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Yu Xiaogang stood before Bibi Dong, his face changing between a sickly green and a pale white. Being confronted with the truth of his past left him feeling a deep sense of shame and anger. However, he was desperate to save his student. He pushed down his feelings of humiliation and spoke again.
He told her that he only wanted the secret to cultivating twin spirits. He promised that if she helped him, he would guarantee that Tang San would never become an enemy of Spirit Hall. He even said he would use his own character as a guarantee that the boy would never seek revenge.
Bibi Dong looked at him with pure anger. The way he offered his character as a guarantee seemed completely shameless to her. What truly set her off was hearing him call her Dong'er again. That name ignited a fire of resentment that she had kept locked away for a long time. She looked at him and told him that his character became worthless the moment he chose his younger sister over her.
She did not wait for him to respond. In her rage, she slammed her scepter into the ground. The jewel-encrusted staff hit the floor with a loud boom. A massive wave of spirit power exploded outward from the scepter.
It was a physical shockwave fueled by her fury. Yu Xiaogang had no time to move or defend himself. The force hit him like a giant, invisible hammer. He let out a sharp cry as he was thrown through the air. He crashed hard into the wall behind him and then slid down to the floor.
He coughed up a large amount of blood. His chest was filled with sharp pain, and it felt like his internal organs had been damaged all over again. For a moment, his world went dark. Bibi Dong looked down at him, her voice cold and empty of any kindness. She told him to get out of her sight immediately. She warned him that if he said one more word, she would kill him right there, ending the new life that the Rakshasa God had given him.
Yu Xiaogang saw the look in her eyes and knew she was serious. He could feel her killing intent. He did not want to stay a second longer. Despite the pain in his chest, he didn't even stop to wipe the blood from his face. He scrambled toward the exit like a scared animal, using both his hands and feet to move. He pulled open the heavy Palace Gate and ran out of the room without looking back.
The heavy doors slowly groaned shut, hiding his pathetic form from view. Inside the bedchamber, it became very quiet. The only things left were the fading ripples of spirit power and the metallic smell of blood. Once she was sure he was gone, Bibi Dong's cold expression began to fade. The mask of the Supreme Pontiff melted away, leaving her looking tired and full of pain.
She walked slowly toward the bed where Yu Xiaogang had been resting. It was still warm from his body, and she could still smell his scent. She reached out and touched the soft blankets with her fingers. Her touch was gentle and full of a sadness that she never showed to the world.
She turned and lay down on the bed, curling her body into a small ball. She buried her face in the pillow and whispered into the silence. She apologized to him, saying she had to do this to save his life. She believed that by making him fall and binding him to the Rakshasa God, she was keeping him alive. She whispered that she hoped he wouldn't hate her for it.
That moment of weakness did not last. When she sat up, the warmth was gone from her eyes. Her purple gaze turned cold once more, hiding a deep desire to kill. She thought about Tang San and the newcomer, Tang Chen. In her mind, she decided that they both had to die.
A few days passed, and the scene shifted to the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena. The huge stadium was packed with people, and the energy in the air was electric. Bright lights powered by spirit tools lit up the center stage.
The stands were full of fans waving banners for their favorite schools. Everyone was waiting for the next big fight. The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers, telling the crowd that the next match was Shrek Academy against Canghui Academy.
The stadium exploded with noise. People were cheering and talking loudly about the teams. Many were excited to see Shrek Academy back in action. They wondered if the team would finally use their best players.
Some people noticed that Tang San and Yu Xiaogang had been missing and wondered where they were. Others talked about Canghui Academy, noting that their gem spirits were very hard to deal with when the team worked together. The fans were split, with some supporting Shrek and others thinking Canghui might win.
In one part of the stands, the students from Tianxing Academy and Tianshui Academy sat together. They had become very close recently. This friendship started after their last match, especially after Shui Yueer realized who Tang Chen really was.
She had discovered he was the same person who saved her from a spirit beast years ago near the Star Dou Great Forest. Now, she sat right next to him with a big smile on her face. She talked to him and laughed, clearly enjoying his company. People nearby watched them, confused by how friendly the two rival schools had become.
Over at the Shrek Academy area, the mood was much more serious. Flender adjusted his glasses and stared at the stage. He watched the way the seven members of Canghui Academy were standing. Their formation looked strange and well-planned. He told Zhao Wuji that he thought the kids were going to have a hard time today.
Zhao Wuji didn't seem worried. He reminded Flender that Shrek had several Spirit Ancestors, while Canghui only had one. The rest of the Canghui team were just Spirit Elders. In his mind, Shrek's raw power should be enough to win easily.
Flender shook his head. He pointed out that Canghui Academy was famous for how well they worked together. Even if their spirits weren't the strongest, their teamwork and special formations made them dangerous. He was worried they had a secret plan just for Shrek.
As they were talking, a low voice spoke from behind them. The voice agreed that Canghui Academy was strong and reminded them that the team had only lost to the top academies so far. Flender turned around quickly, feeling shocked. Standing there was Yu Xiaogang. He looked thin and tired, and there was a dark feeling around him, but he was definitely back.
Flender was happy to see his friend. He grabbed Yu Xiaogang's shoulders and asked him where he had been. He mentioned that Tang San and Tang Hao had said something about him being in trouble. Yu Xiaogang just waved his hand and told Flender to stop.
He said the story was too long to tell now and that they should just focus on the match. Flender could tell he didn't want to talk, so he dropped the subject for a moment.
But as Flender stood close to him, he smelled something strange. His senses were very sharp because of his owl spirit. He smelled blood, but it wasn't just any blood. He frowned and asked Yu Xiaogang why he smelled like human blood.
Zhao Wuji heard this and stared at Yu Xiaogang in shock. Yu Xiaogang's face turned pale and he looked panicked. He quickly lied and said Flender was wrong. He claimed it was just spirit beast blood he got on his clothes while traveling. He tried to change the subject back to the fight.
Not far away, Tang Chen was sitting with the Tianshui group. His mental power was much stronger than anyone else's. He also picked up the faint scent of blood in the air. It felt cold and wrong, like something dead.
He used his Blue Silver Domain to search for the source. He moved his mental energy toward the Shrek area and found the source. It was coming from the man who had just arrived.
Tang Chen was stunned. He recognized the man as Yu Xiaogang. He couldn't believe it. He knew he had destroyed the man's spine and taken away his dragon spirit's energy. Based on those injuries, Yu Xiaogang should have been dead. Even with Tang Hao's help, he should have been a vegetable at best. He could not understand how the man was standing there, moving around as if he were fine.