"Hoo."
Ling Fan let out a long breath.
He had finally achieved a preliminary understanding of the Sun and Tai Yin laws.
"It's time to leave."
Ling Fan cast a deep glance back at the dormant Martial Saint corpse, then turned and departed.
Upon exiting the valley.
Ling Fan saw the messages left by Wei Bin and the toad.
"Giant Whale City?"
Ling Fan pondered.
Then he leaped up, transforming into a long rainbow, and sped towards the Island Master's Mansion of Xuan Yue Island.
...
Just as Ling Fan left the Sun Moon Spirit Pool.
Xuan Yue Island.
As a group of people arrived with imposing momentum, the atmosphere became tense.
Powerful figures were seen treading on the void, disregarding the warnings of Xuan Yue Island's experts, proceeding with impunity, and heading straight for the Island Master's Mansion.
The leader, with an eagle-like gaze and a wolf-like demeanor, possessed an earth-shattering aura.
The experts behind him were also of profound cultivation, with fierce eyes.
There were no less than ten Golden Core realm experts among them.
The remaining quasi-Golden Core and peak Condensing Core realm experts were even more numerous, a dense swarm that swept across the sky like a plague of locusts.
The experts of Xuan Yue Island were completely intimidated by this display, their faces pale and hearts filled with terror.
Soon.
This group arrived above the Island Master's Mansion.
Inside the Island Master's Mansion.
Xuan Sheng, the Island Master of Xuan Yue Island, along with a host of Xuan Yue Island experts and guest elders, ascended into the air and confronted this group.
However, by all appearances.
Xuan Yue Island's side was significantly weaker.
Xuan Sheng's eyes held a trace of anger as he looked at the leader of the opposing group and said coldly, "Ding Hui, your Giant Whale City people barge into my Xuan Yue Island without a word. This is outrageous! Do you take my Xuan Yue Island for a marketplace, where you can come and go as you please!"
Ding Hui, the City Lord of Giant Whale City, narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Brother Xuan speaks too harshly. Giant Whale City and Xuan Yue Island are neighbors. As the saying goes, a distant relative is not as good as a near neighbor. I brought people to visit, also to deepen our relationship. How can you call it barging in? Brother Xuan, you are too sensitive."
Xuan Sheng snorted, "A weasel paying respects to a chicken, what good can come of it? Moreover, you attacked my daughter on the Xuan Yue Sea. Do you think I've forgotten! I haven't come to Giant Whale City to settle the score, yet you have the audacity to come to my Xuan Yue Island and show off your might!"
Ding Hui revealed a cunning smile and said, "I have also heard about that incident. It was entirely a misunderstanding. I have already disciplined them afterward, and they are very remorseful. This visit is precisely to have them apologize to your beloved daughter."
"Fan Bai, hurry and apologize to Miss Xuan Er."
"Yes, City Lord!"
Fan Bai, the Golden Core realm commander of Giant Whale City who had ambushed Xuan Na on the Xuan Yue Sea, stepped forward and offered a perfunctory clasp of his hands towards Xuan Na.
"My apologies, I am sorry!"
While claiming to apologize, Fan Bai's slovenly demeanor clearly showed no sincerity in his apology, immediately igniting the anger of the Xuan Yue Island experts.
"You killed many of our Xuan Yue Island people, and even almost captured the Second Miss. Is this how you apologize?! Don't push your luck too far! Do you think the men of Xuan Yue Island have no spirit!"
The Xuan Yue Island experts roared in anger.
"Tch, I've already apologized, what more do you want? At most, I'll go burn some incense at the graves of those dead people."
Fan Bai sneered arrogantly, completely ignoring the wrath of the Xuan Yue Island experts, and returned to the ranks.
This made the Xuan Yue Island experts grind their teeth in anger.
"You won't leave Xuan Yue Island today!"
The younger Xuan Yue Island experts, unable to contain their anger, looked as if they were about to attack, but they were stopped by Xuan Sheng.
Xuan Sheng looked at Ding Hui and said, "Ding Hui, we've known each other for so many years. Don't play these superficial tricks with me. Speak your mind quickly, or get lost. If you want to fight, then let's fight. If you don't want to fight, then get out of Xuan Yue Island. Xuan Yue Island does not welcome you!"
Ding Hui raised an eyebrow and said, "Brother Xuan has quite a temper! Don't get agitated. I, Ding, have indeed come with sincerity."
"I believe you have heard some rumors. The entire Wu Zhou, outside the regions ruled by the Three Great Sacred Domains, is about to usher in a world-shattering upheaval. Heroes will contend, and the victor will be king!"
"At that time, perhaps new Saints will emerge, consolidating these scattered territories and establishing a Fourth Sacred Domain."
"In the face of such a calamity that affects several domains or even more, even Seven Star powers are precarious. They might be annexed or eliminated at any moment."
"According to my knowledge, among the more than ten Seven Star powers in our Dong Lin Domain, many are already restless, coveting other relatively weaker forces. In such a situation, everyone is in danger, and to protect oneself, only powerful strength is needed!"
"Either annex others, or... be annexed!"
Ding Hui grinned.
His gaze was like a wolf's, revealing undisguised ambition.
Xuan Sheng said, "So, you've come this time to annex our Xuan Yue Island? And your attack on my daughter earlier was to hold her hostage to threaten me?"
"Hey, how can you say that!"
Ding Hui said with a cunning smile, "The strength of Giant Whale City and Xuan Yue Island is only comparable. Neither is significantly stronger. How could we annex you? But the trend is like this, and we cannot afford to be negligent. Therefore, I wish to invite Xuan Yue Island to form an alliance with my Giant Whale City, to jointly deal with this crisis."
As he spoke, Ding Hui's eyes flickered. He suddenly spread his arms and said with impassioned fervor, "If our two great powers join forces, even if we cannot stand out among the Seven Star powers in the Dong Lin Domain, at least we will not become targets of others' covetousness! Moreover, with our combined forces, perhaps we can seize opportunities in this chaotic world and expand our influence!"
"Brother Xuan, think carefully. Don't we cultivators strive for greater power? The difficulty of reaching the Saint Realm is something you are not unaware of; it is no exaggeration to describe it as climbing to the heavens."
"Although we Golden Core realm Martial Lords have a long lifespan of a thousand years, the Manifestation of Saint Realm relies on opportunity. If the opportunity does not arrive, no matter how long you live, you will not be able to glimpse it!"
"If it weren't for this chaotic world and great tribulation, we would truly have no hope of achieving sainthood. Heroes emerge in troubled times; this saying is not false. Brother Xuan, do not make a mistake. Moreover, even if you don't consider yourself, you must consider these people of Xuan Yue Island. In times of chaos, how will they find their place? Do you have the confidence to protect them completely!"
Ding Hui's words caused the Xuan Yue Island experts to fall into silence.
They were all shocked by this earth-shattering news.
For a moment, they did not know what to do and looked to Xuan Sheng for guidance.
Xuan Sheng sneered and said to Ding Hui, the City Lord of Giant Whale City, "Cooperating with you is no different from seeking a tiger's skin! I fear our Xuan Yue Island will be destroyed even faster. Please leave immediately. Xuan Yue Island does not welcome you. As for the safety of Xuan Yue Island, you need not worry."
Ding Hui narrowed his eyes.