"He must have used some artifact," Yang Gui said.
Lydia Yang didn't respond, continuing to watch the scene. As for Yang Li, he wasn't fully convinced by Yang Gui's claim about using an artifact—after all, he'd never heard of such a treasure before.
Seeing Yang Li remain silent, Yang Gui spoke up: "Go up there and bring him back. Let the patriarch decide."
"Let him stay here," Yang Li said.
"Is that your decision, Steward Li, or the patriarch's?" Yang Gui glared.
"Mine," Yang Li replied.
"You—fine, fine! You people are ignoring Yang Clan law more and more. If that's how it is, I'll report directly to the patriarch myself," Yang Gui said angrily.
"The patriarch is cultivating and isn't available. Even if you go, you won't find him," Yang Li said.
Yang Gui glared at Yang Li after hearing this. "Steward Li, you'll answer for your words. And Miss, everything you've done, I'll report as well."
"See yourself out," Lydia Yang said.
Yang Gui knew capturing Evan Yang was impossible with two people intervening, so he slipped away to seek help from others.
After Yang Gui left, Lydia Yang asked, "Steward Li, has he found out?"
"He knows," Yang Li replied.
"So what did he say? Is he planning to take us back for punishment?" Lydia Yang asked.
Yang Li fell silent, but Lydia Yang remained expressionless and said, "That's probably what he'll do. But don't worry—go back and tell him that once things are settled, I'll return to accept punishment myself."
"Miss Lydia, actually the Patriarch..." Yang Li started to explain, but he didn't know how to continue.
Lydia Yang interrupted, "Don't bother explaining for him. More importantly, do you know why Evan Yang wants to enter the Star Sea?"
"I don't know," Yang Li admitted. He had no idea why Evan Yang wanted to enter the Star Sea.
"I asked him before. He said he wants to go to the forbidden zone. You know what kind of place that is. For a stranger to want to go there—haven't you thought about what that means?" Lydia Yang pressed.
Yang Li was shocked. "The forbidden zone—isn't that where..."
"Exactly. If he's here to find someone in the forbidden zone, then he must have an unusual connection with my second brother," Lydia Yang said.
"I need to hurry back and inform the Patriarch. If Yang Gui brings other elders, it'll be a big problem," Yang Li said, sensing the gravity of the situation.
"Go ahead," Lydia Yang replied. She knew if other elders arrived, she would have no advantage. She could only hope the Patriarch would intervene out of past family affection.
Yang Li vanished in a flash, while Yang Gui returned to the fiery planet to report to the clan's authoritative Elders' Council. The elders, stubborn and furious, immediately led a group toward the Star Sea, intent on punishing rule-breakers and capturing the outsider.
Knowing the urgency, Yang Li wasn't sure if Evan Yang was really a member of the Yang Clan or connected to the second young master, but he knew only Patriarch Raymond Yang could take charge now.
When Yang Li rushed into the secret chamber, Patriarch Raymond Yang asked curiously, "Back again? Where are Lydia Yang and the stranger?"
"I didn't bring them. And the stranger actually survived in the Star Sea," Yang Li replied.
"You mean he entered the Star Sea and survived the starlight? Not only is he fine, he's alive?" Patriarch Raymond Yang sounded shocked.
"That's right. And Lydia Yang just told me something incredible," Yang Li said.
"What is it?" Patriarch Raymond Yang asked suspiciously.
"She said the stranger's main purpose for entering the Star Sea was to reach the forbidden zone. That's why she helped him," Yang Li explained.
"He went into the Star Sea to find the forbidden zone and survived? How is that possible?" Patriarch Raymond Yang sounded agitated.
"Yang Gui is gathering other elders to capture the stranger and punish Lydia Yang as well," Yang Li said.
"What? Damn it, I'm still cultivating," Patriarch Raymond Yang muttered in frustration.
"Patriarch, I must ask you to protect them this time. Last time, because of this matter, the second and third young masters ended up like that. Please don't let Lydia Yang follow the same path. As for the stranger, I don't know his true identity, but he's definitely connected to the second young master," Yang Li pleaded.
Patriarch Raymond Yang became agitated, knowing he had to step in or risk losing another daughter. He tossed out a token, and Yang Li was overjoyed to see it.
