On the star-sea, a divine ship was speeding along.
On the deck, Ian Song and Mira Skylar sat cross-legged at a low table, with a pot of clear tea and two cups set between them.
"Let me go, Ian Song. I'll give you double the benefits. How about it?"
Mira Skylar smiled at Ian Song as she spoke.
"I caught you for the two thousand God-Demon Merits. You don't have any merits to offer. Come on, have some tea!"
Ian Song handed a cup of tea to Mira Skylar.
Mira Skylar took the tea but still refused to give up. She kept persuading him: "I may not have God-Demon Merits, but I can give you god-crystals, techniques, even pills. With those, your strength will soar, and earning merits later will be a breeze!"
"Are you hinting that I should just rob your storage God-ring?" Ian Song looked at her with a playful grin.
"You wouldn't dare!"
Mira Skylar's expression instantly tightened.
Ian Song chuckled, his lips curling with mischief. "Why wouldn't I dare? You're my prisoner now. Taking your storage God-ring is only natural!"
Suddenly, Mira Skylar thought of something and said proudly, "Even if you steal it, it's useless. My father set a restriction on my storage God-ring himself. Someone at your level could never break it!"
Ian Song's eyes lit up. "How about we make a bet? If I can't break the restriction on your storage God-ring, I'll let you go. If I can, the ring's mine. Deal?"
Mira Skylar's eyes sparkled. "Really?"
Ian Song said, "Of course. I've no reason to lie to you. And even if I did, you're my prisoner—what could you do about it?"
"Alright, I trust you. Just don't break your word!"
Mira Skylar tossed her storage God-ring to Ian Song. She was sure he couldn't break the restriction, secretly thinking that if she managed to escape, she'd make him pay for this.
"Hmm, this restriction is pretty complicated!"
Taking Mira Skylar's storage God-ring, Ian probed it and couldn't help but furrow his brow.
"Just give up. My father may not be a restriction grandmaster, but the seal he set isn't something a mere Lower Heavenly God like you can crack!" Mira Skylar said disdainfully.
"Damn it!"
Mira Skylar wanted to cry but had no tears.
Ian Song grinned. "No need to be upset, Miss Skylar. Even if I hadn't won your storage God-ring, you'd probably lose it once the Corps gets you. Besides, you must have more than one ring, right? How about another bet?"
"Hmph, I won't bet with you!"
Mira Skylar snorted coldly.
A few hours later.
The divine ship reached the coast. Ian escorted Mira to the nearest city, used the teleportation array to return to Brighthelm Holy City, and brought her to the merit hall to turn in the mission.
"Ian Song, I swear I'll never let you off!"
When the Corps personnel arrived to take Mira away, she spat out fiercely.
"Miss Skylar, there's no need for this. I'm just following orders!" Ian said innocently.
"Bastard! Liar! I'll remember you!"
For a moment, all the God-Demons in the merit hall looked at Ian Song strangely.
"Take care, Miss Skylar. I'll be off now!"
Ian shrugged and left the merit hall without a care.
He casually picked a restaurant and went upstairs.
He spread out his divine sense, taking in all the surrounding sounds.
Suddenly, a group of God-Demons entered the restaurant.
Leading them were Taber Hawk and Carter Northcourt.
"Haha, Taber, Carter, what a coincidence! How about a few drinks?"
Ian Song greeted them with a smile.
He'd expected the two to ignore him or just scoff, but to his surprise, they walked right over.
"Ian Song, you seem awfully relaxed."
Carter Northcourt sneered.
Ian Song smiled. "Just taking a rare break after finishing a mission. Came to the restaurant for a drink. Please, have a seat!"
"No wonder."
Taber Hawk's smile grew a little strange.
Ian Song frowned. "What do you mean, Taber?"
Heh, your backers are Galen Silverwing and Rhea Redmoon, right? Don't you know they're about to die?" Taber Hawk said, gloating.
"What did you say?"
Ian Song's face changed abruptly. He stood up and glared at Taber Hawk. "Tell me everything you know!"
"Why should I tell you?"
Taber Hawk curled his lip.
Looking for trouble?
Ian Song's eyes turned cold. He grabbed Taber Hawk by the neck and squeezed until Taber's face turned blue. "Talk. If you hide anything, I'll kill you!"
Ian Song, I warn you—let me go right now! My Hawk family isn't—
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Ian Song slapped Taber Hawk several times. "Say another word of nonsense and I'll kill you!"
I...!
In the end, Taber Hawk gave in, telling Ian everything he knew. He could feel the killing intent in Ian's eyes—any more nonsense and Ian really might kill him.
Get lost!
After hearing Taber's story, Ian Song threw him aside and rushed downstairs.
According to Taber Hawk, the ones besieging Galen Silverwing and Rhea Redmoon were experts from the Jensen and Tian clans. Back in the Life Ancient Land, Ian had sealed five Upper Heavenly Gods from those clans, but they had avatars outside.
Those five didn't want to reveal the secret of the Life Ancient Land and kept trying to escape. After years, they failed, so their avatars reported to their clans.
Once the two clans found out...
They sent experts to rescue the five, then secretly hunted Galen Silverwing and Rhea Redmoon. Recently, they finally found them and launched a frenzied siege.
Reportedly, over a hundred Upper Heavenly Gods joined the siege.
After days of fighting, Galen Silverwing and Rhea Redmoon were badly wounded and now face grave danger.