Dual Cultivation System: The Villainous Servant’s Rise

Chapter 213: You Don’t Even Qualify to Make Me Use My Full Strength!

Han Lie didn’t know what was going through his opponent’s mind, and frankly, he didn’t care.

Li Xingji, however, was acutely aware of the stakes. If he were blocked from the top ten of the individual competition by Han Lie, his reputation as the Eldest Disciple of the Myriad Pill Hall would be utterly destroyed. He would be a laughingstock.

He had already lost the team championship to Zhuo Hongyi. If he failed to secure a spot in the top ten now, he might as well find a rock and bash his brains out!

Therefore, even if it meant exhausting his life force and using every trump card he possessed, he had to win this duel.

Han Lie smiled inscrutably.

His large hand closed gently around empty air. A flash of red light coalesced into Crimson Oath—a saber entirely the color of fresh blood, with a crescent moon etched upon its blade.

He pointed the weapon lazily toward Li Xingji hovering in mid-air.

His tone was flat, yet filled with absolute, unshakeable confidence. “Li Xingji. If you are still standing after three moves, I, Han Lie… will automatically forfeit.”

“Whoa—!”

Han Lie’s unparalleled arrogance instantly detonated the atmosphere in the arena. His female admirers, in particular, swooned, nearly suffocating from the sheer charisma of his declaration.

“Holy crap?”

“They are both at the early Nascent Soul Stage. What makes him think he can beat Li Xingji in three moves?”

“That’s too arrogant. Li Xingji became famous at a young age. If Zhuo Hongyi said that, it might be credible, but him?”

“To be honest, he’s painting himself into a corner. It’ll be hilarious if he can’t back it up.”

“Hmph, anyone can brag. I don’t believe Han Lie can defeat Senior Brother Li in three moves!”

While Han Lie’s words shocked the crowd, they also drew waves of boos, mostly from the Myriad Pill Hall disciples and Li Xingji’s loyal followers. Being a Nascent Soul cultivator allowed for some pride, but looking down on everyone was a step too far.

“Three moves? Haha, interesting!”

Li Xingji laughed. It was the kind of laugh born from sheer incredulity. “I’d like to see just how you plan to defeat me in three moves!”

Li Xingji clenched his hand, and a long spear, forged from emerald-green crystal, materialized in his grasp. A sharp, freezing glint flashed across the spearhead.

Han Lie tapped his toes lightly against the ground and soared into the sky.

Fiery red spiritual energy, imbued with pure Yang essence, surged from his palm and wrapped around the blade of Crimson Oath. As the flames blazed, a scorching heatwave swept across the entire arena.

“Let’s start with a single cut to weigh your worth.”

“Soul Devouring Saber Technique, Second Form: Soul Severing!”

Hum!

The blade sliced through the void, the keen saber intent humming with a deadly frequency. A beam of saber radiance—crimson streaked with pitch black—erupted from the weapon, carrying a scorching aura and unstoppable momentum.

Executing the Soul Severing strike was now as natural as breathing for Han Lie.

Rumble!

The massive red-and-black saber beam seemed poised to cleave the heavens in two. The terrifying visual shocked the nerves of countless disciples below. The Myriad Pill Hall disciples who had been mocking Han Lie a moment ago felt the air catch in their throats.

Although they were reluctant to admit it, deep down, worry began to creep in for their Eldest Senior Brother.

“Hmph!”

Facing Han Lie’s Soul Severing strike, Li Xingji was forced to abandon his disdain. He could sense that this seemingly casual strike was of an extraordinarily high grade. Its power rivaled his own trump cards!

Immediately, Li Xingji mobilized the spiritual energy within his dantian, channeling it endlessly into his spear.

“Li Clan Spear Arts: Starry Sky Burst!”

Boom!

With a deep shout, a beam of spiritual light 10,000 feet long, containing terrifying destructive power, blasted from the tip of his spear.

In an instant, the sky above the Heavenly Void Sect was split in half—one side consumed by crimson fire, the other by blinding white light.

Crack! Crack!

Wherever the colossal energy beam passed, space itself collapsed inch by inch.

Under the gaze of thousands, the saber radiance and the energy beam collided in a world-shaking impact!

Sizzle!

The two forces frantically eroded and annihilated each other, locked in a stalemate for a heartbeat. Then, a violent explosion erupted!

Fortunately, Grand Elder Chi Lian acted promptly, suppressing the shockwave to prevent the Heavenly Void Sect’s grounds from being razed by the volatile energy.

“Ugh…!”

The moment the energies detonated, Li Xingji felt a tightness in his chest and staggered back several steps in mid-air. His face turned an ugly shade of pale.

In contrast, Han Lie remained standing in the sky, a relaxed smile playing on his lips, seemingly untouched.

On the surface, the clash appeared to be a draw. But in reality, Li Xingji knew very well—he had lost the exchange.

“It looks like Li Xingji won’t last three moves,” Zhuo Hongyi remarked faintly from the contestant seating area.

“Wh-what?!”

“How is that possible!”

The dozen or so Golden Core Perfection disciples nearby looked at her in disbelief. Didn’t it look like an even fight? Why would she say he wouldn’t last three moves?

However, Zhuo Hongyi’s judgment was far more authoritative than their intuition. Now, they were desperate to see how Han Lie intended to secure victory. Was the gap between two early Nascent Soul cultivators really that wide?

“As expected of my Brother Mo!” Han Feng exclaimed, shocked but immensely proud.

“Han Feng, is that Han Lie really your brother?” a Senior Brother from the Myriad Pill Hall asked, frowning.

Han Feng puffed out his chest. “Yes, Senior Brother! Brother Mo and I are biological brothers, as close as blood can be!”

“Then you’re finished.”

The Senior Brother looked at him solemnly. “If Senior Brother Li loses, you’re going to have a very hard time surviving in the Myriad Pill Hall from now on.”

“???”

Han Feng’s face was a mask of confusion.

Wait, what?

He had thought relying on his relationship with Han Lie would elevate his status within the Myriad Pill Hall. Why did it sound like the exact opposite was about to happen?

Beside him, Zhuo Hongyi shook her head slightly. Han Lie’s younger brother was too young, too naive.

“Senior Brother Li, go for it!”

“Defeat him, Senior Brother!”

“We believe in you!”

The disciples of the Myriad Pill Hall rallied, chanting in unison to boost Li Xingji’s morale.

“It seems your Junior Brothers and Sisters really want you to win,” Han Lie grinned, his expression like a cat toying with a mouse. “But… if this is the extent of your power, they are going to be disappointed.”

Given Li Xingji’s performance, giving him three moves was actually an act of charity. If Han Lie wanted to be brutal, he could have slapped Li Xingji back to reality in a single strike.

“You don’t even have the qualification to make me use my full strength.”

“This final move will send you out of the top ten.”

Boom!

As his calm, confident voice faded, a torrent of monstrous fiery spiritual energy erupted from Han Lie’s body once more.

Feeling the sudden spike in terror from Han Lie’s aura, Li Xingji finally lost his composure. Deep within his eyes, a strong sense of fear began to take root.

“Soul Devouring Saber Technique, Final Style: Unity!”