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

The day after Xia Jin emerged from seclusion was also the last day before he was to leave this Second Heaven.

The news of his successful passage through the Demon Cave spread like wildfire throughout the entire Second Heaven.

Some were shocked, some were envious, and some were incredulous. How could a newcomer who had only been in the Second Heaven for less than two months have so easily passed through the Demon Cave that had even caused Jian Wuxin to suffer a crushing defeat?

But after the initial shock, everyone realized one thing: from now on, the name Xia Jin would be known throughout the Second Heaven for a long time, even after he left.

Meanwhile, on a very ordinary island in the Second Heaven.

A frail figure, draped in a long robe, sat alone in the pavilion, drinking.

His gaze pierced through the thick clouds, staring blankly in the direction where Xia Jin was. He drank glass after glass of wine, yet seemed unable to get drunk.

Suddenly, he coughed.

A few drops of blood fell onto the stone table in front of him, some of them a glaring crimson.

"My lord, it's chilly outside, please go back inside and rest. Your health is not good..." A maidservant nearby heard the commotion and quickly came over, advising her with a worried expression.

"Don't worry, it's nothing."

The man waved his hand, not seeming too concerned: "Don't worry, Xu'er, it's just an old injury, you won't die."

The maid named Xu'er hesitated for a moment, then silently stepped aside.

That's right, this sickly-looking man is none other than Jian Wuxin, the former number one in the Heavenly Rank who failed in the Demon Cave.

That name that once stood proudly above all others can now only hide on this island, spending its days with old wounds.

He looked up again in that direction.

Suddenly, he put down his wine glass.

"Xu'er, I'm going out for a bit!"

Upon hearing Jian Wuxin's words, Xu'er panicked and quickly stepped forward to stop him: "My lord, your cultivation has not yet recovered. Please try not to go out. What if someone sees you and finds out your cultivation level..."

"No! This time, I must go!! Otherwise, if I don't go this time, I'm afraid I won't have the chance next time."

Jian Wuxin's voice was very soft. He stood up, adjusted his robe, and walked out of the pavilion.

A clear whistle rang out.

A moment later, a clear cry came from the horizon, and a white phoenix broke through the clouds and landed in front of him.

"Thank you for your help, Little White!" Jian Wuxin gently stroked its feathers and then sat on it.

The white phoenix took flight, carrying him toward the island where Xia Jin was.

......

At this moment, Yin Shixuan and Mu Ping'er had not yet woken up. Xia Jin had nothing to do, so she could only lie lazily on the grand master's chair outside the hall.

He held his teacup, sipping it leisurely, a rare moment of relaxation. Tomorrow he would leave this Second Heaven, and today was his last chance to unwind.

Suddenly, his hand holding the teacup paused slightly.

He raised his gaze and looked up at the sky.

A white phoenix broke through the clouds and slowly landed in front of him. A sickly-looking man descended from it. He was pale and thin, but his eyes still held a sharp edge.

Although she had never met the other person before, Xia Jin looked into those eyes and vaguely guessed their name.

"Sword Without Heart?"

He spoke calmly.

The man paused slightly, then nodded and bowed to Xia Jin, saying, "Greetings, Brother Xia."

Xia Jin pointed to another chair next to her: "Sit."

Jian Wuxin didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly.

"What brings you here today?"

As Xia Jin spoke, she waved her hand, and another cup of tea flew steadily to Jian Wuxin's front.

Jian Wuxin took the teacup but didn't drink it. He stared at the clear tea in the cup, remained silent for a moment, and then looked at Xia Jin seriously and said, "I've come to bother Brother Xia today because I have a question that I hope Brother Xia can answer for me."

"explain!"

"May I ask, Brother Xia, how did you overcome the final hurdle of lust in the demon's lair?"

He had been keeping this question to himself for a long time.

That's where he fell.

In that level, towards the end, he could no longer distinguish between reality and illusion. There were even some scenes where he knew they were illusions, yet he still couldn't extricate himself from them.

He was not reconciled.

Over the years, he has reflected countless times and asked himself: If he had been more determined and clear-headed back then, would the outcome have been different?

