Dual Cultivation System: The Villainous Servant’s Rise

Chapter 272: Han Lie’s Idea! Why Do You Think I’ve Been Seducing Him All This Time?

“Two billion seven hundred million, going twice!”

As Mei Lingling’s voice echoed, the atmosphere in the auction hall solidified, thick with anticipation. The great powers watching the spectacle held their breath, waiting for Lin Jiaomei to counter.

But she was spent. Her resources were exhausted.

She burned with the desire to crush Han Lie’s bid, but two billion six hundred and fifty million Spirit Stones was her absolute limit. If she made a bid she couldn’t honor, the Chen Family would add her name to their kill list, and the Taiyin Profound Maiden Fruit would default to Han Lie and Ye Qingxuan.

Just as despair began to set in, a voice echoed not in her ears, but in the depths of her mind.

Lin Jiaomei’s gaze shot toward the front-row VIP seats, locking onto Old Ghost Yin Mei.

Han Lie saw the exchange. A knot of dread tightened in his gut.

“Heh heh… My dear pretty boy,” Lin Jiaomei’s voice, laced with newfound venom and a predatory purr, suddenly rang out. “You have no idea the depths of this sister’s power. Two billion eight hundred million. How does that sound?”

It was exactly what Han Lie had feared. In the final seconds before Mei Lingling’s gavel fell, Lin Jiaomei had not only met his price but surpassed it.

From the front row, Old Ghost Yin Mei turned, a mocking, triumphant smile twisting his ancient features as he looked directly at Han Lie and Ye Qingxuan.

*That old bastard!* A murderous glint flared in Han Lie’s eyes, a look so sharp it could kill.

He didn’t need to say a word. Ye Qingxuan, seated beside him, understood everything. Given the generations of blood feud between the Sun Moon Sect and the Heavenly Void Sect, there was no way Old Ghost Yin Mei would ever allow her to acquire a treasure like the Taiyin Profound Maiden Fruit—a celestial fruit that would elevate her power immensely.

If she obtained it, the loss to the Sun Moon Sect’s interests couldn’t be measured in a few hundred million Spirit Stones. It would shatter the delicate balance of power.

Just as Han Lie’s expression turned as dark as a thundercloud, another mental transmission reached him. It was Qin Yusheng. “Young friend Han Lie, if you need it, I can increase my support.”

“There’s no need. Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty.”

Han Lie considered it for a fleeting moment before dismissing the thought. Accepting more would indebt him even further to the Emperor, and besides… it was no longer necessary.

The Taiyin Profound Maiden Fruit’s value was subjective. On the open market, it might fetch one and a half billion at most. For female cultivators like Ye Qingxuan and Lin Jiaomei, whose techniques relied on dual cultivation, its value was certainly higher, but only by a few hundred million. Anything beyond that was a foolish overpayment.

Spending such an astronomical sum to bleed Lin Jiaomei and Old Ghost Yin Mei dry was simply not worth it. There were other ways.

“Let it go. Let her have it,” Ye Qingxuan said, her voice perfectly calm. Knowing Old Ghost Yin Mei was manipulating the bids from the shadows, she refused to be drawn into their game. She had arrived with fewer funds than Lin Jiaomei to begin with; with the old ghost backing her rival, winning a bidding war was impossible.

Ye Qingxuan desperately wanted the fruit, but not at a cost that would cripple them.

“Mm,” Han Lie nodded, his thoughts perfectly aligned with hers.

Without waiting for Mei Lingling to announce the final winner, Han Lie and Ye Qingxuan rose from their seats and walked out of the hall.

“Master, we finally put them in their place!” Zhao Batian could barely contain his glee as he watched the pair leave, their departure looking like a disgraceful retreat.

For Old Ghost Yin Mei, anyone could have the fruit *except* Ye Qingxuan. If she consumed it, the tripartite balance their three great powers had maintained for years would crumble in the foreseeable future. That was a reality he would never permit.

“Hehe, this trip was not in vain,” Old Ghost Yin Mei chuckled, his mood brighter than it had been all day.

***

“Did you make a deal with Qin Yusheng back there?” Ye Qingxuan asked once they were clear of the auction hall.

Han Lie didn’t hide it. “Yes. He offered to support us with five hundred million Spirit Stones. That’s why I…”

Ye Qingxuan gave a slight, elegant nod. “Qin Yusheng is a man worth knowing,” she said, her tone dismissive. “But it matters little. It’s not as if this palace was dead set on obtaining the Taiyin Profound Maiden Fruit.”

“Pfft…” Han Lie couldn’t stifle a laugh.

She was so hopelessly proud. If he hadn’t felt the tangible killing intent radiating from her when Old Ghost Yin Mei interfered, he might have actually believed her feigned indifference.

“Hmph. What’s so funny?” she demanded, glaring at him.

“Nothing… nothing at all. By the way…” Han Lie started to say something, then caught himself, his words trailing off.

“What is it?”

“Ahem, never mind.”

In truth, a brilliant plan to snatch the Taiyin Profound Maiden Fruit from Lin Jiaomei’s grasp was already forming in his mind. But this was not the place to speak of it. Not only did the walls have ears, but at this distance, a cultivator of Lin Jiaomei’s level could easily spy on their conversation if she chose.

Soon, the auction concluded. Guided by the staff, Han Lie and Ye Qingxuan went to a private VIP room to complete the transaction for the *Immortal Fate Women-Taming Canon*.

By the time their party returned to the Ancient Desolate Square, evening had fallen.

“A true pity, Sect Leader Ye Qingxuan, young friend Han Lie,” Qin Yusheng said with genuine regret. “If not for that meddler, you would have secured the Taiyin Profound Maiden Fruit.”

Ye Qingxuan simply waved a hand. “It is of no concern. This palace will settle the score with them sooner or later.”

Sensing her foul mood, Qin Yusheng wisely bid them farewell and departed.

Just as Han Lie and Ye Qingxuan were about to head back to their inn, a figure descended from the Immortal Bridge. It was Lin Jiaomei.

Her eyes met Ye Qingxuan’s across the plaza, and the ambient temperature instantly plummeted. A palpable frost filled the air.

A playful, vicious curve touched Lin Jiaomei’s lips as she sauntered toward them. “Tsk tsk tsk, you poor little bitch,” she cooed, her voice dripping with condescension. “Did you really think you had the strength to compete with me?”

Her gaze then slid to Han Lie, hot and possessive. “And you, pretty boy. You’ve seen a fraction of my power. Think very carefully about my offer. You know you want to come to sister.”

Ye Qingxuan responded with nothing more than a cold snort before turning on her heel and walking away. Han Lie didn’t dare linger, quickly falling into step behind her.

“Sect Leader, don’t you feel… a unique charm from that pretty boy?” one of Lin Jiaomei’s attendants whispered, sidling up to her as they watched the pair’s retreating figures.

“Is it not obvious? Why else do you think I’ve been trying to seduce him all this time?”

A sly, cunning arc formed on Lin Jiaomei’s vermilion lips. “For a mere Nascent Soul Stage cultivator to render my charm arts useless… that, combined with the potent masculine aura pouring from him… there is only one possibility. He is…”

“That one-in-a-hundred-million…!”

…………