Early the next morning, the mountain was bustling. All around, tables had been set up for the banquet.
Evan Yang roughly estimated there were five or six hundred tables, each seating ten people—so five or six thousand in total. The rest were likely off cultivating in seclusion; not everyone enjoyed joining such lively events.
Seeing the mountain covered in tables, Evan muttered, "That's a lot of people. Later I'll let the others handle the work; I really don't want to get mixed up in all this noise."
Evan had already handed the wine over to the tavern workers in his mind, planning to slip away when he got the chance. Just as he was about to head out, Mason Liu showed up at the door.
"Shopkeeper, your wine's all good, right?" Mason Liu asked with a smile.
"No problem. Everything's ready. The tavern workers will handle things later, so you can relax." Evan smiled.
"Good. After noon, just open the wine and let your workers take care of the rest. I'll send a few people to pick up the wine too. Once it's all set, wait here for me." Mason Liu grinned.
Watching Mason Liu leave, Evan chuckled to himself, "Those two, grandfather and grandson, are really crafty—wherever they go, there's always trouble brewing."
He glanced around. It was still early, and nothing needed his attention yet. Evan had to hurry and track down the whereabouts of that map.
So Evan started searching, asking the wine drinkers where the peak lord usually lived. No one suspected anything—they simply told him where the peak lord's office was.
After learning the location, Evan thanked them and soon arrived at the building the wine drinkers mentioned. Only one person lived here—Gale Foster, the peak lord. Not even the vice peak lord was qualified to stay here, and the whole area was guarded by experts.
He had to find a way to sneak in. What method should he use? Evan pondered back and forth before coming up with a plan, chuckling to himself, "Since you two are so ruthless, it's only fair for me to borrow your tricks once in a while."
Evan released his divine sense to search for Elder Liu and Mason Liu. He found the two in Elder Liu's room, grinned to himself, then circled to a deserted spot. When he emerged, he had already transformed into someone else.
Evan arrived at Gale Foster's building. The guard saw him and said, "Vice peak lord."
"I need to see the peak lord about something," Evan said, imitating Elder Liu's tone, fully disguised as Elder Liu.
The guard let Evan in without suspicion. Evan began searching for Gale Foster's room and soon found him upstairs, engrossed in reading in his study.
Gale Foster had spent the past few days searching through ancient books, even sending people to collect more, hoping to find clues about the Immortal Realm. The records were extremely scarce, but he refused to give up.
Just as Gale Foster was absorbed in his reading, Evan walked in.
"Why are you here?" Gale Foster asked, surprised.
Evan closed the door. Gale Foster looked at him curiously and asked, "Why are you closing the door in broad daylight?"
After Evan’s words, Gale Foster thought for a moment and said, "Alright, no problem. But you mustn’t tell anyone outside."
"No problem," Evan replied.
Gale Foster knew the map couldn’t be copied, no matter how strong one’s memory. He wasn’t worried Evan would memorize it—he was only trying to placate him.
Evan quietly laughed to himself, "Elder Liu, you’re in trouble this time."
Evan had already planned the rest—he wouldn’t let Elder Liu off easily. Meanwhile, Gale Foster took out the map.
The map was made of some unknown beast skin, looking ancient. Gale Foster carefully held it and said, "Take a look, but you won’t understand it."
Evan walked over and sized it up. He couldn’t make out much—just a mass of lines, their destinations unclear. He knew there were likely several maps, but for now, he focused on getting this one.
With Gale Foster distracted and unguarded, Evan swiftly snatched the map. As Gale Foster was about to protest, Evan used the Tyrant Seal Art to suppress his cultivation by five realms and seal him—though the seal would expire in about an hour.
Now Gale Foster couldn’t move at all, glaring angrily at Evan but unable to speak.
Evan smiled, "I knew you had this map before I even infiltrated the peak. Now I finally got my chance. Enjoy your time here—you’ll be free in about an hour."
Evan slowly walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Gale Foster glared furiously at the door, unable to call out.
Evan felt calm. Thankfully, he’d quickly used the Tyrant Seal Art to suppress Gale Foster’s cultivation—otherwise, a fight would have been troublesome and could have exposed him. The outcome was just what he wanted.
As Evan walked out, the guard said, "Take care, vice peak lord."
Evan nodded, found a secluded spot, changed back to his original appearance, and returned to his room to wait for the drama to unfold.
"Mad Elder, how many Immortal Realm entrance maps do you think there are?" Evan asked curiously.
