Chapter 131: Flame God's Nine-Star Value! A Change in Attitude!
"What is the matter?"
The Anti-Magic Knight Tang Qiyuan was an inspector for the Federation responsible for the Southern Border Province region, and unlike the city lords appointed by the Federation, he did not stay fixed in one place.
Instead, he would conduct inspections and surveillance across multiple areas.
The objects of his inspection included not only the monsters in the Wilderness Area, to prevent any Wilderness Area from forming a beast tide, but also the personnel within the region, especially officials, to see if they were committing crimes or evil deeds.
And the Zhou Family, having committed monstrous crimes, was exactly the kind of target Tang Qiyuan needed to deal with within his current jurisdiction.
As for why he didn't contact Jiang Heng, who had greater strength and power?
That was because Jiang Heng had no authority over Shanhai City.
Dongque City belonged to Dongshan Province, one of the Federation's thirty-six provinces!
Whereas Shanhai City belonged to the Southern Border Province and was under the jurisdiction of Nanjiang City!
If Jiang Heng and his group were to interfere in Shanhai City's affairs, it would be considered an overreach of authority.
Not to mention causing dissatisfaction within the Federation, Nanjiang City would be the first to object.
However, if the Anti-Magic Knight Tang Qiyuan were to handle it, there would be no problem at all!
As for handing the evidence over to the Shanhai City lord and letting the city lord resolve the Zhou Family, that was also impossible.
Although the city lord was nominally the top expert in Shanhai City, they were, after all, a non-local person sent by the Federation.
The Zhou Family, however, were local tyrants who had operated in Shanhai City for many years, and they could not be toppled by a mere city lord.
Even the 'Flame God' was not considered a Federation citizen; once he proposed to annihilate the Zhou Family, it might cause the Zhou Family and the city lord to unite against him.
"I have collected the various crimes committed over the last few decades by a family in Shanhai City called the Zhou Family..."
Jiang Yuan simply told Tang Qiyuan the intelligence he had gathered from the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion.
"You want to deal with the Zhou Family? Did they offend you?"
Tang Qiyuan couldn't help but be startled after hearing this and immediately asked in return.
Although his duty was to conduct inspections and surveillance, which family faction hadn't made mistakes or committed evil deeds?
If they were all to be dealt with, I'm afraid that apart from newborns, no one in the Federation would be left alive!
Generally speaking, Tang Qiyuan's main responsibility was to maintain stability in a region and ensure that no major incidents occurred in the cities.
As for punishing criminals and clearing away evil, that was secondary.
Moreover, if Shanhai City wanted to maintain stability and continue to develop, it could not do without a family like the Zhou Family.
Therefore, upon hearing that Jiang Yuan wanted to deal with the Zhou Family, his first reaction was not that the Zhou Family was heinous, but rather what they had done to offend the Flame God.
"You could say that!"
Jiang Yuan did not hide the feud between his disciple 'Jiang Yuan' and Zhou Luochen, nor the fact that Zhao Biao and others had been kidnapped.
"I am near Seven-Star City; if I rush to Shanhai City, it will take about three hours..."
While Tang Qiyuan was stalling for time, he was also using his inspector authority to search for information regarding the Flame God.
But suddenly, he discovered that he did not have the authority to view it.
The Flame God's profile had been moved from the ordinary files to the top-secret file category!
This could not help but greatly shock Tang Qiyuan.
You must know, the first profile file regarding the Flame God was uploaded by him.
Regarding this.
Tang Qiyuan immediately changed his previous attitude and stance.
"... According to Federation law, the Zhou Family must be given the maximum penalty; executing the entire family would not be excessive!"
Tang Qiyuan said in a solemn tone.
At the same time, Tang Qiyuan quickly sent a message to his direct superior, requesting to view some basic information about the Flame God.
Only in this way could he make the most correct judgment and choice regarding the matter of the Zhou Family.
"Handle everything as the Flame God says!"
"But in dealing with the Zhou Family, there must be a legitimate official reason."
"You must immediately rush to Shanhai City and cooperate with the Flame God!"
Tang Qiyuan's superior said bluntly.
Clearly, the other party was also on the Flame God's side.
"Yes!"
Tang Qiyuan replied.
At this moment, he also received the information sent by his superior regarding Jiang Yuan.
He learned of the Flame God's actions in Dongque City.
Among them, it was specifically noted that the Flame Godhad taken on a disciple from Shanhai City named 'Jiang Yuan'.
It was completely consistent with what the Flame God had said.
And the Flame God of today was no longer what he used to be.
"This profile assessment actually contains two eight-stars and one nine-star; just who is this Flame God!"
Tang Qiyuan was secretly shocked.
In the Flame God's profile information, among the various assessments, there were surprisingly three evaluations that exceeded the standard.
The first was the danger level, which was the strength assessment, reaching eight stars, equivalent to the strength of an Eighth-Turn Class Holder.
And Tang Qiyuan was only a Sixth-Turn Class Holder.
When he saw this column, Tang Qiyuan once thought that the information provided by his superior was wrong.
But after confirming it repeatedly, he discovered that he was the one who was wrong.
When he first met the Flame God, he had actually mistakenly thought that the other party was the same as him, just a Sixth-Turn Class Holder!
Looking back now, how ridiculous he was back then.
If the Flame God had been even slightly dissatisfied during that encounter, he would probably have been able to kill him with a single magic Skill!
The second eight-star rating was the Flame God's contribution to the Federation.
Generally speaking, only Federation personnel had this contribution rating, yet the Flame God clearly did not have Federation citizenship.
As for what contributions he had actually made, apart from recording one achievement of 'increasing the level of the Lone City of the Eastern Palace Dungeon', the other contribution achievements were in a confidential state.
With Tang Qiyuan's authority, he could not view them at all.
Only a few high-authority personnel in the Federation were qualified to view the detailed information.
The third item was the value of the Flame God himself, which reached nine stars.
He also could not know specifically what aspect this value referred to.
But a nine-star value assessment was equivalent to a Ninth-Turn Class Holder!
How many nine-star Class Holders were there in the entire Federation?
Precisely because of this, Tang Qiyuan's attitude toward the Flame God underwent a 180-degree change, and even his tone of voice became a few degrees more respectful.
If Jiang Yuan could see this Federation assessment report on him, he would likely have completely set aside his previous worries.
From the data, one could see that the Federation attached great importance to the Flame God!
"Your action can be described as eliminating harm for the people and rooting out a potential tumor from the Federation!"
"However, although you are a senior guest official of Dongque City, you do not have the legal law enforcement authority of the Federation."
"Please, you must wait until I arrive at Shanhai City; do not conduct private trials or go on a killing spree, so as to avoid giving others grounds for criticism!"
"The Zhou Family is, after all, a family faction recognized by the Federation and has significant influence in Shanhai City..."
Tang Qiyuan replied quickly, "I am rushing over with all my might; it will take at most two hours."
After speaking, Tang Qiyuan slammed his mount, the Dark Prison Heavenly Lion.
The Dark Prison Heavenly Lion let out a low roar, rapidly flapped its wings, and sped away.
"Fine, I'll give you two hours!"
Jiang Yuan thought for a moment and replied.
Anyway, two hours earlier or two hours later didn't make much difference.
If Jiang Yuan really wanted to use private punishment to deal with the Zhou Family, there would be no need to contact Tang Qiyuan.
It wasn't that Jiang Yuan didn't have the strength and needed Tang Qiyuan's help.
Rather, he needed Tang Qiyuan, an inspector, to represent the name of Federation justice.
After all, the Zhou Family members were in Shanhai City, inside a Base City under the Federation's jurisdiction.
If the Zhou Family members were outside the city, in the Wilderness Area, Jiang Yuan wouldn't care so much.
He would just kill them all, just like he killed Zhou Luochen, and that would be the end of it.
But to wipe out a big family inside a Base City, one still needed to follow some rules.
Otherwise, if everyone with a personal feud went on a killing spree in the Base City, then Federation law would be a mere formality.
I'm afraid that before long, the entire Federation would fall into complete chaos.
When Federation law lost its restraining power, those who suffered the most would not be big families like the Zhou Family.
But rather ordinary people like Jiang Yuan and Zhao Biaowho had no background.
Chapter 132: Ice Sealing the Entire Shanhai City
"We need to wait for the Federation's inspector, Tang Qiyuan, to come in person before we can initiate sanctions against the Zhou Family!"
"Although there's no way to directly kill the Zhou Familymembers right now, there shouldn't be any problem with sealing off the Zhou Family to prevent them from fleeing in fear of punishment!"
Jiang Yuan's figure flashed, transforming into a gust of wind as he shot straight into the clouds.
As he flew into the sky, a layer of crimson-gold flames suddenly appeared on his body, enveloping him entirely.
Shanhai City has flight restrictions; apart from official personnel, civilian Class Holders are not allowed to fly in the air.
But there is an exception to everything.
When one's strength reaches a certain level, even if you touch the red line of the rules, the red line will make way for you.
After all, rules are formulated by the strong!
The strong make the rules!
The weak follow the rules!
Jiang Yuan's crimson-gold figure stood in mid-air, appearing above the Zhou Family Residence, looking down proudly at the entire Zhou Family.
"Who dares to trespass into our Zhou Family? Come down at once!"
The Zhou Family discovered the Flame God's presence immediately.
Before long, many of the Zhou Family's guards, retainers, and elders rushed out from various rooms.
"Flame God!"
"How could it be him!?"
"Why has he come to our Shanhai City?"
Some Zhou Family members quickly recognized the origin of the Flame God, their faces involuntarily filled with shock and confusion.
