As Evan Yang stared at the mural, he felt there were seven people depicted. Looking closely, he was startled: "Aren't these the six stone statues inside the Heavenfire Cauldron?"
He realized that the gaze and appearance of six of the figures matched the six statues inside the Heavenfire Cauldron almost exactly.
"What in the world is going on?" Evan was shaken by the mural. The Spirit-Will Cauldron had once run into the Heavenfire Cauldron on its own, and now it had brought him here. He grew curious about the link between the mural, the cauldrons, and who the seventh woman was.
All of this left Evan utterly perplexed. He felt as if something was happening around him that he couldn't fully see or understand.
But no one could explain anything to him—except perhaps the Heavenfire Cauldron, the Spirit-Will Cauldron, and this mural.
Thinking this, Evan put away his cauldron and started to examine the place.
Apart from ice, there was only ice everywhere. If there was any aura, it was the mural on the wall—it was special, almost alive, especially those pairs of eyes that seemed to move.
Curious, Evan reached out and touched the mural.
Just then, a voice sounded behind him: "Stop!"
Evan hadn't noticed anyone, so how could there be a voice? He quickly spun around and saw a woman in a cloak, her face marked with floral patterns—her left cheek seemed to have a flower carved into it.
As Evan studied the mural, he realized there were seven figures depicted. Looking closely, he saw that six of the women looked extremely familiar. Staring intently, he was shocked: "Aren't these the six stone statues inside the Heavenfire Cauldron?"
He discovered that the expressions and appearances of those six women matched the statues in the Heavenfire Cauldron almost perfectly.
"What in the world is going on here?" Evan was startled by the mural. Back then, the Spirit-Will Cauldron had chosen him of its own accord, and now it had again brought him to this place. He couldn't help but wonder what connection this mural had with the Heavenfire Cauldron, and who the seventh woman was.
All of this left Evan completely baffled. He felt as if something was happening right beside him, yet he couldn't see it.
But no one could give him any answers—only the Heavenfire Cauldron, the Spirit-Will Cauldron, and this mural.
Thinking about all this, Evan put away the cauldron and looked around to see where he actually was.
Apart from the ice, there was nothing but more ice. If there was any aura here, it was only this mural that seemed special, almost spiritual—especially those eyes, which always seemed alive.
Curious, Evan reached out and touched the mural.
Just then, a cold voice sounded from behind him: "Stop right there!"
Evan hadn't sensed anyone at all—how could there suddenly be a voice? He quickly spun around, and sure enough, a woman wrapped in a billowing cloak stood behind him. Her face was marked with floral patterns, as if flowers were carved onto her left cheek.
Although Evan didn't recognize her, he was certain she was a powerful expert—otherwise, how could she appear behind him without him noticing? So he greeted her respectfully, "Senior."
The woman sized Evan up, then fixed her gaze on him. "How did you get in here?"
"I followed the stream down from above," Evan replied, pointing upward.
"How did you know about this secret chamber?" the woman pressed.
Evan didn't know how to explain—he couldn't exactly say the Spirit-Will Cauldron had brought him here. Seeing his silence, the woman snorted coldly, "Hmph, thief!"
"Thief?" Evan was bewildered. How had he become a thief?
Just as he was about to explain, the woman had already launched her attack—countless flower petals shot from her hand. Evan didn't dare underestimate them; the way they sliced through the air made him keenly aware of their force and speed.
Evan tried to dodge, but the petals were incredibly fast, seemingly locking onto him. In an instant, he was about to be surrounded by a storm of petals. At that moment, the Spirit-Will Cauldron reacted, and Evan quickly raised it.
The Spirit-Will Cauldron spun above Evan's head, blocking all the petals outside.
Seeing this, the woman abruptly withdrew her attack. When she saw it was the Spirit-Will Cauldron, her face was filled with disbelief as she asked, "How did you get this cauldron?"
Evan saw the woman's expression and guessed she knew the cauldron's origin. So, he told her how he'd obtained it during the Sky Unity Sect entrance trial, when the cauldron had chosen him.
After hearing his explanation, the woman exclaimed, "How could it choose someone so weak?"
"Weak?" Evan muttered inwardly, feeling especially frustrated. Since when had he become weak?
"Sigh, looks like there's no hope this time." The woman shook her head.
"Senior, what do you mean? Can you tell me?" Evan asked, confused.
"No. You don't have the right to know yet. Unless you gain immortal qualifications someday," the woman replied coldly.
