Hey, aren't you going to help? Those are people from Spirit Hall, right?" Although Huo Wu was haughty, she was an academy student after all and found such assassination tactics despicable.

"Help whom?"

Yu Tianyu took a sip of wine, a playful arc forming at the corner of his mouth, "Help that street rat?"

"Look."

Yu Tianyu pointed downward.

At this moment, Tang San was locked in a bitter struggle. Although Flender and Zhao Wuji were resisting with their lives, the enemy was too numerous and coordinated with terrifying precision.

Just as a black-clad Spirit Ancestor's blade was about to strike Ning Rongrong.

"Zhuge Divine Crossbow! Fire!"

Tang San roared, and the mechanical hidden weapon in his hands spat out a black radiance of death.

Pfft, pfft, pfft!

A dozen black-clad figures fell instantly, their throats pierced by the crossbow bolts.

"Good!" Dai Mubai rejoiced, "Little San's hidden weapons are truly formidable! We can counterattack!"

The morale of the Shrek group soared. A glimmer of what could be called "confidence" flashed in Tang San's eyes. The secret arts of the Tang Sect were indeed the foundation of his standing in this world! As long as he had these hidden weapons, even facing an army of thousands, he had the power to fight!

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

High above, Yu Tianyu shook his head, "Truly naively adorable."

"Huo Wu, want to see some fireworks?"

Yu Tianyu snapped his fingers.

An invisible, extremely subtle magnetic field spread out from his fingertips, instantly blanketing the battlefield below.

Just as Tang San prepared to reload his crossbow to deliver a vicious "Sand-Shooting Shadow" at the leading Spirit Douluo.

A sudden change occurred!

"Go to hell!"

A cold light flashed in Tang San's eyes as he pressed the trigger.

However.

The sound of the hidden weapon firing, which he had anticipated, did not ring out.

In its place came a dull sound—"Click!"

That was the sound of metal mechanisms jamming and snapping.

Under the influence of Yu Tianyu's magnetic field, the precise springs and gears inside the Zhuge Divine Crossbow suffered microscopic misalignments. For such a precision instrument, this slight displacement was fatal.

"Boom!"

The Zhuge Divine Crossbow exploded right in Tang San's hands!

The sharp crossbow bolts didn't fly toward the enemy; instead, due to the explosion, shrapnel scattered everywhere, embedding itself deep into Tang San's own arms and palms.

"Ah!!"

Tang San let out a miserable scream, blood dripping everywhere. He looked at the hidden weapon that had turned into scrap metal in his hands, his eyes filled with disbelief and terror.

"How could this be... how is it possible?!"

"I crafted this with my own hands... how could it fail?!"

This was the pride of the Tang Sect, a mechanical hidden weapon! It had never failed before! Why did it have to break at this life-or-death moment?

"Is this what you were relying on?"

The black-clad Spirit Douluo (Golden Eagle) laughed wildly, seizing the opportunity. "Without these pieces of junk, you're nothing but trash!"

"Sixth Spirit Skill: Golden Eagle Thousand Feather Kill!"

Golden feathers filled the sky, transforming into sharp blades that rained down upon the stunned Tang San.

"San!!"

Flender's eyes were bloodshot, desperate to rescue him, but he was held back tightly by two other Spirit Saints.

Despair.

A deep sense of despair enveloped Tang San.

The techniques he took pride in had betrayed him, his teachers and dean were pinned down, and the shadow of death was already brushing against his nose.

Just then.

A cloud of green poisonous mist suddenly surged from the side, instantly corroding those golden feathers.

"Who dares harm my granddaughter!!"

A thunderous roar erupted.

A green-haired old man descended from the sky, nine Spirit Rings pulsing beneath his feet, and the terrifying phantom of the Jade Phosphorus Snake Emperor blotted out the sky.

Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo!

Seeing Dugu Bo appear, Tang San, who had felt his heart turn to ash, saw his eyes suddenly light up!

That was hope!

That was the "Old Monster" he had sworn brotherhood with in the Sunset Forest!

"Old Monster! I'm over here!!"

Ignoring the excruciating pain in his hands, Tang San waved his uninjured arm frantically and shouted, "Save me! These people are assassins from Spirit Hall!!"

In his mind, given his relationship with Dugu Bo, the man would surely rush over to protect him immediately. As long as a Title Douluo was present, he would be safe!

However.

A scene he never could have dreamed of occurred.

Dugu Bo acted as if he hadn't heard his cries, not even sparing him a single glance.

The Old Monster's dark green eyes were merely scanning the battlefield anxiously, finally locking onto the Exotic Beast Academy team in the distance.

"Yiran! Yiran, where are you?!"

Dugu Bo flashed forward, bypassing Tang San—who was on the verge of death—and charged toward Meng Yiran (the granddaughter of the Dragon Duke and Snake Grandmother, and Dugu Yan's best friend) in the distance.

