None of the spectators knew what kind of movement technique Evan Yang was using. They simply assumed it was his own style, so some were eager to ask him for pointers, hoping to learn a trick or two.
Warren Wong and the others all looked at Evan Yang in the arena with expressions of disbelief.
Refusing to give up, Shane White tried to fire another arrow, but Evan Yang's movement technique brought him right up to Shane in a flash. Startled, Shane stumbled back, but before he could regain his footing, Evan delivered a heavy punch to his abdomen. The punch wasn't just powerful—it carried a strange force that sent Shane flying, blood spraying from his mouth, before he collapsed unconscious.
Seeing this, the Bai Family members hurried forward to carry Shane away and retrieve the Spirit-Qi Crossbow.
It's no wonder Warren Wong was upset. Having always been called a genius, after being humiliated yesterday and seeing Evan Yang shine today, it was only natural for him to be angry.
In the shadows, three people fell into deep thought. One of them spoke, "Did you notice the little beggar's final punch?"
"Yes, it was very fast, but its power was different from the beginning," one person questioned.
A third nodded, "That's right. The last punch was extremely powerful, but it was so quick I couldn't see how he executed it."
"Forget it. This little beggar really is a mystery. From now on, our people should avoid making him an enemy. If possible, lend him a hand—he might bring us some benefits," one person muttered.
"Mm." The other two replied in unison.
Evan Yang had no idea that his outstanding performance had caught the attention of those three hidden observers.
At this moment, Evan Yang's value soared. As soon as he stepped off the stage, many people crowded around him. Luckily, the staff managed to block the crowd, sparing him from a mob—though verbal sparring was inevitable.
Jax Jia happened to be standing with Warren Wong and the others. Evan Yang walked over, but before he could ask Jax about their bet, Warren snorted, "What's so great about that?"
"Is the Wong Clan really that petty? What did I ever do to him?" Evan Yang had been bullied by Wong Clan members since joining the Rising Sun Sect. Now, even disguised as a beggar, he hadn't provoked them, yet Warren still mocked him here.
When Evan Yang reached the so-called entrance, he felt a surge of agitation. Jax Jia noticed and asked, "Evan, what's wrong?"
Seeing Evan Yang's look, Warren Wong sneered, "What? Don't think beating a Bai Family disciple makes you a genius who can look down on everyone!"
"How boring." Evan Yang found the provocation utterly pointless and turned to Jax Jia with a smile. "So? Quarter hour!"
"You win." Jax Jia didn't mind losing—after all, it was just a question.
Evan Yang's disregard infuriated Warren Wong. Here, he didn't dare cause trouble openly—after all, this was the Free Cultivators' Alliance—so he could only snort helplessly, "Hope you make it out alive!"
"Don't worry about me!" Evan Yang chuckled.
"Hmph!" Warren Wong left angrily.
Lana Stewart looked at Evan Yang curiously and asked, "Little beggar, what's your name?"
Evan Yang was startled, wondering if she'd noticed something off. Before he could answer, Jax Jia jumped in, "He's Han kid."
"Uh, Han kid?" Lana Stewart repeated the name, surprised and suspicious.
Relieved that Jax Jia hadn't revealed his real name, Evan Yang smiled, "Sort of."
Tara Chu glared from the side, "Little beggar, I've asked you so many times and you never tell me your name!"
"Well, haha, you can call me Han kid or little beggar—does a name really matter?" Evan Yang said helplessly.
The three took turns questioning Evan Yang, leaving him a bit bewildered. He hadn't even had a chance to ask Jax Jia his question before something strange happened.
Just then, someone whispered in Tara Chu's and Lana Stewart's ears, and both girls hurried off, leaving Evan Yang and Jax Jia behind.
As for the nearby spectators, it seemed something had caught their attention. Suddenly, many people left the arena, leaving only a few around Evan Yang, hoping to ask him questions.
"Looks like something's up," Jax Jia said to Evan Yang.
"Seems so. Let's check it out." Evan Yang was curious, so he put his question aside and left with Jax Jia, heading in the same direction as the crowd to see what was happening.
As Evan Yang followed the crowd, he heard several collisions not far away—"Bang! Bang!"
At a mountain hollow, people stood all around, and many strong cultivators hovered in the air. Evan Yang and the others were shocked—what could have drawn so many experts here? Some of them, deliberately or not, released their aura, making it impossible for others to approach. Anyone who entered felt as if submerged in water, their body pressed down. Weaker cultivators even coughed up blood on the spot.
Evan Yang and Jax Jia noticed what was happening inside. Evan asked curiously, "What's going on?"
"Maybe they found some treasure or a secret space. Those big shots don't want too many people near, so they're using their aura to keep most out," Jax Jia said angrily.
