The Shattered Myth of Haotian, a Stray Dog's Choice Between Two Options

Before the Pope Palace, there was a deathly silence.

Tang San lay prone on the cold stone slabs, his fingers digging into the ground, dripping with blood. His vision blurred as he watched that pink figure being pulled into the arms of Yu Tianyu; the heart-wrenching pain made him nearly faint.

That was his Xiao Wu.

That was the person he had sworn to protect with his life.

Yet now, she was being toyed with by that demon as if she were nothing more than a trophy.

"Let her go... let her go..."

A beast-like low growl emanated from Tang San's throat, yet he lacked even the strength to stand. The gazes cast upon him from all around held mockery, pity, and, more than anything, awe for the absolute power of Yu Tianyu.

No one would offend a peerless genius to whom even the Pope had to show respect, all for the sake of a piece of trash.

Just at this suffocating moment of despair.

Suddenly.

Rumble—!

In the sky, previously clear and cloudless, winds and clouds surged in an instant.

An incredibly domineering black current, filled with an aura of destruction, swept across the entire sky above Spirit City in a heartbeat. That terrifying pressure actually tore a gap right through the aura belonging to Bibi Dong and the Title Douluo in front of the Pope Palace.

A low, thick voice, seemingly containing endless fury, exploded between heaven and earth.

"A chrysanthemum, a little ghost, and you dare to harm my son?!"

Hearing this voice, Tang San, whose heart had been as dead as ash, felt his body tremble violently.

He jerked his head up, and his dim eyes instantly erupted with an unprecedented light.

This voice...

This aura...

"Dad?!"

Tang San cried out in a broken voice, tears streaming from his eyes.

It was him! He had come!

The decadent drunkard who forged iron in Holy Soul Village, the father who had silently left, the legendary Clear Sky Douluo who made Spirit Hall tremble in fear!

He had finally come!

High in the air, a figure clad in tattered black robes stood suspended. In his hand, he gripped a massive black war hammer. The hammer swelled in the wind, transforming in the blink of an eye into a terrifying giant object a hundred meters long, shimmering with a heart-stopping red light.

Clear Sky Avatar!

That power, capable of shaking heaven and earth, made every Spirit Master present feel as though breathing had become difficult.

"That is... Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao?!"

Someone screamed in terror.

Tang San looked at the figure in the sky, who appeared like a god or devil, and the despair in his heart was instantly replaced by wild joy.

He was saved!

His father was so strong—a powerhouse even the Pope feared! As long as his father was here, he would surely be able to save Xiao Wu, defeat Yu Tianyu, and wash away all the humiliation of today!

Hope burned in Tang San's chest once more like a raging fire.

Facing that heaven-destroying hammer in the sky.

Bibi Dong's expression changed drastically; she slammed her Scepter heavily against the ground, and six Spirit Rings rose instantly. Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo were even more on edge, both simultaneously releasing their Spirit Fusion Skill in an attempt to withstand this earth-shattering blow.

However, amidst this panic.

Yu Tianyu remained standing where he was.

He still held the struggling Xiao Wu tightly in his arms, even finding the leisure to lower his head and sniff the faint fragrance of her hair.

"San-ge... it's San-ge's dad..." Xiao Wu looked at the sky, a glimmer of hope igniting in her eyes as well.

"Oh? That old rat has finally decided to show his face?"

Yu Tianyu looked up at the Clear Sky Hammer descending from the heavens, a sneer of disdain curling his lips.

"The display is quite grand, but unfortunately, it's outdated."

Just as the massive Clear Sky Hammer was about to crash down.

Yu Tianyu moved.

He did not release his Spirit, nor did he use any Spirit Skill.

He simply raised his right hand slowly—a hand completely transformed by Dragon Transformation, covered in brilliant Blue-Purple Dragon Scales, with destructive thunder flickering at his fingertips.

"Get down."

Yu Tianyu gave a light shout, holding up the sky with one hand.

BOOM!!!

In the eyes of everyone, who were struck with absolute horror, that seemingly tiny dragon claw had actually held up the hundred-meter-long Clear Sky Avatar!

A massive shockwave swept outward, the plaza in front of the Pope Palace instantly shattered, and countless shards of stone flew through the air.

