Prince Huo and Chief Steward Ding never imagined that Jiang Chen would suddenly change his mind. For a moment, wild joy appeared on both their faces.
Prince Huo said with great enthusiasm: "Our Huichun Island Domain still has some spirit stone resources, and the surrounding island domains actually have some wealth of their own. The main enemy of our Huichun Island Domain right now is the Sancai Island Domain. That Sancai Island Domain is especially rich in its spirit stone reserves. In fact, the biggest point of contention between our Huichun Island Domain and Sancai Island Domain is over a particular archipelago. That archipelago is particularly rich in spirit stones. Unfortunately, both of our great island domains claim ownership of it. That's exactly what's caused such intense hostility between the two sides."
"The Sancai Island Domain?" Jiang Chen thought for a moment. He vaguely recalled hearing of such an island domain. After all, the territory of Wanyuan Island was simply vast beyond measure.
How could Jiang Chen know anything about the Sancai Island Domain?
However, the news about it being rich in spirit stones was undoubtedly good news for him.
"Young Master, our Huichun Island Domain has held sovereignty over that archipelago for the past several hundred years. However, in recent years, our Huichun Island Domain has encountered some crises. That Sancai Island Domain then had the nerve to step forward and openly attempt to seize the archipelago. If it were just Sancai Island Domain alone, we wouldn't fear them. The infuriating part is that Sancai Island Domain has rallied a whole bunch of surrounding island domains, fanning the flames and stirring up trouble, so that many nearby island domains are now showing signs of potentially uniting against our Huichun Island Domain."
Speaking of this issue, Prince Huo was filled with rage.
Clearly, he felt that Huichun Island Domain was like a tiger brought low, bullied by every mongrel in sight.
Yet, faced with the aggressive Sancai Island Domain, their Huichun Island Domain was utterly helpless. They had retreated step after step.
By now, they had practically backed themselves into a corner with nowhere left to give.
Any further retreat, and their control over that archipelago would be completely lost.
It was precisely at this time that they also learned Dongyan Island had been occupied by someone. That was why Prince Huo, seething with fury, had come to Dongyan Island to investigate. Only later did they discover that Dongyan Island had been claimed by the Young Master of the Eternal Sacred Land, Jiang Chen — which felt exactly like a leaky roof in a downpour.
But some sharper minds among the Huichun Island Domain ranks immediately proposed: since they couldn't get Dongyan Island back, why not do a favor and simply gift it to Young Master Jiang Chen? That way, they could seize the opportunity to befriend Young Master Jiang Chen and, by extension, the Eternal Sacred Land.
If they managed to get in good with this powerful backer, wouldn't Huichun Island Domain turn their misfortune into a blessing?
It was precisely this line of thinking that had driven Prince Huo and Chief Steward Ding to keep making trips to Dongyan Island, hoping for a chance to meet the legendary Young Master Jiang Chen.
Time and again, they had been turned away, always being told that Young Master Jiang Chen simply wasn't on the island.
It had been discouraging, but with the attitude of nothing left to lose, they kept trying anyway. They never expected that this time they would actually succeed.
And only after meeting him did they realize that this Jiang Chen — Young Master of the Eternal Sacred Land — actually shared such a connection with their Huichun Island Domain.
Jiang Chen now roughly understood what these two were after.
His expression remained calm and detached, his gaze sweeping casually over the pair before him. Jiang Chen set down the teacup he'd been toying with and placed it on the table.
"Go on. How exactly do you want me to help you?"
"Young Master Jiang Chen, you're truly willing to lend your aid?" Prince Huo was overjoyed.
"Lend my aid isn't quite the right way to put it. Every lord, every faction under heaven — fighting over territory and competing for resources is the most natural thing in the world. My Eternal Sacred Land can't very well intervene in every single matter. Besides, contesting territory isn't forbidden on Wanyuan Island."
This was the honest truth. As a sacred land, you couldn't possibly meddle in every trivial squabble — that would be far beneath one's dignity.
Of course, if Jiang Chen were going to step in, there would naturally need to be sufficient compensation.