Owens Family, Soul-Suppressing Hall.
Two soul jades shattered one after another. Upon investigation, one belonged to Lower Heavenly God Paul Owens, and the other to Mid Heavenly God Julian Owens.
Heavenly Gods aren't exactly common; even the death of a single Lower Heavenly God would shake the entire Owens Family, let alone the loss of a Mid Heavenly God as well.
So, aside from those Heavenly Gods who were out traveling or in seclusion cultivating, all the others gathered in the main hall.
"Clan head has arrived!"
With a loud announcement, a short elderly man strode into the hall and took his seat directly on the clan head's throne.
"Greetings, Clan Head!"
All the Heavenly Gods saluted in unison.
"No need to be so formal, everyone!"
The short old man waved his hand. "Let's hear it—what happened? Why did two Heavenly Gods die?"
A Mid Heavenly God stepped forward and said, "Clan Head, previously Elder Julian Owens's disciple Trevor Owens led a group to harvest Nether Blooms, but except for Trevor, all thirty-plus Mid-Rank Gods were slaughtered by a God-Demon named Ian Song!"
Hearing Ian Song's name, Selena Owens, standing at the end of the hall, couldn't help but change expression, her eyes full of worry. She couldn't help but grumble inwardly, "Why does that guy always get into trouble!"
The Mid Heavenly God continued, "After that, Elder Julian Owens took his chief disciple Paul Owens and Trevor Owens to Elmridge Prefecture to force them to hand over the culprit. Later, Julian Owens and Paul Owens's soul jades shattered one after another. So, I suspect their deaths are connected to the God-Demon Corps in Elmridge Prefecture!"
"Isn't the branch leader of the God-Demon Corps in Elmridge Prefecture named Mu Gao? He's only a late-stage Lower Heavenly God. How could he possibly kill Julian Owens?"
The short old man voiced his doubts.
"That, I don't know. We'll need to send someone to investigate!" the Mid Heavenly God replied.
The short old man narrowed his eyes. "No matter if Mu Gao did it or not, their deaths are definitely tied to the God-Demon Corps. Elder Zane, take some people to Elmridge Prefecture and find out the cause of their deaths. If it really was the Corps, don't hold back—kill them all!"
"Understood, Clan Head!"
Zane Owens nodded. With early Upper Heavenly God cultivation, there were few in Elmridge Prefecture who could threaten him.
"Elder, I volunteer to go!"
A Mid Heavenly God stepped forward.
"I volunteer as well!"
...
Three Mid Heavenly Gods and five Lower Heavenly Gods immediately volunteered to follow Zane Owens to Elmridge Prefecture.
"Elder, I volunteer as well!"
After a brief hesitation, Selena Owens stepped forward.
"Then let's go together!"
Zane Owens nodded.
Immediately, Zane Owens led three Mid Heavenly Gods and six Lower Heavenly Gods in a grand procession toward Elmridge Prefecture.
Because the laws of the God Realm are so strong, even Upper Heavenly Gods have to fly honestly; only God-Kings can teleport.
Several hours later.
The Owens Family's Heavenly Gods suddenly descended from the sky, landing at the city gate.
The city guards, seeing this, hurriedly bowed in greeting, shocked by the sudden arrival of so many Heavenly Gods in Elmridge Prefecture.
Soon, the Owens Family's Heavenly Gods arrived outside the God-Demon Corps branch in Elmridge Prefecture.
"Galen Mu, get out here!"
Suddenly, Zane Owens shouted coldly, his voice piercing through the God-Demon Corps compound.
Many God-Demon Corps members' expressions changed drastically.
"Who dares make a scene in the God-Demon Corps—do you have a death wish?"
A One-Star God-Demon saw this and scolded Zane Owens and his group.
"Courting death!"
A Lower Heavenly God’s expression turned cold; he flicked his finger, sending a streak of pale blue divine power.
The energy shot out like lightning, pierced the One-Star God-Demon’s brow with a soft pop, and his body collapsed backward, completely lifeless.
You Owens Family are too arrogant, daring to kill a God-Demon right in our Corps!
At that moment—
Galen Mu walked out, accompanied by a young, burly man.
The young, burly man was Mark Gale, the Seven-Star God-Demon sent by headquarters as reinforcements.
Seven-Star God-Demon!
A touch of seriousness appeared on Zane Owens’s face.
Although the Corps requires Seven-Star God-Demons to be at least early Mid Heavenly God, the actual requirements for promotion are extremely strict.
That’s why every Seven-Star God-Demon has the strength to fight Upper Heavenly Gods head-on.
For this reason, even as an Upper Heavenly God, Zane Owens didn’t dare underestimate Mark Gale.
Owens Family, I hear you’re quite domineering?
In the next instant, Mark Gale stepped forward, his aura erupting—an overwhelming bloody pressure rushed forth, and behind him seemed to roar ten thousand resentful ghosts.
Zane Owens refused to back down, stepping forward and releasing his own aura to confront Mark Gale. "I am Zane Owens, and today I’ve come to demand an explanation from the God-Demon Corps!"
An explanation is one thing, but that’s no excuse for murder!
With those words, Mark Gale suddenly vanished. The Lower Heavenly God who killed the God-Demon earlier had his head explode, while Mark Gale reappeared in his original spot and said, "You killed one of my God-Demons, so I take your life in exchange."
Outrageous! How could the life of a mere One-Star God-Demon compare to that of a Lower Heavenly God!
Zane Owens was furious.
The other Owens Heavenly Gods wore angry expressions too, but there was fear in their eyes—they hadn’t even had time to react before the Lower Heavenly God was killed.
Only Zane Owens managed to react, but even he couldn’t stop it in time.
In my eyes, all lives are equal!
Mark Gale said calmly.
...You...!
Zane Owens was left speechless, his face turning dark.
Fine, let’s set that aside. My Owens Family elders Julian Owens and Paul Owens both died in Elmridge City. You God-Demon Corps must give us an explanation!
An explanation?
A trace of amusement appeared at Mark Gale’s lips, then he took out a recording stone and activated it.
After watching the recording, the Owens Family’s Heavenly Gods fell silent.
Because Julian Owens had actually tried to kill Galen Mu and the others.
So his death was his own fault.
Bring him up!
Soon, two Five-Star God-Demons escorted Trevor Owens up.
This man is also an Owens Family disciple, right?
Mark Gale asked playfully.
Elder Zane, save me! Save me!
Trevor Owens shouted.
Let him go!
Zane Owens shouted.
Haha, no rush! Mark Gale laughed and waved his hand.
Then he took out another recording stone and activated it.
After watching the recording, the Owens Family’s Heavenly Gods looked at Trevor Owens with hostility. In the recording, he confessed that he was the one who killed the thirty-plus Mid-Rank Gods.
But in the end, he pinned the blame on Ian Song.
Beast!
Zane Owens roared and blasted Trevor Owens to pieces with a single strike.