A dignified mid-Tribulation expert, and yet he let a mere early Soul-Split junior escape right under his nose?
How could Master Mingtan, the sect master of the Prime One Church, possibly tolerate such humiliation? At this thought, he stopped holding back, unleashing his full divine sense to search for Ian Song’s whereabouts.
But after half a quarter-hour, Master Mingtan had swept every corner of the Royal Capital with his senses—yet Ian Song was nowhere to be found.
His face instantly turned even gloomier.
"Attend me!"
A black-armored guard stepped into the grand hall and bowed. "What are your orders, Master?"
Master Mingtan said in a cold voice, "Spread my decree: hunt down the evil cultivator Ian Song with all our strength. Anyone who dares to shelter or hide him will be branded an enemy of the Prime One Church!"
This was a personal arrest order from Master Mingtan himself. So, in less than half an hour, the decree had spread throughout the Royal Capital. Many cultivators and factions, eager to curry favor with the Prime One Church, began searching for Ian Song’s whereabouts.
When the Second Prince heard the news, he was stunned at first, then burst into laughter and ordered a banquet to celebrate.
The Sixth Prince, upon hearing it, couldn’t help but let out a hearty, inexplicable laugh. "Retribution, retribution! Ian Song, who would’ve thought you’d end up like this? I can’t wait to see how you escape the Prime One Church’s hunt now!"
When Victor Li, the Fourth Prince, heard the news, his face instantly turned grim. He couldn’t help but worry for Ian Song, but then an idea struck him. He turned to Sam Li and said, "Uncle Sam, get ready—I’m going to the palace to see my father!"
"Your Highness, are you going to ask His Majesty to help Ian Song?" Sam Li asked.
Victor Li’s expression was anxious. "That’s right! I’m going to beg my father to order the Prime One Church to rescind this kill order!"
Sam Li was startled. "Your Highness, you mustn’t!"
Victor Li glared at Sam Li, his tone harsh. "Why not? Ian Song is my sworn brother. If not for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Now he’s in danger—if I just sit back and do nothing, do I even deserve to call myself his brother?"
Sam Li’s face was full of panic. "Your Highness, that’s not what I meant! If the kill order came from some big shot in the Prime One Church, His Majesty might be able to ask them to take it back. But this time, it was Master Mingtan himself who issued the order. Even if His Majesty goes in person, it won’t make any difference!"
"I don’t care! Even if it’s hopeless, I have to try!" Victor Li said firmly. With that, he got up and strode out, determined to enter the palace and see his father.
Sam Li could only sigh helplessly, his face full of resignation.
Soon, Victor Li arrived at the palace, but when he requested an audience with Leonard Li, he was told that His Majesty was in seclusion.
Hearing this, Victor Li couldn’t help but feel deeply disappointed and angry.
But instead of leaving, Victor Li forced his way to Leonard Li’s secluded cultivation site and knelt outside. If Leonard Li refused to see him, Victor was determined to keep kneeling until he did.
When Lucas Li, the Sixth Prince, heard about this, he just sneered. With his intelligence, how could he not see that their father was deliberately ignoring the matter, so as not to lose face if Master Mingtan refused to cooperate?
“Victor, you really are getting more naive as you age. If you can’t even see through this, how do you expect to inherit the throne? Keep dreaming!”
Meanwhile, inside the Divine Temple—
Ian Song’s injuries had already healed, and he’d treated Old Man Tanner and Raina Quinn as well. But to keep the Divine Temple’s secrets safe, he’d left them both unconscious for now.
Before heading to the Prime One Church, Ian had already prepared himself for trouble. He’d even decided that if Master Mingtan refused to help, he would offer up a cultivation manual capable of reaching the Golden Immortal stage.
Unfortunately, Master Mingtan hadn’t given him the chance. First came the humiliation, and then he’d tried to kill him outright.
Thinking about it now, Ian felt both stifled and furious.
Strength. That’s what it all came down to.
In the end, it was still a matter of power. If he had the strength of an immortal, would Master Mingtan have dared to treat him this way?