Flamesong was shocked by Evan Yang's words. He looked at Evan in disbelief and asked, "What do we do now?"
"Come with me." Evan Yang finished speaking, grabbed Flamesong, and tossed him straight into the Realm-Shuttle Pen. With a flash, Evan also entered the pen. In a blink, they slipped out of the barrier and even left the Flame Temple's territory.
Palace Lord Ignace was shocked, unable to believe what had just happened. He muttered angrily, "Damn it, go, find them! I want them found, no matter what."
Palace Lord Ignace never expected Evan Yang could escape at this moment. He was furious—finally, he’d found out Evan had returned and lured him here, but now he was gone. Unwilling to let things go, he immediately sealed off the Flame Temple.
Outside the Flame Temple, Evan Yang released Flamesong and said, "All right."
"We left?" Flamesong exclaimed, realizing they were already outside Firespirit Mountain.
"Yeah, we’re out. Now you should see the Palace Lord’s true nature, right?" Evan Yang said.
Flamesong said, "Looks like I should have trusted you sooner. I’ll definitely find a way to expose the Palace Lord’s real identity."
"It won’t be easy. You saw it yourself—so many of those who came with you ended up obeying the Palace Lord." Evan Yang said.
Flamesong sighed at Evan Yang’s words. "Sigh, I never expected this."
"All right, let’s not talk about this anymore. I need to leave, or Palace Lord Ignace will definitely send people everywhere to hunt us down," Evan Yang said.
Flamesong thought for a moment, then said to Evan Yang, "I don’t believe the whole Flame Temple is under control. I’ll try to contact some people, and no matter what, I’ll do my best. If you need help, just ask. As for the Yang clan, don’t worry—if I hear anything, I’ll let you know right away."
Evan Yang hadn’t expected that he and Flamesong would become friends after all they’d been through, nor that Flamesong would help him. Evan smiled and said, "Thanks. With your help, I feel a lot more at ease."
"Mm, go on," Flamesong said.
Evan Yang nodded and left. His destination was the Water Temple, because he had something to do—now that he was the Ice-fire Successor and his strength rivaled an Immortal Sovereign, he could finally return and seek out the Water Temple’s people.
At the Water Temple, Palace Lord Yuna was pacing anxiously. She’d just received word that the Flame Temple had sent people to hunt for Evan Yang.
"Evan Yang, Evan Yang, what’s your situation right now?" Palace Lord Yuna said worriedly.
Palace Lord Yuna was desperate to know Evan Yang’s safety. She’d sent people to the Yang clan before, and after hearing Evan had been taken away, she’d felt uneasy ever since. At this moment, her thoughts were still on Evan Yang.
Meanwhile, Evan Yang had already arrived at the Water Temple. The place was unusually quiet, but Evan avoided strangers and directly contacted the people he wanted to see.
Palace Lord Yuna, who had been worrying about Evan Yang’s safety, was stunned when she received his message. She thought she’d misread it, but after confirming, realized it was real and immediately arranged to meet him.
In a hidden area of the Water Temple, Evan Yang met with Palace Lord Yuna.
Seeing that it was really Evan Yang, Palace Lord Yuna grew excited. "You’re finally back!"
"Yes, Palace Lord," Evan Yang said respectfully.
"It’s wonderful you could return. I heard your strength now rivals an Immortal Sovereign?" Palace Lord Yuna asked.
Evan Yang replied, "Just barely."
"Then you’re here to have the Ice-fire seal undone, aren’t you?" Palace Lord Yuna smiled.
"Exactly. I ask for your help, Palace Lord Yuna," Evan Yang said.
Palace Lord Yuna nodded. "I’ve already made preparations. Come, follow me."
With that, Evan Yang followed the Water Temple Palace Lord to a sea region. Deep within the waters, Evan saw ten strangers.
The Water Temple Palace Lord said to a woman, "Master, he’s the Ice-fire Successor—and also the Sacred Flame Successor."
"Such promise at a young age," Master Serena Tide said.
The other nine exchanged glances and nodded in agreement, praising Evan Yang’s cultivation.
"Greetings, seniors." Evan Yang knew each of these ten were exceptional, so he spoke respectfully.
"You’re Evan Yang, correct? Then you know why we’ve called you here?" Master Serena Tide asked.
"Yes, to undo the Ice-fire seal," Evan Yang replied.
"We’ve prepared to break the seal, but just because we’re ready doesn’t mean you are. It’s an extremely complex process—if anything goes wrong, it could affect you," Master Serena Tide warned Evan Yang.
"I’m ready. Please, break the seal," Evan Yang said.
"Very well, follow us," Master Serena Tide said, then led Evan Yang into a tunnel deep beneath the sea.
Inside the tunnel, they journeyed onward and finally arrived at a vortex. Evan Yang could feel abundant Immortal Source swirling around it, and he watched curiously as the ten took their positions.
