Evan Yang naturally understood what the Palace Lord meant, so he smiled and said, "So when will the third condition be carried out?"
"Oh? So you've made your decision?" The Ethereal Sanctuary Palace Lord smiled.
Evan Yang nodded, but the Palace Lord spoke up, "I'm going to slightly change the third condition."
"Change it? What do you mean?" Hannah Nangong said angrily.
"Don't get upset, I'm doing this for fairness. What if you deliberately hold back? So I've decided to have someone of equal strength to you compete against him instead," the Palace Lord explained.
But Hannah Nangong was furious after hearing this, "You're going back on your word!"
"I'm doing this for fairness, it's not breaking my promise," the Palace Lord replied. In truth, he wanted to cripple Evan Yang—after all, if Evan could obtain those two items with his ability, he'd surely be extraordinary in the future.
Just as Hannah was about to protest, Evan Yang said, "Alright."
"That's straightforward. Now that's a real man. Good! Come back here in three days. I'll make an announcement so everyone knows how strong my son-in-law is. But don't embarrass yourself when the time comes," the Palace Lord said with a smile.
Evan Yang smiled, "I'll do my best." But inwardly, he thought, "This is even better—no need to take action against Miss Nangong myself."
Hearing Evan Yang's words, the Palace Lord smiled and let him leave. Evan then left the palace together with Hannah Nangong.
On the way, Hannah Nangong couldn't help but ask, "Why did you agree?"
"Why? Of course, it's because of you," Evan Yang replied.
"Because of me?" Hannah Nangong asked, puzzled.
"If you were the one fighting, I wouldn't be able to go all out. But if it's not you, then I can give it my all. It shouldn't be a problem," Evan Yang said.
"But..." Hannah Nangong was worried about Evan's safety. If it really was someone else, it meant Evan would have to cross at least one major realm in actual combat.
Evan Yang smiled, "Don't worry. It'll be fine in a few days."
Hannah Nangong hoped so too, but after only a few steps, Evan Yang sensed something was off—several Xuan-Immortal auras were targeting him.
So Evan Yang said to Hannah Nangong, "You head back first. We'll meet here again in three days."
"What are you going to do?" Hannah Nangong asked curiously.
"It's nothing, just going to take care of a few things," Evan Yang said with a smile, not wanting Hannah Nangong to worry.
Hannah Nangong wanted to follow Evan Yang, but she held back and said helplessly, "Alright, I'll head back. Come find me in three days."
"Okay, go ahead," Evan Yang replied.
Hannah Nangong nodded and returned to the manor, while Evan Yang naturally left the capital and headed out into the wilderness.
After flying for quite a while, Evan Yang stopped and said to the space behind him, "You might as well come out now."
Two people appeared not far behind Evan Yang, smiling as they looked at him. One of them sneered, "You really are hard to find. It's been so long already."
"Who are you?" Evan Yang didn't recognize these people at all.
"We're from the Qing Family. Surely you know us?" the other person said with a smile.
"I see." Evan Yang hadn't expected the Qing Family to track him down so quickly. Clearly, they weren't letting him go.
"You should know why we're here. Don't resist—come with us. Maybe we'll let you keep your body intact," one of them said.
"Sorry, I'm not the kind of person who likes to follow others. You might as well give up and stop wasting your breath," Evan Yang said.
"Not coming? Then I'll make you!" One of them stepped forward, trying to use overwhelming aura to suppress Evan Yang. But Evan pushed back, nearly making the man cough up blood.
Looking at Evan Yang in terror, he said, "Impossible!"
"Nothing's impossible. Since you've come today, don't expect to leave!" Evan Yang declared.
"Hmph, arrogant! Let's take him together!" the injured man snorted. The other, unsure what was happening but sensing trouble, joined in the attack.
In the end, both were destroyed by Evan Yang's massive flames. Evan snorted coldly, "Even third-tier Xuan-Immortals are this arrogant?"
Neither had expected Evan Yang's power to be so terrifying—his outburst rendered even third-tier Xuan-Immortals powerless against him.
"You, you..." one Xuan-Immortal stammered in fear.
"Enough, I'm done wasting words. If you come after me, you should be prepared to die!" Evan Yang waved his hand, and his flames grew even stronger, killing both men instantly.
Soon, the two souls emerged, staring at Evan Yang in terror.
"I didn't want to kill you, but you provoked me. That's the price you pay. Go on, head to where you belong," Evan Yang said, not destroying their souls.
