"What is this?" Tara Chu stared curiously at Evan Yang, momentarily stunned.
"Heaven-Rank Qi-Gathering Pill." Evan Yang deliberately spoke a little louder, making sure everyone nearby could hear him clearly.
Those who didn't know what a Qi-Gathering Pill was just looked on curiously, but those who did were already staring at the bottle with envy. Especially Aiden Chu, who stood up, walked over to Evan Yang in shock, and asked, "May I ask who your friend is?"
"I can't reveal that. My only job is to deliver this to Miss Chu." Evan Yang said as he handed the pill bottle to Tara Chu, drawing everyone's attention to himself.
Seeing his plan succeed, Evan Yang secretly laughed to himself, "Let them guess all they want. This way, Tara Chu will have a bit more safety."
A bottle of Heaven-Rank pills immediately caused a stir among the clans and sects present. Some even shamelessly tried to ask for one, but were all turned away. Only Tara Chu watched Evan Yang's departing figure, feeling he looked a bit like someone she knew.
"What's wrong?" Aiden Chu asked curiously as he saw Tara Chu staring at Evan Yang's back.
"It's nothing." Tara Chu thought she was just imagining things because she missed that person too much, so she shook her head and signaled that she was a bit tired.
Seeing Tara Chu a bit weak after the match, Aiden Chu immediately took a precious Qi-Gathering Pill from the bottle and placed it in her hand, saying, "Take it quickly, you'll need to keep competing soon."
"Mm." Under the envious gaze of the crowd, Tara Chu swallowed the pill.
"Fellow Mu, what are you doing exactly?" Faye Violet muttered in surprise, seeing Evan Yang hand the pill to Tara Chu without revealing his identity.
"He has his reasons. Don't overthink it—and don't tell anyone that the Qi-Gathering Pill came from me," Lynn Snowmoon warned after hearing her.
"Okay." Faye Violet replied, still puzzled.
Evan Yang's movements naturally drew attention from many, especially Gerald "Old Ghost" Bai and the Yellow Envoy.
"Brother Namgong, who do you think sent the pills to the Chu Family?" Old Ghost Bai asked curiously.
"Not sure. Maybe... it could be that beggar." Namgong Yan stared at Evan Yang's back, his tone suspicious.
"A beggar who can refine Human-Rank pills—his sect must find Heaven-Rank pill refining easy." Old Ghost Bai was shocked.
"That's why this man is important. Have Wang Futian follow him." Namgong Yan's eyes narrowed as he answered.
"Mm." Old Ghost Bai agreed with Namgong Yan, now almost certain that Evan Yang had arranged for someone to deliver the pills to the Chu Family.
As for the Yellow Envoy, he was also puzzled: "Who exactly is this young man, and why would he give such a bottle of pills to the Chu Family?"
Under everyone's suspicious gaze, Evan Yang walked over to Lynn Snowmoon and smiled, "Looks like I just made things harder for you."
"It's fine. Let them guess however they want." Lynn Snowmoon smiled, seeming to understand Evan Yang's intention.
Evan Yang was surprised that someone could see through him so easily, but then just smiled without saying anything.
"Could that man be from Jinxiu Peak?" Many present knew about Jinxiu Peak, but since Evan Yang was a man, they dismissed the idea—after all, Jinxiu Peak only recruited female disciples and never accepted males.
"Wang Futian." Namgong Yan sent a message to Wang Futian sitting nearby.
Wang Futian was stunned at first, then replied via sound transmission, "What is it, City Lord?"
"Follow the man who just arrived and see what connection he has to that filthy beggar." Namgong Yan ordered in a commanding tone.
Wang Futian perked up at the mention of the beggar and immediately agreed.
"Filthy beggar, you'd better not let me find out where you are, or you'll be dead." Namgong Yan cursed inwardly after giving his orders.
Meanwhile, Old Ghost Bai stared intently at Evan Yang, clearly treating him as the beggar.
Evan Yang sat calmly, letting countless divine senses sweep over him, but refused to reveal his strength. No one could sense his aura or cultivation.
Just as Evan Yang was feeling relaxed, a powerful aura appeared. He looked in its direction and saw Gavin Wu, Brandon Tang, and another man staring at him. The man glared, fists clenched, as if ready to fight Evan Yang.
"Brother Mu, wait here. I'll go talk to them," Lynn Snowmoon said after noticing the situation.
Evan Yang refused with a smile, "Forget it. If they want to come over, let them."
Lynn Snowmoon felt a bit embarrassed for causing Evan Yang trouble.
Evan Yang signaled her not to worry, but still ended up being challenged by the unknown aura. He finally stood up and said, "Miss Snowmoon, I'm afraid I have to leave now."
"You're not staying to watch?" Lynn Snowmoon asked, surprised.
"Even if I wanted to, I can't. Haha. Please help me look after Miss Chu." Before leaving, Evan Yang was still concerned for Tara Chu, so he asked Lynn Snowmoon to keep an eye on her.
