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

"Elder Huangfu!" Zhao Qian's voice came from behind, urging, "Is there something wrong with this kid? Why haven't you made a move yet?!"

Elder Huangfu did not move.

Instead, he took a half step back.

It was this half-step that made Zhao Qian's expression change.

"Elder Huangfu?" Zhao Qian's voice held a hint of confusion. "What... happened?"

Elder Huangfu took a deep breath, his expression constantly changing, as if he were about to make a major decision.

"We can't be reckless. It's better to be safe than sorry. What's a little loss of face?!"

A moment later, to everyone's astonishment, the elder of the Broken Cloud Sword Sect actually clasped his hands together and bowed to Xia Jin.

"Young friend, today's events were a rash act by our Breaking Cloud Sword Sect. We shouldn't have listened to Zhao Qian's one-sided account and rashly blocked the road to provoke a fight. This was our mistake, and I apologize to you here."

Upon hearing this, not only Mu Qingxue and the others from the Glazed Sword Sect widened their eyes and exchanged bewildered glances, but even Xia Jin was taken aback, looking at Elder Huangfu with some suspicion.

Zhao Qian, who had been cheering, gaped, his expression shifting from anticipation to shock, and then to disbelief.

"Elder Huangfu?! Are you mistaken?!" Zhao Qian's voice turned shrill. "With your status, how can you apologize to this brat?! He insulted the people of our Poyun Sword Sect; he must be punished!"

Elder Huangfu ignored Zhao Qian and just glared at him fiercely.

That one glance sent a shiver down Zhao Qian's spine, and he swallowed back all the words he wanted to say.

Then, to everyone's astonishment, Elder Huangfu raised his right hand, spiritual energy condensed in his palm, and a sharp burst of energy suddenly erupted.

Snapped! ! !

A resounding slap landed squarely on Zhao Qian's face.

The force was so great that Zhao Qian fell to the ground. Half of his face swelled up visibly, and he saw stars.

"Elder Huangfu...you..." Zhao Qian lay on the ground, panic appearing in his eyes for the first time.

Can anyone tell him what exactly went wrong?

Elder Huangfu looked at Zhao Qian expressionlessly: "Zhao Qian, you have caused trouble and committed a grave mistake this time. After you return, you will be confined to your quarters for three months to reflect on your actions and are not allowed to step out of the sect."

"Come back to the sect with me immediately!!"

After saying that, he bent down and grabbed Zhao Qian by the collar.

Then, he nodded slightly to Xia Jin, "I apologize, young friend Xia, and everyone from the Glazed Sword Sect! I will take Zhao Qian back and teach him a lesson he won't forget!"

The next moment, he transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the depths of the mountains and forests.

All of this happened too fast.

"Zhao Qian!! Broken Cloud Sword Sect!! What on earth are you doing?!"

From the moment Elder Huangfu struck the man to the moment he carried Zhao Qian away, only a few breaths had passed. Yang Qing'er stood there, her face already as black as a pig's liver with rage.

"Useless...useless!" Her voice was filled with exasperation. "They're all unreliable pieces of trash!!!"

She was cursing loudly, but a hint of unease flashed deep in her eyes.

What just happened is very unusual.

She knew Elder Huangfu's strength; he was at least at the peak of the Dragon Transformation Realm. Why then, upon seeing Xia Jin, did he apologize and turn to leave...? What did this signify?

Yang Qing'er didn't quite believe this feeling, and even felt a little scared.

She subconsciously looked at the middle-aged woman beside her, hoping to get some comfort from this elder of the Hehuan Sword Sect.

However, what she didn't notice was that

The elder beside him no longer possessed the composure she had displayed upon first appearance. Her alluring eyes narrowed slightly as she scrutinized Xia Jin.

Xia Jin, faced with all this, merely raised an eyebrow slightly.

His gaze followed the direction in which Elder Huangfu disappeared, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

"This Elder Huangfu... has he perhaps seen through some of my secrets?"

Mu Qingxue was taken aback: "Senior Brother Xia, what did you say?"

Xia Jin shook her head without explaining.

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Yang Qing'er and the middle-aged woman who were still standing there.

"So, you two? Are you planning to go on your own, or would you like me to give you a ride?"

"Aunt Zhou!"

Yang Qing'er secretly tugged at the sleeve of the middle-aged woman next to her, her gaze still filled with resentment: "Aunt Zhou, this guy doesn't seem right. Perhaps... we could capture him first and then interrogate him properly!"

Yang Qing'er's resentment towards Xia Jin would not easily dissipate because of that inexplicable fear.

She had never been publicly humiliated like this before. She held a grudge against Xia Jin, and she remembered it vividly.

However, even with her encouragement, the Hehuan Sword Sect elder whom she called Aunt Zhou was no ordinary person.

She has met more people and experienced more things than Yang Qing'er has ever eaten salt.

Her naturally alluring eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Xia Jin, her mind racing with calculations.

In her view, Xia Jin, who was standing opposite her, was very likely pretending to be weak while actually being strong.

Otherwise, why would Elder Huangfu, that fox who came with her, suddenly retreat, even if it meant losing face on the spot?

Moreover, Zhou Suxin knew very well what kind of person Yang Qing'er was.

She is willful, capricious, and vindictive. She can run rampant in the sect because the Second Elder is her uncle, and she is still so arrogant and ignorant outside the sect.

If Yang Qing'er weren't the Second Elder's niece, she wouldn't have shown up at all in this matter.

Zhou Suxin remained silent for a moment, then walked forward.

Seeing this from behind, Yang Qing'er's eyes flashed with a hint of smugness, thinking that her Aunt Zhou was finally going to make a move, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.

However, Zhou Suxin stopped when she was only three steps away from Xia Jin.

"So you are Xia Jin, the senior disciple of the Glazed Sword Sect?"

Xia Jin glanced at her indifferently. "That's right! What? You want to lay a hand on me? But let me warn you in advance: you might not be able to handle the consequences if you do!"

As she spoke, Xia Jin's gaze involuntarily fell on the other person's chest.

The peach blossom embroidered on the other person's chest was incredibly lifelike.

But what truly caught Xia Jin's eye was the peach blossom beneath her—so white, so large.