Chapter 239: Crushing Defeat and Hope (Part 1)

Haotian Castle.

"You've returned? Tell me, how did you discover the identities of the two of us?" Niu Tian sat in the great hall and spoke slowly.

Su Yu was silent for a moment, then asked, "Since when did you find out?"

"From the moment you suddenly asked if Titan was not named Yuan'en Ming. At the time, I didn't pay much attention, just thinking that little Dong'er must have told you something. But later, Titan really did find the Yuan'en Family, and that Yuan'en Family actually turned out to be his descendants. So I thought, you must have known the identities of Titan and me." Niu Tian's gaze swept over Su Yu, a faint smile appearing on his face.

The person little Dong'er approves of is truly not simple.

"I consulted the records of Shrek and read through everything regarding the Clear Sky Sect from ten thousand years ago and the first Tang Sect Master. I did my homework thoroughly before setting out. However, when I arrived at Haotian Castle, I discovered that the Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect did not possess the Clear Sky Hammer martial soul, and that your martial soul and Uncle Titan's martial soul were the two Soul Beasts that accompanied the first Tang Sect Master to godhood ten thousand years ago."

"Azure Bull Python, Titan Giant Ape. But until now, these two types of martial souls have not existed on the continent. The only thing I could find was the Yuan'en Family, but the ancestors of the Yuan'en Family had long since vanished. Therefore, I had to guess that the two of you were those two from the past. However, this still couldn't be fully confirmed. But what I can be certain of is that Uncle Titan definitely has a connection to the Yuan'en Family."

"So how did you confirm that Titan and I are Da Ming and Er Ming?" A faint killing intent flickered in Niu Tian's eyes; he felt he could no longer see through the young man before him.

"Because your strength has long surpassed Mu Lao. My teacher told me that your strength is still above Mu Lao's! This is the decisive evidence! So after that, I concluded that Uncle Niu Tian and Uncle Titan are the former Da Ming and Er Ming, which is why I dared to ask if Uncle Titan had ever lived in the human world under the name Yuan'en Ming."

Su Yu struggled to organize his words, making his statement as reasonable as possible.

"You are very clever, so clever that it makes it impossible for anyone to guess what your true purpose is. But I don't care about any of that. I trust little Dong'er's judgment, and I trust you as well. Go back; I won't keep you this time."

"However, I have one more question I would like to ask Uncle Niu Tian. I don't know if I should ask it?" Su Yu spoke cautiously, fearing he might be slapped away by Niu Tian.

Niu Tian raised his head, looked at Su Yu's timid expression, frowned, and asked, "You aren't going to ask about little Dong'er's identity, are you?"

"I don't know Dong'er's identity, but I can guess it. Furthermore, the fact that she possesses the Clear Sky Hammer martial soul proves she is indeed a member of the Clear Sky Sect, and she is also the Young Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, which indicates that Dong'er's parents are actually the Clear Sky Sect Master and his wife who went out to travel. As for the question I want to ask, it is actually very simple."

Su Yu tried his best not to be too shocking, lest the person above flip the table and quit.

"You wouldn't want to ask..." Niu Tian frowned, realizing the matter was not simple.

Seeing that things were about to go wrong, Su Yu immediately said, "Don't misunderstand, I just want to know if the God Realm truly exists?"

"Asking when you already know the answer—get out!"

Niu Tian raised a hand and sent Su Yu out of Haotian Castle. Looking at the tightly shut great hall, Su Yu couldn't help but shake his head.

This old fellow has been a bit short-tempered lately...

Leaving the great hall, Su Yu immediately set off for Shrek Academy. When Su Yu arrived at Shrek Academy, Yan Shaozhe told him news regarding the tournament.

In the final stages, the Shrek Battle Team encountered the Tang Sect Battle Team, and the Sun Moon Battle Team encountered the Holy Spirit Team.

The Tang Sect was defeated, stopping at the final four.

The Holy Spirit Team lost to the Sun Moon Battle Team, but that captain of the Sun Moon Battle Team has yet to officially make a move; he only broke the Holy Spirit Team's Defense System at the critical moment, and in the end, the Martial Soul Fusion Skill of Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen delivered the final blow.

However, the Tang Sect lost; in other words, the previous generation of Shrek lost to the current Shrek starting lineup.

