Evan Yang spent another hundred years inside the tower, cultivating Earth-Rock Aegis to the eighth layer. Victor Stone stared in shock, "You're even scarier than I imagined."
"It's all thanks to your guidance, Senior. Without it, I wouldn't be where I am today." Evan knew the ninth and tenth layers of Earth-Rock Aegis would only unlock once his earth spirit seal was broken. He had no idea when that would happen, and didn't dwell on it. Reaching the eighth layer was already impressive—at this stage, even peak Emperor-level experts couldn't break Evan's defense.
"From here on, it's all up to you." Victor Stone smiled.
After chatting a while longer, Evan decided to leave. Victor Stone planned to stay here for a few more centuries, so Evan bade him farewell.
By now, Evan had descended from the very top. When he reached the fourth floor, he found someone staring at him—it was Gavin Jia.
Gavin frowned, "You really went up there?"
"Didn't expect you'd make it up here too. Why not go take a look yourself?" Evan grinned.
"If I could, I'd have gone already. But judging by your look, you must've gained something, right? Tell me, is Earth-Rock Aegis really up there?" Gavin Jia asked.
Evan gave a strange smile, "What, showing your true colors so soon?"
Gavin Jia burst out laughing. "Isn't it obvious? Why bother pretending now? Everyone comes here for one reason—the Earth-Rock Aegis."
Evan replied, "What if I don't tell you?"
Gavin Jia snapped, "You don't get to choose! I'll make you talk." He attacked Evan, but his attacks were nullified before reaching Evan.
"What's going on?" Gavin Jia was shocked when his earth attacks mysteriously vanished.
Evan smiled, "Forgot to tell you, I'm earth attribute too." He waved his hand, and stone walls appeared, trapping Gavin Jia. Gavin was startled—he hadn't expected Evan to be earth attribute. He waved his hand and smashed the stone walls apart with a few blows.
Gavin Jia smiled at Evan, "Is that all you've got? I think you should just admit defeat."
Gavin Jia counterattacked, but Evan neutralized all his attacks. Evan felt frustrated—if only he could use Immortal Essence, he could fight directly with his fists.
Using earth attacks alone, Evan still couldn't defeat a peak Emperor-level opponent.
The two held out for a long time, each testing who could endure longer. Both were extremely stubborn.
Seeing this, Evan decided to take a gamble. "This isn't working. How about this—we try a fair attack."
"A fair attack?" Gavin Jia asked, confused.
"You punch me once, I punch you once. How about it?" Evan asked.
"Is it really that simple?" Gavin Jia asked suspiciously.
"That's right, it's just that simple," Evan said.
"Alright, you first or me?" Gavin Jia asked.
"Together!" Evan said.
"Oh? You want to see whose body is tougher, huh?" Gavin Jia sneered.
"That's right," Evan smiled.
"Alright, as you wish," Gavin Jia sneered. The two prepared themselves, and at the signal, both charged forward, striking each other's chest with full force.
Boom! Both were sent flying, but Evan quickly stabilized, while Gavin Jia stared at him in disbelief, "How are you unharmed?"
"What, you wanted me to be hurt?" Evan smiled.
"Your strength was so small," Gavin Jia frowned, recalling Evan's stone-lifting.
"That time? I just picked any stone. Actually, I'm stronger than all of you," Evan smiled.
Gavin Jia was stunned, unable to believe it, but his body was badly injured. He glared, "You cheated."
"How did I cheat? You just tried to take advantage," Evan said.
"Damn it, I'll kill you!" Gavin Jia roared, summoning earth walls to besiege Evan, but Evan quickly broke through, and with Gavin injured, Evan soon gained the upper hand.
With a miserable scream, Gavin Jia was crushed beneath a stone, blood spraying everywhere.
Gavin Jia gasped, unwilling to accept defeat, "You're despicable."
"How am I despicable?" Evan crouched down and asked.
"I won't let you go, as long as I live!" Gavin Jia said, as his soul emerged and tried to escape.
"Escape? You'll be disappointed," Evan smiled, then summoned Soul-Reaping Water, which devoured Gavin Jia without hesitation.
Even before dying, Gavin Jia couldn't believe what had happened—how could Evan have such a terrifying power inside him?
Evan composed himself, walked from the fourth floor to the first, and finally exited the tower. The three outside saw Evan and were amazed; they were eager to know what happened inside.
When asked about Gavin Jia and the others, Evan said he hadn't seen them, but the others didn't believe him and surrounded him. One asked, "Li Mu said it's dangerous inside. If you're not earth attribute, you can't enter. How did you manage it?"
Evan looked at the three, knowing they'd entered the tower, but only saw Gavin Jia and no sign of the others, which made him curious. He smiled, "Earth attribute? Is it this?"
Evan demonstrated his earth power, instantly silencing them. They knew earth attribute was stronger here, so they didn't dare object.
Seeing their expressions, Evan said, "Since none of you are earth attribute and can't enter, why not look for an exit?"
"Leave? We've tried, but..." one said helplessly. The other two agreed there was no way.
Evan smiled, "How do you know if you haven't tried?"
"There's nothing to try. We know the only exit is over there, but it's surrounded by maze formations. We thought whoever mastered Earth-Rock Aegis could lead us out," one sighed.
Evan pondered for a moment, then asked, "Where is that place?"
"It's at the eastern end of the water. We've tried several times, but can't get through unless someone has learned Earth-Rock Aegis," one said.
Evan recalled the river from last time and smiled, "Got it. Thanks, everyone."
"You're planning to go?" one asked, and the other two looked at Evan curiously.
Evan nodded, "Yeah, I'll just go take a look."
The three watched Evan leave, feeling helpless—they simply couldn't stop him.
Seeing their expressions, Evan paused, "Aren't you going to take a look together?"
"We don't have the ability," one sighed, and the other two agreed.
Evan asked curiously, "Which palace are you from?"
"We're all from the Fire Palace," one said.
"Fire Palace?" Evan muttered.
"That's right," the three replied in unison.
"I might have a way out. If you're willing, you can enter my spatial ring," Evan said.
The three weren't sure if Evan was telling the truth—it could mean death—but after much hesitation, one asked, "Are you sure you can? Shouldn't we wait for Gavin Jia and the others?"
"Them? I don't know, but I can tell you Gavin Jia is already dead," Evan said.
Hearing Gavin Jia was dead, the three were shocked.
"You can choose to stay here or come with me," Evan said, seeing their expressions.
The three exchanged glances, then agreed to follow Evan. Evan took out a spatial ring and let them enter.
After the three entered, Evan stored the ring and headed to the river's end. There, he found a gap between stones and entered curiously.
At first, nothing seemed unusual, but as he went deeper, the space felt narrower. Evan realized the surroundings were changing.
Suddenly, earth walls appeared, threatening to crush Evan. He activated Earth-Rock Aegis, rendering the walls harmless. After they vanished, he passed through, encountering many such earth walls along the way.