Dual Cultivation System: The Villainous Servant’s Rise

Chapter 273: Dao Comprehension Tea! What Do You Mean, ‘A Mere Million’ Per Ounce!?

Lin Jiaomei didn’t have to say a word. The four female cultivators behind her already knew.

It was a treasure one in a billion, a miracle that might not appear for millennia…

The Pure Yang Sacred Body!

Lin Jiaomei could scarcely believe it. To think that a simple trip to an auction outside the sect would yield such a divine harvest!

“Sect Leader, if we could capture him for the sect…” one of her subordinates began.

“Insolent!” Lin Jiaomei snapped, her voice dripping with possessive hunger. “A peerless specimen like him? If I get the chance, I will personally refine him into my own private Cultivation Cauldron. A toy for me to savor… slowly.”

For a cultivator with her constitution and techniques, the long-term benefits a Pure Yang Sacred Body could offer far surpassed even the Taiyin Profound Maiden Fruit.

…

Back in the privacy of their inn room, Ye Qingxuan turned to him. “What were you about to say back at the Chen Family auction?”

Han Lie sidestepped the question with one of his own. “Qingxuan, do you truly not want the Taiyin Profound Maiden Fruit anymore?”

“Of course I want it, but what can we do?” Ye Qingxuan sighed. “The fruit is already in Lin Jiaomei’s hands. Are you suggesting we just… take it from her?”

A sly grin spread across Han Lie’s face. “If we can’t win it in the open, we’ll just have to use other… methods.”

Ye Qingxuan shook her head. “Ambush her and take it by force? That’s out of the question.”

“For a guest who spent that many Spirit Stones, do you honestly believe the Chen Family wouldn’t provide a dedicated escort service? They guarantee safe passage for their high-value clients.”

“Ah…” Han Lie faltered for a second. “Right. I considered that. But since the direct approach is out, I have another idea.”

“And what might that be?” Though she asked, her tone held little hope.

“It’s simple. To catch a tiger, you have to enter its den. That filthy harlot Lin Jiaomei has been trying to seduce me from the moment she saw me, right? So, why don’t we…”

Though Han Lie trailed off, Ye Qingxuan understood him perfectly.

Her expression turned serious. “Are you really so careless with your own safety? You must know that in my heart, nothing in this world is more important than you—certainly not a mere Taiyin Profound Maiden Fruit.” Han Lie’s plan had merit; using the irresistible allure of his Pure Yang Sacred Body to bait Lin Jiaomei was a viable strategy.

But she didn’t agree immediately.

Just as she’d said, if it ever came down to a choice between Han Lie and the Heavenly Void Sect, she would choose him without a moment’s hesitation.

“I know,” Han Lie said, his tone firm. “But I trust my dear Sect Leader to have my back. And like I said, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Risk and reward go hand in hand. If you don’t think we can pull it off, we’ll drop it. This trip wasn’t a total loss, after all.”

At the very least, they had acquired a copy of the *Immortal Fate Women-Taming Canon*, so they weren’t leaving empty-handed.

Ye Qingxuan considered his words for a long moment, her gaze intense. Finally, she looked up. “I do have a way… a way to guarantee your safe return.”

……..

Over the next few days, Han Lie and Ye Qingxuan remained in Ancient Desolate Heaven.

Han Lie made a point of wandering around the city. He was familiarizing himself with the area, but more importantly, he was sending a clear, unspoken message to Lin Jiaomei: he was still here.

He had absolute confidence. As long as he remained, she wouldn’t leave.

He knew her kind. A demonic cultivator who fed on the Yang Qi and cultivation of men to advance her own would never be able to resist the allure of a Pure Yang Sacred Body. It was like catnip to a cat—an irresistible temptation, no matter how slim the chance.

During his strolls, Han Lie also gained a deeper understanding of the city itself. The prices were universally exorbitant, and the sheer luxury of the place was beyond the wildest dreams of any low-level cultivator.

Brothels lined the streets, and on the river that snaked through the city’s heart, decadent flower boats drifted by at all hours, their lanterns casting a seductive glow on the water.

Compared to the brothels, those boats were the true pinnacle of debauchery, a paradise for wealthy men. Unfortunately, the cost was far too steep. Han Lie had asked about the price once, and only once, before giving up on the idea.

On this particular day, Han Lie was out on his usual walk.

As he passed a tea shop, he recalled Ye Qingxuan’s complaints about the swill they served at the inn. He decided to buy some proper tea to appease his discerning Sect Leader.

“Immortal Elder! Welcome! What can I get for you today? Please, have a look around,” the shopkeeper said, rising instantly from his seat with a practiced, enthusiastic smile the moment Han Lie stepped inside.

A man in his line of work could spot a serious buyer from a mile away. And this man, with his extraordinary bearing and potent aura, screamed ‘high-value customer’.

*Immortal Elder?* Han Lie mused with a private smile. *The irony. An Elder of a demonic sect being addressed with such reverence.*

“Mm, this humble Daoist will browse for a moment.”

He scanned the shelves. The prices were staggering, and the names were all ridiculously ostentatious. He couldn’t tell what made any of them special.

Then, his eyes landed on a single canister set apart on the main counter. The label read: ‘Dao Comprehension Tea’.

*Dao Comprehension Tea? Could it be…*

He stepped closer. “Shopkeeper, tell me about this tea.”

“Haha! The Immortal Elder has a keen eye indeed! You’ve spotted my shop’s crown jewel on your first look!” the shopkeeper boomed, his enthusiasm kicking into high gear. “This Dao Comprehension Tea, just as the name implies, can temporarily heighten a cultivator’s comprehension. It is especially potent for those on the verge of a breakthrough!”

He leaned forward, his voice dropping conspiratorially. “Immortal Elder, you are a man of the Path. You know better than I that a breakthrough can hinge on a single, fleeting moment of Epiphany!”

“I’m not just singing its praises—this tea can dramatically increase the chances of seizing that moment, of making your path to power that much smoother!”

“Hoh…” Han Lie’s eyebrows rose. Just as he’d suspected.

“It sounds impressive. What’s the price?”

“Hehe, for a great expert such as yourself, Immortal Elder, the price is a trifle. A mere one million Spirit Stones… per ounce.” The shopkeeper held up a single finger, delivering the astronomical figure with the most casual air imaginable.

Han Lie’s eyes bulged.

*H-How much!?*

*A ‘mere’ one million? Per ounce?* he screamed internally. *Shopkeeper, are you even listening to the nonsense coming out of your own mouth?!*