Flowers Fall and People Perish, the Deprived Lover

The morning sun spilled onto the streets of Spirit City, yet it could not pierce the gloom hanging over the members of Shrek Academy.

Inside the lounge, the air was so stifling it felt as if it had solidified.

Dai Mubai lay bedridden with severe injuries, Zhu Zhuqing remained unconscious, and Tai Long and Huang Yuan had also lost their ability to fight. Their original seven-man core lineup couldn't even muster a complete starting roster at this moment.

Tang San stood by the window, watching the golden light refracting off the spire of the Pope Palace in the distance, the bloodshot veins in his eyes even more prominent than yesterday.

He gripped a handful of Dragon Whisker Needles so tightly that his knuckles turned white from the exertion.

"San..."

Oscar spoke with some hesitation, "What if... we forfeit? With just us few, there's no way we can beat the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall."

"No!"

Tang San spun around abruptly, his voice hoarse and sharp, "We absolutely cannot forfeit! That Wisdom Skull is vital to me! As long as I obtain it, I can resolve the issue of my Twin Martial Souls and lead everyone back to the pinnacle!"

His eyes burned with a near-paranoid madness.

He was like a gambler who had lost his mind, holding onto his very last chip while firmly believing that he would surely turn the tables in the next round.

"But..." Ning Rongrong bit her lip, "They have three Spirit Kings and a Spirit Fusion Skill. With just you and Xiao Wu, how are we supposed to fight?"

"I have a plan."

Tang San took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"Even though Boss Dai isn't here, I still have the Eight Spider Lances and the Tang Sect hidden weapons. As long as you all support me with everything you have and give me the chance to use 'Bat Wing Reincarnation', I can crush them in one fell swoop!"

Having said this, Tang San looked at Xiao Wu, who had remained silent the entire time.

Xiao Wu was wearing a pink combat outfit today, her long scorpion braid hanging down her back. Her face was somewhat pale, and her eyes always held a trace of panic, her hand subconsciously reaching toward her chest from time to time—where the Love-Sickness Heartbroken Red was hidden.

"Xiao Wu, are you afraid?" Tang San asked, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable pressure.

Xiao Wu looked into Tang San's eyes, which were filled with longing. She knew that if she didn't accompany him on this path, her Third Brother would live the rest of his life in regret and remorse.

"I'm not afraid." Xiao Wu managed a forced smile, "As long as Third Brother is here, I'm not afraid of anything."

"Good!"

Tang San took Xiao Wu's hand, flames reigniting in his eyes.

"Since Yu Tianyu calls me a villain who only knows how to sacrifice his teammates, then today I will show him how I, Tang San, lead a crippled team to turn the tide, defy the odds, and create a miracle!"

He had once again painted a grand picture for himself.

But he did not know that hidden within this picture was a lethal poison.

In front of the Pope Palace, on the finals arena.

When the sparse, straggling team from Shrek Academy walked onto the stage, a wave of undisguised jeers erupted from the crowd.

"Look, it's the 'sell-out-your-teammates' team."

"They dare to come up here to die with just these few people? They truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth."

Facing the sky-filling mockery, Tang San remained expressionless. He automatically filtered out these sounds, his gaze locked firmly onto the three people opposite him.

Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan.

As Yu Tianyu had said, although these three were submissive in front of that Devil King, they remained insurmountable mountains to everyone else.

"Tang San, I didn't expect you to actually dare to come up."

Yan twisted his neck, causing it to crackle, his eyes filled with cruel amusement, "Was yesterday's lesson not enough? Today, I will personally dismantle your bones one by one."

Hu Liena, meanwhile, looked at Tang San with seductive eyes, a playful smile hanging on the corners of her lips.

"I hope you can hold out for a while longer. Otherwise, that Lord will find it boring."

The "Lord" she referred to was naturally Yu Tianyu, who sat on the high platform, sipping tea while overlooking the entire arena.

"The match begins!"

Following the referee's command.

Without any probing, the battle instantly reached a white-hot intensity.

"Spirit Fusion Skill—Demon Charm!"

Hu Liena and Xie Yue instantly embraced. Two beams of intense light merged, transforming into a dense, pink mist that instantly shrouded most of the arena.

Within this mist, senses were obscured, spirit power was suppressed, and movements became sluggish.

This was the trump card of the Golden Generation, a domain-type skill capable of trapping and killing a Spirit King!

