Dual Cultivation System: The Villainous Servant’s Rise

Chapter 230: Brazen Provocation! Is Ye Qingxuan Jealous?

“Oh? Where are they?”

Han Lie’s eyes lit up with anticipation.

“With the Sect Leader,” Elder Sha Zui replied simply.

“………”

Han Lie was instantly rendered speechless.

Elder Sha Zui couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle. “Elder Lin, Divine Abilities of Middle Grade and above aren’t exactly cabbage sold on the street side.”

“Generally speaking, what we in the Elder Council have access to are mostly Low Grade Divine Abilities.”

“Even the Hall Masters of the various departments only get the chance to enter the Scripture Pavilion and select a Divine Ability of their choice after making a significant contribution to the Sect.”

“Take your battle with Old Ghost Black Sha, for example. He suffered not only because his spiritual power attributes were suppressed by yours but also because his technique’s grade was inferior.”

“Uh…”

Han Lie laughed dryly and scratched his head.

Thinking back to that duel, she was right. If not for the elemental suppression and the fact that the Blood Demon Scripture was inferior to the Yin Yang Scripture, defeating Old Ghost Black Sha—even at seventy percent power—would have been significantly harder.

Perhaps it’s because the first technique I ever learned was the Soul Devouring Saber Technique, which is already at the level of a Divine Ability… Han Lie mused inwardly.

This early success had led him to mistakenly believe that Divine Abilities were common commodities.

Reality was far harsher.

Never mind Divine Abilities; even Top Grade spells below that tier commanded astronomical prices in the outside world. A single Low Grade Divine Ability was enough to serve as the foundational treasure for many large factions and sects.

“So, it’s not that our Sect lacks Middle Grade or higher Divine Abilities,” Sha Zui continued, “It’s just that they are all in the custody of the Sect Leader.”

“Unless you make a monumental contribution or protect a vital interest of the Sect, you won’t see them. In such cases, Grand Elder Chi Lian can petition the Sect Leader on your behalf. If the Sect Leader deems your merit worthy of a Middle Grade Divine Ability, she naturally won’t be stingy.”

“I see. Thank you for the explanation, Senior Sha Zui.” Han Lie nodded, finally understanding the hierarchy.

“You are welcome.”

Elder Sha Zui’s tone suddenly shifted, her voice tinged with curiosity. “Speaking of which, Elder Lin… the Yin Yang Scripture you used against Old Ghost Black Sha looks suspiciously like the signature treasure of our neighbor, the Sun Moon Sect.”

“I wonder… how did you manage to get your hands on it?”

“To be honest, Senior Sha Zui, it was actually given to me by the Sect Leader.” Since she had already identified it, Han Lie saw no point in denying it.

Hearing this, Sha Zui’s vermilion lips parted in genuine shock. “I have been in secluded cultivation for a long time, but even I heard about the confrontation between the Sect Leader and the Sun Moon Sect’s leader, Old Ghost Yin Mei, over a decade ago.”

“It is said that during that standoff, the Sect Leader seized the Yin Yang Scripture from Old Ghost Yin Mei.”

She looked at him with renewed interest. “Elder Lin, are you on very good terms with the Sect Leader? For her to allow you to cultivate such a technique…”

As the Second Seat of the Elder Council, Sha Zui knew Ye Qingxuan well. In her impression, Ye Qingxuan was an aloof celestial maiden, untouched by mortal dust and largely indifferent to sect affairs. Her strength was unquestionable, but her generosity with such treasures was unheard of.

“Well…” Han Lie looked troubled, as if it were a difficult topic to broach.

“It is fine. If it is inconvenient to speak of, then forget I asked. I was merely curious.”

“Thank you for your understanding, Senior Sha Zui.”

However, the more evasive Han Lie was, the more Sha Zui’s curiosity burned.

Han Lie didn’t give her time to ponder it further. He immediately changed the subject. “Senior Sha Zui, there is a question I have wanted to ask you. I wonder…”

“Speak freely, Elder Lin,” Sha Zui signaled.

“It’s about your name, Senior… Why ‘Sha Zui’—Killing Sin? Does it have something to do with your Dao?” Han Lie asked simply.

“Indeed.”

Sha Zui smiled, an expression as innocent and harmless as a flower. “I mainly cultivate the Dao of Slaughter. If you are interested, Elder Lin, I can take you to slaughter some people from the Sun Moon Sect when the opportunity arises.”

“Haha! Now that is something I am definitely interested in!”

At the mention of slaughtering the Sun Moon Sect, Han Lie’s enthusiasm spiked.

Given the hostile history between the Heavenly Void Sect and the Sun Moon Sect, combined with the latter’s penchant for inhuman and insidious methods, Han Lie had zero psychological burden regarding their extermination.

Years ago, during his missions, he had killed quite a few of their disciples, earning him a spot on their bounty list.

“Senior Sha Zui, whenever you decide to go on a killing spree against the Sun Moon Sect, please, do not forget to invite me!”

“Very well. I will definitely call upon you.”

…

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Han Lie found an excuse to leave.

Once he was gone, Elder Sha Zui placed a jade-like hand over her chest, feeling the rhythmic thumping of her heart. She murmured to herself, “So… it really wasn’t my imagination?”

“But… why him?”

…

After leaving the Elder Council, Han Lie didn’t go to find Zhuo Chi Lian or Xiao Qingge immediately.

Instead, he went to the Jade Clear Pool for a thorough bath before deciding to return to the Violet Heaven Palace.

On the way back, as fate would have it, he ran into Old Ghost Black Sha.

Times had changed. Han Lie no longer needed to fear the old man.

In terms of status, he now outranked Black Sha. In terms of strength… having broken through to the mid-Nascent Soul stage, Han Lie was confident that even in an all-out deathmatch, the odds were no longer stacked against him.

So, beaming with a radiant smile, Han Lie enthusiastically waved at the brooding elder.

“Well, isn’t this Hall Master Black Sha? What a coincidence!”

“But Hall Master, your complexion looks terrible. Have you encountered a bottleneck recently? Or perhaps an inner demon is troubling you?”

“Hmph. There is no need for Elder Lin to worry about this Senior,” Old Ghost Black Sha replied, his face dark and gloomy.

“Is that so? Well, that’s good.”

Han Lie’s smile didn’t falter. “You seem to be in quite a rush, Hall Master. Where are you off to?”

“What? This Senior is going out to clear his mind. Does Elder Lin intend to control my movements now, too?” Black Sha snapped, his tone unfriendly.

If not for Han Lie’s new status, Black Sha would have erupted in violence right then and there. Having his Elder seat stolen and then having the thief rub salt in the wound—the fact that he hadn’t attacked yet was a testament to his immense self-control.

“Haha, I wouldn’t dream of exercising such broad control.”

Han Lie laughed heartily, waving his hand dismissively. “Since Hall Master Black Sha doesn’t seem pleased to see me, I won’t bore you further. Please, go ahead.”

“Hmph!”

Old Ghost Black Sha flicked his sleeve and stormed off, his face livid.

Han Lie rubbed his nose, hiding a smirk, before withdrawing his gaze and heading straight for the Violet Heaven Palace.

“This Palace thought you weren’t planning to come back at all. Get your ass in here!”

Just as he arrived at the entrance of the Violet Heaven Palace, intending to check the small wooden hut for Xiao Zi, Ye Qingxuan’s voice rang out in his mind.

It was her signature cold, regal tone—but this time, it carried a distinct edge of temper.