"If you ever leave, you can have them come find me," Faye Gale said after thinking for a moment.
"With your word, I'm relieved," Evan Yang smiled. At the same time, he genuinely hoped those people would go to the Fiend Underpalace—it's truly the best place for tempering. He himself had spent most of his time there.
Faye Gale smiled, but her heart felt uneasy. She remembered how Evan Yang used to be weak, but now he'd entered the Nine Tribulations Realm ahead of her—and even stepped straight into the Pseudo-Immortal Stage. It was a blow, but she didn't get discouraged; she quietly resolved to train harder in the future.
Just as the atmosphere was getting awkward, the Fiend Palace Lord arrived, with two white-haired elders following behind him. Evan Yang didn't need to guess—those two were definitely the other slots. Together with the Fiend Palace Lord, that made three slots, matching the three Immortal-Gate Keys.
"Let's go," said the Fiend Palace Lord, full of excitement.
"Alright," Evan Yang nodded. He said goodbye to Faye Gale and left the Fiend Realm with the three of them.
Faye Gale watched Evan Yang's departing figure, sighed helplessly, and returned to Fiend Palace to begin her own path of closed-door cultivation.
On the road, the Fiend Palace Lord was so excited that he kept chatting with Evan Yang about all sorts of things, while the other two elders were curious if Evan Yang was really that powerful.
After all, not everyone had witnessed Evan Yang's strength firsthand, so most didn't pay much attention—unless they saw it with their own eyes, only then would they realize how different he really was.
And so, the four of them left the Fiend Realm. On the mountain at the border, the Cloaked Warden watched Evan Yang leave and muttered to himself, "This kid has changed way too much."
Evan Yang had no idea what he was thinking. Right now, he was following the Fiend Palace Lord to the Fenn Family estate. When Patriarch Fenn saw Evan Yang arrive with the three from Fiend Palace, he frowned.
"You're here?" Patriarch Fenn asked curiously.
"Yes, because the last map fragment has arrived. Please notify everyone," said the Fiend Palace Lord.
"Really? Did Fiend Palace get the second fragment?" Patriarch Fenn asked excitedly.
"No, he got it," said the Fiend Palace Lord.
"Him?" Patriarch Fenn felt a bit intimidated by Evan Yang—after all, Evan had defeated even the Black Hand's man.
"Yeah, my friend gave it to me," Evan Yang said with a smile.
The Fiend Palace Lord heard this and secretly laughed, while Patriarch Fenn half-believed, half-doubted. "That person is your friend?" he asked.
"That's right, the one you all were hunting—he's my friend," Evan Yang said with a smile.
"Where is he?" asked Patriarch Fenn. "I promised my friend not to tell anyone," Evan Yang replied with a smile.
'You...' In the past, Patriarch Fenn would have certainly tried to capture Evan Yang, but now Evan's strength was clearly unmatchable. What puzzled him most was that Evan had reached the Pseudo-Immortal Stage in just a few years.
Patriarch Fenn, hurry and call everyone," the Fiend Palace Lord said, secretly amused.
Patriarch Fenn was stunned and felt very displeased, but there was nothing he could do. Still, thinking about the Immortal Realm Map cheered him up—finally, they could find the Immortal Realm entrance. So he had his steward contact the others.
Soon, many experts gathered at the Fenn estate—from the Three Palaces and others outside the Three Palaces—all waiting for the six map fragments to be assembled.
That woman was among them. When everyone heard that Evan Yang had the final fragment, they were skeptical—until Darius Black arrived. Hearing that Evan had the last fragment, he sneered, "You have the map? Show it then."
You haven't shown yours, so why should I show mine?' Evan Yang wasn't afraid; last time, he had even forced him to retreat.
Darius Black was furious—even the Three Palaces didn't dare speak to him like this, but Evan Yang relied on his own strength and acted so boldly.
Kid, don't get cocky—being cocky never ends well,' Darius Black snorted coldly.
Depends on who started it!' Evan Yang shot back.
The atmosphere instantly turned strange, as if a big fight was about to break out.
Kid, don't think you're amazing just because you beat me last time. Let me tell you, I haven't shown my real skills yet!' said Darius Black.
Well, I'd like to see what the Black Hand Syndicate can really do,' Evan Yang replied.
You...' Darius Black said angrily.
Today is for assembling the map, not for watching you two quarrel. Set aside your personal issues for now,' said the Fiend Palace Lord.
Evan Yang naturally listened to the Fiend Palace Lord and nodded, so everyone exchanged glances.
Patriarch Fenn, seeing there was no drama to watch, said, "Alright, everyone bring out your map fragments."
The Fiend Palace Lord and Evan Yang exchanged a glance, then both took out their fragments. Seeing them, Patriarch Fenn also produced his, followed by the Three Palaces' two fragments. With five fragments revealed, Darius Black brought out the last one.
Once all six fragments were shown, they began to react and merged together.
