While she couldn't believe Ian Song had the power to send her flying, the delicate young woman was absolutely furious.
She let out a soft cry.
She lunged at Ian Song once more, moving as fast as a streak of green lightning. At the same time, a towering tree phantom appeared behind her—hundreds of meters tall, its roots burrowing deep into the void, greedily absorbing energy and radiating a mysterious, vast aura.
"Kill!"
Green light flared as the delicate young woman struck out with her palm again.
"Interesting!"
Ian Song glanced at the tree phantom behind the young woman, then raised his hand to meet her attack.
Bang!
The collision sent shockwaves rippling outward, cracking the protective barrier with huge fissures. Two Demigod experts quickly increased their output, and at Princess Myra's signal, another Demigod from the Myriad-Phenomena Army stepped forward to reinforce the barrier.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The two clashed rapidly inside the barrier, the powerful impact and energy waves shocking even the top leaders of every major faction.
Elder Sean and Elder Miles, in particular, wore extremely complex expressions. They had imagined Ian Song's strength could rival an ordinary Demigod, but hadn't expected him to be this powerful—likely even they themselves would not be his match.
It seems we must advise the clan head to conduct the Divine Descent ritual as soon as possible. Otherwise, if he grows any stronger, the ritual may fail.
In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged hundreds of moves. The branches and leaves of the tree phantom shook incessantly, streams of green light falling onto the young woman and causing her aura to rise steadily throughout the battle.
Even so, she still couldn't suppress Ian Song, leaving her extremely frustrated.
No, I can't keep going like this!
Growing anxious, the young woman let out a soft cry. The ancient tree phantom behind her suddenly transformed into a mass of green light and merged into her body, causing her aura to surge tenfold.
"Cosmic Cycle Divine Tree, heed my command—condense the Green Emperor Divine Sword!"
In the next instant, a green longsword radiating chaotic energy appeared in the young woman's hand, half-real, half-illusory.
Slash!
Sunny swung her sword in a fierce arc.
With that slash, it was as if she split open space-time itself; the flow of time across the entire hall visibly slowed.
"That sword actually contains the power of time and space law!"
Ian Song was a little surprised, but quickly sneered. His Ten Thousand Stars physique had already awakened the supreme time-law ability, the Time-Reaving Blade—one slash could easily cut away five hundred years from an enemy.
So compared to his mastery, Sunny's grasp of time law was child's play.
Still, he didn't intend to reveal that divine ability just yet.
The next moment, Ian narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "No matter how profound your laws, I can break them... with brute force!"
Boom!
As he spoke, Ian stepped forward and threw a long-range punch.
Boom!
The void shuddered under his fist; in less than a tenth of a breath, a shattering sound echoed as the entire space inside the barrier fractured like glass, collapsing into a black hole of warped time and space.
Sunny's understanding of time-space law was still shallow; her power required an intact void as a medium. With the void broken, her law lost its channel and instantly dissipated.
Ian Song stepped forward again and unleashed another punch.
His fist shone like a blazing sun, radiating overwhelming might.
Thwack!
The green divine sword in Sunny's hand shattered with a crash. The leftover force slammed into her, sending her flying like a broken kite until she crashed into the barrier. Her lips parted and she coughed up blood several times, her face instantly turning deathly pale.
"I don't believe it! I can't lose to you! Again!"
Sunny refused to accept defeat. Unwilling to believe she'd lost, she tried to rush forward and attack again.
Just then, a calm voice rang out: "Enough, Sunny. You've lost."
"Princess!"
Sunny trembled all over. She glanced at Princess Myra, then lowered her head, her face full of shame.
The Sky-Sun Region's prodigies finally snapped out of their shock and started shouting 'Evan Chu!'
Face restored—utterly restored! Even Princess Myra's Demigod-level personal maid had been defeated by Evan Chu. Who could still claim the Sky-Sun geniuses were all talk, or that they were cowards?
Princess Myra ignored Sunny, focusing all her attention on Ian Song. Smiling, she said, "Evan Chu, my palace is short a personal bodyguard. Would you be willing to serve as my close-protection guard?"
At those words, the previously noisy hall fell silent. High-level figures from every faction stared at Ian Song with envy, privately marveling at the Ward Family's luck.
If Evan Chu became Princess Myra's personal guard, the Ward Family would rise with him.
Elder Sean and Elder Miles were overjoyed, their old faces nearly blooming with smiles. In their hearts, they thought: if Evan Chu became Princess Myra's bodyguard, there'd be no need for the Divine Descent ritual—and the Ward Family's entry into the Central Domain would become much easier.
Who would've guessed that a casual move would become the foundation of the Ward Family's advancement into the Central Domain?
Just then, Ian Song's voice rang out: "Princess, I appreciate your kindness, but I'm used to being free and easy. My temperament's a bit rough and uncouth—I'm afraid I'm not fit to serve as your bodyguard!"
"What? He refused!"
"He actually refused!"
"He refused!"
"Refused!"
"Refused!"
Everyone present could hardly believe it—Evan Chu had actually turned down Princess Myra's offer.
Elder Sean and Elder Miles' faces instantly darkened like scorched pans.
The next moment, Elder Sean stood up and said, "Princess, Evan Chu is young and reckless—please give this old man a chance to talk some sense into him!"
"Very well!"
Princess Myra replied coolly, her expression a bit frosty. "That's enough for today. Dismissed!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Princess Myra swept away in a swirl of robes.
"Evan Chu! What are you doing? Why would you turn down such a golden opportunity?"
As soon as Princess Myra left, Elder Sean and Elder Miles couldn't hold back any longer. They marched over together, ready to scold Ian Song.
"Sorry, Elders. That battle drained me—I’m exhausted. I’ll take my leave for now!"
Ian Song cast a cool glance at the two elders, tossed out a parting remark, and slipped away.
"Scoundrel!"
"That brat really deserves a beating!"
The two elders cursed furiously, but there was nothing they could do.
"No, we have to inform the family head! That kid’s wings have grown—he can't be treated like before!"
The two elders exchanged hurried words and quickly departed as well.
That very night, Ian Song—now called the Madman of Evan Chu—became the talk of Dragonskull City, and the news spread rapidly to neighboring regions.
At the same time, the news was relayed by the top brass of every faction to their own clans and sects. If Evan Chu really became Princess Myra's bodyguard, his status would skyrocket—and everyone would want to curry favor with him.
Once the news broke, the upper echelons immediately began investigating Ian Song's hobbies—naturally, to tailor their gifts accordingly.