Lynn Snowmoon nodded without hesitation, agreeing to help, and watched Evan Yang leave.
As soon as Evan Yang left, Gavin Wu and the others followed him.
"Junior Sister, do you see?" Faye Violet pointed out the situation to Lynn Snowmoon.
"Brother Mu can handle it." Lynn Snowmoon felt assured, knowing Evan Yang's strength, and let him leave without worry.
Faye Violet was stunned for a moment, but did not pursue further.
Evan Yang left Eight-Tier Infinity Peak and walked far, even leaving the city. He chose to go outside to avoid contact with city cultivators.
After leaving the city for several miles, Evan Yang smiled and said, "Everyone, come out."
Three people emerged. Two were Gavin Wu and Brandon Tang, the third was a stranger whose aura challenged Evan Yang.
"Brother Mu, we meet again." Gavin Wu greeted with a smile.
"Didn't expect it to be you, Gavin, Brandon. And who is this?" Evan Yang replied with a smile.
"This is Hong Qi, senior brother of Jiu Qi, and the most likely to break through to the Core-Breaching stage this year." Gavin Wu pointed to the man beside him and smiled.
"Oh? What are you here for?" Evan Yang asked, looking at the man.
"Simple. Hong wants to challenge you. If you lose, you must cripple your right hand," Gavin Wu said with a cold smile.
Evan Yang was surprised that Gavin Wu and Brandon Tang would bring a Qi Sect cultivator to provoke him, but smiled and asked, "What if I win?"
"Then I'll cripple my right hand!" Hong Qi replied coldly before Gavin Wu and Brandon Tang could react.
Hearing Hong Qi's words, Gavin Wu and Brandon Tang thought Hong Qi was confident, so they smiled at Evan Yang and said, "Brother Mu, is this acceptable?"
"Very fair. Of course," Evan Yang replied, thinking he needed to teach them a lesson.
Since they were outside the city, Brandon Tang didn't set up any formations. Gavin Wu stood nearby, ready to watch the duel between Evan Yang and Hong Qi.
Hong Qi stepped forward, releasing his aura, which was stronger than the others but still weaker than Core-Breaching experts. This made Evan Yang more confident about teaching him a lesson.
Facing such force, Evan Yang refused to back down, showing even greater aura. However, it was Old Clam who released the aura, while Evan's true cultivation was only at the Core-Formation stage. Still, Evan was cautious facing a soon-to-breakthrough expert.
Hong Qi suddenly sensed an aura stronger than his own from Evan Yang, stunned and angry, he glared at Gavin Wu and Brandon Tang.
Gavin Wu and Brandon Tang realized Evan Yang was even stronger than they thought, but since things had gone this far, they couldn't back out and hoped Hong Qi had a treasure to suppress him.
"I heard from my junior brother that you injured him with your natal treasure?" Hong Qi quickly calmed down and asked.
"It was just a minor scuffle, nothing serious." Evan Yang replied with a smile, knowing he didn't attack the dantian to spare his life.
"Though it wasn't serious, how can my Qi Sect accept this? Today, I'll show you what Qi Sect is about." Hong Qi said coldly, then five beads flew out from his body.
As soon as the beads flew out, Gavin Wu and Brandon Tang exclaimed, "Five Beads!"
"Five Beads?" Evan Yang didn't know what they were, but seeing the others' reaction, he was cautious about the treasure.
"Hmph, don't think I lack a natal treasure!" Hong Qi had entered the Core-Formation stage early, and his treasure, the Five Beads, was extraordinary. Each bead contained his own spiritual energy accumulated over time.
Evan Yang was about to see what the Five Beads were, and under Hong Qi's control, they released qi stronger than Jiu Qi could.
Although Evan Yang dodged each attack, the qi slashed nearby trees and rocks, cutting them apart.
"Whew, that was close." Evan Yang looked at the marks and felt more wary of the Five Beads.
"Hmph, don't think you can dodge forever!" Hong Qi sneered as he saw Evan Yang only dodging. He controlled the Five Beads, each bead releasing a stream of qi. Five streams shot toward Evan, who couldn't use his Phantom Step without Gavin Wu noticing and reporting to the Wu Family. Left with no choice, Evan quickly dodged in place.
One stream struck Evan Yang's dantian, but luckily his spirit armor blocked it. The impact still left him uncomfortable. Seeing his outer robe pierced and his spirit armor exposed, Evan cursed, "That was close."
Gavin Wu and Brandon Tang were excited seeing Evan Yang hit, but he stood there as if nothing happened.
"Didn't expect Brother Mu to have such a treasure!" Hong Qi's face darkened, realizing Evan Yang's spirit armor was extraordinary.
"Hong, your Five Beads' qi is fast, but its power is just average." Evan Yang smiled.
"You!" Hong Qi glared at Evan Yang, furious at being called average.
"What? Did I say anything wrong?" Evan Yang smiled.
"Hmph, I'll show you real power!" Furious, Hong Qi gathered the five beads into one massive bead under Evan Yang's gaze.