In their duel, Wang Qiu Er suppressed Huo Yuhao, while the Nether White Tiger held down Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi. Under the full augmentation of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, Wang Qiu Er ultimately defeated Huo Yuhao and joined forces with the Nether White Tiger to finish off the Tang Sect Battle Team!

The finals will take place in three days; the Tang Sect Battle Team and the Holy Spirit Team will compete for third place, while the Sun Moon Battle Team and the Shrek Battle Team will compete for first!

Su Yu didn't have much of a reaction to this news. These results were much the same as he had guessed. Su Yu had deep personal experience with how terrifying Wang Qiu Er was under the full augmentation of Ning Tian.

Moreover, Huo Yuhao's current strength couldn't even defeat his own clone, let alone defeat Wang Qiu Er, who was fully amplified by Ning Tian.

"You don't seem surprised by this result?" Xuan Lao stood before the Golden Tree House on Sea God Island and asked slowly.

Su Yu replied, "Whether we win or lose, isn't it all just an internal war for Shrek? What is there to be surprised about? One should not be arrogant in victory nor discouraged in defeat, isn't that how it is?"

Xuan Lao nodded, "Not bad, worthy of being someone Mu Lao values. You are far more mature than them, it's just a pity you are unwilling to stay at Shrek. You returned this time for the graduation assessment, right?"

Su Yu said solemnly, "Since Xuan Lao already knows, why ask?"

"I already know about the Su Family's affairs, but perhaps taking a position in the Star Luo Empire isn't a bad thing for you. Besides, you are also a citizen of the Star Luo Empire. As for everything in the past, the Star Luo Imperial Family will no longer hold it against you." Xuan Lao frowned slightly, a trace of melancholy appearing between his brows.

"If we really want to calculate it, my mother was from the Sun Moon Empire, so I count as half a person from the Sun Moon Empire. My father didn't want to get involved with the Star Luo Imperial Family back then, but what was the result? I spent over two years in the Sun Moon Empire as an exchange student. After returning to the academy, I handed over what I had learned without compensation, choosing to cooperate with the Hall Master for the sake of the family's interests, but what was the result?"

"The Su Family was restricted and saddled with some trumped-up charges. Because of one partnership, what the Star Luo Empire wanted was never Soul Guidance Devices, but everything the Su Family had, and everything I had learned. I understand your intentions, and I understand the academy's motives, but there are some things I don't want to get involved in. If it truly cannot be changed, I think I will submit my notice of voluntary withdrawal as the Su Family Head tomorrow."

Su Yu's stance was very firm; he knew very well that cooperating with the Star Luo Imperial Family was like asking a tiger for its hide, even though he was the tiger himself.

But once he got involved with them, he wouldn't be able to do many things, such as the testing and development of Soul Spirits, the research of Soul Guidance Devices, and including the things he had learned himself.

Once many things fell into the hands of others, he would be completely trapped in a passive position.

This wasn't some ordinary cooperative game, nor was it a question of whether there was enough sincerity; it was a matter of Su Yu's own life and livelihood.

He knew very well that Di Tian wouldn't let him die, but once it truly reached that point, there would be no place for him in the human world.

His current situation was not good; on one side was the Sun Moon Empire, on the other was the Star Luo Empire. Choosing either side was not a good choice...

However, this was also a good development for him, such as the Yuan'en Family.

This was the layout; the next step was to watch the show. The final grand show would always be after the finals ended.

"Sigh, forget it. Your temper has never failed to disappoint. Go on, I will explain things clearly to the Star Luo Empire. As for your graduation assessment, just bring those fellows back safely. Go, Family Head Su."

Watching Xuan Lao's somewhat melancholy expression, Su Yu bowed to him and deployed his flight device. Under Xuan Lao's gaze, he left Shrek City.

"It seems I should go to Mingdu and take a look as well..." Xuan Lao muttered to himself.

…………

"Cough, cough... Yu Hao, we lost..." Bei Bei said with difficulty.

Huo Yuhao felt some pain in his heart. They lost, that's right, they lost...

They lost to Dai Huabin and the others, who he had once defeated, and this was his first time taking over as captain from Su Yu, yet he had lost the match!

"Yeah, we lost..." The members of the Tang Sect in the conference room looked at each other.

After losing Su Yu, the smooth sailing along the way had made them completely unaware of the severity of the problem. It wasn't until they truly encountered a desperate situation that they realized the only truly important core figure had always been that one person.

