Hearing that Ming Yang didn’t know either, Evan Yang felt disappointed and replied lightly, “My father is doing well now.”
“Second Brother is awake?” The Wine Beggar said excitedly.
“Yes.” Evan nodded.
“Where is he?” The Wine Beggar couldn’t wait to learn Liam Yang’s whereabouts, and Lydia Yang and Ming Yang were just as eager.
Seeing their expressions, Evan consulted inside the Sky-Piercing Tower. Once Liam Yang learned Evan had returned to the Yang Clan, he was impatient to come out—after all, these were his family.
With Liam’s permission, Evan brought him out. When Liam saw Ming Yang, Lydia Yang, and the Wine Beggar, he was deeply moved, and the three were even more emotional.
“Second Brother!” Lydia Yang and the Wine Beggar cried out in unison.
The three then started talking nonstop, until Liam finally said, “You’ve all suffered these years.”
“It’s nothing,” the Wine Beggar replied.
Lydia Yang echoed, "It’s nothing." Ming Yang finally couldn’t hold back and asked, “Are you fully recovered?”
“Yes, Father, I made you worry.” Liam Yang said to Ming Yang.
“Sigh, back then—it wasn’t that I didn’t want to help, it’s just...” Ming Yang said awkwardly.
“Father, I understand. In that situation, if the Yang Clan had stepped forward, we would have been wiped out. Even the Immortal Realm Alliance couldn’t have protected us.” Liam Yang knew the situation well. The Wine Beggar and Lydia Yang had never understood what really happened and always thought Ming Yang was just afraid of those outsiders, so they’d held a grudge for years.
“Second Brother, what actually happened back then?” the Wine Beggar asked curiously.
Liam Yang knew this was no longer a secret, and with Evan Yang present, he explained what happened all those years ago, including Evan’s mother’s identity.
Neither the Wine Beggar nor Lydia Yang had any concept of the Water Temple, but when they learned it was such a peak existence, they were stunned. Their prejudice against Ming Yang gradually faded.
“That’s how it was. Luckily Evan was safe back then, and now he’s been found.” Liam Yang smiled.
“Evan is very good,” Ming Yang said simply, but his words carried strong approval.
Liam Yang smiled. “Yes.”
“Evan, are you still unwilling to call me Grandfather?” Ming Yang suddenly asked, surprising everyone. It turned out he’d always wanted Evan to address him as Grandfather.
Evan hadn’t expected this sudden 'grandfather' to feel so unfamiliar. Their previous interactions had always been about making deals, so calling him Grandfather felt awkward and lacking in emotion.
Seeing Evan hesitate for so long, Liam Yang said, “Evan, he’s my father, which makes him your grandfather.” “Give me time,” Evan replied quietly.
Liam Yang wanted to persuade Evan, but Ming Yang smiled and said, “It’s fine, there will be chances in the future.” “Alright,” Evan answered.
Seeing the awkwardness between Evan and Ming Yang, Liam Yang and the others didn’t know what to say. To break the tension, Evan asked, “Who else might know the Water Temple’s whereabouts?”
“The Alliance Leader and his peers know,” Ming Yang replied.
“The Alliance Leader refused to tell me,” Evan said.
“You actually went to him?” Ming Yang was shocked, and Liam Yang looked at Evan curiously.
Evan recounted his conversation with the Alliance Leader. After hearing it, Ming Yang and the others understood—the Alliance Leader was acting for Evan’s own good.
But Evan smiled and said stubbornly, “I’ll find out, one way or another.”
“How do you plan to find out? Where will you look?” Liam Yang asked with a frown.
“Don’t worry, Father. After wandering so many years, I can protect myself. I plan to go out alone—first to temper myself and raise my strength, second to search for other Immortal Sovereigns.” Evan said.
Though Liam Yang was reluctant, he knew Evan wasn’t meant to stay penned up here—he belonged to a broader sky. So he said, “Go ahead.”
Evan nodded, then took his leave of the four. After Evan left, Ming Yang frowned, “Are you really willing to let him go alone?”
“Father, his temperament matches mine—he hates being constrained. Since that’s the case, it’s better to let him roam. Sooner or later, he’ll return.” Liam Yang said.
“Alright, then I won’t worry anymore. But there’s something I want to ask.” Ming Yang said.
Liam Yang asked curiously, “What is it?”
“What bloodline does he have? You should know, right?” Ming Yang knew Evan wouldn’t answer, but Liam Yang would.
Liam Yang answered out of filial respect, “Father, he has pure Flameblood.”
His words stunned not only Ming Yang, but also the Wine Beggar and Lydia Yang.
After a long moment, Ming Yang finally said, “I never imagined our Yang Clan would see pure Flameblood again.”
“Yeah,” Liam Yang agreed. He never expected Evan would inherit Flameblood.
“And you still let him go out? If anything happens to him, that Flameblood is wasted!” Ming Yang suddenly realized the risk and spoke urgently.
