Heavenly Dao Academy and Heavenly Dao Hell Palace have been rivals since their inception. Although Heavenly Dao Academy is generally seen as slightly superior, those who truly understand know that the two are actually evenly matched in strength.
When the Hell Palace Lord finished listening to Yue Gui's detailed report, he couldn't sit still and immediately said, "No matter what, we must recruit him. This could be our chance to defeat Heavenly Dao Academy."
"But he's so close to Heavenly Dao Academy, it might be difficult," Yue Gui said.
"No matter what the conditions are, we have to bring him in and nurture him well. Talents like this are once in a lifetime," the Hell Palace Lord insisted.
"Yes, that's right. This is our chance for Hell Palace to turn the tables," the Vice Hell Palace Lord agreed. Yue Gui nodded and left.
Yue Gui reappeared beside Victor Yue. Seeing his grandfather return, Victor asked, "Grandpa, how did it go?"
"Come with me," said Yue Gui.
"Where to?" Victor asked curiously. Yue Gui replied, "To Skyreach Tower, of course."
With that, Yue Gui took Victor Yue and left. Victor thought his grandfather was going to stand up for him, so he was excited, completely unaware of what Yue Gui was really planning.
Meanwhile, at Skyreach Tower, Evan Yang and the others had just finished listening to Tony Tong’s explanation and now had a basic understanding of Heavenly Dao Hell Palace. The dishes soon arrived, and Tony said to everyone, “Eat up, don’t stand on ceremony.”
Everyone nodded and began tasting the dishes, but just as they started eating, two people walked out from the teleport portal. Leading them was an elderly man, followed by Victor Yue.
Evan Yang saw the arrival and thought trouble was coming. Tony Tong stood up with a smile and said, "Yue Gui, what brings you here today?"
"So it's the Academy crowd. No wind, really—I just heard my grandson fought someone here today, so I came to see this person myself," Yue Gui said with a smile.
Everyone thought Yue Gui was here to seek revenge on Evan, and Victor Yue pointed at Evan, saying, "It's him."
Yue Gui looked at Evan, while Tony Tong and the others readied themselves, afraid Yue Gui might attack. At that moment, Yue Gui walked up to Evan and smiled, "Hello, I'm Yue Gui from Hell Palace. I wonder if you're interested in joining our Heavenly Dao Hell Palace?"
His words stunned everyone—not even Evan expected Hell Palace to openly try to recruit him right in front of Heavenly Dao Academy. It was shockingly bold.
Tony Tong was taken aback, never expecting Hell Palace to target Evan, but he absolutely wouldn't allow it. Tony smiled and said, "Yue Gui, I'm afraid your plan won't work today."
"Oh? Are you saying he's joining your Heavenly Dao Academy? But as far as I know, he's not on your roster," Yue Gui replied with a smile.
"You Hell Palace folks know us pretty well. How many people have you planted in our Academy?" Tony Tong said with a cold laugh.
"Your Academy does the same, so don't criticize us," Yue Gui retorted with a cold laugh.
"Fine, since you're inviting him, let me be blunt—today, I'll make sure he joins our Heavenly Dao Academy," Tony Tong said, starting to compete.
Brandon White and the others exchanged glances, while Harold He and Calvin Cao also stood up. Seeing the three Academy powerhouses present, Yue Gui smiled, "I didn't expect all three of the Academy's heavyweights to be here. What a surprise."
"This has nothing to do with you. Anyway, he's one of us. You can leave now—you're not welcome here," Tony Tong said.
Yue Gui chuckled and said, "This young man hasn't agreed yet. Why are you in such a hurry?"
Tony Tong looked at Evan, waiting for his answer. Evan smiled and said, "I wonder what terms you're offering?"
When Evan said this, everyone thought he wanted to join Hell Palace, so Tony Tong and the others frowned, and even White Moon asked curiously, "You..."
Evan sent a voice transmission to White Moon: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Everyone watched with curiosity, wondering what Evan meant. At this moment, Yue Gui smiled, "Go ahead, whatever your condition is, we'll agree to it."
"Really? All right, then kill your grandson first, and then we can talk. That shouldn't be too hard, right?" Evan said with a smile.
Everyone burst out laughing at that—Evan was clearly mocking Yue Gui. Yue Gui's smile froze, his face darkening as he said, "You really know how to joke, don't you?"
"I'm not joking. Seriously, it's your choice," Evan said.
Yue Gui began to lose patience. "Is there really no other option?" he asked.
"Didn't you just say you'd agree to any condition? Why are you backing out now? Forget it, just leave," Evan sighed. Victor Yue was shocked—not only had his grandfather tried to recruit Evan, but Evan was also this shameless.
Yue Gui asked again, "Really no room for negotiation?"
