Violet Heaven Palace.

“It still feels somewhat unstable… To consolidate my realm will likely take at least another eight or ten years.”

Inside her bedchamber, Ye Qingxuan was troubled by her somewhat unstable realm foundation.

That day, when she broke through overnight from the Soul Formation Stage perfection to the Void Refining Stage, naturally brought her joy. But it also brought about an unstable realm foundation as a consequence.

If she hadn’t accumulated enough solid foundation during her time at the Soul Formation Stage perfection back then, that overnight breakthrough would have resulted in an even more unstable realm.

With one misstep, she might even fall back down to Soul Formation Stage perfection.

“Thanks to the Yin Yang Demonic Art, the Dual Cultivation method can indeed accelerate one’s own cultivation speed, but at the same time… rapidly increased cultivation isn’t very stable, unless…”

Continuing with Dual Cultivation would allow her to quickly stabilize the cultivation gained through the art.

But…

“How foolish… Had I known this earlier, I should have sought out a suitable man for Dual Cultivation long ago. But now I’ve been taken advantage of by an ant, forcibly binding myself with him…”

Han Lie wasn’t just the lowest-ranking Servant Disciple in the Heavenly Void Sect; more importantly, even after taking a Life Extension Pill, the time Han Lie had left wasn’t much.

If within this remaining time Han Lie couldn’t break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage and increase his lifespan, then…

“Ah, this is all my own fault.”

Ye Qingxuan helplessly massaged her forehead.

Due to some special reasons, she was born viewing all men under heaven as rats in sewers and once swore that even if she ended up alone in old age, she would never take any Dao Companion.

Back when she obtained this scroll of the Yin Yang Demonic Art from an ancient ruin, she knew it was a Dual Cultivation technique. But proud as she was, she believed she could improve this Yin Yang Demonic Art later on herself; that she wouldn’t need Dual Cultivation with men to master it fully.

Moreover, the Yin Yang Demonic Art was also the most top-tier technique she had ever encountered in her life.

Thus, she abandoned her original technique and switched to cultivating the Yin Yang Demonic Art.

It wasn’t until recently, through a series of coincidences, after undergoing initial Dual Cultivation with Han Lie, that Ye Qingxuan discovered its many benefits. Not only physical and mental pleasure, but also significant improvement in cultivation level.

“If not for that old thing having such an unsightly appearance, This Palace Lord might reluctantly accept him.”

Now Ye Qingxuan felt conflicted.

On one hand, she enjoyed the many benefits brought by Dual Cultivation. On the other hand, she felt Han Lie, whom she had bound herself with, was truly too unsightly.

Status, position, appearance—unsightly in every aspect!

Looking at Han Lie’s appearance, which was like a candle flickering in the wind, she even worried whether during some cultivation session, she might drain him dry, causing him to pass away westward riding a crane.

The problem was, once the Yin Yang Demonic Art binds with someone’s Yang Qi, it cannot be changed.

However, if Ye Qingxuan were to abandon the Yin Yang Demonic Art and switch to other techniques, she was truly unwilling to give up her current cultivation level.

Also, if enemy sects detected this weakness, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t seize the opportunity to attack the Heavenly Void Sect. Then, the Heavenly Void Sect would likely be erased, disappearing from the historical stage of the Tianyuan Continent.

Weighing the pros and cons, Ye Qingxuan could only reluctantly accept this reality.

“Find an opportunity… have that old thing come help This Palace Lord consolidate her realm.”

Currently, Han Lie had been taken away by the Law Enforcement Hall to assist in the investigation.

Although she could directly step forward and demand the person from the Law Enforcement Hall, Ye Qingxuan was unwilling to let anyone else know that, as the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Void Sect, she was actually Dual Cultivating with a wretched old man from the Servant Department.

She couldn’t afford to lose face like this.

Law Enforcement Hall, Vermilion Bird Squad Office.

After Han Lie had stayed alone in the interrogation room for a while, Zhuo Hongyi pushed the door open and entered.

