Outside the poisonous mist, Saber observed the scene with her beautiful eyes, then turned to Xiao Tianyang beside her, a smile playing on her lips. "Is this what you taught her?"
"The method isn't the main point. If the goal is to eliminate them all, why fuss over the process?" Xiao Tianyang didn't deny it, speaking calmly. "Do we need to bow three times, kowtow nine times, bathe, and burn incense before killing?"
Saber understood his point, her eyes flickering with amusement. "Indeed, it works both ways. Humans can kill soul beasts, and soul beasts can kill humans. That's the law of the jungle."
"And to change this rule, you must first possess the strength to do so," Xiao Tianyang added, reaching out to ruffle her hair with a smile. "And I believe you can definitely achieve it."
"You know what I'm thinking?" Saber was slightly surprised.
"From your first soul beast hunt, you've always targeted those that would harm others innocent ones," Xiao Tianyang said, a faint smile on his lips as if he had seen through everything. "If you weren't lucky enough to have soul beasts come to you each time, I suspect your current soul rings might all be ten-year ones. Right?"
"How do you know everything?" Saber sighed, turning away. "I understand the law of the jungle is natural, but don't you think this method of humans gaining strength is strange? Without hunting soul beasts and obtaining spirit rings, humans can't advance to the next stage. That's precisely why soul beasts despise humans so much."
"Sometimes I wonder, if this rule were broken, could humans and soul beasts coexist peacefully?" she mused. But soon, she shook her head with a wry smile. "I am probably overestimating myself. This power system has been passed down on the Douluo Continent for thousands of years. Who am I to think I can change it?"
"No, I believe you can," Xiao Tianyang said firmly, holding her hand with a mysterious smile. "As long as you're strong enough—strong enough to even break through the rules of this world—you can also make the rules. Haven't you ever thought that today's rules were also made by someone?"
Saber's eyes widened slightly with a hint of shock. "You mean..."
Xiao Tianyang placed a finger on her lips, shaking his head. "Shh, don't say it out loud. Just keep it in your heart."
"But for now, we don't need to carry such heavy burdens. Only by moving forward can we see more, and you'll be able to achieve what you desire," he continued. "All I can say is that the road ahead will be both smooth and bumpy. As for how to navigate it, if you're unsure, you can always ask me."
After a pause, he added, "Of course, not now. We're still too weak."
To an ordinary person, these words might sound cryptic, even incomprehensible. Even a master might only grasp the surface meaning without delving deeper. But Saber was different. On one hand, she understood Xiao Tianyang. On the other, her connection to the system tied her closely to him.
She might not fully comprehend his words, but her trust in him, combined with her own intelligence, allowed her to glean something valuable. Even if it wasn't much, it was enough to benefit her.
So, Saber didn't press further on the topic. Instead, she asked, "When are we going to make our move?"
"Wait a little longer. Just like last time, we'll have them take all the soul rings and fight the final wave," Xiao Tianyang replied with a smile. "But this time, they've improved a bit. Are you sure you still want to face them?"
"Don't forget, I've also obtained my fourth spirit ring. If they've improved, so have I," Saber said confidently.
In fact, before returning, Saber had already reached level 40. The delay in obtaining her fourth spirit ring was due to the rules she had set for herself.
In the extreme north, they hadn't encountered a suitable soul beast, so they had to try their luck in the Sunset Forest. Unexpectedly, shortly after parting ways with Liu Erlong, they came across a 40,000-year-old Sacred Fire Lion King!
While this soul beast wasn't from the evil faction, it wasn't exactly benevolent either—perfect for Saber's requirements.
Unlike Xiao Tianyang, Saber didn't have as many restrictions when it came to obtaining spirit rings. With Xiao Tianyang's help, she successfully acquired her fourth spirit ring the previous night, boosting her level from 40 to 44.
Saber's fourth soul skill, Wind of Leadership, was exceptionally powerful.
It was a skill that enhanced both personal and group growth.
In simple terms, anyone aligned with Saber's camp could receive a blessing from this power, increasing all their attributes by 10% to 30%.
At first glance, this might not seem impressive, but there was no limit to the number of people it could affect, and the soul power consumption was minimal. This made it less of a one-on-one combat skill and more of a legion-level ability.
If Saber were to command thousands of troops on the battlefield, the overall strength of her army would be 10% to 30% higher than the enemy's. Additionally, Xiao Tianyang noticed a hidden attribute of this skill: it boosted morale. In essence, this soul skill wasn't designed for duels but for warfare.
To be honest, Xiao Tianyang was initially shocked by the skill. But when he considered Saber's original identity, it made perfect sense.
As for the claim that this skill didn't significantly enhance Saber's personal growth, that was a misconception.
While there was a gap between Saber and Xiao Tianyang, both relied more on combat prowess and physical fitness than on soul skills. For them, the true purpose of spirit rings was to unlock the next level of power, not the skills themselves. Even without this restriction, they wouldn't need spirit rings at all!
Of course, such speculation was pointless now. Back to the matter at hand.
"Alright then," Xiao Tianyang said with a light smile. "Do you need me to back you up?"
"If you join, will they even dare to fight?" Saber's eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Fine, I'll just watch your performance from here and wait for your triumphant return," Xiao Tianyang replied, swinging his legs as he pulled out a bag of potato chips. "Want some?"
"Sure," Saber nodded with a smile.
And so, the two watched Tang San and the others as if they were spectators at a play. The outcome was surprisingly smooth.
After Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong resolved their spirit rings, only Tang San and Xiao Wu remained.
The latter was more complicated, as Xiao Wu didn't need spirit beasts to provide her spirit rings. However, after several rounds of selection, Xiao Wu kept finding excuses to decline. If this continued, even if she wasn't exposed, it would undoubtedly raise suspicions.
After all, Tang San's choices were always precise. Anyone else would have no reason to refuse, but Xiao Wu's repeated rejections inevitably drew attention.
Only two people were aware of the truth: Xiao Tianyang, who knew the plot, and Tang San, who had learned the truth but kept it secret. However, this deadlock needed to be broken.
…
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