"Deal with your grandson first, then we can talk. Otherwise, there's nothing to discuss," Evan replied. Yue Gui suddenly laughed, "Fine, you'll answer for your words today."
With that, Yue Gui left with Victor Yue, both furious. Tony Tong and the others weren't in a good mood either—they knew Evan had now thoroughly angered Hell Palace. Since Hell Palace saw Evan's value, if he wouldn't join them, he'd become a thorn in their side and they'd definitely cause trouble for him.
Brandon White wasn't stupid. He said, "Evan, since you won't join Hell Palace, how about considering Heavenly Dao Academy?"
"Of course I'd like to join Heavenly Dao Academy. I just wonder if you three seniors are willing?" Evan smiled. Tony Tong laughed, "Of course! With someone like you, the Academy will truly shine."
"You're exaggerating, Senior," Evan said awkwardly. Harold He also laughed, "It's not an exaggeration. Even Hell Palace sent people after you—your value speaks for itself."
Evan understood—they'd realized how much of a threat he was, so they tried to recruit him. Now that it failed, they would definitely make a move against him. But with three Academy elders present, Hell Palace couldn't act and had to leave.
"Now that you've agreed, this banquet wasn't in vain—come, everyone, let's celebrate together," Tony Tong said with a smile. Hearing this, the others exchanged glances, and Harold He laughed, "What, did you already have this planned?"
"Didn't you two plan this as well?" Tony Tong laughed. Evan could only smile wryly—coming here meant he'd already boarded the ship, and backing out wouldn't be easy.
So everyone chatted happily. Evan's entry into the strongest place in the Heavenly Dao Realm made the Yang clan members especially delighted.
Meanwhile, Victor Yue, who had left, angrily asked, "Grandfather, why did you try to recruit him?"
"The Palace Lord and Vice Palace Lord said he has tremendous potential, and we must bring him in. But today, it's clearly impossible. So we'll have to eliminate him to remove future trouble," Yue Gui replied.
Victor Yue said, "Right, we should wipe him out—he's infuriating."
"All right, let's head back and let them enjoy themselves for a few days," Yue Gui said, then returned to Hell Palace.
As soon as Yue Gui returned, he reported everything to the Palace Lord and Vice Palace Lord.
After hearing the report, the Palace Lord and Vice Palace Lord looked displeased. Finally, the Palace Lord snorted coldly, "Since he doesn't appreciate our offer, send the Night Squad to deal with him. Remember, he must be taken alive—once captured, brainwash him and instill our ideology."
"Understood," Yue Gui answered, then went to make preparations. The Vice Palace Lord remarked, "That guy was ruthless—he actually told Yue Gui to kill his own grandson first."
"That's because he never intended to join us. Since that's the case, we'll capture him and brainwash him. I refuse to believe we can't," the Palace Lord said. He didn't want to kill Evan, given his great potential—even if he had to turn him into a killing machine, he'd do it.
Evan had no idea he was now targeted by Hell Palace's secret strike team. He was still feasting away, until the Academy elders began preparing his formal entrance ceremony.
Since it was an entrance ceremony, the Palace Lord had to be informed. Tony Tong told everyone to wait at his place, while he, Harold He, and Calvin Cao took Evan to the Palace Lord's cultivation site.
They arrived at a rotating tower, with spiral staircases and a spinning exterior. This tower was called God Mansion Tower, and it wasn't open to just anyone.
The three led Evan from the first floor all the way up to the hundredth, where they stopped. Before them was a vortex. The three respectfully addressed it, "Palace Lord."
"Why are you three here? And who's this outsider?" a voice came from inside.
"Palace Lord, this is our newly recruited disciple. He's only at Immortal Sovereign level, but his potential is huge. Hell Palace just tried to recruit him but failed," Tony Tong explained.
A beam of light shot out from inside, enveloping Evan. Evan stepped back in surprise, but Tony Tong said, "Don't worry, just stand still."
Evan stood quietly, curious, as the light scanned him, then disappeared. Laughter came from the vortex, "Excellent, excellent. You three may leave—I want to speak to him alone."
The three elders left, and Evan wondered who was inside the vortex. A voice spoke again, "Flameblood and a mysterious green element—interesting."
Evan hadn't expected the Palace Lord to see through his abilities with just a beam of light, so he was surprised. "What...?"
"Don't be nervous. I heard your potential is impressive. I want to know—you're an Immortal Sovereign now, but how strong are the opponents you can defeat?" the Palace Lord asked.
"That's hard to say, but below Heavenly Dao, I don't think anyone can match me," Evan answered confidently.
The Palace Lord laughed at Evan's words, "Such arrogance! Not bad. But you'll have to pass a test first. Soon, some objects will appear around you—if you can defeat them all, I'll count you as having passed."