You must know that the Flame God's previous deeds at the Tianhai City Ruins had caused quite a sensation within Shanhai City.
At this moment, every member of the Zhou Family felt extremely uneasy.
Because they felt the terrifying pressure coming from the Flame God, making it difficult for them to even breathe.
The Zhou Family's location was in the most core and prosperous area of Shanhai City; the City Lord's mansion, the Professionals Guild, and the residences of several other major families were all nearby, not far away.
He did not intentionally hide his whereabouts.
Therefore, the moment 'Flame God' appeared, many strong individuals in the city discovered him.
The area around the City Lord's mansion even sounded the alarm directly.
Many strong individuals in Shanhai City emerged from every corner.
Under the gaze of everyone, the Flame God finally moved!
"Ice Seal Ten Thousand Miles!"
Jiang Yuan raised his arm; his palm did not condense the usual white frost, but instead carried a hint of deep blue icy mist.
As the mist surged, countless tiny ice crystals floated like stardust; each ice crystal was engraved with obscure law patterns, refracting a heart-stopping, deep blue cold light, as if it were the ultimate cold extracted from the depths of an ancient glacier, causing the surrounding air to emit "crackling" freezing and shattering sounds before it had even spread.
In the next instant, a tidal wave of Ice Sealing Law Powersuddenly erupted from his body!
It was not a gradual spread, but a crushing expansion that roared outward; an invisible law barrier enveloped the Zhou Family Residence first, forming a translucent, pale blue ice wall barrier that completely framed the residence into an isolated cage cut off from the rest of the world.
On the ice wall, frost flowers grew and climbed frantically at a speed visible to the naked eye, instantly covering it with complex ice patterns. Each pattern radiated a low temperature sufficient to freeze the soul, and even space seemed to be slightly distorted by the freezing, with light taking on a cold blue hue as it passed through.
"Oh no, run!"
Seeing this, the Zhou Family members could not help but show expressions of terror.
Feeling the arrival of the extreme cold energy, they immediately fell into chaos; some people desperately ran away, trying to get away from this dangerous place.
However, the moment the law power descended, everything within the Zhou Family Residence was hit with a pause button and was immediately frozen solid.
The glazed tiles on the upturned eaves were instantly covered in a layer of thick ice, their original colors concealed by the ice, leaving only a ghastly white ice color.
The swaying flower branches in the courtyard, along with the dewdrops on the petals, were all frozen into crystal-clear ice sculptures; the solidified form of the dewdrops still maintained the moment of falling, as if time had been sealed in this single frame.
The candles inside the house had not yet been extinguished before they were wrapped by the cold into a ball of ice-blue ice cores; even the flickering flames were frozen, becoming the most bizarre embellishment in the ice sculptures.
Even more horrifying were the Zhou Family members.
Whether it was the guards holding sharp blades, the retainers fleeing in panic, or the high-ranking Zhou Familyelders, all were frozen into lifelike ice sculptures amidst their exclamations and struggles.
The expressions of terror, anger, and despair on their faces were perfectly preserved; the tear stains at the corners of their eyes solidified into bright ice threads, and in their posture of shouting, their tongue tips were frozen into ice prisms.
Some were even in a running state, with raised feet and swinging arms maintaining their dynamic motion, yet they were tightly imprisoned by the invisible ice power, becoming the most vivid specimens in the frozen world.
The surface of the ice sculptures was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the deep blue of the sky, yet it exuded a deathly silence that penetrated deep into the marrow.
"Hiss!"
Outside the residence, those strong individuals from Shanhai City who had rushed over upon hearing the news were engulfed by an overwhelming extreme cold before they could even get close.
This coldness did not come from the external environment, but directly penetrated clothing and skin, burrowing into the gaps of the bones, and then spreading along the blood vessels to the internal organs.
Some subconsciously circulated their internal Qi and blood power to resist, but as soon as it surged, it froze into ice crystals in their meridians, causing them to groan and blood mixed with ice shards to spill from the corners of their mouths.
They could grit their teeth and endure the cold in their bodies, but the chill and fear rising from the bottom of their hearts made one shudder.
They looked at the deathly silent ice sculptures within the Zhou Family Residence, then looked up at Jiang Yuan in mid-air, overlooking all living beings like a god, and only felt that the figure was even colder and more terrifying than an ancient glacier.
"Flame God? What does he want to do?"
Someone whispered in a trembling voice, filled with undisguised terror.
Fear spread like a plague; everyone subconsciously assumed that since Jiang Yuan could so easily freeze the Zhou Family, the next target might be them, the onlookers.
The strong individuals who were originally surrounding the area from not far away instantly scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing with all their might in the direction away from the Zhou Family, not even daring to breathe.
Even the City Lord, who was hovering high in the sky on a flying mount to investigate the situation, had a sudden change in expression.
The flying mount beneath him had its feathers standing on end, trembling, emitting uneasy neighs, and its wing-flapping movements became stiff.
"Retreat! Retreat quickly!"
City Lord did not dare to hesitate in the slightest, suddenly slapping his mount's neck and saying in a deep voice.
Even though he had retreated a great distance, City Lordcould still feel the bone-chilling cold coming from behind his back, as if that Ice Sealing Law Power could catch up at any moment and freeze him along with his mount.
However, the onlookers' flight had not lasted long before they were frozen in place by an even more terrifying sight.
They discovered with horror that the ice sealing power released by Jiang Yuan showed no signs of stopping at all; the Zhou Family Residence was merely the starting point!
With the Zhou Family as the center, the pale blue Ice Seal Domain spread outward like a tidal wave; wherever it passed, the ground instantly froze into several feet of solid ice, and ice prisms surged from the gaps in the floor tiles, turning the originally flat streets into a rugged ice field.
The shops and houses along the road were like being pressed into an ice cellar by an invisible giant hand, instantly wrapped in thick ice, becoming frozen buildings.
Fortunately, the extreme cold frost power only covered some inanimate objects like buildings and did not target the pedestrians and common people on the streets.
Inside Shanhai City's Early Warning Center, red alarm lights flashed crazily, and the piercing alarm sound penetrated the ice layer, but it seemed exceptionally powerless.
The City Guard soldiers responsible for early warning tried their best to control the instruments, attempting to activate the emergency defense mechanism of the city protection array.
But as soon as the array's energy was output, it was frozen in the array eye by the spreading ice sealing power.
The array's light shield had just revealed a glimmer of light before it dissipated like shattered glass, failing to provide even the slightest obstruction.
"It's over!"
Shanhai City's City Guard commander, Gao Jun, had a face ashen with despair.
In less than half a minute, the entire Shanhai City was completely enveloped within the Ice Seal Domain.
The pale blue ice wall surrounded the entire city, reaching a height of a hundred zhang, like a huge ice coffin, completely isolating the connection between inside and outside.
Sunlight shone on the ice wall, reflecting into cold blue light, unable to penetrate the ice layer to bring any warmth.
An extreme coldness enveloped every corner of Shanhai City, lingering in the hearts of every person in Shanhai City, making them feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave, with even their breath carrying ice shards.
Chapter 133: Songshan Village Dungeon
"Flame God... he is actually this strong!"
"This is definitely the power of high-level magic!"
"But isn't he a fire mage? How can he use ice magic?"
City Lord looked down at the completely frozen city, his face pale as paper, his voice filled with despair.
You must know that the strongest person in Shanhai Cityon the surface is him, a Fifth-Tier Class Holder.
Between a Fifth-Tier and a Seventh Rank, it may seem like only a two-rank difference, but in reality, it is a world of difference, like the gap between an ant and the bright moon.
Let alone him, a Fifth-Tier, even if all the Class Holders in the city joined forces, in front of such a high-level expert, it would be nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot; they wouldn't even have the qualification to resist.
Fortunately, although Flame God has sealed the entire Shanhai City, it is different from freezing the entire Zhou Family and turning the Zhou Family members into ice sculptures.
People inside Shanhai City, apart from being unable to enter or leave the city, are not otherwise significantly affected.
"Perhaps he is a dual cultivator of ice and fire, no, maybe he is a triple cultivator of ice, fire, and wind!"
"And his strength is at least that of a Seventh Rank Saint-level Expert!"
Appearing beside City Lord was the guild master of the professionals guild, Song Jingran.
In his hand, he was tightly gripping an azure jade featherwith red gold edges.
If Flame God were to make a move, this might be his only chance to save his life.
"City Lord, are we just going to watch him act so recklessly?"
Many strong individuals from Shanhai City rushed over.
Although they are the strongest combat force in Shanhai City.
Their strength is basically only at the Fourth or Fifth-Tier!
"What else can we do besides watch!"
"He has at least the strength of a Saint Mage!"
"Moreover, he froze the entire Shanhai City in one move; even an ordinary Saint Mage couldn't do that, right!"
"Even if we all went together, we couldn't even block one of his moves."
City Lord said coldly.
"Everyone, do not act rashly, so as not to anger Flame God!"
"Although he has sealed the entire city, he has not resorted to killing!"
"Otherwise, how could we still be alive here talking!"
Song Jingran stepped forward and said.
"Yes, yes, yes, even if the other party is a high-level expert, he shouldn't be unreasonable!"
"After all, although our Shanhai City is not strong, we have the Federation backing us!"
"I think Flame God is not targeting us, but the Zhou Family!"
"Yes, I just took a look. The entire Zhou Family has been frozen into ice sculptures, and not a single person escaped alive, but apart from the Zhou Family members, no one else has been significantly affected!"
"What on earth did the Zhou Family do to provoke such an expert, implicating us and harming the millions of citizens in Shanhai City!"
Everyone discussed with worried expressions.
"How about we send someone to negotiate with Flame God?"
