Another two years passed outside, but inside the Sky-Piercing Tower, Evan Yang had spent over a century. One day, he opened his eyes in the Tower.
"Time flies," Evan laughed. He had reached a bottleneck—no matter how long he stayed in seclusion, it was useless. He could only go out and seek tempering, to hone himself.
With a flash, Evan vanished from the Tower and appeared outside.
Looking at the surroundings, Evan smiled. "It's probably been three years out here. I wonder how many Ninefold Palace people are still around?"
As Evan pondered, his divine sense swept over the nearby scene.
"Aren't those Genius Pavilion members? Why are they fighting?" Evan wondered. He locked onto their location with Thousand-Mile Echo, wanting to see what they were up to.
Those people were none other than Gavin Tian, leading the group, followed by Leon Lin and another unfamiliar face. The three formed a team. As for the other two, Evan recognized them as well.
Yi Shui, still Azure Fifth-Tier, had reached mid-stage Out-of-Body Realm, just like Evan had been before. Maple Huang, at Out-of-Body great completion, remained only Yellow Third-Tier.
Maple Huang, Huang Third-Tier, was still at Out-of-Body great completion.
Yi Shui and Maple Huang were surrounded by the three.
Yi Shui wasn't much for words, icy cold, while Maple Huang spoke up: "What are you three doing?"
"What are we doing? Obviously, we want you to tell us where that kid is." Leon Lin sneered. He had been defeated by Evan Yang in public, lost face and all his merit points, and hated Evan to the core. When Gavin Qiao gave the order, he joined Gavin Tian and another Green Fourth-Tier at Out-of-Body great completion, Shawn Chu.
"We don't know," Maple Huang snorted coldly.
"Don't know? How could you not know? Didn't Professor Kong tell you?" Leon Lin asked sarcastically.
"I already said we don't know. What are you planning? Are you going to break Genius Pavilion rules?" Maple Huang knew the two of them were no match for the three, so she snorted coldly.
"No point asking you, it's boring. Better ask this guy. Hey, do you know? If you do, just say it and you can leave." Leon Lin, seeing he couldn't get anything from Maple Huang, turned to question Yi Shui.
Yi Shui replied coldly, "Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you."
"You!" The three were surprised that Yi Shui, usually silent, would answer so decisively.
"Forget it, don't waste words. One sentence: if they won't talk, we'll use special methods," Gavin Tian said.
Leon Lin nodded, "You hear that? Just say it and you can go. If not, you two are staying here."
"Are you three really going to break the rules?" Maple Huang snorted coldly.
"So what if we break them? No one will know anyway." Leon Lin grinned.
Then Gavin Tian pulled out a pearl, about the size of his palm, shimmering with rainbow colors. Its light enveloped all five of them.
Maple Huang was shocked. "Prismatic Silence Pearl!"
"See? Inside this pearl, none of your communication methods work. That means if the three of us kill the two of you, no one will know," Leon Lin laughed.
Maple Huang was terrified. Her Transmission Stone really was useless now—every possible way to contact the outside world was cut off. Both Yi Shui and Maple Huang felt a surge of fear, though Yi Shui remained cold and silent.
"You're pushing us too far!" Maple Huang shouted angrily.
"Speak up. Last chance. If you don't, you'll regret it—years of cultivation wasted, maybe even death." Leon Lin threatened, secretly hoping they'd talk, since fighting could bring trouble if discovered.
But Maple Huang really didn't know, and Yi Shui stuck to his answer: even if he knew, he wouldn't tell them.
"If that's how it is, then die!" Gavin Tian snapped, losing patience. He went after Yi Shui, while Shawn Chu targeted Maple Huang.
Yi Shui was Azure Fifth-Tier, while Gavin Tian was officially Green Fourth-Tier, but he was deliberately hiding his true strength, so he could match Yi Shui. Maple Huang, however, was steadily suppressed by Shawn Chu—after all, Maple was only Yellow Third-Tier, while Shawn was Green Fourth-Tier at the same realm.
Leon Lin took the Prismatic Silence Pearl from Gavin Tian, controlling it while watching the two fights. Occasionally, he made subtle moves against Yi Shui and Maple Huang.
Maple Huang was clearly losing ground. Shawn Chu laughed wildly, "I'm going crazy today—gonna kill a Genius Pavilion member!"
"You dare!" Maple Huang shouted furiously.
"I've got the Prismatic Silence Pearl! What do I have to fear?" Shawn Chu laughed.
"You!" Maple Huang was shocked, and Yi Shui's expression changed as Maple neared collapse.
Just as Maple Huang was about to be struck by Shawn Chu, a figure appeared. Leon Lin was hit in the back, the pearl snatched from his hand, and he tumbled forward, crashing into the forest, dead.
The four remaining were shocked. Looking at the person who took the pearl, they saw it was Evan Yang, and each showed a different expression.
