This group's momentum was even more ferocious, their killing intent even denser—and they were led by their patriarch in person.
The one who had arrived was none other than the Kuang family, one of the Eight Great Noble Houses!
The Kuang family's influence among the Eight Great Houses could almost be ranked in the top three. Having their patriarch personally lead the party made both the Xue family and the Xuan family's elders greatly surprised.
Could it be that the Kuang family, too...?
The Xue and Xuan family elders exchanged a glance. Their originally towering fury, upon seeing the even greater fury of the Kuang family, miraculously dissipated a notch—because they could tell that the Kuang family's situation was perhaps far worse than their own. Otherwise, there would be no reason for the patriarch to come in person.
When the Kuang family patriarch spotted the two families' elders, he too showed a trace of surprise.
"Aren't you two elders of the Xue and Xuan families?" the Kuang family patriarch asked coolly.
The two elders automatically parted to make way.
"Patriarch Kuang arrives in such a towering rage—do you, too, wish to use the Grand Communication Formation?" the Xuan family's Venerable Elder couldn't help but ask.
"You as well?" The Kuang family patriarch clearly had no desire to lose face before outsiders, so he barely suppressed the wild fury within.
The Venerable Elder sighed. "If this old man has guessed correctly, your Kuang family must also have had a genius fall in the Huichun Island Domain? You've come here to send a message of interrogation to the Huichun Island Domain as well?"
By this point, all three families could see that they were all suffering the same plight.
The Kuang family patriarch fumed. "Three of my Kuang family's young geniuses perished simultaneously in the Huichun Island Domain! This Huichun Island Domain—I'd say their luck has run out!"
His fury erupted—his gaze, his tone—everything screamed of a man ready to slaughter an entire nation.
The Xue and Xuan family elders drew in a sharp breath upon hearing this. The anger still lingering in their hearts drained away by more than half.
Now here was an even more wretched case! Their families had only lost one each, while the Xuan family was hit even harder—three gone in one stroke. After all, each of the Eight Great Houses had sent only three geniuses. The Kuang family had essentially been completely wiped out.
Comparing it this way, they actually felt somewhat better.
The Xue family elder, who had originally intended to use the Grand Communication Formation, voluntarily yielded it to the Kuang family patriarch first. After all, in comparison, the Kuang family's losses were far more devastating.
The Kuang family patriarch used the Grand Communication Formation to deliver a roaring warning.
"You Huichun Island Domain better be waiting! For the three geniuses of my Kuang family, your royal house had better prepare three thousand lives to pay!"
The Kuang family had suffered such catastrophic losses that they didn't even have the motivation to find out the reason. There was only boundless rage, all of it ready to pour down upon the Huichun Island Domain.
Seeing the Kuang family patriarch in such a hysterical state, the other two families' elders also stepped aside voluntarily, letting the Kuang family patriarch march through.
"What's the situation with your two families?" the Kuang family patriarch couldn't help but ask.
"Alas, the Xue family's
"And your Xuan family?" The Kuang family patriarch glanced at the Venerable Elder.
"Alas, it was none other than the most talented among them—Xuan Rui—who fell." The Venerable Elder was equally distraught.
"I am departing for the Huichun Island Domain right now. Are you coming or not?" The Kuang family patriarch cast a glance at the two elders.
"Yes! We must go! If we don't force the Huichun Island Domain to give us an explanation, how can we possibly let this go?" the Xue family elder declared.
The Venerable Elder was not to be outdone. "We're going. If this matter isn't investigated thoroughly, the anger in this old man's heart will never settle."
...
These three powers were bristling with rage. Meanwhile, the Huichun Island Domain had already plunged into enormous panic. Fortunately, upon receiving this shocking news, the royal house immediately suppressed it to prevent the panic from spreading further.
"The geniuses of the Eight Great Houses were all at Winter Prolong Island—could something have gone wrong with this plan?" The emperor of the Huichun Island Domain was now utterly on edge.
As the supreme ruler of the entire Huichun Island Domain, his current mood was one of extreme unease. Clearly, this sudden news had shaken him badly.
In particular, the Kuang family patriarch's final tirade gave him an overwhelming sense of impending doom. What had been meant to be a splendid reception had turned into a disaster of epic proportions.
A great blessing had thoroughly become a catastrophe.
"My dear ministers, if this is how things stand, have we not brought a boulder down upon our own feet? From the tone of that Kuang family patriarch, he intends to march here and demand answers with military force!"
The emperor of the Huichun Island Domain was like an ant on a hot griddle. "My ministers, you must offer your suggestions. Now is absolutely the time to hold nothing back!"
At this moment, the ruler and his court were all like people watching the end of days descend upon them—every last one trembling with fear.
"Your Majesty, in this old minister's view, we must first send someone back to Winter Prolong Island to investigate the situation thoroughly. I'm afraid those currently on Winter Prolong Island may still be kept in the dark."
"Yes, we must immediately seal off the scene and determine the cause."
"If there is a culprit, we must capture them."
"Indeed. Only by capturing the culprit can we offer even a semblance of an explanation."
"Alas, of the Eight Great Houses, three have now claimed casualties. Who knows if more will follow—this is truly... truly an unforeseen catastrophe."
It was clear that these men could no longer maintain their composure.
The emperor of the Huichun Island Domain issued his decree. "Send a force to Winter Prolong Island at once to assist Prince Huo in investigating this matter. You must uncover the truth!"