“Father, I thought it through long ago. If you lock an eagle in a cage, what kind of outcome will you get?” Liam Yang replied with a metaphor.
That left Ming Yang silent. Finally he sighed, “You’re right. I got too emotional. Let’s leave it at that.”
Liam Yang nodded, then invited the Wine Beggar and Lydia Yang to stroll around the Yang Clan estate. Having been away so many years, he felt a special emotion walking through it again.
As for Evan, not long after leaving the Yang Clan, he was soon shadowed by a group of people.
In fact, there were two separate parties, clearly not a coincidence but a premeditated ambush.
“At last, we’ve caught up to you!” One person flew out, and another followed from the other group.
Evan took a closer look and saw that the two were none other than Patriarch Fenn and Patriarch Lynn. From their aggressive manner, it was obvious they’d come over their sons’ and grandsons’ affairs.
“I didn’t expect to see two patriarchs here. What, you actually came to wait for me? I’m genuinely surprised.” Evan said, curious.
“Kid, stop pretending. Tell us what happened in the Devil Realm—why did they join forces with the Demon Sovereign?” Patriarch Fenn demanded angrily.
“Do I really need to tell you?” Evan replied.
“Arrogant brat! Watch how I take you down.” Patriarch Fenn, a ninth-tier Emperor, was furious. He flashed in front of Evan and struck, but Evan just sneered, “You won’t kill me that way.”
With that, Evan vanished—and another Evan appeared elsewhere.
This enraged both Patriarch Fenn and Patriarch Lynn, and stunned everyone around. It meant Evan was essentially impossible to kill.
At this moment, Evan’s true body was hidden in the shadows, using his self-cultivated clone art to toy with them.
“Evan, if you’ve got guts, come out here!” Patriarch Fenn shouted angrily.
“Patriarch Fenn, aren’t I right in front of you?” Evan laughed.
“That’s just a clone! If you’ve got guts, show your true body!” Patriarch Fenn shouted.
“How do you know this is my clone—and not my real body?” Evan mocked.
“Damn you, you—you deserve to die!” Patriarch Fenn cursed, unable to bear it. Patriarch Lynn also realized that if they didn’t figure out how to counter Evan’s clone art, their trip would be wasted—and they’d offend both the Yang Clan and the Alliance Leader.
“Want to catch me? Sure, if you’ve got the skill.” Evan smiled, then flashed away. Patriarch Fenn and Patriarch Lynn quickly chased after him, while the others lagged far behind.
Three streaks of light zipped from one end of the void to the other. People on some planets who saw this spectacle were amazed and wondered who these three experts were ‘showing off.’
Evan could only rely on speed to contend with them. He knew he couldn’t match two peak Emperors in raw strength.
“How strange—how did news of my return to the Yang Clan spread so fast?” Evan muttered, unleashing Meteor Flight. This speed was perfect for unobstructed travel through the void.
Patriarch Fenn and Patriarch Lynn hadn’t expected Evan’s speed to be so terrifying. Even after ramping up their own speed, they could only keep pace with him.
“Patriarch Lynn, what do we do now?” Patriarch Fenn asked curiously.
“I don’t know. This kid is too slippery—there’s no way to beat him in a speed contest.” Patriarch Lynn frowned.
“How about we split up—one ahead, one behind? I refuse to believe we can’t catch him.” Patriarch Fenn suggested.
“But what if that’s another clone?” Patriarch Lynn worried.
Patriarch Fenn thought for a moment and said, “Let’s use the Blood-Lock Curse.”
“Blood-Lock Curse? You have one?” Patriarch Lynn exclaimed in surprise.
“Yes, I was worried about his clone art, so I prepared one last time I returned. Now I just need a chance to use it on him.” Patriarch Fenn said.
“Alright, let’s split up—one ahead, one behind. Once we block him, you use the Blood-Lock Curse.” Patriarch Lynn said.
Patriarch Fenn nodded, then split up with Patriarch Lynn.
Evan suddenly realized Patriarch Lynn had vanished behind him, and was startled. All he could do was flee quickly, not daring to linger.
After splitting up, Patriarch Lynn guessed Evan’s likely escape direction and used a treasure to teleport, achieving a space-jump effect much faster than flying.
But Evan’s path never crossed Patriarch Lynn’s, which made Patriarch Lynn anxious. Still, luck was bound to turn—sure enough, one time Patriarch Lynn managed to block Evan’s path.
Evan was shocked and paused. Patriarch Fenn arrived behind him. Now, with one ahead and one behind, both patriarchs deployed their barriers.
Wind and earth barriers closed in around Evan, leaving not a single gap for him to escape.
“Patriarchs, aren’t you tired yet?” Evan laughed, secretly thinking about how to get away.
“Catching you is worth it—we’re not tired at all!” Patriarch Fenn snorted. Despite his words, he was furious that Evan had run so far. If not for Patriarch Lynn’s treasure, they’d never have blocked Evan’s path.