Evan Chu's sword stunned everyone present. Nobody had expected this youth, who was only at Fourth or Fifth-Layer Saint Martial Realm, to kill a Ninth-Layer Saint Martial Protector in a single move—and to do it so cleanly and decisively.
Even the Shade Clan Grand Elder felt a sense of disbelief. To accomplish such a feat, one would normally need at least Venerable Martial Realm strength. But at this boy’s age, it was simply impossible to have reached that level—everyone knew that breaking through to higher realms only got harder and harder the further you went.
"Father, didn’t I tell you Linfeng is amazing? Isn’t he qualified now to be the Shade Clan’s royal consort?" Princess Ivy beamed at the Shade Lord as she spoke.
"Indeed, he’s certainly surprising. If he truly treats you well, I’ll naturally agree to your request. Ivy, you have good judgment!" The Shade Lord replied lightly. He’d known about Evan Chu’s strength for a long time, so seeing him kill the Protector with a single sword had come as no shock at all.
If Evan didn’t even have this level of strength, how could he have dared to tell me to cripple the Grand Elder? The real fight is only just beginning.
"Princess Ivy, you may be disappointed. If he hadn’t been so arrogant, I wouldn’t object. But since he wants to challenge me—and dares to kill a Shade clansman—this human ant won’t live past today. Just you wait!" the Grand Elder said coldly.
"Do you really think Linfeng is afraid of you? Just wait and see how he beats you and wipes the floor with your reputation! Not everyone is scared of you!" Princess Ivy shot back. Now that Evan had killed the Protector in one move, her confidence soared and her worries for him faded.
The Grand Elder glared at Princess Ivy, then flew into the air and looked at Evan Chu. "Kid, you really have guts to kill a Shade clansman. Didn’t you say you wanted to challenge me? I’ll see just how strong you are today."
"Heh, old man, are you senile? You’ve said the same thing at least three times now—aren’t you tired of repeating yourself? Just use whatever tricks you’ve got. I’m waiting." Evan Chu replied with a look of utter disdain.
The Grand Elder’s fiery temper couldn’t stand Evan Chu’s words. Instantly enraged, he lashed out with a palm strike. The surrounding space rippled violently, twisting and distorting, and the roar of wind and thunder made it clear just how powerful this blow was.
The Grand Elder's whole plan was to use this strike to seriously injure Evan Chu. Even if he couldn't, at least he'd get to test Evan's true strength, making it easier to kill him later. Know your enemy, know yourself—then you'll never lose!
But Evan Chu wasn't some pushover either. Since the old man looked down on him so much, he was going to show him a thing or two and establish his own prestige right here—only then could he truly stand his ground in the Shade Clan.
Chaos Dragon Force roared through his body. Now that he'd broken through to Fourth-Layer Saint Martial Realm, his Chaos Dragon Force had undergone a complete transformation. He instantly unleashed the Seventh Form of Demon-Breaking Fist, fusing the Five Elements and Lightning into the blow.
Their fist and palm collided in midair—a deafening boom echoed overhead! The force of their attacks sent a shockwave tearing through the space, and in a flash, both of them shot backward dozens of meters.
On the surface, it looked like they were evenly matched. But that was just appearances. Evan Chu's Starforge Body, Seventh Layer, wasn't something anyone could damage. The Shade Clan Grand Elder's attack was fierce, but to actually hurt him? He was still a long way off.
It only made Evan's blood and qi churn a little. But the Grand Elder was in a different boat—he looked fine on the outside, but inside he was suffering. The arm he'd used for that palm strike was throbbing with pain, and the lingering lightning made it feel like tens of thousands of ants gnawing at his flesh.
Only now did he realize just how terrifying this youth was—his strength was every bit as monstrous as his own. That palm wasn't his most powerful technique, but it was enough to kill a normal First-Layer Venerable. Yet Evan was completely unharmed, and the Grand Elder had taken a hidden loss.
A sense of dread welled up in his heart. To deal with Evan, he'd have to use his Domain—otherwise, there was no way to seriously injure him. Resolving this, he quickly drew his personal sword from his storage ring—a blazing red blade, clearly no ordinary weapon.
Everyone on the ground could see their duel clearly, and Evan Chu's strength shocked them all over again. Finally, they understood—this youth really did have the qualifications to shout so boldly. They'd all underestimated him.
The force of their clash sent shockwaves through the ground, transforming the area. There wasn't a weakling among the crowd, so when the massive energy waves erupted, everyone dodged quickly. Giant cracks appeared in the ground, crisscrossing like a spiderweb.
But within a few breaths, those cracks healed up as if they'd never existed. Most people couldn't explain it, but they knew this was one of the Ghostveil Labyrinth's mysterious features.
"Father, do you think Evan can defeat the Grand Elder? Honestly, I'm not sure at all," Princess Ivy said, her voice anxious.
"I can't say for sure either. Let's keep watching. If he really gets in danger, I'll step in to save him—for your sake. After all, he's the one you chose, and Pure Yang Constitutions are as rare as phoenix feathers. I won't let my daughter be heartbroken," the Shade Lord replied with a smile.
The Shade Lord wasn't worried about Evan Chu at all. Anyone bold enough to ask if he should cripple the Grand Elder wasn't someone he needed to worry about.
Just then, a blaze of red light erupted from the Grand Elder, flooding the space for hundreds of meters. "Boy, let me show you the taste of my Fire Domain!" the Grand Elder snarled.
Evan Chu had known he'd have to face a Domain sooner or later. It was the one thing he couldn't match right now. If he could comprehend his own Domain, others' Domains would no longer threaten him.
As the Fire Domain took shape, the temperature soared, making it feel like a sea of flames. But for Evan Chu, it didn't bother him at all.
Not only did his Starforge Body grant him insane defense, he'd long since mastered the fire element—mere heat couldn't touch him. Others might suffer, but Evan was fine. Still, inside the Domain, he couldn't move—just like when those two Second-Layer Venerables trapped him before...