On the day the finals officially began, the atmosphere in Spirit City reached a fever pitch.
A magnificent arena had been built on the huge plaza in front of Pope Palace. It was paved entirely with expensive black granite, and a powerful Soul Guidance barrier surrounded it, strong enough to withstand Spirit Saint-level Soul Skill bombardments.
Sunlight streamed down, gilding everything in splendor.
The three top teams on the continent—Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Star Luo Royal Academy, and the Spirit Hall Academy Team—stood at the front as seeded teams. The teams that had fought their way through the qualifiers, such as Shrek Academy, stood in rows on either side.
Under the gaze of the entire crowd, the heavy gilded doors of Pope Palace slowly opened.
Bibi Dong emerged, surrounded by a retinue of Cardinals. Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chen Xin sat in the VIP seats below the Pope, invited as special guests. On the other side, Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo stood like two divine guardians, radiating a terrifying, suffocating presence.
"Elite Spirit Masters from across the continent."
Bibi Dong's voice rang across the entire plaza, amplified by Soul Power. "You are the future of the Douluo Continent. To reward the ultimate champion of this tournament, I have prepared a generous prize."
Bibi Dong turned her palm over.
Hum!
Three strange beams of light shot into the sky, intertwining above the arena to form a dazzling curtain of light.
When the light faded, three trays hovered in midair.
On each tray lay a translucent bone, radiating powerful energy.
Spirit Bones.
And not just any Spirit Bones—three top-grade Spirit Bones that were over ten thousand years old!
The entire crowd fell into deathly silence. Then came a chorus of heavy breaths. That was the sound of greed.
Even Dai Mubai and Yu Tianheng, standing in the front row, couldn't hide the longing in their eyes.
But of everyone there, none looked more fervent than Tang San.
He stared fixedly at the pale-blue skull in the middle—the Wisdom Skull of Mental Cohesion.
"Mental power... That skull can increase mental power!"
Tang San's heart pounded violently, as if it were about to leap out of his throat.
His Purple Demon Eye had hit a bottleneck, and his mental power wasn't enough to wield more advanced Hidden Weapon techniques. If he got that skull, his strength would undergo a qualitative leap! He might even be able to resolve the backlash from his Twin Martial Souls!
"This is my chance... This is the compensation Heaven owes me!"
Tang San screamed inwardly. The humiliation and torment he'd suffered before seemed to find an outlet at last. As long as I win the championship and get a Spirit Bone, I can turn things around! I can rise again!
This was hope.
Vast, tantalizingly close hope.
However, just as Tang San lost himself in beautiful fantasies about the future,
a very out-of-place, lazy voice suddenly broke the solemn and greedy atmosphere.
"Well, well. Those are pretty good specimens."
Everyone turned toward the voice.
Yu Tianyu sat at the front of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy rest area, legs crossed. He toyed with an apple he'd gotten from who knew where, looking at the three Spirit Bones in the sky as casually as could be.
He took a bite of the apple and spoke indistinctly:
"His Holiness the Pope was thoughtful. He knew I'd been short a few bones to feed my dogs, so he prepared such a fine welcome gift."
The whole crowd erupted!
What was he saying?
Feed his dogs?!
Those were priceless Spirit Bones! Sacred treasures every Spirit Master dreamed of! And he'd said they were for feeding dogs?
What's more, his words clearly meant that he already considered the championship his for the taking!
"Arrogant!"
A burly young man with a sinister face on the Star Luo Royal Academy side snorted. He was Dai Mubai's older brother, Dai Weisi.
"Yu Tianyu, the tournament hasn't even begun. No one knows who'll end up with those Spirit Bones. You're acting as if there are no heroes in the world."
Yu Tianyu glanced at him and sneered.
"Heroes? Where are they?"
His gaze swept across the crowd before settling on Tang San, whose eyes were full of longing.
"All I see is a bunch of... beggars."
Yu Tianyu stood up and pointed at the Spirit Bones in the sky. His voice instantly turned imperious.
"Listen carefully."
"These three Spirit Bones belong to the Yu family."
"I'm only leaving them in His Holiness the Pope's care for now. Anyone who dares to scheme against them or reach out for them..."
Yu Tianyu clenched his hand, and an invisible draconic might burst forth.
"I'll chop off their hands along with their heads."
