Ren Xuan gave a soft chuckle, lifting his sword and resting it casually against his shoulder. "My name… is Ren Xuan."
His smile deepened, a strange warmth in his voice that clashed with the blood-chilling power he exuded. "Don't worry, child. That name will soon become the most important one in your life… Qian Renxue."
At the mention of her name, Ci Xue and She Long's hearts lurched. Eve, however, didn't flinch — her calm face a mask.
"So you were targeting me," she said quietly. "But I wonder how you managed to see through the disguise."
Ren Xuan's expression softened into something almost . "You underestimate how long I've been waiting. To find you, I camped outside the gates of Spirit City for months. And then, one day… a trio left — two Titled Douluo, and a girl hidden under a cloak."
He chuckled, a dry, knowing sound. "The moment I saw you, I knew it , you are the person I was finding."
Eve's pupils contracted slightly. She understood now.
He was a Reincarnator ,someone who knew the "original story."
The tension in the air was like a drawn bowstring.
She Long's instincts screamed danger louder than ever before. He stepped forward, putting himself between Eve and Ren Xuan.
"Young Master, this person is very dangerous!" he shouted, his voice trembling despite his courage.
Ci Xue tensed, feeling the crushing pressure radiating from the stranger. The oppressive aura was so thick it was like wading through mud. Even breathing became difficult.
She Long gritted his teeth."Ci Xue, take the Young Master and run toward Spirit City! I'll try to hold him back!"
Without waiting for a reply, She Long's body erupted in blue-green light. His eighth soul ring blazed, and his martial soul — the Snake Lance — elongated and thickened until it looked like a silver serpent piercing the heavens.
"Eighth Soul Skill: Sky-Piercing Lance!"
He shot forward like a streak of lightning, the ground cracking beneath his feet. The lance stabbed through the air, its edge sharp enough to leave a glowing tear in space itself as it flew straight at Ren Xuan.
But Ren Xuan barely moved.Behind him, only his second soul ring flickered faintly.
"Second Soul Skill: Sword Strike."
A casual swing of his sword. Just a line of motion faster than sight.
Clang!
A thunderous shockwave burst out as the two attacks collided. She Long's eighth soul skill , something powerful enough to pierce mountains , shattered like fragile glass.
The backlash sent cracks spiderwebbing across the ground, and before She Long could even process what happened—
Ren Xuan vanished, like a blur,
Bang!
A heavy punch landed squarely on She Long's chest. The impact was like being struck by a meteor. His eyes bulged as he vomited blood.
"Grrrghhh—!"
The sound of bones cracking echoed through the clearing. The next instant, Ren Xuan's hand gripped She Long by the throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground like a child's doll.
As an individual at Level 100, his power was absolute. His movements didn't just show strength — they carried a sense of inevitability.
Ren Xuan began walking slowly toward the others, dragging the limp body of She Long in one hand, his boots crunching softly over the debris-strewn road. His calm, measured pace was far more terrifying than any rage-filled charge.
Ci Xue's hands trembled. The sweat on his brow rolled down in streams. His heart raced as the gap between them closed — ten meters, nine, eight…
He clenched his fists. "If I must die here, I'll—"
Before he could finish, a gentle yet firm voice interrupted him.
"Uncle Ci Xue, go to Spirit City and find Grandfather. Tell him I'm in danger."
Eve ,still disguised perfectly as Qian Renxue — stepped forward. Her face was calm, though her golden eyes shimmered with something unreadable.
Ci Xue froze. "But, Young Master—!"
"This is an order."
Her tone carried a weight that brooked no disobedience. For a brief moment, Ci Xue saw the same commanding aura that only Qian Daoliu himself possessed. He hesitated, then clenched his jaw, preparing to retreat despite the instinct screaming at him to stay.
Ren Xuan's laughter broke the silence.It wasn't mocking — it was amused, almost casual.
"No one is going anywhere."
He threw She Long aside like discarded trash, the man crashing against a nearby tree and crumpling to the ground with a dull thud.
Ren Xuan's gaze fixed on Eve, his eyes gleaming faintly with silver light."Especially you, Qian Renxue."
Eve tilted her head slightly, her expression calm, even playful, as if Ren Xuan's oppressive aura didn't matter."How much time has it been since we last met?"
The words hit like a whisper and a challenge.
Ren Xuan's brows furrowed. 'Time ?Met?'
His mind turned rapidly, instincts on high alert. The faint smirk curling on her lips made his senses prickle.
' Is this a trap?'
But even as the thought crossed his mind, his spiritual perception spread outward like a storm. His domain-like spiritual power swept over every inch of the terrain within several kilometers—
Nothing but dust, rocks, and faint traces of frightened wildlife scurrying away.
He relaxed slightly, arrogance returning like the tide.
"Trap?" he echoed, voice deep and amused. "If you're trying to stall for time, little girl, I suggest you drop the act. Even the so-called Titled Douluos are ants before me. As for your Spirit Hall's Great Worshipper…Qian Daoliu"
He chuckled darkly, "…he would fall with three moves at best."