"Defeat." Elder Joe Quinn sighed.
Those two words meant Sean Shen had failed to pass the Trial of Gates. Some in the arena were delighted, others angry. Lora Luo, Hannah Nangong, and Chase Chu walked up, excitedly looking at Evan Yang.
Evan Yang smiled and said, "Alright, my task is done."
"Thank you," Lora Luo said happily.
Sean Shen was so furious he nearly suffered qi deviation, blood spilling out. He looked on the verge of losing control. Elder Joe Quinn came over and said to Evan Yang, "Please release him."
"No problem," Evan Yang replied with a smile, then released Sean Shen. The moment he was freed, Sean tried to attack Evan, but Elder Joe Quinn shouted, "That's enough."
Sean Shen was unwilling, but his master knew that with so many people present, attacking Evan Yang would mean breaking sect rules and facing punishment. So Sean said angrily, "Kid, just you wait. If you've got guts, don't leave the sect."
He stormed off in anger, not wanting to see anyone there. Today's defeat hit him hard—he had pinned all his hopes on this trial, but he lost, and lost badly, without any chance to fight back.
Aurora Qing also walked over and said, "I'm really surprised. How did you do it?"
"That, I can't say for now," Evan Yang replied, afraid that telling the truth would infuriate Elder Joe Quinn to the point of paralysis.
"You mean you destroyed the Imprisoning Bell?" Lora Luo asked in surprise.
"That's right," Evan Yang replied.
Lora Luo looked at Evan Yang in shock. "This artifact may not be top-ranked, but it's still powerful. You—"
"It's definitely powerful, but running into me was just its bad luck," Evan Yang said with a smile.
"You really do have tricks up your sleeve. I bet Elder Joe Quinn is furious now—it's his artifact," Lora Luo said with a laugh.
Evan Yang had no idea what expression Elder Joe Quinn was making, but at that moment, Joe Quinn really was furious. After getting the artifact back from Sean Shen, he began to study it. When he discovered it had lost its effect, he exclaimed, "What on earth happened?"
"I don't know," Sean Shen replied casually, still in a bad mood.
"Do you know? The runes inside have been destroyed. Now it's just a pile of scrap metal," Elder Joe Quinn said angrily. Not only did he lose, but he also lost his artifact.
Hearing that the artifact was ruined, Sean Shen picked it up suspiciously. After inspecting it, he exclaimed in surprise, "What happened?"
"I want to know too," Elder Joe Quinn said, suppressing his anger.
"You mean you destroyed the Imprisoning Bell?" Lora Luo asked in surprise.
"That's right," Evan Yang replied.
Lora Luo looked at Evan Yang in shock. "This artifact may not be top-ranked, but it's still powerful. You—"
"It's definitely powerful, but running into me was just its bad luck," Evan Yang said with a smile.
"You really do have tricks up your sleeve. I bet Elder Joe Quinn is furious now—it's his artifact," Lora Luo said with a laugh.
Evan Yang had no idea what expression Elder Joe Quinn was making, but at that moment, Joe Quinn really was furious. After getting the artifact back from Sean Shen, he began to study it. When he discovered it had lost its effect, he exclaimed, "What on earth happened?"
"I don't know," Sean Shen replied casually, still in a bad mood.
"Do you know? The runes inside have been destroyed. Now it's just a pile of scrap metal," Elder Joe Quinn said angrily. Not only did he lose, but he also lost his artifact.
Hearing that the artifact was ruined, Sean Shen picked it up suspiciously. After inspecting it, he exclaimed in surprise, "What happened?"
"I want to know too," Elder Joe Quinn said, suppressing his anger.
"Master, that kid is too strange. When he immobilized me, I was so furious I didn't even check the artifact carefully," Sean Shen said, feeling a bit regretful. If he had pointed out Evan Yang's sabotage on the spot, Joe Quinn would have exploded then.
At this moment, Elder Joe Quinn was indeed very angry. "Damn it, I need to find that kid," he said.
"Master, I'll go with you," Sean Shen said, seeing Joe Quinn's anger. He knew Evan Yang would be in trouble. Even if he couldn't deal with Evan himself, letting Joe Quinn handle it was just as good.
Joe Quinn didn't object and angrily headed toward the mountain where Mad Elder lived.
Evan Yang planned to go into seclusion here, which meant temporarily parting ways with Lora Luo and Hannah Nangong. So he said, "I'm going to enter seclusion. Miss Nangong, are you going to stay in the Blue Robe Sect, or...?"
"Of course, the Blue Robe Sect! Elder Aurora is planning to take me as her disciple," Hannah Nangong said with a smile.
Evan Yang smiled. "I see. That's good."
"Are you planning to participate in the Territory War Contest?" Hannah Nangong asked.
"I'm not participating, but I want to find someone," Evan Yang said.
