You Lost, Xiao Wu Comes to Heaven Dou Royal Academy (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Tang San's resounding challenge was like a massive boulder dropped into a calm lake, leaving everyone present in utter shock.

A thirty-ninth-rank Soul Elder, challenging the fifty-second-rank (as far as everyone knew) Soul King, Lin Yi?

It sounded like a mantis trying to stop a chariot! Yet, the determination and icy chill in Tang San's eyes left no one doubting his resolve.

To reclaim the vital soul ring for Dai Mubai, he was willing to risk everything.

On the side of the Imperial Fighting Team, Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, and the others wore expressions of disbelief, thinking Tang San had completely lost his mind.

Chief Meng Shenji also raised an eyebrow, watching with great interest as this youth dared to challenge someone of a higher rank.

The members of Shrek Academy were even more horrified.

"San! You cannot!" Zhao Wuji shouted in a hurry; he knew well that Lin Yi's strength was unfathomable, and this move by Tang San was far too reckless.

"Third Brother! Don't be impulsive!" Xiao Wu grabbed Tang San's arm tightly, her beautiful eyes filled with worry.

Dai Mubai struggled to say something, but the movement aggravated his injuries, causing him to cough up a mouthful of stagnant blood.

Ning Rongrong, Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun all spoke up to dissuade him.

However, Tang San simply pushed Xiao Wu's hand away, his gaze locked firmly onto Lin Yi as he repeated, "Lin Yi, do you dare to accept my challenge?"

Lin Yi looked at the stubborn and resolute youth before him; the dignity and protective nature of a Child of Destiny, which would not brook any insult, were on full display. He felt no ripples in his heart, finding it instead... rather interesting.

He smiled faintly, a smile tinged with playfulness and condescension: "Challenge me? Very well. I have one condition."

His gaze shifted, landing on Xiao Wu, who stood anxiously right next to Tang San, and he said slowly: "If you lose, I want her—to leave Shrek Academy, join Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and become a member of the Imperial Fighting Team."

The moment these words were spoken, the entire crowd erupted in an uproar!

No one had expected Lin Yi to propose such a condition. This wasn't just about fighting over a soul beast; it was about poaching a core member of Shrek!

"Don't you dare!" Xiao Wu jumped up like a rabbit whose tail had been stepped on, glaring at Lin Yi.

Zhao Wuji's face turned so dark it was as if ink were dripping from it: "Lin Yi! Don't go too far!"

The others from Shrek also shouted their indignation.

Tang San's body stiffened abruptly, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks.

He had never imagined that Lin Yi's target would be Xiao Wu! To have Xiao Wu leave Shrek, leave his side, and join the opposing academy? This was harder for him to accept than any other punishment!

He fell into a state of immense internal struggle. He had confidence in his hidden weapons and the secret arts of the Tang Sect; even with the massive gap in soul power, it wasn't as if he had no chance to fight, perhaps even a slim possibility of creating a miracle. But... what if?

What if he lost, and Xiao Wu had to leave... could he bear that cost? Did he dare to gamble with Xiao Wu?

Watching the silent Tang San and the intense struggle in his eyes, Lin Yi sneered inwardly.

He knew what Xiao Wu meant to Tang San; she was his greatest weakness.

He had proposed this condition with the intention of making Tang San retreat in the face of difficulty.

After all, he didn't want to engage in a life-or-death struggle with Tang San too early, under the eyes of so many, and expose too much of his strength.

The scene fell into an eerie silence. Everyone's eyes were fixed on Tang San, waiting for his decision.

However, just as Tang San was locked in an internal battle, nearly ready to abandon the challenge because he dared not risk losing Xiao Wu:

"Third Brother!"

Xiao Wu suddenly spoke. She walked up to Tang San, took his clenched fists in her hands, and looked up. The anger in her large eyes was gone, replaced by an incomparable trust and firmness.

"I believe in you!" Xiao Wu's voice was crisp and clear, echoing through the woods. "Accept his challenge! I believe you will win! We won't be separated!"

"Xiao Wu..." Tang San looked at the unreserved trust in her eyes, and the softest part of his heart was struck hard.

Yes, how could he be afraid before the battle even began? How could he retreat when Xiao Wu trusted him so much?

"San! Beat the hell out of him! We believe in you!" Dai Mubai gritted his teeth through the pain and growled.

"Third Brother, go for it!" Ning Rongrong also shouted.

Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Zhu Zhuqing, and even Zhao Wuji were now looking at Tang San. Though their eyes still held worry, there was more support and trust! They believed in this partner who always managed to create miracles!

Looking at the trusting gazes of his companions and feeling the warmth of Xiao Wu's palms, all of Tang San's hesitation and struggle vanished in an instant, replaced by an indomitable fighting spirit and resolve!

He took a deep breath, gripped Xiao Wu's hand back, and then looked up, his gaze like a torch as he stared at Lin Yi, his voice firm and decisive:

"Fine! I accept! If I lose, Xiao Wu will leave Shrek and join Heaven Dou Royal Academy!

If you lose, return the soul beast! One battle decides the outcome!"

Now, it was Lin Yi's turn to be surprised.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the pair of youths who seemed ready to live and die together, and the group of Shrek students standing in solidarity. The sense of absurdity rose in his heart once more.

He had only intended to use a harsh condition to force Tang San to back down and avoid trouble, but he hadn't expected... the other party would actually agree?

Just because of this blind trust and so-called camaraderie?

It was truly... ridiculously naive, yet also... somewhat moving?

However, since the other party insisted on delivering themselves to his doorstep, he had no reason to retreat.

Besides, he also wanted to personally weigh exactly how much this Child of Destiny was worth, now that he had lost the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and the opportunity for immortal herbs.

"In that case..." Lin Yi walked out slowly, arriving at the center of the field, standing across from Tang San. "As you wish."

He looked at Tang San with a calm gaze. Although his soul power fluctuations were still suppressed at level 52, the foundation belonging to a level 66 Soul Emperor and the formidable spiritual power he possessed after being baptized by the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm allowed him to naturally exude an aura as steady as a deep pool and as imposing as a mountain.

"Tang San, level 39 Control-type Battle Soul Elder, please offer your guidance!" Beneath Tang San's feet, two yellow and one purple soul rings rose. His Blue Silver Grass martial soul coiled around his body, his gaze grave to the extreme. He knew this would be the most difficult battle of his life.

Lin Yi stood with his hands behind his back, not even revealing his soul rings immediately, simply saying indifferently, "Lin Yi, accepting the challenge."

The two sides confronted each other, their powerful auras beginning to collide in the air.

A battle of leaping ranks, sparked by a soul beast but entangled with emotion and dignity, was on the verge of breaking out!

Everyone held their breath, their gazes locked tightly onto the two figures in the arena.

Zhao Wuji and Meng Shenji, these two powerhouses, also focused their attention, prepared to deal with any unexpected events at any moment.

In the forest, only the uneasy low growls of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger and the rustling of wind through the leaves remained.

The battle was about to begin!