The core of the Shrek Seven Devils was not the Shrek Seven Devils, but the substitute who had once been unwilling to participate at all costs.

"Is there still no news of Su Yu? You say we lost to the academy, will Su Yu..." Xu Sanshi asked, looking at Huo Yuhao's pained expression.

Bei Bei sighed deeply and said, "Although we lost, we didn't lose to the Sun Moon Empire; we lost to our academy's team. I still hope they can be like we were back then, defeat the Sun Moon Empire, and defend the glory that belongs to Shrek!"

Bei Bei's words stirred up a few ripples in the dejected mood of the group. So what if they lost? They lost to the academy anyway.

"Bei Bei, if Su Yu were here, would we have lost?" He Caitou was silent for a long time before finally asking slowly.

Wang Dong'er's eyes were red as she said slowly, "With him here, we wouldn't have lost..."

"But..." Xiao Xiao looked at Wang Dong'er and spoke urgently.

"There are no 'buts'; we lost, so we lost. Prepare yourselves to face the finals in three days."

Watching the low spirits of the group, Bei Bei knew that this blow was too great for both himself and everyone else...

The powerful Wang Qiu Er, the terrifying Nether White Tiger...

These were like heavy punches landing right on their hearts.

Su Yu, you were right; we need to strive on our own instead of always following behind you!

Mingyue Hotel, top floor!

"We won, we defeated the Shrek Seven Devils! Long live the captain!" Zhou Sichen cheered happily.

Dai Huabin also spoke excitedly: "We won, yes, we won!"

…………

The excited mood infected everyone, and even the Senior Sister who had followed them laughed exceptionally happily; the new generation of Shrek was even better than those before.

But the Tang Sect had lost; although Zhang Lexuan felt heartache for Bei Bei, she believed even more that Shrek's glory was hard-won!

"He was right, we won; the most critical moments still rested on Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu. That guy, how does he know everything..."

Wang Qiu Er looked at the Senior Sister and muttered to herself.

"You've realized how formidable that guy is too? His truly formidable aspects aren't limited to just this, so it's no wonder you'd be moved by him." Zhang Lexuan swirled the crystal goblet in her hand, a flush appearing on her face.

Wang Qiu Er smiled and did not avoid the topic, "Does Senior Sister think I am moved?"

"Isn't it so? You always think of Su Yu without realizing it. You are very much like I once was, even our personalities have similarities, so I understand your thoughts all too well."

Watching as glass after glass of bright red wine was consumed by Zhang Lexuan, Wang Qiu Er also picked up a wine glass and took a small, gentle sip.

"Drinking does indeed give us a chance to escape, but, Senior Sister, you are wrong..."

Wang Qiu Er raised her wine glass, stood before the Mirror, admired her own exquisite face, and slowly said: "My name is Wang Qiu Er; I knew Su Yu when I first enrolled."

"I knew Su Yu a long time ago. I understand him very well, and I am even clearer on what you mean."

"Things like feelings are very complex, complex to the point where even I cannot distinguish them. You all don't know how long Su Yu and I have known each other, nor do you know how deep my understanding of Su Yu is, so you have always assumed I have fallen for him. But, you are wrong..."

Wang Qiu Er rubbed the wine glass in her hand, admiring the trace of a flush appearing on her own face.

Truly beautiful...

Zhang Lexuan smiled, "How long? You couldn't possibly be saying you knew Su Yu several years ago, could you?"

"That is not important, but my feelings for him are not 'liking.' Senior Sister, I know your concerns, and I am very clear that he has someone he likes. But do you think I, Wang Qiu Er, am such a brainless, foolish woman?"

If she had to state the time they met, Wang Qiu Er had likely known Su Yu for about four years.

The human world is wonderful, but the human world is also complex, complex to the point where you cannot see through it and can only grope your way forward, cautiously attempting every step of the path ahead.

"You surpass who I was back then, but I still think you and Luo Yu are a good match, because you are more like he was five years ago, hahaha..."

Zhang Lexuan pinched Wang Qiu Er's peerless face and looked with a smile at her and Wang Qiu Er in the Mirror.

"The world is complex, and also wonderful. In a human's life, once someone has paved the way for you, your life will become smooth. Senior Sister, I am his friend, a friend who is irreplaceable to anyone else in my life."

Is that so?

It is, because this is the friend that I, Wang Qiu Er, acknowledge!