Evan Yang's unique ability stunned Hannah Nangong. This was just too incredible—even with her ninth-tier Profound-Immortal strength, she couldn't see through him at all.
Evan then reverted to his original appearance. With a handsome smile, he said, "Let's go. Now no one will suspect us."
"If I'd known, I'd have made myself look prettier," Hannah Nangong commented.
"Better not. Haven't you heard of 'beauty brings disaster'?" Evan Yang chuckled.
"You're the one bringing disaster, not me!" Hannah glared at him.
"Just like that Leo Li last time, right? That's why it's better to act like ordinary people." Evan Yang laughed.
"That's true. So, how do we start looking for information?" Hannah asked curiously.
"Let's check out a few of the big shops in this city first. I doubt the Wood Family has a monopoly here," Evan mused.
Hannah nodded, and the two began to wander the city. Since they looked like ordinary people and nothing stood out about them, no one paid them any attention, let alone suspected they were powerful cultivators.
Along the way, Evan grew curious—he hadn't expected so many people in the city to be talking about him. Hannah was surprised too. Clearly, Evan had become famous here.
Not only that, the Wood Family was searching everywhere for Evan Yang and Hannah Nangong.
Meanwhile, members of the Wood Family took Ray Qing back to their city stronghold, where several top experts were stationed. When Ray returned, poisoned all over, those experts hurried forward to check his condition.
One of the experts asked, "Should we inform the clan master about this?"
"No need. We can handle this ourselves," replied the poisoned man.
"But this kind of toad venom can only be treated by specialists in the Snowveil Star System," said a Wood Family expert.
"Martial uncle, is this poison really that dangerous?" asked the poisoned man.
"Woodlin, I'm not trying to scare you. Even with my Immortal Lord abilities, I'm wary of this poison, you know?" said the man addressed as martial uncle.
Woodlin Mu was shocked—this poison was just too vicious. Ray Qing, standing nearby, added, "Brother Mu, this venom really is nasty. You'd better find time to treat it soon."
"But I can't accept not catching that brat," Woodlin Mu said angrily.
Ray Qing knew there were plenty of experts here. If they got involved, not even Hannah Nangong could protect Evan Yang.
Skyler Shi, Woodlin's martial uncle, said, "Let the subordinates handle it. It's just a Heavenly-Immortal—look what he's done to you."
"But he uses poison!" Woodlin Mu said angrily.
"Don't worry. I have something that can counteract this poison," the man said with a smile.
"What is it?" Woodlin Mu asked, puzzled.
"Look." The man took out a piece of wood—blue and very strange. Woodlin Mu immediately recognized it: "Blue Clean-Wood."
"That's right—it's over ten thousand years old. You know how rare this wood is. As long as everyone carries a small piece, it can prevent poison from entering the body. If you'd had one earlier, you wouldn't be like this now," Skyler Shi explained.
"That's true. I'll leave things here to you, martial uncle," Woodlin Mu said.
"No problem, go ahead. Besides, the Qing Family people are still here," Skyler Shi replied.
Woodlin Mu nodded and said to Ray Qing, "Brother Ray, I'll leave things here to you."
"Don't worry. When you return, we'll discuss the next steps in detail," Ray Qing said.
"Alright." Woodlin Mu was furious that, as a Profound-Immortal, he had been bested by a Heavenly-Immortal.
Woodlin Mu was led away, while the Immortal Lord turned to Ray Qing and said, "I'm Woodlin's martial uncle. My name is Skyler Shi."
"Senior Shi," Ray Qing said respectfully.
"No need to be so formal. I've already sent people to search for that brat. If he hasn't left the city, we should be able to find him," Skyler Shi said.
"He's very cunning. I'm afraid he might leave or do something unexpected. But one thing's certain—he needs to find a Ten-Million-Year Wood-Heart Core," Ray Qing said.
"Oh? Why does he need the Wood-Heart Core?" Skyler Shi asked, puzzled.
