Ten Grandmasters? Interesting.

The forbidden grounds of the imperial palace.

A palace built especially for Lin Hanzhou, named "Seeking the Dao," stood quietly in the place with the densest spiritual energy.

This palace was forbidden to everyone in the entire imperial palace. No one but the Empress, Li Yuechan, was allowed to approach.

It was enough to show how highly the Empress valued and respected its master.

At that moment, Li Yuechan stood outside the palace gates, her face full of anxiety.

Her beautiful face was marked by worry and helplessness, emotions rarely seen in her.

Over the past fifty years, she had long grown accustomed to treating the mysterious State Preceptor as her strongest support.

Whenever she encountered a problem she couldn't solve, she only had to come here and ask him for advice. He always found a way to resolve it.

In her eyes, Lin Hanzhou had practically become a god, a being capable of anything.

But this time, she was worried.

After all, there were ten Grandmasters!

That was a terrifying force, powerful enough to sweep aside everything in the world and overturn heaven and earth!

Even the State Preceptor—could he really win against such a lineup?

Just as anxiety gnawed at her, the palace doors, which had been tightly shut for months, soundlessly swung open.

Lin Hanzhou emerged, dressed in black.

He had now traveled all over Great Gan. He had returned to seclusion only to deduce martial arts.

"What is it? Why are you so alarmed?"

His voice was as calm as ever, as though nothing could move him.

And that was indeed the case. With his current strength, he was already invincible in this world.

"State Preceptor!"

Seeing him, Li Yuechan seemed to find her anchor. She hurried forward and bowed respectfully.

Then she gave him a detailed account of the current crisis at the border and all the intelligence about the ten Grandmasters.

She had expected to see gravity and concern on the State Preceptor's face.

Yet after hearing her out, Lin Hanzhou showed not the slightest hint of concern. Instead, a strong interest appeared in his eyes.

"Ten Grandmasters? Interesting..."

He rubbed his chin, the corner of his mouth curling into a playful smile.

"Great Qing has produced this many Grandmasters in fifty years. There must be a huge secret behind it."

Having cultivated to the very peak of the third rank, he knew just how difficult it was to become a Grandmaster in this world.

The three great sects, each with a thousand years of history, had only one Grandmaster to guard them in this era.

That alone showed how formidable Grandmasters were. Without a doubt, they were the strongest martial artists alive.

And Great Qing—a barbarian country whose backbone he had broken fifty years ago—how could it possibly have ten Grandmasters?

He knew there had to be a secret behind it, something he didn't yet know.

And that secret might have something to do with whether he could break through this world's natural laws and reach the fourth rank.

"State Preceptor..."

Seeing Lin Hanzhou lost in thought, Li Yuechan grew even more uncertain.

Lin Hanzhou came back to himself. Seeing the worry in her eyes, he smiled and spoke in a thoroughly relaxed tone.

"Don't worry."

"Fifty years ago, I could cut down two of them. Fifty years later, I can cut down all ten."

"Ten Grandmasters are nothing much to me now."

His words were so casual, yet they brimmed with such domineering confidence!

If the other Grandmasters heard him say that, they would surely laugh at his arrogance.

Throughout history, no matter how powerful a Grandmaster was, none had dared claim they could take on ten Grandmasters of the same rank.

But when Li Yuechan heard him, the worry in her heart instantly eased.

She knew that if the State Preceptor said he could do it, then he could.

That was her unconditional trust in Lin Hanzhou.

"Pass on my orders."

"Have the Qing Province garrison hold the city. They don't need to engage the enemy. Wait until I arrive."

"There's no need to summon the other four Grandmasters, either. I'll go alone."

Lin Hanzhou said to Li Yuechan.

With that, his figure blurred into a streak and vanished from where he stood.