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

"Is this guy out of his mind?!" Zhou Suxin looked at Xia Jin, who was bowing her head and trembling slightly, and suddenly felt a little puzzled.

However, just as she had this thought, she felt a dark shadow flash before her eyes.

Xia Jin had stood up at some point and appeared directly in front of her, pressing her hands firmly on her shoulders.

Zhou Suxin froze instantly.

She instinctively wanted to back away, but found that there was a wall behind her, and there was nowhere to retreat.

"You bastard!! What are you doing?"

Zhou Suxin raised her head, a hint of panic flashing in her beautiful eyes, and obvious anger appearing on her cheeks.

She had never been so offended in all her years of life.

Xia Jin showed no intention of backing away. Instead, he looked down and stared directly into her eyes, his gaze filled with fervor.

"Elder Zhou, I've carefully considered the four conditions you just mentioned. Actually, they're not that demanding! By the way, aren't you an elder of the Hehuan Sword Sect?"

Zhou Suxin frowned, a bad feeling rising in her heart.

"In that case, as long as I fulfill the first condition and become your Daoist partner, I have a high probability of succeeding in the remaining three conditions. At that time, I will have a great chance of obtaining the Joyful Union Sword Intent?"

Zhou Suxin's pupils flickered. She looked at Xia Jin in disbelief, as if she had heard something utterly absurd.

"What...what did you say?"

"What I mean is, whether we pretend or not, let's become Daoist partners first. Then I'll follow you back to the Hehuan Sword Sect, gain the approval of the sect leader and elders, and naturally learn the Hehuan Sword Intent."

Xia Jin grinned.

"In exchange, all previous grievances will be wiped clean. I will no longer hold Yang Qing'er's offense against you, and I will ensure that you two return to the Hehuan Sword Sect in a timely manner. How about it?"

"You!!" Zhou Suxin's expression shifted between shock and embarrassment after Xia Jin's words, finally turning into icy indifference.

"Kid! Are you kidding me?"

"Do you know how much older I am than you? At my age, I could easily be your aunt!"

She raised her hand, her palm carrying a sharp gust of wind, and slapped it straight at Xia Jin's face.

"Shameless bastard!"

This slap was delivered with all her might. Although her spiritual power had long been sealed by Xia Jin, Xia Jin still didn't want to be slapped.

Xia Jin smiled and reached out, firmly grasping the wrist that the woman was swinging at.

Zhou Suxin was startled. Before she could pull her hand back, she felt a tightness around her waist.

Xia Jin's other hand had somehow wrapped around her waist, the force just right, preventing her from breaking free.

With a forceful pull of his arm, he dragged her body against the wall.

Zhou Suxin's back slammed against the cold wall. She instinctively tried to struggle, but found that Xia Jin had firmly imprisoned her between him and the wall.

Wall slam.

The position, the distance—it was so ambiguous that she could barely breathe.

Zhou Suxin's breathing became rapid, her chest heaving violently, and her face quickly flushed red, even her neck turning a light pink.

"Bastard!! You...you let me go!" Her voice was no longer as cold as before, but trembled slightly.

Xia Jin did not let go.

He lowered his head, staring intently at her, his gaze gradually deepening with affection.

"Elder Zhou," Xia Jin's smile vanished, a stark contrast to her previous playful demeanor, "Do you perhaps think I'm joking?"

Zhou Suxin raised her head and met his gaze.

Her beautiful eyes were filled with a complex expression, a mixture of panic and disbelief.

"I didn't mean to tease you, I was serious." Xia Jin nodded.

"I'm determined to have the Joyful Union Sword Intent," Xia Jin continued. "And of those four conditions, the first is becoming a Daoist partner of the Joyful Union Sword Sect at the elder level or above. Since it's right in front of me, why should I go to such lengths?"

"Don't worry, this so-called Daoist partnership is just for show! After we become Daoist partners, if you are unwilling, I will not force you to do anything."

Zhou Suxin's heart skipped a beat, and she felt her throat go dry.

"What kind of logic is that? How can you treat something like this so lightly?"

"Child's play?" Xia Jin shook her head. "I think this is a win-win solution."

Zhou Suxin bit her lip, her eyes flickering uncertainly.

"If you're unwilling," Xia Jin seemed to sense her hesitation and said calmly, "I won't force you. However, I am determined to obtain the Hehuan Sword Intent. If this path is blocked, then I will have to find another way. As for what will happen to you two then, I can't guarantee."

"After all, one deal is one deal. Since you two attacked me before, you naturally have to pay a price!"

When Xia Jin said this, his tone became noticeably cold, and Zhou Suxin's body stiffened slightly.

She naturally understood the threatening meaning in Xia Jin's words.

She had witnessed the young man's strength firsthand. To possess such power at such a young age meant that if he were to truly comprehend the legendary Mortal World Sword Intent from the Joyful Union Sword Intent, he would undoubtedly stand at the pinnacle of the entire Mirage Realm. At that time, even if she was merely pretending to be his Daoist partner, her own status would absolutely rise accordingly.

Zhou Suxin fell silent, her eyelashes trembling slightly, as if she were weighing something.

Time passed little by little.

Xia Jin didn't urge her, but just looked at her calmly.

Ten breaths later, Zhou Suxin finally raised her head.

Her cheeks were still flushed, and the coldness in her beautiful eyes had mostly faded, replaced by a complex expression that even she herself couldn't quite describe.

"You...you mean what you say?" Her voice sounded a little nervous.

"Of course!!" Xia Jin's eyes lit up slightly; he knew the other party had agreed.

"What I say is always as good as gold."

Zhou Suxin took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

"Okay! I promise you!!" She nodded gently, her face seemingly a little shy.

"Then it's settled."

As he spoke, he finally released his grip on Zhou Suxin's wrist, and withdrew his other hand from her waist, taking a half-step back to give her some space.

Zhou Suxin felt the oppressive feeling disappear and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Although I agree to become your Daoist partner, this is only the first step! How to gain the approval of the sect leader and the other three elders depends entirely on your performance! This is no easy task."

Xia Jin nodded. "I understand that, of course. However, this condition might be difficult for others, but it might not be a problem for me!"

He looked at Zhou Suxin, his gaze falling on her flushed cheeks, and suddenly smiled.

"Since Elder Zhou has agreed, then from this moment on, we have an agreement. Come, let's get to know each other again. I am Xia Jin! I look forward to your guidance in the future!"

Zhou Suxin's heart skipped a beat again.

She looked away, not daring to meet his gaze again, her voice so low it was almost inaudible.

"Zhou Suxin".