"However, with Ling Fan's strength, although he might not have the hope of defeating a peak Golden Core expert, he should be able to protect himself. That's why I asked you to find him and seek his protection."
Xuan Na's beautiful eyes revealed a trace of determination. "This daughter will not leave. I will live and die with the Island Master's Mansion!"
After speaking, she turned and left resolutely.
"You child!"
Xuan Sheng sighed helplessly.
He clenched his fists, invigorated his spirit, and began to make arrangements for the battle.
However, he did not announce the news that Giant Whale City had invited a peak Golden Core expert.
Otherwise, it would likely have a devastating impact on Xuan Yue Island's morale, and the defenses might collapse on their own before Giant Whale City's forces even arrived.
...
By the sea of Xuan Yue.
Nearly a thousand experts from Xuan Yue Island gathered, with more Tian Yuan realm and even Xuan Gang realm martial artists as reserves.
Under normal circumstances, these reserve forces would not be mobilized.
If it came to the point where these low-level martial artists needed to be deployed, it would mean Xuan Yue Island was on the brink of collapse, its high-level combat power defeated, and they would need to fill the gaps with sheer numbers.
At this moment.
The atmosphere was extremely tense.
At the forefront, Xuan Sheng, clad in blue battle armor and wielding a dragon-entwined steel fork, his powerful cultivation nearing the late Golden Core stage, was poised for action.
Behind him were the Young Island Master Xuan Ye, Xuan Na, the other three Golden Core elders of the Island Master's Mansion, and the two Golden Core guest elders, Luo Gu and Gao Fei.
Guest elders of the quasi-Golden Core realm like Li Mobing, and other experts from the Island Master's Mansion, were arranged behind them.
Everyone's breathing was heavy; no one spoke, only the sound of waves crashing against the shore.
Suddenly, Xuan Ye spoke, "What about Ling Fan? Why hasn't he appeared yet? Could he be afraid to fight and have fled!"
Everyone exchanged glances, and no one replied.
Li Mobing sneered in agreement, "He's probably chickened out and is acting like a coward! This brat always puts on a sour face, acting like he's the best in the world, but in reality, he's all show and no substance, a wimp!"
Xuan Na couldn't stand it any longer and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Young Master Ling is not that kind of person. Since he said he would help our Xuan Yue Island, he will never go back on his word."
Xuan Ye snorted, "Facts speak louder than words. His absence means he's afraid to fight! He's a deserter! What good is it for you to explain him?"
Xuan Na was left speechless by Xuan Ye's retort.
Just then.
Ling Fan, along with Wei Bin and Toad, leading over a hundred martial artists, arrived fashionably late.
Toad slanted his eyes, glancing at Xuan Ye and Li Mobing, and deliberately spoke in a loud voice, "Why is it that as soon as Lord Mo arrives, I hear people bad-mouthing Boss Ling? Who is so foul-mouthed, asking for a beating? Come, Lord Mo will spar with him! Golden Core realm and above are exempt; find Ling Boss for a match. Those below Golden Core can just come and get beaten; Lord Mo is invincible."
Xuan Ye's eyes turned cold, staring at Toad unpleasantly.
Li Mobing couldn't help but say, "I said it, so what? Am I afraid of you, a toad!"
"Yeah, you're talking behind people's backs and you're still righteous? Shameless! Come, Lord Mo will beat you into submission today and make you my pet!"
Toad stood on its hind legs, its body shimmering with silver light, its bull-like eyes glaring.
Xuan Sheng coughed, "Let's stop this. What time is it? Don't cause internal strife."
Toad cast a provocative glance at Li Mobing and retracted its demonic aura.
Li Mobing was so angered by Toad's arrogant demeanor that his face turned green. He gritted his teeth and slammed his sleeve heavily.
It was bad enough to be crushed by Ling Fan.
Now, to be provoked by this toad under Ling Fan's command, Li Mobing felt extremely uncomfortable.
Just then.