"Searching for you was so tough!" Gavin Tian stopped attacking and stepped aside, speaking to Evan.
Shawn Chu also stopped and stepped aside.
"You people are ruthless. Just to find me, you're willing to kill Genius Pavilion members!" Evan said coldly. He glanced apologetically at Yi Shui and Maple Huang—if not for him, they wouldn't have nearly died.
"So what? Didn't you just kill one yourself?" Gavin Tian sneered, glancing toward Leon Lin's corpse.
"Does this pearl really work like that?" Evan ignored Gavin's threat, smiled at the pearl, and infused it with spiritual power. The pearl's light flared again.
Evan found he could control the range of the light as he pleased. "It really is a good treasure."
"Evan, give it back! It's not yours!" Gavin Tian was shocked.
"Why should I give it back?" Evan sneered.
"Hmph, I'll take it by force." Gavin Tian snorted, preparing to fight Evan.
But something unexpected happened. Evan flashed forward, attacking Gavin Tian several times. Gavin staggered, blood streaming from his mouth.
Everyone was shocked, especially Shawn Chu, who exclaimed, "Brother Gavin, what's wrong?"
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"Y-you, your strength!" Gavin Tian pointed at Evan Yang in disbelief.
Yi Shui frowned, and Maple Huang was also shocked. Shawn Chu was even more so—Evan's strength had reached Out-of-Body great completion. With two at great completion already present, Evan's arrival spelled trouble for Shawn and Gavin Tian.
"And you thought you could kill me like this?" Evan glanced at the staggering Gavin Tian and smiled.
Gavin Tian hadn't expected Evan to be so powerful. He'd thought after a few years, Evan would at most be mid-stage Out-of-Body, just like himself. Plus, with his own Azure Fifth-Tier strength concealed, he thought he could handle Evan. But after just one exchange, he was nearly dead.
"Brother Chu, looks like we're in trouble today," Gavin Tian sent a voice transmission to Shawn Chu.
"What now, Brother Gavin?" Shawn Chu figured he could fight Evan to a draw, but with Maple Huang and Yi Shui present, the numbers were against them.
"Run! We split up. No matter what, we have to report that Evan killed someone." Gavin Tian said angrily.
"But he has your Prismatic Silence Pearl." Shawn Chu knew that to escape, they'd have to get beyond the pearl's range and send a message out.
"The range is only about three meters. No one knows it better than I do. If we go all out, we can break free." Gavin Tian replied.
"Alright," Shawn Chu nodded.
Evan and his companions had no idea what Gavin Tian and Shawn Chu were planning. The Prismatic Silence Pearl in Evan's hand shone, illuminating everyone.
Suddenly, Gavin Tian moved, burning his soul for speed, while Shawn Chu fled in the opposite direction without burning his soul.
"Trying to escape?" Evan burst forward, blocking Gavin Tian and sealing his body. Gavin's burning soul withered, leaving him gravely injured and unconscious.
As for Shawn Chu, he dashed madly. Evan handed Gavin Tian to Maple Huang and Yi Shui, then sped after Shawn Chu.
Shawn Chu quickly mounted his flying sword—just like the Ninefold Palace people. With it, his speed increased.
Evan pushed his speed to the maximum.
Shawn Chu managed to get beyond the pearl's range and sent out a prepared message.
Then Shawn Chu turned around and smiled at Evan.
Evan approached and asked, "You've already sent the message?"
"What, afraid? It's too late now. You killed a Genius Pavilion member and injured another. Get ready for punishment!" Shawn Chu sneered.
"Genius Pavilion? Isn't it just like Ninefold Palace trying to capture me? Killing one, injuring another—what's the big deal?" Evan laughed fearlessly. He knew Elder Mu and Professor Kong supported him, but wasn't sure about the others, especially Gavin Qiao, who would surely oppose him to the end. So Evan wasn't worried about killing anyone this time.
"Kid, you're too arrogant. Genius Pavilion just hasn't announced your merit points yet. Once they do, who knows how many experts will hunt you for credit?" Shawn Chu was stunned, then laughed.
"Is that so? Then I want to see how many merit points I'm worth." Evan smiled.
"You! Even at death's door, you're so arrogant!" Shawn Chu was furious—Evan's fearless attitude made him feel his own actions were pointless.
Evan chuckled, "Did I just make you angry? Well, you deserve to die."
"What! You're going to kill me too?" Shawn Chu was shocked.
"Yes, you must die!" Evan snorted coldly, then launched into battle with Shawn Chu.
Shawn Chu, a Green Fourth-Tier, couldn't withstand Evan, whose strength surpassed even that level.
At that moment, Shawn Chu finally realized Evan wasn't just Green Fourth-Tier—otherwise, he wouldn't feel so much pressure.