"Meet them?"
On the other end of the call, Yvette Ye heard Evan Lin's voice, and her mood turned a bit strange. "You really shouldn't entertain that idea."
"I don't know why you're so powerful, and it's almost impossible for you to have any special entanglement with the Upper-Grade Lin Clan. But the Upper-Grade Lin Clan is always domineering—if they find out your surname is Lin, and that you've entered the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm before turning twenty, there's no telling if they'll just capture you outright."
As Yvette spoke, her tone carried a trace of apprehension.
"Capture me?"
"Of course. You beat Blake Lin before, but the Upper-Grade Lin Clan didn't pay much attention to you at the time. That's because Blake Lin's strength was still stuck at the Pointing-to-Mystery Realm."
"The Pointing-to-Mystery Realm and the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm are a huge dividing line. So back then, the Upper-Grade Lin Clan just assumed your strength was within the Pointing-to-Mystery Realm and didn't pay you much mind. But if they find out you've already reached Heavenly Phenomenon..."
At this point, Yvette left the rest unsaid.
But the meaning was obvious.
If the Upper-Grade Lin Clan learns early on that Evan Lin's cultivation is at the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm...
The Upper-Grade Lin Clan would probably send someone directly to take Evan Lin back, just so they could study his bloodline in detail.
Families as domineering as the Upper-Grade Lin Clan almost never let their bloodline spread out into the ordinary mortal world.
It seems like the Upper-Grade Lin Clan has even more important things to take care of.
That’s exactly why things are the way they are.
For years, the Upper-Grade Lin Clan hasn’t shown up in this mundane world at all.
Even when a Lin from the Upper-Grade clan appears, it’s almost always just a rare younger member coming down to the mortal world for training.
And every one of those who enters the world is ridiculously strong, top of their generation.
Just like Blake Lin before.
From the moment he showed up, his goal was to fight for the China Divine Ranking and challenge Azure Dragon.
Too bad, Blake Lin never even got to battle Azure Dragon—Evan Lin handed him a defeat ahead of time.
"Immortal?"
Evan frowned. "The Lin clan's ancestor became an immortal? What does that even mean?"
"I don't know the specifics either. But the reason the Lin clan is called 'orthodox' and why so many people fear them—that's a big part of it."
"That's why I don't want you risking yourself, and I really don't want you provoking the Lin clan. Right now, you're only safe because you have Moonshade backing and Azure Dragon's protection. That's the only reason the Upper-Grade Lin Clan hasn't come after you yet."
After Yvette finished, she waited a moment. When Evan didn't reply, she immediately felt uneasy. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Hey? You still there? Did you even hear what I just said?"
Yvette sounded a little anxious.
After she finished, she felt a bit of regret—maybe she'd said too much to Evan.
What if this Master Lin from Seacrest suddenly got excited and reckless?
If he didn't dodge the Upper-Grade Lin Clan because they were too strong, but instead went looking for a fight to hone himself—even Yvette would regret it too late.
"Yeah, I'm listening."
Evan glanced at the college students around him. A few recognized him and pointed his way, their eyes full of curiosity about this campus legend from Rivercrest State.
"I heard everything you said, so you really don't need to worry."
"I know exactly what I should and shouldn't do. It's just an Upper-Grade Lin Clan—nothing to be scared of."
Hearing Evan's relaxed tone, Yvette got a little worked up: "Why do I get the feeling you actually plan to mess with the Upper-Grade Lin Clan?"
"If I get the chance, I'll pay them a visit." Evan replied.
Not giving Yvette a chance to say anything else, Evan hung up right away.
"This guy!"
Out in the wild, on a patch of grass, Yvette stared at her phone, her face shifting between emotions as she ground her teeth in frustration.
"What did he say?"
Not far away, Azure Dragon lay sprawled on a huge boulder, gazing at the sky, his tone calm.
"He doesn't feel scared at all. I said so much, and in the end he just said that if he gets the chance, he's going to visit the Upper-Grade Lin Clan. Seriously, this guy's got a screw loose!"
Yvette was fuming, totally indignant.
"Charging straight at trouble?" Azure Dragon, still lying there, didn't show much emotion. He picked up a wine gourd, took a sip, was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "He and that other guy... they're actually pretty similar."
"He? And... him?"
Yvette looked totally lost listening to Azure Dragon.
"One 'him'—I know you mean Evan. But who's the other 'him'?"
Yvette was genuinely curious.
"The other 'him'—he's someone really powerful."
Azure Dragon just smiled, offering no explanation. Yvette wanted to press him, but seeing his attitude, she could tell he wasn't going to say more, so she let it go.
"Alright, we've rested enough. Let's check the area again, see if we can find any traces left by the Mysterious Ruin."
Azure Dragon stood up, casually drew the sword at his side, turned and flicked it lightly. The sword flashed, instantly slaying a bizarre wolf with two heads and a fierce face that had silently crept up.
Seeing the wolf's appearance, Yvette's face went pale.
Azure Dragon, on the other hand, was calm as a still lake, not the slightest bit surprised.
He took another swig of wine, letting out a faint sigh.
"Looks like this world is about to get chaotic."