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

Inside the carriage, Xia Jin closed her eyes, but her mind was still focused on the system's mission rewards.

Red Dust Sword Technique

These four words alone are anything but simple. Not to mention the reward of 500,000 years of cultivation, enough to support him in reaching the realm of a top-tier expert, or even higher.

Without realizing it, a smile appeared on Xia Jin's face.

The carriage was so quiet that you could hear each other breathing.

Zhou Suxin sat opposite Xia Jin. Her gaze was originally on the scenery rushing past the window, but at some point, her eyes quietly shifted back and landed on Xia Jin's extremely noble face.

Zhou Suxin's gaze lingered on his face for a moment, then she quickly looked away as if she had been burned.

Her heart was beating faster than usual, a feeling that made her somewhat uncomfortable.

As an elder of the Hehuan Sword Sect, Zhou Suxin had seen too many men, and among them, there were quite a few who had expressed their affection for her.

But she didn't like any of them.

The essence of the Hehuan Sword Art emphasizes the harmony of Yin and Yang; isolated Yin cannot grow, and isolated Yang cannot be born.

Therefore, he reached the peak of the ninth level of the Dragon Transformation Realm.

She was stuck at this level for a full twenty years.

With her talent, she shouldn't be like this. If she were willing to let go of her desires, she would have already reached the Great Power Realm.

Zhou Suxin's gaze unconsciously returned to Xia Jin. Could this young man truly become her opportunity?

She had experienced his strength firsthand. At such a young age, he was already able to easily subdue her, a peak ninth-level Dragon Transformation Realm expert. Such talent was rare even in the entire Mirage Cloud Realm.

Zhou Suxin thought of many things.

But at least, this person didn't make her feel any dislike.

As if thinking of something, her cheeks began to flush slightly.

Yang Qing'er, who had just woken up, looked at the incongruous scene before her and became somewhat confused.

She glanced at Xia Jin, then at Zhou Suxin, her eyes darting back and forth between the two.

An absurd guess arose in her mind, but she quickly suppressed it.

impossible.

Absolutely impossible.

How could the elder possibly be interested in this bastard...?

However, the blush on the elder's face was genuine, and the tenderness that flashed in his eyes was also real.

Never mind, I must be overthinking it.

That bastard, I'll definitely teach him a lesson when we get back to the Hehuan Sword Sect.

The carriage continued forward, and a day later it arrived at the gate of the Hehuan Sword Sect.

Xia Jin opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in them. Whether he succeeded this time depended on his performance at the Joyful Union Sword Sect.

"Have we arrived?" he asked.

"We've arrived." Zhou Suxin nodded, got up first, and went downstairs.

Xia Jin followed closely behind and jumped off the carriage, glancing around at the surroundings.

The mountain gate of the Hehuan Sword Sect was much more magnificent than he had imagined, at least on par with the Liuli Sword Sect. Two disciples guarding the mountain stood on either side of the gate, and upon seeing Zhou Suxin, they quickly bowed in unison.

Elder Zhou.

Zhou Suxin nodded slightly in response, then turned to look at Yang Qing'er.

"Qing'er, you should go back and rest first."

Yang Qing'er opened her mouth, intending to ask how to deal with Xia Jin, but after meeting Zhou Suxin's gaze, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, whispered "Yes," and turned to walk in another direction.

After walking a few steps, she couldn't help but look back and glare fiercely at Xia Jin.

That bastard bullied her terribly back in the Taixu Sword Sect, making her lose face among many sword-wielding forces. Now that she's finally back in the Hehuan Sword Sect, she's not going to let him get revenge.

Only after Yang Qing'er's figure disappeared from sight did Zhou Suxin turn to look at Xia Jin.

"Let's go, I'll take you to see Sect Leader Jiang."

"That sect leader of your Hehuan Sword Sect?" Xia Jin's previously somewhat relaxed gaze suddenly turned serious.

"That's right." Zhou Suxin said as she walked, "She is the thirteenth sect leader of my Hehuan Sword Sect."

"Oh, right, just a reminder. The sect leader has a fiery temper and her word is law. You'd better not clash with her, otherwise, even if I speak up for you, you'll still be punished." After Zhou Suxin finished speaking, a hint of worry flashed in her eyes.

Xia Jin noticed the change in her expression but didn't ask any further questions.

A man of strong character and unwavering principles? Hmph! However, for the sake of that mortal sword intent, this king can yield a little.

Led by Zhou Suxin, Xia Jin soon arrived at a pool of azure water.

The pool was not large, only three or four zhang in circumference. Amidst the swirling mist, one could vaguely see sword shadows flashing across the water's surface.

This is the place that Jiang, the sect leader of the Hehuan Sword Sect, likes to stay the most.

Sword Pool.

It is said that every sword of the Hehuan Sword Sect has been immersed in the pool. The pool contains the sword intent left by the sect's predecessors, making it the best place for disciples to comprehend swordsmanship.

But at this moment, Xia Jin's gaze was not on the pool water.

His gaze fell on the center of the sword pool.

In the very center of the Sword Pool stood a disc-shaped platform. On the platform, only one figure was sitting cross-legged.

It was a woman dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit.

At this moment, her eyes were slightly closed, her hands were placed flat on her knees, and a long sword with a completely black body was placed horizontally in front of her, with a faint light flowing on the blade.

Xia Jin's gaze sharpened slightly.

This person is Jiang Ling, the sect leader of the Hehuan Sword Sect.

Zhou Suxin stopped at the edge of the sword pool. Her breathing was more rapid than usual. Clearly, even as an elder, she couldn't help but feel pressured when facing the sect leader.

"metropolitan."

As Zhou Suxin's voice rang out, the black figure on the high platform moved slightly.

Jiang Ling opened her eyes.

Her gaze fell on Zhou Suxin, and she nodded slightly. Then, she glanced at Xia Jin behind Zhou Suxin with a puzzled look.

"Elder Zhou, you're a bit late."

"I don't recognize the person next to you. Could he be your newly accepted disciple?"

Zhou Suxin's heart tightened. She took a deep breath and then gritted her teeth and said, "Sect Master, this is Xia Jin."

"He is my Daoist partner."

The moment the words were spoken, the gentle breeze that had been lingering in the sword pool stopped instantly.

The darting sword shadows seemed to be startled, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

Silence, deathly silence.

Jiang Ling's gaze sharpened instantly.

Zhou Suxin did not back down, but her shoulders still trembled slightly.

"A Daoist partner?" Jiang Ling spoke, her voice carrying a chilling undertone. "You've chosen such a young, pretty boy as your Daoist partner?"

Xia Jin frowned slightly.

"If you're just looking for a man, then go ahead," Jiang Ling glanced at Xia Jin, "but how can you be so casual about something as important as a Daoist partner? Do you even know what a Daoist partner means? It's someone who will walk with you on the path of the sword for a lifetime, how can you treat it so lightly?"

"Sect Master, I..."

"What do you mean, 'what do you mean'?" Jiang Ling interrupted Zhou Suxin, stood up from the platform, and directly stopped her.

"And another thing," her gaze fell on Xia Jin again, her tone undisguisedly critical, "she does look presentable, but what use is just a pretty face? There are only a handful of elders in our Hehuan Sword Sect. What they want as their Daoist partners are companions who can encourage each other in the way of the sword, not pretty boys kept in the backyard."

"Pretty boy?" Xia Jin's eyes twitched involuntarily. It was the first time he had ever heard someone call him that.

However, he is not the type to remain silent when someone points a finger at him and insults him.

He stepped forward and shielded Zhou Suxin behind him.

"Sect Leader Jiang, are you referring to me as a 'pretty boy'?"