After all that back-and-forth, the ten God-Kings still couldn't do a thing to Ian Song. They were seething with anger, especially since Ian kept taunting them—at this point, they all wanted nothing more than to tear him limb from limb.
"Since you so-called God-Kings can't even break through my protective formation, I can't be bothered to waste any more time with you. I'm out!"
Ian put away Sacred Mountain, then took to the sky with Star King, flying off into the distance.
"Skye, what now?"
Watching Ian Song leave, all ten God-Kings looked absolutely miserable.
"Here's what we do: send someone back to the God-Demon Corps to invite a God-King who's a formation expert. As long as we break his array, that little thief will be nothing to worry about!" Skye said through gritted teeth.
Soon, one God-King left, heading back to Corps headquarters to fetch a formation expert.
The other nine kept trailing after Ian Song, sticking to him like shadows.
Ian noticed this but didn't seem to care, flying along as if nothing had happened.
After flying for half an hour, a gigantic mountain appeared ahead of them, with a pavilion perched right on its summit.
"Come on, let's head over and take a break!"
Ian said, then he and Star King landed together on the mountaintop and stepped into the pavilion.
"Here, here, forget about those fake God-Kings. Let's have a few drinks first!"
Ian took out a bottle of God-King’s Drunk and poured two cups full.
Seeing this scene, the nine God-Kings trailing behind couldn't help but twitch their faces.
"This little thief isn't running for his life at all—he's just here to humiliate them!"
Just then, Ian glanced over, a mocking smile curling at his lips. "You fake God-Kings, can't beat me, so now you're just my fart-following shadows?"
"Nonsense! If you weren't hiding behind your arrays, I could kill you with a single move!" one God-King roared angrily.
Ian looked at him with amusement and laughed, "Ha! A single move, huh? I stood there and let you guys hit me for half an incense stick—did you even scratch me? Not even a hair! And you still dare to run your mouth in front of me? Pfft! I've never seen such shameless, thick-skinned fake God-Kings!"
For a moment, that God-King's face turned green with rage. "You little punk, if you've got guts, fight me one-on-one without your arrays!"
"If you dare to suppress your realm to Upper Heavenly God, I'll dare to fight without arrays!"
Ian said.
"Huh?"
The other hesitated, because according to the intel from the God-Demon Corps, this little punk once teamed up with the God-King beside him to kill another God-King.
Scared, huh? Looks like you really are a fake God-King!
Ian curled his lip in utter disdain.
"Fine, I accept! But we have to swear by the Heavenly Dao."
That God-King said.
So both sides swore by the Heavenly Dao—not to use arrays in the duel, and the other swore not to use energy above the Upper Heavenly God realm.
After both sides finished swearing, they flew into midair.
"You fake God-King actually dare to duel me—do you know how that green-haired freak died?"
"You mean Greenfiend God-King?"
"That's right, that green-haired freak was chopped to death by me in three or five sword strikes. Scared? If you are, just admit defeat and I'll spare your life!"
"Big talk! Prepare to die!"
Of course, the God-King didn't believe it. A long sword appeared in his hand, and he charged straight at Ian.
Ian met him with his own sword.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A series of crashes rang out one after another.
Suddenly, Ian's sword technique changed. With a squelch, his longsword pierced straight into the God-King's brow, pulverizing his head—even his soul wasn't spared.
With a flick of his divine sword, a God-King divine core fell into his hand.