"Get lost! Don't block my path!"

Dugu Bo waved his hand, and a burst of poisonous mist forced back the black-clad men standing in his way.

And this action inadvertently "drove" a portion of the firepower that had been surrounding the Exotic Beast Academy directly toward Tang San's side!

"Old... Old Monster?"

Tang San's hand froze in mid-air, the expression on his face solidifying.

Why?

Why did he turn a blind eye?

Aren't we friends despite our age gap? Don't you still need me to detoxify your poison?

What Tang San didn't know was that at this very moment, Yu Tianyu's cold telepathic message was echoing in Dugu Bo's mind:

"Dugu Bo, do your job. Go protect Meng Yiran and the Dragon Duke and Snake Grandmother. As for Tang San... if you dare to look at him one more time, or help him in any way."

"I will immediately detonate the Poison Pill inside your granddaughter's body."

This was an absolute, lethal order.

Between his granddaughter's life and his so-called "friendship across generations," Dugu Bo chose the former without a moment's hesitation.

"Ahhhhhhh!!"

More men in black swarmed forward, slicing Tang San's Blue Silver Grass to ribbons and carving another deep, bone-exposed wound into his back.

Hope had transformed into an even greater despair.

Being ignored by his most trusted ally was a psychological blow far more painful than any physical injury!

"It's not over yet."

High above, Yu Tianyu watched Tang San's crumbling state and swirled his glass of red wine.

"The real show is only just beginning."

Just as the Shrek group was on the verge of total annihilation.

An incredibly sharp sword aura suddenly erupted from the other side of the canyon, forcibly pushing back the Spirit Douluo.

An elder dressed in white as snow arrived, stepping on the Seven Kill Sword and soaring through the air.

Sword Douluo, Chen Xin!

Behind him, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi, held his scepter with a grave expression.

"Sword Grandpa! Dad!"

Ning Rongrong wept with joy.

Seeing that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had finally intervened, the blood-soaked Tang San felt the extinguished flame in his heart ignite once more!

He hadn't lost yet!

Uncle Ning truly valued him after all! Even if he had refused before, he had come when it was a matter of life and death!

"Sect Master Ning!"

The Golden Eagle Spirit Douluo's expression changed drastically. "Does your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect intend to openly oppose us? This is the will of those above!"

Ning Fengzhi did not speak, merely looking down at the gruesome battlefield below.

His gaze landed on Tang San.

The youth was covered in blood, his eyes filled with a desperate hunger for life, staring fixedly at him as if he were the final straw to grasp.

"Dad, hurry and save Brother San!" Ning Rongrong cried out.

Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath, just about to order Uncle Chen to save the boy.

Suddenly.

He felt a gaze.

A gaze from high above, filled with mockery and warning.

Ning Fengzhi looked up sharply toward the top of the canyon.

Yu Tianyu was raising his wine glass, offering a distant toast.

His lips moved, making no sound, but Ning Fengzhi understood the words:

"Choose."

Those two words were like a basin of ice water, extinguishing all of Ning Fengzhi's fervor.

If he saved Tang San now, it would mean completely offending Yu Tianyu, offending the future Dragon God, and offending the hope that could allow the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to evolve.

Was it worth it for a doomed castaway of the Clear Sky Sect?

Ning Fengzhi's hand trembled.

He closed his eyes, then slowly opened them, his gaze now filled only with cold, calculating reason.

"Uncle Chen."

Ning Fengzhi's voice was hoarse.

"Protect Rongrong."

"...As for the others, we have no right to interfere."

"What?!"

Sword Douluo Chen Xin froze, looking at the sect master in disbelief. "Fengzhi, that Tang San..."

"That is an order!" Ning Fengzhi growled.

Sword Douluo gritted his teeth and let out a long sigh.

The aura of the Seven Kill Sword in his hand retracted, drawing a circle only around Ning Rongrong to form a protective barrier.

"Those who don't want to die, stay out of this circle."

Sword Douluo said coldly to the men in black.

As for Tang San outside the circle...

He had been abandoned once again.

This time, it was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, whom he had regarded as his backing, that had discarded him like trash right before his eyes for the sake of profit.

"Heh... hehehe..."

Tang San let out a shrill, wretched laugh, one that looked even uglier than crying.

The cruelty of reality crushed his worldview into dust at this very moment. What genius, what friendship—in the face of absolute profit and power, they were worth nothing!

"Are you done playing?"

Just as Tang San fell into complete despair, preparing to detonate his Eight Spider Lances to fight for his life.

In the sky, the previously clear sunlight suddenly turned feminine and soft.

Petals drifted down across the sky.

Every single petal carried a sharp aura capable of slicing through metal and stone.

