The situation in Mingdu was already like boiling porridge, with various forces intertwined. Servants and the Anti-Matter Legion were locked in fierce battle. With these two Masked Fools adding fuel to the fire, who knew what outrageous outcome might ignite.
Yet, the next second, Lu Jingming's lips couldn't help but curve slightly, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.
'But... it actually sounds like it could be quite interesting?'
Lu Jingming admitted that there seemed to be a bit of a 'joy-seeker' hidden deep in his bones.
As long as he wasn't the one being played, watching a group of top-tier powerhouses being thrown into confusion by two troublemakers seemed rather stress-relieving.
"Big Sister, are you alright!"
The residual shockwave from the nuclear-like explosion had yet to fully dissipate. Yae Sakura knelt on one knee on the scorched earth, the tip of her spirit blade, Sakura Fubuki, plunged deep into the ground, barely supporting her to keep her from falling.
She was covered in blood, and her once flawless cheek was marred by spiderweb cracks. Black negative energy was seeping out in wisps from the fissures—a sign of severe physical damage. Even her pink fox ears drooped weakly, covered in dust.
Higokumaru, transformed into a chibi little girl, frantically circled Yae Sakura, her clear voice choked with tears: "Big Sister! Your wounds... your wounds are so serious!"
She reached out with her small hand to touch the cracks but drew back, afraid of hurting her, and could only stomp her foot anxiously nearby.
'It's fine, I won't die,' Yae Sakura shook her head slightly, her voice holding a barely perceptible tremor.
She looked up at her surroundings. The ruins of Mingdu were permeated with the heavy scent of blood and resentment. The lives lost in the flames of war were nourishing the land in another form.
Although most of the negative energy was intercepted by the Holy Grail and Celenova, the remaining power was enough for Servants to quickly recover—at this moment, Mingdu was both a purgatory on Earth and a "nursery" for Servants.
Her gaze passed through the pervasive smoke and fell upon Siegfried in the distance.
Between the two of them, a bottomless, circular chasm was visible. Its walls were a mix of solidified lava and scorched rock, marking the center of that previous world-shattering collision.
Siegfried was in an equally disheveled state. The Baleful Dragon's Blood Armor was riddled with spiderweb-like cracks, and the armor on his chest was completely shattered, exposing a bleeding wound beneath.
The green lightning aura was significantly diminished, and even the hand gripping Balmung trembled slightly.
Though the defense of the Baleful Dragon's Blood Armor was strong, it ultimately had its limits. The energy impact, which transcended the norm, had already torn apart the armor's protection after Yae Sakura's burst of flame power collided head-on with his Fantasy Greatsword, Demon's Descent.
The two top-tier Servants were ultimately left in a mutually destructive, heavily wounded state.
On the other side, the Netherworld White Tiger, having been frozen, benefited from the disaster.
Huo Yuhao'sUltimate Ice had protected the frozen Netherworld White Tiger during the explosion's impact, successfully blocking the majority of the high temperature and shockwave.
When the explosive energy dispersed, the ice shell slowly melted in the residual warmth. The trapped Netherworld White Tiger suddenly disintegrated, transforming into two staggering figures—Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu. Their faces were pale, and their Soul Power was nearly exhausted, but they had managed to survive.
Huo Yuhao stood not far away, half his body still marked with charcoal-like traces—the burns left by the nuclear-like aftershock.
But the next second, as Soul Power and spiritual power intertwined and circulated, the scorched skin peeled off at a visible speed, revealing new, pale skin underneath. In just a few breaths, he was fully recovered.
He returned to his human form, but his eyes were even colder than they had been in his Frost Werewolf state.
His blood-red pupils were locked onto Dai Huabin. The undisguised murderous intent enveloped him like a physical presence—the time for years of forbearance and hatred to be settled had finally arrived.
"Die!"
Huo Yuhao hissed. He knew the situation in Mingdu was chaotic and that he absolutely could not give the other party a chance to breathe.
He suddenly raised his right hand, and a terrifying cold ice power instantly erupted. Dozens of sharp ice thorns shot up from the ground, howling as they aimed straight for Dai Huabin's vital spots.
"Huabin!"
Zhu Lu shrieked in alarm, a look of grim determination flashing in her eyes.
Dragging her nearly exhausted body, she unhesitatingly threw herself in front of Dai Huabin, using her back to shield him from the barrage of ice thorns.
'Zhu Lu!'
Dai Huabin's pupils constricted. He froze completely, looking at the slender figure blocking him.
He never imagined that this fiancée who had followed him since childhood and whom he viewed as an appendage would sacrifice her life to protect him at a moment of life and death.
It was only now that he truly saw the resolute determination in the girl's eyes. His heart felt fiercely clutched, and a surge of emotion he had never felt before welled up.
