Upon returning, Han Lie immediately began to comprehend and cultivate the Art of Aura Concealment. The Art of Aura Concealment was of a relatively low grade and not a particularly profound technique, so Han Lie mastered it completely in just two hours.

For now, I’ll keep my aura suppressed to the early Foundation Establishment stage. This Senior just went out earlier, and I don’t know who might have sensed me.

If others were to detect that I am deliberately hiding my true cultivation level…

Wouldn’t that mean all this practice of the concealment art was for nothing?

Gathering his thoughts, Han Lie entered the Violet Heaven Palace and began his cleaning duties. The chores in the Violet Heaven Palace had been neglected for quite some time. If Ye Qingxuan were to suddenly return and find he still hadn’t cleaned the palace, that female demon would probably throw another fit.

“What the hell?”

While cleaning the study of the Violet Heaven Palace, a crimson figure, resembling a bloody moon, startled Han Lie so much his body jolted physically.

“Heh… Little servant, am I really that frightening?”

Sitting on the soft couch in the study was none other than Chi Lian, the Grand Elder of the Elder Council of the Heavenly Void Sect.

Steadying his mind, Han Lie knelt on both knees and said respectfully, “This old servant pays his respects to the Grand Elder!”

He hadn’t had any contact with Grand Elder Chi Lian before, so it was better to be proper and courteous.

“Rise, little servant.”

Chi Lian’s gaze was alluring, staring straight at Han Lie as she spoke. “Do you know why I am here?”

Han Lie shook his head. “This old servant does not know. Please enlighten me, Grand Elder.”

“Alright~ I didn’t expect you to be particularly clever anyway.” Before getting to the main point, Chi Lian couldn’t resist taking a jab at Han Lie. “Now answer me: have you cultivated the Yang Volume of the Yin Yang Demonic Art?”

Han Lie was slightly taken aback. He clearly remembered that since he had mastered the Yin Yang Demonic Art, this was his first face-to-face meeting with Grand Elder Chi Lian. How did she already know what cultivation art he practiced?

But… since Chi Lian had brought it up, Han Lie knew denying it would be pointless now.

So he answered truthfully, “Reporting to the Grand Elder, as you have said, this old servant has indeed cultivated the Yin Yang Demonic Art.”

“Just as I suspected.” Chi Lian mused. “Ah, there are so many exceptionally talented male cultivators within the sect. I really don’t understand why the Sect Leader insisted on letting a little servant like you cultivate the Yang Volume. But looking at you now, it doesn’t seem to disgrace the formidable reputation of the Yin Yang Demonic Art.”

“Uh…” Han Lie was momentarily speechless, unsure what Grand Elder Chi Lian was getting at.

“Alright, little servant.” After her musings, Chi Lian returned to the main topic. “Recently, a big fish has appeared within the sect. I want you to act as bait to lure this big fish out.”

Hearing this, Han Lie’s eyes widened in protest. “Grand Elder, this old servant is merely a Servant Disciple. What capability do I have…”

Chi Lian interrupted, “The bait isn’t you personally, but rather the Yin Yang Demonic Art you cultivate. The Yin Yang Demonic Art is a supreme cultivation method coveted by countless demonic cultivators yet beyond their reach. Countless eyes outside are watching it. If someone comes asking you about it, just answer truthfully.”

Han Lie pursed his lips. “It sounds like this old servant doesn’t really have room to refuse.”

“Hehe, you’re quite clever after all.”

“Then, Grand Elder, if this old servant may be so bold as to ask… is the person you’re referring to perhaps Saintess Bai Ling?” Han Lie thought for a moment before asking.

“Oh?” Chi Lian raised an elegant eyebrow slightly in surprise. “You actually know.”

Confirming that Grand Elder Chi Lian was thinking of the same person he was, Han Lie secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Bai Ling was the Saintess of the Heavenly Void Sect, her status transcendent. Unless absolutely forced to, he wouldn’t dare casually slander Bai Ling.

“Yes…” Immediately after, Han Lie concisely recounted what he had witnessed that day.

After listening, Chi Lian chuckled softly. “With this information from you, my suspicions are even more confirmed. However, it is rather incredible to me that you are still alive after stumbling upon the Saintess’s affairs. I suppose she also couldn’t be sure whether you had discovered her or not. Otherwise, you would have vanished from this world long ago.”

Han Lie didn’t deny Chi Lian’s assessment. If Bai Ling had been certain that Han Lie had seen through her disguise, Han Lie had no doubt he would have died countless times over by now.

Then Han Lie asked further, “Then may I ask, Grand Elder, how did you come to suspect the Saintess?”

Chi Lian said meaningfully, “Since I’m asking you to be this bait, I’ll share my suspicions with you as well.”

It turned out that not long ago, when Chi Lian went to Ye Qingxuan to submit account records, she happened to overhear a conversation between Ye Qingxuan and Bai Ling. Coupled with recent incidents of a mole within the sect and Bai Ling’s repeated requests at that time for Ye Qingxuan to let her cultivate the Yin Yang Demonic Art… Therefore, Chi Lian boldly speculated: Could this mole possibly be Saintess Bai Ling? She came for the Yin Yang Demonic Art!

Hence today’s scene where Chi Lian sought out Han Lie.

“Originally, I only held some suspicion towards the Saintess and planned to have you test her out. But after hearing your news, I am basically certain this big fish is indeed the Saintess,” Chi Lian stated.

Han Lie nodded in agreement. Now he too could be sure: Bai Ling definitely had problems.

“Reporting to Grand Elder, this old servant is a bit confused. Since we can confirm the Saintess is a spy, why not just arrest her directly? This old servant’s cultivation is far inferior to the Saintess’s; I’m afraid…” Han Lie said with a pursed-lip expression.

“I understand your concern, little servant,” Chi Lian also sighed. “If the suspect were someone else, I could make an arrest directly. But this time, the suspect is, after all, the Saintess. Without concrete evidence, I dare not rashly accuse her.”

“Moreover, in this world, reward and risk always coexist, don’t they? If you can complete the task perfectly, I will give you a satisfactory reward.”

Han Lie’s eyes immediately lit up.

If there was compensation, everything was negotiable. He wasn’t about to work for free!

“Reporting to Grand Elder, this mission carries too great a risk. Might this old servant… ask first what the reward would be?” Han Lie asked eagerly.

Chi Lian replied with seductive charm, “You little servant, quite impatient, aren’t you? Spirit Stones, techniques, magical treasures, or various rare materials… what do you want?”

Han Lie pondered for quite a while before stating his demand. “Grand Elder, this old servant’s request is not high. I want one Heaven-tier magical treasure, plus thirty thousand Spirit Stones. What do you think…?”

“Heh… You little servant, you call that ‘not high’?”

Forget about the thirty thousand Spirit Stones. Just one Heaven-tier treasure alone—even the lowest-grade, low-quality Heaven-tier treasure—would cost around three hundred to five hundred thousand Spirit Stones!

“It’s… it’s alright. Is that considered… high?” Han Lie asked with an innocent expression.

Of course he knew the demand was high. Although Han Lie had no concrete concept of Heaven-tier treasure prices, he at least knew that any treasure reaching Heaven-tier level was priced beyond what cultivators below the Nascent Soul Stage could afford.

“Stop playing dumb with me, little servant.” Chi Lian was amused despite her annoyance. “However, the risk you are taking this time is indeed considerable. Asking for a Heaven-tier treasure is possible—but only a low-grade one.”