At this moment, a petite figure emerged from within the cordon, prompting a patrol officer to reach out to intercept her.
"Stop! Let her pass!" A voice commanded, belonging to none other than Ma Lang.
The patrol officer hesitated, glancing at his superior—a muscular man in a patrol uniform who had been standing silently beside Lucien. The latter waved dismissively, granting permission: "I've heard that the young master of the divine Ma family is exceptionally approachable. Today, I witness it firsthand. You're here for these civilians, aren't you, Master Ma? Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Kemaier, deputy inspector of the Alliance Patrol Division. Pleased to meet you."
"Too kind, Inspector Kemaier," Ma Lang replied, trying to match the warmth in the other's greeting despite his usual icy demeanor.
Kemaier, aware of Ma Lang's reputation, didn't take offense. He continued, "You're here for the civilians, aren't you?"
"Cut the chatter! Move aside and stop wasting time!" Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a rough voice.
"Lucien, please maintain your composure and dignity as a descendant of the gods. It's impolite to interrupt," Ma Lang stared coldly at Lucien.
"Ma Lang of the divine Ma family, a mere waste! I don't have time for your nonsense today. Move out of the way!" Lucien was losing patience, snapping impatiently.
"What could possibly make a descendant of the gods lose his composure, unable to wait for a few words?" Ma Lang pretended ignorance, raising an eyebrow and asking with disdainful indifference.
"The De Ville family has lost their ancestral artifact, a matter of great importance. Perhaps we should continue this later," Kemaier, of humble origins, had no fondness for the arrogant Lucien but harbored a favorable view of Ma Lang, who stood up for the civilians. However, duty called, and he offered an explanation.
"Indeed, Inspector Kemaier. But before that, please release the detained civilians. They are clearly innocent," Ma Lang said, his face still cold as he bowed slightly and looked up at Kemaier. He glanced coldly at Lucien and added, "Unlike some, who only vent their anger on the innocent!"
The anxious girl finally seized her chance, stepping forward and bowing deeply. "Esteemed lords, we truly don't know what's happening! We've never seen any artifact. Please forgive our ignorance and release my brother and everyone!"
"Vermin! How dare you question me?" Enraged, Lucien kicked out at the girl. The sudden violence stunned everyone—who would dare assault a civilian in front of the Patrol Division?
Only Ma Lang was prepared. He pushed the girl away and absorbed the kick himself. With a loud crack, a black footprint appeared on his back.
The kick stunned everyone. It wasn't powerful, but its insulting nature was unmistakable. No one dared assault another in front of the Patrol Division, especially a descendant of the gods.
"Lucien, attacking a descendant of the gods without cause? How daring! I will file a complaint with the Alliance and the Daoist Sect," Ma Lang's face turned pale with anger as he confronted Lucien.
"Ma Lang, you talkative worm! Are you a man? Meet me on the ring and settle this! I, a descendant of the Wind God family, challenge you!" Sensing the trouble, Lucien quickly shouted, attempting to cover his attack on a descendant of the gods with a formal challenge.
"Why should I accept your challenge? How dare you, a peak-level Enlightened, challenge an ordinary person? Lucien, I knew you were shameless, but not this shameless. In front of everyone, you truly disgrace the divine families," Ma Lang's cold face scanned the crowd before staring disdainfully at Lucien.
"Thank you, Master Ma Lang! I will never forget your kindness!" The frightened girl, seeing the footprint on Ma Lang's back, tears welling in her eyes, expressed her heartfelt gratitude. How could such a kind and noble person shield her, a loser, from harm?
The surrounding crowd, including the patrol officers, admired Ma Lang. The displaced civilians bowed in gratitude and respect.
At this moment, Ma Lang, though still cold-faced, felt delighted inside. Wishes of gratitude gathered around him, and the second star in his giant eye nebula in his consciousness gradually turned gold, shining brightly.
On the other side, disgraced and unable to bear the humiliation any longer, Lucien lost his senses.
"Ma Lang, you scum! After our altercation yesterday, my family's ancestral artifact disappeared! You're undoubtedly the suspect."
"Are you insulting the sanctity of the divine Ma family? Would a descendant of the gods steal something?" Ma Lang asked coldly, thinking, "It came on its own! It came on its own! I really didn't steal it."
" Shameless, accusing Master Ma Lang of stealing an artifact! Good riddance! Maybe it was taken away by the gods for your sins!" The crowd murmured.
"Shut up!" Lucien was completely enraged, threatening the crowd with his finger. "Do you know the consequences of insulting a descendant of the gods?"
Others might hesitate, but Kemaier, as the patrol commander, had to speak up. Moreover, he disliked the arrogant descendant of the divine family. "Master Lu, your family's ancestral artifact is hard to forcibly bond with, unless by a master of divine refinement. Clearly, there's no one in the Ma family who fits that description now."
"So?" Lucien glared at Kemaier.
"I believe that neither Master Ma Lang nor those detained today have the capability to commit such a crime. We have no right to vent our anger on them," Kemaier answered solemnly.
Ma Lang admired Kemaier for his integrity and righteousness, giving him silent thumbs up in his heart.
The golden energy in his consciousness surged even more, making his head ache slightly and his expression strange. Perhaps his strange look was misunderstood by the crowd as severe pain from the kick, making them admire the noble descendant of the gods even more.
As a result, wishes of gratitude gathered even more densely around Ma Lang. Recognizing that the situation had turned against him, Lucien silently nodded in agreement with Kemaier's decision, giving Ma Lang a furious glance before storming off without looking back.
Ma Lang maintained his cold facade, seemingly returning a frosty glare, but in truth, he was barely containing the golden energy that surged within his sea of consciousness.
In the very next moment, as he felt his head and even his soul on the verge of bursting from the overwhelming pressure, a sudden sharp pain pierced his brow, followed by an immediate sense of relief, as if the entire world had changed...