Hidden in the shadows, Jiang Chen heard these words and couldn't help but smile inwardly. This Royal Court clan lord fancied himself quite the clever one, thinking the Peacock Guard had come to cause trouble without any preparation.
In truth, Jiang Chen had arrived at the scene long ago. However, given today's circumstances, he couldn't appear in person. So he and Third Young Master Ji had disguised themselves as rogue cultivators, hiding in a corner to secretly enjoy the spectacle.
Watching the Shura Guard rendered speechless by the Peacock Guard, they found it immensely satisfying.
Then there was the Royal Court clan lord, wearing a composed smile on his face, clearly convinced that his righteous speech had already bested Commander Kong.
If Commander Kong had any sense, he would take the hint and leave.
But there was absolutely none of the embarrassment the Royal Court clan lord had expected on Commander Kong's face. Instead, his expression turned cold as he barked, "I see that the Royal Court great clan is the type that won't shed tears until it sees the coffin! At a time like this, you still plan to cling to your obstinacy and put up a desperate fight?"
These words left the Royal Court clan lord utterly baffled. Did Commander Kong not understand the rules? Where on earth did he get his nerve?
"Won't shed tears until I see the coffin?"
"Where is that even coming from?"
The Royal Court clan lord couldn't help but wonder whether their collaboration with the Indestructible Heavenly Capital had been discovered by the Peacock Guard. But even if word had gotten out, so what? It wasn't anything shameful—alchemy partnerships and distribution agreements were perfectly legitimate business.
The only reason the Royal Court great clan had wanted to keep it quiet was to maintain the illusion in Glass King City that the Myriad Longevity Pills were being refined by their own clan.
While there was a touch of self-interest in that, it was hardly a major offense, let alone a crime.
"Commander Kong, I have no idea what you're getting at. The Royal Court great clan stands tall and upright—we have nothing to confess. If Commander Kong truly intends to use the Peacock Guard's authority to intimidate my Wang family and fabricate a false case, there are countless eyes here today. Everyone can see the truth."
The Royal Court clan lord was actually trying to turn the tables.
Commander Kong smiled sinisterly and nodded. "Very well. So you've decided not to cherish this last chance to come clean. Very well—then don't blame this Commander for not giving you the opportunity. Men! Seize the Wang father and son, and seal the Taiyuan Tower! Anyone who resists—kill without mercy!"
The consecutive "kill without mercy" orders instantly escalated the conflict to an entirely new level.
The moment these words left his mouth, the faces of the Royal Court clan lord and his son changed dramatically. Wang Teng especially cried out, "What is this? Are you abusing your power to bully us?"
Commander Kong smiled coldly. "Abusing power to bully people—isn't that what your Royal Court great clan does best?"
With that, Commander Kong swept his gaze across the faces of the other clan lords attending the event. "Gentlemen—do you intend to stand by and watch, or are you going to wade into these muddy waters?"
These clan lords were all subordinates of the Shura Great Emperor and close allies of the Royal Court great clan. There was no way they could stand by and watch the Wang family be arrested without saying a word.
Even if they didn't dare resist directly, they had to speak up.
"Commander Kong, the Peacock Guard enforcing the law is something we wouldn't normally interfere with. However, enforcement must follow proper procedure. What exactly have the Wang father and son done wrong? You need to give us a clear explanation! Otherwise, how can you win the public's trust? We are all friends of the Wang clan—how can we simply let you take them away without any clear justification?"
"Indeed, law enforcement must have a legal basis."
Commander Kong knew these people were allies of the Royal Court great clan. He smiled coldly. "Gentlemen, I advise you to stay out of this matter. If you accidentally get yourselves tangled up in it, that would be a real shame. One last warning—please step aside. If you don't, you will be considered accomplices and arrested as well."
The great clan lords hadn't expected Commander Kong to be so overbearing. For a moment, they exchanged stunned glances.
The fact that they were willing to speak a few fair words for the Royal Court great clan didn't mean they truly dared to confront the Peacock Guard. The Peacock Guard represented the Peacock Great Emperor himself.
If they dared to offend the Peacock Great Emperor, in a fit of his wrath he could bring rivers of blood, crushing them one by one into meat paste.
For all their imposing airs in Glass King City—their great clan authority was only enough to intimidate those beneath them.
Before a Great Emperor—especially the Peacock Great Emperor—they were nothing but ants.
The Peacock Great Emperor was known as a supreme powerhouse capable of fighting three Great Emperors single-handedly. Not only were these Emperor Realm experts no match for him, even the other Great Emperors wouldn't dare oppose him.
Upon hearing this, the Royal Court clan lord burst into hearty laughter as well. "Good, good, good! The Peacock Guard certainly lives up to its fearsome reputation. Fellow Daoists, I'm not asking you to offend the Peacock Guard on my behalf. All I ask is that you go before His Majesty the Shura Emperor and plead my case—ask Your Majesty to seek justice for me."
The Royal Court clan lord also understood that when the Peacock Guard was enforcing the law, resistance was futile.
If they truly resisted, the Peacock Guard would indeed kill without mercy. This was absolutely no empty threat. So he had no intention of resisting.
He was now even more certain that this was orchestrated by the Peacock Great Emperor's subordinates specifically to make life miserable for the Royal Court great clan—a retaliation for the arrest of the Wei father and son.
But when the Wei father and son had been arrested, the Shura Guard had "manufactured evidence."
Now these Peacock Guard were arresting people with absolutely no evidence whatsoever.
At this moment, the Royal Court clan lord was not only unafraid—he was even feeling secretly delighted. He thought to himself, "Go ahead, arrest me. Take me away and see how you handle this. Surely you won't execute me first and report it afterward? Even the Peacock Great Emperor couldn't withstand the immense pressure from all the other factions if you did that!"
Thinking this, the Royal Court clan lord actually felt his composure return, and continued playing the innocent: "And to all the guests who have come today, this humble Wang thanks you for your presence. Everything that has happened today—I trust each of you has already formed your own judgment about right and wrong. Some people think they can cover the sky with a single hand! Dead wrong. I, Wang, have a clear conscience. Even if they arrest me today, they'll have to send me back exactly as I was!"
Righteous and defiant, every word ringing like struck metal.