This was Evan’s first time experiencing such an intense flight.

  The wind slapped across his face like two giant hands smacking him nonstop.

  Fortunately, a thin layer of protective airflow surrounded him—

  otherwise his face would’ve swollen.

  Neither Graham Sterling nor Tyler Hayes spoke during the entire flight,

  and Evan naturally didn’t dare say anything either.

  With nothing else to do, he pulled out a ginseng root—

  the Baby Ginseng he had already eaten one?third of.

  He bit off another half, saved the last tiny piece,

  chewed twice, and swallowed.

  He couldn’t dance in mid?air,

  but the medicinal power of natural herbs still helped him digest the mutated crocodile extract faster.

  Evan never wasted a second.

  Every moment of his life was spent walking the path of evolution.

  Of course, Graham and Tyler noticed.

  They exchanged a glance,

  and Tyler couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.

  This kid is really extravagant…

  chewing a multi?million?dollar ginseng root like it’s a carrot.

  Evan’s face was numb from the wind by the time they finally landed.

  He couldn’t help sighing dramatically,

  “Seventeen years! I’ve finally returned to my beloved homeland.

  It’s so hard to be away from one’s motherland!”

  Tyler’s mouth twitched.

  How thick is this kid’s skin?

  You’ve lived exactly as many years as your ‘homesickness’?

  Have you even been here before?

  Evan looked around and found himself in a quiet, elegant courtyard.

  Tyler said,

  “This is Chairman Sterling’s private residence.

  You’ll stay here for now.

  I’ll arrange a room for you shortly.”

  “Oh, so this is Uncle Sterling’s place.

  No wonder it feels so warm—like coming home.”

  “You brat, show some respect.”

  Tyler glared at him.

  “Chairman Sterling is old enough to be your grandfather.”

  “It’s fine,” Graham Sterling said with a small smile.

  It had been many years since a young person dared speak so casually in front of him.

  He pointed to a tea table in the courtyard.

  “Sit. Have some tea with me.”

  Tyler quickly boiled water and prepared the tea.

  Evan only sat after both of them had taken their seats.

  Soon, the fragrant tea filled the air.

  Evan took a sip—

  the aroma lingered on his lips and teeth,

  and even his digestion sped up.

  He knew this was good stuff—

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  definitely brewed from spirit?plant tea leaves.

  He didn’t hold back and poured himself another cup.

  Seeing Graham Sterling deep in thought, Tyler asked,

  “Are you thinking about the Judgment Battle in five days?”

  Graham nodded with a sigh.

  “In the past century, Dongli has fought Rovan twenty times over territorial disputes.

  We only won six.

  The upcoming Judgment Battle…

  doesn’t look promising either.”

  Tyler added helplessly,

  “Rovan is larger, richer, and has more talent.

  Plus, they have the Evolution Church behind them.

  Winning won’t be easy.”

  Graham rubbed his temples.

  “Since the Envoy has spoken, we have no choice but to accept.

  I’m trying to decide which tier gives us the best chance.”

  Tyler thought for a moment.

  “Cocoon?tier might be best.

  General Graves’s youngest son, Leon Graves, is considered Dongli’s strongest Cocoon?tier.

  He once defeated a Tier?3 C?grade beast alone.”

  “And Miss Sterling—though she hasn’t absorbed her third Cocoon?tier extract yet—

  is already showing signs of being a prodigy.

  Her strength is nothing to underestimate.”

  “With the two of them, our chances aren’t bad.”

  Graham shook his head.

  “Leon and Yuer are both exceptional talents,

  but Rovan has no shortage of geniuses either.

  Still… if we have no better option, we may have to choose them.”

  Evan had been listening quietly.

  Finally, he asked,

  “Uncle Sterling, Uncle Hayes…

  how exactly does a Judgment Battle work?”

  Tyler explained,

  “First, both sides agree on the evolution tier.

  This time, Rovan gave us the right to choose.

  If we choose Cocoon?tier, both nations will send three Cocoon?tier evolvers.”

  “Then comes the format.

  There are usually two:

  one?on?one sequential battles,

  or a three?on?three team fight.”

  Evan understood immediately.

  Sequential battles were like the fighting games he played in his previous life—

  each side sent three fighters in order,

  and whichever side lost all three first… lost the match.

  After thinking for a moment, Evan said,

  “Uncle Sterling, choose Chrysalis?tier.

  I can fight.”

  This wasn’t a sudden impulse.

  He had been considering it ever since Tyler explained the rules at Rovan Academy.

  Even before absorbing the mutated crocodile extract,

  Evan believed he was already among the strongest Chrysalis?tier evolvers.

  After absorbing it,

  and mastering the overwhelming skill Raging Myriad Tides,

  he was confident he was now top?tier among his level.

  Of course, he wouldn’t be arrogant.

  This battle concerned Wendy Lewis’s life.

  He wouldn’t take risks.

  There were still five days left.

  He planned to spend a fortune on the best natural medicines

  and fully digest the mutated crocodile extract.

  Then—

  He would absorb his next extract.

  If he absorbed an S?grade extract and gained another powerful skill,

  he would be absolutely unstoppable.

  He refused to believe any Chrysalis?tier evolver could defeat him then.

  If Dongli had been confident in winning,

  he wouldn’t have stepped forward.

  But from what he heard,

  even Graham and Tyler weren’t optimistic.

  So Evan decided—

  He would take matters into his own hands.

  He would not allow Wendy Lewis and Yvonne Hart

  to be imprisoned in Rovan for life.

  Graham Sterling and Tyler Hayes both turned to look at him.

  In his eyes, they saw confidence—

  and absolute determination.

  “How many Tier?2 extracts have you absorbed at Chrysalis?tier?” Tyler asked.

  “Two,” Evan answered honestly.

  Tyler shook his head.

  He didn’t say anything,

  but the rejection was obvious.

  Evan lifted his chin.

  “Give me a chance to prove myself.

  If I fail, you can reject me afterward.”

  Tyler hesitated, then said,

  “Dr. Lewis did say…

  you were the most gifted person she had ever met.”

  Graham Sterling’s interest was piqued.

  He narrowed his eyes.

  “How do you want to prove it?”

  Evan grinned, arrogance radiating from him.

  “Choose any Chrysalis?tier evolver in Dongli.

  If anyone can defeat me…

  then that person must be a once?in?a?generation genius.”

  A boy who chews priceless herbs like snacks.A national leader watching him with growing curiosity.And a volunteer who dares to challenge every Chrysalis?tier in Dongli.

  Evan has stepped forward—now Dongli must decide whether to believe him.

  Readers—who will they send to test him…