The Huichun Island Domain's imperial family was in a state of panic.
This time, the forces Gao Kui had taken with him accounted for more than half of the Huichun Island Domain's elites, along with a number of elite cultivators from surrounding factions — nearly all of them had been part of the ambush force.
A full twelve high-stage Heavenly realm cultivators had been wiped out without so much as a sound. Some of the lower-ranked cultivators hadn't even come close to the battlefield. They had no idea how Gao Kui and the others had died — they had simply been annihilated.
That was the most terrifying part.
A powerful enemy was frightening enough, but a powerful and unknown enemy was the most frightening thing of all.
"My lords, surely someone has something to say. How exactly was Commander Gao Kui's force wiped out? Does anyone have any leads? Any theories?"
The Emperor of the Sancai Island Domain was truly growing restless.
The mass death of their elites without any clear explanation was something he simply could not sit idle about. If word got out, it would undoubtedly deal a devastating blow to the morale of the Sancai Island Domain.
Setting morale aside for the moment, the fall of twelve high-stage Heavenly realm elites was itself a massive blow to the Sancai Island Domain's overall strength.
So the Emperor of the Sancai Island Domain was genuinely panicking.
In truth, it wasn't just the Emperor who was alarmed. The nobles of the Sancai Island Domain — those who had been advocating for war against the Huichun Island Domain — were now completely stunned.
"Your Majesty, Gao Kui's death is riddled with mysteries. I even suspect — were they truly killed by someone from the Huichun Island Domain?"
"Indeed, this whole affair is far too suspicious. Since when does the Huichun Island Domain have that kind of strength?"
"Exactly! We're the Huichun Island Domain's old neighbors. Who knows better than we do how much they're truly worth?"
"Perhaps we should send someone to investigate first. I simply refuse to believe that Prince Huo and that man surnamed Ding — just the few of them — had the power to wipe out Gao Kui and the other twelve high-stage Heavenly realm cultivators. Besides, Gao Kui's side had the element of surprise on their side."
The Emperor wore a glum expression. What these people were spouting was nothing but empty talk — not a single constructive suggestion among it.
"My lords, what I want to know is your opinion on what comes next. Regardless of who killed Gao Kui and his men, the Sancai Island Domain has suffered gravely. Is it still worthwhile to wage war against the Huichun Island Domain?" This was the question that truly weighed on the Emperor's mind.
"Your Majesty, we absolutely cannot back down! We've come this far — to retreat now would mean everything we've accomplished was for nothing!" Someone immediately stepped forward to declare.
"Quite right. If the Huichun Island Domain truly had the strength to destroy Gao Kui and his men, how could they have fallen to their current state? In my view, Gao Kui's demise may have been nothing more than an accident — they encountered some unstoppable powerhouse they inadvertently offended, and were wiped out as a result. It must have had nothing to do with the Huichun Island Domain."
"Your Majesty, we must not yield. Even if we cannot claim the entire island group for ourselves, we must at least secure half the profits."
Though Gao Kui and his men were dead, the appetites of the Sancai Island Domain's nobles had not changed in the slightest. They felt that the profits of this island group absolutely could not be forfeited.
Still, there were some among them who retained their reason. One man sighed softly: "Your Majesty, everyone is eager to fight, and under normal circumstances it would not be my place to pour cold water on such enthusiasm. But for the sake of the Sancai Island Domain's future, I must say — as things stand, the Sancai Island Domain no longer has the strength to compete with the Huichun Island Domain for that island group. And if Gao Kui's death truly has something to do with the Huichun Island Domain, then we need to start thinking about how to protect ourselves going forward."
The moment these words left his mouth, he was met with a barrage of rebuttals.
"Ridiculous, Situ Zhao! You're boosting the enemy's morale while crushing our own! The Huichun Island Domain taking out Gao Kui and his men? Who on earth would believe that? If they had that kind of power, would they still be groveling before the Duowen Divine Kingdom? Would they have been slaughtered by a few noble houses of the Duowen Divine Kingdom?"
"Exactly! The Huichun Island Domain is like a clay idol crossing a river — they can barely keep themselves afloat. This is the perfect moment for us to strike. Miss this chance and there won't be another!"
It was clear that these men harbored a deep, visceral contempt for the Huichun Island Domain. Even though Gao Kui and the others had been wiped out under inexplicable circumstances, their opinion had not changed in the slightest.