"Immortal qualifications? What does that mean?" Evan was bewildered.
"Since the cauldron chose you, I must supervise you. I'll give you time—if you can't attain immortal qualifications in a thousand years, I'll take the cauldron away." The woman didn't explain further, just left Evan with this warning.
"What? What?!" Evan was utterly confused. What was going on? He had no idea.
Before Evan could ask more, he suddenly found himself by the riverbank. He muttered in disbelief, "Wasn't I just underwater? How did I get out?"
The whole experience left Evan struggling to believe what had happened. He wanted to dive back down and get a clear answer, but the thought of how easily the woman had appeared made him realize just how terrifying her strength was.
"A thousand years? What are immortal qualifications? She won't even explain clearly," Evan muttered gloomily, not daring to jump back into the water, only pacing by the riverbank.
"After a thousand years, if you don't have the qualifications, you'll face punishment." The woman's voice echoed around Evan.
"Hey, hey, can't you just explain it? Don't just declare my sentence without telling me anything!" Evan shouted in frustration, but no one responded.
He kept yelling, but only the sounds of water and birds answered him. It was just like when he'd first arrived at the riverbank.
Someone nearby smiled and said, "There's a new planet. It's huge, and the Genius Pavilion plans to use it as a branch. With so many people now, but they've run into a big problem."
"What kind of problem?" Even the Genius Pavilion considers it a major issue, so everyone looked at him curiously.
But the person waved his hand, "I don't know either. We'll only find out when the officials finish their meeting."
The others urged him to spill, but he wouldn't. Finally, he said, "There's a strange area there, so they're discussing it. There'll probably be a task soon, and the merit points are substantial."
Everyone exchanged looks, unsure what kind of strange area they'd encounter this time.
After Evan left, he started heading back, planning to wait for Reed Kong and ask him what was really going on.
He had arranged to meet Reed Kong at the restaurant after the meeting, so he arrived early and waited.
He saw many people coming and going, chatting and laughing. Evan kept his ears and spiritual sense open, so every scene and sound appeared vividly in his mind. But he was still thinking about what had just happened, so he ignored their conversations.
Until he heard someone say, "Do you know why the Genius Pavilion called back so many officials this time?"
Everyone shook their heads, saying they didn't know. Many gazes turned toward their table.
That person smiled and said, "There's a new planet. It's huge, and the Genius Pavilion plans to use it as a branch. With so many people now, but they've run into a big problem."
"What kind of problem?" Even the Genius Pavilion considers it a major issue, so everyone looked at him curiously.
But the person waved his hand, "I don't know either. We'll only find out when the officials finish their meeting."
The others urged him to spill, but he wouldn't. Finally, he said, "There's a strange area there, so they're discussing it. There'll probably be a task soon, and the merit points are substantial."
Everyone exchanged looks, unsure what kind of strange area they'd encounter this time.
Evan Yang was also curious, listening in to see what was so unusual about this strange region.
Unfortunately, that person didn't know much either. Everyone had to wait for the officials to finish their meeting, so Evan continued to wait for Reed Kong.
A few hours later, it seemed news had arrived—people left the restaurant in groups, leaving only a handful behind, Evan among them.
"Where did everyone go?" Evan wondered. Just then, Reed Kong walked in, saw Evan, and said, "Come on."
"Where are we going?" Evan asked, frowning.
"The Genius Pavilion has run into a big issue and needs a lot of manpower. They've issued a task with lots of merit points, so I'm taking you to check it out," Reed replied.
Evan already knew something major was up, but didn't know what was so strange about the region. On the way, he asked, "Senior, what's so odd about that area?"
"I heard that planet is inhabited by fierce beasts. The main reason to occupy it is its spiritual energy—it's several times denser than anywhere else, so the Genius Pavilion wants it. They're gathering people and issuing tasks to encourage everyone to battle the beasts," Reed explained.
"Doesn't that mean the beasts are really strong?" Evan asked skeptically.
"That's right. There are all sorts of fierce beasts, strong and weak. The Genius Pavilion plans to let its geniuses handle them. The merit points are calculated: one point for killing a beast of equal strength, five points for one realm higher," Reed answered.
"So lots of people are being drawn in by this task?" Evan asked, still skeptical.
"Exactly. Most people have already started signing up. You just joined and don't have many points, so I suggest you go hunt equal-strength beasts to earn points. With points, you can exchange for items or access special places in the Genius Pavilion," Reed said with a smile.