The woman snorted, "Hmph, I don't believe it. You're just an Immortal Sovereign—how could you possibly defeat me?"
At this moment, Leah and Evan Yang weren't using the Decomposition Art; instead, they were fighting head-on. The crowd watched in shock as Evan's speed and strength matched Leah's.
Someone asked, "Who do you think will win—the newcomer, or Leah?"
Another person laughed, "Of course Leah will win. You know how competitive she is—none of us here have ever beaten her. If she doesn't outfight this newcomer, she won't let it go."
The others listening to their conversation could only sigh. Elder Du knew the situation best—Leah was famous for her competitiveness, especially in the Elite Divine Hall.
Even outside, people gave her a nickname: Battle Goddess Leah. First, she loved fighting; second, her beauty often misled people. Many assumed the beautiful Leah was quiet and gentle, but once the fighting started, they'd realize they'd made a huge mistake.
At first, Evan Yang thought she was just sparring casually, but soon realized she put her all into every move. He had to reassess her—and fortunately, he wasn't any weaker than she was.
So, in the fight, Evan could only make himself stronger—only then could he withstand the fierce attacks of a Heavenly Dao cultivator. After a quarter of an hour, Elder Du laughed, "Alright, stop fighting. Time's up."
As soon as he spoke, the crowd was stunned. None of them had ever managed to fight Leah to a draw—they'd all lost. Yet this newcomer Immortal Sovereign could match her, and everyone started to see Evan Yang in a new light.
Leah, however, grew anxious and protested, "No way! We haven't settled the outcome yet—I'm not satisfied!"
Elder Du, knowing her temperament, chuckled, "Forget it. Next time. In a few days, you're all heading to the Exquisite Realm. He's new here and doesn't know much yet—I need to explain a few things to him."
With that, Elder Du led Evan Yang away, leaving Leah with a frustrated look. On the way, Evan awkwardly asked, "Why is that woman so strange?"
"Her name's Leah. She's a battle maniac—don't be fooled by her looks. Outside, people even call her the Battle Goddess. What do you think?" Elder Du laughed.
"Uh, Battle Goddess? A woman who's that obsessed with fighting—it's hard to believe," Evan said, puzzled.
"I can't figure it out either, but there's no time to dwell on it. In a few days, you'll be heading to the Exquisite Realm. Let me give you some basics first," said Elder Du.
Evan nodded in response, then left with Elder Du.
In Heavenly Dao Academy, aside from the Elite Divine Hall heading to the Exquisite Realm, other areas were also sending people who hadn't been before—White Moon was one of them.
As for Gavin White, she was worried about when her child would be born—her belly showed no signs of movement, as if the baby would stay there forever. Around the child, a faint green aura and lingering energy from the Sky-Nine Divine Fruit swirled constantly.
Whenever Gavin feared the child might be harmed by these forces, the baby would twitch, as if saying it was fine.
Now, like Evan Yang, Gavin White spent her days cultivating and learning about the Exquisite Realm. She met many Heavenly Dao experts here, and naturally plenty admired her and tried to chat her up—but she rejected them all, telling everyone she already had a husband. That deterred most, but some just wouldn't give up.
Besides Heavenly Dao Academy, Heavenly Dao Hell Palace was also preparing for the Exquisite Realm. Yue Gui asked his grandson, "Are you ready?"
"Grandpa, I've been ready for years. This time, I'm definitely going in and grabbing a great treasure," Victor Yue replied with a smile.
"Good, just be careful. There'll be plenty from Hell Palace going, so watch out for each other. And if you run into people from the Academy, avoid them if you can. But if you meet that Immortal Sovereign, do whatever it takes to kill him! Understand?" Yue Gui said.
"Don't worry, Grandpa. You've said it a hundred times—I'm not letting that guy off. Trust me," Victor Yue said with a grin.
Hearing this, Yue Gui felt much more at ease. With a few days left, Victor Yue slipped out of Hell Palace and headed for Immortal Peak Villa.
He arrived outside the villa and said to the guards, "Bring out Miss Gu, or I'll come in myself."
The guards were used to Victor Yue's visits—if they didn't let him in, he'd cause trouble. So, they allowed him inside.
Victor Yue entered Immortal Peak Villa as if it were his own home, passing through familiar places until he reached a garden. The garden stood out against the snowy landscape. Victor called out, "Miss Gu, it's time to come out."
When there was no reply, Victor Yue laughed, "If you don't come out, I'll just barge in!"
Eventually, Miss Gu was forced to come out. She wore a snow-white fur coat and looked at Victor Yue, asking, "What are you here for?"