Led by Jax Jia, Evan Yang and his companion squeezed through the crowd and arrived beneath the platform. The Bai Family members were already assembled there, along with a black-clad man wearing a tall bamboo hat, holding something in his hand that looked like a staff—or perhaps something else entirely.
When the tall-hatted man saw Evan Yang, he spoke, "You two, swear your oaths."
"Oaths?" Evan Yang asked, surprised and puzzled.
"Little beggar, you don't know about this, do you?" a Bai clansman mocked.
"It's nothing special," Jax Jia snorted, then explained to Evan Yang: "Oaths mean both sides agree to the match—all accidents are settled by yourselves, no trouble allowed outside, meaning you can't cause problems at the stronghold afterward. Most importantly, win or lose, life or death—it's all permitted."
"Even life and death?" Evan Yang was shocked. His gaze met the Bai Family contestant—the same Bai clansman from the banquet yesterday. Seeing the man's contemptuous look, Evan secretly laughed: "So, you want to cripple me and the match allows life and death. Don't blame me later."
"You each swear your oath," the referee said to both contestants.
Both swore their oaths in turn. Through this, Evan Yang also learned his opponent's name: Shane White of the Bai Family. As for Evan, he still used the 'little beggar' alias, since the Chu, Stewart, and Wong family members were all present—he didn't want to openly clash with the Wong Clan just yet.
"Little beggar, you might be good at alchemy, but what about your cultivation?" Warren Wong, still annoyed from yesterday, seized the chance to mock Evan Yang, recalling the way Evan looked at him during the banquet.
"None of them are decent," Evan Yang cursed inwardly, but outwardly he smiled. "Brother Wong, I promise you won't be disappointed."
“Big words, huh!” Warren Wong snorted, his tone full of disbelief.
Tara Chu naturally stood beside Evan, stepping forward with a gentle reminder: "If you really can't handle it, just back out. Nobody will blame you."
Evan knew Tara was looking out for him, but even if he lost, he couldn't admit defeat in front of so many people—it would be a lifelong humiliation. He smiled decisively. "Don't worry, Miss Chu."
Tara and Warren had spoken, but Lana Stewart stayed quiet, her curious eyes fixed on Evan. She still remembered yesterday—how could someone she'd never met know her name? And the way he said it felt strangely familiar.
Meeting Lana's gaze, Evan wasn't sure if he should feel guilty or just awkward. He quickly looked away, went back to Jax's side, and grinned, "How about a bet?"
A bet? What's this guy up to now? That was what everyone else was thinking.
Jax blinked, curiosity piqued. "What kind of bet?"
Evan grinned. "If I settle the Bai Family guy within fifteen minutes, you have to tell me a secret. Deal?"
Jax hadn't even reacted yet, but Shane White of the Bai Family was already furious. "Filthy beggar, you think you're immortal or something?"
Everyone thought Evan Yang was boasting too much. Settling the opponent in a quarter-hour? Unless Evan's cultivation far surpassed Shane White's, it was impossible—battles between cultivators of the same realm rarely ended that quickly.
Seeing the Bai Family provoked, Jax Jia didn't hesitate and agreed, "Alright, Evan, I'm counting on you."
"Good." Evan Yang saw Jax take the bait and secretly chuckled. He'd always wanted to learn Jax's true identity and origins, but didn't want to hurt their friendship by prying. Now, if he won, he could ask openly.
The two of them making a bet with no regard for others' opinions sent a chill through the crowd.
A Bai clansman couldn't take it anymore and said, "Kid, if you want to fight, just get up here and prove yourself. What's with all the pointless talk?"
"I'm just discussing things with my friend. Now that we're done, let me see how impressive your Bai Family really is." Evan Yang followed Shane White onto the platform.
At last, it was about to begin. Tara Chu and the others moved to the closest spots to the stage, watching the unfolding scene.
Under everyone's gaze, the referee announced the start. Shane White and Evan Yang stepped onto the stage, releasing their aura: Foundation-Building mid-stage, Foundation-Building late-stage.
"So that's it? Turns out he's only at Foundation-Building mid-stage." Warren Wong had expected Evan Yang to be powerful enough to make such bold bets, but seeing he was only at mid-stage, he mocked even more.
"Don't underestimate him!" Jax Jia naturally sided with Evan Yang and immediately retorted when he heard Warren Wong's words.
"Let's hope he doesn't overestimate himself. Then it'll be fun to watch." Warren Wong sneered.
Not only Warren Wong, but many spectators had the same thought—a mid-stage Foundation cultivator boasting he could win in a quarter-hour was extremely difficult.
But in the next moment, Evan Yang and Shane White's actions began to change some people's minds.