The Golden Core experts present suddenly felt something and sharply raised their gazes towards the distant sky.
Soon, the Condensing Core realm experts also sensed it, and immediately felt like they were facing a formidable enemy. Those with weaker courage began to tremble.
From the direction of Giant Whale City, a vast dark cloud, as dense as ink, was pressing in.
And beneath the dark cloud, densely packed experts transformed into countless streaks of light, sweeping towards Xuan Yue Island.
The sheer number of them made one's scalp tingle.
Instantly, the disparity in strength between Xuan Yue Island and the approaching forces became apparent.
Soon, these countless streaks of light stopped outside Xuan Yue Island, revealing the densely packed experts of Giant Whale City.
Among them was Ding Hui, the City Lord of Giant Whale City, clad in gray whale-dragon battle armor, holding a law-infused, low-grade Earth-tier broad saber with a鬼头 (guǐ tóu - ghost head) design. Other experts from Giant Whale City, such as Qi Yu, Wang Wei, and Fan Bai, were all present.
Ten Golden Core experts from Giant Whale City lined up, forming a terrifying pressure, like a mountain pressing down, making it difficult to breathe.
What was surprising, however, was that Ding Hui was not standing at the very front.
Instead, he stood respectfully with his hands clasped behind his back, behind someone.
In front of him was a mysterious person shrouded in dark, gloomy light, his face unclear. Two cold lights, like ghost fires, shot out from his eye sockets, sending chills down one's spine. He exuded a terrifying aura, as profound as the abyss, almost suffocating.
This mysterious person stood in the air, completely disregarding the experts of Xuan Yue Island. He spread his arms as if sensing the martial dao laws of this place, as if no one else were present.
Seeing this mysterious person, Xuan Sheng and Xuan Na's hearts sank. Xuan Na's teeth chattered with despair and fear.
Others might not know, but they had already learned beforehand.
This must be the top-tier Martial Lord at the peak Golden Core stage that Ling Fan had mentioned!
This extremely powerful aura was undeniable.
Then, Ding Hui respectfully said to the mysterious person in front of him, "Lord Hei Shui, we have arrived at Xuan Yue Island!"
The Hei Shui Martial Lord nodded faintly.
He was still concentrating on sensing the laws of this place.
Seeing this, Ding Hui dared not disturb Lord Hei Shui further.
His eyes shot out two cold glints, sweeping across the experts of Xuan Yue Island, and he said coldly, "Your Xuan Yue Island is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, overestimating your own strength! Today, my Giant Whale City's ten Golden Core experts and an army of nearly ten thousand Giant Spirit realm martial artists are pressing in, with the assistance of Lord Hei Shui Martial Lord. Let alone your Xuan Yue Island, even ten Xuan Yue Islands could be annihilated with a flip of the hand!"
"Now, I am giving you one last chance: surrender, or die!"
Ding Hui spat out these words from between his teeth, saying them fiercely.
Hei Shui Martial Lord!
When the experts of Xuan Yue Island heard this name, their expressions instantly changed.
They never imagined that the mysterious person invited by Giant Whale City was such a renowned figure on the Eastern Lin Domain Martial Lord Ranking, a top-tier Martial Lord at the peak Golden Core stage!
Giant Whale City was already powerful enough.
Now, with the addition of Hei Shui Martial Lord, it was simply beyond the ability of Xuan Yue Island to resist.
Many experts of Xuan Yue Island, just hearing the name, were terrified to the point of their livers and gallbladders cracking, and they involuntarily retreated.
Especially the guest elders, they had no reason to fight to the death for Xuan Yue Island, so they immediately began to have other thoughts.
"Everyone, do you think that by surrendering to Giant Whale City, they will let you go? That will only lead to a faster and more miserable death! As long as we rely on the grand formation to defend, we might still have a glimmer of hope!"
Xuan Sheng shouted abruptly upon seeing this.
"Heh heh, this City Lord wants to see how long your so-called grand formation can hold!"
Ding Hui made a knife with his hand and slashed down fiercely.