With the Fiend Palace Lord's words, everyone else lost all hope. Hannah Nangong accepted it—after all, her engagement to Evan Yang was just a performance; she didn't really need to obtain those things to marry him, and by then she'd be free to roam as she pleased.
But the Fiend Palace Lord spoke again, "There needs to be a time limit to make it a real challenge. I'll give you one thousand years. I hope you can accomplish all three within that time."
"A thousand years? Does he think he's some kind of genius?" Everyone was shocked. Completing all three conditions in a thousand years was impossible; just achieving the required cultivation alone was out of reach.
Hannah Nangong was even more stunned. She hadn't expected the Fiend Palace Lord to say that. Just as she was about to protest, the Fiend Palace Lord continued, "You can choose to withdraw now. If you don't, it means you accept the time limit. If you succeed, I'll immediately hold your wedding. But if the time runs out and you haven't completed them, your marriage will be annulled—and you'll be thrown into Ethereal Sanctuary's Dark Hall."
Evan Yang had no idea what the Dark Hall was, but the others did. Hannah Nangong, especially, was shocked. "That's not fair!" she cried.
"He can choose to participate or withdraw. It's entirely up to him," the Fiend Palace Lord said, making his final concession.
"What exactly is the Dark Hall?" Evan Yang asked, curious.
"It's a place shrouded in darkness, where people go mad—a punishment ground for major figures in Ethereal Sanctuary," Hannah Nangong explained via voice transmission.
Evan Yang didn't waste any more time hesitating. After hearing Hannah's answer, he declared, "I'm in."
"Good. With so many witnesses here, I'll give you a thousand years," the Fiend Palace Lord said with a smile.
"Thanks," Evan Yang said, stepping down from the stage. Hannah Nangong helped the heavily injured Evan Yang away.
The crowd was left unsatisfied, but thinking about how Evan Yang would be thrown into that place in a thousand years, they felt a twisted sense of relief. Most importantly, Evan Yang was still just an entry-level cultivator in Ethereal Sanctuary—anyone could teach him a lesson, and as long as it wasn't discovered, he could be killed outside.
Many harbored malicious intentions, especially Quinn Qing, who now saw Evan Yang as a thorn in his side. No matter what, he wanted Evan Yang dead.
Under everyone's gaze, Evan Yang left the palace and returned to Hannah Nangong's Thousand-Miles Manor, where he sat down. Hannah handed him twenty million and said, "Take this and leave. This matter no longer concerns you."
Seeing the twenty million and Hannah's expression, Evan Yang smiled. "I gave my word, so I won't back down. Since it's like this, I'll definitely finish those three tasks within a thousand years."
"It's useless. It's impossible! No matter which one, you can't do it. You should just find somewhere safe to rest and hide from my damned father," Hannah Nangong said worriedly.
"When did you start caring so much about me?" Evan Yang joked.
"You still have the nerve to joke? I'm being serious here!" Hannah Nangong said, exasperated.
"Relax, it's just a thousand years. I'm not that cowardly. Since I've accepted, I'm not leaving. At least let me win first—then it'll be time to go," Evan Yang said.
Hannah Nangong was overwhelmed with mixed emotions, unsure what to feel. She even blurted out, "Are you trying to make me a widow?"
"You're overthinking it." Evan Yang replied after a brief pause.
Hannah Nangong recovered and said, "Alright, let's not talk about this. Let's go."
"Where to?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
"If you really intend to complete those three conditions, of course I'll go with you. Otherwise, who will protect you?" Hannah Nangong said.
Evan Yang looked at Hannah Nangong, and after a long moment finally said, "Forget it, I'll go alone."
"No way, you're way too unreliable by yourself." Hannah Nangong said.
At this moment, the maid walked in. Seeing the two talking, she said, "Evan, why not take my lady with you? After all, you're already halfway to being her fiancé—it's a good chance to deepen your relationship."
"What are you saying?" Hannah Nangong replied, her face flushed red.
Evan Yang also sensed the awkwardness, and worried whether this maid was truly loyal to Hannah Nangong. If she spoke carelessly and word got back to the Fiend Palace Lord, it would be trouble—especially if they learned he hadn't really joined the husband-selection for marriage.
So Evan Yang kept silent, pretending not to hear. The maid laughed, "Miss, see? Evan didn't object at all."
Hannah Nangong's face grew even redder, and Evan Yang quickly explained, "You're misunderstanding."
The maid saw their expressions and continued, "Evan, just take my lady with you."
"Uh..." Evan Yang didn't know what to say, while Hannah Nangong directly told the maid, "Go on, leave us." "Yes, I won't disturb you two anymore," the maid said with a smile and exited.
The two were left in awkward silence until Evan Yang finally said, "I think you should stay here. It's too dangerous to go out with me."
"No way, I have to go with you," Hannah Nangong insisted.