Evan and Shane stepped up, each throwing a punch at the other. Both went all out, but to everyone's shock, they were knocked back an equal distance—meaning their raw strength was evenly matched.
Jax Jia, worried Evan might be hurt by that punch, finally relaxed and muttered to himself, "This kid's punch is strong—he can actually fight someone a stage higher."
Lana Stewart, Tara Chu, and others were also quietly curious—how could Evan's punch be so powerful?
Even some hidden observers murmured, "This kid's fists are solid."
Shane White couldn't accept the outcome, angrily exchanged several more punches with Evan. Only Evan knew his body was different—after the seed and blood transformation, his ordinary punches matched late-stage Foundation cultivators. If the fight continued, he would surely win, since his body absorbed qi faster and his spiritual power drained slower.
The crowd gradually noticed this too—Evan's power declined much slower, while Shane weakened faster and started to retreat.
Did he have a treasure to replenish his qi?' Seeing Evan's power decline slower, the crowd speculated. Even the three hidden observers wondered, 'This kid's qi drains much slower than normal.
Shane White also realized something was off and shouted angrily, "Filthy beggar, don't think your treasure means I can't beat you!"
"Treasure?" Evan looked at him and the crowd, noticing many surprised faces. Only he knew it wasn't some treasure, but the seed's power.
Shane, seeing Evan didn't admit it, secretly grumbled, "Damn it, if this keeps up, I'm going to lose."
"If ordinary punches can hold out this long, what about the second-layer fist?" Evan thought about the effect of two punches launched at once—a combined explosive strike. Shane might die on the spot.
This fist technique was Evan's adaptation of the Bai clan's art and that secret method—like his daggers, two could stack instantly for a combined attack. The fist art's close-range fusion was even stronger.
Shane White had no idea what Evan was thinking, because he had already pulled out a crossbow. It looked like a normal crossbow, but sharp-eyed spectators gasped, "Spirit-Qi Crossbow!"
"Not good!" Jax Jia was shocked. Some might not know the Spirit-Qi Crossbow's power, but he knew it well—it was a legendary weapon a thousand years ago.
"The Bai Family really is out to ruin people. Did they actually find a treasure trove?" Someone murmured in the shadows.
Rumor had it the Bai Family found a treasure trove full of rare items, but they always denied it. No one knew the truth, but seeing the Spirit-Qi Crossbow today reminded everyone of those old stories.
"That weapon looks strong." Evan, still clueless about the Spirit-Qi Crossbow, just sensed its powerful qi and watched as a qi arrow slowly formed.
"Kid, being crippled by the Spirit-Qi Crossbow is worthy of your reputation." Shane White laughed as the qi arrow formed.
"Despicable Bai Family, using such an overpowered treasure artifact." Some cultivators who had benefited from Evan's alchemy spoke up in his defense when they saw he was about to face the Spirit-Qi Crossbow.
"This kid is done for." Warren Wong sneered.
"Is he really going to lose?" Tara Chu and the others worried silently.
Evan was a bit worried—not afraid of Shane White, but wary of whatever unknown power the opponent might have. Facing the soon-to-be-fired qi arrow, he dared not be careless.
The atmosphere on the stage was tense; some hesitated, wanting to see the Spirit-Qi Crossbow's power, others wanted to see how Evan would dodge the arrow.
The crowd saw a flash of light shoot from the Spirit-Qi Crossbow—so fast, only those with high cultivation could follow its path.
"He's finished." Someone laughed gleefully.
Others were on edge, waiting for a miracle.
Evan felt a powerful force flying toward him. If he didn't dodge, he'd be ruined, so without hesitation he used Phantom Two-Step.
With Phantom Two-Step, two figures appeared—no one, not even the Spirit-Qi Crossbow, could tell which was real. The qi arrow hit one figure, which vanished in front of the crowd.
In a brief moment, everyone witnessed a miracle—some even admired the little beggar for surviving the Spirit-Qi Crossbow.
Jax Jia breathed a sigh of relief after Evan succeeded, grateful the user wasn't a true expert. If a stronger opponent fired multiple arrows, even Evan's clones wouldn't survive.
Evan, unaware of the Spirit-Qi Crossbow's true power, thought he'd narrowly escaped death and felt lucky.
Shane White was dumbfounded, screaming internally, "Impossible!"
Even the three hidden observers couldn't sit still. One said, "That movement technique..."
"It's said to be the Shadowhand Guild's highest cultivation art—how did this kid get it?" Another asked, surprised.
"Maybe he inherited the legacy." The last one said calmly.
"Maybe he inherited the legacy." The last one said calmly.