The Shaw Family was especially busy at this moment, with fewer and fewer people around. To outsiders, it just looked like they were heading out for business or trade—something large clans did from time to time, so no one found it strange.
The Lynn Family was the same. As two of the major local clans, they often had business dealings, so their relationship was closer than most.
"How's it going?" Evan Yang asked with a smile, watching Tanner Shaw sweating in the main hall.
"Almost done. In about a day, most of the clan members can be transferred," Tanner replied.
Evan nodded. Just then, a message came from outside—a family disciple walked in holding a letter.
"Young master, this is for Evan Yang," the disciple said.
"For me?" Evan Yang had no relatives or close friends here—who would send him a message, and on paper no less? If it were someone familiar, they'd use a Transmission Stone.
Tanner was curious too. When had Evan ever had friends or relatives show up here? He was eager to see what was written on the paper.
Under Tanner's gaze, Evan took the paper, opened the envelope, scanned through it, then chuckled, "What tricks are they up to this time?"
After speaking, he handed the letter over to Tanner.
On the letter it read, "If you want the antidote, meet at Backridge Mountain, a hundred li east of the city." The sender signed with the character 'Shan'—clearly the work of the Santos Family.
"What do we do now?" Tanner hadn't expected the Santos Family to pull a stunt like this.
"If I don't go, they'll think we don't want the antidote and that we're letting the Shaw patriarch die. Looks like they expect me to show up. In that case, I want to see what they're planning." Evan said with a smile.
"Evan, that's obviously a trap. You shouldn't go," Tanner warned, worried.
"If I refuse, they'll just try something else. That way, the Shaw Family's evacuation will soon be discovered, and we'll end up on the defensive." Evan actually wanted to go, but outwardly he smiled.
Tanner agreed but was still uneasy. "How about having Landon Lynn go with you?" he suggested.
"No need. They specifically asked for me alone—bringing more people will only make them suspicious." Evan refused, secretly amused: "I've been waiting for a chance to teach them a lesson. Looks like they've handed me the perfect opportunity."
In the city, Evan had held back against the Santos Family. But now, with their invitation to meet alone outside, no other clans or outsiders would know. This was his chance to really punish the Santos Family.
Tanner didn't know what Evan was thinking—he only knew the Santos Family must be targeting Evan with this move.
Evan instructed Tanner not to bring anyone along, warning it could cause unexpected trouble. Then he left the city alone.
Not long after Evan Yang left the city, Kade Santos stood at the city gate, took out his Transmission Stone, and grinned, "Dad, he's already on his way—alone."
"Are you sure he's alone?" came the confirmation from the other side.
"Yeah, I've got people watching both the Shaw and Lynn families. No one else has left." Kade replied.
"Good, keep watching. If you see Landon Lynn, do whatever it takes to stop him. I'll deal with this beggar myself," Ronald Santos said.
"Okay," Kade answered, then put away his Transmission Stone and left the city gate with a sly smile.
Kade's surveillance and Transmission Stone—Evan Yang had already detected both shortly after leaving the city. He saw and heard everything clearly.
"No one around—just as expected. Ronald Santos really is a petty villain. Since they hired the Black Hand Syndicate to kill me, I won't hold back," Evan Yang sneered.
Ever since Evan arrived in Purple Sky City, the Santos Family had sent the Black Hand Syndicate after him. If he hadn't been strong enough, he'd have ended up a soul under their blades.
Evan definitely had no fondness for the Santos Family, especially now that he'd become a target of the Black Hand Syndicate's "three strikes" rule. He wondered who they'd send next, and when.
Now, Evan finally had a chance to teach the Santos Family a lesson—to show them the cost of trying to kill him.
Soon, Evan arrived at Backridge Mountain, a bald, yellow-mud hill about a hundred li east of the city. The mountain was bare, surrounded by hardened earth, with no rocks, trees, or grass.
There, a man stood atop the mountain, smiling at Evan. "Quite bold of you to come," he said.
"So, where's the antidote?" Evan asked, feigning innocence.
"Antidote? You actually believed that?" Ronald Santos laughed.
"You said it, Santos Patriarch. How could I not believe you?" Evan replied with a smile.
Evan's smile made Ronald feel uneasy—as if he wasn't the hunter, but the prey. After scanning the surroundings and confirming no one else was present, Ronald relaxed. "Did I say I was going to kill you?" he asked.
"That depends—do you actually have the ability?" Evan smiled.
