After traveling for half a day away from Spirit City, the trio , Eve, Ci Xue, and She Long — stopped at a small tavern along a quiet trade route. The faint smell of wine and roasted meat filled the air, mingled with the distant rhythm of hooves and wagons from passing merchants.
Eve, sitting at the center table under the dim glow of an oil lamp, removed the hood of her cloak. Her face, unmistakably that of Qian Renxue, appeared in the flickering light. It was her disguise, which was purely the result of the head soul bone's soul skill that she had absorbed.
Ci Xue and She Long quietly ordered drinks, their eyes occasionally scanning the surroundings. The tavern was modest , a few worn tables, a tired old owner, and travelers too weary to care about anyone else.
Eve's eyes moved toward the corner table, where a man cloaked in black sat motionless, a half-finished cup of wine in his hand. His hood was low, but even from a distance.
Eve took a sip of her drink before speaking casually, her tone carrying both calm and steel."Sir, I believe you've been tailing us for quite some time now."
The tavern went still. Even the lazy chatter died down.
A low, hoarse voice came from the man's table. "Pretty good perception," he said slowly, almost amused. "But what will you do, little girl, now that you know?"
With his words came a sudden pressure, heavy and suffocating. The tavern's air seemed to thicken as invisible waves of soul power rippled outward. The wooden floor creaked under the strain.
Ci Xue's hand tightened and She Long, ever vigilant, stood up ready to neutralize the dangerous source of the pressure, his muscles tensing. Both could feel it , this was not an ordinary opponent.
The tavern owner rushed forward, pale and trembling, wiping sweat from his brow. "R-Respected Soul Masters, please, my small tavern cannot bear your fight… please, step outside if you must!"
Eve smiled softly, a serene expression that contrasted the growing tension. "You're right," she said gently to the terrified owner. "Why don't we take this outside?"
The black-cloaked man chuckled, low at first, then louder until it filled the room. "Ha… ha… ha… interesting," he said, standing up with deliberate calm. As he did, his shadow seemed to stretch unnaturally long across the floor.
He turned toward Eve and gave a mock bow. "As you wish… my lady."
There was something mocking, almost knowing, in the way he said those last two words.
Eve's purple eyes narrowed slightly beneath her calm expression. "He knows something," she thought silently, feeling a flicker of unease or perhaps curiosity.
Without another word, she stood up, her cloak flowing behind her as she walked toward the door. Ci Xue and She Long followed closely, their steps measured but alert.
Outside the tavern, the air was heavy with stillness.Eve ,in the guise of Qian Renxue , stood with She Long and Ci Xue about a twenty meters away from the black-cloaked stranger. The dirt road stretched between them like a line drawn by fate itself.
Without warning, the black-cloaked man released his soul power.It wasn't a burst — it was an ocean suddenly made visible, vast and suffocating. The ground trembled slightly under the pressure, and even the leaves on the nearby trees bent away from him as though afraid.
She Long and Ci Xue both broke into a sweat. Their instincts screamed danger as they simultaneously summoned their martial souls — the Snake Lance and the Porcupinefish. Their 9 soul rings flared behind them, their energies intertwining defensively around Eve.
But Eve… only tilted her head slightly, her purple eyes reflecting the rolling energy waves. A thoughtful expression crossed her face, a mix of analysis and detached curiosity.
Then, the cloaked man made his move.
He waved his hand lightly. Inside the tavern, the remaining customers — curious travelers peering through the windows — gasped at the sudden surge of power outside. For a heartbeat, it looked like a mere standoff.
The next instant—
Bang!
A blinding flash erupted as the man's sword materialized in his grasp — a long, silver blade that hummed with ancient might. Nine dazzling soul rings rose from beneath his feet, illuminating the earth like halos of destruction.
With one casual swing of his sword, a shockwave exploded forward.
The tavern behind Eve and her group was obliterated in an instant. Dust, wood, and screams vanished under the crushing wave of energy. The scent of scorched air filled the clearing.
Silence followed.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
Eve's purple eyes narrowed slightly. Her expression didn't waver, but inside, she was calculating.
"To destroy a building and kill every living being inside… without using a soul skill," she murmured softly. "That level of soul power release… is only possible for someone atleast at level 98, Super Douluo."
She Long and Ci Xue exchanged tense glances, their knuckles white as they clenched their hands.
The man slowly lifted his hand and removed his hood.
Underneath was a face that looked middle-aged, with calm features and eyes that seemed to hold the reflection of countless years.
He smiled faintly as he gazed at Eve."Don't worry. Nothing will happen to you," he said gently, as though talking to an old friend. "I simply dislike leaving witnesses."
Eve smiled back, her tone calm and almost teasing, as though the destruction of an entire tavern meant nothing."Oh? You never did introduce yourself."
Ren Xuan gave a soft chuckle, lifting his sword and resting it casually against his shoulder. "My name… is Ren Xuan."