Yet, the feet of Yu Tianyu remained as if they had taken root, not moving a single inch.

Even the hand that was holding Xiao Wu did not loosen in the slightest.

"Wh... what?!"

In mid-air, the expression of Tang Hao, which had originally been overflowing with dominance, instantly froze.

Although he had held back in this strike to save someone, it was definitely not something anyone could catch with their bare hands! Even a Title Douluo above level 95 would not dare to take it head-on!

This youth... what kind of monster is he?!

"Is this all the strength you have, Clear Sky Douluo?"

The voice of Yu Tianyu traveled clearly through the dust and smoke, spreading across the entire scene.

"It seems that hiding in the gutter all these years has made your bones go soft."

Crack!

A crisp sound of shattering rang out.

One could see Yu Tianyu's five fingers suddenly tighten.

That Clear Sky Hammer true form, which had condensed countless amounts of Tang Hao's spirit power, actually began to show dense, spiderweb-like cracks right in the palm of his hand!

"Damn it!"

Alarm bells rang out in Tang Hao's heart.

An expert knows the score the moment they make a move. From this single instant of confrontation, Tang Hao keenly sensed that the strength of the youth before him was unfathomable!

Coupled with the menacing Bibi Dong nearby, as well as the Ghost and Chrysanthemum Douluos.

To retreat unscathed today, while also taking two people with him, would be as difficult as ascending to heaven!

"Tang Hao! Since you've come, stay here!"

Bibi Dong also reacted at this moment, shouting in anger as the phantom of the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor appeared behind her, its terrifying killing intent locking onto Tang Hao in the air.

The situation reversed in an instant.

He had thought it was the return of a king, but it turned out to be walking straight into a trap.

Tang Hao glanced at the heavily injured and dying Tang San on the ground, then looked at Xiao Wu, who was firmly held in the grasp of Yu Tianyu.

A trace of painful struggle flashed through his eyes.

If he didn't leave, everyone would die here.

If he did leave... he could only take one.

"Dad! Save Xiao Wu! Quickly save Xiao Wu!!"

Tang San on the ground seemed to sense something and roared desperately. He didn't care about his own life; he only wanted Xiao Wu to survive!

Yu Tianyu seemed to see through Tang Hao's hesitation.

The smile at the corners of his mouth grew wider, like the whisper of a demon.

"Tang Hao, I'll give you a chance."

Yu Tianyu's fingers lightly brushed against Xiao Wu's delicate neck, causing her to tremble.

"Your son's pathetic life is right there on the ground, and no one is stopping you."

"But this rabbit is my trophy."

"Do you want both, only to have both of them die? Or will you tuck your tail between your legs and get lost with your useless son?"

This was an open conspiracy.

A naked threat.

Tang Hao looked into Yu Tianyu's heterochromatic pupils, which were filled with mockery, and he knew the other party was not joking. If he dared to forcibly snatch Xiao Wu, Yu Tianyu would undoubtedly crush her throat without hesitation, and even Tang San would be caught in the crossfire.

Time did not allow him to think.

Bibi Dong's attack had already arrived.

"Ah!!!"

Tang Hao let out a roar filled with unwillingness and humiliation.

"Great Sumeru Hammer—Ring Detonation!!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Several spirit rings on Tang Hao's body instantly detonated, and terrifying energy erupted, temporarily forcing back Bibi Dong and the two elders.

Taking advantage of this brief gap.

Tang Hao's figure moved like lightning, diving downward.

His target... was Tang San.

"No... don't..."

Watching his father charge toward him instead of Yu Tianyu, Tang San's pupils contracted violently.

"Dad! I'm not leaving! Go save Xiao Wu! Save her!!"

Tang San struggled frantically, refusing the large hand Tang Hao reached out.

"Shut up! San! As long as the green hills remain, there's no need to worry about firewood!"

Tang Hao's heart was also being twisted like a knife, but he had no choice. He grabbed Tang San by the collar, hoisting him up as if he were a chick.

"Go!!"

Tang Hao swung his hammer once more, and using the recoil, he transformed into a streak of black light, fleeing rapidly toward the outskirts of Spirit City.

