"Sixth-rank official Harold Zhou greets General Wayne!"
Harold Zhou, who was overseeing the reconstruction of the city walls, hurried over, bowed, and immediately produced his pass token to open the formation, inviting Wayne Ling and his group inside.
"Harold Zhou, I have a question for you. How is Immortal Maple City faring right now?"
As he spoke, Wayne Ling quickly scanned his surroundings, sensing lingering demon qi and a powerful sword intent in the air. The collapsed city walls and the bloodstains below, still not dried, made it clear that a fierce battle had taken place here not long ago. Doubt flickered in his heart.
"General Wayne, this isn't the place to talk. Why don't we head to the government office, and I'll give you a full report there?"
"Fine, lead the way!"
Half a quarter-hour later, at the government office, Wayne Ling naturally took the chief seat. The ten Soul-Split experts he brought sat on either side of him, while Harold Zhou, being only a sixth-rank official, was not qualified to sit.
"Speak. What exactly happened here?" Wayne Ling pressed.
"Yes, sir!" Harold Zhou nodded and quickly began recounting the incident in detail.
After listening to Harold Zhou's account, Wayne Ling lowered his head in thought, his eyes flickering with shifting emotions. After a moment, he abruptly looked up. "Lead the way. I want to see that giant serpent demon king myself!"
With Harold Zhou leading the way, Wayne Ling soon arrived at the plaza. At this moment, the square was packed with cultivators, all cursing and hurling filth at Gaius the Serpent King.
The next moment, Wayne Ling's gaze landed on Gaius the Serpent King. With just one look, he confirmed it was indeed the Serpent King; however, his primordial spirit had already been shattered, his strength greatly diminished, and he was bound by restrictive seals, unable to move at all.
"This is basically free merit!"
Wayne Ling's eyes flickered again. Killing a Fusion-stage demon king would earn him at least a one-rank promotion. Unfortunately, demon cultivators are usually much stronger, and slaying a Fusion-stage demon king is nearly impossible.
But now, with Gaius the Serpent King's primordial spirit shattered and bound by restrictions, all it would take is a single blow to end his life. Such great merit was within easy reach.
Thinking this, Wayne Ling couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. He barked, "Men, clear the plaza of all unrelated people!"
The accompanying yamen runners immediately sprang into action, driving the cultivators out of the plaza.
Soon, the plaza was empty of cultivators. Seeing Gaius the Serpent King covered in filth, Wayne Ling frowned, then waved his hand, summoning a gust of wind to sweep away all the garbage.
He then cast a water spell to wash the Serpent King clean.
The flesh and blood of a Fusion-stage demon are precious treasures. According to imperial regulations, if he personally kills a demon cultivator, he is entitled to eighty percent of the spoils.
Even just eighty percent of the spoils would be worth several thousand top-grade spirit crystals. This trip to Immortal Maple City would not only earn him a major merit but also a windfall.
"Gaius the Serpent King, your greatest misfortune was running into me. Next time, don't challenge the imperial court!"
With a sharp shout, Wayne Ling chopped with a hand like a blade. A several-zhang blade of light flashed, slicing through the Serpent King's neck. Instantly, his massive body split in two, blood gushing from the wound.
"Congratulations, General, on slaying the demon king!"
The late Soul-Split subordinates stepped forward to offer their congratulations.
"Indeed, General, your might is unmatched. Even Gaius the Serpent King fell to your hand!"
"General, your strength is truly peerless. Gaius the Serpent King wasn't even a match for you!"
Listening to the congratulatory praise and bootlicking from his Soul-Split experts, Wayne Ling grew even more excited, already imagining his imminent promotion.
The accompanying yamen runners, however, all wore faintly disdainful expressions.
They all knew perfectly well that Gaius the Serpent King was wounded and captured by Young Master Song, and now Wayne Ling was shamelessly stealing the credit.
As for Harold Zhou, he was long used to this sort of thing and didn't find it strange at all.
"Don't worry, you'll all get your share of the merit!"
Wayne Ling patted his chest and addressed his ten late Soul-Split experts.
"Thank you, General!"
The ten late Soul-Split experts quickly expressed their gratitude.
As Wayne Ling was about to store away the Serpent King's corpse, a figure flashed down. A young man landed in front of the body and said calmly, "Taking something without asking is theft. General, Gaius the Serpent King is my captive. Did you ask the owner's permission before killing him?"
"Who are you?" Wayne Ling narrowed his eyes, staring coldly at Ian Song, a hint of killing intent in his gaze. In fact, he had already guessed Ian's identity.
The yamen runners, seeing Ian Song appear, wore expressions of schadenfreude.
Harold Zhou hesitated briefly, then stepped forward and said, "General Wayne, this is Young Master Song—the benefactor I mentioned who saved Immortal Maple City. Young Master Song, this is General Wayne from Phoenix Grace City."
A late Soul-Split subordinate standing behind Wayne Ling suddenly cut in with a cold shout: "Nonsense! The demon army from Black Sky Forest was clearly repelled under General Wayne's command, and he fought Gaius the Serpent King in a bitter duel before slaying him. Who is this kid to covet such heaven-defying merit?"
"Seriously? Have you no shame?"
All the yamen runners were stunned. They hadn't expected these so-called experts from Phoenix Grace City to be so shameless. They'd only arrived after the fighting was over—how could they claim to have repelled the demon army?
Wayne Ling, pleased with his subordinate's words, turned a sharp gaze on Ian Song and said coldly, "Kid, listen up: Gaius the Serpent King was slain by me personally. It has nothing to do with you. If you know what's good for you, get lost—or I'll arrest you for colluding with demon cultivators!"
Seeing Wayne Ling's arrogance and his attempt to frame him for colluding with demon cultivators, Ian Song let out a cold laugh. "Oh? Go ahead and try arresting me."
"Kid, let me teach you a lesson!"
One late Soul-Split expert flew forward, his longsword erupting in thousands of green sword beams that surged toward Ian Song like a torrential rain.
"Scram!"
With a casual slap, Ian Song unleashed a surge of force that instantly crushed the sword rain, then slammed into the Soul-Split expert, sending him flying and crashing hard to the ground.
"Outrageous! How dare you attack an imperial officer! You all, take down this demon collaborator!"
Seeing this, Wayne Ling narrowed his eyes and barked coldly.
At once, the nine remaining late Soul-Split experts shot forward, launching attacks at Ian Song.
Ian Song raised his hand, and nine streaks of sword qi shot out from his palm.
"Puff, puff, puff, puff!"
The sword qi tore through the air, instantly shattering the nine attacks and continuing on to strike the nine Soul-Split experts. In a flash, all nine were sent crashing to the ground, battered and humiliated.
Seeing this, Wayne Ling's face grew serious, his eyes burning with anger.