Especially the Upper Heavenly God who had just lost an arm—seeing that woman get slapped flying by Ian Song, he couldn’t help but feel a rush of satisfaction.
"You actually dare hit me? Do you know who I am?"
The woman staggered up, glaring venomously at Ian Song as she demanded.
"I don’t care who you are. If you dare to make a move in my place, that’s a direct provocation! And I’ve never been polite to anyone who provokes me!"
Ian Song strode forward, stepping out of the courtyard and staring at the woman as he spoke.
"Very good! Very good!"
The woman gritted her teeth and said, "If you kneel, kowtow, and slap yourself right now, maybe I’ll let you off!"
Smack!
A figure flashed.
Ian Song sent her flying with another slap, then sneered, "Where’d this idiot come from?"
"You dare hit me again! I’ll kill you!"
The woman lunged at him.
Ian swung his palm—she was sent flying yet again, red finger marks blooming across both her cheeks.
"Aaaah!"
The woman shrieked, nearly driven mad.
Smack!
Ian flashed over and slapped her flying again: "Quit screaming, it’s annoying. Hurry up and state your business, or I’ll kill you!"
Hearing this, a flicker of fear flashed in the woman's eyes. "I’m King Azurefin’s personal maid!"
The moment King Azurefin’s name was spoken, all the Heavenly Gods present turned pale.
"Brother Song, I just remembered something urgent I need to handle, so I’ll take my leave!"
Ian Song curled his lip indifferently, then turned to her and said, "You say that God-King artifact belongs to your master just because you say so? By that logic, I could say you’re my maid—are you?"
"You… How dare you! I’m my master’s personal maid, how could I be yours!"
The woman’s cheeks flushed red with anger, her eyes blazing.
"Relax, with how ugly you are, I wouldn’t be interested anyway!"
Ian Song said dismissively.
"...You…!"
The woman was so angry she could barely speak. "My master gave you three days. If you don’t come to apologize, you’ll definitely regret it!"
Tossing out this threat, she stormed off in a huff. In truth, she was already a little scared of Ian Song—he was just too bold, hitting her even after knowing her identity.
"No, I have to report this to my master!"
After the woman left, Ian Song went to ask around about King Azurefin.
King Azurefin has been a God-King for a hundred thousand years. He’s currently at mid-stage lower God-King realm and serves as a Supreme Elder in the God-Demon Corps. Although he’s a God-King, his temperament is notoriously petty.
Normally, God-Kings wouldn’t bother attacking Heavenly Gods.
But King Azurefin once personally killed an Upper Heavenly God, and later, anyone who offended him—even ordinary gods—he didn’t spare. So, few dare cross King Azurefin.
There was even a time when another God-King had a conflict with King Azurefin. Unable to suppress his opponent, King Azurefin slaughtered that God-King’s entire clan.
In the end, that God-King descended personally, and the two fought for days to a draw.
"Troublesome!"
After learning all this, Ian Song secretly groaned. This kind of ungentlemanly God-King was really hard to deal with—no wonder Gavin Gu dared to stiff him; he must’ve known this.
"No way, I need to get out and lay low for a while!"
He wasn’t stupid. Since he knew King Azurefin was so petty, staying in Brighthelm Holy City to take the hit would be foolish. Suddenly, he thought up a way to ‘pit’ King Azurefin.
But before leaving, he had to collect his debt.
With that thought, he headed straight for Gavin Gu’s residence.
Although Gavin’s courtyard was protected by formations that blocked divine sense, Ian Song’s soul was on the verge of its thirteenth metamorphosis (the author notes he’d previously miscounted—he’s already completed twelve), so these arrays couldn’t stop his spiritual perception at all.
A sweep of divine sense let him instantly lock onto Gavin’s location.
Ian Song stepped directly into the courtyard.
"Why are you here again? Lord Gavin is out traveling!"
The Mid Heavenly God subordinate shouted at Ian Song.
"Get lost!"
Ian Song slapped the man flying, then flashed into the rear courtyard and spotted Gavin Gu sitting there drinking tea.
"Ian Song, you’re outrageous! How dare you barge into my private residence!"
Gavin’s face darkened, his tone cold.
"Barge in, my ass!"
Ian Song lunged forward, grabbed Gavin by the throat, and slapped him several times until his cheeks were swollen. Gavin wanted to resist, but was horrified to find that the moment Ian grabbed his neck, all his power was sealed—he couldn’t mobilize a single trace of strength.
"You even dare to stiff me on my Corps merits? You must be tired of living!"
Ian Song picked Gavin up and smashed him heavily into the ground, then stomped on his head several times.
Unable to fight back, Gavin was consumed with rage; it nearly set his whole body ablaze. Just then, the Mid Heavenly God subordinate rushed in and was stunned speechless at the sight of Gavin being trampled. In his eyes, Gavin was far stronger than Brennan Cliff—a mighty Upper Heavenly God—yet Ian Song was treating him like a rag doll.
"Well? Are you going to pay my Corps merits or not?"
Ian Song stomped a few more times before finally withdrawing his foot.
"I’ll pay!"
Gavin gritted his teeth, his heart full of both grievance and hatred. He swore that if King Azurefin didn’t kill Ian Song, he himself would pay any price to destroy him.
This chapter thus fully sets up the next stage of conflict: Ian has publicly humiliated the personal maid of the notoriously vindictive King Azurefin, refuses to kowtow or return the God-King weapon, and has violently forced Gavin Gu to pay his gambling debt. King Azurefin’s retaliation becomes inevitable, moving the story toward a direct confrontation between Ian and a God-King Supreme Elder of the God-Demon Corps.
(End of Chapter)