"Because he has a wager with the Ethereal Sanctuary Palace Lord, and one of the conditions is to obtain a Ten-Million-Year Wood-Heart Core. Otherwise, he'll lose," Ray Qing explained.
"Who has such a big background that he can make a bet with the Sanctuary Palace Lord?" Skyler Shi was surprised.
"He's a strange person, and his strength is terrifying. I doubt any Heavenly-Immortal could match him. After today's battle, Ray Qing finally understood Evan Yang's power and sighed. 'Is that really true? I don't think so,' Skyler Shi said, skeptical since he hadn't witnessed it himself.
"It's the truth," Ray Qing said.
"Do you know where I could ask about this?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
"Why are you asking? You're not planning to get yourself killed, are you?" The shop manager asked, his expression turning strange.
"Not at all, you're overthinking it. I'm just interested in these trees, so I want to learn more," Evan Yang said with a smile.
"I really don't know, but you could try the black market—they have the most information like this," the shop manager said.
"Black market?" Evan Yang asked, puzzled.
"There's a gambling house in the east part of the city, and beneath it is a black market. People there buy and sell things taken from others, and some folks know a lot," the shop manager explained.
Evan Yang was surprised to learn it was a place for selling stolen goods. Still, it was worth checking out—maybe he could find answers. Evan smiled and said, "Thank you, shop manager."
"You're welcome. If you need to buy Ten-Thousand-Year or Million-Year Wood-Heart Cores, come find me—our shop can get them," the shop manager said with a smile.
"Alright, no problem," Evan Yang said with a smile, then bid farewell to the shop manager.
Evan Yang left with Hannah Nangong and headed to an inn. He told her, "You should wait here at the inn."
"No way, I'm going with you. If we run into trouble, I can help you out," Hannah Nangong insisted, worried.
"Don't worry, they can't hurt me. I have plenty of ways to escape," Evan Yang said.
Still... Hannah Nangong felt uneasy.
"Trust me—just wait at the inn," Evan Yang said.
In the end, Hannah Nangong agreed and stayed at the inn, while Evan Yang headed east—to the Eastside Casino.
Meanwhile, Skyler Shi was waiting with Ray Qing.
"Any news?" Skyler Shi asked a returning subordinate.
"No, there's no sign of them," the subordinate replied.
"Did they really leave?" Skyler Shi wondered, suspicious.
Ray Qing was reluctant to hear they'd left—his main goal was to capture Evan Yang, but now Evan seemed to have disappeared.
But he decided not to give up: "Could they be hiding somewhere?"
"That's possible, but if they're hiding, it'll be tricky for us to find them," Skyler Shi said, frowning.
"Keep watching. If they haven't left, Evan Yang will probably ask about the Ten-Million-Year Wood-Heart Core," Ray Qing said.
Skyler Shi nodded. "Exactly. That's the key. I'll arrange for people to keep watch."
Skyler Shi stood up, called a few people over, and said, "Here's your assignment."
The group listened as he explained.
The instructions were simple: monitor all major shops and see if anyone asks about the Ten-Million-Year Wood-Heart Core. Skyler Shi believed few people would want such a rare item—especially recently. If anyone did, it was likely Evan Yang.
With this order, the search narrowed. Many Wood Family members began questioning shopkeepers, while Evan Yang had no idea he was slowly falling into the Wood Family's trap.
News quickly reached Skyler Shi.
"What? Are you sure it was them?" Skyler Shi asked.
"Yes, they said a young man asked about the Ten-Million-Year Wood-Heart Core this morning, and there was a woman with him," the subordinate replied.
"Are you sure it was those two?" Skyler Shi asked, curious.
"Not really. Both seemed like ordinary people, and their appearance didn't match the ones we're looking for," the subordinate said.
"How could that be?" Skyler Shi wondered, suspicious.
"Could they be accomplices?" Ray Qing said, frowning.
"That's possible. Now that you mention it, I have an idea. Go capture that person, I'll interrogate him," Skyler Shi said.
"But he went to the casino—the black market," the subordinate said.
"Casino and black market? Why did he go there?" Skyler Shi asked, confused.