Bihua Jin had always relied on her instincts to survive, staying untainted despite living in the mire. Yet, she never thought she'd stumble at the hands of the Grand Elder.
"Here are one thousand one hundred high-grade Qi Gathering Pills," the Grand Elder said, his tone calm but firm. "All of this can be yours, as long as you agree to submit to me."
Bihua Jin's eyes widened, and her heart began to waver.
"I'm sure others have made you offers before," he continued, his gaze piercing. "But you turned them down because their price wasn't high enough. This, however, is different. These resources are enough to get you to the Golden Core stage. And if you follow me, you won't lose out. I was the personal disciple of Flora, the previous sect master. Bianca, the current sect leader, is my junior sister. Everyone in the sect, regardless of their cultivation level, shows me respect and calls me Grand Elder.
"Besides," he added with a faint smirk, "my time is running out. I have less than ten years to live. Ten years of service from you, in exchange for resources that could last you a thousand years."
Bihua Jin knew she didn't have the power to refuse. She was no match for the Grand Elder.
"Ten years," she thought, weighing her options. "Just ten years of servitude…"
Finally, she spoke. "I can submit to you, but you must keep our relationship a secret."
The Grand Elder nodded. "That won't be an issue. But in return, while I'm still alive, you must stop… those activities."
Bihua Jin's voice turned cold. "You don't need to worry about that. If it weren't for my lack of cultivation resources, I wouldn't have bothered entertaining those men."
The Grand Elder smiled faintly. "Stand up, then."
Turning to his system assistant, he asked, "Tongzi, didn't Bihua Jin just say she submitted to me? Why hasn't there been any response?"
Tongzi replied flatly, "She said it with her mouth, but her heart hasn't yielded. She hasn't submitted willingly."
The Grand Elder's smile turned into a sharp sneer. "Looks like I'll have to force her submission."
Bihua Jin's expression froze. "You… you're not serious, are you?"
He responded decisively. "Of course I am. The longer we wait, the more unpredictable things become. I'm doing it now."
Bihua Jin scoffed, her tone mocking. "Are you even capable of doing it now?"
The Grand Elder chuckled, his confidence unshaken. "You'll see soon enough. Don't underestimate me."
He grabbed her, carrying her into the room. Behind closed doors, their confrontation turned into an intense exchange.
When they emerged, Bihua Jin was visibly shaken. "I really underestimated you, Grand Elder. You're… surprisingly capable."
The Grand Elder replied coolly, "Likewise. You've lived up to your reputation."
She let out a derisive laugh. "I've been gone long enough. I need to return. Remember, don't expose our relationship. I'll visit every other day. Those pills will stay here; it's too dangerous to carry them around."
The Grand Elder's tone softened. "Do you need some medicine before you leave?"
She snapped back, "No need. After an hour and a half of non-stop effort, you didn't bother checking on me then. Now you're pretending to care? Hypocrite."
The Grand Elder chuckled. "Ah, youth has its perks."
A voice suddenly rang in his mind. "Congratulations, Host! You have successfully forced the submission of the Fate-Blessed Maiden. Initial rewards are now being distributed. Host's cultivation level has been elevated to late Golden Core stage. You've also received a five-minute Transformation Stage trial card and the ability to conceal your true cultivation level. You can now set your perceived level lower than your actual strength, allowing you to deceive others at will."
The Grand Elder grinned. "A Transformation Stage trial card is interesting, but this concealment skill? That's a game-changer. Time to play the fool and catch some tigers."