Dual Cultivation System: The Villainous Servant’s Rise

Chapter 222: Doubted by All, He Proves Them Wrong!

The Blood Demon Giant’s miserable, shrill scream echoed through the void and resonated above the martial practice square.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, the colossal avatar was cleaved cleanly in two.

Dead silence descended upon the entire square instantly.

“Urgh…!”

The moment the Blood Demon Giant was shattered, Old Ghost Black Sha felt a crushing tightness in his chest. He barely managed to suppress a mouthful of blood from spurting out.

Although he had suppressed his cultivation to use only seventy percent of his strength, the terrifying backlash from having his technique obliterated still inflicted significant internal injuries.

On the other side, Han Lie’s condition was hardly any better.

That final strike of the Yin Yang Scripture had drained nearly every drop of spiritual power in his body. Combined with the burning of his essence blood and fifty years of his lifespan, the toll was immense.

A wave of weakness surged from the depths of his marrow like a tidal wave. Han Lie swayed unsteadily, teetering on the edge of collapse. His lips and complexion turned paper-white in an instant.

If the battle were to continue, Old Ghost Black Sha would undoubtedly crush the current Han Lie with ease.

Unfortunately for the Elder… he would not get that chance.

As the Blood Demon Giant disintegrated, the void space dissolved. Both Han Lie and Old Ghost Black Sha were teleported back to the center of the martial practice square.

Old Ghost Black Sha’s eyes were wide with shock. His weathered face seemed to have aged another twenty years in a single heartbeat. He stood there in a daze, trapped in a stupor, unable to process the reality of his defeat.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Light, rhythmic footsteps broke the heavy silence of the arena.

Grand Elder Chi Lian walked forward with a leisurely, unhurried gait.

“Grand Elder, I… I…”

Old Ghost Black Sha snapped back to reality, stammering as he delusionally attempted to plead his case.

However, Grand Elder Chi Lian ignored him entirely. Her tone was flat and final as she addressed the assembly. “I trust everyone witnessed the outcome of this duel. Therefore, I declare…”

“The final winner of this Elder Selection Tournament’s tie-breaker match is… Han Lie!”

“By virtue of his victory, Han Lie shall replace Old Ghost Black Sha and ascend to the Ninth Seat of the Elder Council!”

Grand Elder Chi Lian’s voice was piercing, drilling into the ears of every person present and lingering long after the words were spoken.

After a brief, stunned silence…

“WOOOOAAAHHHH—!!”

“Oh my heavens! Lord Han Lie!”

“I’m crying! That was terrifyingly amazing!”

“Han Lie!”

“Han Lie!”

The square erupted into chaos.

Countless disciples chanted Han Lie’s name, their faces flushed with excitement and adoration. Before this moment, none of them had truly believed Han Lie could win a battle that seemed so hopelessly one-sided.

Everyone had doubted him, yet he had proven them all wrong in the most spectacular fashion!

Even though Old Ghost Black Sha had restricted his power, withstand his assault was proof enough of the terrifying quality of Han Lie’s early Nascent Soul cultivation.

“He won! He won! My big brother is amazing!”

Startled out of her trance by the deafening cheers, Xiao Qingge hugged Zhuo Hongyi, who was standing beside her, screaming in sheer excitement.

Just moments ago, she had been certain Han Lie was doomed. Yet, in the blink of an eye, he had reversed the tide and seized victory from the jaws of defeat!

The result had also vastly exceeded Zhuo Hongyi’s expectations. She returned the hug, a brilliant, joyous smile blooming on her stunningly beautiful face.

“He actually did it…”

Once the shock wore off, Qin Lan and Su Meiyu couldn’t hide their smiles either. Regardless of personal feelings, having Han Lie take the Ninth Seat in the Elder Council was infinitely better than seeing Old Ghost Black Sha ascend!

“Woo-hoo! Brother Mo is a god!”

“Did you see that? That’s my brother!”

Han Feng danced around excitedly, grabbing the hands of several Senior Brothers from the Myriad Pill Hall.

“We saw it, we saw it! Junior Brother Han, if you ever run into trouble, just come find me! Hahaha!”

“Junior Brother Han, from today… no, from this very second, you are my best brother!”

The Senior Brothers, who had previously kept a polite distance due to Han Feng’s relation to the controversial Han Lie, were now tripping over themselves to cozy up to him.

Han Lie being a Nascent Soul cultivator didn’t matter much to them personally. Within the Myriad Pill Hall, they didn’t need to curry favor with Han Feng just for that.

But if Han Lie was a seated member of the Elder Council? That changed everything!

The prestige of the Elder Council was absolute. Even their master, the Hall Master of the Myriad Pill Hall, ranked below any seat holder of the Elder Council in terms of sect status.

If the Hall Masters were the backbone of the Sect, the Elder Council was its soul and core.

While some rejoiced, others despaired.

The faces of the thousands of disciples from the Overlord Hall turned ashen. They could not accept this cruel reality. Some disciples, unable to withstand the heavy blow to their pride, simply rolled their eyes back and fainted on the spot.

It took a long time for the martial practice square to quiet down.

Han Lie clutched his chest, coughing weakly but managing a faint, mocking smile. “Hall Master Black Sha, you truly are a saint. To hand over the Elder position that was already in your grasp… I should set up a memorial tablet for you and burn incense daily.”

“Pfft—!”

Old Ghost Black Sha, already suffering from internal injuries and emotional devastation, was so enraged by the taunt that he finally spat out the mouthful of old blood he had been holding back.

His greatest wish in life was to join the Elder Council.

He had defeated Su Meiyu. The seat was practically his. And yet… he had played himself.

Who could have predicted that an early Nascent Soul cultivator could forcefully withstand seventy percent of his power?

“Good… Very good…!”

Old Ghost Black Sha wiped the blood from his lips, his expression so dark it looked as if ink would drip from his face. Without another word, he turned and stormed off.

He knew that making threats now was pointless. With the Grand Elder as a witness, he couldn’t renege on the bet. He had no choice but to swallow the bitter fruit of his own arrogance.

After Old Ghost Black Sha departed, Chi Lian continued, “Han Lie, congratulations on winning the Elder Selection Tournament and earning the qualification to join the Elder Council. However…”

“Considering you were previously a disciple of the Servant Department, coupled with your lack of seniority and insufficient contribution points to the Sect…”

“I will need to convene a meeting with the Elder Council to discuss whether you shall assume the position immediately or if the seat will be reserved for you until your seniority and contributions match the station.”

“Do not worry. The decision will be made quickly.”

Han Lie paused slightly, then nodded, understanding Grand Elder Chi Lian’s intent.

Her words were political theater, spoken to placate the traditionalists and follow protocol. It was a formality to shut people’s mouths.

“Understood. Thank you for your trouble, Grand Elder,” Han Lie replied respectfully.

“Mm.”

Grand Elder Chi Lian’s gaze then swept toward the section of the Myriad Pill Hall. Her voice carried a subtle, pointed weight.

“Now… does anyone still have any objections regarding Han Lie’s championship title in the individual competition?”

Hearing this, the tens of thousands of disciples from the Myriad Pill Hall looked at one another in awkward silence.

………..