"Senior, I know you think I'm not strong enough and probably can't help much, but don't underestimate me," Evan Yang said.
Stone Freak looked at Evan Yang and said, "The gap in strength is so great, it might as well not exist."
"That might not be true. Why don't you test me, Senior? If I pass, let me help you." Evan Yang said.
"Test you?" Stone Freak had never heard such an interesting thing before. He looked at Evan Yang suspiciously, but was already thinking about how to probe him.
"Senior, you're not even going to give me a chance?" Evan Yang asked.
Stone Freak exhaled, "Alright, I'll test you. I'll use thirty percent of my power. If you can avoid being caught by me for one quarter of an hour, you win. How about it? Dare to compete?" Stone Freak looked at Evan Yang and asked.
Evan Yang smiled. "Alright, Senior, go ahead."
"Thirty percent of my power, and without using Heavenly Dao Intent—it's comparable to peak God level. Are you really ready?" Stone Freak asked.
Hearing the description of Stone Freak's strength, Evan Yang felt even more confident. He smiled and said, "Yes."
"Alright, let's see then. Be careful." Stone Freak said, then flashed to Evan Yang's right side. But Evan Yang only smiled, "Senior, if that's all the speed you've got, you won't be able to catch me." With that, he vanished from his original spot, reappearing dozens of steps away from Stone Freak.
Seeing how fast Evan Yang reacted, Stone Freak was surprised. He flashed again, chasing after Evan Yang, but Evan vanished from his spot once more.
The further it went, the more shocked Stone Freak became as he watched Evan Yang. He felt that, in some ways, Evan had already surpassed his understanding.
"Strange, how does he do it?" Stone Freak muttered to himself.
Before Evan Yang could be caught, he kept his divine sense fully spread, locking onto every direction. Whenever he sensed Stone Freak moving, he immediately retreated.
"Senior, the quarter hour is almost up," Evan Yang said with a smile as he saw the time nearly pass.
"You really surprised me, but don't get too cocky. This was only thirty percent of my power. If I unleashed it all, you wouldn't be able to dodge at all," Stone Freak said.
"Senior, this was our test. You said you'd use thirty percent, and since I won, you should let me help you," Evan Yang said.
"You—" Stone Freak hadn't expected Evan Yang not only to win, but to actually push for it.
"Senior, don't dwell on it. When do we start?" Evan Yang asked.
"I need some time to prepare. But since you're helping me, I'll use you as bait. You're new here, and she's already released the mist—it's definitely to lure you over. Just do whatever she arranges; she won't hurt you yet. Then you can help me. But remember, don't let her find out. If she does, you'll be nothing but ruins," Stone Freak said.
Evan Yang nodded, "Don't worry, Senior."
"Here, this is a Smokeburst Pill I made. It can instantly darken the surroundings. Only use it in a real crisis—otherwise, don't use it," Stone Freak said.
"Senior, you can refine pills too?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
Evan Yang was curious who this woman really was, to have such abilities. But now he finally had a chance—he was about to meet this strange person.
"Alright, Senior, I'm going," Evan Yang said.
"Here, you can use this to contact me. This is a Twin-Link Jade. We can communicate with each other, and with it, you'll know my location and I'll know yours," Stone Freak said.
"I understand. Thank you, Senior." Once everything was ready, Evan Yang put away the jade pendant and pill, then looked up at the light in the sky and slowly walked over.
The closer he got, the more curious Evan Yang became about what this woman looked like. Soon, he arrived beneath the light, which shone above a pool. There, a statue—a stone carving with a human upper body and a snake lower body, one eye closed—suddenly came to life, smiled at Evan Yang, and said, "Young man, welcome to this place."
"May I ask how I should address you, Senior?" Evan Yang was first shocked to see the statue come to life, then realized he'd seen it before. Had she already noticed him?
"In the past, everyone called me Dora Du. But I've given myself a new name—Dora Serpent," the woman said with a clicking laugh.
Her snake tail swayed excitedly behind her.
"So it's Senior Dora," Evan Yang said respectfully.
"You brat, your words are sweet—unlike the others, who are like stones in a latrine, hard and stinky," Dora Serpent laughed.
"It's my first time here, and I don't know the place well. I'll need your guidance, Senior Dora," Evan Yang said with a smile.
"No problem, no problem. Now, what are you called, and why are you here?" Dora Serpent asked.
"I'm Evan Yang. I came for the Divine Pill Chapter. Do you know where it is, Senior?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
Hearing that Evan Yang was here for that, and knowing she needed a scapegoat to help her, Dora Serpent laughed. "Of course I know. But it's very dangerous there."
"Oh? Just how dangerous is it? Even you won't go there, Senior?" Evan Yang feigned curiosity.
"You'll know once you go. I'll wait outside. Whether you succeed or not is up to you," Dora Serpent laughed.
Seeing the person was still alive, Evan Yang naturally walked over and asked, "Who are you?"
"Quick, quick, get me out!" the old man said. But the ice block muffled the sound, so Evan Yang could only see his mouth moving, unable to hear his voice.
"Get you out?" Evan Yang repeated. The old man nodded.
Evan Yang reached out his hand, summoning a ball of flame to melt the ice. As the ice gradually melted, the old man grew excited. But just as the ice was about to fully dissolve, the old man's eyes widened in terror. Through the ice's reflection, Evan Yang saw behind him a creature with four legs, a tail, two eyes, and a crocodile-like snout, its mouth bubbling.
Although Evan Yang didn't know what the creature was, the old man's reaction told him it was dangerous. Suddenly, a watery bubble shot toward him from behind. Evan Yang spun and vanished from his spot, and the bubble struck the nearly melted ice, instantly refreezing it.
The old man was both shocked and terrified, while Evan Yang had already appeared behind the monster and asked, "What kind of creature are you?"
"Roar!" the monster growled at Evan Yang. Sensing a sudden crisis, Evan Yang quickly drew his Limitless Spear and readied himself for battle.
"Senior, I don't think it's a big deal. No need to worry about me," Evan Yang said.
"You never listen. This cave has been here since long ago—I went in once, and it's extremely dangerous. I just tossed the Divine Pill Chapter somewhere inside, and now I don't even know where it is. With the terrain changing, it might be hidden or covered up," Stone Freak said.
"Terrain changes? Does the tunnel actually move?" Evan Yang asked curiously.
"Yes, that's how it seems. And I've discovered something strange—Dora Serpent doesn't dare enter here," Stone Freak said.
Evan Yang said, "She won't come in because she's afraid of the dark, and she's affected by some strange force here—she can't enter."
"She told you that?" Stone Freak asked.
"Yes," Evan Yang replied.
"Then be careful. If possible, I suggest you come back and help me—it's safer that way," Stone Freak said.
Evan Yang said, "Don't worry, Senior. I'll go take a look. If I really can't find it, I'll come back."
Then Evan Yang put away the jade pendant. On the other side, Stone Freak sighed, "Why do young people never listen to me? It was so hard for me to put the Divine Pill Chapter in there—hoping to lure Dora Serpent inside. But who knew she wouldn't go in, and now that thing is trapped."
Unaware of what happened back then, Evan Yang continued through the tunnel. After a few steps, he sensed something nearby—a human presence.
"A person? Not an animal?" Evan Yang wondered. He hurried toward the source of the presence. After searching for a while, he finally found it—a frozen person, or rather, someone trapped in a block of ice. The person looked extremely old, much like Evan Yang did when he lost vitality from the Heaven-Cold Seed years ago.
When the old man saw Evan Yang, he was overwhelmed with excitement. His already wrinkled pupils widened as he stared at Evan Yang.