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

Dragon Transformation Realm?

This threshold might not seem like much in the entire Mirage Realm, but it's quite high in Pingyang County.

Although the Wrathful Soul Palace was once the strongest force in Pingyang County, since the unexpected death of its former palace master, Gui Shu, the sect has lost most of its top combat power. In addition, Fu Sandao, the acting palace master, was only a temporary figurehead and could not control the situation at all. Now, there are even fewer Dragon Transformation Realm cultivators.

Of those who remain, how many are at the Dragon Transformation Realm?

The crowd looked at each other, and for a moment no one took a step forward.

Just when Xia Jin thought there were none left, a figure walked out from the crowd.

It was the one-armed middle-aged man who was the first to stand up and express his opinion.

He strode to the front, knelt on one knee, and bowed to Xia Jin with his only remaining arm.

"My name is Yuan Bei, and I pay my respects to you, sir."

Xia Jin raised an eyebrow and sized the man up.

This Yuan Bei was a large, burly man with a simple, honest face, who looked like a kind and honest person. Moreover, his eyes were exceptionally clear and bright, neither humble nor arrogant, showing neither flattery nor fear.

"Second level of the Dragon Transformation Realm?" Xia Jin sensed the spiritual energy fluctuations on the other party's body and frowned slightly.

Of those who remained, was there only one at the Dragon Transformation Realm?

And he's only at the second level of the Dragon Transformation Realm?

It seems that the Hall of Wrathful Souls has indeed declined. Even without my intervention, it would probably have been dragged down from the top of Pingyang County by other forces within a hundred years.

"Oh well, I never expected these people to be able to support the Heavenly Alliance anyway! At most, they'll just be able to help out in the early stages!" Xia Jin shook her head and quickly came to terms with it.

Xia Jin rubbed her temples and turned her gaze back to Yuan Bei, who was kneeling on the ground.

His tone carried a hint of helplessness. "Tell me, what was your position in the Hall of Wrathful Souls before? And why did you choose to stay?"

Yuan Bei raised his head, his clear eyes staring directly at Xia Jin without flinching.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, I was previously the steward of the Enforcement Hall of the Wrathful Soul Palace."

"The head of the Enforcement Hall?" A hint of surprise flashed in Xia Jin's eyes.

The Enforcement Hall is a crucial institution in any sect. Being able to serve as its manager indicates that the person is fair, capable, and deeply trusted.

Yuan Bei nodded and continued, "However, my position as manager is merely nominal. The elders of the Enforcement Hall have been suppressing me, firmly grasping the power of the Enforcement Hall in their own hands. All I can do is handle some trivial matters."

He paused, a bitter smile appearing on his lips. "Later, I came to terms with it. No matter how hard I tried, it was useless. I might as well just give up and live a peaceful life. At least I can still receive a resource every month."

"But today, the Hall of Wrathful Souls has a new master. Although I do not know your true identity, I can tell that you are a man destined for great things."

"So I'd like to take a gamble."

"Want to take a gamble?" Xia Jin looked at him with interest.

"That's right," Yuan Bei said frankly, "I've wasted too many years in the Hall of Wrathful Souls. If I continue like this, my life will just end like this. I'm not willing to accept it. So I've chosen to stay, betting that you, sir, can lead us down a different path."

On the training ground, the disciples who chose to stay all looked at Yuan Bei, for he had indeed spoken the minds of those who remained.

How many of them stayed because they were unwilling to accept their fate or because they wanted to make a difference in their future?

Xia Jin stared at Yuan Bei for a long while, then suddenly laughed.

"Good!" Xia Jin praised, "A wise man submits to circumstances. Moreover, I really like honest people like you, Yuan Bei, you're quite good."

He took a step forward and appeared directly in front of Yuan Bei: "From now on, you will be in charge of all these disciples of the Wrathful Soul Hall."

Yuan Bei suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with shock.

Unified leadership?

That's nearly two hundred people! Although their cultivation levels vary, it's still a considerable force. Yuan Bei has been in the Wrathful Soul Palace for so many years, and let alone commanding two hundred people, he used to only have a dozen or so under his command at most.

"Remember this! From now on, you will only obey my orders."

"This..." Yuan Bei felt a surge of heat rush to his head.

He had been suppressed by the Hall of Wrathful Souls for so many years, and had never been valued like this before.

Now, this mysterious adult has given him such power and trust on their very first meeting. How could he not be moved?

"Yes, sir! I will do my utmost to fulfill any future orders!"

"Alright, get up!" Xia Jin waved her hand, signaling him to get up.

Yuan Bei stood up, respectfully bowing his head, awaiting Xia Jin's next instructions.

However, Xia Jin did not continue speaking, but instead glanced at the other person's empty sleeves.

"Ape's Lament, do you want to restore your severed arm?"

"What?" Yuan Bei's body stiffened abruptly.

His left arm was severed by his enemy twenty years ago.

The enemy did not use an ordinary weapon, but a large sword imbued with cursed power. That strike not only severed his arm, but more terrifyingly, the cursed power clung to the wound like a malignant tumor, preventing his arm from regenerating.

Over the past twenty years, he has sought help from countless so-called famous doctors, masters, and even the former master of the Hall of Wrathful Souls, but all of them were helpless in the face of the curse power remaining on the severed arm wound.

Disappointment after disappointment gradually led Yuan Bei to accept this reality.

His left arm will probably never come back.

Moreover, the curse not only reduced his strength to only 80% of his peak, but also prevented him from making any further progress in his cultivation, leaving him forever stuck at the second level of the Dragon Transformation Realm.

For a cultivator, this is worse than being killed.

Now that Xia Jin had suddenly asked this question, Yuan Bei's first reaction was not surprise, but disbelief.

He whirled around, staring wide-eyed at Xia Jin. "M-Sir, what did you say?"

"I'm asking you, do you want to restore this severed arm?"

Yuan Bei's breathing became rapid, and he nodded excitedly: "My lord, of course I want to!"

"I dream about it!"

Suddenly, Yuan Bei knelt down with a thud, his forehead hitting the ground heavily. "If you, my lord, can help me restore my severed arm, my life is yours! I will go through fire and water for you!"

Xia Jin looked down at Yuan Bei, who was kneeling on the ground, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

He didn't speak, but slowly raised his right hand.