It was clear that the Huichun Island Domain had truly reached the end of its rope. Otherwise, no sane person would have agreed to conditions as humiliating as handing over half of everything outright.
Even if you were the successor of a holy land, the most anyone would typically offer in exchange for benefits, protection fees, and shielding — thirty percent would already be considered extremely generous.
To hand over a full half could only mean that the Huichun Island Domain was grasping at straws in desperation, completely out of options.
If they didn't do this, they would have no choice but to sit and wait for the Sancai Island Domain to rally its allies and seize that island cluster by force. Worse still, the Huichun Island Domain's fortune would be crippled beyond recovery.
Once someone started chipping away at your foundation, there would be a second time, and then a third.
Though the Huichun Island Domain's holdings were vast, with this kind of relentless carve-up, it wouldn't take long before everything was stripped bare.
Jiang Chen had his own principles. He had already agreed to accept half the Ling Shi in exchange for his help, and he certainly wouldn't exploit their desperate situation to demand more.
He gave Prince Huo a reassuring look and spoke: "I won't be staying on Dongyan Island for long. Why don't we set out right now?"
Prince Huo was delighted to hear this — he hadn't expected Jiang Chen to be so decisive.
"Young Master Jiang Chen, if the Huichun Island Domain is able to weather this crisis, we will never forget your kindness. In the future, a single word from the Young Master is all it takes, and our Huichun Island Domain will climb mountains of blades and wade through seas of fire without a moment's hesitation."
"Let's go."
Jiang Chen's thoughts were far from Prince Huo's flattery. What he cared about was the island cluster — how many Ling Shi deposits it actually held.
That was the question that truly mattered to Jiang Chen.
If that mineral vein proved especially rich, it would be exactly the lifeline he needed. The resources required for the Myriad Spirits God-Locking Grand Array were currently only about one-tenth gathered. If this vein was particularly abundant, Jiang Chen hoped it could cover thirty to forty percent of what remained.
That would dramatically reduce the pressure of sourcing the rest.
Lu Che and the others, upon hearing that Jiang Chen was about to leave, felt a touch of disappointment.
Jiang Chen, however, reassured them: "Dongyan Island will serve as a base, and I'll be returning regularly. Going forward, this island's strategic importance will only grow. Do not slacken — manage this island well. Understood?"
"We shall follow the Young Master's decree." Lu Che was quite tactful by now. Their very lives were held in Jiang Chen's hands, and besides, he had seen for himself that following Jiang Chen might lead to opportunities he could never have imagined.
So even if things were tough on Dongyan Island, they would have to endure.
Departing from Dongyan Island, they boarded the Huichun Island Domain's flying vessel and sped toward the Huichun Island Domain. The journey from Dongyan Island was not particularly far — after all, Dongyan Island had previously belonged to Huichun territory.
On the flying vessel, Prince Huo was attentive throughout, keeping an extremely humble posture and waiting on Jiang Chen the entire way.
Jiang Chen was well aware that Prince Huo needed his help, but he made no mention of it.
As the vessel continued on its course, Commander Ding suddenly strode quickly from the front of the ship toward the rear, his expression grave: "Your Highness, our advance scouts have reported what appears to be an ambush ahead."
"An ambush?" Prince Huo's face darkened slightly. "Has it been confirmed?"
"Not yet, Your Highness. Our forward scouts didn't dare push too close, for fear of alerting the enemy. However, I suspect this is very likely the work of the Sancai Island Domain. They may have learned of Your Highness's departure from the Huichun Island Domain and set an ambush along the route."
Prince Huo was considered a supreme noble within the Huichun Island Domain — second only to the Emperor himself in status among the imperial family, and he enjoyed the Emperor's deep trust.