"Bullshit! As the saying goes — thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. The Huichun Island Domain was indeed the dominant power in these waters once upon a time. No one denies that. But every generation produces new talent, and each era shines for its own few centuries. Your era, Huichun Island Domain, has already passed."
"Kid, what abilities do you have that give you the gall to swagger through the skies above my Sancai Island Domain?"
Prince Huo replied with airy nonchalance: "Perhaps the Huichun Island Domain has lost a bit of its era. However, there is one thing I am quite certain of — your era, Sancai Island Domain, has not yet arrived. And perhaps… that day will never come at all."
The moment these words left his mouth, the many powerful cultivators on the Sancai Island Domain's side were instantly consumed by rage, itching to leap out and fight Prince Huo for three hundred rounds on the spot.
Clearly, they felt that Prince Huo's words were a humiliation toward their Sancai Island Domain — a thorough, face-slapping insult.
Sancai Island Domain would never welcome a glorious era?
Were the Huichun Island Domain still dreaming some impossible dream?
Just as the crowd wore furious expressions and were about to match words with venom, the Emperor himself suddenly stepped forward from among his people, regarding Prince Huo with a calm, indifferent gaze.
The moment the Emperor stepped forward, the aura of someone who had long held supreme authority arose about him naturally.
"Prince Huo, you have traveled thousands of miles to come to my Sancai Island Domain — I trust you haven't come merely to spout nonsense? If this is about those islands, has your Huichun Island Domain brought a show of sincerity?"
"Sincerity?" Prince Huo wore a mocking smile. "What sincerity would be required?"
The Emperor was furious: "No sincerity, and yet you, Prince Huo, dare come here seeking peace?"
Prince Huo's expression darkened abruptly. The smile that had hung on his face vanished in an instant, and his voice turned cold.
"Your Majesty, when did I ever say I came seeking peace? First of all, I have come to deliver a piece of news — Gao Kui and his men attempted to ambush me, and they have been utterly annihilated. You Sancai Island Domain still cling to some sense of superiority? Truly beyond me."
"Hmph, don't tell me Gao Kui and the rest were killed by you?" The Emperor was still somewhat disbelieving.
Prince Huo said lightly: "Not killed by me personally, but I was very much involved. Old Emperor, our Huichun Island Domain and your Sancai Island Domain know each other inside and out. With that group gone, what fighting strength does your Sancai Island Domain even have to speak of?"
"So you bring barely more than a dozen people? Do you truly believe that with just these few, you can wage war against my entire Sancai Island Domain?"
Prince Huo regarded the Emperor with a gaze that was at once pitying and cold, but said nothing more. Instead, he turned and walked over to
"Young Master, I took note just now — just about every elite the Sancai Island Domain has is gathered here. And quite a few opportunistic lackeys from surrounding factions who have been acting as their running dogs are present as well."
Jiang Chen looked thoughtful and nodded.
"Let's get to the point. If they want to fight, then we'll oblige them. If they're sensible enough to know their place, I might consider letting them go."
Prince Huo said with bitterness: "These people never back down until they're staring death in the face. The Sancai Island Domain, for all its ferocity, is at least a legitimate power. But some of the other factions here are nothing more than pirates from the surrounding seas. Some were conquered by the Sancai Island Domain, some attach themselves to Sancai's coattails, and some simply use each other. In short, the composition of the Sancai Island Domain right now is extremely complicated."
"That doesn't matter."
As he spoke, Jiang Chen's figure flickered, and he stepped forward to the front rank.
His cold, piercing gaze swept over the people of the Sancai Island Domain. Among their ranks — the Emperor included — there was actually a contingent of elites. However, aside from a handful who were personally guarding the Emperor, the rest were scattered in clusters here and there, as disorganized as a heap of loose sand.