Chapter 32: Reality Is Cruel

Page 1/3
Chapter 32: Reality Is Cruel

"So this is an external spirit bone. It seems my luck is truly excellent," Tang San said happily after a conversation with Zhong Yan.

[It seems my luck has always been good, whether in my past life or after arriving in this world. And Yan has indeed learned a lot in the Spirit Hall; he even became the Pope's disciple. But I, Tang San, am confident that my life will never be inferior to yours.]

Looking at the joyful Tang San, Zhong Yan felt a pang of reluctance. After all, years of friendship stood between them, but unfortunately, some things in destiny are marked with a price long in advance.

Since you have accepted Xiao Wu as your sister, you must bear everything that comes with her.

"San."

Startled by Zhong Yan’s voice, Tang San snapped back to reality. "Ah, what is it?"

"Do you know why I am here?"

"Ha, what are you talking about? This is the Star Dou Great Forest. And with your teacher leading the way, it must be easy to obtain a spirit ring, right? Did you get your third spirit ring? What is it?"

"My spirit ring... ah, that’s not the point. What I mean is... never mind, I will just tell you directly."

Zhong Yan paused, then continued, "The reason my teacher and I were able to come to you, Tang San, after I obtained my third spirit ring, is because of Xiao Wu."

"Because Xiao Wu is a hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast."

Watching the smile on Tang San’s face slowly freeze, his eyes widened in shock, and he asked with desperate hope, "Are you joking?"

"No."

Tang San turned his head mechanically to look at Xiao Wu, his eyes seemingly asking, "Is it true?"

Unfortunately, no matter how much it pained her, Xiao Wu could only nod, tears streaming down her face, choking on her sobs.

Page 2/3

Xiao Wu was terrified—more so than when she had faced Bibi Dong. Compared to death, she feared more that Tang San would abandon her.

Tang San rushed forward, grabbing Zhong Yan by the collar, glaring at him, and shouting in anger, "You’re lying, aren't you? Xiao Wu is clearly... she is clearly my sister!"

Zhong Yan looked calmly into his eyes and said, "Tang San, I never said Xiao Wu wasn't your sister, but that doesn't change the fact that she is a hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast."

"So what? Are you here to kill her? Let me tell you, Zhong Yan, if you want to kill her, you must step over my corpse! This is what you witnessed—this is my oath!"

Zhong Yan shoved Tang San’s hand away. "Tang San," he called out his name, his hand imbued with the power of Geng Metal as he addressed him, "Do you still think this is a game of house between children? Do you think this world works however you want it to? Do you think an oath is enough to truly protect Xiao Wu?"

Although Tang San did not know what power was on Zhong Yan’s hand, he could feel the threat of death emanating from it. Yet, what of it? If he were afraid, what would happen to Xiao Wu?

"So what? Come, kill me then."

Seeing Tang San’s state, Zhong Yan was actually driven to a bitter laugh. He dispersed the Geng Metal power and grabbed Tang San. "Who do you think you are? Do you know that if it hadn't been me facing you just now, you would already be dead? Don't you realize you aren't a child anymore? There are some things you should see clearly."

He then flung Tang San aside. "Tang San, reality is cruel. It will not change the fact that Xiao Wu is a spirit beast just because you made an oath. It will not change the fact that you lack the power to protect her just because you made an oath.

"On what grounds are you being so willful? On those ridiculous hidden weapons of yours?

"If I hadn't pleaded for you before my teacher today, you would be nothing in front of a true powerhouse.

"Willfulness is a right reserved only for the strong!"

Tang San climbed up from the ground, gritting his teeth as he spoke word by word, "If not for you? A powerhouse? Do you mean you are stronger than me? Do you think you can kill me whenever you want?"

As he spoke, his spirit power surged, and three spirit rings slowly manifested around him.

His first spirit ring lit up. In his hysterical state, he recklessly poured his spirit power into his Blue Silver Grass, forcing it to grow wildly and lunge toward Zhong Yan.

"Zhong Yan!"

Page 3/3

Watching the overwhelming tide of Blue Silver Grass, Zhong Yan merely stomped his foot, and a stone wall rose up before him.

Though Tang San was furious, he had not yet lost his sanity, controlling the vines to bypass the wall.

Watching Tang San’s frenzied state, Zhong Yan shook his head.

"Tang San! Let me show you just how much of a gap has grown between you—in your pride and complacency—and me!"

As his first spirit ring lit up, the ground in the battlefield collapsed, burying the surging Blue Silver Grass. With the collapse of the ground, the stone wall between them also crumbled. Only then did Tang San see the pitch-black third spirit ring on Zhong Yan.

"Impossible! This is impossible! The teacher said the limit for a third spirit ring is 1,700 years!" Tang San stared in disbelief.

"1,700 years? That is merely the limit for ordinary people. For geniuses like us, you chose to apprentice under the Grandmaster, whose shallow knowledge has stifled your potential.

"Do you see it now? Are you still immersed in the glory of your twin spirits and those hidden weapons? Still lost in the sense of superiority granted by that so-called Academy of Monsters? Tang San, this world is vast, and reality is cruel!"

As he finished speaking, the Star of Heaven in Zhong Yan’s hand vanished. Suddenly, the sky turned apocalyptic, and black clouds filled with the aura of destruction engulfed the heavens.

"Rumble!" A dull, thunderous sound shook everything from above. The Star of Heaven, which had vanished from Zhong Yan’s hand, materialized a thousand times larger, emerging from the black clouds and crashing toward the earth with an unstoppable force.

"I am the reality!"

"Order of the Heavens!"