"Everyone, back to back! Rongrong, full-range amplification!"

Tang San shouted sharply, his Purple Demon Eye operating at full capacity. Two beams of purple-gold light pierced through the mist, attempting to locate the traces of their opponents.

"In this domain, you are nothing but lambs waiting to be slaughtered."

The eerie, gender-neutral voice of Demon Charm echoed from within the mist.

Two massive Moon Blades, accompanied by a shrill whistling sound, slashed toward the Shrek team from all directions.

"Ah!"

Screams rang out one after another.

Even with the guidance of Tang San, the gap in strength was simply too vast.

In just a single exchange, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Ning Rongrong were struck by the Moon Blade and sent flying heavily out of the arena.

On the stage, only Tang San and Xiao Wu remained.

A desperate situation.

A truly desperate situation.

Yet, at this moment, the corners of Tang San's mouth curled into an eerie arc.

"Finally... it's just us left."

This was actually part of his plan!

Only when his teammates had exited the stage could he use those lethal, forbidden hidden weapons without any reservations!

"Xiao Wu, Charm!"

Tang San let out a low shout, and at the same time, the Eight Spider Lances on his back snapped open like eight scythes of death.

"We only have one chance!"

Under the gaze of the Purple Demon Eye, Tang San finally caught a glimpse of a flaw in Demon Charm.

It was the split second when the two Moon Blades crossed!

"Now!"

Tang San's hands danced like butterflies weaving through flowers, and dozens of cold glints shot out from his palms.

The tenth-ranked technique of the Tang Sect hidden weapons—Bat Wing Reincarnation!

Every fragment of the hidden weapon flew in an arc, sealing off all room for Demon Charm to dodge. Furthermore, they were all coated in deadly poison!

"What?!"

Demon Charm, hidden within the mist, clearly had not expected Tang San to have such a trick up his sleeve. The flight paths of those hidden weapons were too bizarre to predict.

Clang, clang, clang!

After a dense series of clashing sounds, Demon Charm let out a muffled groan.

Although the Moon Blade had blocked most of the hidden weapons, several fragments still managed to slice through the skin of Xie Yue.

The poison took effect instantly!

The red mist, which had previously seemed impenetrable, began to fluctuate with instability.

"Great chance!"

A brilliant light erupted in Tang San's eyes.

He saw the dawn of victory!

As long as he seized this moment to pierce the Eight Spider Lances into their bodies and drain their soul power, he would win this match!

"I'm going to win! The soul bone is mine!!"

Tang San roared wildly, his figure surging forward as he transformed into an afterimage, charging toward the opening.

Xiao Wu followed closely behind, ready to deliver the final blow at any moment.

On the high platform.

Bibi Dong frowned slightly. She had not expected that this boy, whom she had looked down upon, could actually manage to injure the Golden Generation by relying on external objects.

"A bit interesting."

Yu Tianyu set down his teacup, a cruel smile curling his lips.

"Let him see hope, then plunge him into despair."

"That is the most perfect script."

Yu Tianyu tapped his fingers lightly against the tabletop.

"Snap."

A crisp sound of fingers snapping echoed.

An invisible yet incredibly overbearing mental shock, mixed with a trace of the Dragon God's pressure, pierced precisely toward Xiao Wu, who was in the middle of her charge.

It was not an attack on Xiao Wu herself.

Instead, it targeted the... Love-Sickness Heartbroken Red she carried in her embrace.

On the battlefield.

Tang San's Eight Spider Lances were less than three feet away from Demon Charm.

His face was already filled with the wild joy of a victor.

However.

In that split second of lightning and flint.

Xiao Wu, who was following behind him, suddenly felt her delicate body tremble violently.

She felt an irresistible force directly sever the connection between her and the Love-Sickness Heartbroken Red.

That immortal herb, which had always protected her and masked her spirit beast aura, seemed to be startled, its radiance suddenly dimming.

Immediately after.

Under the inertia of their high-speed charge.

That desolate, beautiful red flower slipped from Xiao Wu's embrace.

It drifted into the air.

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

Tang San caught a glimpse of the flower out of the corner of his eye.

His heart skipped a beat, and a sense of unprecedented fear instantly gripped his soul, more terrifying than facing death itself.

"No..."

The flower fell.

The aura, exposed.

BOOM!!!

A unique aura belonging to a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast, like a heavy bomb, detonated on the plaza in front of the Pope Palace!

