"Jia Ming, you're despicable!"

  Peng Liu Ming's voice seethed with resentment.

  "Against evil cults like yours, no means are too low." Han responded without anger.

  The enemy’s impotent fury is the greatest form of praise one can receive.

  Han's gaze turned to the battle in the sky, where two souls clashed continuously, their power shifting the elements, mental waves colliding, and spells being cast.

  Souls only possess such overwhelming power when facing other souls.

  If it were a warrior, they’d be handicapped, many of their techniques rendered useless under the restraint of masculine energy. Most likely, they'd have to flee.

  Of course, this applies only to cultivators below the Sun-Soaring level.

  Once a cultivator reaches the Sun-Soaring stage, it’s a whole new story. They can face warriors head-on, for the Sun-Soaring represents a qualitative change.

  And that change comes with a high threshold.

  A cultivator at the Divine-Voyage stage, even with ten at the Night-Voyage stage, might still fail to break through to the Sun-Soaring.

  At this point, their cultivation speed would slow down significantly.

  Han observed the battle of souls. Zhao Duguan, although often negligent, was still powerful, and he hadn't been suppressed by this Celestial Maiden's envoy.

  However, defeating the Celestial Maiden's envoy quickly was still impossible.

  In another clash of souls, Zhao Duguan forcefully struck Peng Liu Ming’s soul toward the ground.

  Han’s eyes lit up. He exerted power in his legs, leaping into the air, his blood boiling with intense heat, and he slashed toward Peng Liu Ming’s soul with his sword.

  "Ah!"

  The Celestial Maiden’s envoy screamed in agony as Han’s qi burned her.

  Han then sheathed his sword and smote with his palm, channeling the power of the Three Lights Fortuitous Realm.

  "Boom!"

  Peng Liu Ming was slammed to the ground, and Han followed, landing with ease.

  Looking at Peng Liu Ming, his soul was greatly weakened, deeply injured.

  Zhao Duguan, still hovering in the air, felt a chill run down his spine. He hadn't expected Han, a mere warrior, to have means against souls.

  What a terrifying young man. Not only does he enjoy beheading, but his strength is also formidable.

  "Faith in the Celestial Maiden?" Han looked down at Peng Liu Ming.

  "I’d say it's the Celestial Mother Sect."

  Peng Liu Ming’s weakened soul shifted, and he glared at Han, "Did you capture Liang Hai and the others? They've been gone for so long..."

  "You came from Heiyun Town, didn’t you?"

  "Guess," Han replied, not answering Peng Liu Ming directly.

  "Don't get cocky. Even if you destroy this base, so what?" Peng Liu Ming's eyes burned with malice.

  "Destroy one base, and a thousand more will rise in its place!"

  Han paid no mind to his insane words.

  "Zhao Duguan, leave it to your people to clean up here."

  With that, Han suppressed Peng Liu Ming's soul.

  Zhao Duguan hesitated, wanting to ask if he could keep the Celestial Maiden’s envoy's soul for himself, but he dared not voice it.

  This was a victory, yet it wasn’t his.

  Han noticed his expression. "Do you have a method for interrogating souls?"

  "Yes," Zhao Duguan replied, though he shook his head. "But it’s useless against the Celestial Mother Sect’s followers."

  "Their souls are different; they don’t fear torture or punishment. Unless they willingly confess, we can’t extract any useful information."

  Han nodded, thinking of Liang Hai and the others.

  "Zhao Duguan, although the people from the Dibu and Ghosts and Gods Department have been cleansed, the county office is probably still corrupted."

  Han said, "You should know what to do."

  In fact, the county office was likely where the real corruption lay, as it was mostly populated by mortals, who were easier to tempt.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  The Celestial Mother Sect spread its influence quietly, often through contacts with the county office personnel.

  Zhao Duguan nodded, his face cold.

  "I’ll get to the bottom of this."

  This would likely bring him under scrutiny, but how severe the consequences were, there was still room for maneuver.

  So, he would leave no stone unturned.

  For Han, the matter in Qinghua County was nearly finished.

  The Celestial Mother Sect's forces were wiped out—either dead, crippled, or captured. It was a thorough and efficient eradication.

  But Han hadn't forgotten one important task.

  Looting the spoils of war.

  Peng Liu Ming provided a surprise—he had a spatial pouch!

  As expected from a Celestial Mother Sect envoy; their treatment was on a whole different level compared to those who joined halfway like Liang Hai.

  Han took the spatial pouch without hesitation. Zhao Duguan saw but chose to ignore it.

  As for the other Celestial Mother Sect members, they had nothing of value.

  The three Celestial Maiden Guardians wielded Hundred Refined Artifacts, though two had already been damaged in battle. Han took the one that was still intact.

  He searched the estate further but found nothing useful.

  Next, Han took Zhao Duguan to the Peng family estate to help him scout for anything of value for the cleanup.

  This was Peng Liu Ming’s base, so there might be something worth taking.

  After a thorough search, Han took both valuable items and precious, albeit useless, ones.

  "These are spoils of war. I’ll turn them over to Lu Duguan for processing," Han said solemnly.

  Zhao Duguan’s eyelid twitched. The infamous head-chopping killer was also a greedy man.

  Turning it over to Lu Duguan? They probably share the same interests.

  In the end, these treasures would end up in Han’s pocket, becoming theirs.

  Zhao Duguan should have been entitled to a cut, but now, with his own safety in question, he didn’t dare make such a request.

  He even considered whether he should part with some of his own wealth to have Han speak a good word for him before Lu Qingmo.

  Finally, Han entered the room where the Celestial Maiden’s statue was kept.

  Zhao Duguan hesitated and asked, "Sir, are you taking this statue with you too?"

  Isn’t this a bit too ruthless?

  "The statue has a mark inside," Han replied.

  Suddenly, a seductive, sweet voice echoed from the statue.

  "You're quite perceptive, young master."

  A phantom appeared, dressed in white, her face identical to the Celestial Maiden's statue. Her presence exuded an overwhelming allure, pulling the viewer into a trance.

  "Is this the Celestial Maiden of the Celestial Mother Sect?"

  "You may call me Su’er," the phantom smiled, her gaze captivating, oozing charm.

  "My envoy is now in your hands, isn't he? The fools of Qinghua County couldn’t handle him."

  Su’er continued, "I wonder, can you release him, for my sake?"

  "I will repay you well."

  "Who do you think you are, to ask for my favor?" Han sneered.

  "Show your true form!"

  Han spoke with calm but defiant words.

  Hmph, seductive fox. You won’t corrupt my iron will!

  Su’er’s smile slowly faded as she glared at Han. "Are you sure you want to make an enemy of me?"

  "Did you decide to become my enemy?" Han retorted, though they had already crossed that line.

  "If you release my envoy and let him take my statue, I will grant you a favor."

  "Ha."

  Han laughed, eyeing the statue. It seemed to have its own space within, mist swirling inside, pulling at his soul with intense attraction.

  "You’re really losing it."

  "You’re offering me what is rightfully mine as a favor?"

  Han punched forward, his masculine qi shattering the air.

  "Remember my name—Jia Ming!"