Tang San shuddered, feeling as though he'd been targeted by a primordial beast. The greed and hope that had just risen in him were instantly drenched by a bucket of cold water.
He looked at Yu Tianyu's unbearably arrogant stance, and the hatred in his heart grew even stronger.
Why did he deserve this?!
Why did every good thing belong to him?!
"Just wait... I'll win, no matter what." Tang San lowered his head, hiding the venom in his eyes. "That skull will be mine!"
The first round of the draw began.
With the entire continent watching, a Cardinal rummaged through the draw box for a moment.
"First round, first match."
"Shrek Academy versus Star Luo Royal Academy!"
The crowd erupted again.
This was undoubtedly a fated showdown. Everyone knew that Shrek Academy's Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were the exiled prince and noblewoman of the Star Luo Empire. And the leaders of Star Luo Royal Academy were their older brother and sister.
This was a family feud, and a battle to the death.
The Shrek rest area.
Dai Mubai's face instantly turned pale, and his body trembled slightly. The psychological scars left by years of fear made him instinctively dread Dai Weisi. Zhu Zhuqing's expression was grave as well, her nails digging deep into her palms.
"Don't be afraid, Mubai."
Tang San patted Dai Mubai on the shoulder, his eyes gleaming with an almost pathological confidence. "I'm here. I'm determined to get that Spirit Bone. No one can stop us from moving forward. Not even your brother."
For the Spirit Bone, and to turn things around, Tang San now wanted victory more than anyone else.
"Xiao San..." Dai Mubai looked at Tang San's determined gaze and nodded reluctantly. "All right! Then let's fight them!"
The two teams stepped onto the arena.
Dai Weisi looked at Dai Mubai, a cruel smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"My dear little brother, I didn't expect you to survive all the way here. What, you brought this bunch of country bumpkins along and think you can challenge me?"
Beside him, the voluptuous Zhu Zhuyun giggled behind her hand, looking at Zhu Zhuqing with contempt.
"Zhuqing, you've been away from home for so long, and this is all you've learned? Why don't you come home with your sister and accept the family's punishment?"
"Enough talk!"
Dai Mubai roared as he summoned his White Tiger Martial Soul. His aura was imposing, but he was clearly trying to hide his fear.
"Begin!" the referee declared.
The battle erupted at once.
Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun were several years older, with Soul Power levels in the forties and close to fifty. They immediately demonstrated their overwhelming advantage.
"White Tiger Vajra Transformation!"
"Hell Stab!"
Their Soul Skills collided in midair.
Tang San stood at the back of the team as Blue Silver Grass surged out like venomous snakes.
"Bind! Parasite! Spider Web Restraint!"
Determined to end the fight quickly and prove himself in front of Yu Tianyu, Tang San went all out from the very start.
Countless strands of Blue Silver Grass precisely avoided Dai Weisi at the front, instead ambushing the auxiliary Spirit Masters in the rear of the Star Luo Team.
"Ah!"
Several cries of pain rang out.
Several members of the Star Luo Team were tightly bound by the thorn-covered, poisonous Blue Silver Grass, instantly losing their ability to fight.
"Good!"
Flender excitedly pumped his fist from the stands.
A smug smile appeared on Tang San's face, too. See? This is my control! This is my strategy!
However,
just then, Yu Tianyu spoke again from the stands.
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly across the entire arena, like a scalpel precisely cutting into Tang San's heart.
"Well, well. So this is the so-called genius of the Control System?"
Yu Tianyu shook his head, looking disgusted.
"Instead of helping his teammates getting beaten up on the front line, he's using all his Soul Power to ambush the other team's support."
"Tang San, are you so desperate to win that you've lost your mind? You're trying to show off so badly that you don't even care whether Dai Mubai lives or dies?"
The crowd froze for a moment, then looked toward the arena.
Sure enough,
because Tang San had used his Soul Power to ambush the rear, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were already in grave danger under the combined assault of Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun. Several bloody wounds had opened on their bodies.
"Damn it!"
Dai Mubai was sent flying by a palm strike from Dai Weisi, coughing up blood. He couldn't help feeling resentful toward Tang San.
I'm fighting for my life up here, while you're farming points in the back?
After Yu Tianyu's remark, the crowd's opinion immediately shifted. They'd thought Tang San's strategy was brilliant, but now they saw it differently.
"Yeah, that's way too selfish."
"He's selling out his teammates!"
