Right now, Yang Tian not only hates Evan Yang, but he’s determined to defeat him and make the Yang Clan recognize that he’s the real hope of the family.
Time passed bit by bit. News that Evan Yang was a Yang clansman spread fast. Everyone plotting against him was shocked, and even the Immortal Realm Alliance couldn’t believe it when they heard.
If before Evan Yang was just a local prodigy, now he was recognized as a genius across the entire Immortal Realm. Yang Ming was proud, but the other clans were anything but calm.
The palace lord of Ethereal Sanctuary was worried Evan Yang would use the Yang Clan’s power to crush them. But after thinking it over, she figured the Ethereal Sanctuary was big enough that the Yang Clan wouldn’t go that far. So she pretended to go into seclusion and left, acting like nothing happened.
Just like that, eighty years flew by. Evan Yang, Lora Luo, and Hannah Nangong finally perfected their sword art. But the moment they succeeded, the three of them got completely lost in it, not even realizing what they were doing.
Evan Yang woke up first. Seeing the two women in front of him, he was shocked. “What happened here?”
He saw both women were completely unclothed, with scraps of clothing scattered all around.
“What’s going on?” Evan Yang thought hard, then looked at the wall paintings and finally understood. The last layer meant union between man and woman—only then was the technique truly mastered.
Realizing he’d just taken advantage of both women, Evan Yang felt insanely awkward. He quickly put on some spare clothes and was about to cover them up when they woke up. Evan hurried to the edge of the ice pool, embarrassed. “S-sorry, I didn’t know this would happen.”
Lora Luo and Hannah Nangong exchanged a look, then glanced around and instantly figured out what had happened.
“You really don’t need to blame yourself. We both knew,” Hannah Nangong said after she and Lora Luo put on their spare clothes.
“What?” Evan Yang asked, surprised.
“We already knew about the side effect before coming in. Back then, I refused to practice it with Senior Brother Shen because I didn’t want to be with him,” Lora Luo explained.
Evan Yang was shocked. “Wait, you both knew about this beforehand?”
“That’s right,” Lora Luo and Hannah Nangong replied together.
Evan Yang felt complicated inside, not knowing what to say. Hannah Nangong added worriedly, “We should be the ones apologizing. We didn’t tell you about the side effect.”
“Yeah, we’re the ones who should apologize,” Lora Luo said.
Hearing them, Evan Yang sighed. “Never mind. I was the one who agreed to practice the sword art. Now only the three of us know about this, right?”
“My master knows,” Lora Luo replied.
“She knows too?” Evan Yang asked, surprised.
“Yeah? What’s up?” Hannah Nangong asked curiously.
Evan Yang shook his head. “It’s nothing. So, you two—”
“Evan, you know how we feel about you, so don’t blame yourself. From now on, we’re sticking with you,” Hannah Nangong said.
Evan Yang knew he’d have to face this sooner or later, but he never expected their relationship would be settled because of cultivation. Seeing the look in their eyes, Evan realized he had to give an answer and finally smiled. “Alright.”
“Great!” Lora Luo said excitedly. Hannah Nangong let out a sigh of relief, worried Evan might be angry.
Evan Yang smiled at the two of them. “Let’s go. It’s been so many years—we should leave now.”
“Okay.” Lora Luo and Hannah Nangong nodded and followed Evan Yang out.
Evan Yang felt a bit lighter inside and soon found Aurora Qing.
Aurora Qing looked at the three, puzzled. “Why did you come out early?”
“Master, we finished the sword technique,” Lora Luo said.
“You finished? That fast? Only eighty years?” Aurora Qing was shocked.
“Hehe, that’s because we’re more talented than others,” Lora Luo said with a smile.
Aurora Qing looked at the three, her gaze lingering on Evan Yang. “Sorry.”
“Senior, you don’t need to say that. I already understand,” Evan Yang replied.
“If you don’t mind, that’s great. By the way, Mad Elder wants you to see him after you get back,” Aurora Qing said.
Evan Yang nodded, then said to Lora Luo and Hannah Nangong, “You two stay here for now. I’ll be in the sect for a while.”
“You’re not lying to us?” Lora Luo frowned, remembering last time Evan snuck away.
“I’m not lying,” Evan Yang replied.
Hannah Nangong and Lora Luo nodded, then saw Evan Yang off. Aurora Qing smiled at them. “Looks like you two got your wish.”
“Master, what are you saying?” Lora Luo said awkwardly. Hannah Nangong’s face turned red.
“Seeing you so shy, I won’t tease you. But I do want to try out your sword art,” Aurora Qing said with a laugh.
