Xin Jiang and Tara Chu were startled. Evan Yang turned and said, "Let's go."
The two snapped out of it and followed Evan Yang. As they walked, Evan explained the situation outside. Hearing about the many powerful factions and the overwhelming strength beyond, both were left utterly stunned.
While Evan Yang explained things on his side, Lance Blue was also describing the outside world to the others. When everyone learned about the world beyond, their expressions changed dramatically—they realized they'd been living like frogs in a well.
Once Evan Yang finished explaining, they arrived at the Free Alliance base. Evan saw the crowd, and at that moment, everyone's attitude toward him had shifted—because Lance Blue had brought him up during his own explanation.
Evan Yang's Second Stage Nine Tribulations Realm strength was beyond their imagination—just a finger from him could end their lives. Now, more than anything, they felt envy and fear. Even the Blue and Hawke Clans, who'd once held prejudice against Evan, didn't dare say a word.
Some even stepped forward to apologize for their past disrespect toward Evan Yang. Evan had long stopped caring about such things; he simply said, "For now, pull back all your forces from outside. I'll go deal with those people first, then come back to make plans with you."
"Need any help?" Lance Blue asked.
"No need. Stay here and protect everyone." Evan Yang knew that, in their eyes, Lance was the strongest, so he needed him to hold the fort.
Going alone would be much easier for him anyway.
Lance Blue nodded, and the crowd saw Evan Yang off. Tara Chu wanted to say something but stopped herself. Xin Jiang beside her asked, "Why don't you go talk to him a bit more?"
"The continent is in chaos right now—he has to go deal with it. When he comes back, we'll have a good long talk, won't we?" Tara Chu said with a gentle smile.
"For sure! When that time comes, we have to squeeze him for cultivation methods, or get some unique treasures from the outside world," Xin Jiang joked.
Tara Chu nodded. Evan Yang was completely unaware that both women had feelings for him—he simply never noticed.
After leaving the Death Crystal Field, Evan Yang summoned the Phantom Firebird. Returning to familiar lands, both he and the Firebird felt a surge of excitement. Evan hopped on and told it to head for their next destination.
While riding, Evan realized the Phantom Firebird was now even faster than his own Flash Step.
In just a short while, they crossed the continent and flew into the Northsource Region.
"I'll check on my Master's Wife first," Evan decided, planning to visit the senior who gave him the Fly-Fire Boots.
When he arrived, he found the entire place gone—flattened to nothing but snow.
"What happened?" Evan landed in shock. The paradise was gone, replaced by endless snowdrifts.
Evan's face changed drastically. He searched everywhere, even digging through the snow for any sign of the sect.
Just then, a voice called out, "Is that Evan Yang?"
"Master's Wife? Is that you?" Evan Yang asked, overjoyed to hear her voice.
"It's me," the elderly woman replied, her voice tinged with excitement.
"Where are you?" Evan Yang asked, his voice full of excitement.
"I'm in the secret chamber beneath the snow," she answered.
"Alright, I'm coming," Evan Yang replied.
He used Flash Step and instantly appeared below. The elderly woman was startled when Evan Yang suddenly materialized in front of her.
"How did you get down here?" the woman exclaimed, shocked.
"I came straight down from above. What happened? Why is everything buried under snow?" Evan Yang asked, both curious and worried.
"You don't know—decades ago, a group of powerful outsiders came and easily defeated all the top experts on the continent. I was afraid they'd find our sect and bring disaster, so I covered everything with snow. Unless you're someone familiar, you wouldn't even know there's a sect hidden here," the elderly woman explained.
"If you hadn't burned away a hundred years of cultivation to lure them off last time, I wouldn't be who I am today," Evan Yang said with a grateful smile.
"That was what I should've done," the woman replied, her tone still cold.
Evan Yang smiled and didn't say more. He took out several bottles of pills and handed them to the two younger disciples, saying, "Senior-sister, senior-uncle, here are some Immortal-grade pills. Take them—they'll clear away any lingering side effects."
The two were overjoyed, quickly taking the pills and heading to the secret chamber to try them out.
"How do you have Immortal pills?" the elderly woman asked curiously.
"A friend gave them to me," Evan Yang said with a smile. In truth, most were looted from the Alchemy Eccentric Immortal, and some could remove exactly these lingering effects, so Evan had no qualms about using them.
