Bai Xuan showed none of the expression Red Skull wanted to see. He merely glanced at him indifferently before calmly walking into the passage.
After roughly ten or twenty meters, a massive Altar appeared before Bai Xuan, with a bottomless Abyss beyond it.
Red Skull still floated at Bai Xuan's side, staring at him intently, wanting to see the pain on his face—the pain of a soul that had sacrificed its beloved in exchange for the Soul Stone's recognition.
Since calling himself the Soul Stone's guide, this had been what he had looked forward to most.
He believed that this man from his homeland would also give him the most spectacular performance.
Facing Red Skull's gaze, Bai Xuan said calmly:
"You place too much faith in the Soul Stone's power, yet forget that the Soul Stone is ultimately just an object."
"The rules it establishes can restrain the weak and force them to obey. But before the strong, they can be shattered at a touch."
"It is merely that the Soul Stone's power means nothing to those strong individuals."
The Infinity Stones were the most precious treasures in this world, but that did not mean everyone had to abide by the rules established by the Soul Stone. All one needed was power that surpassed it.
No one had done so in the past only because, to those powerful beings, the Infinity Stones held no meaning. They themselves stood at this pinnacle and had no need for external objects.
"What laughable words."
Red Skull was briefly stunned upon hearing Bai Xuan's words, but his astonishment was quickly replaced by cold mockery.
"Are you saying that you can ignore the rules established by the Soul Stone and forcibly obtain its recognition?"
"Who do you think you are?"
"Self-deception will not give you—"