It was a pure aura, filled with vitality and temptation.

To a Title Douluo, this aura was like a lighthouse in the dark night, impossible to ignore!

"This is..."

On the high platform.

Bibi Dong, who had been sitting upright, suddenly stood up. A terrifying, piercing light erupted from her phoenix eyes as she stared fixedly at the girl in pink on the arena.

"A hundred-thousand-year spirit beast?!"

Beside her, Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo were also shaken, their eyes revealing disbelief and extreme greed.

"A hundred-thousand-year spirit beast that has transformed into human form! It was right under our noses!"

A terrifying pressure descended instantly.

This was no longer a confrontation at the Spirit King level.

This was the terrifying pressure of three Title Douluo, one of whom was even a peak Douluo!

Thump!

Tang San, who was in the middle of his charge, was like a fly swatted by a giant palm, slammed hard into the ground by this pressure.

His Eight Spider Lances shattered inch by inch instantly, emitting a series of teeth-gritting, crisp cracks.

"Ah!!"

Tang San let out a miserable scream, blood spraying wildly from his mouth.

The dawn of victory from just a moment ago? The comeback against the odds?

At this moment, it all turned into bubbles.

The red mist dissipated.

Demon Charm dissolved.

Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan were also stunned, staring blankly at the trembling girl on the field.

Xiao Wu stood there, the Love-Sickness Heartbroken Red lying at her feet. Her face was deathly pale as she looked at the three figures on the high platform, who resembled Gods and Devils, her eyes filled with despair.

It was over.

Everything was over.

"Take her!"

Bibi Dong coldly spat out these three words.

It was a judgment, and also a death sentence.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo transformed into two streaks of light, lunging straight toward Xiao Wu on the arena.

"No! Don't you dare hurt her!!"

Tang San lay on the ground, his bones feeling as if they were about to fall apart, but he still tried desperately to crawl up.

He was her brother.

He had sworn to protect her.

"If you want to take her... you'll have to step over my corpse!"

Tang San roared, blood and tears streaming from his eyes, as he tried to use his broken body to stand in front of Xiao Wu.

What a touching scene.

What a tragic and heroic rescue.

However, reality is cruel.

"Get lost, ant."

Chrysanthemum Douluo didn't even spare him a glance, merely flicking his sleeve.

Boom!

A gentle yet matchless wave of spirit power slammed directly into Tang San.

Tang San was sent flying once again like a ragdoll, crashing heavily onto the hard granite floor and sliding dozens of meters, leaving behind a shocking trail of blood.

He wanted to stand up.

But he couldn't.

A casual strike from a Title Douluo had already shattered his meridians.

He could only lie there like a dead dog, watching helplessly as Ghost Douluo's ghostly hand reached toward Xiao Wu's slender neck.

"Xiao Wu..."

Tang San let out a desperate wail.

Is this the sorrow of the weak?

At this moment, his so-called hidden weapons, his so-called Twin Martial Souls, and his so-called theories were all nothing but trash!

In the face of absolute power, he didn't even have the right to stand and speak!

Just as Ghost Douluo's hand was about to touch Xiao Wu.

"Hold on."

A lazy voice rang out abruptly across the entire arena.

The voice wasn't loud, yet it carried an unquestionable majesty.

Ghost Douluo, who had been certain of his success, froze in mid-air. He felt a tremor originating from the depths of his soul—the suppression of all living beings by a superior dragon race.

A slender figure appeared out of thin air in front of Xiao Wu.

It wasn't Tang Hao.

It was Yu Tianyu.

With his hands in his pockets and still looking like he hadn't woken up, he stood right in front of the two Title Douluo.

"Yu Tianyu? What do you think you're doing?!" Chrysanthemum Douluo shrieked. "This is an order from the Pope! This spirit beast is the prey of Spirit Hall!"

"Prey?"

Yu Tianyu tilted his head and glanced at Xiao Wu, who was frozen in terror behind him.

He reached out and gently stroked Xiao Wu's long rabbit ears. Xiao Wu stiffened, not daring to move a muscle.

"You've got it wrong, Elders."

Yu Tianyu turned around, looking directly at Bibi Dong on the high platform, a wicked smirk curling his lips.

"This rabbit is mine."

The entire arena fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone's eyes widened.

What did he just say?

He actually dared to openly snatch a 100,000-year spirit beast in front of the Pope?!

