A Thousand Tons Smash the Earth, Mud Rolls Like Waves; Not a Leaf Touches White Clothes

Zhou Qiubai nodded, receiving an answer he had expected.

"So you kill, and I kill. Both our hands are stained with the blood of the other's kind. You kill humans to avenge Sister Xiao Wu, while humans kill Spirit Beasts to grow stronger. It is all slaughter, all rage, all conduct we each believe is justified. So between us, who is truly more noble?"

The Titan Giant Ape's fangs ground together.

Its intelligence was enough to understand the logic of those words, but its fury was not enough to accept their conclusion.

"Enough nonsense. Humans are humans, Spirit Beasts are Spirit Beasts. Sister Xiao Wu died at your hands, so you must pay with your lives."

Zhou Qiubai slowly raised his hands. The instant his fingers curled into fists, his gaze turned razor-sharp. His placid aura receded like the tide, replaced by a calm edge—its sharpness restrained, but far from hidden.

"If you insist on fighting, I can oblige you," he said. "But before we begin, I hope you remember one thing. My name is Zhou Qiubai, and I come from Canghai City. Many people and Spirit Beasts have died beneath my sword. I do not kill the innocent, nor do I bear another's sins. You can find out who killed your Sister Xiao Wu in the future. But until then, do not block my path."

The Titan Giant Ape said nothing, its enormous fist slowly clenching.

In that instant, as the Titan Giant Ape clenched both fists, space itself rippled faintly.

Centered on its fists, translucent ripples spread in every direction.

The loose strands over Zhou Qiubai's forehead fluttered wildly in the blast of air.

"Unable to communicate?" he murmured. Though quiet, his voice reached the Titan Giant Ape's ears clearly.

The Titan Giant Ape answered with action.

Its