After arguing back and forth, Evan Yang finally accepted her as his companion. After all, her cultivation was higher than his—if he wanted to get rid of her, he'd have to seal her power, and that was more trouble than it was worth. He wasn't familiar with the Immortal Realm anyway, so having someone to guide him was convenient.
"Alright, fine—but you have to agree to a few conditions," Evan Yang said.
"Speak," Hannah Nangong replied.
"Without my permission, you're not allowed to act," Evan Yang said.
"Why?" Hannah Nangong asked, confused.
"No reason. Just do as I say," Evan Yang said.
"Anything else?" Hannah Nangong asked curiously.
"Take this. Don't get angry, and don't let your aura show." Evan Yang handed Hannah Nangong the Old Clam Pearl—a bead that can conceal and change one's qi signature.
Hannah Nangong took it and tried it. She found it could indeed change her aura and apparent cultivation, but there was one drawback: if the opponent was stronger than her, they could still see through it. So it was only effective against those weaker than herself.
The reason Evan Yang no longer needed it was because, as a North Sect cultivator, he could use a special natural disguise art to adjust his aura and state to blend into his surroundings.
"What about you?" Hannah Nangong asked, seeing Evan Yang give her the bead and realizing he didn't have one himself.
(Irrelevant webnovel system message skipped.)
"I'm from North Sect. I have my own unique disguise art. Don't worry," Evan Yang said.
Hannah Nangong responded with an 'oh,' then Evan Yang continued, "You should be able to do everything I just mentioned, right?"
"I can." Hannah Nangong nodded.
"Also, don't casually reveal our identities or the truth of our situation to anyone," Evan Yang said.
"You're making it sound so mysterious?" Hannah Nangong asked, puzzled.
"Just do as I say," Evan Yang said.
"No problem," Hannah Nangong nodded.
"That's enough for now. The rest we'll handle as it comes," Evan Yang said.
Hannah Nangong nodded. The two prepared, bid farewell to the maid, and left together.
On the road, Hannah Nangong followed Evan Yang's instructions, keeping her presence hidden and sticking close behind him wherever he went.
Evan Yang arrived at an inn, remembering his agreement with Wes Wu, so he went inside. After asking around, he learned Wes had already left, unable to wait any longer.
"Where to now?" Hannah Nangong asked curiously as Evan Yang came out of the inn.
"To the Lower Sanctuary," Evan Yang replied.
"Why?" Hannah Nangong asked curiously.
"I have something to take care of first," Evan Yang said. He was still worried about his father—whether he'd ever come here, and where he was now.
Hannah Nangong didn't know why Evan Yang wanted to go, but since he said so, she could only follow. The two left using a teleportation array.
Not far from where they left, an old man and a young man watched the direction they'd gone.
"Young master, they've left," the old man said.
"Hmm, got it. Do you know where they're headed?" The young man was none other than Quinn Qing, so he asked curiously.
"Let me see if it knows." The old man said, and a small moth floated from his hand. Under his direction, the moth led them to the teleportation array, then hovered over the destinations, finally indicating one.
When Quinn Qing saw the place, he wondered, "They went back to their base?"
"Young master, should we go too?" the old man asked.
"You return to the clan and wait for me. I'll go to the Lower Sanctuary myself and see what those two are up to," Quinn Qing said.
"Alright," the old man replied, then left ahead of time. Quinn Qing used the teleportation array to go to the Lower Sanctuary.
Evan Yang and Hannah Nangong had already arrived at the Lower Sanctuary. Evan Yang, following Wes Wu's directions, was about to go searching, but encountered a twist along the way. The Sanctuary members were shocked to see Evan Yang and Hannah Nangong arrive.
Here, the first and second tier members had been humbled by Evan Yang on his first day. As for those above third tier, they'd already seen him in the capital, so nearly everyone recognized Evan Yang—and most recognized Hannah Nangong as well.
If Hannah Nangong hadn't been there, many high-tier members would have challenged Evan Yang.
Evan Yang hadn't expected Hannah Nangong's presence to save him so much trouble. The crowd watched as the two entered the Lower Sanctuary and made their way toward a certain room.
Wes Wu was in his room. When he saw Evan Yang and Hannah Nangong appear, he was shocked, then laughed, "Kid, I've heard about you. You're really something! No wonder I couldn't find you—you ended up there instead."
"You're overthinking it. So, how is your friend?" Evan Yang asked.
"You mean him? Seems he's run into some trouble," Wes Wu said with a frown.
"What happened?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
"He went out to handle something, but apparently ran into issues along the way," Wes Wu said.
Hearing this, Evan Yang realized waiting would only cause more trouble. He asked Wes Wu, "Do you have a way to contact him? Can you help me ask about what happened?"
"I already asked for you, but you might be disappointed," Wes Wu said.
"Go ahead," Evan Yang braced himself.
"Here's what he said: a crazy person showed up in the Sanctuary, apparently looking for someone, but nobody knew who. The managers decided to capture him, but he defeated them all. In the end, a member of a major clan came and took him away," Wes Wu explained.