"Is that really possible?" It was Evan Yang's first time seeing powerful figures use their aura to block others from a region. He could only blame his lack of experience for being surprised by such a scene.
The mountain hollow was tightly surrounded, the outer circle packed with people. No one could see who was inside, and everyone knew not to get too close or risk being crushed by the merciless aura.
"These people are awful. Why shouldn't everyone be allowed in?" After a while, some began to complain. Evan Yang and Jax Jia, standing off to the side, felt the same way—especially Evan, who longed for greater strength.
Without real strength, even the greatest opportunities were out of reach—everyone could only watch from the outside, powerless and full of regret.
As everyone complained, a voice rang out from above—clearly one of the big shots. "After our confirmation, this is a secret realm. Only those below the Core Formation stage may enter."
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The announcement caused an uproar below. Did this mean they were letting us free cultivators in?
Not only that—even those from sects and families wondered how the big shots would decide.
"But there's one condition: whatever you obtain inside, you must turn it in when you exit." The big shot spoke coldly.
"What? We have to turn in everything we get? Why bother going in, just to die?" Some protested angrily. Who knew what dangers might lurk in the realm—if you barely survived, only to hand over your hard-won treasures, how could anyone be interested?
Seeing the crowd's worry, the person above spoke again, "We're not sending you in for nothing. Anything you turn in will be exchanged for equivalent items or other precious things, as long as we approve."
"Really?" someone said, skeptical.
Even a simple promise stirred many people's curiosity—what kind of secret realm could attract so many big shots?
Evan Yang and Jax Jia exchanged glances—they'd already made up their minds to go in and see for themselves.
The area around the mountain hollow was chaotic. Some were discouraged, some had lingered at the Foundation Establishment stage for ages and wanted to try their luck, while others, already above that stage, could only stand by and watch.
Even so, many still hoped to enter.
Looking at the crowd below, the big shot spoke again, "If you want to enter, go to the north entrance of the hollow. Someone will guide you in."
Go in? Those who wanted to participate quickly headed for the north entrance, Evan Yang and Jax Jia among them.
When Evan Yang reached the so-called entrance, he felt a little agitated. Luckily, Jax Jia noticed and asked, "Han kid, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, just ran into an old acquaintance." Evan Yang looked ahead at the guide—it was none other than the Blue-Brow Daoist who had injured him and Li Yizi at the Rising Sun Sect.
There were so many people ahead, Jax Jia didn't know who Evan Yang meant, so he reminded him, "Be careful. That Blue-Brow Daoist is no ordinary figure."
"Oh? You know him?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
"Who doesn't? He's a famous array master, able to break many formations. Some say his studies have reached perfection, but only he knows for sure," Jax Jia explained, as if familiar with the Blue-Brow Daoist.
"An array master?" Evan Yang knew nothing about formations—he only remembered stumbling into Jiang Yulin's space last time and getting taught a lesson by Bluebrow Daoist.
"Just be careful," Jax Jia reminded him, then quietly followed Evan Yang toward the entrance.
When they reached Bluebrow Daoist, Evan Yang suppressed his aura as much as possible, not wanting to arouse suspicion.
Bluebrow Daoist was busy receiving so many people and didn't realize Evan Yang had disguised himself as a beggar, so he didn't pay much attention. He simply warned, "If you want to come out, stay inside for three days, then wait at the exit. You'll be guided out when the time comes."
Evan Yang replied with a grunt, pretending not to know him as he melted into the crowd.
Jax Jia followed. Suddenly, a flash of light appeared, and Evan Yang vanished from where he'd stood—just like before.
At the moment of disappearance, Evan Yang let his resentment slip. Bluebrow Daoist glanced curiously at the entrance, wondering, "Who was that kid, with such strong resentment? Did he run into an enemy?"
Bluebrow Daoist assumed Evan Yang had encountered another enemy, unaware that the beggar was the same youth he'd once severely injured.
After entering the space, Evan Yang felt darkness all around. When he could finally see again, he found himself utterly alone—the silence was almost deathly.
"Jax Jia?" Evan Yang called for his companion, but Jax was nowhere to be seen. He searched and shouted, but no one answered.
Looking at the strangely shaped rocks, the woods, and the seemingly real sunlight and spiritual energy, Evan Yang couldn't help but mutter, "Does this space have multiple entrances?"
Unwilling to give up, Evan Yang called out a few more times, but there was no response—only the deathly still scenery, as if it had slumbered for thousands of years.
"Where exactly is this place?" Unable to find Jax Jia, Evan Yang had no choice but to calm down and examine his surroundings, searching for any treasures.
A space that could attract so many big shots, and allow so many Foundation Establishment disciples in, surely wasn't as simple as it looked.