"I don’t know," Madman shook his head.
Evan glared at him, muttering to himself, "Next time you run out of wine, I’ll see how you answer my questions."
Little Leo was biting Madman furiously, as if he couldn’t rest unless he bit him.
Seeing the man and beast like this, Evan thought of Jade Rabbit and Golden Fox, wondering when they’d wake up. Yesterday, he’d used their auras to calm Little Leo while sneaking into the cave—otherwise, who knows what would’ve happened.
Evan’s thoughts drifted to the past, further and further, until he remembered the people on his home planet. "I should ask the elder about where my planet actually is someday."
The elder Evan referred to was the old beggar, who’d met Evan there. Since he was able to show up now, he must know where Evan’s original planet was.
About an hour later, chaos erupted outside. Evan stepped out, glanced around, and said with a smile, "Looks like there’s no need to bluff in the cave anymore."
"Why?" Little Leo also saw the chaos outside, as if something big had happened.
"They’re in big trouble now, and it’s not a small one. Who has time to worry about the cave?" Evan laughed.
Little Leo had no idea what Evan was up to, so he was confused. Only the old beggar laughed, "That trick of yours is ruthless."
"Elder, have you been watching me?" Evan hadn’t expected Madman to keep an eye on him.
"Heh, I just happened to notice. Come on, let’s go see your handiwork," Madman laughed.
Evan smiled and took Little Leo and Madman with him. They saw three people attacking Elder Liu, while Gale Foster was tangled up with Mason Liu.
Because Gale Foster’s cultivation had been suppressed by the Tyrant Seal Art, dropping five realms, he could only join his subordinates in tangling with Mason Liu.
"Peak lords, what did I do wrong? Why are you all attacking me?" Elder Liu shouted angrily, not understanding how he’d ended up besieged.
"You dare deny it!" The second peak lord snorted coldly.
"Deny what?" Elder Liu said, confused.
Gale Foster angrily said, "I really raised an ingrate, daring to steal my treasure!"
With those words, everyone understood—clearly, the vice peak lord had stolen something from the peak lord, causing the chaos. Disciples blocked the area, preventing the grandfather and grandson from escaping.
Elder Liu and Mason Liu had no idea what was going on and were furious. Elder Liu, especially, had been planning something, only for this mess to happen. "I didn’t do it!" he shouted.
"Bah! You dare do it but won’t admit it!" Gale Foster shouted angrily.
"Peak lords, I really don’t know what’s going on. There must be some misunderstanding," Elder Liu pleaded. He didn’t fear the three attackers but didn’t want to be wrongly accused.
"Still won’t admit it? We’ll deal with you after we capture you!" The second peak lord said, and the group pressed on.
Watching the chaos, Evan laughed, "Interesting."
"That trick of yours is really something," Madman said, laughing crazily.
Evan smiled quietly, waiting until everyone was exhausted. Elder Liu was clearly stronger—if he wanted, he could kill them all. He snorted, "I could kill you all easily, so tell me what’s really going on!"
"If you’re so tough, just try it! When our big brother returns, it’ll be your death!" the second peak lord shouted angrily.
Elder Liu knew the main peak lord wasn’t simple, so he continued, "I don’t want to fight you, but since you insist, I won’t hold back!"
The three ignored Elder Liu’s words and kept fighting.
Elder Liu and Mason Liu had no idea what was going on and were furious. Elder Liu, especially, had been planning something, only for this mess to happen. "I didn’t do it!" he shouted.
"Bah! You dare do it but won’t admit it!" Gale Foster shouted angrily.
"Peak lords, I really don’t know what’s going on. There must be some misunderstanding," Elder Liu pleaded. He didn’t fear the three attackers but didn’t want to be wrongly accused.
"Still won’t admit it? We’ll deal with you after we capture you!" The second peak lord said, and the group pressed on.
Watching the chaos, Evan laughed, "Interesting."
"That trick of yours is really something," Madman said, laughing crazily.
Evan smiled quietly, waiting until everyone was exhausted. Elder Liu was clearly stronger—if he wanted, he could kill them all. He snorted, "I could kill you all easily, so tell me what’s really going on!"
"If you’re so tough, just try it! When our big brother returns, it’ll be your death!" the second peak lord shouted angrily.
Elder Liu knew the main peak lord wasn’t simple, so he continued, "I don’t want to fight you, but since you insist, I won’t hold back!"
The three ignored Elder Liu’s words and kept fighting.