Tang San's face flushed red as he heard the comments.
"That's not it! I'm taking out their support first!"
He defended himself inwardly, but his hands began to falter.
"Damn you, Yu Tianyu! You're messing with my focus!"
The battle changed in an instant.
Seeing their back line cut off, a ruthless gleam flashed through Dai Weisi's eyes.
"Zhuyun!"
"Coming!"
The two embraced in midair, and their enormous Soul Powers fused in an instant.
Roar!
A thunderous tiger's roar shook the arena.
A gigantic Hell White Tiger appeared out of nowhere. It was over eight meters long and radiated a terrifying aura comparable to that of a Spirit Emperor.
This was the true trump card of the Star Luo Imperial Family!
"Roar!"
The Hell White Tiger swung a claw, sending Tai Long and Huang Yuan, who had tried to block it, flying. Both were knocked unconscious on the spot.
Then the enormous tiger paw came down with a destructive force, slamming toward the badly wounded Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.
If that strike landed, they'd be crippled at best and dead at worst.
"Xiao San! Save me!!" Dai Mubai shouted in despair.
At that moment, Tang San had a choice to make.
Should he use all his Soul Power to unleash his strongest attack at the Hell White Tiger's weak point and try to win?
Or should he use his Blue Silver Grass to pull Dai Mubai back, giving up his chance to attack but saving his teammate?
The old Tang San might have hesitated.
But now, tempted by the three Spirit Bones and tormented by Yu Tianyu's taunts, he'd lost all reason.
I have to win!
Only by winning can I slap Yu Tianyu in the face! Only by winning can I get the Spirit Bones!
Sacrifices... are inevitable!
A ruthless glint flashed through Tang San's eyes.
He didn't use his Blue Silver Grass to pull Dai Mubai away.
Instead, the Eight Spider Lances on his back—even damaged, they were still his strongest External Soul Bone—stabbed into the ground. He used them to propel himself into the air.
"Now! They're stiff after fusing!"
Tang San charged forward instead of retreating. The Blue Silver Grass in his hands turned into a black Long Spear, accompanied by several concealed Yama's Invitations—Dragon Whisker Needles and other top-grade Hidden Weapons, if he didn't have Yama's Invitations.
"Die!!"
Tang San unleashed every attack toward the Hell White Tiger's one blind spot.
"What?!"
Dai Weisi hadn't expected Tang San to attack without a thought for his teammates' lives.
Boom!
Bang!
Two loud impacts rang out almost simultaneously.
The first was the Hell White Tiger's massive paw crashing down on Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.
The second was Tang San's attack hitting the Hell White Tiger's weak spot at its waist.
"Pfft—!"
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing flew away like rag dolls, spewing blood as they crashed down at the edge of the arena. It was impossible to tell whether they were alive or dead.
"Awwooo—!"
The Hell White Tiger let out a cry of pain, its enormous body abruptly breaking apart. Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun fell out of it, their faces deathly pale. They had clearly been gravely injured.
Tang San had won that exchange.
He stood in the middle of the arena, panting heavily as he looked at his fallen opponents. A trace of wild joy appeared on his face.
"I won... I broke through the Hell White Tiger!"
He turned toward Yu Tianyu on the high platform, hoping to see shock or dismay on his face.
But all he saw was even deeper mockery.
"Clap, clap, clap."
Yu Tianyu applauded once more.
This time, however, his clapping sounded especially jarring in the silent arena.
"Wonderful. Truly wonderful."
Yu Tianyu rose to his feet and looked down at Tang San, his voice full of contempt.
"For the sake of so-called victory, for the sake of that Spirit Bone."
"You actually watched your brothers—men who had shared life and death with you—get gravely injured, then chose to finish off the opponent yourself."
"Tang San, your heart is darker than your Blue Silver Grass."
As Yu Tianyu's words rang out, all eyes in the arena turned toward the edge of the stage.
There, Dai Mubai was struggling to lift his head. His face was covered in blood as he looked at Tang San.
There was no joy of victory in his eyes, only deep disappointment and... hatred.
He had seen everything clearly in that instant.
Tang San had had a chance to save him.
But Tang San hadn't.
Tang San had chosen to use him as a shield, making him bear the Hell White Tiger's fury in exchange for an opportunity to attack.
"Xiao... Xiao San..."
Dai Mubai spat out a mouthful of blood, his voice trembling. "Did you want to win that badly?"