"I see. So, what are your plans now?" the elderly woman asked.
"I'm planning to wipe out the invaders, stabilize the continent, then repair the formation barrier. After that, anyone who wants to leave this world can do so—only by going outside can you see the real cultivation world and get stronger," Evan Yang said.
"That's right, we've been isolated for too long. I support your idea," the elderly woman said.
"Alright, I'll head out now," Evan Yang said with a smile.
"Be careful. If things get dangerous, come back here and hide," the elderly woman said, still worried for Evan's safety.
Evan Yang smiled, "No problem. Here are some more pills—they'll give you a slight boost in cultivation."
The elderly woman took them, then saw Evan Yang off. Watching him vanish again, she sighed, "He really is a talent."
"Master," the cold-tempered woman spoke up.
"Take these, they're clearly meant for you," the elderly woman said, handing over the cultivation pills. She wasn't fooled—she saw how Evan looked at her disciple, wanting to make up for past guilt.
The woman accepted them and went into seclusion to cultivate.
Evan Yang mounted the Phantom Firebird and headed north with peace of mind.
Arriving in the north, he found that the camps once built to repel snow beasts had been repurposed—they now stood against the foreign invaders, which Evan knew were Sevenmile Peak's forces.
Curious, Evan Yang got off the Firebird far from the camp, then used several Flash Steps to reach its outskirts and walked inside.
Inside, many experts had gathered—cultivators from various sects and families of the Northsource Region, as well as rogue cultivators, all united to prevent outsiders from taking over.
"Pretty lively," Evan Yang muttered to himself.
As he muttered, Evan noticed something surprising—they were talking about their Alliance Leader.
"I'm telling you, the Alliance Leader is a real beauty. With her leading the team this time, we'll definitely drive those invaders out of the Northsource Region," someone laughed.
Another person frowned, "I wouldn't be so sure. She might even get kidnapped."
"Kidnapped? You think our alliance is that weak?" the first person retorted.
"You don't know. I just got word—the Alliance Leader and her team left three days ago and haven't come back. What do you think happened?" the other replied, sounding gloomy.
"Where'd you hear that?" the confident guy asked, surprised.
"From inside the alliance. All the top experts are gone—they must've gone with the Alliance Leader," the pessimist said.
"If that's true, we're in trouble. Too bad about that beauty," the first guy muttered.
"Stop calling her a beauty! The Alliance Leader has a name," the other snapped.
"You know her name? I don't," the first guy said suspiciously.
"Depends who you are. You? I doubt you qualify to know," the pessimist replied.
"Come on, just tell me—who is she?" the first guy pressed.
"I think it's Situ Lan, or something—can't remember. I'll check and let you know later," the pessimist said, scratching his head.
"Forget it, let's just leave. If even the beauty and the top experts are missing, maybe they're all dead," the confident guy urged.
"Go if you want, you're such a coward."
"You're the coward," the other shot back. The two started arguing, but Evan Yang's face changed—he hadn't expected the Alliance Leader to be Lana Situ. Learning they'd been missing for three days made him even more worried. He left the camp right away and used several Flash Steps to head deep into the region.
Soon, Evan Yang reached the inner area, spread his divine sense, and found a cluster of snow-built structures guarded by people.
"Isn't this the entrance to Snow Lake?" Evan Yang was shocked when he saw the buildings, remembering the old days and feeling even more anxious.
He knocked out a guard and dragged him to a deserted spot. The man panicked, "Who are you?"
"Tell me, is this the territory of your First Peak Lord?" Evan Yang asked.
"Yes. What do you want?" the man replied, terrified.
"Did you see any alliance members come here?" Evan Yang asked about the alliance.
"Those guys? The First Peak Lord tossed them in the ice dungeon ages ago," the man answered.
"Where is the ice dungeon?" Evan Yang asked.
"I'll tell you, just don't kill me," the man pleaded, quickly describing the route to Evan Yang.
Evan Yang checked the directions and realized the layout matched the Ice Palace. He didn't waste time thinking—he'd explored the Ice Palace twice before, and knew its dungeon could freeze people to death.
Worried about Lana Situ's safety, Evan Yang knocked the guard out again, then used several Flash Steps straight to the newly emerged Ice Palace.
The Ice Palace entrance was not far from Snow Lake. With a few Flash Steps, Evan Yang reached the mouth of the new ice complex.