Someone suggested.
But as soon as these words were spoken, everyone fell silent like cicadas in winter, and no one spoke again.
Just kidding, Flame God clearly came with ill intentions; wouldn't stepping forward at this time be seeking death?
At this moment, within the ice-blue Ice Seal Domain, the wailing sound of cold wind passing through ice ridges echoed continuously, like the lament of the entire Shanhai City.
Everyone was waiting in agony for Flame God's next move, and every second felt as long as a lifetime.
But to their surprise, after Flame God finished all this, he actually left through the air!
This couldn't help but make everyone look at each other in dismay.
They didn't understand what Flame God was trying to do.
This left everyone very confused.
Although Flame God had left, they couldn't be happy at all.
Because the towering ice wall still sealed the entire Shanhai City, trapping them in a frozen world.
Anyone attempting to break through the ice wall's defense would be frozen into an ice sculpture by the terrifying frost power as soon as they approached.
The most terrifying thing was that they discovered this ice wall could not only isolate people from entering and leaving, but even block signals.
At this moment, Shanhai City had become an isolated ice prison, completely cut off from the outside world.
Even if they wanted to ask the Federation for help, they couldn't do it at all.
At this moment, everyone realized a fact.
Not only the lives of the Zhou Family, but also their own lives, as well as the lives of the three million people in Shanhai City, were all in the hands of Flame God!
...
At this moment, Jiang Yuan was heading to Songshan Village, thirty kilometers away from Shanhai City.
He planned to rescue Zhao Biao and the others first, so they wouldn't suffer in the Zhou Family's private dungeon.
As for the Zhou Family, Jiang Yuan couldn't kill them yet, before the inspector Tang Qiyuan arrived.
But by freezing the entire Zhou Family and Shanhai City, he had already achieved his goal of establishing prestige!
This was not him being reckless.
Rather, it was using his powerful strength to take concrete action, telling everyone that he, Flame God, is definitely not someone to be trifled with!
If the Federation could handle this matter well, then only the Zhou Family would be unlucky!
If they could not satisfy him, then the entire Shanhai Citywould be implicated, and perhaps even more than just Shanhai City.
He believed that between these two options, the Federation would make the most correct choice!
Although Flame God was willing to stand on the Federation's side, he would not let himself be manipulated!
He wanted everyone to know that anyone who offended him or his disciple, 'Jiang Yuan', would definitely suffer retaliation and reckoning!
Not to mention targeting Jiang Yuan, even targeting Jiang Yuan's friends would not be tolerated.
"Heh, you guys have quite tough mouths!"
"It's been so many days, and you still haven't let anything slip!"
"Could it be that you are really willing to die for that kid, Jiang Yuan?"
Deep in Songshan Village, in a hidden dungeon where the sun never shone, the damp smell of mold mixed with the stench of blood permeated the air, sticking stickily to one's skin.
A sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked, sinister man hunched over, pacing step by step among the torture instruments, his mouth pulling into a vicious, poison-dipped smile.
His triangular eyes narrowed into slits, and his cold, sinister gaze, like a viper's tongue, stared fixedly at Zhao Biao and the others who were tied to the torture rack.
Zhao Biao and the others had long been tortured beyond recognition; their originally sturdy bodies were now covered in wounds deep enough to see bone, and filthy blood slowly dripped along the iron spikes of the torture instruments, accumulating into a small pool of dark black water on the ground.
What was even more nauseating was that some white maggots were wriggling and crawling along the edges of the rotting wounds, gnawing on the remaining flesh.
Their chests heaved violently, every breath accompanied by broken groans; it felt like their throats were blocked with hot sandpaper, and let alone speaking out in rebuttal, even producing a complete syllable had become a luxury.
At the other end of the dungeon, in the shadows, stood a man wearing a black priest's robe, the hem of which dragged on the muddy ground, yet remained spotless.
He held his hands across his chest, watching everything with numb eyes, as if watching a farce that had nothing to do with him.
Whenever any of Zhao Biao and the others had weak breaths or their health dropped to the bottom, he would raise his hand and chant obscure incantations, and a faint white light would fall on the wounded, barely keeping them alive.
And the moment the white light dissipated, the sinister man's torture would follow immediately.
Branding irons, steel whips, nail boards...
One torture instrument after another took turns, carving despair bit by bit into the bone marrow of Zhao Biao and the others.
This cruel cycle had been repeating in this dungeon for a full seven days.
Chapter 134: Rescuing Everyone
"You'd better just confess honestly!"
The sinister man stopped in his tracks, looking down at Zhao Biao with an impatient, threatening tone.
"If you confess, I can give you a quick end!"
"Otherwise, there are plenty of ways to make you wish for death!"
"No one who offends the Zhou Family ends up well!"
He stuck out his crimson tongue and greedily licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, as if he had tasted something delicious.
Afterwards, he picked up a long, barbed needle from the torture rack beside him. The needle's body flashed with a cold, chilling light, and a trace of dried blood hung from its tip.
He slowly raised the long needle, aiming it at Zhao Biao's bloodless temple, his fingertips turning slightly white from the force.
"Is that so?"
An ice-cold voice suddenly rang out in the dungeon, like a winter gale sweeping across an ice surface, instantly freezing the bloodiness and violence in the air.
"Hm?"
The sinister man stiffened, the viciousness on his face instantly replaced by shock. "Who are you?"
He turned around abruptly, his triangular eyes locked onto the direction of the dungeon entrance.
There, standing at the entrance, was a figure wrapped in brilliant crimson-gold flames. As the flames danced, they illuminated the dim dungeon like daylight, and an oppressive heatwave rushed forward, causing the surrounding air to distort.
The sinister man panicked. Without thinking, he used the barbed needle in his hand as a hidden weapon and shot it fiercely towards the flaming figure.
Puchi!
A soft sizzling sound occurred.
Jiang Yuan just raised his hand casually, and a wisp of the crimson-gold flames automatically surged out, forming a wall of fire in front of him.
Before the barbed needle could even get close to the wall of fire, it was instantly melted by the high temperature, turning into a drop of molten iron that dripped onto the ground with a sizzling sound.
"Die!"
The next second, Jiang Yuan's eyes turned cold, and he let out a soft shout.
The surging crimson-gold flames were like a dragon breaking free from its shackles, opening its bloody maw and pouncing fiercely towards the sinister man.
Wherever the flames passed, the air crackled and popped. The sinister man couldn't even manage a scream before he was completely engulfed by the flames.
Not only him, but the other few remnants in the dungeon who held weapons and belonged to the Zhou Family also failed to escape their fate.
The crimson-gold flames were like maggots on a bone, instantly spreading to them. In just a few breaths, they were burned into piles of black ash, which dissipated into the air with a breeze, leaving not even a trace behind.
Swish!
After dealing with the Zhou Family remnants, Jiang Yuan's movements did not pause in the slightest.
This time, what surged from his palm was no longer scorching flames, but a clear, gentle radiance of water.
The water's radiance contained immense vitality, transforming into several soft lines of water that landed precisely on Zhao Biao and the others.
The warm water radiance wrapped around Zhao Biao and the others' battered bodies, and the immense vitality, like a rushing stream, poured into their bodies through their wounds.
The wounds that were originally deep enough to see the bone were healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. Shattered muscle fibers regrew, rotting flesh was replaced by new tissue, and even those disgusting maggots were instantly turned into fly ash under the scouring of the vitality.
The hidden injuries accumulated in their bodies and their broken tendons and bones were all rapidly repaired and completely healed in the face of this terrifying vitality.
Even more miraculously, their mental states, which had been on the verge of collapse from torture, also recovered rapidly under the nourishment of the vitality.
Their chaotic consciousness became clear, their numb nerves re-perceived everything in the outside world, and their originally unfocused eyes gradually gathered, instantly returning to their peak state.
In just a short ten seconds, Zhao Biao and the others, who were originally covered in blood and unrecognizable, had completely returned to normal.
They slowly opened their eyes and moved their limbs. Except for the blood-stained, tattered clothes on their bodies that still bore traces of the torture, there wasn't a single injury to be found on them, as if the seven days of hellish torture before were just a nightmare.
"Many thanks to our benefactor for saving us. May we ask for our benefactor's name?"
Zhao Biao was overjoyed and knelt directly towards Flame God. "In the future, we will definitely repay your life-saving grace."
He had originally thought that he would surely die this time.
He never expected that someone would actually come to save him!
Luo Hang and the others knelt down just like Zhao Biao, their faces also showing excitement and agitation.
After all, who wouldn't be happy to have escaped death?
"You don't need to thank me!"
"On the contrary, the one who should be apologizing is me. It was me who implicated you all this time!"
"That made you suffer so much!"
A figure walked in from the dungeon entrance; it was Jiang Yuan.
He quickly helped them up, an apologetic look on his face.
"Jiang Yuan?"
Zhao Biao stared at Jiang Yuan's face, weeping with joy.
"Damn it, I thought I would never see you again in this lifetime!"
"Are you okay? Did the Zhou Family not find you?"
Zhao Biao said repeatedly, "It's not safe here. We need to leave quickly, otherwise it will be troublesome if the Zhou Family people come!"
"The Zhou Family?"
"They won't be able to jump around for much longer!"
Jiang Yuan comforted them for a few sentences, then pointed to the crimson-gold figure behind him. "He is my master, Flame God, a Seventh-Turn Magic Saint!"
"A... Saint Mage?"
Zhao Biao opened his mouth wide, his eyes full of shock. "Are are are you kidding me!"
You must know, the strongest in the entire Shanhai City is only a Fifth-Turn Professional.
And a Saint Mage is a full two major realms higher than a Fifth-Turn.
