Boom!
A surge of power erupted as Ian Song revealed his peak late-stage Upper-Rank God cultivation.
"He’s actually an Upper-Rank God!"
Trevor Owens cried out in shock.
"Just a mere Upper-Rank God dares to go against the Owens Family? You really don’t know your place!"
Julian Owens sneered, but inside he was tense. That earlier palm strike only carried half his true power—already more than most Lower Heavenly Gods could handle.
Yet Ian Song not only blocked it, he was completely unharmed. That came as a real surprise.
"So what if you’re the Owens Family? Do you really think being a God-King-backed clan means you can frame anyone you want? And Talon—he was killed by one of your own, wasn’t he?" Ian Song glanced at Galen Mu, half-smiling.
Talon was a Four-Star God-Demon, barely counted as a senior in the Elmridge God-Demon Corps. He’d been killed right inside the prefectural city, which had left the Corps humiliated and desperate to find the culprit.
If Galen Mu only secretly knew the Owens Family was behind it and kept quiet out of fear, he could still play dumb. But now that Ian Song had called him out in public, he had no choice but to react.
If he kept playing dumb, not only would the Corps seniors lose all respect for him—even headquarters wouldn’t let it slide.
So, darkly resentful, Galen Mu shot Ian Song a glare and stared at Julian Owens. "Master Julian, did your Owens Family really kill Talon?"
Julian Owens snorted. "Ridiculous. Why would our Owens Family kill Talon for no reason?"
"That’s true—the Owens Family really has no motive to kill Talon!"
Galen Mu nodded in agreement, still hoping to muddle through. He couldn’t afford to offend Julian Owens—and if even stronger Owens experts showed up, his life would be forfeit.
"Heh! Branch Leader, looks like you’d rather trust outsiders than your own God-Demon Corps members!"
Ian Song laughed, his voice thick with mockery.
Galen Mu snorted. "Enough, Ian Song. I know you’re trying to drag the Corps down with you, but if you don’t have proof, drop it!"
"Who says I don’t have proof?"
A recording stone appeared in Ian Song’s hand. "When I went to the Primordial Forbidden Zone for a mission, I happened to run into Talon being hunted by Owens Family gods. I saved him, but then they sent experts to ambush him in the city. The proof you want is all in this recording stone!"
As Ian Song spoke, he infused the recording stone with divine power. Instantly, an image appeared in midair inside the great hall.
In the image, Talon was covered in blood, looking utterly miserable and weak. He collapsed, and Ian Song rushed to save him.
Then Ian Song set up a formation and hid inside with Talon. Next, three Upper-Rank Gods from the Owens Family arrived—their conversation was perfectly clear to everyone’s ears.
Just from what those three said, it was obvious—the Owens Family killed Talon.
Ian Song put away the recording stone and gave Galen Mu a playful look. "Branch Leader, does that evidence work for you?"
Hearing Ian Song’s words, Galen Mu hated him to death. But at this point, there was no escape—unless he betrayed the God-Demon Corps. Too bad the Corps has zero tolerance for traitors: not even a Lower Heavenly God would dare defect, let alone someone at his level.
"Julian Owens, I want an explanation!"
"Explanation?" Julian Owens scoffed. "The Owens Family doesn’t answer to anyone!"
Julian Owens’ arrogant words made Galen Mu both furious and frustrated. He practically spat out his reply: "Are you saying the Owens Family wants to make enemies of the God-Demon Corps?"
Julian Owens glanced at Galen Mu with contempt. "You’re just a branch leader—you don’t speak for the God-Demon Corps. Here in Yushan Prefecture, the Owens Family calls the shots. If you’re smart, wait until I kill this brat, then get rid of the witnesses. The Owens Family might spare your life. Otherwise, you’re going straight to hell with them!"
Only Upper Heavenly Gods have personal titles, which means Jade Shaw’s father, Star-River God Fankong Shaw, is one of those top-tier experts.
Galen Mu’s face suddenly changed. Star-River God Fankong Shaw is absolutely one of the strongest among Upper Heavenly Gods. Even though the Owens Family has plenty of experts, they still can’t do anything to him.
If he kills Shaw’s only beloved daughter and the man finds out, Galen is as good as dead.
But if he doesn’t kill her, Julian Owens will probably just kill him on the spot. That thought made murderous intent flash in Galen’s eyes as he stared at Jade Shaw.
Sensing the killing intent in his eyes, Jade instinctively took two steps back and shouted, “Branch Leader Galen, please don’t listen to him! If you really kill me, my father will never let you off!”
“Branch Leader!”
Just then, Ian Song stepped forward, blocking Jade. He looked at Galen Mu and said, “You’d better not do anything stupid. If you really kill Jade Shaw, you’ll never get another shot at redemption.
Even if he doesn’t kill you, you’ll be under their thumb forever. You’ll end up living like a dog—neither man nor ghost.
Why not team up with us and take down Julian Owens? If Star-River God Fankong Shaw finds out you saved his daughter, he’ll definitely be grateful. After that, you can ask him to sit in at the branch for a while.
I bet he won’t refuse. Then you can call for help from headquarters, wait for their experts, and settle the score with the Owens Family. By then, you won’t just be innocent—you’ll have real merit. So think carefully: do you want to keep living like a dog, or do you want to earn glory and a better future in the God-Demon Corps?”
Normally, Ian wouldn’t bother persuading Galen Mu—he’d just cut him down with a sword. But the System gave him a mission to become a Seven-Star God-Demon, so for now, betraying the Corps isn’t an option. That’s why he’s going out of his way to talk Galen around.
Hearing Ian’s words, Galen’s eyes gradually brightened, and the murderous intent in his heart faded away. He bowed deeply to Ian: “Ian, thank you for the reminder. Otherwise, I really would’ve been doomed!”
Then he bowed to Jade Shaw: “Miss Jade, I almost let Julian Owens trick me earlier. Please don’t hold it against me!”
“Don’t worry, Branch Leader—I won’t tell anyone about this!”
Jade said, her face earnest.
“Thank you for your understanding, Miss Jade!” Galen bowed again, then glared at Julian Owens, his face full of hatred. “Julian Owens, your family has done countless evil deeds. Today, I, Galen Mu, am at war with you—until death!”
“Heh!”
Ian Song laughed—Galen Mu really was the classic petty villain.