Evan Yang took Old Second away to another location, aiming to prevent Old Eight from bringing the other seven. After all, no matter how strong he was, he couldn't withstand the combined sonic attacks of seven beasts.
"Alright, let's stop here and rest for a bit. We'll think of a solution later," Evan Yang said with a smile, setting Old Second down.
"You'd better let me go, or you'll regret it," Old Second said.
"You're still threatening me? That's amusing," Evan Yang chuckled.
"It's not a threat, it's a warning. I don't want you to regret it," Old Second replied.
"The nine of you are determined to kill me. If I let you go, the others will show up, and that'll be even more trouble for me. I'd rather have a proper chat about this Void Plane," Evan Yang said with a grin.
"What's there to talk about?" Old Second said.
"Plenty. For example, how are you connected to the Nether Sky Realm? Or do you have some special channel to the Nether Sky Realm?" Evan Yang asked.
"The Nether Sky Realm is unimaginably powerful. How could someone like you possibly stand against it?" Old Second sneered.
"I never said I wanted to fight it. I just want to see for myself if the Nether Sky Realm is really that strong—strong enough to devour so many world-realms," Evan Yang said with a smile.
Of course, Old Second had no intention of telling Evan Yang the route to the Nether Sky Realm, so the two kept going back and forth like this.
Meanwhile, Old Eight was together with the other seven Sleep Spirit Beasts.
"Big Brother, hurry up! If we summon Old Second, we'll be able to locate him. With eight of us, we can definitely take Evan down," Old Eight urged.
"Alright, let's get ready. Everyone, take out your tokens. These nine tokens have followed us all along. As long as we gather them, we can sense the whereabouts of the others. Old Second has one, so we can use it to find his location," the big brother said.
The others nodded. Eight Sleep Spirit Beasts took out their tokens. When the tokens were brought together, they instantly radiated dazzling light. The eight closed their eyes, and soon sensed the location of the last token.
"Let's go," the big brother commanded. In a flash, the eight Sleep Spirit Beasts vanished into the air.
At that moment, Evan Yang was still unaware of the incoming danger. He kept chatting with Old Second, while Old Second, knowing the others would track him via the token, was deliberately stalling for time.
"By the way, how do you guys manage to hide in the void? Aren't you afraid of spatial cracks?" Evan Yang suddenly asked, curious.
"It's not that we hide in the void. We just have a brief invisibility ability; we can stay hidden for a few breaths," Old Second explained.
"So that's how it works. I thought you could enter spatial cracks and reappear somewhere else," Evan Yang laughed.
"We've talked for so long—can't you let me go now?" Old Second asked.
"No way. I need you to tell me how to leave here—especially how to get to the Nether Sky Realm," Evan Yang replied with a grin.
"I don't know, so do whatever you want," Old Second said.
"No problem. Watch this," Evan Yang smiled, already taking out a Mind-Veil Pill. Just as Old Second was about to ask what it was, Evan shoved it into his mouth.
In a short while, Old Second fell into a trance. Evan Yang asked, "How do you get to the Nether Sky Realm?"
"Only Big Brother knows. None of us do," Old Second replied.
"Damn, that's a rip-off! If you'd said so earlier, I wouldn't have bothered asking you. Looks like I have to find your Big Brother," Evan Yang muttered suspiciously.
After a moment's thought, Evan Yang asked, "Where is your Big Brother right now?"
"He's on his way here," Old Second answered.
"What? How do they know?" Evan Yang had only meant to ask where Big Brother was, but ended up uncovering something unexpected.
"Nine-Link Token Set, nine closely linked tokens—if you have eight, you can find the ninth! The eight of them have one, and so do I, so they can locate us here," Old Second explained.
Evan Yang was shocked, unsure when they would arrive, so he asked, "Where is your token?"
"It's inside me," Old Second replied.
Evan Yang realized time was running out, so he quickly began setting up preparations around the area. About fifteen minutes later, just as he finished, eight powerful auras appeared—eight gigantic bodies materialized before him.
"Welcome," Evan Yang greeted them with a smile.
The eight Sleep Spirit Beasts exchanged glances, surprised that Evan Yang knew they had arrived.
Old Eight pointed at Evan Yang and said, "Let Old Second go, and we'll spare your life."
"Don't kid yourself. Aren't you here to capture me? So, if I let him go, I won't die?" Evan Yang laughed.
"Looks like you know everything. Enough talk," Big Brother said.
Evan Yang looked at Big Brother and smiled. "You must be the leader, right?"
"That's right. Today, you'll die here," Big Brother declared.
"I want to see how strong you really are. Will you fight me one-on-one, or all eight at once?" Evan Yang asked.