Furthermore, a Saint Mage belongs to the ranks of high-level experts.
While a Fifth-Turn is only a mid-level Class Holder.
A Seventh-Turn Magic Saint could casually slap to death a large group of Fifth-Turn Professionals.
The strength, status, and authority between the two are completely worlds apart.
The biggest goal of Zhao Biao's journey was to hope that one day he could become an expert like City Lord.
As for Seventh Rank, he didn't even dare to think about it.
"Of course, what good would it do me to lie to you!"
Jiang Yuan patted Zhao Biao on the shoulder.
"Then wouldn't we not have to be afraid of the Zhou Family anymore?"
Zhao Biao was pleasantly surprised, unable to help but feel happy for his good brother.
Before, what he was most worried about was that Jiang Yuan had fallen into the hands of the Zhou Family.
Even if Jiang Yuan had luckily escaped, he would probably have to spend his whole life avoiding the Zhou Family's pursuit, living a life of hiding in darkness.
But after Jiang Yuan became the disciple of a Saint Mage, the situation would be completely reversed.
It should be the Zhou Family that is afraid and terrified.
"It's not just about not being afraid!"
"Moreover, I am going to destroy the Zhou Family today!"
Jiang Yuan said to Zhao Biao.
"... But the Zhou Family is one of the four great families of Shanhai City!"
"With Shanhai City as their backing and close relationships with all parties in the city, even the City Lord's Mansion has to show the Zhou Family some respect!"
"Furthermore, although Shanhai City is only a Level 2 Base City and has no Saint-level Expert, there is still the Federation behind Shanhai City."
Zhao Biao looked at Jiang Yuan, then carefully stole a glance at Flame God. "We can deal with the Zhou Familyin secret, killing the Zhou Family members one by one, but we cannot do this openly!"
Although his strength wasn't great.
He had grown up in Shanhai City since he was a child, so he still had some understanding of the family power structure in Shanhai City.
The reason why the Zhou Family's style of conduct was so unscrupulous was precisely because they had close and extensive connections, as well as huge influence, in Shanhai City.
Of course, the Zhou Family's own strength was not weak either.
"Don't worry, no matter how strong the Zhou Family is, can they be stronger than a Saint Mage?"
"What's more, this time when I deal with the Zhou Family, I'm not relying on the official authorities of Shanhai City!"
"Instead, I have found a Federal Inspector to come over, and I am prepared to announce the various crimes committed by the Zhou Family over these years in public and conduct a public trial."
Jiang Yuan smiled. "We are law-abiding citizens of the Federation, so naturally we must use legal trial methods to sanction the Zhou Family!"
Chapter 135: Identity Exposed! Everyone's Shock!
"Let's go!"
"We're going back to Shanhai City!"
"We'll talk about the rest slowly!"
Jiang Yuan said to Zhao Biao and the others.
Before Zhao Biao and the others could react, Flame Godwaved his hand, and several gentle curtains of light lifted them up softly.
In the next second, everyone felt the ground beneath them vanish. Their bodies floated away from the dungeon along with Flame God and Jiang Yuan, turning into several streaks of light that shot straight into the sky.
The wind whistled past their ears, the ground and mountains sped away beneath them, and clouds swirled around them.
The pupils of Zhao Biao and the others constricted. The terror of having just escaped hell had not yet dissipated before they were captivated by the miraculous sight of flying through the air.
They opened their mouths, but the exclamations they intended to make stuck in their throats. They even subconsciously held their breath, afraid of disturbing this unbelievable state.
This was flight, something they had only ever heard of in legends!
Generally speaking, only a Class Holder of at least Seventh-Rank Saint-level could achieve unassisted flight without the use of external items.
However, before this brief shock could settle, the scene on the horizon ahead made them freeze completely, their blood seemingly congealing at that moment.
They saw the familiar Shanhai City in the distance, now completely enveloped by a layer of crystal-clear ice walls. The ice walls towered into the clouds, wrapping the entire city tightly. Sunlight shone on the ice surface, refracting cold and brilliant light. The once bustling city was now terrifyingly quiet, with only the chill from the ice layer clearly perceptible from miles away.
"Th-this is..." Zhao Biao widened his eyes, his voice trembling as he stared fixedly at the ice-sealed city, shocked beyond measure.
His teammates, Luo Hang, Jiao Yuefeng, and the others, were also dumbfounded, their faces filled with disbelief. Even the novelty of flying was completely washed away by this horrifying sight.
"Your master did all of this!" After a long while, Zhao Biaosuddenly turned to look at Jiang Yuan beside him, his tone filled with unconcealable shock and a need for confirmation.
He had long known that Jiang Yuan's master was a Saint Mage, and had only heard before that a Seventh-Turn Magic Saint possessed vast magical powers, rumored to be able to destroy a city with high-level magic.
But seeing it with his own eyes today, although Flame Goddid not destroy Shanhai City, he had completely sealed the entire city using an ice-sealing technique.
This method was far more startling than destroying a city!
After all, destruction only requires brute force, while sealing a city not only requires control of extreme power but also precise judgment. Any slight carelessness would harm the innocent in the city, making the difficulty a hundred times greater than destruction.
Only at this moment did Zhao Biao and the others truly believe that Jiang Yuan's master, Flame God, was not just a name, but a genuine Seventh-Turn Magic Saint.
Furthermore, he was definitely not comparable to those ordinary Saints of Law!
"That's right!" Jiang Yuan nodded calmly as he met their shocked gazes.
"The Zhou Family's criminal facts are clear, and the evidence is sufficient. To prevent them from fleeing in fear of punishment and causing chaos everywhere, my master had no choice but to use an ice-sealing technique to lock down the entire Shanhai City, cutting off all possibilities of their escape."
He raised his hand to point at the ice-sealed city below, his tone heavy and serious.
"That's too awes... too amazing!" Zhao Biao subconsciously wanted to shout, but he forcibly corrected himself, his eyes glued to the ice city.
This city where he had lived for decades was both familiar and strange at this moment. The coldness of the ice walls and the deathly silence of the city intertwined, forming an incredibly striking scene.
"When will I be able to possess such strength..." he muttered to himself, his eyes full of yearning and longing.
"There will be such a day." Jiang Yuan heard this, turned his head to look at him, his eyes firm and gentle.
Their figures passed through the ice wall, and miraculously, they did not encounter any obstruction at all.
Flame God brought them to appear above the Zhou Familyonce again.
Compared to the shock Zhao Biao and the others felt regarding flight and the ice-sealed city, the sight of Flame God returning with people caused even greater waves in the eyes of those outside the ice-sealed city.
The most shocked were not Zhao Biao and the others who had just returned from hell, but the Shanhai City's City Lord, City Lord, and the guild master of the professionals guild, Song Jingran, and others who were entrenched here. They were all prominent figures in Shanhai City.
Previously, Flame God's sudden move to freeze the city had shocked them endlessly, but Flame God's departure had let them breathe a sigh of relief.
Seeing Flame God return, with Jiang Yuan and several tattered, unfamiliar figures by his side, the hearts of City Lord and Song Jingran and the others instantly hung in the air again. They frowned, their eyes filled with suspicion.
They had no idea what Flame God had gone to do during his brief absence, nor did they know the background of these few people who had suddenly appeared.
Everyone's gaze quickly swept past Flame God, and soon their attention fell on Jiang Yuan and Zhao Biao and the others.
When they saw Jiang Yuan's appearance clearly, strange expressions appeared in many people's eyes, and there were even acquaintances who quickly recognized Jiang Yuan's identity.
"That is a student from our First High School!" Principal Xiao Heng of the First High School looked surprised.
"Are you sure?" City Lord asked in surprise.
"Of course I'm sure. I haven't reached the point of being senile yet. That is definitely a student from our First High School!" Principal Xiao Heng said decisively.
"If I'm not mistaken, that person should be Flame God's disciple!" Song Jingran couldn't help but look enlightened.
Because Flame God had previously come to him asking for a top-grade Water Healing Spell. At that time, he had mentioned it was for his disciple.
In that case, everything was explained!
Just as everyone was in doubt, news was quickly transmitted from the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion. The voice was not loud but clearly spread throughout the crowd.
"Everyone, please calm down. According to reliable information, Your Excellency Flame God's trip this time is only to take revenge for his disciple Jiang Yuan. The target is only aimed at the remnants of the Zhou Family, and he has no intention of implicating others."
Once the news came out, the heavy stone in everyone's hearts settled slightly, but the sense of shock was even greater.
In the crowd, a woman dressed in a vermilion cheongsam stood quietly. The cheongsam outlined her exquisite figure. It was Si Junyao, the person in charge of the Heavenly Book Pavilion in Shanhai City.
"His master is actually Flame God! No wonder..." Upon hearing this, her autumn-water-like eyes widened slightly, revealing a look of surprise, and she muttered to herself.
At the time of Flame God, Si Junyao had also learned of Flame God's 'background' from others. At the very least, Flame God could freeze an entire city. Based on this alone, his strength was at least at the Saint Mage level, or perhaps even stronger.
"No wonder he is just an ordinary Class Holder, yet his leveling speed is astonishingly fast, and he can casually spend millions of gold coins to improve a Skill."
"In this way, he is actually a good match for Lin Muxue."
Si Junyao gently traced the embroidered patterns on her cheongsam with her fingertips, a flash of realization in her eyes, and then a meaningful smile curled at the corners of her mouth. "Lin Muxue, this little girl, not only has heaven-defying luck herself, but her eye for men is also this good!"
Unlike Si Junyao's realization, on the other side, in the crowd of the Lin Family, a figure suddenly froze, and the color on their face instantly faded.
