Dual Cultivation System: The Villainous Servant’s Rise

“Might as well take a look.”

Han Lie knew the Heavenly Void Sect’s Grand Competition was a major event held once every thirty years, but he was hazy on the specifics.

Before this, he had been nothing more than an invisible servant disciple—a speck of dust in the sect’s hierarchy, utterly unqualified to participate. He only knew that the Grand Competition was the ultimate stage for young disciples to prove their worth.

It was also the battlefield where the sect’s resources for the next three decades were divided. The department that seized the crown would secure the lion’s share of funding and pills. The losers would be left with scraps.

Driven by curiosity and a lack of pressing matters, Han Lie scooped up Xiao Zi and headed out to join the excitement.

The Training Plaza was a sea of bodies.

Disciples from every department and hall had formed a dense, impenetrable wall around the central arena. The air vibrated with the clang of metal on metal, the boom of explosive spiritual energy, and cheers that rose and fell like crashing waves.

Han Lie scanned the crowd and quickly spotted Zhuo Hongyi standing at the forefront of the Law Enforcement Hall’s formation.

He sent her a mental transmission. A moment later, Zhuo Hongyi slipped away from the spectator stands and hurried over.

“Han Lie! Long time no see. Where have you been hiding?” Zhuo Hongyi’s beautiful face lit up with genuine delight.

She looked him up and down, her smile faltering as she sensed something different. Her eyes widened, realizing the terrifying depth of his aura.

“You… you’ve attained the Nascent Soul stage?!”

Her jaw practically hit the floor. Shock and excitement warred for dominance on her face.

“Just got lucky,” Han Lie dismissed with a wave of his hand.

“…”

After Han Lie gave a heavily sanitized version of his breakthrough, he steered the conversation toward the competition.

Through Zhuo Hongyi, Han Lie and Xiao Zi finally got a clear picture of the rules.

According to her, “Grand Competition” was a bit of a misnomer. It was more like the Heavenly Void Sect Comprehensive Tournament.

First, there were the team battles between the departments. Then came the main event for the rising stars: the Individual Competition.

“Disciples who rank in the top ten doesn’t just get the standard rewards,” Zhuo Hongyi explained eagerly. “They earn the right to enter the Forbidden Grounds and receive a baptism from the Spiritual Power Heavenly River!”

But the event didn’t end there.

Once the young blood had their turn, the stage opened up for the sect’s middle management—instructors, deacons, and older disciples with seniority but limited potential. It was a performance review with fists.

Usually, the curtains would close after that.

But this year was different. Zhuo Hongyi leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

“There’s a grand finale this time,” she murmured. “An Elder Assessment.”

“An Elder Assessment?” Han Lie’s eyes widened. That was rare.

“Shh!” Zhuo Hongyi pressed a finger to her lips, glancing around. “Keep it down. Most people don’t know yet!”

“And how does my dear Qing know such state secrets?” Han Lie teased.

Zhuo Hongyi puffed out her chest proudly. “Because the one participating is the Hall Master of my Law Enforcement Hall… my Master, Su Mei!”

“Oh?”

“How does it work?” Han Lie pressed.

“I asked Master. Simply put, she’s competing against the Hall Master of the Overlord Hall, Old Ghost Black Sha. They’re fighting for the single vacant seat on the Council of Elders.”

“Old Ghost Black Sha?”

Han Lie’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

If she hadn’t mentioned the name, he might have let it slip his mind. But now, the memory resurfaced.

Ten years ago, Old Ghost Black Sha had attacked Han Lie. In response, Grand Elder Chi Lian had locked the man in solitary confinement for a decade.

By the math, his sentence was up.

Han Lie recalled the bet he had made with Grand Elder Chi Lian back then, and her ominous warning: Old Ghost Black Sha will never let this go.

Perhaps Black Sha had promised Chi Lian he would drop the grudge to get out of punishment. But Han Lie knew how these things worked. If he put himself in the old ghost’s shoes…

Han Lie had slaughtered Black Sha’s subordinates—Cai Zhen, Yun Xia, and Ye Lang.

If Han Lie were Black Sha, he wouldn’t let himself live either. Especially since Han Lie was the direct cause of his ten-year imprisonment. Unless the old ghost was a coward who feared trouble… which he clearly wasn’t.

“Let’s not talk about them,” Zhuo Hongyi said, cutting through his dark thoughts. “You should join the Individual Competition! Forget the pills and weapons—the Spiritual Power Heavenly River baptism alone is worth it. It’ll do wonders for your cultivation foundation.”

“With our strength, cracking the top ten should be a walk in the park.”

“Alright. How do I sign up?” Han Lie rubbed his hands together, his interest piqued.

Technically, he was still a Servant Disciple on the registry, but he held an Inner Disciple token issued by the Elder Council. He couldn’t join the team battles, but the solo bracket was fair game.

“Just register with the Law Enforcement Hall. I’ll handle the paperwork for you,” Zhuo Hongyi assured him. “Wait until the eight major halls finish their team scraps, then come in for the individual rounds.”

Han Lie took her small hand and brought it to his lips, grinning. “Then I’ll trouble my dear Qing.”

“Hey! I’m right here, you know!”

Xiao Zi, currently draped over Han Lie’s shoulder, hissed in protest. “Stop ignoring me! It’s rude, meow!”

“Are you human?” Han Lie glanced at the cat. “Not yet. So technically, I’m not ignoring people.”

“Pfft…” Zhuo Hongyi giggled. “Alright, you two. I have to go back. I’m representing the Law Enforcement Hall in the team battle soon.”

Han Lie nodded and passed Xiao Zi over to her. “Do me a favor and watch this furball for a bit.”

With Xiao Zi grumbling in Zhuo Hongyi’s arms, Han Lie turned and left the noisy plaza, seeking the quiet of a nearby bamboo grove.

He needed a moment to think.

“My, my… little servant. Your perception isn’t bad.”

A voice drifted through the bamboo—lazy, melodious, and laced with a teasing edge.

Han Lie spun around.

A tall, voluptuous figure in crimson robes stood behind him, leaning against a stalk of bamboo as if she had been there all along.

It was Grand Elder Chi Lian.

“Greetings, Grand Elder Chi Lian.” Han Lie cupped his fists and bowed respectfully.

“Dispense with the formalities.” Chi Lian waved a jade-white hand, her eyes sweeping over him with critical appraisal. “Hmm… your cultivation speed is indeed monstrous, little servant. However, early Nascent Soul stage… it still falls a bit short of my expectations.”

She pushed off the bamboo and took a slow step toward him.

“Old Ghost Black Sha’s ten-year confinement has ended.”

Her red lips curved into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“You haven’t forgotten the bet we made back then, have you?”