A voice that sounded incredibly enchanting, yet made one's skin crawl, rang out:

"Oh my, what a lively scene. To be in such a sorry state while dealing with a few little children, how truly embarrassing."

A figure appeared silently in the center of the battlefield.

It was a man wearing golden armor, with skin as fair as a woman's, holding a Strange Velvet Chrysanthemum between his fingers.

An elder of Spirit Hall, a level 95 Title Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan!

With his appearance, a terrifying pressure that caused the heavens and earth to change color instantly locked onto Tang San.

Thump!

Flender and Zhao Wuji were forced to their knees by this pressure, vomiting blood, unable to even move a finger.

This was a Title Douluo!

The gap between a mortal and a god!

"So you are that Tang San?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo looked down from above at Tang San, who was sprawled on the ground like a dead dog.

"Twin Martial Souls... a remnant of the Clear Sky School..."

"It's a pity for such a fairly handsome little face."

Chrysanthemum Douluo blew a gentle breath, and a petal from his hand drifted out slowly; it appeared sluggish, yet it carried a will of certain death as it floated toward Tang San's throat.

"If it were any other time, I might have been interested in taking you back as a specimen."

"But the Pope has given the order: you must die."

It's over.

Tang San closed his eyes.

This time, there were no hidden weapons, no Poison Douluo, and no Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

There was only death.

Just as that petal was about to slit Tang San's throat.

"BOOM!!!"

A pillar of blue-purple lightning descended from the sky without warning, striking that petal with pinpoint accuracy.

The petal shattered.

The massive shockwave sent all the surrounding men in black flying.

As the dust settled.

A tall, upright figure stood before Tang San.

His black cloak snapped in the wind, golden lightning coiled around his body, and those heterochromatic eyes stared coldly at the Chrysanthemum Douluo opposite him.

Yu Tianyu.

The entire scene was shocked!

Even Tang San was stunned. He opened his eyes, looking at the back that he hated to the bone.

He... is saving me?

Why?

"Whose little brat are you? You dare to meddle in my business?" Chrysanthemum Douluo narrowed his eyes, his orchid finger slightly curled, a flash of killing intent in his eyes.

"Captain of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Tianyu."

Yu Tianyu stated his name indifferently.

Then, he performed an action that no one expected.

He turned around and stepped his foot onto Tang San's face.

That's right, he stepped on his face.

"Ugh!" Tang San let out a muffled groan of humiliation, his cheek pressed against the dirt, being ruthlessly ground into the ground.

Yu Tianyu stepped on Tang San while looking up at Chrysanthemum Douluo, a wild, arrogant smirk curling his lips:

"Chrysanthemum Guan, you've got one thing wrong."

"This dog is mine."

"His life, his dignity, and even the way he dies are all for me to decide."

"On the stage of the grand finals, I will cripple him with my own hands and ruin his reputation completely."

"Before that, whoever dares to touch my toy..."

The aura around Yu Tianyu erupted suddenly, and the phantom of the Nine-Colored Giant Dragon behind him let out a soul-shaking roar, forcefully holding back the pressure from Chrysanthemum Douluo!

"I will break their teeth!"

Arrogant!

Arrogant to the extreme!

Not only did he humiliate Tang San, but he also directly provoked a Title Douluo!

Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression shifted, and he was just about to lash out.

Suddenly, a faint voice entered his ears (it was a sound transmission from Ghost Douluo): "Yue Guan, retreat! Dugu Bo and Chen Xin are both watching, and... that kid's aura is very strange; it is suspected to be related to the Grand Pontiff (misleading intelligence from Qian Renxue). Don't cause extra trouble. Our goal is the grand finals championship."

Chrysanthemum Douluo took a deep look at Yu Tianyu, then glanced at Tang San, who was being stepped on.

"Good kid, you've got guts."

"Since you want to play with him in the grand finals, then I'll leave him for you to play with."

"Retreat!"

With a wave of Chrysanthemum Douluo's hand, the members of Spirit Hall receded like a tide, coming and going with equal speed.

The crisis was averted.

But Tang San's heart felt worse than if he had died.

Because at this very moment, he was being stepped on by the person he wanted to kill the most.

"Did you hear that? You piece of trash."

Yu Tianyu lowered his head, looking at Tang San beneath his feet, his voice like a devil's whisper:

"I didn't save you because I want to be your friend."

"It's because..."

"Only by crushing you, this so-called 'Twin Martial Souls genius', like garbage in front of everyone at the grand finals, will it be more interesting, don't you think?"

"You must try hard to live until that day, my... toy."

Yu Tianyu withdrew his foot, disdainfully wiping the mud off his sole on the grass.

Then, amidst the complex gazes of everyone present, he laughed out loud and strode away.

He left Tang San all alone, lying in the mud and blood.

He had survived.

But he would have preferred to die at the hands of Chrysanthemum Douluo just moments ago.

Because the days to come would be a true hell.