Chapter 136: The Arrival of the inspector
"It's him! How could it be him!"
Lin Yufan stared fixedly in Jiang Yuan's direction, his pupils constricting sharply, and a chill he couldn't control spread through his body; the look of shock was written all over his face.
Among the Lin Family members present, he was the only one who had met Jiang Yuan before, and he was the one who had personally broken off the relationship between Jiang Yuan and Lin Muxue.
In his view, Jiang Yuan was just an ordinary Class Holderwith no background, destined to live a mediocre life, and simply unworthy of the Lin Family's daughter.
But who could have imagined that, in such a short time, Jiang Yuan would transform into the personal disciple of a Saint Mage!
Such an opportunity was a blessing that couldn't be cultivated even in several lifetimes!
After the shock, endless fear engulfed Lin Yufan like a tide.
He knew very well that since he had humiliated Jiang Yuanand broken the two of them up, if Jiang Yuan held a grudge, the Lin Family would likely follow in the Zhou Family's footsteps, given the Flame God's strength.
Being targeted by a Saint Mage meant that death was always just a matter of time.
"Don't panic, at least they are currently only targeting the Zhou Family and haven't taken action against our Lin Family yet!"
"Furthermore, Lin Muxue is still his nominal girlfriend, so there is still that bond between them!"
"Even taking a step back, Lin Muxue has taken a mentor from the Nanjiang Academy as her teacher, and that person is also a Seventh-Rank Saint-level powerhouse, who might not be weaker than this Flame God!"
The head of the Lin Family, Lin Muying, who was also Lin Muxue's father, quickly understood the situation, his expression becoming extremely complex and his heart filled with trepidation.
If he had known early on that Jiang Yuan had such an awesome master, he should never have forcibly intervened in their relationship.
If he had facilitated this union, wouldn't the Lin Family have two Saint Mage-level powerhouses standing behind them?
By then, Shanhai City would no longer be ruled by the four great families, but would be dominated solely by the Lin Family.
But in the current situation, it was truly something to regret deeply!
The others present, having heard of Jiang Yuan's identity and background, also had their own reactions.
Some marveled at Jiang Yuan's good fortune, some envied the Flame God's protection of his disciple, and others were quietly calculating how to establish a good relationship with Jiang Yuan.
Especially those families with beautiful women of similar age to Jiang Yuan, who might be able to use this to build a connection with him.
The beauty trap never goes out of style, no matter the time.
At this moment, everyone was harboring their own schemes, their eyes flickering with complex thoughts.
"Is it okay for us to keep staying here?"
Zhao Biao looked down at the scene below, saying with a mix of excitement and unease.
It wasn't that he was afraid of heights.
Rather, it was because they were currently the focus of the entire city's attention.
Not just the common people of Shanhai City, but also those powerhouses who usually stood high above.
Each and every one of them was being'stepped' under his feet.
They could only look up at them.
This feeling was ten thousand times more satisfying than flying through the air earlier!
"It's fine!"
"This is also for your own good!"
"From now on, no one in this Shanhai City will dare to bully you again!"
Jiang Yuan said quite calmly.
Around him, special fluctuations kept emerging; there was firelight, water ripples, and even invisible mental fluctuations.
For Jiang Yuan, continuously releasing Skills and stacking Skill amplification multipliers had already become a habit.
He had also practiced multitasking to perfection.
In this way, even if Jiang Yuan was doing other things, it wouldn't affect his ability to release Skills.
Not long after, a low bestial roar came from the horizon, accompanied by powerful airflow fluctuations, as a figure riding a fierce Dark Prison Heavenly Lion suddenly descended above Shanhai City.
The person who arrived was none other than the Federal Inspector, Tang Qiyuan.
Unlike the last time he descended upon Shanhai City, when everyone lined up to welcome him in a majestic display, this time, no one took the initiative to come forward to welcome him.
Tang Qiyuan didn't care about this; all his attention was drawn to Shanhai City below, which was tightly wrapped by the crystal-clear ice wall.
Looking at the shocking frozen scene before him, Tang Qiyuan's heart churned, filled with incredibly complex emotions.
There was shock at the Flame God's terrifying strength, worry about the situation inside the city, and even a trace of undisguised fear.
"Could the Flame God have already started cleaning up the Zhou Family before I arrived?"
Tang Qiyuan felt a faint sense of unease in his heart.
If the Flame God was only targeting the Zhou Family for judgment, that would be fine.
After all, the Zhou Family's crimes were well-documented, and having offended the Flame God, plus receiving tacit approval from his superiors, there was already an intention to deal with the Zhou Family to make an example of them.
Otherwise, these great families would act more and more arrogantly, disregarding federal law.
Punishing the Zhou Family this time would also allow other families and forces to restrain themselves a bit!
But if the Flame God lost his sense of proportion while acting, and it affected the innocent common people in Shanhai City, then things would become completely troublesome!
He subconsciously tightened his grip on the sword at his waist, but immediately loosened his hand, his heart filled with bitterness.
Take action against the Flame God? That was simply a pipe dream!
He, Tang Qiyuan, was merely a Sixth-Turn Anti-Magic Knight.
And the Flame God's combat power rating was as high as eight stars, equivalent to an Eighth-Turn Class Holder.
The gap between the two was like a chasm; if they really fought, he wouldn't even be able to withstand one move from the Flame God.
But if he didn't take action, how could he answer to the common people in Shanhai City, and how could he report back to his federal superiors?
As a Federal Inspector, his duty was to maintain local order.
Now that the Flame God had frozen the entire city with his own power, it had already exceeded the scope of normal order.
At this moment, the only hope in Tang Qiyuan's heart was for Jiang Yuan to remain rational and not harm the innocent.
Even if the Flame God wiped out the entire Zhou Family, it wouldn't matter; after all, the Zhou Family's crimes were fully documented, and it would just be a case of punishing first and judging later, which the Federation could accept as a result later on.
"How am I supposed to get in?"
Tang Qiyuan steered the Dark Prison Heavenly Lion and slowly flew to the towering ice wall, his brows furrowing tightly, feeling troubled again.
This ice wall was not only towering into the clouds, with no end in sight, but its thickness was also unfathomable, and its surface emitted an extreme chill.
That chill was not just ordinary low temperature.
It carried a strange sealing power, making it difficult for the power within his body to function normally.
Tang Qiyuan tried to let the Dark Prison Heavenly Lion get a little closer to the ice wall, but just for this short distance, he clearly felt that the power within his body was being sealed bit by bit by the cold air of the ice wall, and its circulation speed was getting slower and slower.
Even the aura of the Dark Prison Heavenly Lion became somewhat withered.
He was terrified.
You have to know, he was a Anti-Magic Knight, and what he was best at was sealing the power of others.
But he never expected that one day, his own power would be so easily sealed by someone else!
This feeling of powerlessness made him even more wary of the Flame God's strength.
Just as Tang Qiyuan was at a loss, he suddenly saw that a crack had opened in the ice wall before him without any warning.
The crack was neither too big nor too small, just enough for the Dark Prison Heavenly Lion to enter comfortably.
Tang Qiyuan felt a shiver in his heart, and looking into the city through that gap, he saw a familiar crimson-gold figure standing quietly in the high sky inside the city; it was the Flame God!
That crimson-gold flame was exceptionally striking in the frozen city, as if it were the center of the entire world.
Chapter 137: The 'Judgment' Tool
"Go in! The worst that can happen is death!" Tang Qiyuangritted his teeth and thought to himself in a low voice.
In his heart, he didn't want to enter this ice-sealed Shanhai City, but things had reached this point, and he no longer had a way out.
He had already arrived; he had no choice but to go in!
As a Federal Inspector, maintaining local stability was his duty.
Now that Shanhai City had suffered such a shocking catastrophe and the entire city was sealed in ice, he had to investigate the situation inside personally and try his best to resolve the problem; this was a responsibility he could not shirk.
More importantly, since Flame God had taken the initiative to crack the ice wall and reveal a gap, he clearly already knew of his arrival.
If he were to lose his nerve now and not dare to go in, wouldn't that be an obvious snub to Flame God?
Given Flame God's status and strength, being slighted like this would have unimaginable consequences.
Thinking of this, Tang Qiyuan suppressed the anxiety and fear in his heart, and his gaze became a bit firmer.
He looked down at the Dark Prison Heavenly Lion beneath him; at this moment, the Dark Prison Heavenly Lion was still trembling slightly from the influence of the cold air from the ice wall, its eyes filled with unease.
Tang Qiyuan patted the Dark Prison Heavenly Lion's neck and said in a low voice, "Go in!"
The Dark Prison Heavenly Lion whined, but not daring to disobey its master's command, it could only suppress its inner fear, beat its heavy wings, and slowly fly in through the crack in the ice wall.
"Flame God, long time no see!"
As soon as he entered the ice-sealed city, Tang Qiyuanlooked up at the crimson-gold figure in the sky, took a deep breath, and shouted while cupping his hands in salute.
"This time, I come on behalf of Nanjiang City and the Federation to cooperate with you in judging the Zhou Family!"
His tone carried a deliberately lowered politeness, and his demeanor was respectful in just the right measure.
But his words mentioned Nanjiang City and the Federation, intending to show that although his strength was not equal to his, he also had backing.
While greeting him, his gaze quickly swept over the few figures beside Flame God; being quick-witted, he figured out their identities in an instant.
The youth standing beside Flame God, with a handsome face, clear eyes, and a demeanor that was neither humble nor arrogant, must be Flame God's personal disciple, Jiang Yuan!
He was also the core reason for this incident.