"Evan Yang, when you’re ready, step into the center," Master Serena Tide said.
Evan Yang nodded and stepped into the center of the vortex.
He felt a force pulling at his body from below, as if trying to tear him apart.
Seeing Evan Yang was ready, Master Serena Tide gave him some instructions, then all ten acted together. As they moved, light flashed around them and a ritual formation took shape.
Palace Lord Yuna watched with excitement. "At last, the Ice-fire seal will be undone!"
The others were excited too, but among them, one person—though smiling—was secretly plotting how to sabotage the formation.
This person was one of the ten. The others didn’t notice, so no one realized Evan Yang was in danger. Since the ritual required all ten, any disruption could ruin the process—or even put Evan at risk.
Palace Lord Ignace of the Flame Temple received a secret report that Evan Yang had gone to the Water Temple. He sneered, "So he’s returned to the Water Temple? Even better. I’ll demand they hand him over."
With that, Palace Lord Ignace led his people to the Water Temple.
As the ritual formation was underway, the Flame Temple people arrived. Palace Lord Yuna was shocked by the news and hurried to respond.
Outside the Water Temple palace, Palace Lord Yuna frowned at the Flame Temple delegation. "What are you doing here?"
"Palace Lord Yuna, I came last time for the same reason: Evan Yang. He sabotaged our Flame Temple’s affairs. I’m here to take him back for questioning. I hope you’ll hand him over," Palace Lord Ignace said with a smile.
"Without evidence, you accuse him of anything. Palace Lord Ignace, even if he weren’t the Ice-fire Successor—even if he were just an ordinary Water Temple member—I would still protect him," Palace Lord Yuna replied coldly.
"So you’re determined to shield him. In that case, I have nothing more to say. Today, no matter what, I will find him—or else there will be war between the Water Temple and Flame Temple," Palace Lord Ignace threatened. He had long wanted conflict, knowing both temples would suffer heavy losses.
"Palace Lord Ignace, what are your intentions? Don’t you know our temples must not go to war? Is this matter truly worth it?" Palace Lord Yuna said angrily.
"What do you mean, ‘such a matter’? This is very serious. I hope you understand the gravity, or I, Ignace, won’t be so agreeable," Palace Lord Ignace said coldly.
Palace Lord Yuna knew Ignace was intent on dragging the Water Temple into war with the Flame Temple. She shouted angrily, "Palace Lord Ignace, do you really want the whole world to know your secret?"
"Secret? What secret? Are you going to claim, like Evan Yang, that someone tried to kill me? Ridiculous," Palace Lord Ignace said coldly.
Palace Lord Yuna knew she couldn’t topple Ignace this way, but her top priority was Evan Yang’s safety. No matter what, she would not hand him over.
Seeing Palace Lord Yuna glare at him, Palace Lord Ignace said coldly, "Palace Lord Yuna, I’ll ask one last time: will you hand him over, or not?"
"No," Palace Lord Yuna replied.
"If that’s how it is, then I truly have no choice but to start a war," Palace Lord Ignace said coldly.
"If Palace Lord Ignace insists, then I’ll face it," Palace Lord Yuna replied.
Palace Lord Ignace glanced at Palace Lord Yuna, then left with a cold snort. He departed to return to the Flame Temple and prepare for war.
Even after Ignace left, Palace Lord Yuna remained uneasy. She went to find her master.
After informing her master about Ignace, her master frowned and sent her a voice transmission: "There must not be war. It’s forbidden—none of the temples have ever battled. No matter what, we must stop it."
"He insists on handing over Evan Yang, but he’s not really Ignace—his soul was destroyed. What should we do?" Palace Lord Yuna asked, troubled.
"Go, seek out the other temples. We must stop this. I believe they won’t sit by and let the Water and Flame Temples go to war—it would harm them as well," her master said.
Palace Lord Yuna nodded, then vanished in a flash, heading for several mysterious places.
Her purpose in visiting these mysterious places was to persuade others and inform them about the Flame Temple Palace Lord and his intentions.
When those people heard about the Flame Temple Palace Lord and the impending war with the Water Temple, they realized something was wrong and agreed to Palace Lord Yuna’s request.
With their agreement, Palace Lord Yuna felt reassured. She hurried back to the Water Temple and found her master.
"How did it go?" her master asked curiously when Palace Lord Yun returned.
"I’ve contacted several palace lords. If they aren’t colluding with Ignace, they should help us," Palace Lord Yuna said.
"That’s good. Still, I don’t want to see the Flame Temple ruined by Ignace. He’s our enemy, but he’s using the Flame Temple as a shield," her master said with a frown.
Palace Lord Yuna felt the same. If war broke out, the Flame Temple would suffer greatly. No matter what, Ignace’s plan would succeed—he just wanted to weaken all the temples, and Evan Yang was merely his excuse.