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

After returning to his island from the battle arena, Fan Wujiu pondered where he had gone wrong with his sword strike.

"Could it be that the five elements weren't fully integrated when they were combined?!" He rubbed his forehead after emerging from the void gate.

I still can't figure it out!

"Hmm?" Fan Wujiu stood there pondering for a moment, then suddenly glanced to the side instinctively.

In the pavilion not far away, a man was lounging lazily in a chair, holding a gourd of wine in his hand and waving it at him with a sly smile on his face.

"Come on, catch!"

With a flick of his wrist, the man sent a wine gourd floating over, which landed steadily in Fan Wujiu's hand.

Fan Wujiu caught the gourd of wine, glared at the man with annoyance, and tilted his head back to take a big gulp. The strong liquor burned his throat and stomach, but it also brought some color to his pale face.

He carried his wine gourd and slowly walked towards the man.

Plopping down on a stone bench, Fan Wujiu looked at the handsome but undeniably irritating old acquaintance before him and said irritably, "Zhan Wuji, your information network is quite impressive. What, you've come here to laugh at me the moment the battle is over?"

That's right, this seemingly harmless, handsome man, but extremely annoying, is none other than Zhan Wuji, the second-ranked disciple among the top-tier disciples!

In the entire Second Heaven, apart from Jian Wuxin, who is ranked first, this guy is the strongest and most mysterious.

Zhan Wuji looked at Fan Wujiu with a smile, took a sip of wine, and slowly asked, "So, in the end, you lost?"

Fan Wujiu didn't seem too concerned about his victory or defeat. He nodded calmly and sighed, "That's right, I lost."

"However, I accept my defeat wholeheartedly. Xia Jin's strength truly exceeded my expectations."

He paused, then looked up at Zhan Wuji with a serious expression: "Judging from my experience fighting him, even you might not be able to defeat him."

"Oh? What's this? I rarely see you think so highly of someone!"

Zhan Wuji swallowed a mouthful of wine, raised an eyebrow, but a strange light flashed deep in his eyes.

He shook his head and said, "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. Their ability to beat me is a testament to their skill. However..."

He placed the wine gourd on the stone table, leaned back lazily in his chair, and said with a confident smile, "Winning against me won't be an easy task."

"Even if you think highly of him, it's still the same!"

"You...!" Fan Wujiu shook his head as he looked at Zhan Wuji's arrogant attitude, but did not refute him.

Although Zhan Wuji has a sharp tongue, when it comes to strength, he certainly has the right to be arrogant.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side...

In the palace where Xia Jin resides.

Suddenly, a portal appeared in the void, and then Xia Jin's figure walked out from it.

But as soon as he regained his footing, he looked to the side with some surprise.

It turned out that besides Yin Shixuan, who was standing respectfully to his side as usual, Mu Ping'er, who had just expressed her desire to follow him, was also there.

What surprised Xia Jin was that this woman, who always dressed in a charming manner, had changed her outfit today!

She wore an elegant white dress, her long, black hair was simply tied up, and a round white pearl adorned her hair.

She looked pure and innocent, like a well-behaved girl next door, with not a trace of her former charming and alluring appearance.

Upon seeing Xia Jin appear, the two immediately bowed in greeting.

"grown ups!"

"Mu Ping'er greets Your Excellency!"

Xia Jin was slightly taken aback, glanced at Mu Ping'er who had a respectful expression, and couldn't help but nod.

"Alright, no need for formalities!"

"Mu Ping'er, this outfit suits you very well today! You should wear it more often!"

He said it casually and walked straight to the seat in front of him.

The speaker is unintentional and the listener is interested.

Upon hearing Xia Jin's praise, Mu Ping'er's face instantly lit up with a bright smile, her eyes filled with joy, and she quickly followed after him with small, quick steps.

Meanwhile, Yin Shixuan watched this scene with a strange expression, secretly thinking to himself:

Well, I thought I was the only one in the entire Second Heaven who could cling to Xia Jin's coattails. Now it seems another follower has emerged to compete with me.

Moreover, he was a follower of someone as beautiful and cunning as Mu Ping'er.

From now on, I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to perform well in front of adults.

Mu Ping'er poured a cup of hot tea with great care, held it with both hands, and respectfully handed it to Xia Jin: "My lord, please have some tea."

Xia Jin took a small sip, then slowly closed her eyes.

Yin Shixuan glanced at Mu Ping'er beside him, then cautiously leaned forward and asked, "My lord, Fan Wujiu... lost?"

Xia Jin slowly opened her eyes, glanced at him, and said expressionlessly, "What, do you think I will be defeated?"

"No, no, no! With your strength, how could Fan Wujiu be your match? I was just asking casually, just asking casually!"

Yin Shixuan waved his hands repeatedly, but inwardly he clicked his tongue in amazement.

My God, I, an adult, actually defeated Fan Wujiu, who was previously ranked third. In less than a month, I went from being number twenty-three in the Heavenly Rank to directly entering the top three.

Mu Ping'er, who had been standing to the side, lit up when she heard Xia Jin admit that she had won against Fan Wujiu.

Besides the look of reverence on his face, his eyes were filled with a subtle, burgeoning attraction as he gazed at Xia Jin.

I knew I'd chosen the right person to follow!

No, I must win over this person as soon as possible. In this Second Heaven, no one has a better chance of getting close to him than I do.

Mu Ping'er firmly believed that with her beauty and her ability to serve others, no man could escape her grasp.

Once I win over the adult, I'll truly be on a high social ladder.

Thinking of this, her face began to blush. Only when she saw Xia Jin looking at her did Mu Ping'er quickly calm herself down and stop thinking about it.

At this moment, Yin Shixuan seemed to remember something and quickly spoke up:

"By the way, sir, just before you came back, Xing Ruoliu sent someone over specifically to invite you to tonight's banquet."

"Xing Ruoliu?"

Xia Jin raised an eyebrow, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes: "What does this woman want with me?"

Hearing this, Mu Ping'er muttered softly, "I'm afraid that woman... probably has her eye on you, sir."

There was a hint of sour jealousy in his tone.

Although Mu Ping'er's voice was soft, Xia Jin still heard it and her expression became somewhat strange.

He couldn't help but recall the scene on the battle arena where Xing Ruoliu had forcibly kissed him, and a chill ran down his spine.

Xia Jin frowned, then suddenly turned to Mu Ping'er and said, "Mu Ping'er, you will accompany me tonight."

"Huh!? Sir, are you talking about me?"

Mu Ping'er couldn't help but widen her eyes, looking at Xia Jin with some surprise.

"What, you don't want to? Afraid of being outshone by Xing Ruoliu?" Xia Jin looked at her with a half-smile.

"Of course I'm willing! Rest assured, sir, I, Mu Ping'er, will never submit to anyone!"