“Although monks cannot drink alcohol, the rules and regulations are made by humans, so it is not unacceptable to violate them once or twice.”

“Indeed, life would be too boring if you always followed the rules.” Ru Xin smiled slightly, took the glass of wine that Ye Xingchen handed her, gestured to Ye Xingchen from afar, and then drank the wine in one gulp.

As soon as the wine hit my stomach, a surge of heat exploded up my stomach and instantly spread throughout my entire body.

"Good wine." Even Ru Xin, who never drinks, couldn't help but cheer when he put down his glass. At the same time, his spirits lifted, and his energy seemed to increase significantly in that instant.

"Aren't you afraid I'll poison you?" Ye Xingchen glanced at him. "Looks like you still lack experience in the ways of the world. Let me teach you a lesson: never drink wine that someone hands you, because you never know what might be mixed in with it."

“Others might be so despicable, but you wouldn’t,” Ru Xin said with a slight smile. “Because you are Ye Xingchen. Although you are not exactly a gentleman who can remain unmoved by temptation, I believe you are an upright person.”

"Haha, thank you for the compliment." Ye Xingchen laughed heartily, picked up his cup, and gestured from afar, "Another cup, please."

Since they had already broken the rule, they might as well go all the way. Ruxin raised a glass of wine, clinked glasses with Ye Xingchen, and then the two of them drank it all in one gulp.

"To have a true friend in life is a great blessing. This cup is for you." After finishing her second cup of wine, Ruxin poured herself another cup and gestured to Ye Xingchen from afar.

“Yes, I also think you’re quite an interesting monk, unlike those lifeless old monks.” Ye Xingchen said, “Actually, I don’t really like monks who are too strict with rules and regulations, they’re boring.”

"Life is like this: good wine, good food, and a few beautiful women—that's what makes life worthwhile. Cheers!"

The two raised their glasses, clinked them together, and then drank their wine in one gulp.

After three cups of wine, a sense of mutual appreciation welled up between them.

Ru Xin smiled and said, "Shall we begin?"

"There's still some time, no rush." ​​Ye Xingchen refilled his glass. "Ruxin, have you thought through what I reminded you of at Jingye Temple?"

Ru Xin's smile froze slightly. He lowered his head, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head, saying, "Let these things be."

"The past doesn't matter? The truth doesn't matter either?" Ye Xingchen asked.

“It doesn’t matter. Time flows on, and there are many things that you want to investigate, but it’s too late.” Ru Xin said leisurely, “Time has passed, everything is fate, and nothing is up to us.”

“Very good, but do you think you are a person who accepts fate?” Ye Xingchen asked.

Ru Xin remained silent. Yes, was he a person who accepted his fate?

No, and some things can't be escaped simply by running away.

He silently counted the prayer beads in his hand without saying a word, then looked up and smiled, "Let's not talk about these things anymore, let's talk about this battle. What are your thoughts?"

"You are the strongest opponent I have ever faced." Ye Xingchen said without any hesitation: "If we both give it our all in this battle, the only outcome will be mutual destruction."

"A lose-lose situation?" Ru Xin's expression was somewhat complicated. He murmured, "It really was a bit too much. Actually, whether either of us came or not, the result would be the same."

"So, is this battle necessary?" Ye Xingchen asked.

“It is necessary.” Ruxin nodded: “I cannot fail my sect’s orders. No matter the outcome of this battle, I will leave Jinling.”

"So even if both sides are severely injured, this battle is inevitable, isn't it?" Ye Xingchen asked.

“Yes, it’s unavoidable.” Ruxin nodded solemnly: “These are things I have carefully considered, so they are unavoidable.”

"What if you lose this battle?" Ye Xingchen asked.

"Defeat?" Ru Xin's lips curled into a smile: "You just said that the best outcome for us in this battle is mutual destruction. Do you think I will lose?"

“Nothing is absolute, because I know your weaknesses,” Ye Xingchen said. “Of the three aspects of inner demons, you already possess two.”

"So when you give it your all, your inner demons will quietly take over your heart, and you will surely lose this battle."

Ru Xin's expression was slightly moved; this kid had finally figured it out.

"So what?" Ruxin said leisurely, "The arrow is on the string, and it has to be released."

"You say I'm not facing my problems squarely enough? But I've made up my mind that after this battle, I will face my problems squarely and uncover the true cause of the illusions I saw in the illusion."

"Does it really have to be after this battle?" Ye Xingchen asked, somewhat speechless.

"Yes." Ru Xin smiled faintly and nodded, "I think it's getting late, shall we begin?"

"Alright then." Ye Xingchen stood up and stretched. "Let's begin. Master Ruxin, what weapon will you be using?"

“Buddhist disciples are detached from worldly desires; a pair of bare hands are enough,” Ruxin said with a slight smile. “There’s no need for any weapons.”

"Okay, I understand." Ye Xingchen nodded slightly. "Then let's... begin."

With a swift grab of his right hand, Chixiao appeared in his grasp. As Ye Xingchen continuously channeled his true energy, the three-foot-long sword suddenly shone brightly.

Ruxin remained seated, his body covered in a faint golden light, which then caused a gigantic Arhat's Dharma body to appear behind him.

With a whoosh, dark clouds rapidly gathered in the sky, and the two bodies slowly floated up, standing on the water's surface.

“Sitting is meditation, walking is meditation…” Golden light burst forth from Ruxin’s body, and his Dharma body behind him continued to expand, instantly growing to three zhang in size.

At the same time, the Arhat's Dharma Body clasped its hands together, and with a loud boom, golden Buddha light suddenly surged out, floating endlessly in concentric circles around it.

Ye Xingchen pointed the Crimson Sky Sword to the sky, with faint purple lightning flashing across the heavens, and unleashed the Thunderclap Sword.

He drew purple lightning from the heavens, which gathered into a purple ball of electricity that spun around him.

A fierce killing intent filled the air. Buddhist light and purple electric orbs enveloped the surrounding area within a thousand feet. A man and a sword faced off in mid-air, both as immovable as Mount Tai. However, the electric light and Buddhist light constantly intersected and exploded in the air...

Boom... Accompanied by a huge wave of light, the lake water beneath the two exploded and then poured down from the sky.

It was as if a torrential rain had fallen on the lake, with countless water droplets raining down from the sky.

The two moved their hands rapidly, and the water droplets condensed into countless ice spikes, attacking each other. In an instant, everything within a hundred-foot radius was reduced to dust.