"I'll do it," Big Brother said, instructing the others to stand aside. They trusted his strength and stepped back. Evan Yang saw that Big Brother was indeed the strongest among them.
His attack was swift, precise, and ruthless, aiming straight for Evan Yang's neck. Evan spun away, dodging easily. "If that's all you've got, you'll never take me down," Evan Yang laughed.
"You're pretty fast, but let's see how you handle my lullaby." Big Brother began to produce a hypnotic sound. Evan Yang immediately played his Five-String Zither, its music clashing with Big Brother's lullaby, sparks flying in the air.
"Should we help Big Brother?" Old Eight asked.
"Big Brother didn't say to, so let's wait. If we make him mad, we'll be in trouble," another replied.
Old Eight grew restless, watching Evan Yang and Big Brother locked in a stalemate.
Big Brother was frustrated—his opponent was so strong. He kept increasing his power, but Evan Yang matched him, so it had little effect.
The stalemate lasted for quite a while. At last, Old Eight couldn't resist any longer—he unleashed his own sound, attempting a sneak attack on Evan Yang.
"I knew you'd try something," Evan Yang laughed, waving his hand. The sound was blocked by a barrier and couldn't reach the area where he and Big Brother were fighting.
Everyone was shocked, and even Big Brother's face changed dramatically. "You—"
"I was ready for this. Actually, what you see before you is already blocked by a soundproofing barrier," Evan Yang said with a grin. He had used that mysterious material to release sound-isolating gas, forming a sound isolation array, just waiting for them.
Now was the perfect time to use it.
"What?" Everyone was stunned.
"So, you all just wait quietly on the sidelines and watch how I deal with your Big Brother," Evan Yang laughed. He increased the power of his playing, and the already-struggling Big Brother was quickly suppressed, Evan's zither music growing stronger than the lullaby.
Soon, Big Brother was forced into a corner. Evan Yang drew the Soul-Devouring Divine Sword and slashed down, breaking through his last layer of defense and leaving him gravely wounded. Even his soul trembled.
"You—" Big Brother was utterly shocked.
"I heard from Old Second that you know the way to the Nether Sky Realm. If you want to live, tell me," Evan Yang said with a smile.
"Dream on. I'll never tell you," Big Brother said. He knew the consequences of betraying the Nether Sky Realm, so he'd rather keep silent.
"Are you all so stubborn? No matter, I'll make you talk—just like your Old Second," Evan Yang smiled.
Seeing Old Second still dazed, everyone was shocked. Big Brother was deeply unwilling, finally taking out a shining orb. "Kid, I admit you're strong, but you can't have both my life and my secrets today. We'll fight again another day!"
The orb flashed, and Big Brother disappeared, reappearing beside the other seven. "Let's go," he said.
The seven followed Big Brother and vanished, while Old Second was taken away as well. In the blink of an eye, the area fell silent.
What a trick. What was that flashing orb? Could it break through space? Evan Yang wondered to himself.
Still, Evan Yang wasn't discouraged. He had purposely let them take Old Second, who carried his seals and aura. Without Evan, no one could remove them, so Evan began tracking their hiding place.
Big Brother and the others returned to the mountain, gathering around him and Old Second.
"Big Brother, are you alright?" Old Eight asked, seeing Big Brother badly wounded.
"That guy was beyond our expectations, but as long as we hide, he can't find us," Big Brother said.
"Alright, Big Brother, get some rest," Old Eight said worriedly.
Big Brother glanced at Old Second. "Old Second doesn't know what's wrong—he's just sitting there, dazed."
"Whatever happens, we'll figure something out. If nothing works, we'll drag that damned guy into that place and crush him," Old Eight said angrily.
"It's not so easy. His power is strong; getting him to go in willingly will be tough," Big Brother shook his head helplessly.
"Big Brother, you forgot—he just asked you how to get to the Nether Sky Realm. We can use that to lure him deeper," Old Eight said.
"Thanks for reminding me. But for now, I need to heal. We'll talk about it later," Big Brother said.
"Alright." Old Eight nodded. Big Brother went to rest, while Old Second sat there blankly with the others.
"It's so frustrating—who is that guy, and how does he have such power?" Old Eight said angrily.
"Old Eight, don't get mad. It won't help. Let's focus on treating Old Second first," Old Nine said.
"Whatever happens, we have to try something. Why don't we see if his soul is still clear?" Old Eight asked after thinking it over.
"Alright, I'll go in with Old Eight so we can look after each other. The rest of you wait here," Old Nine said.
Everyone nodded, watching as the two closed their eyes, separated their souls, and entered Old Second's body.