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

Xia Jin stepped into the Azure Lotus Secret Realm, a hint of surprise flashing across her face.

A vast expanse of azure void, surrounded by countless azure stone tablets shimmering with sword imprints, each tablet radiating the sword intent left behind by the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal. Ordinary cultivators who enter this place will inevitably be overwhelmed by this immense sword intent, even losing themselves and becoming trapped and dying within the forest of tablets.

Even those who are at the level of terrestrial immortals, if their minds are not firm, will also be trapped here.

"This Azure Lotus Sword Immortal truly lives up to his reputation; he was indeed a figure who once dominated an entire era!" Xia Jin couldn't help but exclaim after his gaze swept around the room.

Suddenly, his eyes changed, and the Azure Lotus Sword Intent that he had already cultivated within his body began to tremble on its own, as if a long-lost traveler was sensing the call of his homeland.

"Buzz~"

Before he could react, the Azure Lotus Sword Intent burst forth from his body, transforming into a wisp of azure light that flew forward!

"What's going on?!" Xia Jin frowned, but without hesitation, she chased after them.

Soon, following the sword intent, he passed through layers of stele forest, but the scene he saw next made him stop in his tracks! In the center of the void ahead, a hazy phantom appeared.

The man, dressed in flowing blue robes, stood with his hands behind his back, surrounded by countless blue lotus sword energies. Although he was merely a remnant of his spirit, he still possessed an aloof and arrogant air that looked down upon the world.

Azure Lotus Sword Immortal!

"Is this the legendary Azure Lotus Sword Immortal?" Xia Jin stared intently at the illusory figure.

Seemingly sensing someone's arrival, the illusory figure slowly turned around, its gaze falling on Xia Jin, as if it were sizing up the newcomer.

He didn't speak, but an invisible pressure emanated from him.

Xia Jin stood with his hands behind his back, staring directly at his opponent without any fear in his eyes. If the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal's true form were still present, he might have been somewhat wary, but how could a mere wisp of remnant spirit possibly make him wary?

Suddenly, the illusory figure of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal made a grasping motion with its right hand in front of it.

"Clang!"

A longsword entwined with lotus patterns flew from the void and landed in his hand. A faint smile seemed to appear on his face, and the next moment, he raised his hand and slashed at Xia Jin with his sword!

"Hmph! What exactly do you mean by this?!" Xia Jin's face turned cold, seemingly not expecting the other party to suddenly attack without any reason.

Before he could finish speaking, he was startled. The sword light that was slashing at him seemed ordinary, but it was not aimed at his physical body. Instead, it was heading straight for his soul!

Before the sword intent even arrived, his soul within his sea of ​​consciousness faintly sensed a trace of danger!

"Good heavens, this is the first time I've ever seen an attack method targeting the soul!" Xia Jin's eyes narrowed slightly, and his face became more serious.

"However, this is a good opportunity to test the two weapons I just forged using my Soul Weapon Forging Technique!"

With a thought, Xia Jin's soul instantly left his body. A three-foot-three-inch-tall soul appeared before him, wielding a Tiger Soul Blade in its right hand, and a nine-story Soul Tower hovering above its head!

"The Three Cuts of Avici Hell—The Second Cut: Severing the Mortal World!"

Xia Jin opened her eyes, and a terrifying red light flashed. She swung her sword, and the crimson-black blade light tore through the blue sky, colliding violently with the sword light!

boom!!!

The sword intent and the saber momentum were locked in a stalemate for only a moment, but the azure sword light advanced inch by inch, and the saber intent of the Broken Red Dust crumbled step by step!

Xia Jin's eyes narrowed, and the nine-story soul tower above his head shone with golden light, firmly protecting his soul within!

clang!!!

The sword light struck the golden light of the Soul Tower, producing a deafening roar that caused the entire secret realm to tremble. After a full ten breaths, the sword light finally dissipated, and the light from the Soul Tower above Xia Jin's soul dimmed slightly.

"Huh!?" The illusory figure of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal suddenly stopped, looked at Xia Jin, and his eyes were filled with surprise.

He examined the rare three-foot-three-inch divine soul in front of Xia Jin, and the nine-layered soul tower that could actually block his Azure Lotus Sword Intent. After a long while, he slowly spoke:

"Such a powerful divine soul is unparalleled even in my era!! I have searched for a thousand years... and finally found someone worthy of my mantle."

With a gentle wave of his right hand, the Azure Lotus Sword floated to the side of him.

"Kneel down and perform the ceremony of becoming a disciple. I will impart to you the true meaning of the 'Azure Lotus Sword Manual' to help you attain divine mastery in the art of swordsmanship."

"You want me to kneel?! Hahahaha!!" Xia Jin's expression turned strange upon hearing this, then he burst into laughter. His spirit returned to his body, and he pointed at the illusory figure of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal: "You may be strong! But what are you? In my entire life, I only kneel to Heaven and Earth, to my parents. As for everyone else, even if celestial beings descend from the heavens, they cannot bear to kneel before me!"

With the system at his disposal, the "Azure Lotus Sword Manual," which was incredibly precious to others, was nothing in his eyes.

"You truly won't kneel!?" The aura of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal grew increasingly sharp, and the surrounding sword energy surged like a tide, slowly descending upon Xia Jin: "Aren't you afraid I'll sever your soul and cause your life to perish?"

Xia Jin stepped forward, his expression turning colder: "If your true form were here, I might have some reservations. But now you are nothing more than a mere remnant spirit! If you want to fight, then fight! Why waste words!"

"Is that so?" The illusory figure of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal suddenly withdrew its oppressive aura, raised its head, and laughed loudly:

"Very well! What an arrogant fellow! I admire your temperament! It's quite similar to my former self. What a pity, such an excellent candidate, yet unwilling to inherit the mantle of the stele!!"

The illusory figure sighed helplessly: "Since that's the case, I won't force you. But my legacy needs someone to continue it... So you shall choose the successor."

"Hmm!?" Xia Jin frowned, but before she could refuse, the other party continued:

"Don't worry, I won't let you work for nothing."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire phantom suddenly transformed into a streak of azure light, heading straight for Xia Jin's brow!

"You bastard! You have no martial ethics?! You dare to scheme against me!" Xia Jin's face suddenly darkened.

The Nine-Layer Soul Tower once again blazed with golden light in an attempt to block it, but the azure light materialized as if it were illusory, directly entering Xia Jin's soul.

At the same time, the Azure Lotus Sword hummed softly and fell into Xia Jin's hand.

Xia Jin's body trembled, and after more than ten breaths, he slowly opened his eyes.

"Huh!? I'm actually alright!?" Xia Jin quickly checked his body and breathed a sigh of relief after finding nothing wrong.

"However, this guy seems to have forcibly added a memory to my soul!" Xia Jin sat cross-legged, carefully sensing the extra memory fragment in his mind, but soon his expression became extremely solemn.

"No wonder..." Xia Jin opened her eyes, revealing a thoughtful expression. "It turns out that after the powerful figures of the Eastern Xuan Continent broke through to the level of Land Immortal, it became difficult for them to advance further... So there was such a reason."

"This guy just dumped a problem on me like this... However... if Yuexi or Su Xuanji can accept this inheritance, it will be an extra help for Great Xia!" Xia Jin then looked at the Azure Lotus Sword in his hand, snorted coldly, but soon a smile appeared on his face.