Evan Chu was completely stunned when he saw those two messages. He hadn't expected he'd be left with only a thousand years—breaking through to Immortal Emperor in that time was basically impossible. His realm had always been much harder to advance than others, and now this new limitation left him deeply frustrated.
But right now, all he could do was face reality. So Evan, Jade Chu, and Tom Chu entered the Timewheel Bracelet. Once inside, the Timewheel Bracelet had already changed completely.
Everywhere were towering trees, lush and green. The density of Immortal Essence here had already surpassed their imagination. After all, seven thousand years had passed inside this place—and seven thousand years could change almost anything.
Evan Chu didn’t want to waste a single moment. He sat down directly at the spot with the densest Immortal Essence to cultivate, not even bothering with his two golden avatars. All he hoped for was that, within this thousand years, he could break through to late-stage Immortal Lord—then, even if he couldn’t beat his enemies, he could at least protect himself.
Eighty years was nothing to people of the Immortal Realm—gone in the blink of an eye. But in those eighty years, far too much had happened, with the biggest commotion coming from Solarion Palace and Coldshroud Imperial Palace.
Ever since the auction ended, the two factions had clashed again and again. Solarion Palace was already the weakest of the Six Imperial Palaces, and after several rounds of brutal fighting, it had lost almost half its cities to Coldshroud Imperial Palace.
Xander Xuan had been seriously wounded and could only turn to Skyshade Hall’s Hector Vaughn for help. But because Luna’s conduct in Newcapital City had disappointed Hector, making him feel his sect’s prestige was damaged, he kept delaying and refused to intervene.
That day, Xander Xuan once again visited Skyshade Hall to see Hector Vaughn. “Brother Hector, if you don’t step in soon, Solarion Palace really will be wiped out by Zane Zuo. We’ve been friends for so many years—are you really going to just stand by and watch me be destroyed?”
“Xander Xuan, I’ve already helped you plenty. My own son is still missing. Even though his soul-tablet keeps getting brighter, until I see him with my own eyes, I can’t rest easy.” Hector Vaughn replied.
“Logan will definitely come back safe and sound, Brother Hector, so don’t worry too much. Please, just help me out—if Logan returns and finds Solarion Palace destroyed, he’ll be heartbroken. And besides, Luna is still in the palace.” Xander Xuan pleaded.
Hector Vaughn chuckled and said, “I can help you, but you have to agree to one condition. Otherwise, even if Zane Zuo kills every last person in Solarion Palace, I won’t lift a finger. Skyshade Hall doesn’t move lightly, and Zane Zuo is no exception.”
Seeing a glimmer of hope, Xander Xuan was overjoyed and immediately asked, “Brother Hector, what do you want me to agree to? If it’s within my power, I’ll do it.”
“It’s actually very simple. Luna is my son Logan Vaughn’s fiancée, and keeping her locked up in Solarion Palace isn’t a solution. I want you to send her to Skyshade Hall so I can have someone verify her status. If she’s still a virgin, then I’ll help you with everything I’ve got.
If she isn’t, then there’s no point in her being alive—I won’t accept that kind of daughter-in-law. And of course, Solarion Palace’s survival won’t concern me anymore.” Hector Vaughn said coldly.
Xander Xuan was instantly dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected that old bastard to bring up something like this. He didn’t even know whether Luna was still a virgin, and it put him in a real bind. Seeing how close she was with that kid, he feared she probably wasn’t anymore.
“Xander Xuan, are you finding this difficult? Or do you already know your precious daughter has done something disgraceful, and that’s why you don’t dare agree to my terms? If so, then please leave. Out of old friendship, I won’t make things hard for you this time, but if you come back to Skyshade Hall again, don’t blame me for being rude.” Hector Vaughn snapped.
The way he flipped out was faster than turning a page, and it nearly drove Xander mad. “Brother Hector, I honestly don’t know Luna’s situation. We’re both men—how could I possibly ask my own daughter if she’s still a virgin? Let me go back and have my wife ask her instead.
If she isn’t, I won’t trouble you. But if she is, I’ll send her over—if you don’t believe me, you can have someone check yourself. Solarion Palace is facing life and death right now, so I really hope you can help me out, even just for a while.”
Hector Vaughn thought it over and finally said, “Fine, I’ll help you one more time. Just don’t let me down. If I can save you, I can destroy you too—and I guarantee wiping you out would be easier for me than for Zane Zuo.”
Xander Xuan felt cold sweat pouring down his forehead. “Thank you, Brother Hector! I’ll head back right away!”
At this moment, Xander Xuan looked nothing like the lord of a great power. Half of his current misery was thanks to Evan Chu. After Xander left, Hector Vaughn called out, “Someone, come here!”
A black-robed elder instantly appeared at Hector Vaughn’s side. “What are your orders, Pavilion Master?”
“Go inform Zane Zuo to hold back for now. Wait a while before making another move.” Hector Vaughn instructed.
“I’ll see to it right away!” The black-robed elder replied, flashing away from Hector Vaughn’s side.
After returning, Xander Xuan immediately found Luna’s mother and said, “My lady, Solarion Palace is in grave danger. If we don’t get help from Skyshade Hall, we could be wiped out at any moment.”
The beautiful woman’s expression changed instantly. “Husband, what happened at Skyshade Hall this time? Did Hector Vaughn refuse to help us? Why do you look so troubled?”
“Hector Vaughn wants us to send Luna to Skyshade Hall. I don’t know his real reason, but as long as we do, he’ll agree to help us.” Xander Xuan explained.
“Luna is already engaged to Logan Vaughn, so she’s technically part of Skyshade Hall. Sending her over isn’t a big deal. Did he make any unreasonable demands?” the beautiful woman asked.
Xander Xuan looked troubled for a long moment before finally saying, “He’ll only help us if Luna is still a virgin. If she isn’t, Solarion Palace is doomed.”
The beautiful woman was shocked. “How could he make such a demand? How are we supposed to ask Luna about this? What if she really isn’t?”
“That’s exactly what I’m struggling with. My lady, I think you should go ask her. The fate of Solarion Palace rests on her shoulders now,” Xander said helplessly.
The beautiful woman nodded helplessly and left the room...
PS: Tomorrow is the Dragon Boat Festival, so there will be a special update. Today’s chapters are a bit fewer, so please don’t rush me. There will be another chapter at 6 pm!