So he came.

He wanted to know how the person in front of him had managed to get through it all.

Xia Jin looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"You mean how I overcame the final hurdle of lust?"

"If I were to say that I myself don't know, perhaps it was just luck, would you believe me?"

Xia Jin's answer immediately silenced Jian Wuxin.

He frowned, his gaze lingering on Xia Jin's face for a long time, as if trying to discern the truth or falsehood of her words.

Then, surprisingly, he nodded: "I believe you."

Xia Jin paused slightly in her teacup, looking at him with a strange expression: "You actually believe what I said?"

"letter."

Jian Wuxin said earnestly, "Now that you've passed through the Demon Cave, you're already preparing to head to the third level of the Temple. With your strength, there's no need for you to lie to me. If you don't want to tell me, you can simply refuse; why make up an excuse?"

Xia Jin raised an eyebrow, then a smile appeared on her face.

"Hmm, what you said makes a good point."

"I was not lying to you. I was only able to pass this test of lust with a bit of luck."

Luck?

Perhaps not entirely.

The image of the white-haired woman flashed through his mind; the soft touch seemed to still linger on his lips. If it weren't for her, he would probably be...

Xia Jin snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Jian Wuxin.

After listening, Jian Wuxin remained silent for a moment, then slowly stood up.

He bowed deeply to Xia Jin.

"Just as Brother Xia said, perhaps I will have another chance to challenge the Demon Cave."

"Huh!?" Xia Jin looked at Jian Wuxin with some surprise. This guy almost died here before. He actually still has the idea of ​​challenging the Demon Cave again?

"You almost died last time because your cultivation was completely destroyed in the Demon Cave, and now you actually want to go again? Are you really not afraid of death?"

"What's death?!" Jian Wuxin shook his head, a trace of sorrow flashing in his eyes.

"During the last cataclysmic disaster, almost my entire family perished, leaving only my branch of the family barely clinging to life."

"Perhaps I have some talent, some luck. I was able to enter the temple and stand in this position. But so what? Under the new cataclysmic calamity, I don't want to... just stand far away, still powerless."

"This guy, how could he have such thoughts?" Xia Jin looked at the sickly man in front of her, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.

He stood up, walked to Jian Wuxin's side, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Do you wish to regain your former cultivation level?"

Jian Wuxin's body trembled suddenly, and he turned his head sharply to look at Xia Jin, a hint of doubt and shock flashing in his eyes.

"Brother Xia... what did you say?"

His voice trembled slightly, almost uncontrollably.

how many years?

Countless times in his midnight dreams, he longed to return to his peak. But the hidden wounds left by the demonic stains had already destroyed most of his foundation.

And now, this young man in front of him is actually asking him...

"I am merely giving you a chance to recover; I have not guaranteed that you will fully regain your former cultivation level."

Before Jian Wuxin could react, Xia Jin struck him in the back with a palm!

Jian Wuxin shuddered and instinctively tried to resist, but the next moment, a vast power of life force surged into his body!

The Nine Revolutions Creation Scripture is operating wildly!

That power, imbued with a rich aura of creation, instantly enveloped his meridians and internal organs. The hidden wounds, eroded by demonic spots for years, began to cease their erosion under the nourishment of this power, and instead showed signs of healing!

A moment later, Xia Jin withdrew her hand.

"This power will repair the areas within your body that have been eroded by the demonic spots, but it's only a supplementary force. Whether you can fully recover depends on your own fate."

Jian Wuxin took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his inner excitement. He turned around, faced Xia Jin, and solemnly clasped his hands in a salute.

"I, Jian Wuxin, will remember this great favor."

"If given the chance, I, Jian Wuxin, will repay this debt with my life."

"Alright, go back and take good care of your injuries. I hope that one day I can see you in the Third Heaven!" Xia Jin waved her hand, lay back on the armchair, and closed her eyes.

Jian Wuxin gave him a deep look, but said nothing more.

He turned around and mounted the white phoenix.

"He's an interesting person."

Xia Jin's lips curled up slightly, and soon his thoughts were completely focused on his anticipation of the Third Heaven.