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

As dusk fell, Xing Ruoliu, holding the white fox, looked at the newly decorated main hall and nodded in satisfaction.

"Greenie, well done!"

She glanced at another woman standing respectfully below her and casually tossed her a pill. This woman was another follower Xing Ruoliu had recruited after Meng Xian's death, and she was quite shrewd and capable in dealing with people.

Greenie had a round face and a clever look in her eyes. She quickly took the pill, her face lighting up with joy: "Thank you, sir! This is what Greenie should do."

She looked up at the sky outside. "My lord, I'll go wait outside the palace to see if Lord Xia Jin has arrived yet."

"Okay, go ahead!" Xing Ruoliu waved her hand, and Greenie's figure quickly disappeared outside the palace gate.

Only Xing Ruoliu remained in the main hall.

She sat on the soft couch, the white fox in her arms curled up obediently, reached out and picked up a peach blossom from the table, held it to her nose and sniffed it, a meaningful smile appearing on her face.

"I never expected that even Fan Wujiu, ranked third among the top disciples, would be defeated by you." She licked her slightly dry lips. "Next, only Zhan Wuji and Jian Wuxin remain. If you can defeat even these two, perhaps you are the person my clan prophesied to be."

Xing Ruoliu recalled the domineering aura of a demon emperor that Xia Jin unleashed on the battle stage, and she became more and more convinced of this.

The descendants of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox clan can only rely on the "reincarnated demon emperor" mentioned in the prophecy if they want to restore the glory of their ancestors.

Just as she was lost in thought, footsteps sounded outside the hall.

"My lord, Lady Xia Jin has arrived!" Greenie walked in quickly and whispered in Xing Ruoliu's ear.

Xing Ruoliu raised her head, stood up from the soft couch, straightened her clothes, and looked eagerly towards the outside of the main hall.

Sure enough, two figures soon walked in from outside.

Xia Jin, who was walking in front, remained calm and composed, but Xing Ruoliu raised an eyebrow slightly because he was accompanied by an extremely beautiful woman.

Indeed, the woman following Xia Jin was Mu Ping'er.

That evening, Mu Ping'er specially changed into a long red dress, her black hair styled in a high bun, perfectly showcasing her best features. Although she exuded a certain allure, her makeup also revealed a touch of innocence, with just the right amount of shyness in her eyes.

Those who don't know the situation might mistake her for Xia Jin's Daoist partner.

But Xing Ruoliu showed no jealousy; instead, she simply smiled faintly, unconcerned.

After all, among the descendants of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, the strong are expected to have multiple Daoist partners, while the weak have no choice. Especially for a strong person like Xia Jin, it's perfectly normal for her to have women around her.

"This woman? Does she really not care that there are women around the master?" Mu Ping'er glanced at Xing Ruoliu and immediately felt as if she had punched cotton. The other party was completely unmoved, and a sense of powerlessness welled up in her heart.

She bit her lip and grabbed Xia Jin's arm tightly.

"Miss Xing." Xia Jin stood in front of Xing Ruoliu, looked her up and down, and was immediately struck by her beauty.

"Brother Xia, please have a seat." Xing Ruoliu smiled more after seeing Xia Jin's gaze. It seemed that her special effort in dressing up today had not been in vain.

"My lord, is it beautiful?" Mu Ping'er gently shook Xia Jin's arm and then asked with dissatisfaction.

"Ahem! Um, what did you say?" Xia Jin sat down and quickly straightened up, her expression instantly becoming serious.

"My lord, you..." Mu Ping'er opened her mouth after seeing Xia Jin's reaction. Then, she sat down next to Xia Jin in a huff, her beautiful eyes looking at Xing Ruoliu defiantly.

Unlike Mu Ping'er, Lü'er, who stood behind Xing Ruoliu, did not dare to act like that. She stood properly behind Xing Ruoliu, secretly glancing at Mu Ping'er with a hint of envy in her eyes.

After Xia Jin sat down, he looked directly at Xing Ruoliu and asked bluntly, "Miss Xing, you invited me here tonight not just for a simple chat, right? Please speak frankly!"

Upon hearing this, Xing Ruoliu chuckled lightly: "Brother Xia, if you're not too formal, you can just call me Gong Ruoliu."

Xia Jin raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying.

Taking a deep breath, Xing Ruoliu stared intently at Xia Jin. "Since Brother Xia has asked, then I will be frank. The purpose of inviting Brother Xia here tonight is to ask you whether we can become Daoist partners?"

Ok? ? ?

Upon hearing this, the rest of the people in the hall fell silent.

Xia Jin's hand, which was about to pick up the teacup, paused. His eye twitched involuntarily, and then he looked at Xing Ruoliu suspiciously, wondering if he had misheard.

Mu Ping'er, standing beside her, stared wide-eyed in disbelief. She never expected Xing Ruoli to be so direct and bold!

Even Greenie, who was standing behind Xing Ruoliu, couldn't help but gasp and secretly glance at her master's back.

Xia Jin frowned, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke, "What...what did you just say? Could you repeat it?"

Xing Ruoliu's expression remained unchanged as she repeated, "I wish to become Daoist partners with Brother Xia! I wonder if Brother Xia would agree?"

Her eyes were full of seriousness, without a trace of joking.

Xia Jin opened his mouth, then, after confirming he hadn't misheard, quickly shook his head and refused: "Stop!! I already have a wife, I don't need one."

As he spoke, he pulled Mu Ping'er, who was still in a daze beside him, into his arms and affectionately stroked her delicate face, continuing, "Besides, I have no shortage of obedient women like Ping'er by my side."

"However, if you wish to become my follower like Ping'er, I am willing to consider it."

Mu Ping'er's heart pounded like a drum at Xia Jin's sudden act of intimacy, and two blushes instantly rose to her cheeks.

This was the first time she had ever felt this way. Involuntarily, she wrapped her arms around Xia Jin's waist, pressed her face tightly against his broad chest, and glanced at Xing Ruoliu out of the corner of her eye, with a hint of smugness in her eyes.

However, Xing Ruoli did not show the disappointment or anger she expected.

She simply sat there quietly, her beautiful eyes gazing intently at Xia Jin's face, as if scrutinizing and contemplating.

After a moment, she actually nodded slowly.

"If you can defeat Zhan Wuji and Jian Wuxin, I will become your follower."

Upon hearing this, not only Xia Jin was stunned, but even Lü'er beside her and Mu Ping'er, who was nestled in Xia Jin's arms, were startled.

Xia Jin narrowed her eyes, staring at Xing Ruoliu, as if trying to see through her true thoughts.

"Are you serious?"

Xing Ruoliu met Xia Jin's gaze with a bright smile and nodded solemnly.

"Of course. I, Xing Ruoliu, never speak in jest."

In her eyes, there was expectation, and a hint of barely perceptible... fervor.

Xia Jin remained silent for a moment, then slowly released her grip on Mu Ping'er.

"I'm sorry, but I refuse!"

He stood up, straightened his robes, and said in a calm tone, "It's getting late, and I have matters to attend to tomorrow. I shall take my leave now."

Having said that, without waiting for Xing Ruoliu's reaction, he turned and walked out of the hall.

Mu Ping'er was stunned for a moment, then quickly got up and followed. Before leaving, she didn't forget to look back at Xing Ruoliu with a complicated expression.