As for the other few youths in tattered clothes, whose complexions had recovered but who still couldn't hide their exhaustion and resentment, they were likely Jiang Yuan's friends, those unlucky ones who had been kidnapped and tortured by the Zhou Family.
Having figured this out, Tang Qiyuan understood.
Rather than saying Flame God was making such a big fuss to back his disciple, it was better to say he was seeking revenge for these few youths who had suffered an undeserved disaster.
"You've finally come."
Jiang Yuan's voice was calm and waveless, without a hint of joy or sorrow, as if he were merely stating a simple fact.
As his voice fell, he waved his hand, and several glowing scrolls appeared out of thin air, hovering between the two of them.
This was a copy of the evidence of the Zhou Family's crimes that he had asked the Hundred Knowledge Pavilionto reproduce.
Regarding this, the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion did not refuse.
Instead, they provided it quite willingly.
After all, if they didn't cooperate and offended Flame God, what would they do if he started a massacre against them?
The Hundred Knowledge Pavilion was indeed very powerful, but what was strong was the entire Hundred Knowledge Pavilion, not their Shanhai City branch!
Moreover, the Zhou Family was destined to perish today, and the evidence of the Zhou Family's crimes would no longer have any value.
Even giving one more copy wouldn't be a big deal.
"These are the evidence of the Zhou Family's crimes."
Jiang Yuan's tone remained calm, yet carried an unquestionable majesty.
"Private human trafficking, smuggling of prohibited magic items, malicious suppression of business competitors, hiring assassins to murder enemies, monopolizing scarce resources in the city, hoarding goods, and maliciously driving up prices... there are hundreds of criminal records, large and small."
Tang Qiyuan focused his gaze as the scrolls unfolded automatically. The handwriting on them was clearly visible, and most of the criminal evidence was attached with detailed chains of evidence; witnesses, physical evidence, times, and locations were all complete. The evidence was as solid as a mountain, sufficient to prove that the Zhou Family's crimes were monstrous and too numerous to record.
"The Zhou Family is guilty of heinous crimes. As a Federal Inspector in charge of local criminal justice, how do you intend to judge them?"
Jiang Yuan's voice was still not loud, but it seemed to carry some kind of magic, piercing through the silence of the ice-sealed city, spreading across most of Shanhai City, causing everyone inside and outside the city who heard it to tremble.
Tang Qiyuan instantly understood Flame God's intention.
To judge the Zhou Family, there must be a legitimate and legal reason; this was procedural justice. Only in this way could there be a justified cause.
Flame God wanted everyone to be clear that his sealing of the city and targeting of the Zhou Family this time was not a lynching by bullying the weak.
It was an act of justice that followed the will of the people and upheld the law; it was for the sake of eliminating harm for the people.
Regardless of whether others truly believed it in their hearts, at least on the surface, that was the fact.
With the public judgment of the Federal Inspector as an endorsement, even if this matter spread throughout the entire Federation, Flame God would not have any handle that could be used to criticize him.
Because everything was reasonable, legal, and in accordance with common sense!
From beginning to end, he had not used lynching, but had used the Federation's laws as the sharpest weapon.
"I am Federal Inspector Tang Qiyuan!"
"After investigation, the members of the Zhou Family have committed numerous crimes; they are guilty of heinous offenses, too numerous to record, and should be severely punished!"
"The crowd of criminals and evildoers shall be executed and sentenced to capital punishment. Other members of the Zhou Family will be given corresponding punishments based on the facts of their crimes."
"From this moment on, all privileges of the Zhou Family are revoked, all properties of the Zhou Family are sealed, all involved personnel of the Zhou Family are to be arrested, and they are to be dealt with strictly according to the Federation's laws!"
Having figured out the connections, Tang Qiyuan no longer hesitated; he stepped forward and said loudly.
He sentenced the Zhou Family's fate on the spot, his tone firm, and his voice also spread in all directions.
Tang Qiyuan knew very well that although he was an inspector sent by the Federation, in the face of an absolute gap in strength, he had no say at all.
His role this time was merely that of a "tool" needed by Flame God to achieve procedural justice; he only needed to follow Flame God's wishes and act until this Saint Magewas satisfied.
Whether from the perspective of procedural justice or the weighing of pros and cons, he had to stand firmly on Flame God's side.
Defying a Saint Mage with eight-star combat power was a consequence that he and the entire Federal inspection system could not bear.
"What if the members of the Zhou Family are stubborn and put up a desperate resistance?"
As soon as Tang Qiyuan's sentencing ended, Jiang Yuan's voice sounded again, still calm and waveless, yet carrying an undeniable majesty.
Obviously, Flame God was not particularly satisfied with the somewhat general sentencing result that Tang Qiyuanhad just given.
If only the ringleaders were executed, there would undoubtedly be many who would slip through the net, which simply did not align with his interests.
Therefore, Flame God looked directly at Tang Qiyuan and threw out another sharp question.
This question instantly made Tang Qiyuan's heart tighten.
Flame God was planning to wipe out all the members of the Zhou Family!
And Flame God asking this question now was not only inquiring about his attitude toward handling it, but it was even more like a warning to him!
Once the Zhou Family resisted, the Federal Inspectorneeded to stand at the forefront and cooperate with the handling in a legitimate and justifiable manner.
Before this, Jiang Yuan had long since calculated it in his heart.
Although not every member of the Zhou Family was evil, since he had already made his move, if he didn't completely annihilate the entire Zhou Family and left behind remnants, it would be hard to avoid revenge in the future.
Even if his own strength continued to improve, those remnants would by no means be his match.
Even if they couldn't take revenge on him, they might take action against the people around him.
Just like this time, when the Zhou Family couldn't find Jiang Yuan, they turned to deal with Zhao Biao and the others.
If you cut the grass without removing the roots, there will be endless trouble.
Since there was going to be a reckoning today, it had to be thorough, making the Zhou Family disappear completely from this land.
Chapter 138: The Fall of the Zhou Family
"Those who offer stubborn resistance shall be executed!"
Tang Qiyuan gritted his teeth and said, enunciating every word.
He instantly understood Flame God's true intentions; while these words seemed to define the fate of those who resisted, they were, in reality, a death sentence for the entire Zhou Family.
As long as Flame God determined that someone in the Zhou Family was offering stubborn resistance, then no one in the Zhou Family could escape death.
As for who was resisting and who was evading responsibility, that was something they could decide with a single word.
"Very well!"
Upon hearing this, Flame God nodded slowly, a trace of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
He no longer looked at Tang Qiyuan and turned his gaze toward the depths of the frozen city below, which was the direction of the Zhou Family Residence.
Although City Lord He Qiaoyu, Song Jingran, and others nearby were high-ranking officials of Shanhai City, they had absolutely no say in this trial.
In fact, from beginning to end, no one had sought their opinion.
At this moment, everyone followed Flame God's gaze, their eyes converging on the location of the Zhou Family, their hearts filled with anxiety and anticipation.
Under everyone's gaze, the thick ice and snow that had been tightly sealing the entire Zhou Family Residencebegan to melt at a visible rate.
Crystal-clear ice shards slid down the eaves and walls, turning into streams that gathered into creeks, quickly revealing the original appearance of the Zhou Family Residence.
The ice layers on the Zhou Family elders, servants, and retainers who had been frozen in place gradually melted, restoring their personal freedom one by one.
However, the Zhou Family members who had regained their freedom showed no joy at having survived; instead, they were shrouded in thick fear and shock.
Having just recovered from the stiffness of being frozen, they heard the conversation between Flame God and Tang Qiyuan and instantly understood what fate they were about to face.
Fear coiled around their hearts like vines, and many subconsciously wanted to flee.
Some loyal retainers grabbed weapons nearby, looking fiercely at Flame God and the others in the sky, actually preparing to resist.
"Ancestor, save us! The Zhou Family is at a critical juncture of life and death!"
Zhou Family head Zhou Zhennan, his face deathly pale, shouted hoarsely toward the direction of the Zhou Family's back mountain.
He knew very well that with only these people present, it was impossible to contend with a Saint Mage.
As soon as he finished speaking, the ground outside a secret underground chamber in the Zhou Family's back mountain suddenly cracked, and three figures charged out with sharp auras.
The leader was an old man with gray hair but a spirited demeanor; he was the former Zhou Family head, Zhou Cang. Beside him followed two middle-aged men with heavy auras, both core elders of the Zhou Family.
Tang Qiyuan's eyes narrowed as he instantly saw through the strength of the three.
Zhou Cang was already a Fifth-Turn Professional, and the other two elders had reached the peak of the Fourth-Tier!
These three were already the Zhou Family's strongest hidden combat forces.
The Zhou Family had been able to dominate Shanhai Cityfor many years; their strength was indeed not to be underestimated. Such a large family ultimately had some foundations.
"Even if my Zhou Family dies today, we will die standing!"
Zhou Cang stared intensely at Flame God in the sky, his voice old but filled with determination, "Everyone of the Zhou Family, follow me to kill the enemy! Better to die than surrender!"
He knew in his heart that since Flame God had formed the intent to kill, he would never let anyone in the Zhou Familygo. Resistance might offer a glimmer of hope; not resisting was a dead end.
As his voice fell, he was the first to charge toward Flame God, his aura surging as he turned into a gray shadow.
At the same time, Zhou Zhennan immediately waved his arms and shouted, ordering all Zhou Family members to launch an attack.
But no one noticed that while shouting, he quietly signaled to several trusted aides beside him, whispering, "Take the younger generation of the family and escape through the secret passage while there is chaos! You must save their lives!"
Zhou Zhennan knew clearly that the Zhou Family was facing a disaster today. The opponent not only had a Saint Mage level powerhouse acting personally but also had the endorsement of a Federal Inspector; it was impossible to preserve the family.
