"That kid? Then let's send Skyler Xiao, the Madman ranked tenth, to deal with him first," said Hugh Hu.
"Alright, thanks for the trouble, Brother Hugh," Neil Ning said.
"Relax, what's our relationship? When you make it into the top ten someday, you can come out with me for a stroll," said Hugh Hu.
"Sure, I'll take Brother Hugh to visit my clan when the time comes," Neil Ning said.
"Definitely," Hugh Hu replied with a smile.
After chatting for a while, Hugh Hu stood up and said, "I'm going to find Skyler Xiao, the Madman. You rest up."
"Don't forget to call me when the duel starts. I want to see that kid fall, then go stomp him flat," Neil Ning said.
"No problem," Hugh Hu said, then left the room.
Neil Ning was now lying in his own room, glaring at the tiny holes on his body in frustration. "Evan Yang! Just wait, I swear I'll cripple you!"
Hugh Hu went to another room. Standing at the door, he called out, "Skyler Xiao (the Madman), come out."
Thinking about the flying needles, Skyler Xiao waved his hand, and a water shield appeared before him. With more force, the shield turned into ice.
"An ice shield can be used as a barrier, enough to block his attacks. Plus, I can use water to attack—problem solved." Skyler Xiao analyzed how to deal with Evan Yang; he definitely didn’t want to end up like Neil Ning.
Evan Yang had no idea he was already being studied by Skyler Xiao, the tenth-ranked, who was planning to defeat him.
"I know you’re not that interested, but he managed to defeat Neil, the eleventh-ranked, with only fourth-tier Earth-Immortal strength—the guy right below you. How about it? Go teach him a lesson. A newcomer making such a splash isn’t a good omen," said Hugh Hu.
"Is that so? Are you sure he’s only fourth-tier?" Skyler Xiao asked, skeptical after hearing Neil Ning was beaten.
"Absolutely. So, are you going or not? If you won’t, I will," said Hugh Hu.
"Of course I’m going. But even if I win, it’s nothing to brag about—just one measly point," Skyler Xiao said.
Hugh Hu asked curiously, "So what do you want, then?"
"Simple. If I win, you lend me your artifact for some research," Skyler Xiao said.
"Isn’t that a bit much?" Hugh Hu frowned after hearing this.
"Not at all. I know you’re just asking me to test the waters. Actually, I went and watched today too," Skyler Xiao said.
"You watched too?" Hugh Hu hadn’t expected Skyler Xiao to be at the scene.
"Yeah, how could I miss such an interesting match? Don’t you agree?" Skyler Xiao said.
Neil Ning knew it was Hugh Hu’s doing, so he pretended not to know.
"No problem. One day is enough. Once I’ve figured it out, I’ll challenge you," Skyler Xiao said.
"Anytime," Hugh Hu replied with a smile.
"Alright, you go ahead. I’ve got something to deal with first. Once I’m done, I’ll go challenge him and knock him down. We can’t let a newcomer ruin the reputation we’ve worked so hard to build," Skyler Xiao said.
"Hurry up, don’t take too long," Hugh Hu said.
With that, several more water shields appeared around Skyler Xiao, all turning to ice. The ice shields spun freely around him like a rotating barrier.
Hugh Hu left, and Madman closed the door, muttering, "That kid is fast and uses flying needles. As long as I counter his needles, I’ll be fine. As for speed, I don’t believe he can dodge a wide-area water attack."
Hugh Hu was impressed, while Neil Ning was secretly delighted—finally, Evan Yang’s flying needles would be neutralized, leaving him with nothing to use.
"An ice shield can be used as a barrier, enough to block his attacks. Plus, I can use water to attack—problem solved." Madman analyzed how to deal with Evan Yang; he definitely didn’t want to end up like Neil.
Suddenly, several ice spikes appeared before Skyler Xiao.
At that moment, Evan Yang was resting in his room, reflecting on the day's events.
"I know you use fire, but let’s see whether your flames melt my ice first, or my ice pierces you first," Skyler Xiao said coldly.
Meanwhile, Immortal Lord Lin was humming a tune, relaxing when a subordinate came over and said, "Immortal Lord Lin, there’s news."
"What news?" Immortal Lord Lin asked curiously from his rocking chair.
"That Evan Yang, today in the First Palace, was challenged by the eleventh-ranked. Surprisingly, Evan Yang won," the subordinate said.
"Then I won’t hold back," Skyler Xiao said with a smile.
So the subordinate recounted Evan Yang's battle. After listening, Immortal Lord Lin pondered, "That’s a bit much for fourth-tier strength, but interesting. This makes things even more fun."
Those around Immortal Lord Lin knew what he intended. Then they heard him say, "Xu, keep an eye on him for me. Just make sure he doesn’t die—don’t interfere otherwise. I want to see how much he can endure, whether he still has backbone after being tormented!"
Skyler Xiao laughed, "Kid, you’re still not going down?"