"Let me know when you're leaving. I want to go too," Hannah Nangong said.
"I want to go too," Chase Chu said.
Lora Luo chimed in, "Me too."
"Alright, I'll let you know when the time comes," Evan Yang replied, surprised they all wanted to go. He didn't want them risking themselves, since his goal was dangerous, but he didn't say so, planning to slip away quietly next time.
Hearing Evan Yang's words, the group felt reassured. Lora Luo and Hannah Nangong returned to their branch, while Chase Chu followed Evan Yang to Mad Elder's mountain.
When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, they saw Elder Joe Quinn arguing with Mad Elder, and Sean Shen was beside them.
"It's a competition—injury and damage are normal. If your artifact is ruined, that's fate. Who can you blame?" Mad Elder said.
"You can't just let it go. This is a valuable artifact. Call that kid out—I want to know what happened," Elder Joe Quinn said.
"I don't know the details, but I'll remind you—whether he broke it or not, he's my disciple. You can't harm a single hair on him," Mad Elder said.
Elder Joe Quinn sneered, "You think your word is law?"
"Oh? So you want to fight me?" Mad Elder said with a smile.
Elder Joe Quinn paused, then said, "Are you really going to protect him?"
"That's right," Mad Elder replied.
"Are you really willing to ruin years of camaraderie between elders for him?" Elder Joe Quinn asked, unable to understand what charm Evan Yang possessed to make Mad Elder defend him so fiercely.
Mad Elder laughed, "Exactly—that's what I mean."
"You—" Elder Joe Quinn was furious.
"What? Should I ask you to leave?" Mad Elder said with a smile.
Just then, Evan Yang returned. Elder Joe Quinn spotted him and said coldly, "So, you're back!"
"Isn't that Elder Joe Quinn? What brings you here?" Evan Yang asked, having overheard the argument. With Mad Elder present, he had nothing to fear.
Sean Shen glared at Evan Yang, while Elder Joe Quinn said, "Tell me—what did you do to it? Why is it useless now?"
"Nothing much—I just casually attacked the stone at the very top," Evan Yang said with a smile.
Elder Joe Quinn took out the Imprisoning Bell and checked inside. Sure enough, the stone at the top was missing—the crucial core. He exploded, "You brat! You actually destroyed my artifact!"
"If I hadn't broken it, how could I escape? If I didn't, I'd have lost. Elder Joe Quinn, is it really wrong to break an opponent's artifact in a competition?" Evan Yang retorted.
Mad Elder quickly caught on and laughed, "Elder Joe Quinn, that's right. It's a duel—why fuss now?"
"Easy for you to say. Today, Mad Elder is protecting you, but let's see how you manage alone outside!" Elder Joe Quinn said angrily, then left with Sean Shen.
After they left, Mad Elder laughed, "That felt great."
"Senior, what's got you so happy?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
"Nothing much—I'm just in a good mood. Don't you think today was interesting?" Mad Elder said with a smile.
"Why?" Evan Yang asked, curious.
"You really shone today. You didn't disappoint me—my efforts weren't wasted," Mad Elder said with a smile.
"Mad Elder, you're too kind. I just wanted to defeat him," Evan Yang said.
"That's right, you did very well today," Mad Elder said.
"Mad Elder, what sword technique will you teach me?" Evan Yang asked.
"Come with me—and you too, Chase Chu," Mad Elder said to Chase Chu.
Chase Chu was delighted to be included. He followed Mad Elder into the cave. They reached a corner, Mad Elder closed his eyes and muttered something, and suddenly Evan Yang and Chase Chu's vision blurred—they entered another space.
"What's this?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
"It's a hidden space inside this mountain," Mad Elder said.
"A hidden space? That's incredible! Is the mountain hollow inside?" Evan Yang asked in astonishment.
"Almost, but not completely. Try touching the floor—you'll feel it even more strongly," Mad Elder said.
Evan Yang really felt the earth attribute, so he nodded, "That's right."
"This space is a hidden cultivation ground used by generations of managers. Only the current and next manager know about it—but you two are exceptions, since I brought you here," Mad Elder explained.
Evan Yang hadn't expected this branch to have its own space. He wondered if every branch had one.
"Are we going to cultivate here?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
"Yes, that's right. Let's begin," Mad Elder said, leading them to a wall.
He waved his hand at the wall, and many tiny figures appeared—lively glyphs, as if ready to leap out.
"This wall records six stages of sword technique. Study them carefully—how much you comprehend depends on your own ability," Mad Elder said.
Evan Yang and Chase Chu exchanged a smile. Chase Chu glanced at the wall and thought, "Maybe I'll comprehend more than Master. It could happen."
Wanting to surpass Evan Yang, Chase Chu said, "Senior brother, let's see who reaches a higher level first."
"Oh? Sure, I welcome the challenge," Evan Yang said, smiling at his disciple and junior brother.