The merged map became a larger map before everyone's eyes, and the patterns became visible to all. The map pointed to a spot, and then it flew into the air. "Let's go!" said the Fiend Palace Lord as Evan Yang stared at it.
Evan Yang followed the Fiend Palace Lord in the direction the map was flying. The map sped through the air, and only Pseudo-Immortal experts and those specializing in speed could keep up.
With that, all the Pseudo-Immortal experts gathered at the Fenn estate set out in pursuit. Evan Yang soon noticed a group following him—all Pseudo-Immortal experts. "So there are so many Pseudo-Immortal experts in this world," Evan wondered, surprised.
Of course. Although Pseudo-Immortal Stage only lasts thirty thousand years, many find ways to prolong it, so their numbers keep increasing,' said the Fiend Palace Lord.
Evan Yang nodded in understanding, glanced behind him, then continued toward the map with the Fiend Palace Lord.
Patriarch Fenn and the Three Palaces' people quickly followed the map, as did Darius Black.
On the way, no one dared to get distracted, afraid of falling behind.
They flew for two days and nights before the map finally slowed and stopped.
Everyone stopped where the map stopped. "Only Pseudo-Immortal experts or those with dense spiritual power could keep up for two days and nights of fast flight," Evan Yang said.
You're right,' the Fiend Palace Lord nodded.
Soon, people gathered all around. Evan Yang estimated there were even more than before, and noticed some trailing groups arriving as well.
Only ten keys, but so many people? Isn't that a bloodbath?' Evan Yang was shocked and wondered how the key holders would enter the Immortal Realm.
Everyone had the same thought as Evan Yang. Suddenly, the map changed and a palace appeared at its location, growing from small to large. Everyone quickly scattered, but some were too slow and got knocked away.
Everyone realized this palace was unusual. When it stopped growing, it stood firm, with a door leading inside. The area inside was transparent, so outsiders could see in.
Inside that area were ten slots, clearly meant for inserting the tokens.
On the door was a plaque inscribed with three characters: "Celestial Dawn Palace."
Those with tokens knew this was the entrance, while the others exchanged puzzled glances.
Everyone fell silent; no one stepped forward. No one knew who had the ten keys.
Kid, you don't have a key, do you? Even if you've reached the Pseudo-Immortal Stage, so what! Once I enter the Immortal Realm, I'll settle accounts with you later.' Darius Black sneered, then strode to the entrance and produced a key in his hand.
Everyone exchanged glances. Just as Darius Black was about to enter, several powerful auras appeared behind him, and a sharp sword flew toward him from the sky.
Darius Black snorted coldly, "Who dares make a move!"
The sword kept charging down, but Darius Black stood his ground, unleashing his full power and throwing several daggers. The daggers exploded on impact—boom! Smoke and mist filled the air in front of him.
Several people appeared beside Darius Black.
The door was so large that even with several people standing there, it seemed insignificant and didn't block the entrance. But Darius Black was surrounded by five people.
Who are you? How dare you attack me!' Darius Black shouted angrily.
We're rogue cultivators, just hoping to get a key and enter!' one of them said.
The crowd exchanged glances, waiting to see what would happen. Darius Black snorted, "Want a key? Dream on!"
That's the eighth key, Evan Yang thought. He knew the Three Palaces had three, the Fiend Palace had three, he had one, and the whereabouts of the other three were unknown. Now that this one appeared, there were two left.
So the five attacked Darius Black, who had to use his Shadow Killer technique, counterattacking with multiple daggers.
The crowd watched, hearts pounding—some waited for the right moment.
At a critical moment, someone made a move—a hidden expert flashed out, struck Darius Black, scattered the bystanders, snatched the key, and quickly fled.
Trying to escape!' Darius Black shouted angrily.
He gave chase, and the other five followed. Others seized the opportunity to join in, hoping to get lucky. Some people dropped out, but those on the scene still waited for more token holders to appear.
The Three Palaces, Fiend Palace, Patriarch Fenn and others all waited expectantly.
Why aren't they making a move?' Evan Yang wondered, watching the Three Palaces' people closely.
Just then, many Pseudo-Immortal experts from the Three Palaces appeared, blocking the Celestial Dawn Palace. From among them, three stepped forward—these were the token holders.
The Three Palaces are quite clever—they even joined forces,' said the Fiend Palace Lord.
Evan Yang hadn't expected that a dozen Pseudo-Immortal experts would block the way. Who would dare approach except those with great strength, like Evan himself.
Just as everyone thought the Three Palaces' people would pass smoothly, a group of Pseudo-Immortal experts appeared outside the palace and attacked the dozen blocking the entrance.
The three token holders were shocked—they hadn't expected anyone to join forces against the Three Palaces. The three exchanged glances and hurried into the palace.
When the three entered, everyone outside could see what was happening inside the area. Evan Yang stared inside, wanting to see how the tokens would be used.