For the following month, Han Lie remained inside his small wooden hut cultivating.

With both the Pure Yang Sacred Body and the Yin Yang Demonic Art enhancing him, his rate of absorbing Spirit Stones was very fast. Five thousand Spirit Stones flowed away like water, seemingly gone in the blink of an eye as Han Lie absorbed every last bit.

His cultivation naturally rose accordingly. Vaguely, there were signs he was nearing a breakthrough to the late Foundation Establishment Stage.

At around the same time.

At Mine No. 9, several hundred li southeast of the Heavenly Void Sect’s mountain gate.

For some reason, the Sun Moon Sect’s harassment became increasingly frequent, and each time those who came possessed increasingly formidable cultivation. Zhuo Hongyi, who initially thought this would be a short-term mission, found herself stuck here, unable to extricate herself and return to the Heavenly Void Sect for a long time.

Finally.

Seven days later, the Sun Moon Sect launched another large-scale assault. The person leading this assault was a Sun Moon Sect guest elder whose cultivation had reached Golden Core Stage Perfection.

Mine No. 9 fell.

Zhuo Hongyi, under a joint assault from two mid-Golden Core Stage experts, ultimately sustained injuries and fled into hiding. When they chased her to about a hundred li outside the Heavenly Void Sect’s mountain gate, those two experts gave up the pursuit because chasing further forward would make them the ones in danger.

“A breakthrough at last!”

Several more days passed. After ultimately consuming nine thousand Spirit Stones, Han Lie finally broke through to the late Foundation Establishment Stage!

His cultivation surged greatly! Feeling that vast, torrential spiritual power within him—now several times more abundant than during the mid-Foundation Establishment Stage—Han Lie couldn’t help but let his lips curl up wildly. “This way, This Senior perhaps no longer needs to avoid the Saintess like avoiding the plague as before.”

Of course, this assumed Bai Ling remained at Foundation Establishment Stage Perfection and hadn’t broken through to the Golden Core Stage. His cultivation advanced while hers couldn’t possibly remain stagnant. After all, Bai Ling possessed an extremely rare quasi-Nine Grade Spiritual Vein—a pinnacle genius.

After organizing his thoughts, Han Lie went out. This seclusion had lasted over a month. Han Lie estimated Zhuo Hongyi should have returned by now regardless.

Yet.

When he left the Violet Heaven Palace’s small wooden hut, he noticed something off about the atmosphere surrounding the mountain gate. An oppressive aura seemed to permeate the air—like the calm before a storm.

Upon inquiring, Han Lie learned that the Heavenly Void Sect’s Mine No. 9 had been attacked and captured by the Sun Moon Sect—lost.

Besides Zhuo Hongyi, who managed to escape back, and dozens of Vermilion Bird Squad disciples accompanying her, all deacons and other managers stationed long-term at Mine No. 9, plus several hundred outer disciple miners—without exception—were completely annihilated.

So the Elder Council was organizing forces to counterattack the Sun Moon Sect, planning to retake Mine No. 9. For the Heavenly Void Sect, losing people was a minor matter. Losing a mine was a major issue.

After ascertaining the situation, Han Lie hurried without stopping to the Vermilion Bird Squad office. According to the disciple guarding the entrance, Zhuo Hongyi was severely injured and recuperating at home. So Han Lie turned and headed to Zhuo Hongyi’s home.

When he pushed open Zhuo Hongyi’s door as usual…

A voluptuous, beautiful woman wearing palace attire blocked the doorway, barring his path. The woman had chubby, baby-faced features yet still retained her charm.

Having stayed in the Heavenly Void Sect for over a hundred years, how could Han Lie not recognize the person before him?

“Servant Disciple Han Lie pays respects to Law Enforcement Hall Master.” Han Lie bowed, cupping his hands in salute.

“You are Han Lie?” Su Meiyu briefly glanced at Han Lie, raising an eyebrow.

“Indeed.” Han Lie replied respectfully, “Never expected the Law Enforcement Hall Master would recognize a lowly servant, an insignificant nobody.”

Insignificant nobody? Su Meiyu didn’t think so.

Perhaps Han Lie’s status was indeed that of an insignificant nobody. But she clearly remembered that not long ago, the Elder Council specifically named him and demanded her Law Enforcement Hall find the missing Han Lie and return him. As for why the Elder Council would issue such a command for a lowly servant, Su Meiyu didn’t know. Nor did she need to know.

But why Han Lie appeared at Zhuo Hongyi’s home, Su Meiyu somewhat understood. Recently, the conflict between Zhuo Hongyi and Zhui Ming seemed to stem from Han Lie. Since the incident, she could guess her favored disciple, Zhuo Hongyi, seemed involved with Servant Disciple Han Lie.

Initially, she found it hard to comprehend why, when even her Senior Brother Zhui Ming couldn’t catch the eye of Zhuo Hongyi, she was involved with Servant Disciple Han Lie. Now seeing Han Lie in person, she seemed to somewhat understand.

“What brings you here?” Although she knew, Su Meiyu still asked the obvious question.

Han Lie answered truthfully, “Reporting to Hall Master, this lowly servant heard Squad Leader Zhuo seems injured, thus came to visit.”

“Since Hall Master is here, this lowly servant shall take his leave first.”

“Mas… Master… let… let him come… come inside please.” Just then, Zhuo Hongyi’s trembling, somewhat shivering voice came from inside the room.

Su Meiyu pondered for a moment but still let Han Lie enter.

Inside the room.

Zhuo Hongyi lay on the bed, her face pale, lips purple. Around the bed were placed numerous crimson stones emitting a scorching aura; what exactly these were, Han Lie didn’t know.

Seeing Han Lie, Zhuo Hongyi’s weak, powerless eyes seemed to gain a bit of spirit.

Han Lie frowned and inquired, “Dare ask Hall Master, what kind of injury did Squad Leader Zhuo sustain?”

From Zhuo Hongyi’s appearance, Han Lie could guess somewhat. But specifically what technique caused this condition was unknown.

“Sun Moon Sect’s Taiyin Technique.” Su Meiyu concisely explained. “This is an ultimate Yin, extreme cold technique. Those struck suffer erosion from supreme Yin energy. Within three days, amidst endless agony and torment, they become a rigid, stone-like corpse.”

“Fortunately, Hongyi returned timely. Otherwise, once the Taiyin Technique cold energy spreads within the body, blocks blood vessels, and freezes the blood, then unless an immortal exists, she is beyond saving.”

Hearing this, Han Lie nodded thoughtfully. “How is Squad Leader Zhuo’s current condition?”

“Already administered the Yangxuan Pill and dispersed some cold energy. Those cold energies hidden deep within the body can only rely on the Yangxuan Pill’s efficacy to expel and evaporate.”

Su Meiyu looked at Zhuo Hongyi, her beautiful eyes full of pained expression. “But… the reason the Sun Moon Sect’s Taiyin Technique inspires terror is precisely because the cold energy is too cunning.”

“Some cold energies hide in the deepest parts of the human body, extremely difficult to purge. When they erupt later, they pose a significant hidden danger.”

“The Yangxuan Pill’s efficacy may not completely purge the Taiyin Technique cold energy, unless a superior version of the pill is used.”

“The Saint Grade Taichu Yangxuan Pill can completely purge the Taiyin Technique cold energy.”

“But a Saint Grade pill… the price is excessively expensive; moreover, available markets are beyond reach. Helpless.”

Reaching the end, Su Meiyu’s tone already carried a few degrees of sadness, feeling powerless despite her willingness to help.