Mad Elder glanced at them and chuckled, "So much fighting spirit! Alright, whoever reaches the highest stage first, I'll reward them with a magic treasure."
"Oh? What kind of treasure?" Chase Chu asked curiously.
"A sword. But we'll decide which one after someone wins." Mad Elder chuckled.
Evan Yang smiled, "Alright. Is there a time limit?"
"The highest stage isn't something everyone can grasp. Right now, nobody's reached it. Since you two want to compete, I'll set a deadline—fifty years. Whoever gets furthest by then, I'll hand over the treasure." Mad Elder paused, then smiled.
"Alright!" Evan Yang and Chase Chu replied in unison.
So the two stayed behind, each focusing intently on the wall, while Mad Elder quietly left.
Evan Yang and Chase Chu studied the wall with total absorption, neither disturbing the other's concentration.
"Six main layers, but each has ten subtle sub-levels. To reach the peak, you have to master all sixty steps, each one stacking power." Evan Yang mused after a quick glance. He closed his eyes, sat down, and mentally rehearsed the first sword form of the first layer.
The first layer covers the basics—how to wield the sword and execute fundamental techniques.
The first ten sub-levels are all about skill and proficiency. Once you’ve mastered them, you’ve completed the basic sword chapter.
A talented person can learn these ten steps in just a few years, but someone less gifted might not get anywhere even after a century.
Evan Yang practiced entirely in his mind, while Chase Chu took out a wooden sword and physically moved through the forms, immersing himself in each motion.
Each used a different approach. Time slipped by, and one day Evan Yang opened his eyes with a faint smile. Chase Chu was still resting, then pushed himself to keep training. "He's really hardworking," Evan thought, but he didn’t interrupt—he closed his eyes again, preparing for the second layer: sweeping strike.
The second layer is defined as the sweeping strike—swinging the sword to sweep at opponents ahead. Though it sounds simple, each of the ten sub-levels is different.
Each stage adds a bit more power. When all ten sub-levels are mastered, the tenth is nearly twice as strong as the first.
At this moment, Evan Yang had closed his eyes again, preparing to cultivate the second layer.
Years slipped away in quiet dedication. Evan Yang and Chase Chu kept training, while Hannah Nangong and Lora Luo were busy elsewhere—studying sword techniques with Elder Aurora Qing.
After a day of practice, Hannah sat atop a large boulder, and Lora Luo joined her.
"Hannah, how did you first meet Evan Yang?" Lora Luo asked, curiosity shining in her eyes.
When Hannah Nangong joined the Blue Robe Sect, she became Lora Luo's junior, so when Hannah heard this, she laughed, "It's been so many years. Honestly, my memory of those days is a bit fuzzy."
"Hannah, don't try to fool me. We're cultivators—our memories are incredibly strong. How could you forget, especially something from just a few years ago?" Lora Luo said with a disbelieving smile.
"Lora, then how did you meet him?" Hannah still didn't know how Lora Luo first met Evan Yang.
"You tell your story first, then I'll tell mine. Otherwise, I'm not saying a word." Lora Luo laughed.
Hannah was curious about how Evan Yang and Lora Luo met, and what happened in the Demon-Beast Realm, so she smiled, "Alright, I'll tell you. But don't laugh."
"I won't, I promise," Lora Luo said firmly.
So Hannah recounted how she was poisoned and saved by Evan Yang, and how she misunderstood him—telling it all, one event at a time.
"Wow, I didn't expect that," Lora Luo laughed.
"Hey, I told you not to laugh," Hannah said.
"Okay, I won't laugh. But why does Chase Chu call you 'Master's Wife'?" Lora Luo was curious about Hannah's relationship with Evan Yang—were they really married?
"You mean that? That was back when I was in the Sacred Palace." Hannah Nangong began explaining everything, including Evan Yang's duels, how he went to obtain the Hundred-Million-Year Poison Frog, and finally the Ten-Million-Year Wood-Heart Core. That's how Evan became my 'fiancé.'
When Lora Luo finished listening, she laughed, "Wow, I didn't expect you two to have gone through so much. So, are you really husband and wife?"
"It's just in name, not in reality. We agreed back then—it was to help me out," Hannah replied.
"Help you out?" Lora Luo asked, puzzled.
So Hannah Nangong explained the whole story. When Lora finished listening, she was stunned. Even though Hannah made it sound simple, they'd clearly gone through a lot together—there had to be feelings involved. Lora smiled, "Maybe he likes you, you know."
