Just as the surrounding crowd remained stunned, the mysterious black-robed man suddenly spoke to Xiao Tianyang: "Follow me."
Without another word, the man turned and left.
Xiao Tianyang stayed in place for a moment before a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Wait here for now. I'll be back soon."
He moved to leave, but Saber cautiously grabbed his arm, his voice low and serious. "I saw it clearly earlier—what Salas received looked like the Elder Token of the Spirit Hall..."
Xiao Tianyang glanced at Saber in surprise. "How do you know about that?"
"I saw it once at my father's friend's place."
Saber didn't elaborate further, only adding, "That means this person must be connected to the Spirit Hall. Even if he doesn't possess the same strength as the others..."
"Don't worry, it's fine." Xiao Tianyang placed a reassuring hand over Saber's gloved one. "You know me. If the other party had ill intentions, would I really go?"
"Besides, logically speaking, since they helped me just now, it's only right that I hear them out, isn't it?"
"Then be careful." Saber's grip tightened slightly before she finally added, "We'll wait here. If you're not back in half an hour, we'll come looking for you."
Xiao Tianyang nodded and left.
…
The Great Soul Arena – A Secluded Spot
When Xiao Tianyang arrived, the black-robed man stood with his back to him, his voice icy. "Take off the mask."
"Just because you helped me out of a tight spot?" Xiao Tianyang smirked inwardly but replied coldly, "That doesn't seem like enough reason."
"You are still pretending in front of me?" The man turned, removing his hood and white mask to reveal delicate, familiar features.
It was none other than Qian Renxue .
"Who are you?" Xiao Tianyang teased. "I don't believe we've met before, have we?"
Qian Renxue's expression darkened slightly. "Others might not know, but you and I—do we really need this act?"
"Back in the Star Dou Forest, I was the one who changed your medicine. Your appearance, your figure—even your scent—I remember it all clearly!"
"I never realized I held such a high place in Xiao Xue's heart that you'd remember me so vividly." Xiao Tianyang adjusted his goggles before removing his mask, revealing his true face.
At his ambiguous words, a faint blush dusted Qian Renxue's cheeks, though she maintained her composure.
"I only pitied your condition that day. What does that have to do with you?" She denied the latter half of his statement—yet notably ignored his familiar address.
Realizing this instantly, Xiao Tianyang took two steps forward, grinning.
"At the very least, I left an impression on you. Isn't that the same as what I said?"
Despite her usual strength, Qian Renxue now resembled a flustered girl, retreating until her back met the wall.
Xiao Tianyang caged her in, one hand braced against the wall, their faces mere inches apart.
"Really? I don't think we need to split hairs over it." His other hand lifted, fingertips brushing toward her chin—
"Ah—!!"
A sharp knee drove upward, and Xiao Tianyang staggered back with a pained gasp.
"After all this time, you still haven't learned your lesson."
A playful smirk curled Qian Renxue's lips. "How does that feel?"
"Even if you're punishing me, shouldn't you consider your own future happiness?" Xiao Tianyang groaned, rubbing his thigh. "Was that really necessary?"
Her cheeks flushed further, and she muttered under her breath, "Keep spouting nonsense, and no wonder you've made so many enemies with that mouth of yours."
Still hunched over, Xiao Tianyang forced a grin. "You're wrong. It's not my mouth they hate—it's the threat I pose."
At this, Qian Renxue's brows furrowed slightly, a trace of reproach in her tone.
"If you already know that, why insist on competing under two identities?"
"Don't you realize that with your current strength, you'll undoubtedly advance to the finals?"
"And do you even know where those finals will be held?"
Finally straightening, Xiao Tianyang smiled. "Of course. The Spirit Hall headquarters, right? Even my teacher are going—why shouldn't I?"
"If you had even half his strength, it wouldn't matter. But you don't!"
Qian Renxue's voice turned grave. "Listen to me—withdraw now while you still can. I can erase all traces of your past. Given time to grow, you can achieve anything you want in the future."
To her, Xiao Tianyang's actions were reckless.
She didn't know his motives, but she understood the Spirit Hall's structure—and that woman's methods.
Xiao Tianyang was strong, his potential limitless—but the Spirit Hall headquarters was a den of dragons and tigers for him.
Easy to enter, impossible to leave.
Especially if his identity were exposed.
Even with her and Miao Zhenshan's aid, the odds were slim. The Spirit Hall housed multiple Super Douluo—and her grandfather…
Yet Xiao Tianyang only shook his head. "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you this time. I can't accept your proposal."
"Why?" Qian Renxue pressed, "Do you truly understand what will happen when the Spirit Hall connects 'Xiao Tianyang' and 'Edward'?"
"How do you think Pope Bibi Dong will deal with you?"
"And most importantly—do you even grasp the Spirit Hall's true power?"
"Frankly, I know just as much as you do." Xiao Tianyang's smile didn't waver. "As for your other questions—let me answer them."
"Once the Spirit Hall learns my identity, they'll try to recruit me."
"I'll refuse. Then, they'll adopt the mindset of 'if we can't have him, no one can.'"
"Even if I escape, they'll hunt me relentlessly."
"As for Pope Bibi Dong…" His gaze deepened, locking onto Qian Renxue with an intensity that made her pulse stutter.
But he merely said, "From what my teacher told me, her ambitions are vast—enough to envision unifying the entire Douluo Continent. To her, someone like me is either the greatest asset… or the greatest obstacle."
"So her reaction will likely be even more extreme than I described. She might even act personally."
Qian Renxue was taken aback.
She hadn't expected Xiao Tianyang to see through the Spirit Hall—and Bibi Dong—so clearly.
But then again, with a Super Douluo as his teacher, one who had once operated within the Spirit Hall's upper echelons…
How could his understanding be anything but thorough?
No one who reached such heights was a fool.
…
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