Just then, a Five-Star God-Demon arrived.
He swept a cold gaze over Ian Song: "Two-Star God-Demon Ian Song, come with me. The vice commander wants to see you!"
Ian Song found this odd. Why would the vice commander want to see him? Was it because of the recent God-Demon Arena match and he’d caught their attention? From what Ian knew, the vice commander of the God-Demon Corps was a Six-Star God-Demon at late-stage Lower Heavenly God.
Ian nodded, "Alright, sir. By the way, do you know why the vice commander wants to see me?"
The Five-Star God-Demon snapped impatiently, "Why so many pointless questions? You'll know once you meet the vice commander!"
Ian’s eyes flickered slightly. After saying a few words to Jade Shaw, he followed the Five-Star God-Demon away.
Before long—
With the Five-Star God-Demon leading the way, Ian arrived in a spacious main hall.
Vice Commander Galen Mu looked like an elderly man, dressed in a silver robe and gold-thread boots, but his face was decidedly grim at the moment.
Seated below in the hall was a middle-aged man in black robes.
Ian instantly judged that the black-robed man was a Mid Heavenly God. Behind him stood two others.
One was a Lower Heavenly God, and the other was an Upper-Rank God.
Ian recognized the Upper-Rank God—it was Trevor Owens.
At once, his heart skipped a beat. This didn’t look good.
As the saying goes, when enemies meet, their eyes blaze. The moment Trevor Owens saw Ian, his eyes turned slightly red, filled with intense hatred.
"Two-Star God-Demon Ian Song greets the vice commander!"
Ian bowed slightly to Galen Mu in salute.
Galen Mu nodded and said gravely, "No need for formalities. I called you here today to verify something. I hope you'll answer truthfully!"
"Please ask, Vice Commander!"
"Very well!" Galen Mu said. "Let me ask you: When you and the other God-Demons went to harvest Nether Blooms last time, did you kill any Owens Family gods?"
"No, Vice Commander!"
Ian replied.
"He's lying! All thirty-plus of our Owens Family Mid-Rank Gods were killed by him!" Trevor Owens shouted.
"Young Master Trevor, please remain calm!"
Galen Mu glanced at Trevor Owens, then continued to Ian: "What proof do you have that what you're saying is true?"
"Leon Liao and Jade Shaw, who were on the mission with me, can both vouch for my words!"
"Hmph! They're both on your side, of course they'll speak up for you!" Trevor Owens interrupted again.
Galen Mu frowned at Trevor Owens: "Young Master Trevor, please remain quiet. If Ian really is the killer, our God-Demon Corps will not spare him, but you must respect our procedures!"
"Trevor, enough!"
Julian Owens, the Mid Heavenly God of the Owens Family, spoke up.
"Yes, Master!"
Trevor Owens nodded, shooting Ian a resentful glare.
"Go summon Jade Shaw and Leon Liao!"
Galen Mu ordered.
Soon, Jade Shaw and Leon Liao arrived one after another.
Galen Mu asked again, "On the last Nether Bloom mission with Ian, did you see him kill over thirty Owens Family Mid-Rank Gods?"
Jade Shaw was stunned, then hurriedly said, "Vice Commander, I can guarantee that Ian did not kill them!"
"Miss Jade, I know you fancy Ian, but you shouldn’t lie to the vice commander!"
Leon Liao suddenly spoke up.
"Leon, you...?"
Jade Shaw looked at Leon Liao in disbelief.
Ian wasn’t surprised at Leon’s betrayal; the Owens Family wouldn’t come accusing without being prepared.
Leon Liao bowed to Galen Mu: "Vice Commander, I swear on my life—those thirty-six Owens Mid-Rank Gods were all killed by Ian. I tried to persuade him, but he wouldn’t listen. Afterwards, I was afraid he’d silence me, so I never dared report it until now!"
"Leon, you bastard! You’re completely twisting the truth!"
Jade Shaw shook with fury.
"Since it’s clear, Galen Mu, you don’t mind letting us take Ian away, do you?"
Suddenly, Julian Owens rose and spoke slowly.
Galen Mu hesitated: "Lord Julian, Leon’s one-sided statement isn’t enough to prove Ian is the killer. Why not give me more time—let our God-Demon Corps investigate the truth!"
"No need!"
Julian Owens waved his hand: "Our Owens Family has decided he’s the murderer—so he is the murderer. Galen Mu, don’t be ignorant of what’s good for you!"
Facing Julian Owens’s overbearing attitude, Galen Mu’s eyes flashed with helplessness. The Owens Family was a God-King house; the God-Demon Corps might be strong, but they couldn’t just offend such a lineage. Even if he wanted to keep Ian, he couldn’t—he’d only make enemies of the Owens.
Compared to a mere Two-Star God-Demon, he chose not to offend the Owens Family. So he said, "If Lord Julian insists, then go ahead."
"Vice Commander, how could you! Ian didn’t kill anyone from the Owens Family!"
Jade Shaw shouted angrily.
"Miss Jade, honestly, the truth doesn’t matter—the Owens Family just wants me dead!"
Ian, who had remained silent, finally spoke, his gaze sweeping over Julian Owens, Trevor Owens, and Paul Owens.
"Paul, go seize the murderer!" Julian Owens ordered.
Julian Owens spoke.
"Yes, Master!"
The Lower Heavenly God behind Julian Owens stepped forward, reaching out to grab Ian, his eyes flashing with contempt—clearly, he saw Ian as nothing more than an insect.
But just then, a longsword appeared in Ian’s hand.
"Godpiercer!"
With a low shout, the longsword in Ian’s hand radiated powerful, mysterious sword intent, making Paul Owens’s mind go blank.
The sword light was like lightning.
No, Ian’s sword light was even faster than lightning.
A flash of blood-red light, and with a squelch, Ian’s longsword pierced Paul Owens’s brow. The sword energy exploded, instantly shattering his divine soul. Then his head burst open, and with a grab, a Godhead Crystal fell into Ian’s hand.
"What?"
Seeing this, Jade Shaw and Leon Liao were dumbfounded. They never dreamed Ian could kill a Lower Heavenly God in one move. At the same time, Leon Liao felt a chill in his heart and began to regret.
Galen Mu’s eyes flashed with shock, and he too was filled with regret.
As for Trevor Owens, he was both shocked and furious.
"Bastard!"
Julian Owens was enraged as well.
He raised a hand and struck at Ian.
A vast crimson energy surged forth like a flood.
Ian remained calm, swinging his longsword.
Slash, slash, slash, slash!
The energy flood was sliced apart and quickly dissipated into the void.
If he hadn’t cultivated the Everlasting Undying Codex, unless he revealed his Primordial Chaos Body’s power, Ian wouldn’t have been able to block a Mid Heavenly God’s strike. But now, he felt the Mid Heavenly God wasn’t as strong as he’d imagined.
But everyone else who saw this was shocked.
Ian actually blocked a Mid Heavenly God’s attack. It was truly unbelievable.