The wind whistled.

Tang San was tucked under Tang Hao's arm, his body unable to move.

He could only turn his head with great difficulty to look behind him.

In his line of sight.

That pink figure who haunted his dreams was still being held captive in the arms of that demon.

Xiao Wu did not cry, nor did she scream.

She simply watched the direction in which Tang San was departing, the light in her beautiful eyes fading bit by bit until only a dead, silent gray remained.

She saw it.

At the moment of life and death.

Whether it was the Third Brother she loved most or the father he respected most.

Both had ultimately chosen to abandon her and flee for their own lives.

Although it was a helpless move, and although it was the rational choice.

But in this moment, her heart shattered.

"Do you see that, little rabbit?"

Yu Tianyu's voice rang out at the perfect moment, filled with sarcasm.

He even raised a hand, grabbed Xiao Wu's wrist, and waved it toward Tang San's retreating back.

"This is the man you chose."

"When danger strikes, he runs faster than anyone."

"Third Brother... goodbye..."

Xiao Wu closed her eyes, and two lines of clear tears slid down.

In the distance, Tang San witnessed this scene.

He saw the dead-hearted look in Xiao Wu's eyes and saw the mockery of the victor on Yu Tianyu's face.

"Pfft—!"

Overcome by the sudden surge of rage and grief, Tang San could no longer withstand the immense mental blow; he spat out a mouthful of blood, his vision went black, and he fell completely unconscious.

In the final moment before losing consciousness.

Only one thought remained in his mind:

I hate... I hate this damn weakness... I hate this damn fate...

With the escape of the father and son, Spirit City returned to calm.

Although two remnants had escaped, for Spirit Hall, today was still a massive victory.

Because they had not only crushed the prestige of the Clear Sky Douluo, but also secured a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast—even if this spirit beast was currently in someone else's hands.

Bibi Dong retracted her Spirit, her expression somewhat gloomy as she looked at Yu Tianyu.

"Yu Tianyu, you let Tang Hao go."

"Let him go?"

Yu Tianyu released the puppet-like Xiao Wu from his arms and casually tossed her to Huo Wu behind him for safekeeping.

"Your Holiness, if I had gone all out just now, Tang Hao would indeed have died. But his desperate final counterattack would likely have demolished half of your Pope Palace, and these two elders under your command would probably have been buried with him."

"I was helping you cut your losses."

Although Yu Tianyu's words were arrogant, they were an indisputable fact.

In the state of Ring Detonation, Tang Hao truly possessed the ability to drag others down with him.

Bibi Dong snorted coldly, offering no rebuttal.

"Then what about this spirit beast? How do you intend to deal with her?" Bibi Dong continued to stare at Xiao Wu. The temptation of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring was too great.

"I said it before, she is mine."

Yu Tianyu walked up to Xiao Wu, looking down at the girl who had already lost her soul.

"As for the Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone..."

Yu Tianyu smiled and pulled the Wisdom Skull of Mental Cohesion, which Tang San had previously regarded as his lifeline, from his robes.

"Isn't this the bone that piece of trash Tang San wanted so badly?"

"Since he ran away, this thing is useless now."

Snap.

Right in front of Bibi Dong and Xiao Wu, Yu Tianyu crushed it with a casual squeeze.

That priceless ten-thousand-year spirit bone instantly turned into a pile of crystalline powder, scattering into the wind.

"You!" Bibi Dong's pupils constricted. What a waste! An absolute waste!

Beside them, Xiao Wu's body shuddered violently.

That was the thing Third Brother had dreamed of... and it was destroyed just like that?

"Remember this."

Yu Tianyu brushed the powder off his hands and looked at Xiao Wu, his voice cold and ruthless.

"In this world, only what I choose to give is yours."

"What I refuse to give, even a god cannot take away."

"Take her away."

Yu Tianyu waved his hand.

Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er immediately stepped forward, grabbing Xiao Wu by the left and right.

Xiao Wu did not resist, being dragged away like a walking corpse.

From this moment on.

She was no longer the lively and adorable Rogue Rabbit of Shrek Academy.

She was merely a Golden Canary in Yu Tianyu's cage.

A living specimen, used to torment the spirit of Tang San.