Instead, he let them go. For Evan Yang, it didn't matter—he would soon be fighting a ninth-tier Xuan-Immortal in three days, and everyone would find out eventually.
Once this was settled, Evan Yang planned to retire and focus on searching for Blaze Mountain.
As for the Qing Family, Quinn Qing had finally detoxified the poison, but his face was left with an indelible scar—one that couldn't be removed.
Quinn still remembered that during detox, the healer held back. After the poison was removed, Quentin Qing tried to attack the man, but he coldly snorted, "If you dare defy me, he'll keep that face forever!"
After saying that, the man escaped, leaving Quinn Qing with a terrifying visage. No matter what they tried, the scar couldn't be healed.
The scar on his face made Quinn Qing hate Evan Yang even more, since it was Evan who caused it.
Quentin Qing, his father, could only sigh helplessly. If he hadn't acted impulsively back then, maybe the healer would have cured Quinn completely.
"What are you thinking about?" Quentin Qing sighed after seeing Quinn Qing lost in thought.
"Nothing. It's just that after so many years, that kid still hasn't shown up. I'm not willing to let it go," Quinn Qing sighed.
"Don't be so resentful. He's returned," Quentin Qing said.
"What? He's back? When did this happen? Where is he? Did you catch him?" Quinn Qing was shocked, as if he'd been triggered.
Quentin Qing showed Quinn Qing the news from Ethereal Sanctuary. After reading it, Quinn Qing exclaimed, "How is this possible?"
"Nothing's impossible. Looks like he's about to face the final condition. Good. At least he'll be in the capital for a while. What's more, the Palace Lord doesn't want him to win, so he's found a powerful expert. He'll definitely be crippled," Quentin Qing said.
"Good, I want to see him crippled! Damn it!" Quinn Qing was furious, clearly agitated.
Quentin Qing nodded, "Don't worry, he'll soon be crippled in front of everyone. He really thinks he's worthy of the Palace Lord's daughter."
"Dad, what about me? Will anyone still want me?" Quinn Qing suddenly thought about his appearance. No matter how it changed, the poison was still there. No doctor could cure it.
Quentin Qing understood what he meant, but could only sigh helplessly. "I'll try to propose to the Palace Lord of Ethereal Sanctuary. I don't think he'll care, especially since he needs allies now, and our Qing Family is exactly who he's trying to win over."
"I hope so. I must win her over," Quinn Qing said excitedly.
"Alright, get some rest. In three days, head to the capital of Ethereal Sanctuary. But don't underestimate that kid. I've already sent people to track him down, and we'll have news soon," Quentin Qing said.
"Hmph, does he really think his strength can match a Xuan-Immortal?" Quinn Qing scoffed.
"That's not certain. Maybe he can, maybe he can't," Quentin Qing replied cautiously.
Quinn Qing didn't believe it. "I'll be there to watch him fall," he said.
"Let's hope so. Alright, I'm leaving," Quentin Qing said, leaving Quinn Qing angrily staring at his own face.
After Quentin Qing left for a while, two souls drifted to the Qing Family. When Quentin saw the two Xuan-Immortals, he asked curiously, "What happened to you two?"
"That guy wiped us out," one soul said gloomily.
"What? Both of you, third-tier Xuan-Immortals, were destroyed?" Quentin Qing exclaimed.
"Yeah, that's right. His flames were terrifying. We couldn't even attack before being wiped out," one soul replied.
Quentin Qing frowned, "Why didn't he destroy your souls, then?"
"No idea," one soul said, shaking his head.
"Strange," Quentin Qing thought. Normally, Evan Yang would have destroyed their souls out of anger.
So Quentin Qing turned and said, "Alright, you two go now. I'll have someone arrange bodies for you, or restore your physical forms."
"Alright," the two souls replied, then withdrew, leaving Quentin Qing frowning. "Third-tier Xuan-Immortal? Just what level is that guy's strength?"
This undoubtedly put some pressure on Quentin Qing.
Meanwhile, the Ethereal Sanctuary Palace Lord was also puzzled—how could Evan Yang have obtained those two items? But he was already prepared, and summoned someone.
The person stood respectfully before him, "Palace Lord."
"You're one of the top figures in the Middle Sanctuary, so your strength must be at the peak of Xuan-Immortal," the Palace Lord said.
"Yes, that's correct," the person replied.
"Good. In three days, I have a task for you. Make sure you complete it. If you succeed, you'll be rewarded. If you fail, you won't live in this world anymore," the Palace Lord said.
The man was stunned for a moment, then replied, "Understood, Palace Lord."