Is this the realm of Titled Douluo?
If Zhou Qiubai hadn't possessed extraordinary perception, he wouldn't have noticed anyone coming in at all.
Chen Xuan poured Xie Ru a cup of tea and handed it to him, saying, "What brings you here Junior Martial Uncle?"
Xie Ru took the teacup, but didn't drink from it; he simply placed it gently on the table.
His gaze swept over the three men, finally settling on Zhou Qiubai: "You played well today."
Zhou Qiubai was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, " Dean Xie, you flatter me. It's just a warm-up."
Xie Ru stared at him calmly. "You know you played well, but you're not arrogant. In that respect, you're better than many young people."
Zhou Qiubai scratched his head. "There are always people stronger than you. I'm nothing special. The Douluo Continent is so big, who knows where there might be some genius hiding who could defeat me with a single move."
A barely perceptible hint of approval flashed in Xie Ru's eyes.
Chen Xuan, standing to the side, chuckled and said, " Junior Martial Uncle rarely praises people."
Yang Guyun rarely interjected. "When he praises someone, he usually means something important."
Zhou Qiubai looked at Xie Ru, waiting for him to continue.
Xie Ru was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What are your thoughts on 100,000-year Soul Ring and Spirit Bone?"
Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun exchanged a glance, their hearts tightening.
The question came suddenly, but both of them understood that Xie Ru was referring to Xiao Wu.
The Soft Bone Rabbit in Heaven Dou City, which has been in human form for 100,000 years, might be able to fool others, but it definitely can't fool Titled Douluo.
Zhou Qiubai knew Xiao Wu was acting under a script, but he couldn't just show it off.
"I don't want to."
Yang Guyun said calmly, "I cultivate with guns; the gun is my path. Soul Ring are the path of cultivation, I acknowledge that. But Spirit Bone are external objects. Borrowed power is ultimately just borrowed power."
It's the same old story.
Xie Ru remained silent, turning his gaze to Zhou Qiubai.
Zhou Qiubai thought for a moment and nodded, "I'm similar to Gu Yun. Soul Ring are necessary for cultivation, there's no way around it. But Spirit Bone... I haven't worked on them. As you know, I've basically sold off all my previous Spirit Bone. External things, once you get used to them, you easily become dependent on them. If you become dependent for too long, you forget how you should be on your own path."
"Besides, as you know, neither Gu Yun nor I have a single Spirit Bone. We're perfectly fine, aren't we?"
Xie Ru looked at him, a hint of warmth in his eyes.
Chen Xuan turned the pages of the book without looking up. "The world is contained within the book; why envy Soul Ring?"
Xie Ru rarely showed a smile, but he curled the corners of his lips slightly.
Seeing this, Zhou Qiubai suddenly asked, " Dean Xie, you're asking this because of that...?"
He didn't finish his sentence, but his intention was already obvious.
Xie Ru picked up his teacup and finally took a sip. " Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit, transformed for many years."
Yang Guyun's grip on the gun tightened slightly. "Aren't you going to take it?"
Xie Ru raised his eyes, his gaze still calm as still water. "Having reached this level in Sword Dao, do we still need external aids?"
Zhou Qiubai was taken aback for a moment, then laughed, "So, the Titled Douluo is just too lazy to fight."
Xie Ru glanced at him and said, "It's because you're too lazy to be greedy."
The three of them froze for a moment, then they all laughed.
Now we know why, even in the Douluo Continent where Soul Skill and Soul Power Level determine strength, Xie Ru, with only level 94, was no match for Chen Xin, who was level 96.
That Sword Douluo relies too much on his Soul Skill in combat.
Although there is a set of Wind Chasing Sword Technique, it is ultimately considered a legacy of the Seven Kill Sword.
Without innovation, one remains stagnant and complacent.
Zhou Qiubai nodded thoughtfully, indicating his understanding.
Xie Ru continued, "At this level, whether you have Soul Skill or not makes no difference. A sword is a sword, and a person is a person. Soul Skill are a means, not the essence."
Zhou Qiubai thought for a moment and nodded, "I understand a little bit."
Xie Ru didn't say anything more.
Zhou Qiubai suddenly asked, "Then what is your attitude towards Xiao Wu... no, towards that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?"
Xie Ru's gaze was sharp as he stared directly at him. "What do you want to ask?"
Zhou Qiubai carefully chose his words: "You don't take her Soul Ring and Spirit Bone because you don't need them. But you surely understand the principle that those who are not of our kind will have different hearts. How do you view her existence?"
Xie Ru was silent for a moment, then said, "She has her own principles. As long as she doesn't harm anyone, we don't need to pay attention to her."
Zhou Qiubai pressed further, "What if she harms someone?"
Xie Ru's gaze sharpened. "Then kill them."
The three simple and direct words instantly froze the air and made everyone's heart tighten.
Chen Xuan said softly, " Junior Martial Uncle's principles have always been simple: as long as it's not immoral or unethical, he doesn't care. But if the line is crossed..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already obvious.
Zhou Qiubai nodded and didn't ask any further questions.
Yang Guyun suddenly spoke up, "Does Senior Chen Xin know?"
Xie Ru smiled faintly, "I know."
"What did he say?" Yang Guyun pressed.
"He won't say." Xie Ru picked up his teacup, smiled slightly, "How they do it is their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's business."
Yang Guyun paused for a moment, then finally asked, "So you came here today specifically to ask us this?"
Xie Ru didn't answer, he just glanced at him.
Yang Guyun wisely kept quiet.
Zhou Qiubai suddenly remembered something. " Dean Xie, is there something else you need to discuss with me tonight?"
Xie Ru put down his teacup, stood up, and said calmly, "I came to see you all. By the way, let me tell you, tomorrow's opponent will be stronger than today's."
Zhou Qiubai raised an eyebrow. "How strong?"
Xie Ru glanced at him. "If a fight breaks out, you'll have to draw your sword."
Zhou Qiubai: "..."
That's a really high compliment.
Xie Ru glanced at Chen Xuan: "You too."
Chen Xuan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and replied, "Don't worry, Junior Martial Uncle, I'll do my best."
Xie Ru said nothing more, turned around, took a step, and disappeared into the night.
Seeing that the person had really gone far away, Chen Xuan smiled and said, " Junior Martial Uncle was afraid that you would become arrogant after achieving success at such a young age. But seeing that you haven't become arrogant today, he's relieved."
Zhou Qiubai thought for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "So when he praised me for not being arrogant, was he really praising me?"
Chen Xuan nodded. "Really."
Zhou Qiubai raised his glass and toasted the moon outside the window. "We must have a drink."
Yang Guyun also picked up his wine glass and, unusually, clinked glasses with his.
Chen Xuan smiled and raised his glass as well.
The three cups clinked gently in the moonlight, then were drunk in one gulp.
The sound of the night watchman's clapper came from downstairs; it was already the second watch of the night.
The next day, the Great Soul Arena in Heaven Dou City was still bustling with people, and cheers rose and fell.
In today's first match, Heaven Dou Second Team will once again take to the field.
The opponents are a bit stronger than yesterday's team; it's said that there are two Soul Ancestor on the team.
But it's only slightly better.
Therefore, Zhou Qiubai did not use his Soul Skill this time either.
It's just a sword.
The seven reacted extremely quickly, but Zhou Qiubai was even faster.
In the world of martial arts, speed is the only way to break through defenses, and without skillful maneuvering, there is no survival.
Before he could even unleash his Soul Skill, the sword tip was already at his face.
The man froze, cold sweat trickling down his face.
Zhou Qiubai his sword and smiled slightly, "You flatter me."
The match is over.