Even the fanatical believers of the Holy Spirit Church had a chance of failing the transformation into a Borisin person to gain vast vitality. How much higher was the risk for Tang Ya in her current puppet-like state? A slight mistake could lead to her completely degenerating into a mindless monster.
And even if Tang Ya recovered her memories, could her original will truly succeed in the Borisin transformation?
The thought flashed across Huo Yuhao's mind, but he quickly suppressed it.
Bei Bei's fingertips dug deeply into his palm, blood seeping out between his fingers, yet he felt no pain.
The blue eyes that were usually as gentle as jade were now bloodshot and filled with struggle, locked onto Tang Ya's blank, soulless face.
He had fantasized about their reunion countless times: perhaps a tearful embrace filled with laughter, or a scolding after a long separation. He never imagined it would be like this—she stood right there, yet she was like an exquisite doll with her soul scooped out, even her breathing carrying the coldness of a puppet.
Bei Bei lifted his head and looked at Xu Sanshi beside him.
His dearest friend's face was ashen, his eyes, which usually sparkled with mischief, were now filled with terror and a desperate plea to stop. His lips moved, silently screaming "don't."
Bei Bei suddenly felt a sense of pointlessness, not toward Xu Sanshi, but toward this damned, inescapable fate.
Obsession... this thing truly was the heaviest shackle, chaining him firmly to this path of no return.
"Bei Bei! You goddamn snap out of it!"
Xu Sanshi finally roared, his voice hoarse and distorted by extreme panic. He violently grabbed Bei Bei's arms, his fingernails nearly digging into his flesh.
"That's the Holy Spirit Church! It's the den of Evil Soul Masters! It's the place our Shrek Inspection Group paid countless lives to eradicate! Have you forgotten the seniors who died on inspection missions? Have you forgotten Elder Mu's expectations for you? You're the heir to the Sea God's Pavilion!"
"Little Ya..."
Bei Bei seemed not to hear. He just stared blankly at Tang Ya, at the eyes that were once bright and quick-witted, but now resembled clouded glass marbles.
There was no light left in them, no him, only dead silence and gloom.
It was this silence that effortlessly shattered all the scales in his heart—reason, principle, loyalty, and responsibility to the academy all crumbled in that moment, proving utterly fragile.
He was willing to pay any price for this dead silence to regain vitality.
Huo Yuhao's lips curved into a subtle, almost imperceptible smile.
He knew him too well.
Senior Brother Bei Bei's soft spot was and always would be Tang Ya. For her, he could become a god, or a demon.
"Joining the Holy Spirit Church doesn't necessarily mean falling into depravity," Huo Yuhao's voice sounded at the opportune moment, carrying a calm analysis.
"Like the Dragon Emperor Douluo, Senior Long Xiaoyao, who serves as a Supreme Enshrinement in the Holy Church—has he ever used a single Evil Soul Master technique? Senior Brother, you are Elder Mu's great-grandson, the core of Shrek's next generation. If you join, the Church Master would be overjoyed and would certainly grant you an extraordinary position."
"At that time, with the further care of Senior Long and Senior Ye Xishui out of respect for Elder Mu, you will have a voice in the Church. Protecting Teacher Little Ya will not be difficult."
These words were like the most precise key, layer by layer prying open the last barrier in Bei Bei's heart.
"Join the Holy Spirit Church..."
Bei Bei was silent for a very long time, long enough for the air to nearly solidify. Finally, he spoke, his voice hoarse, like coarse sandpaper rubbing against it, carrying the scent of blood.
"Can they... can they really restore Little Ya's memory?"
"Bei Bei! Are you insane?!?"
All the color drained from Xu Sanshi's face instantly. He fiercely squeezed Bei Bei's arm as if he meant to crush his bones.
"Do you know what you're saying?! Turn back! You can still turn back now!"
"I'm sorry, Sanshi..."
Bei Bei lowered his head, his voice filled with endless fatigue and an almost desperate resignation.
"Forgive me."
Despite his words, Xu Sanshi knew in his heart that this was Bei Bei—loving Tang Ya to the bone, willing to fall into the abyss for her sake.
He knew it was a bottomless abyss, but he couldn't let go.
He preferred to believe in the sliver of light Huo Yuhao had painted—Shrek couldn't save Little Ya now; only the abyss itself might hold a chance of survival.
"I forbid it!"
Xu Sanshi suddenly pulled him around, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Even if I have to knock you out, I'm dragging you back!"
He absolutely could not watch his best brother jump into the fire pit!
