Starting as a Grandmaster, all of my cultivation techniques are at max level.

Su Xuanji's words caused Madam Lan's expression to change as well. She was about to explain when Xia Jin raised her hand to stop her.

Xia Jin met Su Xuanji's cold eyes, a slight smile playing on her lips: "This must be Leader Su of the Hehuan Sect."

Su Xuanji pointed her long sword diagonally at the ground, glaring at Xia Jin with hostility: "Speak, who are you?"

"Xia Jin of the Great Xia Dynasty." Xia Jin stood with his hands behind his back.

"Xia Jin?" Su Xuanji's pupils suddenly contracted. "You're that... the 'Underworld Emperor' of the Great Xia Dynasty?"

She glared fiercely at Madam Lan, her voice filled with disappointment and anger, "Master Lan, you actually brought our enemies here? You have betrayed my Joyful Union Sect!"

"Betrayal?" Xia Jin chuckled lightly, a hint of disdain in her eyes.

"Hahahaha! Madam Lan merely assessed the situation and made the wisest choice. She sought a way out for your Hehuan Sect, and you accuse her of betrayal?"

"Can't Sect Leader Su see the current state of affairs? The demonic path is weak; how dare they oppose my Great Xia? To put it bluntly, it would be as easy as turning my hand to destroy your Hehuan Sect! Submitting to me is your only way to survive!"

"Submit to you!?" Su Xuanji's fingers tightened around her sword, her knuckles turning white. She coldly replied, "My Hehuan Sect has existed for hundreds of years. When have we ever submitted to anyone else?"

"You don't want to submit to me? Then I will annihilate your entire Hehuan Sect today!" Xia Jin took a step forward, and the terrifying pressure made Su Xuanji take several steps back.

"Your Highness!!" Madam Lan exclaimed upon seeing this.

"Hmm!?" Xia Jin frowned, then sighed. "Very well, I'll give Lady Lan face today. How about we make a bet?"

"What are we betting on?" Su Xuanji looked up.

"It's very simple." Xia Jin said calmly, "Within ten moves, I will only defend and not attack, and you can do whatever you want. If you can harm me in the slightest, I will immediately turn around and leave, and never mention the matter of subduing the Hehuan Sect again. I can also promise that as long as the Hehuan Sect does not take the initiative to become an enemy of Great Xia, the court will not hold their past transgressions against them."

As he spoke, his eyes sharpened considerably: "If I emerge unscathed after ten moves... then the entire Joyful Union Sect must submit to me and submit to my commands from now on. Sect Leader Su, are you willing to take the gamble?"

Ten moves, only defense and no offense... Even if the opponent is a grandmaster, the legendary number one in the Great Xia Dynasty, it is still far too arrogant!

Su Xuanji remained silent.

Ten breaths later, she finally gritted her teeth, and the longsword in her hand emitted a clear "hum": "Fine! As you say, ten moves as the limit! But even if you have reached the Grandmaster level, you are still a bit too confident!"

"Come on." Xia Jin's lips curled up slightly; everything was going according to plan.

"please."

"snort!"

Su Xuanji said no more, her eyes narrowed, and her true energy surged instantly.

With a sharp cry, she shot out like a streak of red lightning, her long sword flashing like a cold star, aiming straight for Xia Jin's chest at the Tanzhong acupoint.

Faced with this lightning-fast sword strike, Xia Jin did as he promised, neither dodging nor avoiding it, and didn't even blink.

"bite--!"

A clang of metal rang out!

The moment the sword tip touched Xia Jin's chest, Su Xuanji felt a tremendous force rebound, and the longsword actually bent into an arc!

It was as if she had stabbed not flesh and blood, but a wall of black iron!

A tingling sensation instantly spread throughout her entire arm. She groaned and had to take several steps back to dissipate the recoil.

She steadied herself, looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with horror.

Xia Jin remained standing in the same spot, her smile still on her face.

"This...how is this possible?!" Su Xuanji exclaimed in a low voice, her eyes fixed on Xia Jin. "What kind of protective divine skill do you have?!"

She thought to herself that even the thickest steel armor could be easily pierced by that sword strike, so how could anyone withstand it with their bare body and be completely unharmed!

Xia Jin did not answer, but simply nodded slightly: "The first move. Leader Su, there are nine more moves to go."

"I refuse to believe it!" Su Xuanji's pretty face was frosty as she shouted defiantly, channeling her inner energy to its fullest extent and changing her sword stance once again!

One after another, exquisite and ruthless sword techniques poured out like a storm.

In an instant, the courtyard was filled with the sharp light of swords and the surging of energy, leaving it in a state of utter chaos.

Even the frenzied sword energy forced Madam Lan to take a few steps back.

However, Xia Jin, who was at the very center of the storm, remained as steadfast as a rock.

Nine moves passed in the blink of an eye.

Su Xuanji's arm went numb and sore, and she almost dropped the longsword.

Her chest heaved violently, and beads of sweat glistened on her forehead.

Xia Jin remained calm and composed, sunlight filtering through the dust and falling upon him, making him appear like a deity.

"Ten moves are up," Xia Jin said slowly. "Sect Leader Su, you have lost."

"I... lost." Su Xuanji murmured repeatedly, an unprecedented sense of defeat sweeping over her.

Her martial arts skills and painstaking swordsmanship seemed so pale and laughable in the face of the absolute difference in strength between her opponent and herself.

Is this the number one person of the Great Xia Dynasty, the undefeated Emperor Yin?

Thinking back on it now, it's truly laughable that I actually thought of joining forces with the Ming Cult to suppress the person in front of me!

Madam Lan, who was watching from the sidelines, had a strange glint in her beautiful eyes as she stared intently at Xia Jin's tall and imposing figure.

This is the first person of the Great Xia Dynasty, the legendary Yin Emperor... Such power, such demeanor, I wonder who his future Daoist partner will be?

I don't know if I'll ever have that opportunity...

"Pah! What are you thinking?" Madam Lan shook her head, quickly banishing this absurd idea from her mind.

She took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said to the distraught Su Xuanji, "Master, the battle is over. You have witnessed this man's strength firsthand. The rabble of the Ming Cult is nothing but a chicken and a dog before him."

"If our Hehuan Sect could follow your lead, it might be a very good opportunity. Sect Leader, for the future of the Hehuan Sect, for the lives and prospects of our thousands of disciples, please... reconsider!"

Su Xuanji slowly closed her eyes, her chest gradually calming down. When she opened them again, her gaze was somewhat complicated.

She tidied her slightly disheveled hair and red dress, took a few steps forward, and lowered her head to Xia Jin—a head she had never bowed to so easily before:

"Su Xuanji, the leader of the Hehuan Sect... is willing to lead the entire Hehuan Sect to submit to you, sir. From now on, we will follow your lead without question!"

Xia Jin looked at Su Xuanji, who was bowing her head to him, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

"Very well! Leader Su, there's no need for such formalities. From now on, we are family. Rest assured, with me by your side, your Joyful Union Sect will only get better than it is now."