"Arrogant! Let me show you what peak early Out-of-Body Realm looks like!" Ronald Santos, as Cyril Shaw had said, had been at the early Out-of-Body Realm for years—just short of advancing to mid-stage. He was considered one of Cyril's stronger opponents.
As Ronald's aura erupted, Evan didn't dare slack off—his Sky-Soaring Boots were already prepared.
With Ronald's aura at its peak, he transformed before Evan's eyes—his whole body became covered in mud, turning him into a mud-man.
Evan had never seen such a bizarre technique before.
"Heard of the Yellow Heaven Sect? Today I'll show you one of their earth techniques," Ronald Santos laughed, then threw a punch at Evan.
Suddenly, a clump of earth flew straight toward Evan.
The earth moved incredibly fast, and Evan noticed sharp bits of metal mixed in. If he got hit, he'd be seriously injured.
Evan dodged quickly, avoiding Ronald's first attack.
"I've heard you're from the Yellow Heaven Sect, but this is the first time I've seen your techniques," Evan smiled.
"The first time, huh? Then let me show you plenty!" Ronald snorted, then waved his hand. The yellow mud beneath Evan's feet erupted like a volcano, surging straight at him.
If Evan hadn't locked onto every corner with his divine sense, he would have been hit.
With eight quick steps, Evan dodged again, secretly amazed: "No wonder he chose this place—he can control the earth here."
Seeing Evan dodge his attacks twice, Ronald snorted, "Kid, dodging twice proves you're strong, but you won't escape a third time."
Evan was curious to see what other tricks the Yellow Heaven Sect's techniques had.
Ronald stretched out his hands, and wherever his fingers pointed, yellow mud surged up.
The mud moved fast. Evan dodged, but more and more mud pillars rose around him, gradually leaving no space.
Evan put on his gauntlets and struck the incoming mud pillars with full force.
The mud pillars that were about to surge up were smashed back down by Evan's blows. Ronald, unwilling to give up, attacked again and again.
After his first counterattack, Evan realized how solid the mud pillars were. Each time he struck, his arm went numb.
Having tried once, Evan didn't want to repeat it. He slowly approached Ronald, preparing to attack.
Seeing Evan approach, Ronald sneered, "Trying to get close to me? Dream on!"
As Ronald finished, yellow mud rose around him, forming a protective barrier.
Seeing this, Evan scoffed, "You think this barrier will keep me away? Watch this!" With that, he punched the mud shield.
With a loud bang, Evan opened a gap in the mud barrier, catching a glimpse of Ronald inside. Ronald laughed, "Keep going." The gap quickly sealed itself.
Evan was shocked at how quickly the mud healed. "That's fast!" he exclaimed.
"Kid, I have the absolute advantage here. Too bad you can't even run now!" Ronald laughed. He couldn't guarantee a win elsewhere, but here, he could control all the earth around, keeping Evan trapped.
Would Evan give up in this situation? Impossible. He kept attacking, but each time the mud healed. Evan sneered, "You forced my hand. Don't blame me if I hit hard next."
"Kid, use whatever tricks you have. I don't believe you can hurt me except with speed or strength." Ronald was sure of his advantage and planned to slowly torment Evan to death.
Evan took out his dagger—his sharpest weapon. Once it struck, it could deal a fatal blow, which is why he warned about hitting hard.
Seeing Evan's rusty dagger, Ronald burst out laughing, "Are you crazy? You think a broken, rusty dagger can hurt me?"
"You won't know unless you try," Evan smiled. He punched open a gap and threw the dagger through before the mud could heal, moving incredibly fast and with great force.
Inside the mud barrier, Ronald didn't even try to dodge. He was sure his mud armor wasn't ordinary and believed Evan's rusty dagger couldn't possibly hurt him.
But when the dagger touched him, Ronald was stunned. The pain went from a sting to agony as it pierced his body. Blood seeped into the mud and dripped through the air.
"You—what is this?" Ronald was dumbfounded. His proud mud-body defense had been pierced.
Evan sneered, "This is your fate!"
"Is this an Immortal artifact?" Ronald looked closely at the dagger, unable to tell, but its destructive power was clear—it was no ordinary weapon.
Evan wouldn't confirm. He just smiled, "Whether it's an Immortal artifact or not doesn't matter. Go die!"
Evan produced several more daggers. Seeing so many, and with a heavy wound, Ronald lost his will to fight.