Huo Yuhao frowned slightly.
He bore no deep grudge against Zhu Lu, but since she insisted on throwing her life away, he would take care of her too!
The cold light in his eyes intensified, and he once again increased his Soul Power output. The chill on the ice thorns grew even more biting, freezing the very air into frost.
"Junior Brother, stop!"
A desperate voice came from afar, tinged with unspeakable sorrow.
"Lancer!"
Almost at the same moment, another calm voice rang out, followed by a red flash of lightning that cut through the air.
"Sizz—!"
The red lightning accurately struck the cluster of ice thorns about to pierce Zhu Lu.
In the midst of a violent explosion, the ice instantly shattered into scattered fragments. The residual power of the red lightning did not diminish, plowing a deep trench in the ground before finally sinking firmly into the pit—it was a scarlet demonic spear, wrapped in eerie runes and radiating a ferocious aura.
"Yo, sorry, kid. You can't kill these two for now."
Cú Chulainn's figure appeared beside the trench. He pulled out the demonic spear and rested it on his shoulder, a cynical smile playing on his lips, but his body stood firmly in the way of Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.
"Senior Brother, are you going to stop me too?"
Huo Yuhao's face completely darkened. Red light flickered in his blood-colored pupils, and the cold aura around him nearly froze the air solid.
"Junior Brother..."
Bei Bei emerged from behind the ruins, his heart aching agonizingly as he looked at the murderous youth before him.
"I know you've suffered so much injustice, but you can't keep making mistakes! Come back with us, alright?"
He had lost Tang Ya, he had lost the young man who called him "Senior Brother," and even Wang Dong'er had become a stranger.
All these changes were like sharp knives plunged into his heart, making it difficult for him to breathe from the pain.
If not for the obsession to find Tang Ya, he would have likely been crushed by this relentless series of blows.
"It's no use, Bei Bei." Xu Sanshi followed behind, looking at Huo Yuhao with a grim expression.
"He's joined an Evil Soul Master organization. He's not the Huo Yuhao we knew anymore."
As Bei Bei's best brother, he understood the pain Bei Bei endured better than anyone, but the reality was too cruel to allow for any hope.
"I didn't want this, Senior Brother. You forced me!"
Huo Yuhao sighed softly, the look in his eyes instantly replaced by ruthlessness.
He abruptly waved his right hand, and a dark shadow suddenly shot out from the gloom—the Dark Blue Silver Grass coiled and condensed like a living thing, transforming into a black-and-red long spear that pierced straight for Bei Bei's heart with a tearing whistle!
"Watch out!"
Xu Sanshi's pupils contracted violently. The newcomer's Soul Power fluctuation had reached the level of a high-ranking Soul Sage, and the speed was so fast it left an afterimage.
But his years of seamless teamwork with Bei Bei kicked in. Xu Sanshi instantly raised his Mysterious Turtle Shield. The dark shield glowed as it took the fatal thrust with a clang.
Meanwhile, a blue-and-white lightning aura flared around Bei Bei. His Dragon Claw, wrapped in the might of thunder, fiercely struck at the dark shadow.
But the moment he clearly saw the Dark Blue Silver Grass, Bei Bei's movement abruptly paused, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. The lightning on his Dragon Claw subconsciously dimmed slightly.
"Sizz—!"
The lightning tore through the black robe, revealing a graceful body and long black hair reaching the waist.
Although the face was expressionless and the eyes hollow, the former beauty was still recognizable—it was Tang Ya!
"Boom—!"
It was as if a bolt from the blue had exploded in his mind. Bei Bei froze on the spot, overwhelmed by an unbelievable ecstasy.
"Little Ya? Is it really you? It's Bei Bei!"
Completely disregarding the emptiness in Tang Ya's eyes, and forgetting the merciless assassination attempt just moments ago, he rushed forward, opening his arms to embrace her.
"Bei Bei, don't go near her!"
Xu Sanshi cried out in alarm, but it was too late. Bei Bei had already charged in front of Tang Ya, completely defenseless.
"Pfft!"
Scarlet blood sprayed out. The smile on Bei Bei's face instantly froze.
He looked down at his chest. The black-and-red long spear had pierced his body, and the Blue Silver Grass patterns on the shaft wriggled like living things, greedily sucking his blood and vitality.
"Litt...tle Ya?"
Bei Bei struggled to speak, his voice filled with shattered disbelief. He looked at Tang Ya before him, unable to fathom that she would hurt him so mercilessly.
Tang Ya's eyes, which had been lifeless, suddenly stiffened. The hand gripping the spear shaft trembled slightly.
The next second, she suddenly let go of the long spear, clutched her head with both hands, and let out a piercing scream filled with pain and struggle, as if two consciousnesses were battling and colliding in her mind.
