"I am Harold Lee of the Lee Family."
"I am Perry Lee of the Lee Family."
"You little beast, how dare you kill our third brother!"
Facing the angry questions and shouts from the two Void Realm Lee Family elders, Ian Song just smiled calmly. "Leon Lee had no title or authority, yet dared to block me outside the city. I tried to reason with him, but not only did he refuse to repent, he even attacked me and stole the core of the city's protective array. I ordered my people to kill him—what's the problem?"
Perry Lee snapped, "Shut up, you little beast! This Vermin-Ape City belongs to our Lee Family. A mere royal-realm brat like you has no right to run wild here!"
Seeing this, Ian Song's lips curled in mockery. With a casual wave, he split open the city grand formation, revealing a doorway.
Immediately, Harold and Perry Lee turned into two streaks of light, shooting out together and unleashing their divine powers at Ian Song.
"Die, you little beast!"
"Pay for our third brother's death!"
"Courting death!"
Ian Song sneered and casually threw out two punches.
"Boom! Boom!"
The void shook as energy exploded. The two figures were sent flying backward.
"How is this possible?"
Harold and Perry Lee stared at Ian Song in disbelief. He was clearly only at the royal-realm, yet he had overpowered both of them—Void Realm experts—forcing them back. That was a gap of two whole major realms!
The city guards atop the wall all gaped at Ian Song, who stood effortlessly in midair. A vague feeling crept into their hearts: Vermin-Ape City was about to change hands, and the Lee Family, who had dominated for years, might finally be finished.
Ian Song looked at the two and spoke slowly, "I'll give you both one chance. Kneel, kowtow, and confess your crimes, and I'll spare your lives."
At these words, Harold and Perry Lee grew furious.
Harold Lee barked coldly, "You really think you can take down the Lee Family? We've ruled Vermin-Ape City for years. Do you think this is all we have?"
Ian Song's face turned cold. "So ignorant. Fine—show me your trump cards, so you can die without regrets."
"Fine, I'll let you see our Lee Family's trump card. But let me warn you—everyone who has ever seen it died. Get ready to die, brat!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the two brothers lunged at Ian again—this time, both were clad in black armor.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Their fists flew out, each strike carrying immense force as if to shatter the very void. Black energy fists swept out, surrounding Ian Song, intent on grinding him to dust.
On the sidelines, Mona Meng and the others were shocked—because the Lee brothers' technique was already approaching the level of an Ancestral Realm master.
Just as they were about to step in...
A voice rang out from the center of the black energy: "This is your trump card? Pathetic!"
"Splurt!"
A ripping sound echoed, then a flash of axe-light sliced straight through the black energy and struck Harold Lee's body.
"Splurt!"
The axe-light swept past, splitting Harold Lee's body in two and shattering his Divine Soul.
"Big brother!"
Perry Lee shouted in horror, but just then another axe-light came down vertically.
He tried to dodge.
But no matter what, he couldn't escape the axe-light and could only muster all his divine power to resist.
"Splurt!"
Blood sprayed everywhere as Perry Lee's body was also split in two, his Divine Soul shattered—dead beyond all doubt.
Seeing this...
Everyone on the city wall was plunged into despair.
"It's over. The Lee Family is really finished this time. Even their three Void Realm powerhouses are dead—how can they possibly challenge the new Governor now?"
With a flick of his hand, Ian Song snatched the storage God-rings from the two corpses. Checking inside, he found plenty of Primordial Soul Crystals and various divine treasures.
At the same time, his gaze swept over the thousand city guards standing on the wall.
Any city guard who met his eyes instinctively looked away, not daring to meet his stare.
The next moment...
One city guard suddenly dropped to his knees, kowtowing to Ian Song. "I know I was wrong! Please, Governor, have mercy!"
"Thud! Thud!"
More and more city guards knelt, until every guard on the wall was on their knees, begging Ian Song for forgiveness.
"So, who's in charge inside the city now?"
With a casual wave, Ian Song dismissed the city's protective grand array.
Just then, a group of pale-faced officials quickly flew up from within the city to the wall and knelt.
One of them spoke: "Commander Qing Qing of the City Guard reporting to the Governor."
Another followed: "Chief Administrator Fan Hu of the Governor's Mansion reporting to the Governor."
Third, fourth, fifth...
Each reported their own position, then together they said, "We respectfully invite the Governor to enter the city!"
"Heh."
A cold smile appeared on Ian Song's face. When he was fighting the Lee Family, none of these people showed up—they even kept him locked outside. Now that the three Creator-realm Lee experts were dead, they rushed to greet him. Typical fence-sitters.
If he wanted to climb the ranks in Prosperia Kingdom and reach higher office, he might use a softer approach and slowly maneuver around these people. But his real purpose in Vermin-Ape City was to retreat into cultivation.
If these people started causing trouble while he was cultivating, it would absolutely ruin his mood.
So, he decided not to let a single one go.
He said coldly, "Men, arrest these fools and await my orders!"
Everyone's face changed dramatically at Ian's words.
Qing Qing's face twisted with rage. "So the Governor intends to leave us no way out!"
"Do you really deserve a way out?" Ian sneered. "You, as Commander of the City Guard, handed control to an outsider with no rank or office. When I arrived, you locked me out and played deaf inside the city. Did you really think I was easy to bully? I'm making myself clear—surrender and you might have a slim chance when I investigate. If you resist, you die!"
"Fine! Fine! You forced us into this! That little bastard clearly wants us dead—everyone, fight him!"
As he spoke, Qing Qing suddenly stood up, drawing his sword and pointing it at Ian Song.
But at that moment...
A shadow flashed by.
A red line appeared on Qing Qing's forehead, spreading quickly. With a splat, his body shattered...
Mona Meng silently returned to Ian Song's side, as if nothing had happened.
"Anyone else want to follow his example?"
Ian Song asked.
"Governor, we were all coerced by the Lee Family! Please, have mercy!" pleaded Chief Administrator Fan Hu, his face twisted in misery.
"Take them away!"
Mona Meng and six Hosts stepped forward, instantly subduing all the dozens of military and civil officials.
"What are you all standing around for? Open the city gates—unless you want to be punished too!" Ian barked at the city guards.
"Forgive us, Governor! We're opening the gates now!"