"Tsk, Master, a man's decision can't be reversed by brute force."
Cú Chulainn shouldered his crimson demonic spear, clicking his tongue, yet his eyes sharply swept over Huo Yuhao.
He saw clearly that Huo Yuhao's move was precise and lethal.
Bei Bei's will had been completely shaken. Even if he were forcibly taken away today, he would inevitably find a way back to the Holy Spirit Church on his own later.
Shrek Academy couldn't hold Bei Bei captive forever; it was merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause!
What's more...!
Cú Chulainn's battle intent subtly rose. Bei Bei's Servant was the Divine Strategist General Jing Yuan. If they became enemies, it would certainly be a thrilling contest.
Just then—
A stream of blood-red light flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes!
An invisible, formless, yet immense mental attack struck Xu Sanshi, whose mind was momentarily vulnerable due to Bei Bei's decision, with the precision and ferocity of a giant hammer!
"Ugh!"
Xu Sanshi was caught off guard. He felt as if his head had been slammed by an invisible heavy hammer. His vision instantly blackened, his insides churned violently, and his body shook uncontrollably, nearly falling to the ground.
"I'm sorry, Sanshi!"
Profound pain and apology flashed in Bei Bei's eyes, but his actions were without hesitation.
Forcibly enduring the tearing pain in his chest, his left fist instantly wrapped in crackling blue-white lightning snakes. A full-powered Lightning Dragon Head slammed fiercely into Xu Sanshi's abdomen!
"Bang!"
A muffled impact sounded.
Xu Sanshi grunted, his body painfully hunched over like a shrimp. The shock and grief in his eyes far exceeded the pain in his abdomen.
The agony of being struck from behind by his most trusted brother—who could understand that pain?
Cú Chulainn's eyes sharpened. He instinctively moved to spin and block Bei Bei, but at the instant he had the thought—
A black shadow, like a phantom, appeared right next to him without warning! It was so fast it exceeded the limits of visual capture!
A long, powerful, perfectly sculpted leg tore through the air, carrying terrifying force capable of crushing a mountain. Without any fancy moves, it drove straight towards the vital point of Cú Chulainn's back! The might of this strike caused the surrounding air to shriek under the unbearable pressure!
"Who's there!?"
Cú Chulainn's combat experience was immense. In a flash of crisis, he forcibly twisted his body, and the crimson demonic spear instantly blocked behind him. Ancient Rune script on the spear exploded with dazzling scarlet light!
"Boom—!!!"
A terrifying explosion, like a meteor crashing into the earth, loudly erupted!
Cú Chulainn felt an overwhelming, irresistible force surging wildly from the spear shaft. His arms were throbbing and numb, and the skin between his thumb and forefinger instantly cracked and bled!
He was thrown backward like a giant stone launched by a catapult, becoming a blue blur. He crashed through seven or eight walls of ruins and rubble, slammed into the smoke and dust of a wasteland dozens of meters away amidst the sound of collapsing bricks and stones!
This earth-shattering development made even the resolute Bei Bei's pupils contract in horror.
Huo Yuhao's confident smile, however, deepened.
His greatest reliance this time was never the ambiguous Yae Sakura, but this amnesiac God!
Xu Sanshi struggled to lift his head, enduring the abdominal spasms and dizziness.
As Cú Chulainn's Master, he knew the Lancer's strength better than anyone—it was enough to easily suppress Elder Xuan!
Yet, he had been blasted away in a single exchange?!
Although there was an element of surprise attack, the newcomer's strength had absolutely reached an incredible level!
His gaze fixed firmly on the figure who had silently landed.
Tall and slender, her sleek black ponytail reached her ankles, swaying slightly in the breeze.
Her face was exquisitely beautiful, yet carried an air of inviolable maturity and coldness.
What shocked Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei most was that their Master's sense of their Servants detected no trace of a Servant on this stunning woman.
Unless she, like the Masked Fool Sparkle, possessed the ability to block a Master's senses and sever the contract connection.
But among the many Servants they had met, only Sparkle had this hidden ability.
An existence that wasn't a Servant, yet possessed the terrifying strength to instantly suppress a top-tier Servant?
This completely exceeded the scope of their understanding of the Douluo Continent!
The newcomer was none other than the amnesiac Xiao Wu, whom Huo Yuhao now called "Xiao Mei."
Although her old injuries had not fully healed, her Divine Body, Divine Sense, and Divine Power remained.
The Holy Spirit Church's secret technique had drawn a large amount of life energy from failed Borisin transformations for her, allowing her injuries to recover somewhat.