But as long as the younger generation of the Zhou Familycould escape, it would mean leaving behind a trace of the family line, and if there was a chance in the future, it might not be impossible to revive the family.
But all of this was exactly what Jiang Yuan hoped for!
As long as the Zhou Family dared to resist the law or attempt to flee, he would have a legitimate reason to strike directly.
At that time, if he 'accidentally' killed someone during the enforcement process, it would be reasonable and logical, and no one would be able to find any fault.
"Your Excellency Flame God, do you need my help?"
Seeing this, Tang Qiyuan hurried forward one step, asking with an increasingly polite tone.
He knew very well that this was to show his attitude to Flame God and also to fulfill his duties as a 'tool'.
"No need!"
Flame God waved his hand, his tone indifferent but carrying unquestionable confidence.
As a dignified 'Seventh-Turn Magic Saint', if he still needed someone else's help to deal with a small Zhou Family, wouldn't it be a laughingstock if it got out?
Moreover, in the frozen world he had set up, no one could escape his surveillance.
Long before lifting the ice seal on the Zhou Family, Jiang Yuan had already used the power of frost to firmly lock onto the aura of every Zhou Family member; not even a fly could hope to slip away quietly.
Previously lifting the ice seal on the Zhou Family seemed to give them a chance to escape, but it was actually a trap intentionally set by Flame God, intended to make them jump into the trap of violent resistance to the law, giving himself an indisputable opportunity to act.
As soon as the words fell, Flame God's fingertips moved slightly.
In an instant, an extreme chill suddenly erupted, turning into an extremely cold storm that swept across the world, whistling toward the Zhou Family Residence.
Wherever the storm passed, the air was frozen into ice crystals, emitting cracking sounds.
Those Zhou Family elders and retainers who were preparing to resist, as well as those Zhou Family members who had just run to the gate of the residence and were attempting to escape in the chaos—regardless of gender or age, even the servants in the residence—were instantly enveloped by this extremely cold storm.
Unlike the previous full-body freezing, this time, only their lower bodies were tightly frozen in place, their legs fused with the ground, unable to move, while their upper bodies could move freely, and their consciousness remained absolutely clear.
But this clarity was undoubtedly the cruelest torture for them.
They could clearly feel the bone-chilling cold spreading up their legs and could clearly see the scene in the sky, but they didn't even have the qualification to struggle or flee.
Just as the Zhou Family members fell into despair, Flame God in the sky raised his hand again.
Scarlet-gold flames crazily gathered and expanded in his palm, and within just a few breaths, they turned into a huge flaming meteor with a diameter of several hundred meters.
The surface of the meteor burned with raging scarlet-gold flames, and as the flames danced, they emitted a world-destroying pressure, burning away the surrounding clouds, and the scorching light illuminated the entire frozen city.
"No!"
Former family head Zhou Cang let out a heart-wrenching roar. He used all his strength to urge his power, wanting to break free from the ice seal, but found that his power was like an ant shaking a tree in front of the extreme cold storm, completely useless.
Current family head Zhou Zhennan was ashen-faced, the last glimmer of luck in his eyes completely shattered.
He looked at the younger generation frozen in place, their faces full of terror, and only endless regret remained in his heart.
If he had known that Jiang Yuan's backing was so strong, he should not have provoked Jiang Yuan, let alone kidnapped Zhao Biao and the others.
"Ah!"
Amidst the desperate roars and pleas of the Zhou Familymembers, and under the gaze of countless people inside and outside Shanhai City, that huge flaming meteor, like divine punishment, carried a world-destroying power and smashed fiercely toward the Zhou Family Residence!
Chapter 139: Saintly Families! The Sima Family and the Lu Family!
Boom!
A deafening roar resounded through the heavens and earth, causing the entire Shanhai City to tremble violently, and dense cracks appeared on the frozen ground.
The moment the Blazing Meteorite struck, a terrifying shockwave spread in all directions.
The luxurious and magnificent Zhou Family Residence, which had stood for many years, collapsed and shattered instantly as if it were made of paper.
Crimson-gold flames swept out like a tsunami, completely engulfing the entire Zhou Family Residence. The flames were interspersed with the sounds of bricks and tiles shattering, the crackling of burning wood, and the final screams of the Zhou Family members.
Those Zhou Family members who had been frozen in place had their upper bodies instantly carbonized by the burning flames; their painful wails were completely annihilated by the high temperature before they could even be fully uttered.
The intertwining of extreme flames and extreme cold caused them to lose their lives instantly in agony, and not a single person was spared.
In just a short moment, the Zhou Family, which had once stirred up winds and clouds in Shanhai City, was completely reduced to a sea of fire and ruins, with not even a trace left to be found.
"This... this is too terrifying!"
Tang Qiyuan, riding on the back of the Dark Prison Heavenly Lion, stiffened all over, his pupils constricted, and his face was filled with incredulous shock.
He had long known that the Flame God was powerful, but he had never imagined that the might of a Saint Magewould be so terrifying!
With just two moves, he had completely annihilated a prestigious family with deep foundations, leaving not even the slightest room for maneuver.
He swallowed hard, subconsciously distancing himself a little from the direction of the Flame God, his awe deepening even further.
"Too terrifying... simply too terrifying. The might of a Saint Mage is truly this fearsome!"
Below, the City Lord had a pale face, his legs trembling slightly, and he muttered to himself.
The guild master of the professionals guild, Song Jingran, beside him was no better, his eyes filled with shock and lingering fear.
The common people in Shanhai City were even more frightened by this earth-shattering scene, unable to speak.
They hid behind their own doors and windows, looking through the cracks at the sea of fire in the direction of the Zhou Family, feeling both fear of the Flame God's power and joy at the destruction of the Zhou Family.
"Serves them right! The Zhou Family has committed many evils; this is retribution!"
It was unknown who shouted first, but immediately after, more and more people echoed, their voices filled with satisfaction.
"Your Excellency Flame God has peerless divine might, eliminating harm for the people; this is truly a blessing for all living beings!"
Some opportunistic leaders of factions immediately bowed and saluted toward the Flame God high in the sky, shouting loudly.
Seeing this, the others followed suit, and for a time, voices of praise rose and fell, resounding over the frozen Shanhai City.
"Dissolve!"
Jiang Yuan uttered a single word indifferently. The voice was not loud, but it carried the might of controlling the heavens and earth, instantly overpowering all the clamor below.
The moment his voice fell, he raised his hand and waved gently toward the ice wall that shrouded the entire Shanhai City.
Seeing that towering, thick, and solid crystalline ice wall, like snow meeting a warm sun, it began to melt at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The originally frozen ground and the layer of ice on the roofs also melted accordingly.
The extreme cold that permeated the city quickly receded, and the air that had been suppressed by the freezing began to flow again, carrying moist water vapor that felt exceptionally refreshing when blown onto people's faces.
This made everyone feel a sense of relief, and the suppressed emotions were swept away.
In just a dozen breaths of time, the ice and snow that shrouded Shanhai City completely dissipated without a trace, and everything returned to normal.
It was as if that earth-shattering freezing had never happened.
Only the place where the Zhou Family Residence had been, that ruin burned by the raging flames, was still emitting curling blue smoke.
From this day on, there would be no more Zhou Family in Shanhai City.
The so-called Four Great Families now only had three left.
Yet, regarding this, the other three families did not feel the slightest joy; instead, they felt a sense of desolation, like a rabbit mourning the death of a fox.
Previously, they had acted tyrannically in Shanhai City, and even the City Lord had to treat them with courtesy.
But now it seemed that they were simply frogs in a well.
If any powerhouse at the Saint Mage level were to come, they could easily annihilate them.
However, the destruction of the Zhou Family was not entirely a bad thing.
Firstly, after the Zhou Family's demise, their assets and businesses would inevitably be annexed and occupied by various factions.
Secondly, after experiencing this incident, the major families would surely become extremely low-key, not daring to act as arrogantly as before.
For the ordinary Class Holders at the bottom, this was a great thing!
"You may handle the aftermath!"
Jiang Yuan's gaze swept indifferently over Tang Qiyuan, his tone calm but carrying an unquestionable weight.
"Understood, Your Excellency Flame God!"
Tang Qiyuan quickly bowed and replied, his posture extremely respectful.
Having witnessed with his own eyes the Flame Goddestroying the Zhou Family with a wave of his hand and unsealing the city with another, he finally understood completely why the Federation would rate the Flame God's combat power as eight stars.
This power to destroy heaven and earth with a mere gesture was something no ordinary powerhouse could ever hope to reach.
"However..."
After replying, Tang Qiyuan frowned, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
"Speak!"
Jiang Yuan's voice suddenly turned cold, carrying a trace of imperceptible pressure, which made Tang Qiyuan's heart tremble.
"It is like this: as one of the Four Great Families of Shanhai City, the Zhou Family is not without roots; they have backers!"
Tang Qiyuan dared not hide anything and quickly spoke up.
He knew very well that informing the Flame God of this information now was both fulfilling his duty and an excellent opportunity to befriend this top-tier powerhouse.
"Oh?"
Jiang Yuan couldn't help but become interested.
"As far as I know, one of the Zhou Family's backers is the Sima Family of Nanjiang City."
"The Zhou Family was originally supported by the Sima Family. Over the years, the profits from the mines, timber, and other businesses that the Zhou Family operated openly have not been high, but the profits from their under-the-table dealings have been enormous. More than half of the gains from these had to be offered up to the Sima Family, equivalent to paying protection money."
"Usually, the Sima Family might not attach much importance to the Zhou Family as a chess piece, but after the Zhou Family's destruction, it will inevitably have a significant impact on the Sima Family!"
