Huo Yuhao's face turned pale, and his body trembled slightly as he was consumed by an intense inner struggle.
He was not someone without principles.
Although saving Wang Dong'er meant more to him than his own life, that did not mean he could casually harm someone who had never wronged him.
Not only had Liu Yuan displayed astonishing strength during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament, but through their many encounters and conversations, he had also given Huo Yuhao valuable guidance and support.
To Huo Yuhao, Liu Yuan was both a respected powerhouse and a friend he trusted.
"Brother Liu Yuan has never done anything to hurt me..."
"He even helped me."
Huo Yuhao's voice was hoarse, and his face had turned deathly pale. Fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead beneath the crushing psychological pressure.
Everything inside him rejected the idea of repaying kindness with betrayal.
Extracting the essence blood from someone's heart was no different from murdering them.
Seeing his hesitation, Tai Tan suddenly stepped forward.
His massive frame resembled an immovable mountain, radiating overwhelming pressure.
Looking down at Huo Yuhao, he spoke with unconcealed contempt and urgency.
"Huo Yuhao, if you can't even bring yourself to do something this simple, then Dong'er truly misjudged you. She placed her trust in the wrong man!"
His cold snort echoed throughout the Clear Sky Fortress.
"So that's how it is."
"In your heart, your so-called loyalty matters far more than Dong'er's life."
"You keep claiming that you love her."
"But it seems you don't love her at all!"
"That's not true!"
"I love Dong'er!"
Huo Yuhao suddenly looked up and shouted.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his breathing had become ragged with emotion.
Standing nearby, Niu Tian spoke calmly.
His tone was steady, yet every word pierced straight into Huo Yuhao's heart.
"If you truly love her..."
"Then prove it."
"Liu Yuan is nothing more than an outsider."
"Dong'er's life hangs by a thread."
"Divine dragon blood is the only way to save her."
"If you can't do what's necessary..."
"...then go prepare to collect Dong'er's corpse alongside your precious sense of loyalty."
Tai Tan roared again.
"I'll say this one last time!"
"If you don't want Dong'er to die..."
"Then bring us Liu Yuan's blood!"
"If you can't do that..."
"Then you're the one who killed Dong'er."
"She'll die because of your hesitation!"
Huo Yuhao clenched his fists until his fingernails pierced his palms.
Blood slowly dripped between his fingers.
Yet he felt none of the pain.
Love on one side...
His conscience on the other...
The two clashed endlessly within his heart, pushing him toward the brink of madness.
Without another word, he turned and staggered out of the fortress hall.
The freezing mountain wind cut across his face like countless knives.
Yet it failed to clear the turmoil in his mind.
He didn't know how he could face Liu Yuan.
Nor did he know whether he could truly become a murderer simply to save the woman he loved.
---
After Huo Yuhao left the Clear Sky Fortress, the atmosphere inside the hall changed immediately.
Tai Tan and Niu Tian exchanged a glance.
Together, they lowered their heads and formed a complex divine seal toward the empty void.
Moments later...
Golden divine light gathered in midair.
Tang San's majestic, illusory figure slowly appeared.
"How did it go?"
His voice remained calm, carrying the detached authority of someone who believed everything remained under his control.
Tai Tan bowed respectfully.
"Lord Tang San, everything has been carried out according to your instructions."
"We informed him that divine dragon blood is the only cure."
"And we specifically demanded Liu Yuan's heart's essence blood."
"However..."
"The boy seemed extremely unwilling."
"He still can't let go of his friendship."
Hearing this, Tang San casually flicked aside a strand of divine power.
A faint smile of absolute confidence appeared on his face.
"He will do it."
Tang San spoke without the slightest hesitation.
"Dong'er is now the only pillar supporting his spiritual world."
"In order to save her..."
"He will eventually abandon those meaningless moral principles."
"In his heart..."
"Dong'er already occupies a position that surpasses everything else."
"That emotion alone is enough to drive him into madness."
Niu Tian hesitated before asking quietly,
"But..."
"What if he truly refuses?"
"What if he still can't attack Liu Yuan?"
"Or what if he fails?"
"What then?"
Tang San slowly lifted his head.
An icy determination flashed through his eyes.
"Then let Dong'er die."
His voice remained completely emotionless.
It was as though he were discussing the disposal of an insignificant object.
"If he lacks even this much resolve..."
"If he cannot take this final step..."
"Then he isn't worthy of carrying the destiny that awaits him."
"Watching the woman he loves die before his eyes..."
"...will leave him with regret for the rest of his life."
"And that regret will make him far more useful than he is now."
"Besides..."
"This is only one trap prepared for Liu Yuan."
"If Huo Yuhao refuses to act..."
"I have plenty of other methods."
The moment Tai Tan and Niu Tian heard Tang San calmly declare, "Then let Dong'er die," both of them fell silent.
Although they faithfully carried out Tang San's orders, they had also watched Tang Wutong grow up.
Hearing a father speak so coldly about abandoning his own daughter sent an involuntary chill through them.
---
Meanwhile...
Inside the Duke's Mansion in the Sun Moon Empire...
Liu Yuan remained completely unaware of the conspiracy unfolding thousands of miles away within the Clear Sky Fortress.
He sat quietly inside his study with his eyes closed.
After advancing five spirit power ranks in succession, he hadn't rushed out in search of another breakthrough.
Instead, the System had assigned him an unusually simple transitional mission.
Remain checked in at the Duke's Mansion for fifteen consecutive days.
The mission required neither combat nor cultivation.
He simply had to remain inside the mansion.
At that moment...
The final grain of sand fell within the hourglass.
The familiar mechanical voice echoed through his Sea of Consciousness.
> [Ding! The System has detected completion of the Duke's Mansion Check-in Mission (15/15).]
[Check-in progress complete. Reward distribution initiated.]
[Generating a random reward based on the Host's current Rank 85 cultivation and Mythical Martial Souls.]
The calm sea within Liu Yuan's Sea of Consciousness rippled once again.
He could feel another Law gradually taking shape inside the System's reward space.
Now that he possessed dual soul cores and had reached Rank 85...
Mega Rayquaza wielded the overwhelming offensive power of Outrage.
Primal Kyogre possessed the tremendous endurance granted by Aqua Ring.
What aspect would this next reward strengthen?
A new item?
Or perhaps another God-Bestowed Spirit Ring specially prepared for Kyogre?
Liu Yuan slowly took a deep breath.
His eyes opened slightly.
Quietly, he waited for the System's next beam of light to descend.
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