"Don't talk nonsense. Anyway, you still haven't said how you met him. Stop making it all about me," Hannah said, her cheeks a little red as she hurried to change the subject.
Lora Luo laughed and told the story of how she met Evan Yang, including their experiences in the Demon-Beast Realm.
When Hannah finished listening, she couldn't help but tease, "Heh, seems like you two have something going on as well."
"Hannah, don't say stuff like that," Lora Luo replied.
"Gotcha, your face is red. Do you like him?" Hannah Nangong laughed.
"I think you like him more, Hannah," Lora Luo said, blushing.
"Look at you, your face is all red. Still want to deny it?" Hannah Nangong teased, though deep down she knew she really did like Evan Yang—especially during the time he disappeared, she could never calm her heart.
"Hannah, stop messing with me. I actually want to know what he's doing now. Is he still training?" Lora Luo asked curiously.
"Him? Probably. When he comes out, he'll be a true Immortal. By then, even the top Heavenly Immortals won't be able to match him," Hannah said with a smile.
"No way, that's too exaggerated. Nobody improves that fast. At most, he might just learn some new techniques or something," Lora Luo said.
"You never know. Anything's possible—especially with someone as unpredictable as him," Hannah Nangong laughed.
"In that case, we need to work hard. We can't afford to fall too far behind him," Lora Luo said.
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Hannah Nangong smiled, "Yeah, let's work hard together."
Both women knew deep down that they liked Evan Yang, and they knew he wasn't just an ordinary person—one day, he'd stand at the very peak of the Immortal Realm. Neither wanted to become a burden to him, so they were both determined to cultivate hard.
Evan Yang had no idea what they were up to. He was just focused on cultivating.
Elsewhere, Elder Joe Qiao hadn't shown a pleasant face since that incident, and now hated Evan Yang to the bone.
"Damn it, is that brat just going to hide forever like a turtle?" Elder Joe Qiao said angrily.
"Master, what should we do? Are we just going to keep watching for him to come out every day?" Sean Shen was getting impatient and hated Evan Yang even more.
"Just wait. I don't believe he'll never come out," Elder Joe Qiao said, growing more frustrated as he waited.
"Master, he's a dual-attribute cultivator. Won't a lot of elders be interested in him?" Sean Shen asked worriedly.
"So what if they're interested? He ruined my artifact, and now he's protected by others. But as soon as he leaves the Blue Robe Sect, let's see how he survives," Elder Joe Qiao said angrily.
"What if he never leaves?" Sean Shen's biggest worry was that Evan Yang would never leave, so he voiced his concern.
"Don't worry. When the time is right, I'll have him sent out on a mission. I don't believe he won't go," Elder Joe Qiao said coldly. A mission? That would require Evan's consent, and usually missions had to be assigned by a vice sect master.
"Relax, I'll go talk to the vice sect master," Elder Joe Qiao said after thinking it over, then left.
After Elder Joe Qiao left, Sean Shen secretly chuckled to himself, "Kid, just wait for your death."
On another mountain, Elder Joe Qiao arrived at a cave called Rising-Joy Abode, where a vice sect master was seated inside.
"Senior brother, are you there?" Elder Joe Qiao called into the cave.
"I'm here. Come in," came an aged voice from inside.
Elder Joe Qiao walked in, catching a whiff of medicinal scent. He asked, "Senior brother, are you still researching pills to extend your lifespan?"
"No choice. My lifespan is only a few thousand years left. I've already used all the pills that prolong life and managed to extend it quite a bit. If I want to go further, I'll have to rely on myself and see if I can find a stronger pill to replace them," replied the vice sect master, turning to look at Joe Qiao.
The man looked just like a skeleton, not a bit of flesh on his body, making him appear eerie. Yet his strength was among the very best in the Blue Robe Sect.
"Senior brother, aren't you missing a few medicinal guides? I think I've found someone whose medicinal guide would be absolutely suitable," Elder Joe Qiao said with a smile.
The man's eyes flashed brightly, then dimmed as he said, "Didn't I tell you not to talk about this in the sect? If someone overhears, it'll be trouble."
"You're right, senior brother," Joe Qiao replied.
The vice sect master waved his hand, entering another space, and said, "Go ahead, here no one will overhear us."
"Senior brother, I know you've been searching for dual-attribute cultivators these years to refine the Dual-Heaven Pill," Joe Qiao said.