At the same time, Patriarch Raymond Yang commanded, "No matter what, protect them until I finish my seclusion."
"Yes, Patriarch!" Yang Li replied.
"Also, find out exactly what connection the stranger has with my son. I want to know," Patriarch Raymond Yang said sternly, though he felt something he couldn't put into words.
"Understood, I'll go right away," Yang Li said, taking the token and leaving quickly. He didn't dare linger, worried that something might happen to Evan Yang and the others.
"Yes, Patriarch!" Yang Li replied.
"Also, find out what relationship the stranger has with my son. I want to know," the Patriarch said sternly, though there was something unspeakable in his heart.
Yang Li replied, "Yes, I'll go right away." With that, he took the token and left, not daring to linger for fear something might happen to Evan Yang and the others.
After Yang Li left, the Patriarch muttered, "A stranger? Came to the Star Sea? Looking for the forbidden land? Could he really be connected to my son? And he's not afraid of the starlight—what's going on here?"
The Patriarch couldn't believe it. He still wondered what connection Evan Yang had with the Yang Clan and the prisoner in the forbidden land.
Thinking about all this, he wished he could rush out and ask directly, but he was still cultivating and couldn't leave, so he had to rely on Yang Li.
At the Star Sea entrance, Terry Yang and Evan Yang were locked in a fierce battle. Under the starlight, Terry's power couldn't be fully unleashed—even his punches felt slowed, giving Evan chances to dodge or counter.
Evan also felt the Star Sea's influence, but he used his own advantages to resist. He even noticed that the starlight's suppression on him was less than on Terry.
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This made Evan curious. Only Terry knew that the starlight exerted resistance—the stronger one's power, the greater the resistance; the weaker, the less. Evan's real strength was higher than it appeared, so the resistance was less. But when he erupted, Terry couldn't touch him at all.
Lydia Yang watched the whole process, unable to help but admire Evan's adaptability and his fearlessness in facing Terry's flames.
Suddenly, voices echoed from behind, and five people appeared. Yang Gui led the group, followed by four others, each dressed in a different color.
Red, yellow, blue, and black. Lydia was shocked—these were the Four High Elders of the Yang Clan, brought here by Yang Gui.
Yang Gui pointed at Lydia and said to the elders, "Four High Elders, that's the stranger, and this is the young lady."
The one in black, their leader, frowned and asked, "Young lady, what's going on? Are you leading the way in breaking clan rules?"
"Black Elder, I did not break clan rules," Lydia replied.
"You didn't? Still arguing? Don't you know only Yang Clan members can enter here? You let a stranger inside and claim you didn't break the rules!" Black Elder said angrily.
Yang Gui chimed in, "Exactly. Young lady, that's not how you argue."
Lydia was desperate, still unable to confirm Evan's connection to her second brother, but she said, "He is a member of the Yang Clan."
"Impossible!" Yang Gui retorted.
The Four High Elders exchanged glances. If Evan was a Yang clansman, they should know him, but none recognized him. Black Elder said, "Never seen him. When did the Yang Clan have someone like this?"
"Four High Elders, you know the rules—only Yang Clan members can enter. If outsiders come in, they die. But you all saw it: he's perfectly fine and fighting Terry without issue. Doesn't that prove he's a Yang clansman?" Lydia argued.
The four elders were shocked. Yang Gui protested, "He's using a treasure, that's why he's unharmed."
"A treasure? What kind of treasure? Did Yang Gui see it?" Lydia countered.
Yang Gui hadn't expected Lydia to push back, but he insisted, "How can you be sure he isn't using a treasure? If he is, that's breaking the rules."
Lydia was about to argue, but Black Elder spoke, "Let's take him out and ask. Arguing here won't solve anything."
Lydia refused, unsure if Evan was truly a Yang clansman. If he wasn't, it would doom him, so she protested, "No way!"
"Young lady, you can't decide this. If he's really using a treasure, we can't explain it," Black Elder said.
With Black Elder speaking, Lydia grew anxious. If the four elders and Yang Gui acted together, she couldn't stop them, so she was deeply worried.
Just then, Yang Li arrived. Lydia felt relieved, while Yang Gui frowned, "Steward Li, why are you here?"
"Of course, I'm here on the Patriarch's orders," Yang Li said.