"Yu Tianyu." Bibi Dong's eyes turned cold. "Do you know what you are saying? You want to hog the 100,000-year spirit ring and spirit bone all to yourself?"

"Hog it? No, no, no."

Yu Tianyu shook his head and said nonchalantly, "I just think it would be a pity to kill such a cute little rabbit."

"Besides..."

Yu Tianyu pointed to Tang San, who was still lying in the distance, coughing up blood.

"Doesn't Your Holiness think that keeping her alive is more interesting than killing her?"

"For example, using her as... a collar for certain people?"

Bibi Dong paused, then immediately understood what Yu Tianyu meant. She took a long look at this unfathomable youth.

After a long while, Bibi Dong actually withdrew her aura and sat back down on her throne.

"Since you have spoken, I will give you this face."

"However, while the death penalty is waived, she cannot escape punishment. This spirit beast must be strictly guarded—either by Spirit Hall, or by you."

"Deal."

Yu Tianyu snapped his fingers.

Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo exchanged glances, and in the end, they could only retreat in frustration.

Was the crisis resolved?

No.

For Tang San, the true hell had only just begun.

Yu Tianyu turned around and grabbed Xiao Wu by the wrist.

"Come with me, little rabbit."

"No... I won't go..." Xiao Wu was covered in tears, her gaze sorrowful as she looked at Tang San in the distance. "Third Brother... Third Brother..."

"Tsk, so noisy."

Yu Tianyu frowned slightly and reached out to pinch Xiao Wu's chin, forcing her to look at him.

"Get a grip on the situation."

"If it weren't for me, you would already be a corpse, a Spirit Ring."

"Your life was saved by me."

After saying this, Yu Tianyu did not take her away immediately.

Instead, he dragged her step by step until they stood before Tang San.

Tang San lay in a pool of blood, struggling to lift his head to look at the man standing high above, and at his beloved being held like a plaything.

"Let her... let her go..." Tang San's voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz.

Yu Tianyu crouched down, wearing that signature, nauseatingly gentle smile.

"Tang San, you should thank me."

"Look, how loyal I am. You said you didn't want her to be hurt, so I helped you save her life."

"Although, from now on, she belongs to me."

Yu Tianyu leaned into Tang San's ear and whispered in a voice only the three of them could hear:

"Rest assured, I will 'take care' of her well for you."

"Whether it's during the day, or at night."

"After all, I really want to taste the flavor of a hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit."

Boom!

This sentence completely shattered Tang San's final line of psychological defense.

"Ahhhhh! Yu Tianyu! I'm going to kill you! I'm going to kill you, ahhhhh!!"

Tang San let out a shrill, agonizing roar, like a beast whose cub had been stolen. He tried desperately to mobilize the spirit power within his body, wanting to detonate his hidden weapons, wanting to perish together with his enemy.

But he could not move.

One of Yu Tianyu's feet was already planted on his head, grinding his face fiercely into the dirt.

"Save your breath, trash."

Yu Tianyu looked coldly at the ant beneath his feet.

"You can't even protect your own woman, and you still have the face to scream here?"

"Remember this feeling of powerlessness."

"This is a humiliation you will never be able to wash away for the rest of your life."

After saying this, Yu Tianyu lifted his foot and kicked Tang San aside like a piece of trash.

Then, in full view of everyone, he wrapped an arm around Xiao Wu's waist. Amidst her cries of alarm, he forcibly pulled her into his embrace and turned to walk off the stage.

"No! Third Brother!!" Xiao Wu cried out, reaching her hands toward Tang San.

But she could not break free from Yu Tianyu's iron-like grip.

Tang San lay on the ground, his vision blurring.

He could only watch helplessly as that flash of pink disappeared further and further away, eventually vanishing completely into the arms of that demon.

In front of the Pope Palace.

The sun was still brilliant, yet it felt as cold as ice upon the skin.

The entire audience watched this scene; some were shocked, some sighed, but most felt only awe for the strong.

No one sympathized with the loser lying on the ground.

In this world where strength is king, the wails of a defeated dog are the most worthless noise.

Tang San's fingers dug deep into the cracks of the granite, his nails breaking and blood dripping.

"Yu... Tian... Yu..."

He repeated this name over and over in his heart, each time filled with bone-deep hatred.

But at the same time, he knew clearly.

From this day on.

His dignity, his love, and his hope.

Had all been completely crushed by that man.