With the Sword and Bone Douluo as Kindred Spirits

A kindred spirit.

The weight of those words was immense coming from Chen Xin.

Gu Rong understood his old friend. Chen Xin had been obsessed with the sword his entire life and was rarely moved by anything else. For him to utter the words "kindred spirit" was enough to show that the young man held an extraordinary place in his heart.

"Then you mean..." Gu Rong asked tentatively.

"I want to invite him to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect," Chen Xin said bluntly. "It would be such a waste to let someone this talented drift about outside. Besides, if we can bring him into the sect, he may well become a great source of support for Rongrong in the future."

Gu Rong nodded in agreement.

Having made up their minds, the two immediately hurried after him.

"Little friend Xiao Lin, please wait!"

Hearing the call from behind him, Xiao Lin stopped and turned around. He was somewhat surprised to see the two old men striding toward him. "Seniors, is there something else?"

Chen Xin and Gu Rong walked up to him. Chen Xin got straight to the point.

"Little friend Xiao Lin, the two of us are elders of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Given your talent and gifts, would you be willing to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? With your aptitude, the Sect Master would certainly value you highly, and the sect's resources could be directed toward you as well."

Xiao Lin was stunned.

An invitation from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? He had not expected that.

He fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "Thank you for your kindness, Seniors, but this junior has no plans to join any sect for the time being."

Chen Xin and Gu Rong exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was one of the Upper Three Sects and held tremendous influence throughout Douluo Continent. Countless people would fight tooth and nail for a chance to join it, yet this kid had actually refused?

"Why?" Gu Rong could not help asking. "Do you know what kind of place the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is?"

"This junior does." Xiao Lin smiled faintly, carrying an air of calm ease and freedom. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is one of the Upper Three Sects, wealthy beyond measure and immensely powerful. Joining it is the dream of countless Soul Masters."

"Then why refuse?"

"Because this junior does not like being restrained," Xiao Lin said frankly,

"I am used to cultivating freely on my own, going wherever I want and doing whatever I please. If I joined a sect, I would have to follow its rules, obey its arrangements, and be constrained at every turn. That is not the life I want."

He paused, then added, "Besides, I still have many things to do and cannot remain in one place for long."

After hearing this, Chen Xin and Gu Rong were not angry. Instead, their expressions became even more approving.

Unmoved by fame or profit, untempted by power and influence, steadfast in his heart and pursuing freedom—such a disposition was truly rare in the restless world of Soul Masters today.

"Good!" Gu Rong suddenly slapped his thigh and shouted, "Just for those words alone, this old man admires you!"

Chen Xin nodded as well, appreciation glinting in his eyes.

"Since you are unwilling to join the sect, we will not force you. However, the two of us feel as though we have known you for ages. If you do not mind these two old men, how about we address each other as brothers?"

Xiao Lin froze.

Address each other as brothers?

With two Titled Douluo?

He instinctively pinched his thigh to make sure he was not dreaming.

"Seniors, this... how could that be?" Xiao Lin quickly waved his hands. "How could this junior possibly be worthy of calling the two of you brothers?"

"What is so impossible about it?" Gu Rong said carelessly. "We may be Titled Douluo, but we are still people. When people make friends, what matters is understanding each other, not status or position. The fact that you could play a tune like A Laugh in the Vast Sea is enough to make you our brother!"

Chen Xin added, "Xiao Lin, that song you played just now reminded us of our younger selves. That feeling of unrestrained freedom, of living with passion and settling grudges with joy—we have not experienced it in a long time. You used music to awaken our dormant memories. In a sense, you are our kindred spirit. Since we are kindred spirits, why should we fuss over age or status?"

Looking into the sincere eyes of the two old men, Xiao Lin felt warmth surge through his heart.

He knew that these two elders truly wished to befriend him, not for any selfish gain.

In this world where the strong devoured the weak, such pure friendship was truly difficult to come by.

"Since you two elder brothers think so highly of your little brother," Xiao Lin cupped his hands and said solemnly, "then I shall gladly accept. Your little brother Xiao Lin greets his two elder brothers!"

"Hahaha! Good! Good!" Gu Rong laughed heartily and stepped forward to clap Xiao Lin on the shoulder,

"From today onward, you are my brother, Gu Rong's brother! If anything happens in the future, just give them my name! Let's see who dares bully you!"

Chen Xin also revealed a rare smile. He removed a jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Xiao Lin. "This is a token of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Keep it. If you encounter any trouble in the future, take this token to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and someone will naturally help you."

Xiao Lin accepted the token. It felt smooth and warm in his hand, with the character "Seven" engraved upon it. Its craftsmanship was exquisite; it was clearly no ordinary item.

"Thank you, Elder Brothers." Xiao Lin solemnly put away the token.

"No need for such politeness!" Gu Rong waved his hand. "By the way, you said you needed to hunt for your third Soul Ring? Since the two of us have nothing better to do, we'll accompany you!"

Xiao Lin's eyes lit up.

Having two Titled Douluo help him hunt Soul Beasts was truly an unexpected delight!

He had originally worried about the dangers of venturing alone into the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest. Now that two Titled Douluo were escorting him, would he not be able to stroll through it without a care?

"Then I'll trouble you two Elder Brothers." Xiao Lin did not stand on ceremony and immediately agreed.

"Not trouble at all!" Gu Rong rubbed his hands together, looking eager to get started. "Tell me, what kind of Soul Ring do you want? Your brother here will catch it for you!"

Xiao Lin thought for a moment before stating his requirements. "Preferably a control-type Soul Beast, and one related to music. As for its age, anything between three thousand and seven thousand years will do."

Xiao Lin had collected Whale Rubber over the years, so the age limit of the Soul Rings he could absorb was naturally higher than that of ordinary Soul Masters. His second Soul Ring had already been a Millennium Soul Ring.

"A control type, related to music..." Chen Xin pondered for a moment, then nodded. "The range is a little narrow, but it is not impossible to find. Let's go. We'll look deeper inside."

The three immediately set off toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.

With two Titled Douluo leading the way, Xiao Lin had no need to worry about safety at all.

Those Soul Beasts that were normally ferocious beyond compare sensed the terrifying aura emanating from the two Titled Douluo and had long since fled far away, not even daring to show themselves.

Along the way, Gu Rong and Chen Xin chatted as they walked. Their topics ranged from Soul Beasts to soul skills, from cultivation to life itself; there was nothing they did not discuss.