“Hmm, I respect your choice.” Zhuo Hongyi did not try to persuade him further; it seemed Han Lie’s answer was entirely within her expectations.

Immediately after, Zhuo Hongyi inquired about the matter concerning Zhou Ze. Although she did not yet fully understand Han Lie, even among demonic cultivators, except for a few extreme cases, killing someone usually had a prerequisite. Han Lie killing Zhou Ze so quietly must also have had a reason.

After thinking for a moment, Han Lie recounted the events in detail.

“Based solely on your description, I cannot pinpoint exactly who it is. Female disciples matching your description number at least eighty, if not a hundred, within the sect,” Zhuo Hongyi mused. “From now on, you should be more careful yourself.”

Han Lie nodded. After this incident, he really should be more cautious. At least until his strength grew, it would be better to go out as little as possible. The waters of the Heavenly Void Sect ran too deep. Especially for Servant Disciples, it was easy to drown in these murky depths.

“Captain Zhuo, take care.”

After Zhuo Hongyi left, Han Lie began to quietly recuperate from his injuries. Fortunately, the injuries he sustained this time were not severe, and coupled with the powerful self-healing ability of his Pure Yang Sacred Body, he was basically fully recovered after seven days of quiet cultivation.

Han Lie was not in a hurry to comprehend and cultivate the Soul Devouring Saber Art either; the most crucial thing at the moment was to first break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

During his closed-door cultivation period, Han Lie also kept an eye on the entrance of the Violet Heaven Palace. Fortunately, no one had come looking for Ye Qingxuan recently. Therefore, Han Lie’s closed-door cultivation proceeded smoothly without being forcibly interrupted.

And so, over a month passed.

Han Lie’s continuously rising aura finally reached a critical point.

In his profound cultivation state, Han Lie sensed a hazy obstruction. That was the shackle between the Qi Refining Stage and Foundation Establishment.

For ordinary cultivators, this shackle was not so easy to break through. But for Han Lie, who possessed the Pure Yang Sacred Body, this shackle was like a thin sheet of paper that could be pierced with a single thrust.

As Han Lie focused his mind, vast spiritual power surged like floodwaters, breaching the dike, shattering that shackle leading to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

In an instant, torrents of spiritual power rushed through meridians that had become clogged over time.

As his aura continuously soared, Han Lie’s body also underwent earth-shattering changes. His emaciated frame filled out with flesh and blood; the wrinkles of age on his skin visibly tightened at a rapid pace. That weathered old face also regained its vitality and spirit.

After breaking through the clogged meridians, the abyss-like sea of spiritual power finally converged into his dantian.

An endless stream of spiritual power gathered from his dantian, condensing into a golden Dao Foundation radiating scorching pure yang energy.

Han Lie’s aura also peaked at this moment.

Early Foundation Establishment Stage!

Han Lie, who had been in closed-door cultivation for over a month, reopened his eyes. Those previously decrepit, hollow, and turbid eyes now held a hint of clarity.

“One hundred and ten years… This Senior has finally… reached Foundation Establishment.”

Han Lie clenched his fist, feeling the formidable spiritual power within him that was different from before, murmuring in a calm tone.

Beneath that calm tone lay Han Lie’s tearful joy and excitement. It was just that after over a hundred years of trials and tribulations, his mentality had matured and become steady, no longer as impulsive as in his youth.

Having calmed down slightly from the joy of the breakthrough, Han Lie also noticed the changes in his own body.

If before he looked like an elderly man over a hundred years old, now, he resembled how he looked at eighty years old.

The change was still quite noticeable; at least he didn’t look as wretched as during the Qi Refining Stage.

Han Lie didn’t expect to return to his twenty-year-old appearance; being able to revert to the middle-aged/elderly look of fifty or sixty was already enough for him.

“Next, I can start cultivating the Soul Devouring Saber Art.”

Not daring to slack off, Han Lie only rested briefly before taking out the book on Soul Devouring Saber Art to begin comprehending it.

As long as he mastered the Soul Devouring Saber Art and combined it with the Black Saber’s enhancement, if he were to face that Yun Fei again, Han Lie was confident he would absolutely have the ability to protect himself—not like last time when he could only flee in panic.

Over the next few days, Han Lie spent time comprehending the first form of the Soul Devouring Saber Art—Soul Hook—while using the Black Saber to assist in cultivation.

Coupled with the heaven-defying comprehension granted by his Pure Yang Sacred Body, Han Lie completely mastered Soul Hook in just five days.

Only at this moment did Han Lie gain a general understanding of the Soul Devouring Saber Art.

“Holy crap! This Soul Devouring Saber Art is definitely no ordinary technique!”

Just performing Soul Hook during comprehension and deduction was enough to make Han Lie’s heart tremble with fear!

The so-called “Soul Hook” could seize an enemy’s three hun and seven po souls. If used on a Nascent Soul Stage powerhouse, it could even severely damage their primordial spirit or even forcibly separate it from their physical body!

Of course, given Han Lie’s current cultivation level, it was clearly impossible to pose any threat to a Nascent Soul Stage powerhouse. But that’s fine; Han Lie didn’t expect his current cultivation level to be able to threaten Nascent Soul Stage powerhouses with this move anyway.

At least within the same realm, if an enemy is unprepared, this move Soul Hook is undoubtedly fatal. Han Lie even felt that challenging someone slightly above his own level wouldn’t be too difficult either!

“Truly worthy of a technique given by the female demon! There really is something special about it!”

Ye Qingxuan’s products are always top quality!

Han Lie knew all along—how could anything Ye Qingxuan carried on her person possibly be low-grade trash techniques?

This way, if he encounters Yun Fei again, it won’t be him needing to avoid Yun Fei, but rather Yun Fei who should think about how to escape!

“Hmm… Reaching Foundation Establishment is only the starting point of immortal cultivation. This Senior still needs to guard against arrogance and impatience and develop steadily while keeping a low profile.”

Han Lie realized that his recent cultivation breakthroughs had been too rapid. Perhaps he needed a technique for concealing his aura to hide his own presence.

This way, not only could he develop more smoothly while keeping low, but if someone ever sets their sights on him someday, his hidden cultivation could also lead enemies to underestimate him, achieving an unexpected effect.

Techniques for concealing aura aren’t particularly rare either; visiting the sect’s trading market should yield results there too…

“Speaking of which… seems like it’s about time for cleaning Violet Heaven Palace…”

Just stepping outside brought Violet Heaven Palace’s main gate into view—only then did Han Lie suddenly recall Ye Qingxuan’s instructions before she left: She said clean Violet Heaven Palace after one month…

Yet now over one-and-a-half months have passed already…

“Forget it—since the female demon isn’t here anyway—no rush right now—better go buy an aura-concealing technique first then come back…”