Standing there, the faintly circulating sea-blue divine power aura around her subtly distorted the surrounding space, radiating a heart-stopping majesty and pressure.
Huo Yuhao's true trump card was finally revealed.
"Little Junior Brother."
Bei Bei covered his chest and stumbled toward Huo Yuhao, his voice incredibly dry.
"I'll go with you, but can you guarantee... they will give Little Ya back to me?"
As he passed Xiao Wu, he felt a strange sense of familiarity, yet he couldn't connect this powerful woman with the statue of the Soft Bone Douluo in the memory of Shrek Plaza.
Shrek Academy had a statue of Xiao Wu, but there were ultimately differences between a statue and a real person, not to mention that the divine realm Xiao Wu looked different from her appearance before ascending.
Furthermore, during the survival competition in the Simulated Universe, they failed to recognize a younger Xiao Wu, as the difference between her adult self and her minor self was too great.
Bei Bei only felt that Xiao Wu bore some resemblance to Wang Dong'er (or Wang Dong), but he didn't connect her to the Soft Bone Douluo, one of the original Shrek Seven Monsters.
"Of course, Senior Brother."
Huo Yuhao nodded confidently, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
"Your value far exceeds your own imagination. With the respect for Elder Mu and those two seniors, I believe the Church Master will make a wise choice."
He knew that no matter how much Zhongli Wu valued Tang Ya and wanted to train her into an ultimate-level puppet, with him and Bei Bei joining, plus the relationship between Ye Xishui, Long Xiaoyao, and Mu En, Zhongli Wu would ultimately have to compromise, even if he was unwilling.
Moreover, compared to Tang Ya, Bei Bei was undoubtedly more valuable to cultivate.
After all, Bei Bei was a descendant of the Dragon God Douluo's bloodline, and his martial soul could also evolve into the Holy Light Dragon. Combined with Bei Bei's deep love for Tang Ya, he had a high chance of becoming a second Long Xiaoyao in time.
With Long Xiaoyao as a precedent, Bei Bei would definitely be highly regarded if he joined the Holy Spirit Church.
"Fine... I believe you."
Bei Bei nodded heavily, as if expending all his strength.
The guilt of betrayal nearly drowned him, but when he looked at Tang Ya, his gaze became incredibly resolute once more.
"Bei Bei!"
Xu Sanshi screamed, trying to make one last appeal.
But Bei Bei left him only with a resolute and heavy back.
"Master, the situation looks extremely bad! How about a strategic retreat?"
Cú Chulainn's figure instantly appeared next to Xu Sanshi, his red spear angled toward the ground, staring at Xiao Wu with extreme solemnity.
The force of that kick had left his arm slightly numb even now. While his fighting spirit boiled, he also felt the opponent's terrifying power more clearly.
Although he spoke of retreating, Cú Chulainn's eyes burned with intense battle intent. If not for the constraint of Xu Sanshi, he would certainly stay and fight the opponent to his heart's content.
However, he was not a Servant who disregarded his Master's life and acted independently; he still followed his principles.
"Bei Bei, must you go this far? There might still be other ways!"
Xu Sanshi's face was heavy. As Bei Bei's best friend, he could understand the choice, but emotionally, he couldn't accept it.
"Leave, Sanshi. I cannot risk Little Ya's life."
Bei Bei slowly shook his head.
Perhaps there were indeed other solutions, but he didn't want to gamble, and he absolutely dared not risk Tang Ya's life.
Xu Sanshi shook his head in return. He couldn't just leave now.
If he and Cú Chulainn left, Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu would surely die, and Siegfried would be forced to withdraw.
Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu were currently incapacitated, and Siegfried was severely injured, facing off against Yae Sakura. If Xu Sanshi chose to abandon them, they would be utterly finished.
"Lancer, go all out. Whether we can hold out until reinforcements arrive depends entirely on you!"
Xu Sanshi gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, and struggled to straighten up. Then, he slammed his massive Xuanwu Shield heavily into the ground!
"Weng—!"
Black light soared into the sky, accompanied by an ancient, deep roar. The massive phantom of the Xuanwu instantly descended.
The Xuanwu Shield in Xu Sanshi's hand shot out a black light, instantly enveloping Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.
With a spatial distortion, the two appeared behind Xu Sanshi in the blink of an eye.
This was Xu Sanshi's Fourth Soul Skill—Xuanwu Teleport, which could teleport targets within a hundred meters to his side.
Immediately after, countless slightly smaller black light shields materialized, layering and circling, forming an absolute defensive formation with no blind spots.
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