Lora Luo and Hannah Nangong nodded, then each drew their Twin Cauldron Sword.
Evan Yang went back to Mad Elder’s place and saw him still hugging his jar of Dreamwine. Evan smiled, “Senior.”
“Hah! You finally decided to come back?” Mad Elder laughed.
“What are you talking about, Senior? I just went to practice sword arts,” Evan Yang replied with a smile.
“Oh, so you had two girls accompany you to practice that sword art. I bet you were thrilled, huh? Haha!” Mad Elder laughed.
“You knew too, Senior?” Evan Yang said, embarrassed.
“That sword art was always like this. Of course I knew. As soon as I heard you three were training it, I understood,” Mad Elder replied.
“Looks like I’m the only one who didn’t know,” Evan Yang said helplessly.
“You brat, getting all the benefits and still acting innocent!” Mad Elder teased.
“Senior, please stop teasing me. I heard you wanted to see me?” Evan Yang asked.
“Yeah, you’re free for the next few hundred years, right?” Mad Elder asked.
“I don’t have anything urgent for now,” Evan Yang replied.
“Good. Help me test the earth attribute of this mountain. Let’s see how many days you can absorb it,” Mad Elder said.
Evan Yang nodded. “Alright, I understand. I’ll go right away.”
After speaking, Evan Yang went to the cave entrance and, at the spot where he absorbed earth attribute last time, closed his eyes and placed his hands on the rock. Streams of earth attribute flowed into his body.
Mad Elder watched Evan Yang closely, observing every change.
Unexpectedly, Evan Yang sat there for decades. When he finally opened his eyes, he looked exhausted.
“You finally woke up? How did you do it?” Mad Elder asked in surprise.
“What do you mean?” Evan Yang asked curiously.
“I mean, how did you absorb earth attribute for so long? No one’s ever managed that here,” Mad Elder said, puzzled.
“I don’t know. I just feel really sleepy. I want to sleep,” Evan Yang said, then stumbled into the cave and lay down to rest.
Mad Elder muttered, “Weird, even a Profound-Immortal still needs to sleep?”
Mad Elder kept watching Evan Yang and, after a while, saw earth attribute energy automatically wrap around him as he slept. “What’s this? The earth attribute swallowing method? How did he learn it?” Mad Elder was shocked. He realized Evan was unconsciously using a long-lost supreme earth swallowing technique, a powerful auxiliary art. The whole process, especially the way he breathed, wrapped himself in earth energy.
As time went by, Evan Yang was gradually covered in dust. Mad Elder didn’t dare disturb him. After a few years, Evan had become a Rockman, unmoving like a solid stone.
Lora Luo and Hannah Nangong were furious that Evan Yang hadn’t come to see them for so long, so they went to confront Mad Elder.
“Elder Mad, where’s Evan Yang? He hasn’t come to see us in ages,” Lora Luo asked.
Hannah Nangong looked around. “He didn’t disappear again, did he?”
Mad Elder looked at the two. “No, he’s still in the sect, but something strange happened.”
“What? Something happened to him? What’s going on?” Lora Luo asked, anxious.
Hannah Nangong was shocked. “What happened?”
“You’re misunderstanding. It’s nothing serious—he’s just cultivating, but it’s a bit weird,” Mad Elder said, unsure how to explain.
“Cultivating? What technique? Can we see him?” Lora Luo pressed, worried Mad Elder was covering for Evan Yang.
Hannah Nangong chimed in, “Yeah, let us see him. If he’s really cultivating, we’ll leave.”
Mad Elder looked at them. “Come with me.” He led Lora Luo and Hannah Nangong to the stone.
Seeing no one around, Lora Luo frowned, “Elder, where is he?”
“He’s right in front of you,” Mad Elder said.
“Where?” Lora Luo looked carefully but didn’t see him. Hannah Nangong frowned, “He’s really not here. Elder, please explain.”
Mad Elder pointed at the stone. “Look, that’s him. Somehow, he turned into a Rockman.”
Lora Luo and Hannah Nangong thought Mad Elder was joking. How could a person turn into stone? Lora Luo immediately protested, “Elder, stop joking with us.”
Mad Elder saw they didn’t believe him and said, “I’m serious. That’s him! Look at the face and body—they’re the same.”
Lora Luo and Hannah Nangong moved closer and saw it really did look like him, but it was hard to accept. Lora Luo still doubted, “Elder, this is too much. What kind of technique would turn someone into this?”
“Yeah, Elder, please explain. Is he really Evan Yang?” Hannah Nangong asked again.
“He really is Evan Yang. As for the technique, I can’t fully confirm. We’ll have to wait until he wakes up and ask him,” Mad Elder replied.