A somewhat drowsy Han Lie quickly perked up and assumed a serious expression. “Captain Hongyi, please ask away. I will tell everything I know without holding back.”

“Not needed.” Zhuo Hongyi said flatly.

“?”

A question mark practically popped up on Han Lie’s weathered face. Why again?

“Evidence? Heh, is it important?”

Zhuo Hongyi smiled inexplicably. “I checked your records earlier. You haven’t stayed a short time in the Heavenly Void Sect either. Do you still know nothing about this place?”

“This… This Senior truly doesn’t know,” Han Lie said, embarrassed.

He knew the Heavenly Void Sect had a bad reputation as a demonic sect, and he knew a thing or two about how the Servant Department devoured people without spitting out the bones. But regarding other departments and halls of the Heavenly Void Sect, Han Lie knew nothing.

Or rather, this was not a level a mere Servant Disciple like him could access.

Not to mention, he had served for a hundred years as the exclusive Servant Disciple for the Violet Heaven Palace. Usually, besides cleaning the Violet Heaven Palace, his remaining time was basically spent in his own small wooden hut reading books. One could say he never stepped out his front door.

Mainly because he had no connections or background in the Heavenly Void Sect. Even in his leisure time, if he left his own small wooden hut, what could he do?

He knew the Heavenly Void Sect was dark, but exactly how dark the Heavenly Void Sect truly was, he really didn’t know. Like a security guard at a high-end residential area, you never know just how extravagant the lives of the owners inside the community truly are.

“Ha…” Zhuo Hongyi seemed to find it somewhat unbelievable, and somewhat amusing. “If you don’t know, I can tell you.”

“No!”

Han Lie hurriedly shook his head, panicked. “Captain Hongyi, This Senior only wants to peacefully spend his remaining years. He doesn’t want to know too many things he shouldn’t know.”

Zhuo Hongyi was unconcerned. “No matter, these things are common knowledge, not some secret.”

“Regarding Jia Tong, the orders my superiors gave me were simply: arrest him and immediately throw him into the Self-Cultivation Self-Immolation Tower. The rest is not my concern.”

“For Inner Disciples of various departments and halls, our law enforcement teams still need evidence. But the Servant Department… Heh, is it necessary?”

The implied meaning: the thousands of Servant Disciples in the Servant Department don’t count as people.

Han Lie smiled with relief. “Heh heh, This Senior’s days are numbered and I don’t care about these things anymore. Jia Tong being thrown into the Self-Cultivation Self-Immolation Tower is indeed good news for This Senior.”

How could Han Lie not know the Self-Cultivation Self-Immolation Tower?

This was the place the Heavenly Void Sect used to punish those who violated sect regulations, sacrificial pawns of inter-departmental struggles, and to handle corpses.

Once you enter the Self-Cultivation Self-Immolation Tower, there is no possibility of coming out alive again. Your flesh, blood, and bones, along with your primordial spirit and soul, will be separated and used for various aspects like pill refining, instrument refining, and other required materials.

This was the endpoint for most Heavenly Void Sect disciples. Even dead, you must have your final remaining value squeezed dry.

The Heavenly Void Sect was not some charitable organization. If sect disciples cannot create value for the sect, then the Heavenly Void Sect would have gone out of business long ago.

“You seem happy a bit too early.”

Zhuo Hongyi crossed her arms and stared directly at Han Lie, her crimson lips holding a meaningful curve, sounding an alarm. “Jia Tong being thrown into the Self-Cultivation Self-Immolation Tower is indeed good news for you, but there is also bad news waiting for you.”

“You are not a newcomer; you shouldn’t need me to explain in detail again.”

Hearing this, Han Lie frowned.

He knew what Zhuo Hongyi meant.

After Jia Tong falls, the next Servant Department manager will be succeeded by the current deputy manager. The current deputy manager, Zhou Ze, happened to be Jia Tong’s fellow townsman and close friend!

Han Lie dared not guarantee that Zhou Ze, after succeeding as the Servant Department manager, wouldn’t cause trouble for him. After all, Jia Tong’s precedent was right here.