"Little Ya, what's wrong?"
Disregarding the bloody hole in his chest, Bei Bei anxiously reached out to touch Tang Ya, his worry practically spilling out of his eyes.
"Huo Yuhao! That's Tang Ya! What did you do to her?"
Xu Sanshi rushed forward, grabbing the staggering Bei Bei and frantically shoving a healing pill into his mouth. He then turned and glared at Huo Yuhao, his eyes practically spitting fire.
He clearly remembered that if Tang Ya hadn't brought Huo Yuhao into the Tang Sect back then and recommended him for admission using the Tang Sect's quota, Huo Yuhao, given his age and Soul Power, would never have been able to enter Shrek Academy.
In the academy, Tang Ya had protected her Junior Brother everywhere, even helping him set up a grilled fish stall to supplement his living expenses.
Tang Ya owed Huo Yuhao nothing but kindness, yet now...
"Don't misunderstand."
Huo Yuhao spread his hands, his tone flat, almost indifferent.
"Teacher Little Ya joined the Holy Spirit Sect even earlier than I did. It's not me controlling her; it's the Holy Spirit Sect."
He wasn't going to take the blame for this.
"Junior Brother, tell me, what exactly happened to Little Ya?"
Bei Bei coughed up blood, his eyes fixed on Tang Ya.
Watching her convulsing in pain, his heart felt like it was being pierced by a thousand needles at once, the pain making it hard to breathe.
Huo Yuhao walked over to Tang Ya, a red light flickering in his eyes—a sign of intense spiritual power fluctuation.
He reached out, his fingertip covered in gentle spiritual power, and lightly placed it on Tang Ya's forehead, attempting to soothe her turbulent sea of consciousness.
"Teacher Little Ya, in order to seek revenge back then, forcefully developed the devouring nature of the Blue Silver Grass. Her martial soul completely transformed into an Evil Martial Soul. Later, she was discovered by a Holy Spirit Sect Elder and taken back to the sect..."
His voice paused. Watching Tang Ya's breathing gradually steady, he continued: "Your presence stimulated the memories that had been purged from her, which clashed with the secret arts and deadly poison controlling her body, causing her to lose control."
As his spiritual power was continuously infused, Tang Ya's screams slowly subsided, and she returned to her hollow, lifeless state, as if the struggle just now had never happened.
"The Holy Spirit Sect's secret arts and toxins are deeply rooted in her bones; even her soul has been corroded."
Huo Yuhao withdrew his hand, his tone as cold as ice, "Teacher Little Ya... is beyond saving. Give up, Senior Brother."
He only said these few words out of consideration for their past relationship.
"No! I will never give up! There must be a way!"
Bei Bei vehemently shook his head. The wound in his chest tore open again from the violent movement, staining his clothes with blood, but his eyes were solely focused on Tang Ya, "Even if there's only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, I have to save her!"
Huo Yuhao suddenly smiled. He extended his right hand toward Bei Bei, a look of unknown meaning sparkling in his eyes: "Senior Brother, if you truly want to save Teacher Little Ya, come to my side."
"Huo Yuhao, are you insane?!"
A vein pulsed on Xu Sanshi's forehead. He roared, gritting his teeth, "That's the Holy Spirit Sect! An Evil Soul Master organization! You want Bei Bei to join that place?"
If Bei Bei stepped into the Holy Spirit Sect, Shrek's reputation would be completely ruined. The mere name of Shrek Academy's elite disciple colluding with an Evil Soul Master organization would make the academy's prestige plummet.
Unlike Tang Ya, who voluntarily left, and Huo Yuhao, who was cast aside by the academy, Bei Bei was a legitimate descendant of Shrek Academy.
At that point, even if Bei Bei was the great-great-grandson of the Dragon God Douluo, the academy would have to painfully expel him.
Of course, things weren't absolute. After all, Shrek Academy wasn't incapable of putting on a show about an evildoer finding redemption or a prodigal son returning home.
With Shrek Academy's prestige and power, it could withstand this minor storm.
"I'm not insane."
Huo Yuhao withdrew his hand, his tone calm, "Teacher Little Ya's only path outside the Holy Spirit Sect is death. Without the Holy Spirit Sect's medication, the secret arts and toxins in her body won't let her last three days."
He wasn't lying.
Even if she got the antidote and Tang Ya regained her memory and sanity, she would be completely spent. The backlash from the secret arts and poison would hollow out her foundation, leaving her with only a few years of life left.
Bei Bei could never accept Tang Ya having only a few years to live.
Unless... she drank Hoolay's blood and transformed into an Abundance Stealer.
But what kind of resolute will was required for the Abundance Stealer's transformation ritual?
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