Neil Ning was overjoyed—finally, Evan Yang would fall. The crowd began to mourn for Evan Yang; once he lost and was badly injured, Neil Ning would bully him for sure. Who told Evan Yang to give Neil Ning such a humiliation?
Evan Yang had no idea that Immortal Lord Lin had actually sent someone to protect his life. Of course, that 'protection' only meant making sure he didn’t die—no help with anything else.
As for Evan Yang, just as he was considering whether to go challenge someone, someone came looking for him. A disheveled man stood at his door. "Kid, accept the challenge."
"You? Who are you? You want to challenge me?" Evan Yang didn’t even know who the challenger was.
"Doesn’t matter who I am. You have to accept. Let’s go—don’t keep everyone waiting," said Madman.
Evan Yang had no idea who he was, but since the challenge had been issued, he couldn’t refuse. He headed to the tenth floor, finding it packed—as if everyone had known in advance. People watched him with a mix of awe and admiration, while some looked on with silent sympathy.
Seeing the complicated looks in their eyes, Evan Yang was puzzled by the situation. But he did spot some familiar faces: Neil and Victor.
When Neil saw Evan Yang following Madman, he sneered, "Kid, just wait to die. I’m definitely going to cripple you."
"Do you even have the ability?" Evan Yang asked.
"Not yet. But once you’re beaten down, I’ll cripple you then," Neil laughed.
"You’d even think of that? No wonder you lost to me—always looking for an opening," Evan Yang said with a smile.
Their conversation drew a lot of attention. Some quietly cursed Neil, who, hearing the murmurs but unable to tell who spoke, shouted, "Anyone who keeps talking, I’ll cripple them!"
The room fell silent. After all, Neil was ranked eleventh, and Victor ranked twelfth—their strength was about the same.
With no one speaking, Madman and Evan Yang entered. The steward glanced at them and said, "Same rules as always: whoever goes down first loses."
"No problem," Madman replied.
Evan Yang nodded, having no objections.
"If that’s settled, let’s get started," said the steward.
Evan Yang glanced at the notice and saw that this challenger was the tenth-ranked, Skyler Xiao, known as the Madman.
"Kid, I heard you beat Neil Ning, the eleventh-ranked. I don’t know what your strength is, but I’m curious—so I came to see for myself," Skyler Xiao said with a smile.
"Curious? You’re challenging me out of curiosity? Or did someone offer you a deal to cripple me?" Evan Yang asked with a smile.
His words implied that Skyler Xiao had been sent by someone to deal with him. Everyone understood—it was Neil Ning.
Neil knew it was Hugh Hu’s doing, so he pretended not to know.
"Kid, you’ve got quite a mouth, and you’re not afraid of death either. Let’s see just how tough you are today," Skyler Xiao said with a smile.
With that, Skyler Xiao waved his hand, summoning a water shield. Many knew Skyler Xiao specialized in water techniques, and Evan Yang realized it too. After a few breaths, the water turned to ice.
"Your water abilities are impressive," Evan Yang said with a smile, seeing the shield turn to ice so quickly.
"Of course. Otherwise, how could I block your flying needles? I heard you’re good at controlling them, so I prepared especially for this," Skyler Xiao said with a smile.
With that, several more water shields appeared around Skyler Xiao, all turning to ice. The ice shields spun freely around him like a rotating barrier.
"You really know your stuff," Evan Yang said with a smile. He wasn’t intimidated, though others envied the impressive defensive technique.
Hugh Hu was impressed, while Neil was secretly delighted—finally, Evan Yang’s flying needles would be neutralized, leaving him with nothing to use.
"That’s right. And don’t think you’re the only one with hidden weapons—I’ve got some tricks too!" Skyler Xiao said with a smile.
Suddenly, several ice spikes appeared before Skyler Xiao.
"Using ice as an attack? Not bad, but I’m not afraid," Evan Yang said with a smile.
"I know you use fire, but let’s see whether your flames melt my ice first, or my ice pierces you first," Skyler Xiao said coldly.
"Oh?" Evan Yang hadn’t expected his opponent to have studied him so thoroughly.
Everyone watched the two in amazement. Some didn’t know Evan Yang could use fire, but most thought even his flames couldn’t melt the fast-moving ice in time.
So in everyone’s eyes, the ice spikes would hit Evan Yang before they melted.
"Then I won’t hold back," Skyler Xiao said with a smile.
Ten ice spikes shot out, scattering in all directions—there was nowhere for Evan Yang to hide. He stood still, and just as everyone wondered if he’d try to block them...
Skyler Xiao laughed, "Kid, you’re still not going down?"
Madman laughed, "Kid, you’re still not going down?"
Neil Ning was overjoyed—finally, Evan Yang would fall. The crowd began to mourn for Evan Yang; once he lost and was badly injured, Neil Ning would bully him for sure. Who told Evan Yang to give Neil Ning such a humiliation?