Zhu Zhuqing had already passed out, her breathing faint.
"No... That's not..."
At the sight of Dai Mubai's expression, the joy in Tang San's heart instantly chilled, replaced by a surge of panic.
"Mubai, if I hadn't done that, we would've all lost! I did it for the team! I did it for everyone!"
He shouted in his defense, trying to convince Dai Mubai, the spectators, and even himself.
"Enough."
Bibi Dong spoke coldly.
"Shrek Academy wins."
Her voice held not a trace of emotion. "But this kind of behavior—stopping at nothing to win and sacrificing one's teammates—is a disgrace to the dignity of a Spirit Master."
With one sentence, the Pope had passed judgment on Tang San.
The spectators began to boo.
"What Shrek? They're just a bunch of heartless monsters."
"He'll even sell out his own teammates. How can someone like that call himself a Spirit Master?"
"Disgusting. I actually thought he was a genius."
Countless curses surged toward him like a tide.
Tang San stood in the middle of the arena, still holding his victory pose, yet he was like an island abandoned by the entire world.
He had won the match.
But he had lost the people's hearts, the bonds of brotherhood, and his good name.
And that was exactly what Yu Tianyu had wanted to see.
The members of Shrek carried the gravely injured Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing away from the arena, their heads hanging in shame.
Back in the rest area, the atmosphere was oppressively tense.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun looked at Tang San differently now, with a hint of wariness and estrangement.
Neither of them could be sure they wouldn't be the next ones sacrificed.
Tang San sat in a corner with his head in his hands, suffering terribly.
He couldn't understand why things had turned out this way when they had won.
"It's all Yu Tianyu's fault..."
Tang San gritted his teeth. "If he hadn't stirred everyone up, why would they look at me like this? It was a tactic! A necessary sacrifice!"
Just then, someone lifted the curtain to the rest area.
Yu Tianyu walked in.
He was as relaxed as ever, and even had the half-eaten apple in his hand.
"What do you want?!"
Ma Hongjun jumped up in fright and stood in front of Tang San.
"Move, Fatty."
Yu Tianyu waved a hand, and a surge of force sent Ma Hongjun tumbling to the ground.
He walked straight over to Tang San and crouched down, looking at the "protagonist," who had now been abandoned by everyone.
"So? Does victory taste sweet?"
Yu Tianyu asked with a smile.
Tang San lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot like a wounded beast. "You won... Are you satisfied now?"
"Satisfied? Not even close."
Yu Tianyu pulled something from his clothes and tossed it down in front of Tang San.
It was a bone.
But it wasn't a Spirit Bone. It was a chicken bone with the meat already eaten off.
"I saw you staring at that Wisdom Skull for ages. You were practically drooling."
"Since you like bones so much, you can have this one."
"After all, someone like you, who'll betray his brothers for personal gain, isn't much different from a stray dog fighting over a bone."
"You!!" Tang San trembled with rage and tried to attack, only to find that Yu Tianyu's oppressive aura kept him from moving even a finger.
"Don't be in such a hurry to get angry."
Yu Tianyu leaned close to Tang San's ear and whispered so softly that only the two of them could hear:
"If I remember right, your next match is against Spirit Hall Academy."
"In other words, those three people you call the 'Golden Generation.'"
"Here's a friendly warning, Tang San."
"That flower your little rabbit carries seems to be withering."
"If her aura leaks out during that match..."
"What do you think Bibi Dong, sitting up there, and the two Titled Douluo will do?"
Boom!
Tang San felt as if he'd been struck by lightning.
Lovesick Heartbreak Red!
It was the only thing concealing Xiao Wu's aura!
If the flower withered, or fell off during the battle...
"What... What are you planning?!" Tang San asked in terror.
"Nothing in particular."
Yu Tianyu stood up and dusted off his hands, as if brushing away something dirty.
"I just want to see."
"Between a Spirit Bone and Xiao Wu, between your own life and the life of the woman you love..."
"Who will you choose to sacrifice this time?"
With that, Yu Tianyu turned and left with a loud laugh.
Tang San was left staring at the chicken bone on the ground, while Xiao Wu watched him anxiously from nearby. He sank into a chasm of despair unlike anything he had ever known.
This wasn't a competition at all.
It was a merciless torture, aimed squarely at his humanity.
Before you continue