"They will directly lose this portion of stable profit income. As such, it is not impossible for the Sima Family to harbor resentment against you."
Tang Qiyuan's tone was grave, and after a pause, he continued, "Moreover, although the Sima Family would not dare to directly retaliate against you, given your powerful strength, they might very well aim their hostility at your disciple, Jiang Yuan, and secretly cause some trouble."
In this world, there is no love or hate without reason.
Most of the time, grievances arise because of interests.
"Secondly, the younger sister of the Zhou Family head, Zhou Zhennan, married into the Lu Family of Nanjiang Cityyears ago. The two families are considered in-laws and have close ties. The strength of the Lu Family should also not be underestimated."
Tang Qiyuan added.
Besides this, there are some small factions that have ties with the Zhou Family.
However, those factions are weak in strength and would never dare to offend a Saint Mage for the sake of the Zhou Family, so he did not mention them.
They should be thankful if the Flame God doesn't seek them out; how would they dare to cause trouble for the Flame God?
And the reason Tang Qiyuan informed him of this information in such detail was, at its core, to curry favor with the Flame God.
The Flame God's strength and value were clear for all to see; with an eight-star combat power rating certified by the Federation, such an existence, even if one only managed to establish a small bond of goodwill with him, would be of great benefit to one's future development.
Chapter 140: Holy Shield Paladin
"Oh?" Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow and asked, "How strong are they? Are they perhaps a top-tier family force from Nanjiang City?"
Jiang Yuan was not at all surprised that the Zhou Familyhad a backer.
It would be strange if they didn't have any background at all!
"That's not quite the case!"
"There are only a few families in Nanjiang City that can be called top-tier families."
"Although the Sima Family and the Lu Family are strong, they haven't reached the top-tier level."
Tang Qiyuan shook his head quickly and explained.
"But they both belong to Saint-level families!"
Tang Qiyuan changed the subject and emphasized his tone.
A Saint-level family means that there is at least one Seventh-Rank Saint-level Expert within the family.
"Among them, the Sima Family's force is stronger, and they have even produced Imperial-level Experts in their family history, with deep foundations."
"The Lu Family's strength is relatively weaker, but I heard that Zhou Zhennan has had an excellent relationship with his sister who married into the Lu Family since childhood. If something happens to the Zhou Family, the Lu Familymight not sit idly by."
Tang Qiyuan added.
The Sima Family and the Zhou Family have tied interests. Whether they target Flame God depends mainly on how much the Zhou Family's destruction will affect the Sima Family's interests. If the impact is significant, the Sima Family might retaliate against Flame God because of it.
If the cost of retaliating against Flame God is greater than the benefits of the Zhou Family, then the Sima Family might weigh the pros and cons and choose to swallow their pride, acting as if nothing happened.
At worst, they can just support another family similar to the Zhou Family.
Conversely, the Lu Family and the Zhou Family have blood relations, so the possibility of retaliation is higher.
After all, having family members killed, and the entire family wiped out, is a deep grudge!
Moreover, even if they hadn't thought about avenging the Zhou Family, wouldn't they worry that one day, Flame Godwould take the initiative to come to their door and retaliate against them?
In that case, it would be better to strike first!
"I see, thank you for the reminder."
After listening, Flame God nodded slightly, his expression calm, seemingly not surprised by this news.
In his view, the forces that can develop and grow in Shanhai City basically all have intricate connections with the major forces in Nanjiang City.
Even the Lin Family, where Lin Muxue belongs, is the same.
Little did they know, after Lin Muxue awakened an Epic Class, she was immediately sent to Nanjiang City by her family members, and through connections, successfully became a student under a mentor at the Nanjiang Academy. This was to find a more powerful backer for the family.
After all, in this world, if there is no backer, a family like the Zhou Family can be wiped out by just any random expert.
With a backer, it can at least make potential enemies wary.
Furthermore, any force seeking greater development and wanting to take a high-end route must latch onto some experts or major forces; this is an inevitable survival rule.
Just like Jiang Yuan, fabricating the identity of Flame Godwas to establish a powerful background for himself, so that any tom, dick, or harry wouldn't come to bully him.
When he was in Dongque City, befriending the officials and doing his best to treat Jiang Heng and the others was not only about building connections but also about looking for a strong backer who could support him.
Therefore, Jiang Yuan was not afraid of the so-called Lu Family and Sima Family at all.
So what if they are Saint-level families? He has killed Seventh-Rank Saint-level Experts before.
Even if their family forces are huge, could they be bigger than the three major families in Dongque City?
Among the three major families, they possess true Ninth-Rank Imperial-level Experts!
They are not comparable to any Saint-level family that has just produced an Imperial-level Expert!
"Let's go!"
Flame God said no more. The moment his voice fell, he waved his hand, and several soft light curtains enveloped Jiang Yuan, Zhao Biao, and the others once again.
The next second, crimson-gold flames wrapped around everyone, turning into a streak of light, quickly flying towards the outside of Shanhai City.
The speed was so fast that it only left a brief afterimage in the sky, disappearing from everyone's sight in an instant.
"Jiang Yuan, where are we going?"
During the flight, Zhao Biao could not suppress the excitement and confusion in his heart, looked at Jiang Yuanbeside him, and asked with a complicated expression.
Within one day today, he was rescued from a hellish dungeon, personally experienced the wonder of flight, and witnessed the divine power of the Saint Mage freezing the city and destroying the Zhou Family.
All of this was far beyond his cognition, more exciting and stimulating than his past eighteen years of life combined.
"I'll take you to level up first!"
Jiang Yuan glanced at Zhao Biao, his tone flat but with unquestionable certainty.
Zhao Biao and the others were implicated by him; taking them to level up again could be considered a little compensation.
Anyway, Jiang Yuan was also thinking of going to the Wilderness Area to kill some monsters.
You know, among the seven Skills he currently controls, besides the newly learned Soul Suppression Technique, only the Undead Summoning Skill does not have the million-fold level special effect!
Although using Undead Summoning has no cooldown time, it unfortunately requires corpses as materials and cannot be summoned out of thin air.
This can be considered to have both pros and cons!
"You should have all successfully completed your Class Advancement, right?"
Jiang Yuan paused and asked again.
"I have advanced to a Holy Shield Paladin!"
When saying this, Zhao Biao could not hide the excitement on his face. "Being able to heal people and tank damage, this is the true profession for a real man!"
He looked down at his tall and sturdy figure; he always felt awkward wearing white priest robes before.
But thinking of the Holy Shield Paladin wearing heavy armor and holding a holy shield, he felt it was a perfect fit.
"They have also completed their Class Advancement!"
"It's just that we haven't leveled up much yet..."
Hearing this, Luo Hang and the others showed some embarrassment and helplessness on their faces.
They had been kidnapped and tortured by the Zhou Familyfor a full seven days. Being able to save their lives and not lose levels was already a stroke of luck, so naturally, their levels wouldn't be very high.
Fortunately, before being targeted by the Zhou Family, they had already successfully completed their Class Advancement, which was a blessing in disguise.
"That's also not bad!"
Jiang Yuan sized them up.
Among them, Zhao Biao had the biggest change.
He was originally a normal priest, but this time he advanced directly to an Elite-grade Profession: Holy Shield Paladin.
This profession combines the healing ability of a priest with high defense and vitality, perfectly matching his tall and sturdy appearance.
Obviously, Zhao Biao had already clarified his future growth path, which is to take the "Heal-Paladin" support Role path.
If he continued to be a simple priest, not only would his functions be limited, but it would also be incompatible with his physique and temperament.
As for Luo Hang, Jiao Yuefeng, and others, they also successfully completed their Class Advancement, but their advancement was a horizontal one; the profession after advancement was still Elite-grade, without achieving a breakthrough in profession quality.
Even so, their team had already fully promoted to Second-Rank Elite-grade Professions, and their overall strength had stepped onto a new level.
Among them, Zhao Biao's status improved the most significantly.
Previously, as a priest, he was mostly a support healer in the team, his presence was not prominent, and he would even occasionally drag the team down.
But the profession characteristics of the Holy Shield Paladin made him an indispensable core in the team.
Being able to heal and tank, and also provide protective buffs for teammates, his Role in the team was huge, and his status instantly rose.
After some communication, Jiang Yuan also grasped the specific situation of the few.
Luo Hang is currently level 33, while Zhao Biao and Jiao Yuefeng and the others are all level 32. The levels are indeed not high.
But after completing the Class Advancement, they each unlocked new profession talents and also gained tier bonuses, so their strength improved significantly compared to when they were level 30.
However, their tier bonuses are not high.
The highest main attribute tier bonus is only 20%, and the sub-attribute tier bonus is as low as 10%.
Compared with the bonus after Jiang Yuan advanced to an Instant Cast Mage, it is simply worlds apart.
Jiang Yuan's main attribute, mental power, has a tier bonus reaching a terrifying 100%.
Even the three basic attributes of strength, physique, and agility have a 50% basic bonus.
Even some Epic Class or Legendary-grade professions do not have such terrifying bonuses as Jiang Yuan.
There are two reasons for such a big gap.
First, the Instant Cast Mage is itself the top existence among Elite-grade Professions, and its profession potential far exceeds that of ordinary Elite-grade Professions.
Second, the evaluation of the Class Advancement task directly determines the level of the tier bonus.
Jiang Yuan's Class Advancement task evaluation reached an unprecedented Super SSS-level, which is extremely rare in the history of Class Holders across the entire Federation.
And the Class Advancement task evaluations for Zhao Biao and the others were not high, and with teammates helping each other, they were basically only A-level or B-level. To have such bonuses can only be considered standard.